So what drew me to this track? Well, I love me some Conway the Machine bars, but it was the fact that Al’Tarba was on this production. And you just don’t hear as much as we should from the french producer. I love his production. And he doesn’t disappoint lacing this supremely haunting soundscape for the emcees to sink their bars into. Machine, Benny Holiday, Dope D.O.D., and Caskey all do a great job with the pen and flow here.
I listened to the EP a couple of times last night, and that’s a rarity unto itself. But the five track, Resurgence, is such a great project I could not help myself. I went through my 2024 collection, and I am hard pressed to find a better EP this year than this. Dan Johns not only sounds super sharp on the mic but he handled all of the production as well. I honestly love the bars and production on every track, but I picked the one that features Amen. If you are familiar with Carolina Hip Hop in the mid 2000s, you should know this man and I haven’t heard from him in many years, but damn, listen to this flow! It’s like he never left!
Think of the kids I’d hate for her to raise em alone / Cuz you don’t want to draw my interest like a Savings and Loan
This is one of the best this year so please cop this project.
The incomparable duo of Cousin Feo and Lord Juco take us to the fields of war torn Ukraine for their latest release as Death At The Derby. With production from Graymatter and cuts from DJ Dubplates, we get an introduction to Ukrainian soccer lore courtesy of hip hop’s afficionados.
I am a huge Bohemia Lynch fan. The sounds he concocts as producer always have a unique and interesting way of delivering a boom bap sound and this time he’s got Tha God Fahim and Jay Nice to rock over his display. The sound he delivers here is just so dope…and the emcees deliver some raw verses.
Fire in the hole! The Bad Seed and company regulated in harsh and talented ways over this JR Swiftz heat rock with Tone Spliff on the scratches. Seed, Mims, Honey Dinero, and Nam Nitty each body sixteens on this one. This smacks to me of the first REAL banger of 2024.
Everything Means Nothing, Vol. 1 drops today!!! Pick that up!
Waterr and Wavy Da Ghawd are coming together artistically to drop a new project on Febraury 1st, entitled, Washed Ashore. And with the single, Where Would I Be, you can definitely catch the vibe of what’s come. There’s something very soothing about this single and a little bit of an escape for the listener, as Wavy transports you with this production while Waterr creatively asks the question: Where would I be without music?
Definitely a vibe.
J. Lately is a vibe. It’s the best way I can describe him. He has this melodic, care free, and dare I say fun way of making music. To You, is off of his latest album, Brunch which you can catch now. This song will easily get stuck in your head, which is a good thing. A testament to how each day leads back to his girl. Fresh. Different. Dope.
Awon and Parental have a project dropping in February entitled, Sublime. And if you want that certified smooth shit Goretex is THAT joint. This immediately had me harken back to Pete Rock and CL Smooth…and I mean IMMEDIATELY. The vibe and chemistry of production is right there. Everything is on point with this one. Enjoy!
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
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 