This is another great collaboration of talents when Eto and Futurewave link up for the track, Poetry Is Dead. The two artists seem tailor made to work with each other. The song is just over two minutes long with the first half dipping into spoken word, a segue, and then the second half going into more of a traditional hip hop flow.
There is something very fluid and almost ethereal about this track and proves that the power of music and the word is still very much alive.
A heatrock from Apathy and producer Stu Bangas coming off a forthcoming project. No Time To Waste is ominous. The strings that Stu Bangas puts to work on this track are damn menacing, and made more so with Apathy’s razor-sharp lyricism, and bar work from guest emcee Jadakiss. And his last line, “funerals on zoom” was definitely a way to close out a track. Mic dropped.
This is a favorite.
The union of Curly Castro and Premrock as ShrapKnel continues with the release of their new album, Metal Lung.
The lyricism and flows are unique and leave the mind to ponder over the prose, ciphering over the meaning of each turn on phrase. This is what happens when poetry hits the concrete sidewalks in an explosion of creativity, as illustrated in their video single, Lazy Dog.
Not for the faint of heart or weak of mind. Production from Steel Tipped Dove.
One of the toughest and dopest joints to come out this year, and sure to be penned into some top end-of-the-year lists is Jay Royale’s new single, Carlito and Kleinfeld featuring Kool G Rap. Producer Ray Sosa has some sinister intents with his production here featuring those snapping drums, piano loops, and crescendo synth. Plus, those sample chops from DJ Grazzhoppa are so very precise and well timed.
Lyrically…c’mon KGR is a legend for a reason. His bars are FOREVER timeless and that’s no exaggeration. He sounds just as good now as he ever has, and Jay Royale shows precise execution in his sixteen, continuing to build upon his already buzzing name and talent.
Phenomenal.
This project, Water Buffalos 2: Double Axe Handles, never got enough love. Trust me the incredible talent culminated is on full display for this project which is one of my favorites from last year.
The wordplay. The production. Chase Moore and Fredo Algebra are a phenomenal combination, and you can hear a mere fraction of their gift on the video single above, 2 For 1.
You cannot deny the dopeness.
Been a big L.I.F.E. Long fan really since I got into the blogging scene well over a decade ago. His bar work with the likes of Stronghold affiliates is chronicles in hip hop lore. I even had the pleasure of interviewing the man at one point. I have a lot of respect for his talent and art, and every once in a while, he releases some new music to remind us of his gifts.
Here he teams up with producer A-Sharp not only for this song but a new project, Gensu Blades, which is out now. This track really harnesses the artists’ authenticity and classic sound that both emcee and producer have cultivated throughout their careers.
Some new dope shot over from producer Endemic Emerald regarding a new project he has coming out featuring emcee FRD FRLN. Street Disciples is that melodic street dope for your headphones that features guest bars from Joe Clark, and scratches from DJ Spictakular. Got some pretty clever bars intermingled on this track with that raw hip hop feel.
“feng shui with gunplay…flip your couch turn your living room into a runway”
Definitely something to check for. Thoughts Illustrated dropping on September 23rd.
New dope from an unfamiliar artist, Brando Bambino. Teaming up with producer Pyramid Tapes and receiving an accomodating verse from Hus Kingpin, Bambino impresses with this single, Maxell. The first thing you will fall in love with from this track is this organ driven production from Pyramid Tapes, coupled with the catchy chopped up sample used in the backround. That cumulative sound really drives the the uniqueness of the track. Bambino and Hus each deliver strong, yet contrasting lyrical performances.
Definitely worth checking out their forthcoming album, Bandito, which is dropping on August 12th.
Serge Severe dropped an album recently entitled When Crows Fly, and this is my favorite song from that project. Good To Me is that moment where Severe hits that level of maturity to gain experience from loss, perseverance through his pain, and the appreciation that it generates for his love of the craft. His music generates a view from his lens as a testament to the person and the life.
We get you brother…truly.
Two of the absolute best artists over the course of the last several years unite to deliver a soulful course of knowledge. 38 Spesh and Ransom drop consistent life gems and outlooks over this sublimely soulful production from the combination of Mayor, Ty Jamz & Bernard B Westwood. The track is remarkable. Let’s just put it that way.
Don’t you try to give me no flowers that took a day to grow… – Ransom
I can’t get enough of these artists, truly. Spesh’s next offering drops in August in the form of 7 Shots.
Hip Hop Dependency 