ROUNDHOUSE MUSIC

By Jacob Ezra

Massachusetts artist Jxylen has shared his debut album PROJECT MAYHEM, a mind-expanding journey through gritty, abstract hip-hop soundscapes. A versatile collection of songs that are otherworldly and yet simultaneously deeply emotive, this project is refreshing in its honesty and willingness to explore unforeseen territory. With cacophonous, nocturnal instrumentals and vivid lyricism that revolves around thinking for oneself and being critical about society as a whole, PROJECT MAYHEM is already shaping up to be one of the year’s most thought-provoking new releases in underground hip-hop.

The opener “BURN THIS SHIT DOWN!” sets the tone for the record, with moody, expansive vocal samples that are texturally gritty, ringing out atop clashing percussion. Apocalyptic in tone, this track creates a mystical, dark backdrop that suits Jxylen’s baritone vocals perfectly, as he kicks off the EP with some raw verses that show his sharp ability to critique society and deliver touchingly introspective lyricism. “BURN THIS SHIT DOWN!” transitions smoothly into the esoteric “JACOB’S LADDER”. Here, Jxylen delivers powerful line after powerful line atop an ethereal instrumental from Jadooks centred around swirling strings and graceful guitars. This track has a distinctly spiritual feel, with a depth that is often missed in today’s musical landscape.

“MEMENTO” brings in icy keys and subtle vocal samples that give it a layered feel, as heavy percussion pounds beneath. Jxylen’s vocals are highly dextrous and dynamic, as he flows smoothly atop the Nomstks-produced beat with a series of evocative verses. An album highlight appears in the vibrant banger “SALVADOR DALI PAINTINGS”, a psychedelic track that finds PROJECT MAYHEM reaching towering heights with a behemoth instrumental from The Heretic that rattles the speakers. This beat is stellar, containing kaleidoscopic samples centred around dazzling harps and strings. Moreover, Jxylen’s verses here are scorching, packed with focused, descriptive lyrics delivered in engaging, elastic flows.

PROJECT MAYHEM closes with another album highlight in “BLXCK SHEEPS CLOTHING”, which slows the pace down for a more laid-back yet equally nocturnal and moody joint. Here, bittersweet, ruminative keys glow within a dark soundscape, conjuring an image of finding a light in a pitch-black night. Matching the tone of the keys, Jxylen’s verses convey a subtle sense of hope, as he dissects his life and position in the world, making the listener feel a little less alone among the chaos of our modern times.

An expansive, psychedelic offering, PROJECT MAYHEM is relentlessly dark and yet never feels as if it sticks to a gloomy mood for the sake of it, instead coming across as emotionally layered and refreshingly authentic. Spiritual and emotive yet raw and cacophonous, this record exists in a grey area that can be hard to come by in a world where pressure exists to categorize and deduce. The fact that Jxylen achieves this so naturally on this album is an impressive feat, and is part of what makes PROJECT MAYHEM one of our favourite records this year. If you want a project that is thought-provoking and esoteric and also personal and relatable, it is likely that PROJECT MAYHEM is for you.

Producers: AUR, Jadooks, Nomstks, NTVRME, The Heretic, OLEHEAD

Engineered by: Jonas

Listen to PROJECT MAYHEM now:

Guillotine Crowns, a collaborative group consisting of Uncommon Nasa and Short Fuze, have shared a new single called “Art Dealers”. The duo, whose abstract, evocative style pairs gritty New York boom-bap aesthetics with forward-thinking sounds, share a natural chemistry built over a decade of prior collaboration. Their latest song, “Art Dealers” is a layered offering with a thought-provoking instrumental centred around textured guitars, chilling keys, and pounding percussion. Atop the instrumental, the two rappers come through with focused, lyrically dense verses that mesh smoothly with the track’s grimy production. Another solid release from these two underground veterans, “Art Dealers” is intriguingly nostalgic yet also futuristic.

Listen to “Art Dealers” now:

North Carolina artist and Goreset member Dylan Longworth has come through with a new single called “feresy”, produced by swazy* and dez forman. Longworth, who has been prolific of late, releasing a series of refreshing singles, showcases sharp songwriting abilities and a keen ear for mind-expanding sounds on this latest single. Here, ethereal guitars and psychedelic backing effects concoct a kaleidoscopic landscape, as Longworth’s silky vocals glide overtop. His melodies are infectious and memorable, and he delivers them with ease and poise. Culminating in an emotive and captivating hook, “feresy” utilizes dynamics in its sounds to provide an evocative, forward-thinking journey for the listener.

Listen to “feresy” now:

By Jacob Ezra

Massachusetts artist Pareto has shared a new single called “Low Hung Fruit”, produced by New York’s Dre A.M. of Faulty Piston Records. A smooth, dream-like track, “Low Hung Fruit”‘s wistful sound is reminiscent of warm nights, and inspires one to reflect. Containing glowing, psychedelic keys and organic-sounding percussion, Dre A.M.’s beat here is sublime and somewhat surreal, providing a perfect foundation for Pareto’s vivid, personal lyrics and nonchalant cadence. He comes through with some descriptive verses that paint clear pictures, as he contemplates his path so far in life and music. An emotive, laid-back offering, “Low Hung Fruit” provides the whole package of strong production, nimble flows, and rich lyricism.

Listen to “Low Hung Fruit” now:

Northampton, UK artists L30 Robinson and Hxrmz LB have shared a fresh new banger called “Truly Yours”. Containing an ominous, nocturnal instrumental centred around winding synths and rich, heavy bass, this track is invigorating and intense. As the two rappers deliver rapid, dynamic verses full of vivid punchlines, one cannot help but be captivated by this track and drawn into its powerful sound. Sharing a natural chemistry throughout, the two rappers sound focused and poised on this offering, as they dazzle with flexible rhyme schemes and charismatic mic presence. Accompanied by an engaging new visual, “Truly Yours” is simply a release that is easy to re-visit again and again.

Watch the video for “Truly Yours” here:

By Todd Anderson

senya. has come through with a new single called “X”. His second single, this song draws influence from industrial and alternative hip-hop, providing a raw, nocturnal sound that is immersive and captivating. Featuring a chilling instrumental centred around apocalyptic synths and heavy drums, “X”‘s aggressive groove is guaranteed to get your adrenaline pumping and your heart racing. Moreover, senya’s vocals are evocative and intense here, meshing seamlessly with the track’s powerful production. A refreshing, progressive banger, “X” is a memorable offering from this new artist that had us intrigued immediately.

Listen to “X” now:

Rising Houston rapper-producer Alexcusemy has come through with a new EP called JAPAN Two. The prolific artist, who has been on a hot streak of late with solid projects like the versatile Stratosphere, continues to progress his cloudy, atmospheric sound on this offering.

The project kicks off with “2 Commas” with fellow rapper-producer silversurfersosurreal, a track featuring shimmering, airy production and infectious melodies. As the beat’s glowing keys glide beneath Alexcusemy’s smooth flow, the song draws the listener deeply into its atmosphere, providing a relaxing, psychedelic listening experience. Next, “Gotta Flex” with Madchyld ups the tempo and adds in more maximalist percussion, bringing in a slight drill influence. Here, Alexcusemy comes through with some of his most stylish and catchy vocals, with inflections and melodies that stick in one’s head long after listening. An uplifting, triumphant track, “Gotta Flex” finds him reflecting on how far he’s come and celebrating his wins.

This track transitions smoothly into “Tell Me, Would You?”, a summery, bass-heavy joint that pairs ethereal synths with crisp percussion. Here, Alexcusemy comes through with some charismatic verses that float over the driving instrumental. Lastly, the project closes out with “Bass on Hi”, a celebratory track that uses surreal synths and pillowy 808s to conjure a cloudy atmosphere. Alexcusemy delivers some sharply-crafted vocals on this song that captivate and finish the project off on a high note.

Overall, JAPAN Two‘s triumphant, psychedelic soundscape provides a refreshing take on cloud rap, mixing laid-back vibes with stylishness seamlessly. The latest from Houston’s Alexcusemy, this EP finds the multi-talented artist reaching new heights sonically as he continues to grow and explore.

Listen to ‘JAPAN Two’ now:

https://open.spotify.com/album/7dr5KhP29iHo06O1jfL9pu?si=4aSPG1AHQOiYHp_C2w8kSw

mynameisntjmack and Tommy Richman have shared a new single called “BUNKER/ PREROLL”, produced by John Wehmeyer and Myles Sweeney. An infectious, refreshing offering, “BUNKER/ PREROLL” features a pensive, laid-back instrumental centred around bright keys and spacey backing vocals. As addictive, rich bass and crisp percussion build a strong foundation for the vocalist’s limber, clever verses, one cannot help but groove and vibe to this character-rich joint. With charmingly self-deprecating lyrical content and a sharply-crafted, memorable chorus, this track provides heavy replay value, and a cohesive whole package that equal parts fun and thoughtful.

Listen to “BUNKER/ PREROLL” now:

By Jacob Ezra

Chicago’s Worry Club and Phoenix artist John the Ghost have shared a fresh new single called “Lately”. With both artists quickly rising in the ranks of underground music, this is a much-needed collaboration, and this offering finds the pair sharing an undeniable natural chemistry. A radiant, vivid track, “Lately” smoothly blends wistful guitars with energizing drums to create a colorful backdrop for the track’s dream-like vocals. Capped off by a magnetic chorus, the songwriting shines through on “Lately”, making it a track that is simply ear candy, with infectious melodies that stick in one’s head long after listening.

Listen to “Lately” now: