Browsing Tag

Old School Hip Hop

Nlsderrixk*! has released his vindicatingly infectious hip hop track, Aint My Fault

Posted on 24 February 2022

The luminary hip hop artist, Nlsderrixk*!, has exonerated himself in his latest single, Aint My Fault, which fuses the new wave with the old school, creating universal appeal to hip hop fans in the process. With justxrolo at the mixing desk, Aint My Fault is as gritty as it is lush with luxe style.

The jazzy noir effects atop the bassy boom-bap beats create a solid platform for Nlsderrixk*!’s playfully dominant rap bars that carry all of the personality of Jay Z and all of the edge of Ghostface Killah.

It isn’t every day that you come across an up and coming hip hop artist that pours this much energy into their tracks; if you are serious about keeping posted on the hottest talent, save a spot on your radar.

Aint My Fault is now available to stream on Soundcloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Spotlight Feature: Hip Hop icon in the making, Na8 has delivered his cinematically colossal debut LP, Past Present Future

Posted on 22 February 2022

The Nigeria-born, Nashville-based hip hop icon in the making, Na8, is fresh from the release of his debut album, Past Present Future, which recounts experience and introspection from the past, meditates on the present and rewrites the rules for the future.

The LP starts with the colossal hip hop anthem, Pisces, which drip feeds all of the glamour of Jay Z and all of the dark and chaotic flare of Saul Williams before Na8 moves with an old school style of noir soul in the following track, All In, which features some of the best earworm hooks on the LP. Track 3, Exotic Love, feeds the Lauryn Hill vibes, but Na8 made the soundscape his own with his massive production style that is quickly becoming his signature.

Track 5, Cash, stands as a testament to Na8’s experimental instrumental style; from harsh-rock guitar licks to orchestral strings to hard-hitting electronica, you will find all that and more in the hard-hitting hustler hip hop track. In track 11, Bond City, Na8 proves how well his panoramically cinematic production style melds with the definitively-luxe Bond film OSTs. It’s not every day we hear radio-ready hip hop. The fact that Na8 delivered it in his debut LP speaks volumes of his talent. Get him on your radar.

Here’s what Na8 had to say about his debut LP:

“My debut looks back on my life in Africa and Europe before I arrived in the USA. I wanted to express my past, present, and what my future could be in music.

The main message is that your past or present doesn’t define you. If you know what you want in life, you can focus and achieve those goals. Stay true to yourself.”

Past Present Future is now available to stream on Spotify.

Connect with Na8 on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Teddy J pulls bruising punches in his latest hip hop track, 100’s

Posted on 14 February 2022
Teddy J

The competition in underground hip hop is fiercer than ever, but the up and coming artist, Teddy J, pulled all the right punches in his latest old-school inspired single, 100’s.

The dynamic rap bars flow just as naturally as the ethereal and light melodies that are bolstered by the bass-heavy kicks of 808s, and the lyrical narrative won’t fail to reel you in after a noir lullaby-like prelude. Teddy J proves that if you want motivation, ignore Jordan Peterson and Jocko Willink. Tune into artists, such as Teddy J, who create neoliberal tracks that don’t take the pain out of adversity but use it to get you galvanised. His born an underdog, living as a force to be reckoned with in all avenues is instantly infectious.

100’s is now available to stream on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

There is ‘No Stoppin’ Cashflow Colly in his latest seminal hip hop single

Posted on 7 February 2022

No Stoppin’ was just one of the nostalgically sweet hip hop singles found on Cashflow Colly’s debut album, Mind of a MelanColly. The witty wordplay in the album title is just a taste of what you can expect from Colly’s dynamically zealous rap flows.

The South Jersey-hailing rap artist’s magnetically humble and almost criminal level of charisma makes getting hooked in his tracks non-optional. No Stoppin’ runs you through the adversity that led him to his talent when spilling raw emotions and allowing them to take form as breezy, hooky urban earworms. All things considered, he is the ultimate hip hop package. We can’t wait to hear what follows.

You can check out No Stoppin’ for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

West Philly rap artist Jus NBL hits all the right notes in his album ‘Fine Wine’

Posted on 2 January 2022

West Philly rap artist, Jus NBL, dropped one of the freshest hip hop albums of 2021 with the release of his lyrically driven LP, Fine Wine. In the title track, the minimalist beats create the perfect platform for his high-energy rap bars as they grind through the gritty lyrics and the resilience that allowed him to find the light regardless.

Right from the first verse, Jus NBL proves how grounded he is in his lyricism. There’s none of the usual ego-fuelled grandeur, just an honest and direct lyrical delivery that is more than easy to connect with. The Jay Z reminiscences are strong, but they do little to dampen the intoxicating hit of Jus NBL’s authenticity in Fine Wine. Every rap fan should have room for him on his radar.

Jus NBL’s 2021 album, Fine Wine, is now available to purchase on apple music.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Tony Newbury speaks up for the voiceless in his latest single, Westwood

Posted on 24 November 2021

Tony Newbury’s mission as a rap artist is to prove that no one is as alone in their depression and anxiety as they think they are. For anyone who has experienced a loss that has alienated them from the rest of the world, the artist’s latest single, Westwood, which explores the raw emotion left in the wake of his brother, has what it takes to resonate on a deep level.

The old school jazzy grooves and gospel nuances bring cathartic ease to the otherwise fiery and volatile rap track which perfectly depicts the disquiet storm that our minds have to navigate in grief. After listening to Westwood, you’re left with the sense that Newbury truly respects the relationship with his fans and never gives less than 100% when putting a new track on the airwaves.

Westwood was officially released on October 15th. It is available to stream on Spotify and SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast.

Rex Mundii transcends typical rap tropes with his lyrical flex in his debut single, Majintai.

Posted on 4 November 2021

Cleveland, Ohio newcomer Rex Mundii introduced the hip hop world to his ensnaring lyrical flex through his debut single, Majintai, on October 9th, 2021.

His prophetic rap style and dark atmospheric beats make for a volatile pairing in Majintai that transcends the usual rap tropes to deliver mindful introspection you’ll want to hear on repeat. With every listen, you pull new fragments of self-actualised wisdom from the debut track that has already allowed Rex Mundii to amass over 11k monthly streamers on Spotify alone. We’d put money on Mundii blowing up in 2022 and beyond; he’s billboard multi-platinum material.

Majintai is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Chris Wade delivers fiery modern gospel in Save Me, featuring KARTIER.

Posted on 30 October 2021

The hip-hop artist and mental health advocate, Chris Wade, has been making major waves with his poignant lyrics that make emotional engagement mandatory in his tracks that groove with modern gospel vibes. Based on his standout single, Save Me, he’s still criminally underrated.

There is no overstating his ability to turn wordplay into cutting dissections of our society’s sickest facets. I’ve heard my fair share of raw rap tracks in reaction to the varying atrocities since the start of the pandemic but Chris Wade’s humility and tendency to paint with light and dark introspection made Save Me an experience that I will never forget.

You can check out the official video for Save Me on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Wade Wilson brings the adrenaline to jazz hip hop with Be There.

Posted on 20 October 2021

The up and coming old-school-inclined hip hop artist and mental health activist, Wade Wilson, has dropped his highly anticipated debut album, Chop House, featuring the standout single, Be There. The Brooklyn-based artist’s hyper hip hop style practically brings a brand-new meaning to the term high vibe hip hop.

Right from the intro, you’re thrown into an electrifying jazzy hip hop ensemble that creates a viscerally adrenalizing platform for his high fire rap bars. While the intense BPM won’t be for everyone, anyone looking to be galvanised won’t want to miss out on this monolithic hit.

Wade Wilson’s debut album, Chop House, is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

PRETTY TONY GETBUCK brings the future to OG hip hop with ‘POCKET GOT ZEROS’.

Posted on 20 October 2021

PRETTY TONY GETBUCK’s latest release, POCKET GOT ZEROS, starts with an electrifying jolt of bass-dripping nasty electro before the glitchy techno stylings are tamed under his fiery rap bars that will be instantly adored by fans of Snoop, Xzibit and Tupac.

With the Matrix references in the witty lyrics, this glitchy stormer of an alt-hip hop track isn’t only bang on trend; it deserves to define the future of gritty gangster hip hop. Considering the US artist averages on over 100k monthly Spotify listeners, PRETTY TONY GETBUCK is unstoppable from here on out.

POCKET GOT ZEROS is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast