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demahjiae and Elujay share hypnotic single “1178”

East Oakland artist demahjiae has connected with Elujay for a fresh single called “1178”. Following up demahjiae’s potent 2022 EP Angels Wear Black as well as stellar features on records from Navy Blue, Ovrkast., and more, “1178” finds him linking with fellow Oakland standout and genre-bending artist Elujay for a strong new offering that blends influences eclectically.

The hypnotic, soulful cut features expansive, warm production and engaging, melodically-laced verses that captivate from the start. Blending melodic inflections with heartfelt, introspective lyricism and raw flows, “1178” makes for an versatile release from demahjiae and Elujay that showcases their diversity on the mic. Underscored by a dream-like instrumental built around surreal, sparkling keys, airy percussion, and choral backing vocals, the emcees drop off potent, honest verses that are detailed and refreshingly introspective. Give “1178” a listen below now.

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insyt. takes listeners on a journey with ‘The Nothings I’ve Felt’

insyt. caught our attention for his recent EP The Nothings I’ve Felt. An introspective, vivid journey into the life and times of the artist- The Nothings I’ve Felt is a refreshingly personal, character-rich drop that puts insyt.’s lyrical abilities on full display. Following up his project The View From the Sky from earlier in 2023, The Nothings I’ve Felt finds him continuing to refine his potent, heartfelt sound with an engaging 5-track offering.

The Nothings I’ve Felt opens with “Eons”, a hypnotic joint featuring warm production and introspective lyricism from insyt. that sets the tone for the project and grasps the listener from the get-go. “Gemini” follows next with an organic, thoughtful cut that finds insyt. piecing together vibrant, poetic lines atop textural, laid-back keys and infectious percussion. “1973”, featuring Samad M, features glowing, gospel-tinged production that creates an air of nostalgia, suiting the emcees reflective verses. “Eating my Tail”, featuring Uhuru Noir, closes the project strongly with an emotive offering, finding the emcees confessional with gripping verses that feel cathartic in nature.

Take a listen to The Nothings I’ve Felt below here.

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D2x shares cinematic new single “Faith”

D2x has dropped off a new single called “Faith”. A standout voice coming out of Chicago’s vibrant hip-hop scene, “Faith” follows up his acclaimed 2021 album The Color Blue as well as his 2022 single “UNDERSTAND”, arriving ahead of his upcoming album Hotel 1105.

“Faith” contains refreshing production built around lush vocal samples, sparkling keys, and a bouncy, addictive rhythm section. With classic Chicago influences delivered with D2x’s own personal twist, “Faith” is a vivid new joint that entices with its lively soundscape. Moreover, D2x shines as a vocalist with a confident mic presence, crisp delivery, and emotive lyricism.

Overall, “Faith” is a strong new cut from D2x that has us excited for his upcoming album Hotel 1105, listen to it below.

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Shaw Calhoune shares soulful new EP, ‘Four Piece’

Maryland artist Shaw Calhoune has shared a new EP, titled Four Piece, via Big El Records. Following up engaging singles like “A House Sparrow’s Feather” as well as his project Fly Langston released in February, his latest offering, Four Piece,is a focused, detail-rich project containing soulful, rich production and true-to-life, vivid lyricism from Calhoune.

Four Piece opens with “Fu Kang”, a track that introduces Calhoune’s penchant for memorable, poetic lyricism atop a meditative instrumental containing thought-provoking keys and minimalistic percussion. “Kenny’s” brings in hypnotic soul sampled production as Calhoune laces his verses with clever, poignant lines- while “New Dynasty” introduces an expansive, elegant sound. Closer “Eddie Leonard” makes for a highlight from the EP with its powerful soul samples, potent keys, and raw, hard-hitting flows from Calhoune to finish the project on an emotive note.

Take a listen to Shaw Calhoune’s latest project Four Piece below now.

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Occ Taee and Solocash connect for new project ‘Splash Bros’

Indianapolis artists Occ Taee and Solocash have shared a new collaborative album, called Splash Bros. This eclectic, potent new release includes a series of infectious songs that draw from hip-hop, trap, hyperpop, and pop. It’s a journey through raw, hard-hitting sonics, laced with vibrant melodies and memorable vocal lines. “All Night” opens the project with a colourful, melodic cut- while “Mozart” provides a highlight with its catchy production and sharply-crafted, focused vocal performances. “Love Song” demonstrates their diversity with a more airy, emotive joint that finishes the project strongly.

Both artists have been making waves in the industry individually, earning widespread recognition for their characteristic approaches to music. Solocash’s raw energy and engaging songwriting have captivated listeners worldwide, while Occ Taee’s unfiltered, potent lyrics and catchy flow have solidified his position as an influential figure in the hip hop scene. Their combined prowess promises a memorable sonic experience, fusing infectious melodies, captivating hooks, and hard hitting beats that will keep audiences hooked from start to finish. Give their latest project Splash Bros a listen here. 

Connect with Occ Taee: Spotify | Instagram

Connect with Solocash: Spotify | Instagram

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Ishmael asks “What’s the Word” on new single

Ishmael has dropped off a new single, titled “What’s the Word”, on his label Maelrose Records. Hailing from Porterville, California, he started making music when he was 14, originally aspiring to become a producer. Beginning to rap and write his own lyrics in high school, Ishmael went on to found his own label Maelrose Records and release his first album Rise Above in 2018, followed by a prolific set of projects that expanded upon his soulful, lyrically-focused style. His latest offering, “What’s the Word”, features dream-like, optimistic production and laid-back flows that give the song a carefree, summery vibe.

Atop an organic soundscape built around watery, relaxed keys, uplifting vocal samples, and crunchy percussion, Ishmael lays down nostalgic verses that paint pictures of both his past and aspirations for the future. With lines like “to sum it up, I’m just excited and terrified at the same time of what my future’s gonna look like”, he hits a vital nerve and relates to listeners in an unassuming fashion. Give “What’s the Word” a listen below as the California artist continues his prolific streak of singles.

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THE i OF A GENiUS shares eclectic new single “DREAMFIRST.”

THE i OF A GENiUS has dropped off a new single titled “DREAMFIRST.”, produced by Driveby and mixed and mastered by Steel Tipped Dove. The Paterson, NJ artist was first inspired to create music when he heard “Let Me Fly” by DMX, and since, knew he could channel his personality through music and make something of himself. Early in his career, he performed a freestyle for mydiveo that was aired on My x TV, a national television network- as well as opening for Da$h and Chris Rivers. Since, he has steadily built momentum in New Jersey and beyond with a series of expressive releases that captivate with outside-the-box production and raw, lyrically-focused flows. His latest offering is “DREAMFIRST.”, a layered, eclectic track featuring surreal rhyming from THE i OF A GENiUS psychedelic production from Driveby.

Underscored by textural, syrupy samples consisting of gritty vocals and horns, The i OF A GENiUS effortlessly delivers dynamic flows that keep the listener on their toes with unpredictable rhyme patterns. He weaves together vivid lines, putting his lyrical abilities at the forefront with potent imagery atop the grimy beat from Driveby.

Take a listen to “DREAMFIRST.” below, as THE i OF A GENiUS continues his run of boundary-pushing joints.

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Fatboi Sharif and Steel Tipped Dove share frigid video for “Phantasm”, from ‘Decay’ album

New Jersey’s Fatboi Sharif and New York’s Steel Tipped Dove recently shared their collaborative LP Decay- an uncompromisingly experimental, head trip of a record that lives up to its namesake with dilapidated, raw instrumentation and apocalyptic lyricism. Following up the album’s release, they now share a video for Decay’s opening track “Phantasm”, directed by Mike Petrow. The new visual is characterized by surreal, wintery shots that capture the song’s frigid psychedelica. With an expressive performance from Sharif set to backdrops including the ruins of old homes and bare, ice-laden trees, the new video for “Phantasm” captures the ethos of Sharif and Steel Tipped Dove’s new Decay record. The track’s grimy, ominous guitars, cathartic bass, and menacing flows serve as the perfect soundtrack, distilling a sinister energy that merges cohesively with the visual’s frames. Give the new video for “Phantasm” a watch below, released via Backwoodz Studioz. 

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New York’s T’nah and Chelsea Reject shine on “VOGUE”

New York artist T’nah has dropped off a single called “VOGUE”, featuring fellow NY emcee Chelsea Reject. The pair previously collaborated recently on Reject’s song “Delays”, and now they return with a versatile, engaging new single. Drawing from drill with clean, bouncy percussion, while adding refreshing, watery keys for balance, “VOGUE” presents a smooth, atmospheric new cut from the two lyricists. Vocally, they engage the listener with crisp, melodically-tinged verses laced with melodic touches, giving a dynamic performance with memorable songwriting. Culminating in a soulful, airy hook, “VOGUE” provides much replay value while making for a sleek, stylish listen that blends together influences eclectically.

The latest from T’nah featuring Chelsea Reject, “VOGUE” finds them delivering a potent new cut that continues to show that they are two noteworthy artists coming out of NYC right now. Give “VOGUE” a listen below.

Watch the visualizer for “VOGUE” here, shot by Yami Golds and edited by T’nah:

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Jay Cinema and Jedos share warm new EP ‘Hell Of A Life’

New York emcee Jay Cinema and producer Jedos have dropped off a new EP, titled Hell Of A Life. First recorded in 2021, the 5-track offering finds Cinema and Jedos sharing a natural chemistry that translates to a set of warm, easy-going tracks. Characterized by relaxed, soulful production and heartfelt flows, Hell Of A Life makes for a meditative, emotive listen.

With an organic feel throughout, the EP presents an unassuming authenticity felt from the get-go on the opener “What Can I Say”, featuring Antoine Sand. As swirling, vibrant samples and minimalistic percussion create a dream-like soundscape, Cinema and Sand deliver introspective verses that feel freeing and cathartic in tone. “Fast Forward” creates a potent sense of nostalgia with emotive, hypnotic soul sampled production from Jedos and wistful storytelling verses from Cinema. Closer “Hell Of A Life”, featuring Sefu, makes for a highlight at the tail end of the EP, merging infectious, colorful instrumentation with true-to-life, engaging performances from Cinema and Houston’s Sefu.

Jay Cinema and Jedos present a refreshingly heartfelt, low-key offering with Hell Of A Life, a release that charms with its vivid sonics and potent lyricism. Give Hell Of A Life a listen below.