It’s a numbers game when it comes to the new video single from M-Dot and Confidence, 24 to 1. Confidence laces a powerful production ignited with some strings and heavy drums and gives us the feeling that time is ticking. Meanwhile, M-Dot, counts us down from 24 to 1 utilizing moments in his life and memorable experiences to match each number. It’s a dope concept that is executed from top to bottom. And if you haven’t already, you should cop the new album, Library Of Sound.
Single You Out: DJ Mirage – Lift Up (ft. M-Dot x Big Shug x Lil Fame)
My timing is less than impeccable, however my ears are still super sharp. And if you haven’t checked out DJ Mirage’s new album, Background Check, I feel like you need to get on that. There are so many great songs on that project, but perhaps none greater than the posse cut featuring M-Dot, Big Shug, and Lil Fame, Lift Up.
This beat from Mirage is insane. The piano loop with those haunting vocals yield the perfect sounds for energetic and professional lyricism.
Check out a segment of M-Dot’s bars:
I bided my time, put work in, was patient / Watched rap decline, it was hurt from inflation / Lift up when tired, I’m finding my purpose / And anytime I sunk below, I climbed to the surface/ It’s grown man struggle, I’ve turned to strength / The microphone’s therapeutic, I’ve learned to vent.
M-Dot & Confidence – Library Of Sound (2025)
Artist: M-Dot & Confidence
Album: Library Of Sound
Tracklisting:
- No Bail Out
- Rashad Opens The Curtain
- The Consistency
- Rollercoaster
- Roadwork (ft. Alexander Padei)
- The Reign (ft. Alexander Padei)
- Three Story Building
- Breathe In
- The Run Around (ft. Kore)
- Primavera (ft. Big Shug and Royal Flush)
- 24 to 1
- Don’t Know Why (ft. EMS)
- Connect The Dots (ft. G-Dot)
Notes:
His sound and words have resonated through these pages for a decade plus. His struggles and successes have in many ways inspired me to keep going…keep pressing. His sound and lyricism are for the people. It’s for the streets…it’s for those in their 9 to 5s…it’s for those who can celebrate their successes…and for those who take their losses. This is who M-Dot is.
With all that being said, M-Dot has made some amazing music over the years. He’s had some fantastic songs. He’s had game changing collaborations that one could only dream about. He has a lot to hang his hat on by the end of the day. But has he made his opus? Has he made the album where everyone says unequivocally: “That’s his best work!” Now enter producer, Confidence, and their latest album, Library Of Sound.
Continue reading “M-Dot & Confidence – Library Of Sound (2025)”Single You Out: M-Dot & Confidence – Roller Coaster
M-Dot and Confidence are gearing up for the release of their album, Library Of Sound on June 27th, and here we have released my favorite track from the album, Roller Coaster. This is real talk music. It’s about the ups and downs in life. It’s about the drive, the persistence, the success, and the struggles. It’s all the components that makes life worth living and music worth making. This is M-Dot’s journey over some soulful Confidence rhythms. You can do no wrong with this listen.
Single You Out: M-Dot & Confidence – No Bail Out
My guy M-Dot is back and coming with a bevy of dope beats from Confidence for their upcoming album, Library Of Sound. I am not going to let the cat out of the bag just yet, as I have been graced to hear the album in it’s entirety, and a full review is coming soon, but this is something special. There is beauty in the symmetry between emcee and producer here. On, No Bail Out, they go after artists and their fake bravado and gimmicks. They are giving no quarter to the competition on this one!
Get ready for the album!
Single You Out: M-Dot & Confidence – Primavera (ft. Big Shug & Royal Flush)
M-Dot has big plans for 2025 and this is just the tip of the iceberg. Primavera is the first single from his forthcoming album with production from Confidence, Library Of Sound. And you can hear that he’s swinging for a first round knockout here. He along with legends, Big Shug and Royal Flush are delivering hip hop tradition and skill over a Confidence twist. This is sure to get people motivated for what’s on the agenda!
Single You Out: Lateb – Predators (ft. Reks & M-Dot) (prod. by Anywaywellbeats & The Arcitype)
Lateb brings along friends Reks and M-Dot for his new single, Predators. And this track gives you the vibe that someone is following you, but when you turn around, and no one is there. The production from Anywaywell Beats and The Arcitype has so much texture and depth with various instrumentation and switch ups. Each emcee brings a not so subtle sixteen to increase the tension in their unique stylings. Something wicked this way comes!
Single You Out: M-Dot – No One Else (ft. Kore & Mayhem)
M-Dot links up with his brethren Kore and Mayhem for the song No One Else, produced by Quiz. And truly, there is no team like the EMS team. Each emcee brings their own style, flow, and lyricism, this time on an uptempo production. This showcases the dexterity of the crew, and it’s really great to hear Mayhem spit a sixteen again. It’s been a while since I have heard him rock.
Top 50 Songs Of 2024
Here are some of my favorites songs from 2024 in independent hip hop. Again…not cumulative. I know your tastes my vary but maybe you will see something on the list you didn’t hear and enjoy. Click the song link to be taken to a youtube offering of that track. And as always…support the artist! Off to 2025!
| Song | Artist | Note |
| #1 T.I.M.E. | K-Salaam, JdotL, Wrekonize, & Jae Skeese (ft. D.Lylez) | This is the perfect song. The production is a vibe. The lyricism is fantastic. And the hook bridges perfectly! |
| #2 Oppenheimer | Vega7 The Ronin & Ferris Blusa (prod. by Kalos Beats) | Sometimes you just need a song to slap you in the face…this my friends is that slap. This joint is tough!!! |
| #3 Act Of God | Ed OG (prod. by Tone Spliff) | Our emcee has been doing this a long time…and he still knows how to craft GREAT music. |
| #4 Dangerous | Bobby J From Rockaway & Dom Dirtee | This joint not only knocks but can easily get caught in your head. Infectious. |
| #5 The Magnum | Dan Johns (ft. Amen) | I’ve talked about this song at length. Trust me. Lyrics. Production. This is top notch. |
| #6 Fuck It | Grieves & Mouse Powell | Another anthem for when you can’t care. Exceptional musically and love the horns on this track. |
| #7 Flinch | Locksmith (ft. Ekoh) | If you are feeling like you are on the brink. Don’t give your enemies the satisfaction. Don’t Flinch. |
| #8 Spare Change | J. Lately (ft. Ian Kelly) | The guitar licks. The vibe. And the style make this song play on in your head for days on end. |
| #9 Stupid. Dumb. Illiterate. | Heems (prod. by Lapgan) | This song has so much finesse and a great sound. The production and flow of the track is remarkable. |
| #10 Two Kids | maticulous (ft. Elzhi) | The art of storytelling is not lost in hip hop. Check out this case in point from 2024. |
| #11 OHLawd | J57 (ft. H3RO) | This again is just beautiful music. I love this production , the chorus, and the lyricsm on display here. |
| #12 The Way | Spit Gemz (prod. by Nickel Plated) | Some music gives way to thought and makes you think with another light. This is that! |
| #13 Cadillac | Brother Ali | HipHop is primed to speak on social injustice and Brother Ali does that through his own story. |
| #14 Defiance | Izrell & Dead Perry | Sometimes you just need something epic…dark and epic. |
| #15 Roc Nation Brunch | Marv Won (ft. Freeway) | Great concept, and creating a fun visual through words. Inventive. |
| #16 Delusions Of Grandeur | K.A.A.N. & DJ Hoppa | This is one of the best pairings of the year and you can hear exactly why on this track! |
| #17 Raised On | Mic Bles & Level 13 (ft. ethemadassassin) | I’ve talked about THIS track at length too. But this that authentic hip hop flavor! |
| #18 Close | M-Dot (ft. Kore) | No one does that “life music” better than M-Dot. He speaks like you are in his shoes. You too are “close”. |
| #19 Crownsville | Rock & Ruste Juxx | The tandem takes you into the streets of Crownsville in the illest way possible. |
| #20 Broken Mirrors | Jae Skeese & Superior | Skeese speaks to me on this one. Wow. Music that makes you feel something is invaluable. |
| #21 My Nephew and I | Nef & Bobby J from Rockaway | This beat from Nef! One of the best, and wow, Bobby J just continues to impress. Sure shot! |
| #22 Courtleigh Chemist | Daniel Son & Finn | Here you have a producer and emcee in perfect step delivering that head nodder. |
| #23 Budda Palm | ZaZa God | “I’m Big Anubis…The Ra Royal!” This track just goes incredibly hard. |
| #24 What I’m Asking | Pro Dillinger | Is your relationship stressing you to the limits? Dillinger taps in. You know you’ve been there. |
| #25 Home | Waterr & Wavy Da Ghawd (ft. Spoda) | One of the hardest working emcees in 2024 delivered many great moments but this is among my favorites. |
| #26 Sins Of The Father | Supreme Cerebral (ft. Eloh Kush and O The Great) (prod. by Swab) | Swab laces a beautiful canvas and these emcees put it to work. One of the best posse cuts this year. |
| #27 Lunar Stroll | CG The Producer (ft. Revalation x MKDel x Lateb) | Let your mind drift as though it was on a space walk. This song will help you. Great song. |
| #28 A Different Kind Of Payne | RJ Payne & BP | Payne gets deep and personal over some eloquent BP production. Hear the inner pain. |
| #29 Lessons | Willie The Kid & VDon (ft. Eto and Rome Streetz) | Another one of the best combos in the game unleashed excellence this year. And this is among the best. |
| #30 Symbiote Suits | Daniel Son & Futurewave | Vicious. This joint is just vicious. If the phantom of the opera hit the streets, this is the epic it will tell. |
| #31 Illuminati Money | Planet Asia & 38 Spesh (ft. Klass Murda and Tristate) | Spesh and Asia win again combining all their superlatives for another banger. This beat and these lyrical skills…wow. |
| #32 Korean Kimchi | Jay Royale (ft. Vega7 The Ronin) | Jay Royale is vastly underrated. Such a talent! Here you can listen to him deliver alongside Vega7 over a really dope production. Love the vocal sample. |
| #33 LoFi | Guttr (Havoc x RJ Payne x Ras Kass) | Hip Hop supergroup put the industry back in it’s place with this one. Lyrical swordplay over some glorious production from Havoc. |
| #34 We Never Believe Anybody | Double Life (L*Roneous x Gennessee) | Two emcees with distinctly different styles that unite to do something so dope…time and time again…favorite song off this year’s project. |
| #35 Green Screen | Copywrite (prod. by Evidence) | Lyricism you are accustomed to from Copy over the years and doing so over the freshest of beats from Ev. |
| #36 The Iron I Toss | The Bad Seed (ft. MIMS x Honey Dinero x Nam Nitty) (prod. by JR Swiftz) | You want a dope posse cut? I got you. 6th Man shit! JR Swiftz laces the production as each emcee shows and proves. |
| #37 Hour After Hour | Tek & Stu Bangas | “No success without sacrifice…life without music” Tek and Stu Bangas created something memorable in 2024 |
| #38 Gucci Gambinos | Mickey Diamond (ft. Pro Dillinger) | Umbrella over everything! Diamond and Dillinger over Big Ghost…you know it’s godly. Super tough. |
| #39 Mask On, Mask Off | Maze Overlay & Swab | Best song off of a great album from 2024. Maze and Swab give you some dope hip hop that knocks. |
| #40 Born Alone, Die Alone | Snak The Ripper | You want to hear the rock bottom of unhinged? Here we go! Snak delivers the darkness in the dopest way possible. |
| #41 Esoteric | Skyzoo | I said it before and I will say it again, Skyzoo is a PROFESSIONAL emcee. You can hear that on this excellent cut! |
| #42 Los Angeles | Blu & Evidence | From their city to yours! Blu and Ev bring a piece of California to your eardrums with their superlative tradecraft. |
| #43 Master Seminar | Eyeree Beats (ft. Jay Royale, Snotty, and Supreme Cerebral) | Producers getting their due on HHD. Beautiful production with right emcees to do the job! |
| #44 OMG | Philmore Green | One of the best albums of the year also has one of the best songs. Great lyricism, production, and scratches. |
| #45 Heat Wave | Murderers Row (Outerspace x King Syze x Reef The Lost Cause) | Really looking forward to this full project. So great to hear these guys deliver such heat on the same song. |
| #46 Money On The Line | Chuck N Lock (prod. by Oppenheimer) | The tandem never fails to deliver bars that make you rewind profusely. A style unto themslves. Genius. |
| #47 So Long | Paradime | Paradime can make some great songs! This one has you reminiscing and singing that chorus alongside him. |
| #48 Listen | V-Styles | Introspective and thought provoking music that will get you to do exactly that…Listen! |
| #49 Blood In, Blood Out | Bozack Morris (ft. Asun Eastwood x Lex Tallonis) | Some songs on this list are just filthy. This song fits that category. Morris unleashes the sinister on this one! |
| #50 The Summit | Kail Problems & DJ Hoppa | Another fiya beat from DJ Hoppa lends itself to another win with Kail Problems delivering bar after dope bar. |
Pushing Buttons – Verbal Acrobatics (ft. M-Dot & Plastic) (Video)
When you think about a joint that embodies hip hop, this is a cut that should come to mind. Verbal Acrobatics heralds off of Pushing Button’s album from earlier this year, Full Level. This song has it all: Dope rhymes and flows from M-Dot and Plastic, along with a beat that is nothing short of a head nodder from the production duo with precise scratched cuts. Love this joint.
Hip Hop Dependency 