Montreal-based emcee cropscropscrops and producer stale brick have dropped off their new single “spentspentspent”, the third song from their forthcoming collaborative album. “spentspentspent” is a focused, hypnotic offering that pairs stale brick’s pensive, layered production style with crops’ detail-oriented lyricism and sturdy flows. crops drops off thought-provoking verses that delve into feelings of tiredness, weariness, and the nature of time atop ethereal keyboards and organic-sounding percussion. Continuing to build anticipation for their upcoming collaborative album, “spentspentspent” is another example of crops and stale brick staying true to their sound while experimenting within their lane. Give it a listen here now.
Foster has dropped off a new single, titled “rather be lonely”. Foster, a 26-year-old Nashville native, delved into music at the age of 14, drawing inspiration from the late Mac Miller. His style seamlessly blends singing and rapping with a lo-fi twist, coupled with heartfelt storytelling lyrics. After building an impressive catalogue of emotive, personal offerings, Foster continues his momentum with a heartfelt, infectious single in “rather be lonely”. Atop melancholic guitars, atmospheric backing vocals, and a sturdy, organic-sounding rhythm section, he flows smoothly with an emotionally-tinged delivery, as he discusses topics that cut through and impact the listener- such as isolation, heartbreak, and longing- giving “rather be lonely” a relatable universality. Listen to Foster’s latest single “rather be lonely” here now.
North Carolina’s JUNE! and producer hyphin have both made numerous appearances on our platform, and their latest link up for “TASTELESS” feels effortless and organic. JUNE!’s husky, baritone delivery pairs nicely with hyphin’s soulful, relaxed riffs, as JUNE! manages to strike a balance between a calming delivery and rawness. Sonically, the track does well at juggling silky instrumentation, rich, relaxed grooves, and more gruff, yet also calming, verses from JUNE! Take a listen to these prolific artists’ latest collaboration “TASTELESS
New York artist Rouge Kills Flies has returned with a fresh LP called THE BURNING. The versatile musician’s highly conceptual new album, THE BURNING, is a collection of songs that utilize forward-thinking sounds to craft immersive world-building for the listener. The LP is centred around the theme of fire as representative of both destruction and rebirth, and it poignantly embraces topics climate change, technological advancement, capitalism, burnout, self-discovery, reincarnation, finding light in times of darkness, and more across its track-listing.
Sonically, Rouge Kills Flies enlists soundscapes that feel rooted in classic New York hip-hop influences, yet are at the same time futuristic and refreshingly experimental. Darkly hypnotic, eery sonic palettes underscored by gritty DnB-influenced drum loops appear throughout THE BURNING– while vocally Rouge delivers a raw rap flow that flirts with punk at numerous points.
The insidious instrumentation, pounding percussion, and imagery-rich, cathartic vocals of “ANDROIDS DREAD THE REDS” make the song feel like a lament to destruction, while “718 HELL” paints a portrait of NYC with a blend of stark realism and dark abstraction. Rouge adds dynamics to the project with lighter moments like “LIFE_IN_A_TAXI_CAB”, with its vivid synth flourishes and poetic verses from Rouge, which present some of his strongest writing on the LP. Similar motifs appear again on “THE GHOSTS AIN’T REAL”, a highlight joint on the album laced with mysterious instrumentation and potent lyricism from Rouge.
Chock full of creative moments that will challenge the listener and stimulate the mind and senses, THE BURNING is a tour-de-force of forward-thinking East Coast hip-hop that immerses the listener in a surreal, dark world from the get-go. Listen to THE BURNING here now.
Prolific artist Dupizz has shared a new album, titled DuBron James. Hot off the heels of engaging projects like IF I WAS with GRIMM Doza, as well as WISEMEN with Doza and JaeFrmJerz, Dupizz has been consistent in delivering versatile and infectious offerings. His latest, DuBron James, contains spacey, bouncy soundscapes and displays his natural penchant for charisma and humorous lines, with many moments that will have the listener re-winding. Throughout DuBron James, Dupizz laces his verses with some hilarious and clever quips that give the project added character, atop hypnotic production.
Vibrant production with an underlying sense of triumph characterizes DuBron James, as Dupizz starts the album off strongly with potent track “The Ticket”. “Domino” contrasts the opener with a darker, booming soundscape and cathartic feel, while “Sky Green” is an enticing, ethereal joint that showcases his versatility. “Better With It” is a mesmerizing closer with mind-bending samples and a confident flow that closes out the project in a memorable fashion.
Estiee returns to our pages with the release of his fresh single “Drive Slow”, a collaboration with Roman. Here, a beautifully lucid instrumental consisting of refreshing, melancholic guitars, emotive organs, and a laid-back drum line convey a sense of longing. Estiee delivers a heartfelt verse that leads into a smooth, smoky hook from Roman. The two contrast each-other while adding up to a cohesive whole, while “Drive Slow”’s potently emotional feel make it a standout. Listen to “Drive Slow” here.
New York’s Iman Nunez has a strong track record as a razor-sharp lyricist, and his latest song “NUMBERS GAME” alongside the prolific HDBeenDope is no exception. The emcees attacks the silvery, electrifying instrumental with precision, in a manner that feels tactical. Underscored by ominous, metallic synths and a creeping rhythm section, they go back and forth with a kinetic chemistry that grips the listener from the get-go. Listen to “NUMBERS GAME” here.
“a la mesa” is the latest offering from NYC-via-Vermont artist rivan, who makes a return to our pages once again for this hard-hitting release. With a triumphant instrumental that takes on an anthemic tone through its usage of expansive synths that give way into a booming rhythm section, “a la mesa” is a track about going big. Droning layers of vocals underscore the instrumental, merging cohesively with the punchy percussion. rivan sounds hungry and focused on the mic as he weaves together dynamic flows that feel as potent and raw as the beat. Listen to “a la mesa” here.
Chris Celestial has shared a new song called “I Surrender”. Celestial’s new song “I Surrender” feels like finding a moment of peace amongst chaos. It’s mesmerizing vocal samples, dream-like keys, and relaxed percussion create an apt backdrop for Celestial’s poetic, soulful style. Like the track’s namesake, his delivery gives the impression of a state of acceptance, as he weaves together lyrics that absorb the listener in their piece-by-piece world building. Give “I Surrender” a listen here.
Ohio-bred, Montreal-based artist cropscropscrops has dropped off a new 2-pack called “4-way stop/ the 20th anniversary death cab for cutie transatlanticism”, produced by stale brick. The new release finds cropscropscrops further refining the detail-oriented, abstract hip-hop sound heard on his project from here, out there with Vaygrnt. With these two songs, crops brings the listener along with him as he adds a magical edge to the mundane happenings of daily life. With the jazzy, down-to-earth soundscapes and observant lyrics of these two tracks, crops and stale brick give a sense that there may be more than meets the eye in each day’s seemingly average happenings. Listen to “4-way stop/ the 20th anniversary death cab for cutie transatlanticism” here.
ROUNDHOUSE MUSIC 