Browsing Tag

RnB Trap Pop

Bari Mcknight synthed away the pain of ephemeral affection in ‘SUMMER THINGS’

Posted on 28 August 2024

Two things are guaranteed every summer: swathes of stellar summer pop hits and the inevitable ashes of quick-to-burn romances. In his latest single, SUMMER THINGS, the independent artist, Bari Mcknight, brought one of the former and consoled casualties of the latter by fusing echoes of Afrobeat with catchy pop hooks, the soul of stylistically synth-driven RnB and a trappy beat, resulting in an irresistible earworm which is weighted in evocative realism, contrasting the dreamy etherealism of the track.

If the lingering sting of ephemeral affection is making the onslaught of autumn feel that much colder, SUMMER THINGS is the ultimate source of salvation. The echoes of The Weeknd’s aesthetic coursing through the neon-lit, synaesthesia-inducing production leaves enough room for Mcknight’s sonic signature which is scribing his legacy – one hit at a time.

It’s rare to find a pop track with the potential to dominate the charts while resonating with the sincerity of a diary entry, but that’s exactly what the New Jersey-residing independent artist achieved in SUMMER THINGS, which features on his latest album, Summer of Love; a curated anthology of laidback melodies and relatable narratives.

SUMMER THINGS dropped on August 2nd; stream the single on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

DNA unveiled the UK RnB debut you don’t want to miss with the dualistically stylistic hit, Love or Let Go

Posted on 23 March 2024

Whether you keep hanging on to a relationship that is showing no lifelines or are too hesitant to let down your barriers, DNA’s alt-indie RnB hit, Love or Let Go, will give you all the permission you need to move forward with no inhibition.

Between the grooves of the Latin guitars and the jarringly immersive electronic aesthetic that rocks turbulence behind the solid backbeat, DNA constructed the perfect platform to sonically visualise the emotional themes of Love or Let Go and carry the weight of his hot and heavy vocal lines.

With his vocal dynamism that shifts effortlessly from Hozier-esque timbres to light pop harmonies to electronically distorted dominance, the UK-based up-and-coming talent ensured that he was more than a new entry in the UK RnB scene; he exhibited himself as an RnB heavyweight right out of the gate. We can’t wait to hear what follows.

Love or Let Go will hit all major streaming platforms on March 22; hear it on SoundCloud first.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Victorrio came in hot & heavy with his alt-RnB debut, I Would Never

Posted on 10 March 2024

Victorrio’s debut single, I Would Never, marks a compelling entrance into the alt-RnB scene. He came in hot and heavy with the narrative journey which bares his battle scars and weaves through the complexities of romantic turmoil with a finesse that belies his newcomer status.

It’s a genre-defying piece, effortlessly melding elements of stylised soul with a trappy backbeat and pop-inflected production. The brooding effects that add layers of depth and intrigue will undoubtedly resonate with fans of The Weeknd, yet Victorrio carved out his own niche within this familiar territory while exploring the darker side of love. If you’ve ever been burned in ways that leave you perplexed by a romantic partner’s capacity for ruthless malevolence, I Would Never is the ultimate aural salve for heartless iniquity.

To make I Would Never even more affecting, his voice, smooth yet commanding, delivers each line with an alchemic mix of vulnerability and strength and each verse unravels as an intimate vignette. By using his experimentalism as a narrative device which mirrors the track’s tormented thematic elements, I Would Never became haunting and alluring, innovative and introspective in equal measure. Naturally, we can’t wait to hear what follows.

I Would Never was officially released on February 9th; stream the single on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Essilfie took gospel out of the church with her lush trap hit, Prayed Up

Posted on 13 August 2023

Since making her debut, the Ghanaian soul and R&B singer-songwriter, Essilfie, has established herself as one of the most dynamic artists in the game. With no genre off the table, anticipating her next move is impossible, but it is always effortless to get in the groove of her latest releases; take her latest trap and hip-hop-infused hit, Prayed Up as the perfect example.

The gritty conviction in her spoken-word rap bars is only matched by the lush sultry appeal of the reverb that spills from the instrumentals in the single that breaks the monocultural could for starters and obliterates genre and geographical boundaries for a triadic triumphant exhibition of authenticity.

As luxe as a Jay Z hip-hop production, as soulful as a Sade single, and as introspective as, well, she set her own bar here, the single that speaks through an alter-ego to traverse themes of resilience and faith is one to meditate on.

Check out Prayed Up on all major streaming platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Jundae Hassan is a diamond in the rough in his vibe-driven RnB debut

Posted on 13 April 2022

Taken from his debut album, Good Vibes Only, Jundae Hassan’s standout single, Diamonds, is an evocative vibe-driven feat of experimentally bold RnB hip hop.

He promised good vibes only in his debut LP; he notably delivered in the tenderly sweet track, Diamonds which is decorated in unbridled soul and the kind of trap pop ingenuity that makes Hassan a worthy contender for the 2022 billboard charts.

After this extremely promising debut, it is safe to assume that Jundae Hassan is primed and ready to make a serious impression on the airwaves. We can’t wait to hear what follows.

You can check out Hassan’s debut LP for yourselves by heading over to Spotify or Apple Music.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

TUNJI ALADE breaks the monocultural mould with his alt-RnB track, Closer

Posted on 5 April 2022
TUNJI ALADE

New York’s most experimental RnB artist, TUNJI ALADE, is fresh from the innovative release of his latest single, Closer, which moves old school soul into a trippy new wave trap pop territory.

While breaking the monocultural mould with his exotic Asian melodies, ALADE runs with his own distinctive vocal style that bridges the gap between trap, pop, RnB and Afrobeat. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but anyone that commends visceral high vibes and true originality in their RnB will easily be able to make a playlist staple of Closer.

Listen to TUNJI ALADE’s latest release here.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Moodytlb ignites sparks in his seductive Afrobeat hit, NAUGHTY

Posted on 2 March 2022

For his latest single, NAUGHTY, the Nigerian-born-and-raised singer-songwriter and artist, Moodytlb collaborated with the equally sensational Yvng Chriis to create a smooth, trappy Afrobeat hit that will get you more than ready for summer and the salacious sparks that ignite under the summer sun.

Since making his debut with his single, Letter to Aisha, in 2019, Moodytlb has come a long way in polishing his distinctive style and ensuring that the soul he pours into all of his mixes resonates. Each of his tracks is deeply personal, created as a means of expression, and produced to help others make sense of their feelings. On that basis, Moodytlb became one of our first loves in 2022. We can’t wait to see how far his gorgeously candid style takes him.

NAUGHTY is now available to streams on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Tanner Molique puts emotion into ‘Motion’ in his latest RnB hip hop track

Posted on 1 February 2022

It is all about the vibe in Tanner Molique’s discography of tracks. The LA-hailing artist strives to make music to drive, think and be intimate to; he discernibly succeeded based on his first 2022 single, Motion. The hazy lo-fi RnB Hip Hop track gives you plenty of ambience and reverb to sink into while you follow the grooves in the trappy melodies. It’s almost enough to conjure imagery of a neon-lit urban cruise through bustling metropolitan streets as Motion mellifluously runs through the sexually charged progressions.

Motion is the ultimate testament to Molique’s emotionally charged ethos as a songwriter and artist who seeks to evoke emotion by delivering evocative content hand over fist.

Motion was officially released on January 14th; it is now available to stream and purchase via Apple Music.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The dynamic collective of emcees, High Frequency, have released their seminally sweet RnB pop track, Part Ways.

Posted on 6 November 2021

High Frequency’s latest single, ‘Part Ways’, is potentially the sweetest RnB pop breakup track to have ever hit the airwaves. Between the melodic sticky sweet indie instrumentals, the sentimental lyrics which run through the inner turmoil that transpired in spite of the affection and the velvety smooth vocals, you’d need to be dead from the soul down not to feel the weight in this frankly genius hit.

High Frequency is a music collective featuring five true-to-their-own-style emcees who respectively bring their hometown influence to the table, resulting in a mash of Memphis rap, NYC grooves, 90s hip hop flows, modern trap styles and modern gospel roots. We can’t wait to hear more infatuation-worthy tracks from this powerhouse of a collective.

Part Ways is due for official release on November 6th. You can check it out for yourselves on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

Izzy St. Shaw takes the lead with the melody-driven RnB trap track, Money Long.

Posted on 26 October 2021
https://youtu.be/-NsRUXOuFn4

Texas-born, Atlanta-based RnB trailblazer Izzy St. Shaw has dropped his trippiest track to date with the release of his modern twist on Southern roots, Money Long. Whatever mindset you are in when you hit play, Money Long will make it sweeter as it explores the paradoxical place of money in our lives.

The wavy lo-fi RnB trap pop track comes as a result of Shaw’s eclectic affinity for Coldplay, Tame Impala and Kendrick Lamar, and, of course, his authentic talent that we can’t wait to hear more of. He’s got the soul, he’s got the style, and the lyrical intellect. What more could you possibly ask for?

The official video for Money Long dropped on October 14th; you can check it out for yourselves via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast