Carry On shows us that positivity and hope don’t have to be these soft, tender things that are only talked about in more approachable pop tunes, but that they can serve an integral purpose in hip-hop as well.
Singles
Had To Grind draws strength from the simple fact that ‘Struggle has made more winners than privilege ever could’. That intro sets the bar high in itself, and the track that follows absolutely keeps it up there
That’s the great thing about this song, it follows its own rules depending on what each moment needs. For the most part, this thick yet mellow, eighties style groove drives things – giving the song a mildly nostalgic feel, but at the same time still allowing it to hold close to this fresh and uplifting new sound.
Koinz does his own thing but holds close to the factors that first inspired an interest in the art-form, and David Blaine speaks volumes for that approach. A quality track that we’ll likely be hearing a fair bit of over the coming weeks and months.
Jaeden Zoe has the sort of naturally soulful and powerful leading voice that could carry just about any pop song through with weight and intention. Her latest single, Cabana Love, just so happens to emerge as bringing together a range of unexpected influences, furthering her reach as an artist and offering a genuinely enjoyable and refreshing groove.
Sleep Pills seeks to let the artist feel understood, but at the same time – it reaches out to understand those who live in a similar way; those who consistently burn the candle at both ends. It works well in this respect, becoming the kind of alternative anthem to make isolation feel less unsettling.
Love Ghost are a young band who already seem to have mastered the art of writing a great song. Their latest release, Mr Blue, is one that skillfully fuses addictive riffs, high energy, and superb melodies – resulting in a song that feels fresh yet stylistically rooted in the rock sounds of a simpler time.
The song doesn’t seek to divide further or to exclude anyone, instead it speaks of similarities, and it talks of the negative impact of feeding the fire – resolving again with the idea of us heading towards a bleak future unless everyone takes steps towards something better.
Despite the somewhat energetic aura implied by the title, Dance For Me is a surprisingly mellow track – a laid back groove and a distorted bass-line help craft something fairly characterful yet undoubtedly rooted in the pop sounds of a simpler time.
BLM is an addictively smooth and somewhat classic sounding track that tips its hat to the legends of yesteryear. M.O.A.S is thoughtful with his bars, you can hear a depth of perspective and that lets these connect on a whole new level.
The sound is easy to lose yourself within, that hook resounds around you, envelops you, and even when the rap vocal comes into play the mood still keeps you captive.
Cplus keeps thing mellow and apologetically pure on this single. That leading voice is one that undoubtedly offers personality – a level of identity and something for fans to connect with and come back for.