Browsing Tag

Kanye

Nick O charted new horizons with his debut rap track, Be There for Me  

Posted on 27 December 2023

Nick O, Surrey’s latest hip hop sensation, has unleashed a musical tour de force with his debut single, Be There for Me. The vibrant tapestry of sound, woven with the lyrical dexterity reminiscent of George the Poet and infused with a soulful essence, beats to the pulse of East Coast hip-hop while asserting Nick O as an orchestrator of originality.

From the first beat, the track sinks the listener into a  blend of modern storytelling and nostalgic 90’s soul. Nick O’s influences, ranging from the lyrical genius of Kanye West and Andre 3000 to the emotive melodies of Frank Ocean and Sampha, are intricately interlaced. His rhythmically flawless canter dances over the beats, painting vivid pictures of his inner world – a world filled with contrasts, from the peaks of joy to the valleys of introspection.

The ethereal female backing vocals in the track create a hypnotic juxtaposition, a delicate balance that complements Nick O’s robust and confident delivery. This unique combination sets Be There for Me apart, making it one of the most compelling hip-hop debuts of 2023. As we look towards 2024, it’s clear that Nick O is not just a rising star – he’s a force poised to take dominion over the UK hip-hop industry.

Stream Be There for Me on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Cali Ave Lo delivered lyrical wit so sharp you will get whiplash in ‘Way I Feel’ ft. Monie$

Posted on 15 October 2023

The lyrical wit in Cali Ave Lo’s standout rap track, Way I Feel, is sharp enough to tear a hole in the airwaves, even if the blows of the Machiavellian bars are softened by the jazzy and groove-deep old-school instrumentals, which allow the single to drip in luxe magnetism. He wasn’t playing when he warned he is a beast that can’t be tamed.

The single, created in collaboration with Monie$, is just one of the fresh-with-innovation-and-intellect singles found on Cali Ave Lo’s latest album, Untitled. Uncut. 3, which is already going down a storm with the Chicago-hailing artist’s legion of fans which is growing by the day thanks to his commitment to being one of the most thought-provoking artists on the underground. If your playlists are already filled with hits from Kanye, DMX, Lil Wayne and Jay Z, you will want to make room for Cali Ave Lo.

Way I Feel dropped on September 27; stream it on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Canadian hip-hop heavyweight YungHarbs is back in the ring with his mixtape, RTL, Vol. 3

Posted on 13 February 2023

After a two-year hiatus, the independent rapper, YungHarbs has shown what the airwaves have been lacking in his absence with the release of his mixtape, RTL, Vol. 3. With bars as sharp, dynamic, and energised as the best of RZA’s work in the opening single, FWM, the mixtape flows from a strong start and never falters through the remaining three singles.

His gritty lo-fi edge encompasses the old-school and the new wave while running through track two, RIGHT AROUND, which throws in Afro Pop and RnB flavour, allowing YungHarbs to stand in a rhythmic league of his own on top of the steady rattle of the 808s.

Track 3, Test Me, brings in the ingenuity of the collaborating artist, T3, the dancehall anthem stands as a testament to the rhythmicality of their bars as the creative chemistry and conviction spill. Before the mixtape ends on WALK, which added a new trajectory to the evolution of gangster hip hop, the viscerally vindictive hit will easily win over any fans of Kanye.

RTL, Vol. 3 is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

Jazzy hip hop hit the streets of London through Dylan Dixon’s luminary hit, REAPER

Posted on 9 February 2023

After a hiatus, Southwest London’s slickest rapper, Dylan Dixon, is on razor-sharp form in his sophomore single, REAPER. With instrumentals that would be equally as home in the East Coast hip-hop arena, the trumpet-infused triumph is a scintillating hit that more than compensates for the lack of experimentation in the UK hip-hop scene that scarcely looks beyond drill and grime.

While the cinematic soul of the jazzy instrumentals set a euphonic score, Dixon comes in heavy with his bars that are enough to leave your head in a spin with their cutting canter and charisma-dripping wordplay, which inadvertently makes a mockery of what most rappers think are dynamic bars.

Influenced by the likes of Griselda, Kanye, and Ghetts, Dixon found his own urban signature in unchartered territory, through determination to never to assimilate while paying homage to the pioneering acts who came before him.

Stream REAPER on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Ron A.P. made true love a tangible phenomenon in Real Love Pt. II

Posted on 26 August 2022

Making true love a tangible phenomenon is a feat beyond most artists, not Ron A.P. in his latest music video, Real Love Pt. II. With full awareness that love is the most explored emotion in music, Ron A.P. went all in with this smooth jazzy hip hop track. Shakespeare may not have referred to how much crackheads love to chase the rock, and that may just be where he went wrong in encompassing the visceralism of the emotion.

After hearing The Ex Files from the US rapper, which went hard on retrospective romantic dissonance, we are stoked to hear Ron A.P. back on soulful form. Any fans of Nas, Jay-Z, Kanye and B.B. King will find a playlist staple in Real Love Pt. II.

The official music video for Real Love Pt. II will premiere on August 19th. Check it out on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Pick Patek has got us a problem with ‘GUAP’

Posted on 7 May 2021
Pick Patek

The second of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-native producer and performer Pick Patek’s collaborative singles with ProdOMG, ‘GUAP’ (Got U A Problem) shows off Patek’s more playful side with high-energy beats and a smooth, controlled lyrical flow. Lyrically, ‘GUAP’ is kicking back on haters, and defending Patek’s own lifestyle choices – it’s tongue-in-cheek, fun, and it kicks like a mule when it wants to, Patek’s delivery quickfire and machine-gun like, over subtle bass and beats. There’s elements of Kanye and Chance the Rapper in here, soft and subtle, but the track’s also got some serious bounce and groove and Patek has a sound of his own with those gentle nods to influences. It’s a cracker of a hip hop piece, and a definite for anyone who’s grown tired of having other people’s opinions forced upon them.

You can check out Pick Patek on SoundCloud, and follow on Instagram or here.

Review by Alex Holmes

Trevino Andre invites hip hop fans to follow his lead with ‘Chasing My Dreams’

Posted on 9 April 2021

Fairfield, CA-hailing hip hop artist Trevino Andre has an arsenal of hard-hitting tracks in his mixtape, ‘You Know That I’. The perfect introduction to his soul-laced sound is his old school jazz-laced track ‘Chasing My Dreams’ that keeps the tones rich and the lyricism raw.

Within that smooth and compelling contrast, you’ll find the magnetism which draws you into the essence of the track that paints a gritty image of the struggles we’re subjected to as part of our optimism-stealing mortal coil, then follows up by letting you know how to find the resilience to overcome them.

You can check out Trevino Andre’s mixtape, You Know That I for yourselves by heading over to ReverbNation.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Maryland’s Most Promising Breakthrough Hip Hop Artist MuhTeyOh Delivers on That Promise with Their Latest Single ‘4th Quarter Flows’

Posted on 11 January 2021

Maryland-based Rap artist MuhTeyOh has been on a steady ascension from the underground since the release of their breakthrough track ‘Summers Over’, with the release of their latest single, ‘4th Quarter Flows’, it’s clear that they’re on a mission to dominate the airwaves with their domineeringly indulgent flows.

4th Quarter Flows eclipses the East Coast Hip Hop sound, which will undoubtedly be of appeal to any fans of Jay Z, Kanye and Kendrick Lamar, but with hints of Drill ringing through the trappy hits of the 808s, there’s a dynamism to their accessible-from-the-first-hit-sound.

4th Quarter Flows is available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

CUBE REF spits venom and calls out the fakers with their high-vibe Hip Hop drop “Characters”

Posted on 25 October 2020

If you missed out on Cuban Rap artist CUBE REF’s fiery summer Hip Hop drop Characters, it is our pleasure to introduce you to the ingeniously cutting drop.

CUBE REF is blessed with one of those rare commanding voice which just leaves you transfixed in the meter of their bars.

Even with the slightly crass lyricism, you can’t help but warm to CUBE REF and their massive enigmatic energy. Part of the success of Characters definitely falls down to the amount of venom it contains for fakers and people who only know how to present themselves to the world from behind a façade. Lyrics such as “Because you’re a character, doesn’t mean you have character” aren’t easily forgotten.

You can check out the official video to Characters by heading over to YouTube now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

GD4L has paired their blazing beats with catchy lyricism yet again with “Time on Time”

Posted on 24 September 2020

Up and coming rapper GD4L has recently dropped their ground-breaking release Time on Time. After two years tearing up the underground with their blazing beats and catchy lyricism, GD4L attracted plenty of hype around their relentlessly flawless grind.

Yet, Time on Time stands as the perfect testament to how far their sound has come. Any fans of NAS, Biggie, Jay Z and Kanye are sure to appreciate the nuance behind his freshly crafted sound which finds a synergetic balance between mesmeric instrumental grooves and resounding lyrical conviction.

You can’t help but drink in the high-vibe empowerment which this record feeds you. Do yourselves a favour, hit play.

You can check out Time on Time for yourselves by heading over to YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast