Browsing Tag

Summer Hip Hop

Skinny Blacks fired up a new wave of hip-hop with his hypersonically hot track, Getaway Bae

Posted on 20 September 2024

With roots stretching from South London to St. Elizabeth, Jamaica, Skinny Blacks delivered a pulsating summer anthem with Getaway Bae. If you’re searching for a track that hits harder than a heatwave in July, this high-octane single offers everything you’d expect from an artist fusing his Jamaican heritage with trap-heavy beats.

In an era where so much hip-hop sounds formulaic, Skinny Blacks smashes through the monotony with energy levels that could power a city. The track comes with the unrelenting force of a tropical storm, combining rhythmic precision with an edge that demands a replay.

By blending melodic rap with bold trap production, Skinny Blacks crafted an adrenalised hit for the wanderlust generation. Lyrically, it’s an unapologetic testament to being in control of your destiny, and musically, it’s a blueprint for the new direction UK rap is taking. It’s clear Skinny Blacks isn’t just riding the wave – he’s creating his own tsunami in the scene.

Getaway Bae was officially released on September 1st; stream the single on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Rampage Wood scorched the airwaves with luxe hip-hop hit, All Summer

Posted on 9 July 2024

Rampage Wood didn’t come to play in his latest single, All Summer, he came to conquer. Since his 2018 debut, the Arkansas underground has failed to conceal his luminary sound which has amassed a loyal international audience.

All Summer glows with the aesthetics of 00s East Coast hip-hop to belie his Southern roots which pulled through stronger in his earlier material, influenced by the likes of Lil Wayne. With gospel-esque cinematic transcendence enveloping the beats, the hit is sublime on the senses and pushes a unique dynamic behind Wood’s provoking lyricism.

As one of the most cerebral rappers in the game, his flows are finessed with witty intellect; his ability to catch you off-guard with the lyrical gold in every bar is unmatched. With flawless metric precision and swathes of charisma to energise his delivery, you can’t help but get hyped by All Summer, which carries the luxe appeal of Jay-Z’s hits while blazing through the heat in Rampage Wood’s authenticity.

All Summer was officially released on June 3rd, it is now available to stream on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

YTN Tee lit up the UK rap scene with his vibe-heavy hit,  Lightsaber

Posted on 1 June 2024

YTN Tee used ‘the force’ to be a force to be reckoned with in the UK rap scene with his latest track, Lightsaber. With bars that flow with seamless rhythm and cheeky vibe-intense energy, YTN Tee carved a fresh edge into the industry through his roguishly razor-sharp wit. The only thing bigger than the expansively styled beats which paint across the hip-hop spectrum, produced by AyP, is YTN Tee’s presence in the mix as he waxes lyrical and never wanes.

Instead of joining the hip-hop flock and delivering hard and heavy lyrics, Lightsaber hits hard with the mischievously infectious buzz that reverberates throughout the single that will undoubtedly become the sunny-side-up hip-hop anthem of the summer. The track and music video flawlessly capture the spontaneous creativity that allowed the serotonin-soaked hit to pull together in a few days; it’s an explosion of uninhibited energy that sticks in the memory and strips away negativity. With an underpinned message life is what you make it, you’ll want to join YTN Tee at the vanguard of unabashed positivity as soon as you surrender to the groove.

Lightsaber is a culmination of YTN Tee’s experience in the industry. He started to cut his teeth at age 15 as a freestyler; since honing his talents, he’s racked up over 500k streams on his seminal release, Wazzup, and featured on BBC Introducing Northampton and 1Xtra. As only the start of what’s to come in 2024, YTN Tee isn’t an artist you will want to sleep on.

Lightsaber was officially released on May 29; stream the single on all major platforms via this link or watch the official music video, shot by SA, on YouTube.

Follow YTN Tee on Instagram.

 

Review by Amelia Vandergast

KillaHrtz – Delusional: Let Your Logic Slip with the Hottest Hip-Hop Hit of the Summer

Posted on 29 May 2024

Delusional by KillaHrtz featuring Ronnie Quest and Jibril is drenched in a hazy heat and anchored in rhythmically rich textures. Starting with sultry Latin guitars, this single is poised to be the hottest hip-hop hit of the summer – literally and figuratively. The lyrics artfully explore how easily lust can lead to delusion, while the beats provide a foundation of impossible-to-resist organic danceable rhythms

Produced by KillaHrtz and Empedoklez, Delusional exemplifies the seamless blend of style and soul. KillaHrtz, a versatile producer based in Los Angeles, is renowned for his exceptional sound quality and production skills. As the founder of KillaHrtz Productions, he brings a unique, positive energy to every project, making him a sought-after collaborator in the industry.

The dynamic vocal performances from Ronnie Quest and Jibril further elevate the track as the sensually tropical vibes of Delusional invite listeners to let their logic slip and fully immerse themselves in the hot and heavy experience. With its infectious grooves and cultivated lyrical cadence, Delusional is a standout release that will undoubtedly dominate summer playlists.

As KillaHrtz prepares to release more singles and an eagerly anticipated EP project in 2024, Delusional sets a high bar and leaves us eager for what’s next.

Delusional is now available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Spotlight Feature: Poet Initiative served up summer in his melodic RnB hip-hop EP Ocean Drive

Posted on 26 July 2023
Poet Initiative

After starting his creative journey as a poet, the London, UK-residing artist Poet Initiative took the initiative to establish himself as one of the most versatile hip-hop artists in the UK. His earwormy melodies are accentuated by the influence of Reggaeton, Japanese hip-hop, Korean hip-hop and the UK garage scene. To get a taste of his freshly honed sonic flavour, delve into his debut 4-track EP, Ocean Drive.

While many artists are quick to describe themselves as versatile, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more dynamic release than this. With grooves strong enough to elevate any mood, Ocean Drive reached the pinnacle of a universal playlist staple. With the good vibes and even better rhythmics, Ocean Drive is a stellar seminal EP that hits sweet spots you didn’t know existed.

Poet Initiative said:

“Ocean Drive reflects my evolving sound. I’ve always found myself caught between wanting to create music you can dance to but also kick back to. The catchy hooks and warm melodies in my EP combine that.

This EP is underpinned by the overarching message to have fun, be yourself, enjoy those long summer nights, party in the sunshine, and make the most of those moments’ life gives you.”

Ocean Drive will be available on all major platforms on July 26th. Pre-save the single on Spotify.

Keep up to date with the latest releases from Poet Initiative on Instagram and TikTok.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

ADZii BOii put Scotland on the alt-hip-hop map with ‘Pleasure Beach’

Posted on 7 July 2023
ADZii BOii

ADZii BOii put Scotland on the alt-hip-hop map with his latest single, Pleasure Beach, which sun-soaked the airwaves on July 7th.

After getting airplay from BBC Radio Scotland with the title single to his debut album, Colours, he’s in equally as colourful form on Pleasure Beach, which mixes up the archetypal urban instrumentals by including saturated in delay guitars, the radiant hues of organs and sleek piano keys.

With more charisma and tongue-in-cheek charm than Limmy in his salaciously rhythmic rap bars, ADZii BOii is apologetic in his lothario-like lyricality, and Pleasure Beach is all the more electrifying for it. If you want to head to Portobello Beach without heading to Edinburgh, hit play and let the wavy melodies soak you in.

Stream Pleasure Beach on Spotify and follow ADZii BOii on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Join Black Prez & Shaun Reynolds on cloud nine with the high-vibe hip-hop staple, Feel Good

Posted on 24 June 2023

With the million streams mark way behind him in the rearview mirror, few contemporary hip-hop artists share the success of the Berlin-born, LA-based, songwriter and actor, Black Prez.

After playing shows with everyone from Big Sean to G-Unit, getting sync deals with Netflix & HBO and his hits featuring on Fast & Furious, Call of Duty and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skaker, he stepped into the studio with Shaun Reynolds to collaborate on the hot summer single, Feel Good.

Showing the sunniest sides of their cheeky devil-may-care dispositions, Feel Good is an infectious serotonin-spilling celebration of positivity. While the lyrics show you how to compartmentalise negative energy, the pop-instilled keys and horns tabs paint blissfully euphoric melodies to implant you on cloud nine alongside Prez and Reynolds. Who said perfection can’t exist in music?

Get Feel Good into rotation by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

DOM – SDA ft Erica Banks: Female Empowerment Has Never Been Fiercer.

Posted on 8 June 2023
https://youtu.be/yYsjwlBrdCs

Collaborating with her fellow Texas flow queen, Erica Banks, the Houston hip-hop heavyweight, DOM, rolled with all the party-rocking punches in her latest single, SDA.

The Missy Elliot-esque energy as the collaborating artists rap their unfuckwithable-with-attitude and empowering bars ensured that the vox are just as big as the beats in this exemplification of the heights hip-hop acts should strive for in 2023.

Aggression may be the overarching emotion in SDA, but written within the infectious energy is an affirmation that no one will hand you the power and bodily autonomy; you’ve got to take it for yourselves and own it as well as DOM and Erica Banks did in SDA.

As a singer, producer, rapper, and co-owner of VgnBae Music Group and Studios, DOM has exactly what it takes to hold dominion over the Houston hip-hop scene.

Watch the official music video for SDA via YouTube or stream it on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

O Banga put momentum behind the rhythm of the night in his culture clash of a rap track, POZÉ

Posted on 31 May 2023

With elements of Dancehall to pay an ode to his Dominica roots mixed with a slice of Bronx grit in the production, the latest single, POZÉ, from the songwriter, musician, producer and engineer O Banga, is the epitome of a high-fire urban summer anthem. There’s nothing but high vibes, big beats, intricately rhythmic instrumentals and pure soul spilling from his honeyed vocal lines.

POZÉ is just one of the singles that feature on the sun-bleached rocksteady LP, TONIO; it is the perfect introduction to the fire and flair of the one-man powerhouse of talent, who has also made a name for himself working as a producer for major So Cal artists and icons of the reggae scene and toured with Lil Kim. The monocultural mould breaker has been one to watch ever since he dropped his debut uptown Bronx anthem, Deadass. If he’s not on your radar at this point, fool on you.

POZÉ hit the airwaves on May 20; hear it on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Nu Deal x Cityboidre – Going Live, featuring O. Reynolds: Prepare Your Summer Hip Hop Playlists

Posted on 19 August 2022

‘Going Live’ is the latest urban genre-fluid track from the Orlando, Florida production company, Nu Deal Music Group, which platforms and promotes talents from across the states to Nigeria.

Chicago’s Cityboidre and Orlando’s O. Reynolds made sure that the collaborative chemistry flowed through the definitive summer hit, which doesn’t break the wheel; instead, it adds some exotic Afrobeat dancehall flavour to classic hip hop signatures.

Any fans of Vybz Kartel, Spice, Elephant Man, and Bounty Killer will want to make Going Live a firm fixture of their summer hip hop playlists. The sun-kissed and enigmatic vibes take are taken to evocative new heights with the infectiously bright energy and the polished production.

The official music video for Going Live premiered on July 29th; check it out here.

Review by Amelia Vandergast