Author: befree

Bronx rapper Ki Storii‘s “What You Need” is an addictive, vibrant banger that had us hooked from the get-go. Containing powerful, driving 808s and bright, energizing synths, the instrumental on “What You Need” really got our adrenaline pumping. Moreover, her vocals are engaging and rich in character, with a confident, smooth delivery and memorable lyrics. “What You Need” is likely to have you pressing that replay button whenever it comes on.

Listen to “What You Need” now:

Montreal musician Anomalie‘s single “Bond” makes for a truly spell-binding listen, providing a refreshing, dynamic sound that had us hooked from the get-go. Mixing genres in a seamless fashion, “Bond” opens with a wintery, peaceful jazz section before dropping into an infectious funk groove. Bolstered by bouncy drums and rich bass, this part of the song feels disco-inspired, complete with bright, agile synths. Truly a top tier example of genre-blending, “Bond” is a memorable offering that revitalizes the listener with its idiosyncratic sound.

Listen to “Bond” now:

Little Rock, Arkansas artist DILLION‘s “Nickname”, featuring Jaykel the Smooth is a refreshing, vibrant offering. A joint off his eclectic new album Blue Lights, “Nickname” blends genres in an intriguing, unique fashion. The production here is bouncy and addictive, centred around colorful synths layered over top of one another. Underneath, playful 808s and crisp percussion create a solid foundation for DILLION’ and Jaykel the Smooth’s smooth, charismatic vocals. If you enjoyed “Nickname”, check out the remainder of DILLION’s recent album Blue Lights, a solid offering of expressive tracks drawing influences from a variety of genres.

Listen to “Nickname” here:

Written by Jacob Ezra

Up-and-coming St. Louis artist Mvstermind‘s song “NIGHTWATCH” stands out immediately for its forward-thinking, refreshing sound. A cut off his eclectic recent EP GREAT, this track features addictive, layered production and vibrant vocals. It is difficult to not put “NIGHTWATCH” on repeat just to absorb all of the details present in both the vocals and instrumental. If you enjoyed this song check out the rest of Mvstermind’s EP GREAT, a strong release that is sonically diverse and relentlessly exciting.

Listen to “NIGHTWATCH” now:

Cleveland artist Chelsea Pastel‘s “PPA” is a certified banger, providing an adrenaline-pumping sound that has us re-playing this track again and again. Filled to the brim with charisma and confidence, “PPA”‘s rapid pace and clever lyrics make for a truly exciting listening experience. Pastel sounds sharp and executes her animated, lively flow with ease, ripping the raw, intense beat to shreds. If you enjoyed this song, be sure to give the rest of her album Pastelevision a listen as well.

Listen to “PPA” here:

Written by Jacob Ezra

Sefu‘s “Alton & Franklin” is a sublime jazz rap offering, with refreshing, uplifting vibes that caught our attention immediately. Containing earthy, warm vocal samples underscored by warm keys, the instrumental for “Alton & Franklin” is truly memorable. Moreover, Sefu’s smooth, laid-back cadence and poetic, introspective lyrics are thought-provoking and beautifully crafted, adding even more depth to this track. If you enjoyed “Alton & Franklin”, be sure to check out the remainder of Sefu’s album STARS ARE BORN IN PAIRS, an underrated set of vibrant, creative hip-hop tracks.

Listen to “Alton & Franklin” now:

London DJ and vocalist Ell Murphy‘s track “Make It”, featuring Soundboy Cookie, is one of our favorites this week. The instrumental is refreshing and atmospheric, centred around warm reversed keys layered over bouncy, addictive percussion. Murphy’s ethereal vocals are a highlight on this cut, as they drift smoothly over the relaxing production. An exciting, forward-thinking UK garage offering, “Make It” is a track that beckons many re-visits.

Listen to “Make It” here:

Written by Jacob Ezra

Pittsburgh rapper Skrilla Bands has come through with a new banger called “Got Betta”. This single contains an electrifying instrumental that is centred around fast-paced guitar samples and driving 808s. Beneath, crisp, raw percussion creates a solid foundation for Skrilla Bands’ powerful vocals, as he comes through with an exciting, focused performance. Pairing solid production with well-crafted vocals, “Got Betta” is highly memorable, and provides much replay value.

Listen to “Got Betta”:

Texas artist Dende‘s “Candy” is a smoky, seductive offering that draws the listener into its atmosphere immediately. With warm, romantic guitars drifting over top of rich bass and crisp, organic percussion, this is a release worthy of many re-visits. Moreover, Dende’s vocals are as smooth as butter and his melodies are sharply crafted, displaying his strong skills as a songwriter. A cut off his recent EP Pregnancy Pack, “Candy” is a highlight song from an intriguing, refreshing up-and-coming artist.

Listen to “Candy” now:

Written by Jacob Ezra

Chicago artist Morgan Gold‘s “waterbed” is an atmospheric, laid-back offering that hooked us in right away. Containing an immersive, layered instrumental centred around warm keys and rich percussion, this song is one that is easy to keep replaying. Gold’s silky vocals pair smoothly with the relaxed instrumental, adding to its calming mood and glowing sonics. With its combination of refined production and focused songwriting, this release left us truly impressed.

Listen to “waterbed” now: