Alley Rocket is ready to shut down the clubs with this banger. The New Jersey native releases his first solo work in over 6 months, and what a better way to do that than with Jersey drill.
Alley Rocket already used his debut mixtape Apollo Boy to showcase his versatility, but “STIMMY” shows listeners that Rocket is as hungry as ever. An infectious flow, clever lyrics, and a deliver so perfect that you’ll immediately get up and start dancing. Rocket is ready to show that 2021 is his year for the taking.
When I asked Rocket what “STIMMY” meant to him, he said “it means that I’m just trying to show the world that my state has its own wave and that I represent New Jersey no matter what”. Alley Rocket said he made the track in hopes dancers can get busy to it since he also has a passion for dancing.
This track boats of amazing production from Dren and 809. “STIMMY” is heat, as expected, and with a song this amazing we can only imagine what other fire tracks Alley Rocket is gearing up to release.
DeEtta Jain has finally dropped her long awaited EP, A Walk in the Park , and this is not a project to be played with. Her amazing vocals coupled with her therapeutic voice gives the EP a soothing vibe. The tape boasts of production from DlzMksBts.
When I asked DeEtta what the EP meant to her, she said A Walk in the Park is a title that holds the same playful and momentous nature of the tracks. I wanted it to feel like a warm stroll at sunrise with surprises lurking in the play equipment”. Well, DeEtta sure makes music seem like a walk in the park with how effortless she sounded throughout the EP.
A Walk in the Park is the perfect project for the lovebirds, the ones still seeking love, late night rides and walks in the parks. With how amazing the EP was, we can’t wait to see what more DeEtta Jain has in store for us.
Long Island artist Onik has enlisted FindingVon for a new collaboration called “Couldn’t Find Myself”. Over top of groovy, warm guitars, the vocalists provide a reflective, pensive performance that keeps the listener on their toes.
The instrumental for “Couldn’t Help Myself” is emotive and bittersweet, using reminiscent guitars and bouncy drums to create a pensive mood. Moreover, the bass on the track is catchy and rich, enforcing a driving rhythm that gives the track much replay value. The drifting vocals from Onik and FindingVon convey a sense of longing and add layers to the song both emotionally and sonically, pairing with the beat smoothly to enhance the overall listening experience.
All in all, “Couldn’t Help Myself” is a poignant track from Onik and FindingVon that immediately draws the listener into its nostalgic atmosphere. The two artists share an effortlessly organic chemistry, and complement eachother’s vocal performance in a charming manner.
19 year-old Florida artist BigGuySky has shared a vibrant EP called Been Scarred. Over 6 potent, versatile tracks, the artist showcases his focused technical skills and his ear for catchy melodies.
The title track “Been Scarred” opens the album, introducing the record in a grand fashion. Here, a triumphant beat made up of powerful horns and crisp percussion blasts out, making a confident entrance. BigGuySky himself is a highlight of the song, as he comes through with some electrifying melodies and personal, emotive lyrics that draw one into the song’s atmosphere. Following this track up is “Moveee”, a track that is reflective in tone, slightly calming the energy and providing dynamics on the release. Here, Sky once again delivers some strong melodies, and the chorus is a true earworm.
“Happy” takes the album’s sound and drives it in a brighter direction. The instrumental is centred around sparkling keys and lively 808s, with clean drums locking in the rhythm. He sounds poised as a vocalist here, performing some introspective verses. Finally, the EP closes on a high note with gripping tracks “Your Face (Just Won’t Go Away)” and “Outta Time”. The latter is particularly captivating, with its drifting guitars and heartfelt vocals containing thoughtful lyrics.
Overall, Been Scarred is an engaging, honest release from BigGuySky that shows the young artist’s potential. The title track in particular is an invigorating listen, for it is an underrated banger that provides much replay value. Hopefully more is soon to come from this Florida musician, as this is certainly an enjoyable project from him early on in his career.
Berlin’s Mr Pigeons has returned with an excellent song called “Secret Circle” that “flew” under the radar, but certainly deserves wider attention. Featuring the talented Mehira Cruz, this release is expansive and freeing, containing an intriguing mood that escapes categorization.
The instrumental for “Secret Circle” is dreamlike and grand, conjuring an image of open skies or seas. It is made up of ethereal synths that drift beautifully over crisp percussion. Beneath, muscular 808s add balance to the song, giving it an energetic rhythm. Mr Pigeons comes through with some expressive verses, and caps it off with a mesmerizing hook, sung alongside Cruz. The chorus is especially captivating and well-written, beckoning many re-listens.
Overall, “Secret Circle” is a strong release from Mr Pigeons and Mehira Cruz, which hopefully signals a new full length project from him soon. Fresh off the heels of the boundary-pushing LP Pink Fossil, the artist is sounding better than ever and one can highly anticipate whatever comes up next from him.
Legendary Los Angeles rapper Blu has shared a new single called “People Call Me Blu(e)”, produced by the great Exile. This track finds Blu flowing smoothly over a textured, raw beat full of soul and energy.
Both Blu and Exile sound as sharp as ever on this new release, further proving their longevity and consistency. Following last year’s highly acclaimed album Miles, both artists released a heap of quality music, including Blu’s For Sale EP with Sirplus and Exile’s “Always Summer” with Cousin Brother. Now, the two connect for Blu’s latest single “People Call Me Blu(e)”, a standout song from his upcoming album The Color Blu(e), which will be released on Nature Sounds.
The instrumental for “People Call Me Blu(e)” is evocative and smoky, featuring coarsely chopped vocal samples and dusty horns. Beneath, rugged drums and rich bass create an infectious groove and lay a solid foundation for Blu’s elastic flows. He comes through with some characteristically clever lyrics that cover his mind state on hip-hop and music as a whole. Sounding as focused and poised as ever, he delivers charismatic verses that keep the listener re-winding.
Overall, “People Call Me Blu(e)” is a strong release that has one excited for the upcoming full-length album. This track captures Blu and Exile’s familiar sound while also pushing into new territory. Their chemistry is evident as always, as they deliver a track that is both energetic and welcomingly casual.
Vancouver’s Swabski has returned with a fresh new single called “Ride With Me”. Over top of a jazzy, reflective instrumental, the rapper weaves some laid-back verses that keep the listener engaged throughout.
The instrumental for “Ride With Me” contains nostalgic vocal samples that swirl in psychedelic layers. Accompanied by subtle synths and rich bass, the beat creates an infectious and catchy groove. Moreover, Swabski comes through with some laid-back, flexible verses full of sharply written lyrics. Overall, he flexes his skills as an emcee and shows why he is a rapper to keep an eye on. Hopefully more is soon to come from the West Coast based artist, who’s relaxed, smooth style provides much replay value.
West Coast underground legends Cashus King and Blu have shared an elegant new song called “Boom Bap Cadillac”, which finds the two artists flowing smoothly over gorgeous keys and smoky saxophones.
The instrumental for “Boom Bap Cadillac” is wistful and ethereal, containing reminiscent keys that drift along surreally. Accompanied by warm horns, the beat is truly remarkable, capturing a uniquely nostalgic mood. Furthermore, the two rappers come through with some characteristically powerful verses, full of poetic imagery that stirs deep emotions in the listener. The reflective nature of the verses paired with the sharply written lyrics from Cashus King and Blu make for a highly memorable listening experience. Overall, this song sees the two continue their streak as some of the most consistent and talented rappers out of LA.
East Coast rappers Reed, Hunnaloe, and Sly C have shared a new song called “The Ropes”. The three rising artists continue their prolific output with this new release, a raw, laid-back offering that provides much replay value.
The instrumental for “The Ropes” contains dusky, textured vocal samples that swirl together in an intriguing way. With additional guitars and bass complementing the vocal samples, this track sounds layered and rich. Underscored by rugged drums, the song carries a smooth, relaxed pace. Moreover, the three rappers come through with some clever, candid verses that keep one hooked. Hopefully more will be coming soon from Reed, Hunnaloe, and Sly C, as they have been consistently dropping some high-quality tracks lately.
Western Massachusetts artist Kwynn Reid is a rising voice to watch, having recently shared a strong new EP Home for the Summer. He is admirably diverse in his songwriting, crafting songs in a variety of stylings and moods with ease, as he draws influence from R&B, hip-hop, electronic, pop, and more. His new EP Home for the Summer feels warm in sound and personal in its songwriting, while simultaneously providing bangers that have you nodding your head immediately.
Home for the Summer kicks off with the powerful title track, which uses strong drums and rumbling 808s to create a driving rhythm. Over top of the rhythm section, smooth keys and subtle, high-pitched vocal samples give the song a layered feel. The combination of the keys and vocal samples are engaging and catchy, sticking in one’s head long after listening. Furthermore, Reid comes through with some well-written vocals that introduce his singing style. He sounds confident and heartfelt on this song, beginning the EP in an engaging fashion that hooks the listener in from the get-go.
Reid follows this track up with the thoughtful, charismatic “Can’t Be Helped”, which feels gospel influenced. Here, warm organs pair with energizing synths to create infectious melodies that lift the track up to the clouds. Furthermore, crunchy percussion and deep bass are added to round out the song, giving it a steady pace. Reid’s vocals are memorable, featuring intriguing melodies and introspective lyrics. His lyrics are relatable and heartfelt here, painting a clear portrait of his perspective.
Lastly, Reid switches the pace up for the jaunty, reminiscent “Think Too Much”. This track conjures a unique mood through its usage of rapid drums and dream-like, fluttering acoustic guitars. Paired with soulful, nostalgic vocal samples and underscored by groovy bass, this song is a project highlight. “Think Too Much” is an example of Reid’s diverse songwriting skills, as he brings a different sound and style here and executes it smoothly. This song closes out the EP in a graceful fashion, providing a warm, bittersweet send-off.
All in all, Home for the Summer is an intriguing, memorable release from Kwynn Reid, who is certainly a talented up-and-coming voice coming from Western Massachusetts. His sharp songwriting ability and heartfelt style shines through on this release, as he provides a refreshing sound that contains a lot of personality. Hopefully more is soon to come from Reid, as he shows much promise across these three tracks and leaves the listener wanting more.
ROUNDHOUSE MUSIC 