Browsing Tag

Old School Hip Hop

Tyteanna has released her fiercely visceral sophomore single ‘Entitled’

Posted on 13 May 2021

Up and coming rap artist Tyteanna has followed on from her 2021 debut single, ‘You Feel Me?’ with the confrontationally infectious track, ‘Entitled’. There’s an intoxicating darkness to Entitled, but at the same, Tyteanna couldn’t have paid a better ode to old school hip hop. With her intellect and deeply meta lyrics feeding into the atmospheric mix, you’re almost over faced with reasons with reasons to immerse yourself deeper in the single which throws inspirational lines such as, ‘If I want it then it’s already mine’, your way.

Tyteanna’s diction and cadence in Entitled establish her as a rap artist with almost unparalleled talent. With so many voices hidden behind reverb or running through rapid-fire bars without letting the words resonate, Tyteanna won’t struggle rising from the underground with her fierce and visceral ability to wax lyrical.

Entitled is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Flipp from the West put a subversive twist on old school hip hop with his single, ‘I’ll Make You Hurt’

Posted on 10 May 2021

Everything about Flipp from the west and his latest single, I’ll Make You Hurt, is subversive and enigmatic. His tendency to use ominous and sometimes macabre imagery with funk-riding reggae-infused beats unequivocally establishes him as a ground-breaking artist.

In I’ll Make You Hurt, you’ll find everything from West Coach sun-bleached vibes to nods to the gritty styles of old school gangster hip hop, but you’ve definitely never heard old school hip hop quite like this before.

After releasing eight EPs, Flipp from the west has left a wealth of ingenuity on the airwaves; his prolific rate of production proves he’s got the hunger, each track, individually, proves he’s got the talent.

I’ll Make You Hurt is now available to stream via SoundCloud.

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

Rosegang drops new single ‘12 Over 6’

Posted on 3 May 2021
Rosegang

Opening up with a delicate fingerstyle classical Spanish guitar part before the beats and bass kick in, ’12 Over 6’ – the debut single from Tauranga, New Zealand-based artist Rosegang – is a delicate take on modern Hip Hop. That pretty, haunting guitar line repeats throughout, a simple motif that carries the track through drops and rises, Rosegang’s lyrical flow smooth and polished over the simple backing. It’s a clever combination, and all the more powerful for it, with hints of old-school Eminem, Coolio, or Nas to the feel.

Rosegang’s rapping fits neatly into the track, carrying lyrical themes of life’s struggles and the pain of loss and challenge, and the desire to rise above and better oneself. It’s narrative, storytelling vibe gives an authentic, autobiographical feel, passionate without being aggressive and resonant with honesty and rawness. It’s a superbly strong opener, made all the more potent through that simple production and the use of clever, compelling instrumentation.

You can hear ’12 Over 6’ on SoundCloud, and check out Rosegang on Spotify and Instagram.

Review by Alex Holmes

C15 pays ode to authenticity with ‘Real Ones’ featuring AJ Berning

Posted on 24 April 2021

Indiana-hailing breaking hip hop artist C15’s latest EP, ‘I Don’t Care’, kicks off with the massive track, Real Ones’, featuring AJ Berning; it’s an ode to authenticity and the ultimate diss track to the superficial.

With relentless rap flows in the verses, which could easily parallel the momentum in Eminem’s bars, infectiously memorable choruses and the perfect balance between the new wave and old school with southern vibes in between, the commercial potential pours from Real Ones. He’s got the flow, he’s got the flex, and he undeniably has what it takes to break into the mainstream. C15 definitely isn’t one to underestimate. Get him on your radar.

C15’s EP, I Don’t Care, is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Retrokid dropped the ultimate contemporary hustler hip hop track with ‘Woke Up to a Check’

Posted on 23 April 2021

‘Woke Up to a Check’ is the lead track from Retrokid’s (AKA Christopher Burgy) debut 2020 hip hop album, ‘Levelling Up’, which he used to establish himself as an artist worth watching. His clever rap flows, connectable charisma and almost psychedelic instrumentals around the 808s draw you right into the essence of his high vibe hustler hip hop style.

The Louisiana-hailing independent artist‘s single has been used as a UFC walkout track, which says a lot about how much hype is in the track that takes old school influence from G Herbo, 2PAC, Dom Kennedy, Dave East. Paired with the music video that allows you to appreciate Retrokid’s playful side, Woke Up to a Check is sure to help Retrokid make his mark on the airwaves.

You can check out the official music video to Woke Up to a Check via YouTube.

Check out Retrokid’s album, Levelling Up on Apple Music.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

J. Vybe offers hip hop fans some good ‘KARMA’ in their debut single featuring Rebecca Irene

Posted on 16 April 2021

Breaking hip hop artist J. Vybe has kicked off 2021 with a blazing start with the release of their debut single, ‘KARMA’, featuring Rebecca Irene, where sharp rap bars cut through the accordance of the jazzy old school beats.With layers of the collaborative artist’s harmonic neo-soul vocals finding the perfect place in the track around J. Vybe’s bars which reel you in hook, line, and sinker, calling KARMA an immersive track seems like a crass understatement.

While the lyrics allow you to put your perspective into… perspective, the beats will give you a safe, warming and soulful space to do it. It’s a genius track that will be a hit with any fans of Eminem’s forceful bars.

You can get some good KARMA for yourselves by heading over to Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Get your soul-fix with Drew Drake’s single ‘Grandmas Hands’.

Posted on 13 April 2021

Breaking artist, actor, poet and educator, Drew Drake’s standout single, ‘Grandmas Hands’ from his debut EP, ‘Golden’, is up there with the most heartfelt hip hop tracks to have ever hit the airwaves.

The open letter to his role model, his Grandma, may be deeply personal, but hearing Drew Drake’s adoration will inspire you to find plenty for the people who have guided you through life and left a positive impact. With a few references to covid struggles in the lyrics, the single is a powerful reminder that our adversity is temporary but cherished memories have the power to inspire us forever.

The soul in the lyrics is paralleled by the RnB hip hop instrumentals that will be a hit for any fans of Lauryn Hill. With choral hooks and lyrical verses that will leave you compelled to squeeze every drop of wisdom out of them, Grandmas Hands is a transfixing track that will happily take you back to better times to remind you that brighter days lie ahead.

Drew Drake’s debut EP, Golden, is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

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

Epic Drip gets raunchy and harmonious with ‘Shawty Bad’

Posted on 22 March 2021
https://soundcloud.com/user-55175291/shawty-bad/s-SyvM2YW2zDV

Epic, a Fayetteville native by way of Germany and Texas, is a self-confessed Michael Jackson Fan. That certainly comes across in ‘Shawty Bad’, a chilled R&B-influenced hip-hop number showcasing Epic’s soft-yet-melodic lyrical voice. It’s got some flow, it’s got lift and bounce, but there’s a harmonic melody line there too that’s straight out of old-school R&B; the gentle lover lover of the music sits in tongue-in-cheek counterpoint to the at-times ‘adults only’ NSFW lyrical bent, in keeping with the dark-vs-light juxtapositional theme of the whole of Epic’s new ‘2 Love or Not 2 Love’ five track EP. It’s sexy, it’s raunchy, and it’s got some serious swag to it.

You can check out ‘Shawty Bad’, and the rest of ‘2 Love or Not 2 Love’ on Soundcloud now; follow Epic Drip on Facebook.

Review by Alex Holmes