Category: Blog

By Jacob Ezra

New York’s Uncommon Nasa has connected with Messiah Muzik for a new release entitled “Oculus”. Nasa, who has consistently released some remarkable and oft-overlooked projects including the cerebral Written at Night and last year’s Only Child, continues to provide a refreshingly abstract sound with this latest EP. Here, gritty, expansive instrumentals from Messiah Muzik create a post-apocalyptic soundscape that shimmers and shifts psychedelically. Overtop, Nasa provides some pensive, clairvoyant verses that capture his thought-provoking style, reaching elevated heights lyrically on tracks like the opener “Epiphany” and the title track “Oculus”. A sonic journey into exciting, avant-garde territory, Oculus is a stimulating project that beckons many re-listens.

Listen to Oculus now:

By Todd Anderson

New York’s Medhane and London’s Lord Apex have shared a new single called “Wonder Why”. An international collaboration, this joint finds the two artists sharing a natural chemistry, trading laid-back yet engaging verses overtop of a bouncy, atmospheric instrumental. The beat is infectious, contains driving 808s and crisp drums that give this song a memorable rhythm, providing a strong foundation for the two rappers’ evocative rhymes. Hopefully this song foreshadows a longer project from these two, whose vocals flow together organically.

Listen to “Wonder Why” now:

By Todd Anderson

The legendary Masta Ace has connected with talented French beatmaker James Digger for a new single called “Bitter”. As usual, Ace handles the beat with ease, providing sharply-crafted, poised verses delivered in an effortlessly confident cadence. Underscored by a raw, textured instrumental from Digger that pairs infectious bass with organic-sounding drums and warm guitars, this release captures everything we love about underground hip-hop.

Listen to “Bitter” now:

Talented Miami rapper DYFL has linked with Dipset legend Jim Jones for a new single called “Scared Money”. The artist, who came through with some strong releases in 2021 including “Butterflies” and “The Good Die Young”, sounds poised and focused on this new track. Containing an atmospheric instrumental centred around powerful vocal samples, crisp drums, and driving 808s, this track provides heavy replay value. With charismatic, smooth verses from DYFL and Jones that enhance the vivid production, “Scared Money” will likely be in our rotation for a long time.

Listen to “Scared Money” now:

By Jacob Ezra

SRH‘s Hunnaloe has shared a new single called “Who Them”. The New York rapper, who has remained highly consistent lately, provides another strong offering with this latest track. Here, an eery, slightly psychedelic instrumental centred around grand guitars and heavy bass underscores Hunnaloe’s charismatic flows. He provides line after line of memorable wordplay, with clever, sharply-crafted lyricism delivered in a smooth but commanding vocal style. Fresh off the heels of the strong SRH album with Reed, Subjxct 5, and others, “Who Them” marks a solid start to 2022 for Hunnaloe.

Listen to “Who Them” now:

By Jacob Ezra

Bungalow Collect‘s Zay Suav has shared a brand new single called “ME + U”. The Brooklyn artist, who has had a remarkably prolific 2022 so far, shows no signs of slowing down on his latest offering. Containing an airy, atmospheric instrumental centred around watery keys and bouncy percussion, “ME + U” adopts a more R&B-based sound than his other recent releases. Suav’s melodies are the true highlight of the track, as he hits the listener with catchy melody after catchy melody. Capped off by a highly memorable, sharply-crafted hook, this joint had us hooked from the get-go.

Listen to “ME + U” now:

Canadian artists DTour and Imperetiv have linked for a new single called “ICEONMY”. Appropriately titled, this track’s frigid sound caught our attention immediately. Containing an engaging, raw instrumental centred around ominous keys, “ICEONMY”‘s production is sharply-crafted and infectious. As driving, powerful bass is added to underscore DTour’s assertive, flexible flows, the track picks up an adrenaline-pumping rhythm, commanding the listener’s full attention. An enthralling listening experience overall, “ICEONMY” finds the duo sharing natural chemistry and creating an explosive sound.

Listen to “ICEONMY” now:

By Jacob Ezra

Massachusetts artist Dylan Reese has returned with a fresh new single called “Knockout”. The ever-consistent Reese, who capped off 2021 with the stellar R&B cut “Lose Your Love”, appears to be entering 2022 in top form here. Containing glossy, warm production centred around glowing keys and infectious percussion, “Knockout” provides heavy replay value. Moreover, Reese’s smooth-as-butter vocals draw the listener into this track’s atmosphere, with memorable melodies that stick in one’s head for days. Featuring an intriguing transition into a hip-hop cut at the end of the track, “Knockout”‘s dynamics make it even more engaging. A sharply-crafted, focused R&B and hip-hop cut, “Knockout” will likely be in rotation for us for the foreseeable future.

Listen to “Knockout” now:

By Jacob Ezra

Sideshow has shared a new visual for his track “An Open”, featuring MAVI and produced by Foisey. “An Open” contains a warm, reflective instrumental centred around wistful vocal samples and textured percussion. The beat creates a breezy foundation for Sideshow and Mavi’s smooth vocals, as they come through with some candid verses that capture the listener with evocative, vivid lyricism. Balmy and laid-back, “An Open” and its accompanying visual create an organic, relaxed sound and graceful atmosphere.

Watch the visual for “An Open” here:

By Jacob Ezra

Francesca Wexler‘s release”Pink Noise” is our song of the week. Accompanied by a new lyric video, the mysterious, pensive “Pink Noise” concocts a vividly otherworldly atmosphere. Wexler, who is originally from Lagos, Nigeria but grew up in Mississauga, Canada, has truly tapped into something unique with her mercurial, layered sound.

On this track, this signature sound is on full display, with organic production that marries dusky horns with eerie vocal samples and textured percussion to create a nocturnal concoction that is vibrant and addictive. Moreover, her vocal delivery captures the listener with its emotive delivery and vivid lyricism. An emotionally layered offering that expresses alienation and longing in an engrossing manner, “Pink Noise” is one of our favourite tracks released recently.

The lyric video for “Pink Noise” is available here: