Author: befree

Brooklyn rapper Bert Knox and Virginia singer KADOLEAF join forces alongside New York producer tookhozy for their latest genre-bending single “G TRAIN.” This track serves as a follow-up for Knox and KADOLEAF, as per their previous collaboration on the “Number9 Remix” with Tommy Richman. This latest single is spacey and colorful, with a layered instrumental centred around watery synths and laid-back horns. Beneath, grooving, textural drums create a solid foundation for the dynamic vocalists, who bring a refreshing variety of bright, R&B and alternative pop influenced melodies, and smooth hip-hop verses.

While demonstrating a refined approach towards genre-blending landscapes, this track strikes a refined balance between alternative hip-hop, Neo-R&B, and Bedroom Pop. KADOLEAF’s vocals feel nostalgic and comforting, which create the perfect atmosphere for Knox to take us home with his distinctive cadence and imagery-driven stanzas. The drums, crafted by tookhozy, stick and hold together the tropical chord progressions that stand out in the production. As we enter into spring, “G TRAIN” is the perfect soundtrack for the seasonal transition.

Listen to “G Train” now:

Live 4eva has shared a fresh new release called “Ashley Banks”, paired with an engaging visual. Although he is relatively new to the music scene, with “Ashley Banks” being his third release, he is already making impressive progress in carving out his own sound and unique lane. Unafraid to take risks sonically, he blends engaging influences together into an electrifying formula centred around powerful beats and addictive melodies. This is on full display for his latest offering “Ashley Banks”, an infectious song that finds the young artist delivering memorable vocals atop raw, heavy production. Featuring driving synths and expansive 808s locked in by crisp percussion, the intensity of the instrumental on “Ashley Banks” is further enhanced by Live 4eva’s confident verses and explosive chorus. Additionally, the minimalistic, raw aesthetic of the video matches “Ashley Banks” sonics perfectly, making for an enticingly catchy combination. The latest from Live 4eva, “Ashley Banks” has us excited to hear what may come next from him, considering this is only his third single.

Watch the video for “ASHLEY BANKS: THE MOVIE”

By Todd Anderson

Lil Door has shared a catchy new banger called “No Bluff”, produced by Chrxme and Madias. The latest from the rising artist, this song finds him continuing to define his refreshing, forward-thinking sound through exciting production and slick vocals. The beat on “No Bluff” is stylish yet raw with bright, psychedelic synths blasting out atop driving, thick 808s. Sonically powerful, the production is infectious and provides much replay value, creating a strong foundation for Lil Door’s energizing vocals. He comes through with melodious verses that add even more intensity to the beat, providing sharply-crafted and memorable lines throughout. An explosive, colorful release, “No Bluff” is a banger that gets your adrenaline pumping immediately. The latest from the prolific Lil Door, “No Bluff” has him continuing to take the SoundCloud scene by storm.

Listen to “No Bluff” now:

By Damilola Grey

St. Wave is back with his new single titled “High AF”. The 3-minute track sees St. Wave climbing higher and higher, in an attempt to reach the comets. According to him, he’ll be climbing forever. Listeners will immediately be drawn in to the track’s unique feel as the up-tempo sound evokes a feeling of being “high af”. When I talked to the New York native about what “High AF” meant to him, he said “High AF is supposed to guide a lost person who might be questioning their current situation in life, as if they were on an acid trip. It’s supposed to uplift them to new heights and provoke a new perspective on their situation. Being okay with them and standing ten toes in that regardless of their environment”. St. Wave went crazy on this track and we can’t wait for everyone to hear it so buckle your seatbelts and get ready for a journey, because we’re reaching the comets.

Stream “High AF” now:

Chicago artist Goody‘s self-titled EP is a refreshing offering that provides an atmospheric, infectious sound that sets itself apart from many of today’s common trends. The 3-song set kicks off with the glowing, reflective “Honest (Too Much)”, which finds soaring guitars, heavy 808s, and crisp drums providing a powerful backdrop for Goody’s thoughtful, sharply-crafted verses. Grand and sweeping, this song’s nocturnal sonics shimmer as his laid-back flow floats overtop. Next, warm, grooving guitars and graceful vocal samples enter to introduce “Denim”, an energizing, bouncy track that ups the pace slightly with an exciting rhythm. Goody’s verses here are smooth and controlled, as he delivers descriptive, vivid lines. Closer “Slow Jams” finishes the project on an uplifting, elegant note with dreamlike strings, airy vocal samples, and addictive drums. Here, Goody tackles the instrumental with ease as he weaves lines together confidently, showcasing some of his slickest bars on the project. A strong, focused project overall from Chicago’s Goody, this EP is concise and vivid, showing promise in its songwriting and production choices.

Listen to ‘Goody’ now:

Young Tapz, a fast-rising Wilmington, DE artist, has connected with rising Texas musician LUCKY3RD for a new single called “Palm Angels”, accompanied by a new music video. Featuring a catchy instrumental centred around electrifying guitars, bouncy drums, and heavy 808s, “Palm Angels” makes for an enlivening listen. Moreover, the vocals from the two artists are engaging and infectious, as they deliver smooth melodies confidently atop the jubilant production. With an exciting new visual that finds the artists giving charismatic performances that draw the listener more deeply into the song’s atmosphere and mood, “Palm Angels” provides a cohesive whole package that is enticing. The new video for this single is a prelude to Young Tapz’s forthcoming album due for release late-2022.

Watch the video now:

DMV artist Kinrose has shared a new EP appropriately titled easygrowing, which finds him exploring rich, warm sounds across 5 addictively chilled-out songs. The project opens with “aloof ona roof”, which finds him delivering some introspective, sharply-crafted lyrics with a melodious, charismatic flow. Here, he is underscored by a layered, spacey instrumental centred around watery keys and mellow, pillowy 808s that create an immersive, atmospheric soundscape. This track transitions smoothly into the infectious, uplifting “profile”- an EP highlight containing mellow yet expansive production and charming flows. “pass today” brings in a slightly more bittersweet sound with pensive keys and airy, psychedelic samples, changing the pace of the project before closer “cloudy air” makes for a heavenly ending with elegant keys and wistful backing vocals that set an apt backdrop for Kinrose’s captivating closing verses. A refreshingly idiosyncratic, charmingly organic project overall, easygrowing shows much promise in its production choices and songwriting and has us excited for what may come next for the rising DMV artist.

Listen now:

Global music collective ANDA have shared a new collaborative single called “4theDAE”, featuring an extensive list of talented artists including underground mainstay Quelle Chris, DAE the Video, Dutch Kills, Sophie Graham, TBD, and Bobbon. Underscored by a focused, refreshing instrumental that conjures imagery of a brisk morning, the vocalists deliver smooth, heartfelt verses full of sharply-crafted, vivid lyricism. As warm, watery keys and crunchy, organic-sounding drums blend together hypnotically, and flourishes of mesmerizing vocal samples add more color to the song, one cannot help but get drawn into this song’s character-rich atmosphere. The latest from global collective ANDA, this offering has us excited for what may be coming next from them, as they continue their prolific run of releases.

Listen now:

By Jacob Ezra

Ravenna, Ohio’s Chanelle Kazadi has connected with St. Louis’ Matty Wood$ for a new single called “Pootie Tang”. Providing a laid-back, refreshing listen with layered, warm sonics and smooth vocals, this song makes for a strong follow-up to her well-received previous album Make It Work. It opens with grooving guitars and watery, vibrant keys that set a sunny backdrop for Wood$ entrance, as he comes through with a charismatic, melodious flow. Underscored by bouncy percussion and rich 808s, this song picks up an infectious groove that lingers in one’s head long after listening. Wood$ vocals transition smoothly into Kazadi’s flexible, vivid rhymes, with the two sharing a natural chemistry throughout. She flows effortlessly over the beat with a relaxed yet commanding tone, matching the beat’s character-rich sound with playful, confident bars.

The latest from Ohio’s Kazadi, “Pootie Tang” is a smooth collaboration that makes for an apt soundtrack to the warming weather as we move towards spring.

Listen to “Pootie Tang” now:

Los Angeles artists Cashus King and Jeff Johnson have shared a new song called “Heaven Man Earth”. This 11-minute epic from the two underground standouts explores an intriguing variety of rich, uplifting soundscapes, and contains vividly poetic lyricism and sharp flows. With a storied history in the Los Angeles hip-hop scene, King and Johnson have developed evocative styles hinged around vibrant, cerebral wordplay and deft flows. “Heaven Man Earth” is no exception, with thought-provoking, philosophical content and uplifting sonics.

This single kicks off with glowing, colorful pianos that drift above crunchy, organic-sounding drums, creating a solid foundation for King’s powerful opening verse. Floating atop the regal beat, his vocal tone is commanding yet calm, and his rhyme schemes are flexible and smooth. Engaging dynamics are added when the pianos that make up the heart of the first instrumental shift into celestial vocal samples that twist psychedelically atop the grooving percussion. Then, the pianos are brought back in again and King’s lyricism reaches new levels poetically, as his rhymes evoke crystal clear imagery in the listener’s head. Towards the culmination of the track, winding, celestial vocal samples and warm keys underscore Johnson’s entrance, as he comes through with dextrous verses containing personality-rich, dense lyricism that puts the listener in a headspace of poignant self-reflection.

A powerful, pensive offering from King and Johnson, “Heaven Man Earth” uplifts and inspires deep thought with spiritual, philosophical lyricism and ethereal sonics. The latest from the two west coast veterans, this track is an epic adventure through vibrant and character-rich imagery and sounds that feel dream-like and yet simultaneously starkly real.

Listen to “Heaven Man Earth” now: