Browsing Tag

RnB Trap

Tea Sea mixes up a big pot of groove on new single ‘Vitals’

Posted on 23 March 2021

Taking a set of playful, poetic lyrics and mixing them up with a watertight groove and bounce, and a chunk of metaphor-heavy imagery, and deliver it all with a non-stop energy and flow, and you’ve pretty much got the recipe for this serving of tea (sea). ‘Vitals’ is a tale of lost-love set to an R&B-tinged hip hop backbeat, equal parts Kendrick Lamar, XXXTentacion, Childish Gambino, and The Weekend.

There’s elements of old-school heroes in here too – Biggie, Dre, Mos Def, and Eminem all feature in Tea Sea’s quickfire wordplay, while there’s elements of soul and eighties street hip hop in the backing beats.

With an official video/visualiser steeped (geddit?) in eighties video effects and 8-bit arcade game visuals, Tea Sea brings us a nice little slice of retro-modern here in ‘Vitals’.

Check out the video for ‘Vitals’ on YouTube; follow Tea Sea on Instagram.

Review by Alex Holmes

PANDDA delivers smooth, steady alt-RnB sincerity with their latest single ‘Rose Gold’

Posted on 6 March 2021

There was no forgetting PANDDA after being introduced to their futuristic approach to RnB pop in 2018 through their single ‘Ultimatum’, no RnB artist has been able to parallel their perfect balance of expression and accessibility either.

Their latest sticky-sweet earworm, ‘Rose Gold’, proves just how right we were to get excited about PANDDA’s melodically fresh sound. This time, it’s the lyrics which bowled us over. Usually, RnB tracks released around Valentine’s day work like TV adverts which sell us insecurity and insignificance. PANDDA completely obliterated that narrative with lyrics such as “you really don’t need nobody else, doing just fine by yourself, if there’s anything you want you can buy it yourself, if there’s anywhere you wanna go, fly yourself”.

The smooth and steady vocals allow the lyrics to resound with sincerity, the matter-of-fact meditative delivery makes it impossible to argue with the introspection.

Rose Gold is available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Shojon has released their salaciously smooth RnB Pop single ‘Theorem’

Posted on 31 December 2020

A trappy R&B-styled mix of pop and soul, with some delicious sampled guitar lines and a salaciously smooth vocal from South London native Shojon – from his forthcoming project ‘Greenwich Views’ – is a sleek little mid-tempo track, polished and velvety with plenty to showcase Shojon’s chilled flow and urban, emo-rap style.

Shojon’s already making waves in the South London scene, following collaborations with Lady Leshurr, Maxsta, and Nolay, a performance at the O2 Academy in Islington, and over 150k Spotify streams; now, with a concept video directed by Craig Heathcote – a man well-known for producing storytelling ‘real-life’ videos giving a voice to marginalised and LGBTQ+ communities in London. Shojon’s ‘Theorem’ takes a walk through part love-story, part mental health journey, the video itself showing a modern day cupid balancing the emotions of those he comes across on a Greenwich walk. Shojon currently works with the mental health charity Mind to raise awareness for mental health issues; ‘Theorem’ is a cracker of a track that should go a long way to doing that all by itself.

You can see the video for ‘Theorem’ on YouTube, and follow Shojon here or on Facebook.

Review by Alex Holmes

Lucky Santana says ‘Next’

Posted on 8 December 2020

Hailing from San Francisco’s Bay Area, Lucky Santana’s single ‘Next’ is a lyrical tale of relationship breakdown, and the rebuilding of confidence in the aftermath.

A mix of hip hop and R&B, Santana’s songs are unashamedly self-examining, focusing inward and looking toward the future with self-confidence and assurance, exploring vulnerability and emotion.

Inspired by the greats such as Michael Jackson, Santana has performed with his brothers and as an actor, and aims to empower others to accept their emotions, work through their struggles, and pursue their dreams; ‘Next’ is a perfect example of that goal, a trappy, hip hop affair with laid back vocal delivery and stripped back, walking synth parts over a bed of chilled, laid-back beats.

Check out Lucky Santana on Spotify now.

Review by Alex Holmes

Cigarra – Deathwish (Prod. Blingbwoy and Sammyboy)

Posted on 25 November 2020

Starting with a lovely chilled sampled voiceover before the gorgeous trappy beats kick in, Cigarra’s ‘Deathwish’ is one-and-a-half minutes of perfect old-school hip hop, all laid back vocal over spangly, sparkly sequenced melody and sublime gated snare beats.

CIgarra hails from Tampa, Florida, and ‘Deathwish’ has that beautiful, relaxed West Coast vibe, all summery flow and carefree, breezy composition. Free and easy without ever feeling over-nonchalent, ‘Deathwish’ is a scintillating, vivacious bite of accomplished art which truly showcases Cigarra’s musical craft.

Hear ‘Deathwish’ on Soundcloud, and follow Cigarra on Instagram and YouTube.

Review by Alex Holmes

AHEARTTHING offers reflectively cathartic Alt Ambience with ‘Open Road Floetry’

Posted on 15 November 2020

AHEARTTHING’s latest Alt-Indie Electronica single ‘Open Road Floetry’ is already well on its way to becoming viral after its release on October 30th, with the aural comfort which drips from the warm nostalgia-borrowing tones, it’s easy to see why.

It feels like the artist captured the mood of the globe with this reflectively cathartic feat of Ambience.

The electronic mix incorporates elements of Hip Hop, RnB and Neo-Soul while AHEARTTHING’s vocals add a playfully beguiling sense of consolation and compassion as he reaches out to everyone else who feels as though they’re simply existing.

Float away from your situational apathy and sink into this stunningly accessible release.

You can check out Open Road Floetry for yourselves by heading over to YouTube now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Feel the love with Kev Cartier’s ardently smooth Hip Hop track “Bomb” featuring Ammo

Posted on 25 October 2020

The chaos in 2020 didn’t strip the romanticism out of RnB Hip Hop, one of the most amorously smooth tracks which dropped this year was undoubtedly Kev Cartier’s passion-soaked hit ‘Bomb’ featuring Ammo.

The light and indulgent sun-kissed rhythms work alongside Kev Cartier’s sultry RnB vocals to offer rhythmic entrancement and plenty of ardent emotion which won’t fail to fill your soul as you listen to the high-vibe choruses.

Despite the accessibility of Bomb, with the contemporary and slick production, there’s no denying that the mix encapsulates the very best of contemporary RnB Hip Hop. Kev Cartier is definitely one to watch.

You can check out the official music video to Kev Cartier’s single Bomb by heading over to YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Relive your digital traumas with RnB Pop artist Jace Heyman’s debut single “Drunk Text”

Posted on 22 October 2020

If you’ve ever sent a life-ruining drunk text, Jace Heyman’s debut single may bring back some raw memories, but the smooth melodious rhythms offer plenty of consolation.

The Hertford-based R&B singer-songwriter’s debut perfectly encapsulates that hideous feeling of still being in love with someone and feeling your heart break a little bit more when you know that you can’t convey those emotions anymore.

With a sound which grooves along with the contemporary curve and the fact that their first release has added a distinctive voice onto the airwaves, it’s hard not to be excited by the prospect of Jace Heyman’s sophomore single.

Drunk Text is available to stream on all major services via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Lucas Ramsell: “Instagram Models” – Life through a Lens.

Posted on 28 August 2020

Lucas Ramsell is a London-based Hip-Hop/RnB artist, mixing his confessional indie inspired lyrics with sharp urban production.

Prior to lockdown, Ramsell had just come off a run of gigs including The Alternative Escape, Cargo and O2 Academy2 Islington with his group DBA; now he’s dropped ‘Lockdown: The Playlist’, a collection of ‘ten tracks, ten different vibes’, all put together with Ramsell’s vocals atop instrumental tracks composed by his friend and collaborator the multi-platinum producer Jackson Romain (Gunna, Chris Brown, Offset). ‘Instagram Models’ is laid back urban RnB, an edgy urban vocal in the style of Skepta or AJ Tracey over chilled vibes from Romain, telling the story of a world of influencers, photo-ops, and falsehood; Ramsell’s London, in four-minute microcosm.

You can check out Instagram Models via Spotify.

Review by Alex Holmes

Jesenia – Made It: Feisty Fresh RnB

Posted on 28 August 2020
https://soundcloud.com/jesenia4eva/made-it-prod-cuschicooks

Up and coming artist Jesenia has proven just how much feisty attitude can be thrown into RnB with her latest single Made It.

There’s nothing quite like succeeding despite the lack of faith from other people. With Made It, Jesenia perfectly captures that gratifying feeling of being able to say “Bitch I made it”.

Producer Harry Cuschieri AKA cuschicooks ensured that the smooth RnB Trap beats matched Jesenia’s fresh and strong approach to the genre. The soundscape may take some unconventional instrumental turns. But the exhibition of ingenuity will leave you transfixed by the track which drips with style, empowering conviction and magnetic energy which you’d be hard-pressed to find another track offering. Get her on your radar.

You can check out Jesenia’s single Made It for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast