Well we have to acknowledge (like every other blog) that this might be the most anticipated project of 2024. Evidence and Blu unite to give us a taste of California with impending album, Los Angeles. And on the video single, Wild Wild West, we get a sampling of the beauty that is to behold. Man, Evidence crafts such a beautiful soundscape for Blu to paint those vivid tapestries that are his stories in LA. This is a win for everyone, and is definitely living up to the hype.
Natural Elements – YKTV (prod. by Charlemagne) (Video)
Am I biased? Probably. But Natural Elements to me embodies all that is good in hip hop. And this may be another favorite joint of mine from the trio. First and foremost, I am a traditionalist so hearing our emcees rock over some godly Charlemagne production just sounds like everyone is where they should be. It’s natural. The way Charlemagne carries this Andre wind instrumentation through the track is just beautiful. He was the original producer for the group back from the jump and I loved how seamless everything sounded. It’s that special polish that brings an extremely talented group of lyricists together. Love this joint.
Big Trip – Death Wish (Video)
The Umbrella has been doing big things in the last several years. But one of the lesser known quantities of the unit (at least for me) was Big Trip. Well, as they say, if you didn’t know then, you know now. Big Trip comes out guns blazing with this Jamil Honesty infused heat rock. This joint knocks, and Trip can see death around the corner.
New project, Honestly Filthy, is completely produced by Honesty, and he does a really amazing job behind the boards, and Trip really impresses. I can’t get enough of this release.
Starvin B – Bucky (Video)
Starvin B material is an auto post here on HHD. He has been from the jump. He’s always delivered high level lyricism but now it seems he is producing joints, and maybe he has been all this time but I can’t recall. Lyrically there is an intermingling of love for his dog, and just life references in general. But all in all this joint is dope as you would come to expect from Starvin.
Ty Farris – Villain With The Smile (Video)
Ty Farris is a name that we should be accustomed to seeing on Hip Hop Dependency. The talented Detroit representative, has a new album out, Enigma WIth An Attitude, and VIllain With A Smile is yet another dope single off of that project, produced by Brooks XY. This song has exemplary word play.
Killing shit, Jason Vorhees with your door keys / Rappers begging for features but they all got sore knees…
Heems – Manto (Video)
I absolutely love songs that express the human experience. To me there are fewer things more beautiful in hip hop or music in general. Someone who takes their craft, explores their past in their present, and shares that exploration with others. And Heems hits home, and hits home hard with sharing his family’s story as the video in his words “is an exploration of the inherited trauma stemming from the 1947 Partition of India and Pakistan”. You can see the contemplation and perhaps the pain and then the corresponding hope, making this a captivating moment in 2024.
New album Veena coming in a little over a month.
Body Bag Ben & XP the Marxman – Science Spoken (Video)
Two of the hardest working artists in the game come together for a new project called Good Times, Bad Times. With Body Bag Ben behind the boards, and the XP The Marxman on the mic the duo unleash a salvo of that raw hardcore hip hop in the form of Science Spoken. The beat is a banger that leads with a strong piano sample, and lyrically shots are fired at the competition, so suckas and doubters better keep ducking. Raw.
Album out now!
John Jigg$ – Flashlights (Video)
John Jigg$ has a new video out that I meant to get out last week but I got stuck in some things and was unable to update the site, but there’s no wrong time to share some dope music. The single Flashlights, is off of Jigg$ latest project from earlier this year, S.O.U.L., where he really illustrates that he can take the soulful and more thoughtful productions and still produce excellence. The consummate emcee, Jigg$, can rock any beat and create great music.
Murderers’ Row (Reef, King Syze & Outerspace) – 187 (Video) (prod. by Snowgoons)
Yoooooo…when is THIS project coming out! Murderer’s Row is comprised of Outerspace, King Syze, and Reef The Lost Cauze, and produced by none other than the Snowgoons. And to be honest, I had to table to another write-up when I saw this drop. This is the heat rock of the week. Wow! These guys are just stepping on necks, and more vicious in their spit game than ever. With family on the line, there is more to lose, so expect not latitude from these artists.
I won’t just spit on your gave. I’ll do the riverdance… – Reef
Natural Elements – Alive & Well (Video)
There’s a lot to be optimistic about today, and one of the reasons is Natural Elements is still making amazing music together after all these years. Now they don’t crank out music as prolifically as they did when they did when they were younger but each time they do they make it count. Here, Swigga, Mister Voodoo, and A-Butta reflect on the changes in their lives and the things that they are thankful for. They do so over a soulful production from I.G Nexus.
Hip Hop Dependency 