Second track I have heard from Casual and Dead Perry’s forthcoming album, The Art Of Reanimation, and these guys are two for two with making a slapper. Never Say It To Us, is actually a Dead Perry rendering of a track from Casual’s last album, Big Head Science (which is really good and I listen to a lot). I am fond of Perry’s dark touch on the production, and Casual just keeps getting better year after year.
M-Dot has his new project, Dining in Dystopia, dropping on January 28th, and Blood, Sweat, and Tears is yet another ill cut from the project. And while the song, is laden in M-Dot’s talent and skill, the video on the other hand is done with a certain amount of comedic value and light heartedness. It’s pretty funny and entertaining with the narratives that take place during and after. It reminds us that hip hop should be fun, but counterpoint, in the grand scheme of things the reality is that for all the talent and grind that M-Dot possesses, battling against the likes of impostors, frauds, and amateurs isn’t far from the truth lol. L.O.B. on the beat!
Enjoy and check the album when it drops!
Dope production from the much respected DJ Duke (RIP) featuring the contrasting styles of Napoleon Da Legend and Ruste Juxx. Production features different cascading keys and some hard hitting drums, while DJ Ni’xon chops it up at the end putting that cherry on the top of a dope hip hop track. This is that rough and rugged boom bap flavor.
We have the title track from OT The Real and DJ Green Lantern’s project. It’s got that grimy and gritty street flavor served up on platter here with Lantern’s ominous piano keys leading the way for OT The Real’s raspy street chronicles. If you are digging this joint you would be best served scooping up their album.
The pairing of Nicholas Craven and Evidence seems like an inevitability. Their styles and talents really meld well as you can hear on their new single, Breaking Atoms. Soulful stylings and narratives. Enjoy the beautiful music.
Casual continues to show talent and longevity as he releases yet another dose of dope hip hop music. I am really feeling this production from Dead Perry here as well. It has this dark and hypnotic vibe and those guitar licks give it a tinge of a rock element. At the very end of the track, DJ Jason D delivers a quick onslaught of scratching in some dope samples, reminding us not so subtlely that this is at it’s heart a dope hip hop song. Rockness Monsta and Casual split up the mic duties and continue to spit the stuff of legends.
Great material that leaves us waiting for the album, The Art Of Reanimation, to drop on January 28th.
This is the toughest arena to choose because this is the era of the quick hitter (which I like). Projects with 5-9 tracks seem to dominate the indie hip hop scene. And that’s how I am defining this category, 5 to 9 tracks constitutes extended play, anything more, you have an album, anything less, you have a maxi single. So let’s get it moving on this very competitive category. Here are my Top Five extended plays for 2021.
I am not sure how many people have heard this project as it hasn’t been released on major DSPs. So it may be a hidden jewel. Slim One has showcased amazing production talent time and again, and from the main attraction to the interludes he crafts some brilliant music. Likewise Daniel Son, has been a stalwart emcee for a few years now, bodying everything in sight. These two proved to be a formidable duo in 2021 and worth the extra effort to hear this joint.
AM Early Morning and Nightstalker put together a true vibe with their recent EP, L.N.E.M III. From the jump you get this smokey jazz club vibe injected with all the hip hop elements we come to love. I think the artists did an incredible job giving these tracks a dope consistency in sound throughout while keeping the listener engaged. It’s jazzy, it’s bluesy, and it can at times be sobering. But the bottom line is it’s unique and a sure shot listen for years to come.
This is the shortest endeavor on this list, but Spit Gemz has a tendency to deliver alot of lyricism and talent in any given amount of time. And he delivers with such intensity you just can’t ignore him. He commands that attention. With joints like Shoot The Fair One and Maury’s Wigs he drops more gems here than most can in a full length album.
This represents the sole, ‘production based’ EP on this list. And Wounded made it for good reason! This joint knocks from start to finish. It’s ridiculous in it’s quality of dope production, guest emcees, and quality bars. When all of the aforementioned are taken into account, you have one of the dopest projects in 2021. Favorite tracks? I think they are all five of five to be honest. Each as dope as the next. But The Victor by Ruste Juxx is truly insane.
Ransom steals the show in the extended play category with his tribute to the seven deadly sins. By now everyone knows that his talent level is ridiculous. He has surpassed so many bars (literally) and as an artist he seemingly has no ceiling. And here he takes on each sin, and gives it depth and personality like no one else could. This project is my favorite as it is more tightly woven than any project this year. My favorite sins? Gluttony and Wrath.
Chuck N Lock are back with the prelude to their forthcoming album, See XL. Lord Of The Flies is produced by Graymatter and features a melodic enterprise along with a cascading vocal sample.
These emcees are unique unto themselves. They ALWAYS feature superlative lyricism with the way they bridge their bars which really makes you keep a keen ear to the song and keeps you solidly engaged. This song is filled with memorable lines. Enjoy and stay tuned for the forthcoming full length.
I just listened to Lord Willin and Redd Rebel’s new project, Fire & Steel, and was thoroughly impressed. Lots of banging beats on this project with hard rhymes. I definitely recommend you pick it up. Here you have a Sultan Mir produced joint with N.B.S.’ V Knuckles lending his mic expertise to the track. Don’t sleep! This one knocks.
Rasheed Chappell and XP The Marxman are out to do something remarkable with their new video single, Water To Wine, produced by Slide Beatz. The track is so smooth, while our emcees continue to push their art to the next limit…their way. These are two artists that have paid countless dues to get where they are at and continue to strive. This is dope and inspiring music that can be found on their collaborative album, Rx.
Hip Hop Dependency 