Category: Blog

Written by Avinash SIngh

We fell in love with “Summer’s Over” by the mysterious DLZ. While the cold is settling around us, the track made our day and offered us beautiful melodic sensations. This artist is blessed with one of the most beautiful voices you’ll hear today.

“Summer’s Over” is generally upbeat and cultivates a casually chill vibe. What I find most impressive about this song is that it has a distinctive and atmospheric intro. Musically, this sets the mood for the track’s dark ambiance, with the unique instrumentation being my favorite example. 

DLZ also demonstrates some solid rhyming chops, particularly on this track. Overall this song is a decent release with good songwriting and capable performance. The artist’s brother Brian gets bonus points for creating the backing music the old-fashioned way, which not only enhances the sound but lends the track an authentic personality.

“Summer’s Over” is a new single from the brilliant artist. One thing that’s striking about this track is that there is a very acute balance between the words and the musical backing. Demonstrating his confidence and capability, the song is almost fully driven by DLZ’s vocal delivery. His performance is quick-witted and engaging, like an amplified version of spoken word slam poetry.

Play now:

Detroit underground legend Marv Won has shared a new lyric video for his track “Hagler”. The addictive, raw “Hagler” provides an exciting mood with rugged percussion and subtle, chilling keys. As usual, he comes through with a very strong vocal performance as well, delivering bar after bar of cleverly written punchlines that keep us rewinding throughout. Accompanied by an engaging new lyric video, this is a release that beckons many re-visits.

Watch the lyrics video for “Hagler” here:

Vancouver artist Storm Goring‘s “Ain’t That Busy” is a vibey, warm new offering that has us hooked. Over top of a smooth, laid-back instrumental centred around summery, nostalgic guitars, Goring delivers evocative, confident verses that give this track much replay value. A cut off his recent EP How’d We Get Here, “Ain’t That Busy” is a great song to kick back and relax to, or as a soundtrack for late night drives.

Listen to “Ain’t That Busy”:

Written by Jacob Ezra

New York artist Zay Suav has come through with a new single called “Disconnected”. A member of exciting, up-and-coming rap group Bungalow Collect, his latest single is an atmospheric, engaging offering that provides much replay value. Over top of a wavy, layered instrumental containing watery synths and bouncy 808s, Suav provides some sharply written melodies that are immensely catchy. This memorable cut very much has us looking forward to a new project from Zay Suav, and the entire Bungalow Collect as well.

Listen to “Disconnected” now:

Written by Jacob Ezra

21 year old Boston artist Shane Dylan‘s smoky, heartfelt “Around Me”, featuring Jolee Gordon, Red Shaydez, and Seefour, has been chosen as our track of the week. A joint off his stellar new album A Star or a Lonely Dreamer, “Around Me” effectively conjures a warm, nostalgic mood that is completely immersive.

Instrumentally, the track is centred around glowing, hazy Rhodes keys underscored by rich bass and natural percussion. Accompanied by grand, spacey horns, the production is beautiful and mesmerizing. Paired with excellent vocal performances that carry the listener away to another world, this is a song to re-visit again and again.

If you enjoyed this joint, be sure to check out the rest of Dylan’s great new album A Star or a Lonely Dreamer.

Stream “Around Me”:

Written by Jacob Ezra

Texas rapper Fatboyshaun has linked with Portland producer Trox for a new banger entitled “Timmy Chans”. Over top of an immaculate instrumental from Trox, Fatboyshaun delivers a barrage of raw, powerful verses that are engagingly cathartic. His flow is dynamic and his cadence charismatic, hooking us in from the get-go. Moreover, the production on “Timmy Chans” is truly impressive, containing a rugged bass line and head-banging percussion. Paired with ethereal, bright samples that soar over the rhythm section, this beat makes us want to blast this track on repeat.

Listen to “Timmy Chans” here:

New York’s Ben Beal has tapped Elijah Who, REASON, and Mick Jenkins for the laid-back “Coraline”, which finds the three lyricists shining over top of Elijah Who’s glamorous, chilled out instrumental. The production on “Coraline” is exquisite, containing starry keys and psychedelic vocal samples ringing out over top of crunchy percussion. Reminiscent of vapour wave, the beat is memorable and immersive, carrying a hopeful mood. Moreover, the rappers share a natural chemistry as they weave introspective verses full of candid rhymes and interesting flows.

Stream “Coraline”:

Underground heavyweights Nicholas Craven and Boldy James have shared a new song called “Yzerman”, referencing legendary Detroit Red Wings hockey player Steve Yzerman. Here, James demonstrates his silky smooth flow over top of regal production from Craven. The beat for “Yzerman” is truly immersive, centred around elegant, nostalgic strings and reminiscent keys. Underscored by minimal, gritty percussion and rich bass, the beat draws the listener in immediately. Paired with James’ rugged yet laid-back flow and vivid lyrics, this is a release to re-visit again and again.

Listen to “Yzerman” here:

ANDA has shared a new single entitled “Fax Machine”, with Scienze, Jstyx, Cassette, DAE, Shawn McGrath, and Bobbon. This new track is breezy and warm, containing dream-like guitars that drift over organic percussion. Accompanied by wistful keys and rich bass, the beat is truly hypnotizing. Moreover, the vocal performances on the song are captivating and sharply-crafted, adding to the song’s nostalgic, laid-back tone. “Fax Machine” is an engaging, enjoyable collaboration that had us hooked from the get-go.

Listen to “Fax Machine” here:

Written by Jacob Ezra

Naderi & Kevin George have shared a new cut entitled “Lover”. This hazy, intense offering keeps the listener on their toes the entire time, providing an exciting, captivating mood and heavy replay value. Featuring raw, powerful production centred around spacey synths and driving bass, this track is intriguingly nocturnal in sound. The vocal performances here are sharply crafted and catchy, featuring smooth verses capped off by a truly memorable chorus. Overall, this track is an enthralling offering that combines hip-hop, R&B, and alt-pop stylings into an intoxicating concoction.

Listen to “Lover” here: