New York-based artist rivan has dropped off a new single, titled “BIG (tom hanks freestyle)”. Following up his DnB-laced, atmospheric single “paper tabs”, “BIG (tom hanks freestyle)” takes on a different tone sonically with its icy, hard-hitting production that flirts with trap, and staggering, poignant flows. “BIG (tom hanks freestyle)” finds rivan shining as a vocalist with sleek vocals intertwined within a charismatic delivery, as booming 808s, raw percussion, and airy samples create a layered backdrop beneath him. With much replay value and sonic power, “BIG (tom hanks freestyle)” presents another engaging release from rivan. Give “BIG (tom hanks freestyle)”, produced by @bashofsb, a listen below.
LOS KEMET‘s track “Barter 7 (Dig Dat)” stands as one of the more potent songs from this fall. Sonically, “Barter 7 (Dig Dat)”- produced by @guttylim0 & Zach Neiss– uses warm grooves and immersive keys to conjure a feeling of assurance and confidence, laden with crisp percussion that locks in a hypnotic rhythm. LOS sounds light on his feet on the microphone, weaving together dynamic lines with ease and never falling into a predictable rhyme pattern. Even throwing in subtle yet memorable melodic flourishes, LOS demonstrates his diverse skillset as an emcee and vocalist with “Barter 7 (Dig Dat)”. Watch the music video- directed by Thomas G– here.
Lord Sko- “James Worthy Goggles”
New York artist Lord Sko captivated us with his single “James Worthy Goggles”- a song off his engaging recently album United Palace. On “James Worthy Goggles”, Sko delivers silky flows atop smoky guitars, winding flutes, and warm bass that conjure a hazy, laid-back soundscape. He sounds comfortable in his lane and in the pocket- delivering detailed, observational verses atop the relaxed production. Dropping some quintessentially NY lines and shouting out Stack Bundles, he paints a vivid picture of his life in his city on “James Worthy Goggles”, drawing the listener into the track’s atmosphere in the process.
Blu, Real Bad Man- “Bad News”
West Coast legend Blu and prolific production outfit Real Bad Man‘s project Bad News made waves throughout the underground, and the title track proved to be a standout from the project, released with an engaging music video. “Bad News” finds Blu lacing the track with poetic, thought-provoking lines at a rapid pace atop dusky, subtly ominous strings and horns. As organic percussion and memorable bass build up a hypnotic groove, he launches into a verbal assault that keeps the listener on their toes with each line. The new visual, features crisp shots and an attention-grabbing performance from Blu, capturing the track’s vigorous energy. Watch the music video here.
Daniel Son, Wino Willy- “Frog Legs”
Toronto emcee Daniel Son and New Jersey producer Wino Willy‘s song “Frog Legs” caught our attention in September for its warm, vibrant sonics and powerful vocals. This eclectic joint from the two prolific artists contains an undercurrent of powerful energy- expressed through Son’s elaborate flows and Willy’s atmospheric, cathartic production style.
Nebula.- “Jive” (prod. JUNE!)
Louisiana artist Nebula.‘s frigid song “Jive”, produced by JUNE!, remains as one of our favorite songs from this autumn. “Jive” is a claustrophobic head-trip of a track that is unafraid to experiment and dabble in psychedelica, making for a captivating listen. Nebula.’s vocal tone suits the ominous edge of the production, while he keeps his flows dynamic in a manner that entices the listener and has them guessing.
Chelsea Reject- “I Just Wanted 2 Yell LOL”
Brooklyn artist Chelsea Reject demonstrates her versatility with the punk-infused rhythms of “I Just Wanted 2 Yell LOL”. Further proving that her artistry cannot be placed in a box, Reject draws from her roots in hip-hop with a raw, lyrically-focused vocal performance while also injecting hearty doses of punk in the track’s infectious bass-line and raucous delivery. An expressive, genre-bending offering from the Brooklyn standout, “I Just Wanted 2 Yell LOL” conveys a carefree creativity that is simply refreshing.
Voidness, HLP- “Toquinho”
A song from New York artist Voidness’ recent project It’s Windy Again This Morning/The Short End, “Toquinho” is nostalgic and fresh, making it a perfect soundtrack for the autumn months. His flows are poignant and focused, with a laid-back delivery that injects just enough presence and energy to keep it engagingly dynamic. The breezy production from HLP is a gift to the ears, with drifting Spanish guitars floating in a freeform manner atop organic percussion.
Lo Artiz- “la bruja”
Miami-born, LA-based artist Lo Artiz‘s song “la bruja”- from her recent album LOVE LACED- shows layers of depth in its songwriting and lyricism, taking on a mystical tone that captivates from the get-go. Backed by a tapestry of watery, expansive keys, starry synths, and rich bass, Artiz shines with sleek, emotive vocals laced with dynamic melodies. With an undertone of catharsis, “la bruja” makes for a poignant song with themes of women accessing and wielding deeper powers- providing a fierce roar within the patriarchy of the music industry.
South Bend, Indiana artist Gxldsoulrebel has dropped off a fresh single, titled “Known Stranger”, produced by Yung Elder. Taking on a spiritual tone backed by refreshing sonics, Gxldsoulrebel delivers poetic lines entrenched with wisdom and wistfulness that give “Known Stranger” its own character.
Listening to the aptly-titled song feels like re-uniting with an old friend- or perhaps a meeting with a stranger that you intuitively feel you have always known. It’s immersive warmth and relaxed, cosmic production reflect this motif, while the chorus solidifies it with its references to campfires and sharing stories. Gxldsoulrebel and Yung Elder manage to do something truly refreshing with “Known Stranger”, a track that strips back frills and pretenses to examine our basic nature, storytelling, and methods of communication and connection.
New York artist kuya‘s album Tales From Ophir: Moros y Cristianos is an introspective sonic journey- backed by soulful sampling and laced with detailed, thoughtful lyricism. Inspired by hidden and forgotten stories from kuya’s ancestors and heritage from the Phillipines, Tales From Ophir: Moros y Cristianos is an album that is refreshing and enriching in its take on spirituality, personal growth, and more topics. The record finds kuya flexing his lyrical skills as well, with many vivid, detail-oriented bars that pair well with the album’s emotive, sampling soundscape.
kuya keeps his sound organic and his message clear on Tales From Ophir: Moros y Cristianos, established from the first song “Get you back!”. Discussing his origins and ancestry in the Philippines, realities of living in New York, and embracing Islam, kuya gets personal in his verses while examining how history creates who we are in the present. “hi-fi” is a warm, nostalgic track that feels like re-discovering a lost and treasured memory. “Child of Ophir” creates a sense of optimism while simultaneously being reflective, paying homage to NYC with various sentimental, vivid references. “salaam!” is a soulful closer that finishes the album with emotive touches. Here, kuya delivers expressive, introspective verses atop glowing keys and laid-back percussion, tying together the record’s sound succinctly.
Support kuya directly by purchasing Tales From Ophir: Moros y Cristianos on Bandcamp HERE.
Listen to Tales From Ophir: Moros y Cristianos here now:
ArmstrongWW has shown no signs of slowing down recently, with eclectic releases like “January Girl” and “Usually” that found the Cameroon-born, Houston-based artist unwilling to conform to one style or sound. He continues this trend with his latest song “More to life”, injecting a hearty dose of introspection into his emotive, vivid songwriting and tapping into something universal in the process.
With themes of growing up and discovering one’s path, while also knowing that more exists beyond the confines of what one is used to- “More to life” is a poignant track from Armstrong. Laced with warm, glowing sonics consisting of spacey keys and a rich rhythm section, the instrumentation lays the perfect groundwork for Armstrong’s rumination and authenticity.
Give “More to life” a listen below now, a single off ArmstrongWW’s upcoming project THINKING IN COLOR, coming November 3rd.
Indiana artist Heyzeus has shared a new two-pack called Buy One Get One Free III. Packed with clever, self-aware humor and charismatic lyricism that give Heyzeus’ music its own unique character, Buy One Get One Free III is simply an enjoyable project- with a fun-loving edge and refreshing feel that makes it entertaining and energizing.
“Rappers Grow On Trees”, featuring blkk j, contains a boisterous brass section and bouncy, sturdy percussion that sets an appropriate foundation for the two emcees confident flows. They come through with witty lines that keep the listener glued to the speakers to catch everything, while also demonstrating a natural chemistry. The second track, “Abundantly”, continues the two-pack’s character-rich flair with soaring horns, infectious bass, and raw, energizing percussion. Heyzeus drops off potent lines that match the vital energy of the track, adding extra life to the cut.
New Jersey artist THE i OF A GENiUS has connected with fellow Garden State emcee Fatboi Sharif and Noble for a fresh new song called “Y LO HACES”, produced by genius.world. Following up THE i OF A GENiUS’ psychedelic, potent single “DREAMFIRST.”. “Y LO HACES” contains a similar feeling of hypnotic surrealism that suits his flows as well as those of Sharif and Noble. Underscored by eery, dream-like vocal samples, ethereal guitars, and crystalline keys, the three emcees deliver detailed, vivid lyrics that enhance the song’s otherworldly tone. Darkly meditative and minimalistic, “Y LO HACES” is a lyrically detailed, layered track that manages to do a lot with a little. Give THE i OF A GENiUS’ latest song “Y LO HACES” a listen below now.
Hip-hop collective Hidden Renaissance has been building into an underground supergroup of sorts, as made evident with their prolific recent streak of releases that included the “The Hidden Ones” series. On the third instalment of “The Hidden Ones”, we get a dose of vibrant production from Alkane, as well as blazing flows from Chaos1.0, RahkStar, Humanbien, Ri, K Folks, and Les. With a sleek, energizing R&B and house-influenced melodies, “The Hidden Ones III” picks up an irresistable groove and sets a solid foundation for the emcees dexterous flows. Throwing in engaging melodious inflections and lacing their verses with clever quips that give the song added replay value, the 6 emcees flex their lyrical skills atop Alkane’s colorful sound palette. Check out Hidden Renaissance’s latest song “The Hidden Ones III” below, executively produced by T H R O N E.
xoKeegan has released a new EP titled Where The Water Takes Me, produced entirely by New Jersey beatmaker DRIVEBY. Following up his glitchy, infectious Black Sparrow EP as well as well-received singles like “post-lobotomy”- Where The Water Takes Me conjures a forward-thinking, frigid soundscape laced with industrial tinges, as xoKeegan delivers an eclectic vocal performance that keeps the listener on their toes.
Opener “Mayday” feels subtly apocalyptic with its grimy, chopped-up production and eery flows, while “Harbinger”‘s textural, minimalistic instrumentation adds dynamics. “Ashes On The Ground” is a versatile, darkly atmospheric cut that puts Keegan’s abilities to weave together intricate flows on display. Closer “Over&Over” finishes the project with bittersweet, lo-fi tinged chops and introspective, captivating vocals from xoKeegan.
Give Where The Water Takes Me a listen here on SoundCloud.
In his latest release, “Nervous,” Professor Green, accompanied by K Koke and R.A., delivers a compelling and confrontational exploration of hip hop’s essence. Renowned for his unapologetic storytelling and rooted in Hackney, London, Professor Green brings forth a track that not only pays homage to the genre but also exhibits a distinctive musicality complemented by captivating visuals. As an experienced MC with a history of triumphs and challenges, Professor Green’s “Nervous” stands as a testament to his resilience and commitment to authentic expression. From his early days winning freestyle battles to catching the attention of Mike Skinner, Professor Green has consistently pushed boundaries in the music scene. Surviving adversity, including a life-threatening incident, he continues to redefine his genre. With chart-topping hits like “I Need You Tonight” and “Read All About It,” Professor Green’s latest release cements his position as a trailblazer, inviting listeners into a world where unfiltered storytelling and raw expression take center stage.
ROUNDHOUSE MUSIC 