Massachusetts artists Big Drip and Kudo have come through with “Faint of Heart”, a raw, energizing single that beckons many replays. Over an imposing beat containing, swirling samples that ricochet over heavy drums, the instrumental is both catchy and challenging. Moreover, the two artists present confident, intense vocal performances that match with the beat’s ominous energy. Capped off by a truly memorable chorus, “Faint of Heart” is an engaging cut from these two artists that brings an enticingly nocturnal mood.
Ohio’s Snoozegod has shared a new single entitled “pretty as snow”, providing much-welcomed relaxing, atmospheric vibes. The track is centred around gorgeous, airy guitars and ambient, warm synths. Beneath, organic percussion and rich bass create a hypnotizing groove that lulls the listener into a calmed state. Adding mystical-sounding flutes partway through, Snoozegod works with the song’s dynamics to draw the listener in throughout. Overall, this song’s textured, layered production gives it much replay value, making it an engaging, freeing listen.
Massachusetts artist Ish Akanour‘s “Live Forever” is a banger worthy of much attention. Over top of sublime production from Subb Beats, the vocalist delivers intoxicating melodic rap flows with confidence and style. The emotion embedded in his verses is immediately evident, and his hooks are equally impactful.
The beat from Subb Beats on “Live Forever” is grand and powerful, centred around epic strings and textured keys. Beneath, driving 808s and crisp drums create a catchy groove that gives this track much replay value. Melding smoothly with Akanour’s vocal style, the instrumental is warm yet also raw and intense.
If you enjoyed “Live Forever”, check out the rest of Akanour’s recent EP Golden Boy, a well-crafted set of charismatic, elegant tracks.
New York-based musician Deca‘s “Summer Song” is a refreshing offering that is delightfully free-spirited in mood. A cut off his recent project Source Material, this track is laid-back and breezy, containing nostalgic vocal samples and warm guitars that meld together in a truly mesmerizing blend. The percussion is smooth and organic, pairing with rich bass to create a groove that is undeniably infectious. If you enjoy this track, please check out the remainder of Deca’s Source Material, a psychedelic, calming release that further showcases his keen ear for crafting immaculate beats.
Utah’s Buppy. has shared a new single called “i retract all the love i let you keep.”, which is centred around crisp keys and organic sounding percussion. The bittersweet, melancholic mood present in the song is immersive, giving you a window into the artist’s headspace. Furthermore, his vocals are enticingly reminiscent, adding another layer to the song’s layered, warm sonics. With this offering, Buppy. further cements himself as an up-and-coming voice to keep an eye on.
Sacramento-born rapper Camden Malik‘s “Back of da Back” is a certified banger, providing a bouncy, energizing beat that hooks the listener in right away. Featuring swirling soul samples that drift over top of deep, bassy percussion, the production on “Back of da Back” is truly infectious. Moreover, Camden Malik’s flow and delivery are as potent as ever here, showing his sharp lyrical ability and poise on the mic. If you enjoyed this track, be sure to check out Love of My Life 3, the latest release from this prolific up-and-coming artist.
Argota has finally blessed us with his latest track “Blur”. The 3 minute track talks about an elderly husband who lost his wife and is also losing his vision. The man sees reality less, but sees her silhouette more. To the husband, he doesn’t belong, and all he needs is his wife because he feels free with her. The song feels like a flurry of emotions, but at the same time a blur, with Argota executing the concept so perfectly. The track has an eerie but peaceful feeling to it. Blur is a perfect song for those late night drives or rainy days. Make sure to give Blur a listen and I promise you won’t be disappointed:
Reed, Hunnaloe, and Wiki, a trio of New York emcees, have shared a collaborative new single called “Grave or Paid”. Here, the three rappers lay blistering verses full of tongue-twisting syllables and cleverly written lines. The presence they bring on the mic is undeniable here, hooking the listener in from the get-go.
The production on “Grave or Paid” is immaculate, containing a psychedelic, shimmering beat by Subjxct 5. Bolstered by an undeniably catchy, enthralling bounce created by rubbery bass and rich percussion, this track makes for a great soundtrack to crisp winters.
With so many strong hip-hop tracks dropping in recent months, it was hard for us to narrow down our favorites for this fall. However, these tracks really stood out as noteworthy, providing refreshing, exciting vibes that kept us hooked throughout. Check them out here:
Payroll Giovanni- Hustle Muzik 4
Detroit rapper Payroll Giovanni‘s song “Hustle Muzik 4” is a smooth, confident release that provides much replay value. The underrated Giovanni, who has released a number of solid albums recently, is one of the most consistent out there right now. The soulful, glossy samples and raw percussion make for an interesting combination that keeps the listener on their toes.
Chanelle Kazadi- Two Cents
Chanelle Kazadi‘s recent song “Two Cents” is very much a breath of fresh air. The Ohio artist comes through with a smooth, honest track containing elegant vocal samples and bouncy percussion. Her flow is stellar as well, as she shows great command on the mic here. Accompanied by a vibrant, laid-back music video, this release is one to re-visit again and again.
Hunnaloe- Whats the Word
New York rapper Hunnaloe is associated with the SRH collective, a group of talented artists who have been making noise in the city’s underground of late. “Whats the Word” kicks off his latest album ‘HOPE’, and features gorgeous samples and raw drums. It is evident that Hunnaloe keeps levelling up with each release, with “Whats the Word” being some of his strongest work yet.
Cashus King- HBCU
LA’s Cashus King truly delivers on his latest song “HBCU”, a smoky, raw boom bap banger featuring dry, organic percussion and swirling samples. His flow and wordplay here are sharp and potent, and the overall vibe of this track is refreshing and relaxing. The latest in a series of strong singles from King, this release is worthy of much attention.
Nick Rose- EGOS ASIDE
This song was technically released in late summer, but nonetheless deserves to be on this list. A cut off Rose’s exciting new album ‘CEILING THEORY’, the glitchy samples and intense flows present here are captivating. Rose’s skilled songwriting ability and ear for unique sounds certainly make him an artist to watch, keeping one excited for what he has to offer next.
New Jersey native Babyg the Artist has shared a new single called “Untitled”. Gearing up for the release of her upcoming EP, Babyg the Artist dropped “Untitled” to get fans ready, while also showing her versatility. “Untitled” is full of mellow vibes fans have seen before in a few of her tracks. According to Babyg the Artist, the song was named “Untitled” because she touched too many topics on the track and didn’t want to put a limit on it. She uses the track to talk about her love for music, as well as some issues she has gone through in recent months. Babyg the Artist is showing the world she’s ready to take over, and “Untitled” is a clear example of how amazing she is on the mic.
ROUNDHOUSE MUSIC 