3vd has shared a fresh new release called “My Bad”, ahead of an anticipated new video. Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, and its surrounding areas, 3vd grew up in a house with five other siblings. He began writing when he was only 8 years old and incorporates elements of pop and R&B into his music to create a unique and timeless sound. In addition to writing and performing music, 3vd produces and engineers, something that sets him apart from other rappers his age. Hot off the heels of his well-received release “Euphoria” and “Man on a Mission”, “My Bad” continues his run of eclectic, versatile tracks and marks another notch in a solid 2023 for him.
“My Bad” contains an atmospheric soundscape built upon watery keys that drift smoothly atop crisp, trap-laced percussion. Atop the airy instrumentation, 3vd shines as a vocalist with melodically-tinged inflections and catchy lines, bolstered by booming, pillowy 808s. Memorable and sharply-crafted, “My Bad” is a strong new offering from the Ohio up-and-comer that blends R&B with hip-hop and pop for a colorful new track.
The latest from 3vd, “My Bad” continues a prolific run for him and has us excited for the new visual, which has been building much anticipation from his fanbase. Give “My Bad” a listen below and connect with 3vd on social media platforms for more as well.
Detroit’s ever-prolific duo Valid and Stretch Money have dropped off a new video for their song “So Divine”, a cut from their acclaimed recent album Bill & Isiah. Continuing their run of stylish, infectious joints that put on for Motor City while also showcasing an array of diverse sounds and styles, “So Divine” is a highlight track from the record that has now been paired with an elegant visual directed by Jerry Reid and Slander King.
A tapestry of shimmering synths drift atop rich bass on the heavenly “So Divine”, produced by Pig Pen. The minimalistic, graceful backdrop leaves plenty of space for the two emcees’ charismatic, poised flows. They sound mature and focused with “So Divine”, adding to the track’s luxurious soundscape with velvety flows and sharp rhyme patterns.
The visual, directed by Jerry Reid and Slander King, makes for a sleek, refreshing accompaniment with nocturnal shots depicting crisp scenes from Detroit. The laid-back video presents a charming, effortless swagger that pairs well with the track’s sonics, making for a cohesive pairing.
The latest from Valid and Stretch Money, “So Divine” makes for a highlight joint from their strong new LP Bill & Isiah. Give it a watch below and further familiarize yourself with Valid and Stretch Money.
Tay G has caught our attention for his new single, titled “Kay Caller”. Tay G, a rising artist from Gary, Indiana, discovered his passion for rap at a young age. After experiencing a tragic loss in June 2021, he released his debut video and song, “Aw Shit,” an exhilarating anthem that motivates listeners to chase their dreams. With subsequent releases like “Effect” and “Where You Been,” Tay G’s music gained momentum, solidifying his position as Indiana’s face of rap. His latest offering is the resonant “Kay Caller”, a poignant new song that puts his skills as a songwriter on full display.
With “Kay Caller,” Tay G demonstrates his ability to craft a poignant and introspective track that resonates deeply with audiences. The song’s hypnotic melodies and thought-provoking lyrics create an immersive experience, drawing listeners into Tay G’s world. It’s a testament to his emotive sound and creativity, as well as his keen ability to build a personal bond with his listeners. Elegant pianos and a rich rhythm section underscore him as his vocals float with an effortless charisma.
The latest from Tay G, “Kay Caller” is a powerful joint that immerses the listener in its feel and sound the second they press play. “Kay Caller” continues to show that Tay G is an artist well worth paying attention to from the underrated state of Indiana.
Vancouver’s NADUH have come through with a new single called “LEGACY”. Filling in the industry thigh-gap, 5 piece femme powered hip-hop and R&B group, NADUH, write, engineer, and produce all of their music- meaning they have crafted a sound that’s truly representative of their collective energy. Spreading unity consciousness through R&B-infused beats that hit every chakra, laced with buttery-smooth vocals and HERstorical lyrics. Their latest release, “LEGACY” makes this truly evident with its powerful energy and sharply-crafted songwriting that sleekly blends hip-hop and R&B elements into a cohesive, sleek offering.
“LEGACY” contains raw yet vivid synths that build in layers to make for a soundscape that is simultaneously graceful and hard-hitting. As crisp percussion and rich bass lock in an infectious groove beneath, the group’s versatile vocals provide a highlight with their refreshing, catchy combination of hip-hop and R&B elements. Dynamic and exciting, the track immerses the listener in its sweltering, energizing feel while hitting them with line after line of memorable, sharply-crafted melodies and bars.
NADUH introduces the “New Era” of girl-groups: true friends who are the sole visionaries and manifestors of their music, narrative, and image. Their music holds strong messages of reclamation, empowerment, queerness, sexuality, and spirituality, mixed in with “that bitch” energy, aiming to help their audience access higher realms of consciousness while entertaining their urge to twerk. Their latest, “LEGACY” finds them continuing their hot-streak of hip-hop and R&B-infused joints with one that makes a lasting impression with its eclectic blend of genres, sleek production, and strong songwriting. Give it a listen below and connect with Vancouver’s NADUH for more.
Brighton artist Hatter has shared a a new visual for his single, “Careful”, produced by Saffa Ghorishi. A trailblazer in Brighton’s hip-hop scene, and always testing the limits as to what he can create within the rap domain- Hatter is a potent lyricist and experimental producer whose charismatic energy lights up when taking to the stage. London-born and Brighton-based, Hatter’s play on words, memorable hooks, and versatile production make him an artist paving his own lane. His latest release, “Careful”, continues his run with sharp flows, clever lyricism, and an infectious soundscape provided by long-time collaborator Saffa Ghorishi, accompanied by a strong new visual that is cinematic in tone and engaging in style.
“Careful”’s rhythmic, rich production creates a solid groove for Hatter’s confident yet laid-back rhymes, as he shines on the mic with a strong presence and carefully crafted verses. Backed by Ghorishi’s shimmering production, he sounds natural and in his lane, as he effortlessly handles the beat with an unassuming dominance. The new visual, directed by Mr. Cheal, takes it a step further with cinematic shots, focused editing, and engaging classic movie references to boot. “Careful” is an all-out affair of witty rhymes, memorable production, and poignant visuals that make it another strong outing from this Brighton mainstay.
Give the visual for “Careful” a watch here and be sure to connect with Hatter while you’re at it.
New Jersey’s Dzh has returned with a fresh 2-song release called ‘RANTS’. The appropriately titled set finds him expressing himself in a cathartic manner, detailing his trials and tribulations- while keeping its sound and style engaging and infectious. The release showcases two sides of Dzh, and captures his dynamic persona concisely. It’s also sharply written, and it is evident throughout that Dzh put much thought and planning into each bar and each note. These immaculately crafted songs contain elements of hip-hop, trap, and rage, and refuse to be boxed in to categorization.
“You & Tha Raps” takes on the introspective tone that we’ve been hearing frequently from the East Coast wordsmith. It features a watery, laid-back beat that contains an immersive feel, moored by feathery but bouncy percussion. He then switches it up engagingly with the hard-hitting “Tha Most”, which brings in vibrant rage elements with winding synths and a booming rhythm section.
Give ‘RANTS’ a listen below and further familiarize yourself with Dzh.
Detroit artists Valid and Stretch Money are continuing their run with their new visual for “The Girls”. A poignant track from their recent album Bill & Isiah, “The Girls”, produced by Pig Pen & DJ Jmac, stood out for its bassy sonics, raw, stylish vocals, and retro-futuristic style. It’s a highlight from the record that feels truly Detroit in sound and tone, and it makes its mark in the tracklist for presenting a refreshing, authentic take on the Detroit hip-hop sound.
They continue their run fresh off the album’s release with the new visual directed by Jerry Reid & Slander King, which does well to distill the track’s sleek, retro mood with muted, smoky shots, charismatic performances from the emcees, and nocturnal, atmospheric settings. Accompanying the bass-heavy, raw track, the video also captures its uniquely Detroit sound and style, and in doing so represents the spirit of their strong recent Bill & Isiah record.
Give it a watch below and connect with Valid and Stretch Money.
blackbyrd has shared a new album, titled Shoegaze for Black Kids. blackbyrd (formally known as mikeyblackkk) is an artist from the burgeoning Western Mass music scene. Combining the melodies of shoegaze and dream pop, with the raw lyricism of 90’s boom bap rappers, blackbyrd offers an idiosyncratic sound with his new album as he takes a step forward into new territory from his previous output.
Shoegaze for Black Kids shines by combining various genres into a poignant mix, while blackbyrd himself stands out as a skilled and focused lyricist who does not waste a word as far as delivering a message. It’s a record that is simply refreshing, as it is difficult to categorize and refuses to conform throughout. Songs like the aptly titled “Rebel” are evident as this, and especially the expansive scorcher “White Noise” that is perhaps the most seamless blend of hip-hop and shoegaze on the album. Take a listen to Shoegaze for Black Kids if you want to hear something that defies boundaries in a world where too much output leans towards cookie cutter formulas.
Brighton artists Hatter and Vitamin G have connected for a new release, titled “Leanin'”. Two mainstays in Brighton’s rich scene, the artists connect for a track that refreshes with its brisk pace and sharply-crafted sonics. Infusing classic grime influences as well as undertones of drill and hip-hop, “Leanin'” is an energizing release that finds the emcees delivering charismatic, engaging performances atop blazing instrumentation, produced by Hatter. The sound light on their feet and focused atop the raw beat, while displaying a natural chemistry as they trade verses at a lightning speed.
The new video is minimalistic in its approach but effective in capturing the track’s liveliness, with crisp shots that picture the two emcees hanging out in their hometown of Brighton and delivering a commanding performance of the song. Check it out below and further familiarize yourself with Hatter and Vitamin G.
Chelsea Reject has recently been garnering significant buzz out of Brooklyn, NY, and she dropped off a solid recent project with BUBBLE GRL. Her warm, breezy sound is refreshing in tone, as she seamlessly blending hip-hop and R&B elements for a dynamic listen. The opening song on BUBBLE GRL, “Grounded”, is a prime example of this, with its laid-back yet assured sound that reflects its themes of remaining grounded and true to oneself despite external opinions and influences. She possesses maturity and focus as a songwriter across the 10 diverse tracks on her recent project BUBBLE GRL, and “Grounded” is definitive of this early in the project’s track-list.
Jay Wood- “OVERACHIEVER”
Jay Wood caught our attention this month for his strong new track “OVERACHIEVER”. Hailing from the fertile Chicago music scene, which has produced many overlooked artists of late, Wood further imprints himself as a noteworthy voice from the region with “OVERACHIEVER”. The song has an anthemic quality to it, while remaining self aware in a way that makes its grandiose sonics feel natural. His vocal melodies are smooth yet confident, merging with the expansive, sleek instrumentation to give the release added replay value.
Nick Rose- “Pulp Fiction”
Connecticut artist Nick Rose shares his first single of 2023 with “Pulp Fiction”, an energizing track that showcases his ability to blend genres with ease. Characterized by raw synths and punchy percussion that give the track dashes of synth-punk, “Pulp Fiction”’s pulsating rhythm is immediately recognizable and catchy. Mixing elements of punk and alt-pop, Rose’s vocals contain an undertone of urgency that grips the listener from the get-go.
Hidden Renaissance, kllz- “New Friends, Same Old Pains”
Rich grooves and organic-sounding samples characterize the prolific Hidden Renaissance’s recent project BARBAROIS, and one standout track from early in the record is “New Friends, Same Old Pains”, with production from kllz. The track demonstrates the attention to detail seen in a lot of the Hidden Renaissance collective’s work, while elevating its sound to new heights with rumbling bass, vivid samples, and infectious percussion. It’s a solid dose of instrumental hip-hop that feels effortless and well thought-out simultaneously.
Johnny VùDOE- “introducing”
This track was technically released at the end of March, but this is one of my favourite tracks from 2023 so far and certainly deserves an inclusion. The Bronx’s Johnny VùDOE makes his presence known with a free-spirited track that kicks off his soulful EP 2pieceAAbiscuit. His lyrical abilities shine through atop the textural instrumentation, as his ability to paint vivid pictures within his verses becomes clear. For an unassuming, carefree track packed with inherent talent, check out VùDOE’s “introducing”, as well as his project 2pieceAAbiscuit.
ROUNDHOUSE MUSIC 