Hip hop mega-collective Hidden Renaissance have shared their debut single “The Hidden Ones”, a vivid expression of detailed lyricism and textural, colorful production. Featuring consistently sharp vocal contributions from DEADPAN, King Quad, Snick Foley, LANO, and Pareto as well as producer brown_buddha, this song finds the artists sharing a natural chemistry as they balance boisterous energy and calming sonics effectively. “The Hidden Ones” features vibrant instrumentation centred around layered, watery keys and reminiscent accordions drifting atop organic-sounding drums that provide a sturdy rhythm. Throwing it back to the glory days of rap collectives, with a refreshing twist, “The Hidden Ones” makes for an expansive and focused offering.
Atlanta’s S.U.R.F has connected with Atlanta-by-way-of-Brooklyn artist Ben Reilly for a refreshing new single called “Bet”. Showcasing his engaging, powerful sound and ear for infectious flows, “Bet” is a memorable banger that finds the two artists delivering stylish, energizing performances.
“Bet” opens with breezy synths before rich, bouncy 808s and crisp percussion are added to lock in a buttery rhythm. An addictive refrain kicks off the track, before the two artists deliver catchy, confident verses atop the sleek instrumentation. A lively track that provides heavy replay value, “Bet” makes for an atmospheric banger that will have the listener continuously rewinding.
The latest from S.U.R.F, “Bet” finds him connecting with Ben Reilly for an infectious banger that provides refreshing energy throughout.
Oh my! Rapper and TikTok influencer Charlie Curtis-Beard returns with a new single “good girls bad girls”.
The idea likely comes from the song’s opening sample, in which a random TikToker proclaims that “men do not want slutty women”. CCB then goes on to rap about appreciating all kinds of girls: good or bad, “clean or dirty”, girls who “fuck for work” or girls who “wanna twerk”. It’s a funny song that shows off CCB’s clever lyricism and competent rapping abilities.
His voice reminds me of early Childish Gambino: higher in pitch and somewhat “nerdy”. It’s endearing, and it helps his message of inclusivity of all women seem more genuine and refreshing. It also makes the song more engaging; it’s a voice you want to listen to.
Towards the end, CCB’s rapping turns to singing for a catchy bridge section that eventually explodes into an overlay of different voices over the original beat. It effectively shows that Charlie isn’t just a rapper, but also a singer. The song is short, catchy, and digestible: perfect for a TikTok age of music.
Vancouver-Based artist, Mauvey, makes his debut at Roundhouse Music with his latest evocative single, “The King.” The prolific artist displays an outstanding level of artistry as he works through a captivating array of sonics – incorporating influences deriving from Alternative R&B/Soul, Hip Hop, and 80’s Inspired music. The track displays a unique set of production techniques in its composition – punchy drums, ethereal synths, and a slight warmth on the mix – acting as a perfect backdrop for Mauvey’s prominent vocals. Mauvey depicts an engaging yet memorable chorus atop the impressive production through creative lyricism and proficiency. Energetic and Vibrant, this innovative track creates a pleasant ambiance that inherently provokes listeners to play the song on repeat.
The release of “The King” clearly exhibits Mauvey’s artistic potential – placing him as one of Vancouver’s most eminent musicians in 2022.
New York native Memoir. has returned with his 2nd offering of the year, just in time for warm weather on the east coast. The 2-track offering “Poised. // Hold Grudges.” comes as a dose of redemption and resilience overtop drill beats, with Memoir. adding “Poised II is the sequel to the ongoing “Poised” series where I display my passion, resilience, and willingness to overcome life’s trials and tribulations. For the song “Hold Grudges.” Memoir. mentions “It’s a reminder to not only myself but to others listening that whenever you are elevating, striving for your goals, people are waiting for your downfall. People who knew you before your perceived success will Hold Grudges.”
The first half “Poised II” creates an energizing soundscape with a sample drill beat that fuses vivid samples with pumping 808s and crisp drums. Atop the sturdy instrumentation, Memoir. weaves fluid, charismatic rhymes in dynamic patterns, adding extra vitality to the track. The second song “Hold Grudges” follows with a cloudy, ethereal instrumental containing subtle keys, driving percussion and sliding 808s. Here, he delivers powerful vocals that captivate with hearfelt, descriptive lyricism.
The latest from New York’s Memoir, “Poised II/ Hold Grudges” makes for a refreshing, infectious sample drill offering.
Melbourne, Australia’s Jay Dior has returned with a new song called “Stop Choosing”. This single details heartbreak atop bright, engaging instrumentation. “Stop Choosing” finds Dior delivering vibrant, catchy verses that culminate in an ear-worm chorus that lingers in the listener’s head. His vocal performance providing heavy replay value through his engaging melodious delivery. He combines stylings from hip-hop, rap, pop, and alternative R&B to craft a song that feels versatile in its blending of influences. The production here features fluttering, warm guitars drifting atop crisp, snapping percussion. As rich 808s drop in beneath, the song picks up a driving rhythm that energizes the listener. “Stop Choosing” makes for a refreshing track for the summer, as it proves to be a suitable soundtrack for warm evenings.
Erik Evy has returned with a new visual for his track “Quarter Life Crisis”. The latest from the Chicago artist, this song provides a wistful mood as Evy delivers smooth, heartfelt flows that discuss personal growth and the ups-and-downs of modern life. Featuring an airy instrumental containing uplifting keys and subtle vocal samples drifting atop bouncy percussion, “Quarter Life Crisis” provides heavy replay value. Moreover, the new accompanying visual is clean and crisp, enhancing the song’s focused, refreshing sound and making this an offering that is easy to keep re-visting.
Washington, DC-born, Virginia-bred artist Haisai Maché has returned with a fresh new EP called Mr. Hunchback. Showcasing his eclectic, character-rich sonics and genre-blending style, this 4-track offering finds him exploring a variety of soundscapes that flirt with electronic, alt-pop, hip-hop, and more. Textural and vibrant, these songs find him delivering catchy, dynamic vocal performances atop versatile instrumentation.
Opener “Mr. Hunchback” contains an infectious, dance-infused instrumental centred around swelling synths, energizing guitars, and bouncy percussion. Atop the lively production, Maché delivers bright, engaging melodies in his verses before delving into a memorable chorus. Next, “World Cup” introduces layered, watery reversed keys before vital percussion and addictive bass drop in beneath to give the song added replay value. Here, he delivers another series of tuneful melodies that urge the listener to continuously rewind.
“Closure” ups the pace with atmospheric keys and snapping percussion, creating an enticing groove that immerses the listener in the track’s airy sound. Maché delivers a fluid vocal performance here that enhances the song’s uplifting, expansive feel. Lastly, closer “Do You Like My Love?” brings in a warm, colorful house-influenced instrumental that blends smoothly with his upbeat vocals, making for a diverse, infectious end to the EP.
The latest from Virginia-based artist Haisai Maché, Mr. Hunchback finds him delivering a vivid, versatile set of 4 songs that flirt with a wide range of genres including pop, hip-hop, dance music, and more.
Alternative Pop-Punk artist, Yulia Ehwaz, makes her debut at Roundhouse Music with her latest single, “All I Want.” This take on the pop-punk genre consists of a captivating array of instrumentation & composition, deriving influences from Synthwave, Alternative R&B, and early 2000s punk-rock. Yulia exhibits a high level of artistry by presenting this evocative track with an outstanding orchestration sequence. The presence of the rhythmic electric guitar & hypnotizing bass evokes an emotional feeling of love & melancholy within its sound – a perfect backdrop for her mesmerizing vocals. Through a combination of artistry & innovative sonics, Yulia Ehwaz presents this unique moody track that you’re likely to find placed in a wide range of Spotify editorials.
King Madi has just dropped his highly awaited album and second instalment of the Matrix series, Matrix II. The 22-track album boasts of features from Blaze Tha Meziah, Karmaa, Hidden Demons, Haley J, and frequent collaborator, Type1ne as well as others. Matrix II is King Madi’s most diverse and refined project to date. When I talked to him about what the album meant to him, he told me “this album is special because in the first album Matrix, I was in a very dark place in my life, and I was ready to give up on music and life all together. I stepped away from music for a while, but this project stands as a symbol to never give up. It continues from the previous lore of the first project and serves as a reminder that life comes in ‘waves’”.
The album, funny enough, is more or less a wave. It starts off with lots of high energy but later mellows down and gets deeper lyrically. Mental health is also tied into the sequencing of the album, which can be seen in tracks like “Awaken” and “Triumph”. Matrix II is honestly an amazing album from start to finish and King Madi didn’t disappoint with it one bit. Make sure to check out the album right now.
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