Browsing Tag

Lyrical Hip Hop

Rene Bonet just wants to love us in their latest single

Posted on 22 April 2021

Rene Bonet’s new single ‘I Just Wanna Love You’ is a deliciously sexy, sultry little slice of R&B Hip Hop in the style of Missy Elliot or Erykah Badu, chilled out and relaxed yet losing none of its energy for that.

Poetic lyrics mix with a storytelling flow and an intimate, confessional feel; it’s soulful at the same time as having that mix of stylistic and cultural influences which gives music that individual, authentic feeling. There’s a delicious cadence to her delivery, a delicate use of rhyme – or ‘not-rhyme’ which gives her songwriting a unique quality, conveying emotion and spirit at the same time as entertaining. You can hear the influence of producer Alvin Speights, with whom Bonet has worked; it’s a masterful, well-produced, single.

You can hear ‘I Just Want To Love You’ on YouTube; follow Rene Bonet here or on Twitter.

Review by Alex Holmes

Zenodro lays out the roadmap to resilience in his rap track, ‘On a Roll’.

Posted on 21 April 2021

‘On a Roll’ is just one of the lead tracks from Columbian-American rap artist Zenodro’s debut album, ‘Identity Crisis: Part I’, through which the artist extended the conversation around mental health by offering an intimate view into his psyche and laying out the roadmap to resilience.

Their playful cadence brings plenty of energy to the atmospheric mix that reflects the dystopic atmosphere of our society. The high-vibe alchemist sets the perfect example by showing you that you can laugh in the face of darkness and thrive in spite of everything that is telling you to quit. With enlightening tracks such as On a Roll on your playlists, your apathy won’t have much of a choice about leaving.

Zenodro’s album Identity Crisis: Part I is available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Hey-Zooz dresses down gold-digger culture with ‘Fancy Cars’

Posted on 18 April 2021

‘Fancy Cars’ is just one of the tracks to feature on Hey-Zooz’s debut album ‘Welcome to Life’ that offers plenty of opportunities to see the world less blindly.

The Atlanta-based hip hop artist always focuses on reflection and growth with his tracks that run through without any hint of sanctimonious superiority. It’s palpable that Hey-Zooz creates music to make the process of navigating the world a little easier for his listeners.

Fancy Cars poignantly dresses down gold-digger culture, for all too long, for hip hop artists ‘showing ‘em what you’ve got’ revolved around showcasing capitalist pursuits. Switching the narrative, Hey-Zooz offers his wisdom on the subject and points out the obvious flaws in attempting to buy affection. The indie vibe to the melodic contemporary rap track makes it all too easy to pay attention.

Fancy Cars is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Nerdy G celebrates the working classes with ‘On My Grind’

Posted on 14 April 2021
Nerdy G

Luminary rap artist Nerdy G treated us a taste of what is to come from their debut EP with the release of their single, ‘On My Grind’.

After swathes of hip hop hit the airwaves and glamorising the supposed high-life, Nerdy G switched the narrative and celebrated the working classes who work their hands to the bone to get by. Their conscious approach to lyricism isn’t the only refreshing aspect to Nerdy G’s signature sound either. With echoes of old school boom bap in their modern production, it’s impossible not to get adrenalized by this blazing Hip hop hit.

It isn’t just the kind of track that could sweeten the mood on frustrating of morning commutes. It’s the kind of track that could shift perceptions on capitalism. For good.

On My Grind was officially released on April 8th, you can check it out via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

UK rap veteran Jake Rosh takes us to ‘Therapy’ with his latest vulnerably volatile single.

Posted on 13 April 2021

With angular indie guitars shimmering around steady drill beats and rap vocals finding the perfect balance between aggression and vulnerability, Jake Rosh’s single ‘Therapy’ is enough to leave you speechless as his emotions become as visceral as your own.

Many artists have attempted to capture lockdown-born frustration and depression while concealing raw emotion under glossy production and behind metaphors. With Therapy, dark and intimate thoughts act as Jake Rosh’s plaything, and he makes no bones about sharing.

He brings just as much authenticity to the UK rap scene as Scroobius Pip used to; if anyone’s got the lyrical wit to carry on his legacy, it’s the Merseyside rap veteran.

Hydra is due for official release on March 19th, 2021; you can check it out for yourselves here.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Breaking hip hop artist Moon continues her ascension to the top with ‘Ooh Ahh’

Posted on 12 April 2021

Moon may be a new name in the male-dominated rap game, but with her witty connectable lyrics, there’s very little standing in the way of her taking the scene by storm. The Ashbury Park, NJ-residing artist’s latest single, ‘Ooh Ahh’, exhibits her unfiltered and unapologetic approach when it comes to lyrical expression.

The simple trap beats don’t reach too far into the future or delve into the past too much, allowing Moon’s sound to sit right on the contemporary curve. The short and sweet track lets you know exactly who Moon is an artist and leaves you feeling assured that you need to hear more. She’s definitely one for the radar.

You can check out the official video to Ooh Ahh that dropped on January 10th via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

2Deep the Southern President wraps up 2020 in his latest life-affirming track.

Posted on 12 April 2021

Memphis-hailing hip hop artist 2Deep the Southern President paved the way to mental resilience with his latest single, ‘2020’, that dropped on March 20th.

By utilising his talent for storytelling and lyrical wordplay, he was able to summarise the atrocities of 2020 and create a time capsule that we’ll be able to throwback to in years to come and hopefully see how pivotal it was to spark social change.

With lyrics such as “it took a pandemic for white folks to notice their knee on our neck, it has been there for a hundred years, can we finally get some respect”, it’s a sobering track that unapologetically asks the listener to see past the media spins, look into the root of societal sickness and do something about it.

It’s a stellar feat of old school hip hop, born from 2Deep the Southern President’s affinity for artists just as Jay Z, UGK, Outkast, 88 Ball and MJG. His sound already packs the same punch. For your sanity’s sake, get him on your radar.

The official video to 2020 is now available to stream via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

T.N.L.C takes us to church with their jazzy high vibe hip hop track, ‘Divine’

Posted on 11 April 2021

There have always been conscious hip hop artists on the airwaves, but in 2020, the spotlight fell away from artists trying to keep the problematic stereotypes alive and onto inspiringly insightful artists such as rap artist Divine.

By fusing their faith with their love of Mac Miller, Kendrick Lamar and Logic, hitting play on any of his tracks is worth it for the lyrical connection alone. Then when you factor in the soulfully jazzy vibes that match T.N.L.C’s magnetic personality, it’s an all-consuming experience.

The best introduction to his sound is ‘Divine, a sunny soundscape that practically radiates with assured, optimistic energy. If any young hip hop fans are searching for a role model, they won’t go far wrong following in the humble footsteps of T.N.L.C.

You can check out the official video to Divine on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Sharpshooter (S.S) proves to be a lyrical force to be reckoned with in their single, ‘Legendary’

Posted on 7 April 2021

Pennsylvania hip hop artist Sharpshooter (S.S) has been creating hip hop for 15 years, always staying on-trend and in tune with current issues around injustice, as his 2020 album, ‘This Ain’t Nothin’ 4’ proves.

The standout single, ‘Legendary’, allows Sharpshooter (S.S) to exercise their lyrical wit and shine an all-baring light on the conflicting duality in our lived experiences.

With a nod to the struggles of introverts who want to succeed, the increasing toxicity of our digital world and music fans tendencies to not heed the wisdom in lyricism, Sharpshooter (S.S) has plenty to say and all of the talent and precision to ensure that his lyricism hits hard. With his convictive poetic precision, he is definitely worthy of his moniker. But under all that talent, there’s a magnetic charisma and soul which makes it all too easy for their razor-sharp analogies to blow your mind.

Check out Sharpshooter (S.S)’s album This Ain’t Nothin’ 4 via Spotify. Ironically, it is everything a die-hard hip hop fan could ask for.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Nugonblow has claimed 2021 with their drill rap track ‘My Year’

Posted on 25 March 2021

If you needed a (not so) gentle reminder that recent events are no excuse to throw away all ambition, hit play on breaking hip hop artist, Nugonblow’s latest single, ‘My Year’.

With drill beats burning beneath their scathingly resilient rap bars, it’s impossible not to get caught up in the domineering mix which allows you to wonder, if Nugonblow can bring this much conviction to a track, how long until he ensures that his fiercely arrestive tracks are at the top of the hip hop charts?

Usually, people brand artists as ones to watch. Nugonblow is one to listen to. Get him on your radar.

You can check out the official video to My Year which dropped on February 1st via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast