Not quite the excessively early seasonal hit you might expect from the title – though it does introduce a few classic Christmas sounds to keep the theme alive. In reality, the track offers a stylish fusion of hip hop & RnB, sounding modern & invitingly fresh.
Hip-Hop
JRS3 has done well to create something refreshing with this. Instrumentally it works a treat, taking the hip hop sound somewhere new & creative, though with a dash of retro synths & electric guitar – the past & the present meet, along with several genres. An easily memorable & quite addictive hit.
pe$o’s N.F.L is a sub-two minute track that weaves a simple but memorable soundscape around its listeners and introduces the artist’s vocal sound and lyrical style in a striking way.
The album encapsulates the issues of today, politically & socially, and does so in a passionate & original, recognisable way. Equal and Opposite is, it turns out, the perfect name for the album.
There’s an underlying, slightly tribal feel to the beat – then you get the vocal rhythm & the sheer passion in Dutty’s voice, the soulful melodic tones of the feature, and some superb electric guitar hits that fill up the outer edges. Originality runs free but it’s also kept relevant by clear threads of ability, truth & professionalism.
Getting on a mic & just saying things you don’t feel or understand is going to result in a bad & not genuine song. Being honest & doing what feels right sonically or lyrically when making a song has really helped me a lot.
Lil Tomahawk offers a laid back approach to modern hip hop, fusing rap and melody in a carefree way that suits the simple echo and loop of the musical backdrop pretty well.
There’s an unusual level of eclecticism on this project – the harder hitting rap tracks contrast cleverly with the more tentative, delicate ones – something you don’t often come across, particularly within such a short project. Flowasis has some big moments & is respectively creative from start to finish.
The backdrop is brilliant, the organic bounce of the music is fresh & fits the vocal confidence & style here perfectly well. Some of the best lyrical observations come through, complete with clever wordplay & more than a few memorable lines.
Moromo always puts so much of himself into his music anyway, but this latest single seems to be in a league of its own in that respect. His voice veers off without a care, lost in the moment and swept away by the central idea of the song.
SunFloat opens up with a quickly memorable hook – a rhythmic vocal melody and a characterful voice to deliver it pave the way for an easily recognisable hit.
Those of us who remember the simple, spacious & observational artistry of the likes of The Streets & Audio Bullys, will respond to this single from Charlie Steel with a deep level of appreciation for its nostalgic, minimalist aura.