Chicago standout D2x captivated us with his song “Waves & Moonlights”, a track from his recent LP Hotel 1105.First hitting the scene in 2018, D2x has since carved a unique lane within Chicago and beyond for his soulful, introspective sound. After his momentum catapulted further with his debut album The Color Blue, D2x continued his run with his potent new album Hotel 1105. “Waves & Moonlights”, a standout track from the project, caught our attention for its elegant sound and sharply-crafted dynamic vocals.
Atop swells of graceful keys, refined percussion, and infectious bass, D2x demonstrates focus and confident mic presence with a series of vivid verses. Underscored by flourishes of electric guitars that add layers to the track, he build eclectic lines into a memorable hook that ties the song’s graceful energy together succinctly.
Give D2x’s track “Waves & Moonlights” a listen below.
Nigerian singer JazzZ and Zimbabwean producer Tenten captivated us in July with their collaborative album ABSINTHE, a hazy, dream-like blend of hypnotic alternative R&B cuts. With a warm, immersive feel and poignant, organic sonics, ABSINTHE presents a character-rich, intimate offering from JazzZ and Tenten that remains as one of our favourite releases this summer.
Fatboi Sharif and Steel Tipped Dove- ‘Decay’
New Jersey’s Fatboi Sharif and New York’s Steel Tipped Dove connected for their LP Decay, which dropped in July on Backwoodz Studioz. An uncompromisingly experimental, head-trip of a record that lives up to its namesake with dilapidated, raw instrumentation and apocalyptic lyricism. On Decay, Sharif sounds at home atop Steel Tipped Dove’s frigid, asymmetrical production, weaving together idiosyncratic flows and vivid imagery in a dizzying fashion.
YL- ‘Don’t Feed the Pigeons’
New York mainstay YL’s ‘Don’t Feed the Pigeons’ LP is a refreshing project from June that captures the oft-sought NY hip-hop essence without leaning too heavily into nostalgia. It demonstrates his versatility as he tackles beats ranging from drill to ambient-infused instrumentals, while conjuring a subtly surreal atmosphere that gives it unique character.
Fatboyshaun- ‘BLOOD ON MY CARHARTT’
South Texas’ Fatboyshaun dropped off his project BLOOD ON MY CARHARTT in early July- a tour-de-force of potent lyricism atop raw, soulful instrumentation. Demonstrating the versatility that makes him a layered emcee, BLOOD ON MY CARHARTT both packs a punch with imposing lines and introspects with heartfelt cuts, with Fatboyshaun sounding equally natural in both lanes.
Ché- ‘CHÉ’
New York’s Ché captivated us with his self-titled project from July. CHÉ is an album versatile in sound and heartfelt in content, as it finds the New York artist dropping a series of thoughtful verses atop engaging, diverse instrumentation. Throughout the record, an undercurrent of youthful energy is present- with shades of hope for brighter times, while also touching upon being in the thralls of depression and frustration. Using his bicycle as a motif, the album’s dynamic pace, observational nature, and NYC references are given added context and layers, giving CHÉ a conceptual edge.
Stounson- “Break Bread” (ft. Ricky Mapes)
“Break Bread” is a self-produced cut from Seattle’s Stounson, featuring The Bronx’s Ricky Mapes, released in August. With a DIY feel and psychedelic edge, “Break Bread” makes for a potent cross-coast collaboration between the two artists. Raw layers of samples give the track a pulsating rhythm, complemented by dusty drums and potent, cutting flows from Stounson and Mapes that demonstrate a natural chemistry.
Rising Portland emcee Milc and fellow Portland beatmaker Televangel of the renowned production duo Blue Sky Black Death have dropped off a new single called “Pain & Leather”, featuring New York standout YL. Released ahead of their new collaborative album The Fish That Saved Portland, the single introduces a luscious, silky soundscape that suits the laid-back, charismatic performances of Milc and YL. Televangel’s hypnotic concoction of airy, psychedelic samples, rubbery, infectious bass and minimalistic percussion creates silky backdrop for YL and Milc to lace the track with sleek flows, vivid lyricism, and smooth deliveries. It’s a track that pairs each element together cohesively and in a natural fashion- making for a refreshing listen. Check it out below and prepare for Milc and Televangel’s upcoming project The Fish That Saved Portland.
Rapper-producer Leroy Curriculum has dropped off a new song, titled “Bliss Or Not”. Born Zachary Henry Bailey in Chicago, Curriculum largely grew up in Memphis, Tennessee. Inspired by both classic soul and hip-hop, Curriculum has built a warm, immersive sound that finds him both emceeing and producing, carving a lane for himself within the underground with releases like 2022’s Low Inventory. Refreshing, breezy, and soulful- his latest song “Bliss Or Not” puts the listener in a meditative headspace with its elegant combination of sleek keys, atmospheric samples, and sturdy, grounded percussion. Uplifting and inspiring a sense of focus, “Bliss Or Not” is the perfect track to put on and drift away from the mundaneness of the everyday. Give it a listen below.
Baton Rouge, Louisiana artist Uhuru Noir has shared a new song called “Hurry up/Buy”, produced by Clai Dye. Following up a prolific streak of SoundCloud drops that included his recent EP The Leaning House, “Hurry up/Buy” showcases Noir’s focused mic presence and outside-the-box lyricism atop a satisfyingly warm, grimy instrumental from Clai Dye. Containing glowing, immersive keys, reverb-soaked samples and organic-sounding percussion, the instrumentation creates the perfect atmosphere for Noir’s laid-back, unhurried flows and vivid lyricism. With a lived-in, dusky feel, “Hurry up/Buy” is a character-rich cut from Uhuru Noir that continues his recent tear of releases. Give it a listen below.
Yeshua Sunn has linked with kip c for a fresh single called “shi-ballads”. Following up expressive, thoughtful releases like “coldtrain++” and “shield of wind*”, “shi-ballads” continues to carve out Sunn’s ethereal sound with an engaging new song that blends detail-rich lyricism with atmospheric, lo-fi production. Atop a tapestry of kaleidoscopic samples, airy guitars, and reverb-soaked percussion, Sunn and kip c deliver soulful verses full of dream-like lyricism. Matching the track’s abstract soundscape and uplifting energy, Sunn and kip c’s free-form flows and poignant lyricism give “shi-ballads” a unique edge and make for a refreshing listen. Check out “shi-ballads” below.
Döuno has linked with Ukraine’s LoVibe. for a fresh single called “S19”. Hailing from the rich musical landscape of Baton Rouge, LA- Döuno’s music brings a refreshing twist to the timeless sounds of neo-soul, while drawing inspiration from personal experiences to give listener’s a view into his life. His latest offering is the potent, engaging “S19” with LoVibe., a vivid song that puts his sharp songwriting and atmospheric vocal style on full display atop buoyant, warm instrumentation. Atop airy keys, crunchy percussion, and infectious bass, he delivers sleek melodies that build dynamically into an ear-worm hook, giving added replay value and character to the track. Check out Döuno and LoVibe.’s latest song “S19” below here.
Prolific New York-based hip-hop collective I’ll Nevah Die have connected with Johnny VúDOE and Sidewaalk Kal for a fresh single, titled “PRYMETYME”, produced by pis.i. Featuring vocal performances from JUNE!, Jay Cinema, dj noonsomewhere, Johnny VúDOE, and Sidewaalk Kal, the song demonstrates an organic chemistry between the emcees as they weave together vivid, personal verses atop gritty production. “PRYMETYME” finds each of these prolific artists contributing adding their own flavour and character to the track, while coming together for a cohesive whole. On “PRYMETYME”, winding, raw horns, grimy percussion, and rumbling, lo-fi bass create a ruminative atmosphere for the emcees to detail rich lines about their lives and perspectives. As is often characteristic with I’ll Nevah Die releases, “PRYMETYME” is a refreshingly personal and stripped-back, down-to-earth cut that ditches the frills for something that cuts through the noise with its authentic approach. Give it a listen below.
Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and producer Aloe Blacc presents his latest offering, “Mercy (Godfather Mix),” a project inspired by the legendary Godfather movies’ 50th anniversary celebration. In this track, Aloe Blacc reaches deep into the realm of rap- unleashing a compelling performance that weaves vivid storytelling with a soul-stirring hook. The soundscape gracefully incorporates the iconic love theme from the film, providing the perfect backdrop for Aloe Blacc’s heartfelt narrative of love, family, and the perils that lurk within the city’s streets. The accompanying visual pays a fitting tribute to the films with its moody and dark ambiance, while also highlighting Aloe Blacc’s charismatic performance style.
Notably, this single stands out with its remarkable cinematic elements and immersive storytelling, making it a captivating addition to Aloe Blacc’s impressive discography.
Check out the video for “Mercy (The Godfather Mix)” here:
Pacific Northwest multi-disciplinary artist Stounson has connected with New York’s Ricky Mapes for a fresh single called “Break Bread”, mixed and mastered by BlessedBySanto. Self-produced by Stounson, the track contains a raw, potent energy that suits the vital, confident flows of Stounson and Mapes. Underscored by gritty samples laid in textural, glitchy patterns atop sturdy percussion, the two emcees demonstrate their skills as lyricists, weaving together vivid, detail-rich lines with ease. Their dynamic, energizing flows match with the instrumentation’s darkly hypnotic feel, giving the track much personality. Give “Break Bread” a listen below now.
ROUNDHOUSE MUSIC 