Reek Osama and producer Kheyzine come out kicking with the video single, Muay Thai, off of their project, Prohibition. Banging, yet somber, the beat hits while Reek delivers personal street code bar by bar. Tough track.
Single You Out: L. I. F. E. Long & Seyes Finest – Bloops & Blunders (ft. Wish Master & Dj Afar)
L.I.F.E. Long has been independent hip hop personified in hip hop for decades now and continues to drop dope hip hop music upon us. Here he links up with producer Seyes Finest and UK emcee, Wish Master.
The production is smooth and yet just a little haunting as the emcees discuss about living life to the fullest and watching out for the snakes in the grass and getting wrong routed by life’s pitfalls.
New EP, Still Relevant, dropping in 2024.
Single You Out: Mickey Diamond – Tex Avery
Big Umbrella! Need I say more? Mickey Diamond is certified, and his name carries as much weight if not more, than anyone in the game. The way he delivers his bars, there is no equal. And this is my favorite track off of his his new album, Bangkok Dangerous 4 . The beat by Camouflage Monk is sublime, and Diamond laces gem after gem. You must cop this!
Polamalu in the field I’m out here tackling shit / Plenty pringles in the bank, look at him stacking his chips / I used to argue with my bitch, she steady smacking her lips / Until I showed her I don’t need her, now she’s back on my dick
Planet Asia & MidaZ The Beast – And 1 (Video)
Planet Asia and MIdaZ The BEAST link up once again for a banger and a half with their SHARP. produced video single, And 1. Just as the And 1 players had ridiculous skills on the court, these emcees show equal skill on the mic. Each verse is a dexterous display of talent. In short, it’s a beat that absolutely bangs, with bars and a flow that will keep this joint lock and loaded in your headphones.
New album, And 1 Rap Shit is out now. I just picked it up and can’t wait to give it a complete listen after hearing this.
Single You Out: Reef The Lost Cauze – Umar’s Revenge
Reef The Lost Cauze is back and bearing his teeth on this venomous new banger, produced by Caliph-NOW, Umar’s Revenge. This serves as the lead single for the new project, The Triumphant. That will be dropping on February 2nd.
You can hear the ominous tones with the creeping bass line, and those bells echoing in the background. And then you hear Reef’s voice cut through that tension clearly asserting:
…You’ll never find a flow as cold as mine / And you fear not of the flesh when you can control the mind
Mic Bles – Can’t Look Back (Video)
Mic Bles has a new project out with producer Damson, Can’t Look Back. And here is the title track in video form. And here you get the sense that with tomorrow not guaranteed, you will go all out for your dreams today. Don’t defer. Bles kept pushing his talents until they started to pay off. Keep looking for your potential. I was just telling him, that it took me a few years to take notice, but now when I hear the name “Mic Bles” associated with a project or a song, I am going to cop that automatically. The skill level, work ethic, and integrity are there and need to be recognized.
Rim – Stone Ave (Video)
Rim hits yet another target with his Fizzy Womack produced single, Stone Ave. Womack makes that boom bap sound cry with his production and sample usage, while Rim gives the reasons that his warm hear turned cold, whether that being betrayal from the one that you presume loves you, or the friend who you thought had you through thick and thin.
You can find this joint and many other dope ones on his project, Rimbrandt 2 Metal Canvas.
The Bad Seed – Stand On It (Video) (prod. by Nottz)
The fantastic combination of The Bad Seed and Nottz deliver again with the video single, Stand On It. The song fuses uptempo hip hop, with that raw gritty lyricism, on top of real belief that you mean what you say and you don’t back off of it. Very similar to the duo’s single a few years ago, Belt Off, The Bad Seed and Nottz deliver that substance coupled with talent to set a crooked world straight.
Irene Taylor’s Grandson coming soon!
Kore – No Exceptions (ft. M-Dot) (Video)
I’ve aways been a fan of EMS’ Kore. He has a very unique, melodic style that I can definitely vibe with. And here he teams up with stalwart emcee and brethren, M-Dot.
The joint has a very dark undertow to it. For my take it seems like this is the notion when give into our vices, despair, and our darker selves. We can throw it all away…or have others do it for us, if we allow.
Dope and ominous track.
Single You Out: Maze Overlay – Atonement
No this is not an “official” single from Maze Overlay’s new album, Honor Amongst Thieves. But it’s a song I just had to share. Some music is just beautiful and speaks to you and this song, Atonement, does just that.
I am not sure who produced this joint, but it’s so smooth and that piano cascade sets the perfect tone. And Overlay manifests bars “like a prayer” embracing his second chances and life in general. Love this track.
Hip Hop Dependency 