That quality seems rare these days – the skill of rap and writing bars coming second to image and volume in many cases. Here though, in a refreshing turn away from the emo and simple bangers scenes, Too Humble pays tribute to the dawn of Hip Hop, whilst introducing a rightfully calm and collected artist with a clear talent for engaging listeners on the mic.
Hip Hop
Big vibes from world music creative act KOMASI. Masupian is an infectious organic track with a funky set-up and pace. The vocals inject a passionate call and response hook, following gritty, expressive verses from an all-encompassing performance that’s as captivating as it is addictive to listen to.
New Jersey-born rapper and artist Prophi$ee, now based in Raleigh, reunites the evocative soundscapes of Hip Hop’s past, with a distinctly versatile and purposeful approach to crafting bars.
Hardcore dance vibes bring a striking riff and heavy bass – a soundscape keenly designed to back up the Spanish bars and anthemic hook of Miko Malo’s Mama Huevo.
Promising verses more focused than ever, a fast-paced outpouring of scenes that captivate, Trial is a song based around the Franz Kafka novel The Trial, and delivers a breathless encapsulation of that across less than a minute and a half of music.
Spanish flavours and gritty fragments of natural world sound unite amidst the tropical bounce of grant4ore’s Drought day riddem.
Taking Names offers a plethora of deeply poetic, metaphorical and impressive lyrics – the sharpness and intelligence of which permits the song the worthy status of requiring you to listen more than a couple of times to grasp every idea. There are depths to the music, and as such, each time you do revisit, the music and story hit with all the more impact.
Racking up streams in the tens of thousands and continuing to blend work ethic and identity across a subtly versatile repertoire – California rapper and punk enthusiast Zachary Campos creatively surprises yet again, with the funky flavours of Precision.
Classic hip hop production and rhythmically catchy vocals make up the memorable anthem that is WTM. Loui Lion captures attention with ease, What’s The Move? resounding like an earworm throughout a soundscape of haunting synths and trap rhythms united.
Classic rap vocals and contemporary girt and storytelling meet with a refreshing twist of experimental sound-play – Rolondo Rich takes full advantage of the creative space, for his brand new album Rich Dreams.
Tay relays the pain of a life lived amidst both struggle and ambition, and the lyrics that explore this are impressively articulate and thoughtful in their fusion of poetic metaphor and literal references. The result is that the words and the piercing energy of the presentation all connect in a fiercely honest way.
Introducing a slick modern trap groove and anthem with a quirky twist. Seven year old Lil’ David is the rap prodigy creating out of Houston, Texas, a child star bringing the clean fun back to modern hip hop.