Browsing Tag

urban

I AM Cricchi unveiled his soul in his genre-defying journey of an LP, The Road Back

Posted on 9 May 2024

In his fourth album, The Road Back, the chart-topping urban evocateur I AM Cricchi locked and loaded enough heavy emotional artillery to wage war on the airwaves. The release is a continuation of his commitment to drawing out poison through self-expression, resulting in a visceral anthology that fervently spans the entire emotional spectrum. Stylistically, Cricchi organically matches the psychological dynamism by seamlessly shifting between and melding elements of hip-hop, country, trap, RnB and pop; never assimilating his influences, Will Smith, Nelly, Kid Rock, John Mayer, Alan Jackson, Jelly Roll and Colt Ford, but emulating their ability to melodically envelop you within their emotional projections.

Even after the opening single, Deep Thoughts, the weight of the album that strips the Maryland-born, Texas-based artist’s soul bare, rests heavy. Yet, none of the vulnerable confessionalism within the lyrics or aching sonic motifs feels overbearing or oppressive. Instead, you fall into his world, living vicariously through the palpably cathartic dialectics, torn between intense empathy and revelling in the resonance in his authentic performance as he relives the raw feelings that became precipices to lyrically jump off.

I Gotta Grow is one of the testaments to the resilience required to overcome addiction, envision a better life and fulfil it; after losing himself to substance abuse, Cricchi practices what he preaches; it may not be your average gospel, but it can lead anyone walking to that path to salvation. Fortitude is a theme that echoes throughout the release which expertly uses euphonic acoustic elements and spatial effects to open up enough room for the emotional core for each of the singles to break through to the surface and stick with you for long after the final track fades.

Featuring a stellar line-up of collaborators, including Gringo the MC in Current Situation, Bubbly Galloway in Some Days, Jordan Meyer in Emotions, and Pirscription in Sorry I’m Late, The Road Back is a rare record where you won’t dare to skip a track.

The Road Back LP dropped on May 3rd; stream the emotionally expansive release on Spotify.

Read our interview with I AM Cricchi here.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Chiron Loxton rolled evocatively deep in his alt-rap track, The Importance of Incorporating Healthy Outlets

Posted on 22 October 2023

After delivering one of the hottest electro-house hip-hop drops of the summer with his single, Ibiza, the alt-rap trailblazer Chiron Loxton’s mood has changed with the weather in his introspectively raw single, The Importance of Incorporating Healthy Outlets.

Stunning, dark, and haunting in equal measure, the intricate instrumentals set the ambience and atmosphere for Loxton’s grimey rap bars to storm through, making it impossible not to lock into the candour and precision of the canter as the rap luminary attests to the necessity of creativity.

It’s a window into the experience of the artist, Loxton’s determination to keep his sanctity on the straight and narrow and perhaps most importantly, a manifesto on how to keep negativity at bay. If the Somerset, UK-hailing artist isn’t on your radar already, save space on it and await more hits which have the force to shift your perceptions into enlightenment.

The Importance of Incorporating Healthy Outlets dropped on October 13; stream it on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Jaeya poured the perfect sonic summer cocktail in her genre-fluid hit, 510

Posted on 9 September 2023

Taken from her seminal retrowave hip-hop EP, BAYANI, the up-and-coming artist, Jaeya’s slick with sublime style standout single, 510, is a melodic cruise through ingenuity and gripping grooves that will hold your rhythmic pulses like a vice.

Her sun-kissed amalgamation of RnB pop vox and tropic hip-hop beats unravels as the perfect sonic summer cocktail that you can savour time after time to devour her witty wordplay and the introspection that allows her bars to hit so resonantly hard.

Even at a young age, the Bay Area Filipinx artist’s creativity knows relatively few bounds; she’s made herself known in Cali and beyond for her songwriting and emcee skills. Her debut EP flawlessly exhibits her cultural contribution to the music industry, and her ability to fuse urban genres until they’re an intoxicating pool of refreshingly curve-transcending bliss.

Stream 510 on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Lana Volkov shared her ‘Fast Lane Fever’ in her debut trap track, ft Ayobaro

Posted on 4 September 2023

By putting the melodies in her debut trap pop track, Fast Lane Fever, into first gear, the up-and-coming artist Lana Volkov only needed half the duration of your average pop hit to craft the ultimate driving anthem.

With the collaborating artist Ayobaro in the passenger seat, Volkov orchestrated a sultry testament to her ability to stay in her own lane when it comes to creativity. The hypnotic textures within Fast Lane Fever will pull you right into the alluringly immersive mix that seamlessly progresses from hyper-pop momentum to trippy wavey ambient interludes that allow sensuality to take the wheel.

If her sound is this polished in her debut release, we can’t wait to hear what is in the pipeline; she ticks all the right trap boxes with her intoxicating vocals, absorbing melodies and infectiously siren-esque energy.

Fast Lane Fever hit the airwaves on 11th August; stream it on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Spotlight Feature: EM$o turned on the bright lights in his redemptive reggaeton release, Dark Rooms

Posted on 10 February 2023
EM$o

The candid uncut nature of EM$o’s debut LP, Differences, was a promising sign of more expositional visceral hits in the pipeline. He more than delivered with Dark Rooms. The rhythmically disarming reggaeton single strips the glorification from self-destruction and glamourizes growth. You can’t afford not to have him as a role model. In 3-minutes, EM$o takes you on the emotional journey of a lifetime.

After growing up in one of the most dangerous cities in Europe, EM$o knew he had to break away from the past, but distance and growth weren’t enough to cut the haunting ties forged through anxiety, depression, and addiction. His latest single, with the accompanying music, video artfully unravels his redemption arc. From insular isolation to embracing gratitude and willingness to make the most out of his life, the bright lights were turned on. Dark Rooms shows you how to find the switch.

“Dark Rooms is a tribute to a very special woman who went through hell trying to prevent me from doing something stupid and fatal. After my past life in the streets, I was severely depressed. Days would pass I did little more than drink in my house to numb the pain.

She walked into my life, everything became easy and moments of happiness were achievable – while sober. She empowered me to get healthier, better, stronger, and more resilient. As much as this is a tribute, it is also an ask for forgiveness and acknowledgement that she walked through the fire for me, despite the burns from her past.”

The song was written, recorded and mixed in EM$o’s home studio and mastered by Slade Templeton at Influx Studios. The official video was shot and produced by Tec. and Film.

The single and the official music video will release on February 10th. Check it out on all major streaming services via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

King Nick Rob shares the heat in his latest lascivious rap track, Poppy Show

Posted on 28 August 2022

King Nick Rob perceptibly saved his best sonic moves for his RnB hip hop track, Poppy Show. The slick with seduction dancehall grooves are just as aphrodisiacal as the bars that perfectly capture the heat of the moment, but this sexually-charged rendezvous delves far beyond superficial affection, becoming the ultimate drunk-in-love hip hop playlist staple for 2022.

Even at this early stage of his career, the Long Island, NY native is proving that he’s got what it takes to smooth talk (harmonise) his way into the charts.

Poppy Show is now available via SoundCloud and Apple Music.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Nate Dingo takes us to the movies in his latest cinematic single ft. Kmwurld & YDZ

Posted on 28 July 2021

Newark, NJ-based breaking artist Nate Dingo is starting to make major waves with his signature infusion of Afrobeat, RnB, pop and hip hop. If he is not already on your radar, his latest single, Movie, featuring Kmwurld & YDZ is the perfect introduction.

Movie is a sultry downtempo feat of tropic hip hop complete with jazzy grooves that throwback to old school, but with Nate Dingo’s boldly authentic approach, he has exactly what it takes to define the future of hip hop.

Tracks like Moves is what the phrase ‘it’s a vibe’ should have been invented for.

The official music video premiered on June 28th; it is available to stream via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Taurean Meacham has released their chillingly soulful Hip Hop single ‘Seth’ feat. Aka J. Gatsby

Posted on 19 December 2020

Every now and again, I discover an artist who affirms that I’m not as aurally jaded as I often proclaim to be, the goosebumps left by Taurean Meacham’s single ‘Seth’ featuring Aka J. Gatsby was one of those rare aural gems which reminded me of my capacity to feel at music’s command.

Seth is just one of the singles which can be found on The Hawaiian-based RnB HipHop artist’s 2020 album ‘BLAKK RADIKAL’. Soul radiates through the Old School-inspired production through the sensually dreamy instrumentals and, of course, through Taurean Meacham’s conscious lyricism. Even if I listened to Seth 1,000 times, I have no doubt I would be able to pick new wisdom out of the lyrics. It’s pure urban poetry and it would be criminal for Taurean Meacham’s powerful introspection to be overlooked.

Labelling the track as mesmeric wouldn’t be an over-exaggeration.

You can check out Taurean Meacham’s chillingly soulful Hip Hop album for yourselves by heading over to Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Reject your nihilism with Etoile Marley’s alchemically eclectic track ‘LockItDown’

Posted on 1 December 2020

I would probably sell my soul to be able to exude as much confidence and positivity as Etoile Marley did in her latest release ‘LockItDown’ which throws back to 70s Funk Rock, weaves in elements of Neo Soul and finds its structure around Old School Hip Hop.

The jazzy-soul driven hit is practically an intervention, you’ll feel any lingering apathy or pessimism evading you as soon as you hit play. LockItDown is an accordantly high-vibe hit, but it makes no bones about confronting you with the very real fact that you’re in charge of your mentality.

Only an artist with an insurmountable amount of talent and vision could blend elements of Hip Hop, Blues Rock and Dark Pop to such an alchemic effect. It’s safe to say that you’re going to want her on your radar.

You can check out LockItDown via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

Hip Hop artist 18degreeznorth takes us to school with their hypnotically distinctive track “College”

Posted on 11 November 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILJrez3OuDw&feature=youtu.be&ab_channel=18degreeznorth

“College” is the second single to drop from 18degreeznorth’s upcoming EP “Sinless Mixtape” which relays hard-hitting resonant rap bars in the up and coming artist’s hypnotically distinctive style.

The artist’s Caribbean verses run through as smooth as butter while the bass-riding beats bring a strong rhythmic pulse to the release which drips with Hip Hop nostalgia, all the while offering a fresh contemporary Trap sound which you would be hard-pressed to find to find elsewhere.

College definitely isn’t lacking in conviction. Yet, the most striking component to the mix is the soul offered by the accessibly magnetic artist who we hope to hear much more from in 2020 and beyond.

You can check out the official animated music video to 18degreeznorth’s single College which premiered on Oct 28th via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast