Tag: hip hop

Valid and Stretch Money, also known as “Bill & Isiah,” come together once again on Valid’s latest single, “Nine To Five.” Following their successful collaboration album in 2023, the duo delivers a Summer 2024 anthem with this track produced by Vuk Starinac. This track resonates with hardworking individuals who clock in day after day, yet still manage to keep their style and spirit alive.

Valid’s latest release featuring Stretch Money demonstrates the pair’s creative vision, charismatic approach, and ability to inject humor into their work. Demonstrating the chemistry that the duo has become known for, “Nine To Five” finds them trading clever verses that have the listener re-winding throughout. With hypnotic, playful production centred around sleek keys, punchy percussion, and rich bass, “Nine To Five” makes for an infectious listen. Featuring a new music video that captures the track’s humorous, laid-back swagger with an engaging performance from Valid and Stretch Money – “Nine To Five”, released on Valternativa Records– provides the whole package from the two Detroit mainstays.

Listen to “Nine To Five” here and check out the new music video.

Connect with Valid: Instagram | YouTube | Twitter | Facebook

Connect with Stretch Money: Instagram | Facebook

By Jacob Ezra

Myles Clayton and Chris Celestial have connected for a new single called “Sittin’ N da Middle”. The new song finds I’ll Nevah Die member Clayton and I N D affiliate Celestial demonstrating a potent chemistry atop a beat with a powerful energy that’s both thought-provoking and unsettling.

It seems that Clayton and Celestial are natural collaborators, with both emcees demonstrating pensive, introspective lyricism and an ear for dark, cacophonous production. “Sittin’ N da Middle” brings their strengths together atop a cerebral instrumental that is equal parts grimy and atmospheric. Walls of imposing samples, droning backing vocal samples and a rumbling rhythm section underscore the emcees’ cathartic, hard-hitting vocal performance and imagery-rich lines. Give “Sittin’ N da Middle” a listen here now.

Kaos the Baker has shared a new album, titled THE ESSENCE OF KAOS, produced by Australia’s SB11 and mixed and mastered by TimePiece. Raised in Akron, Ohio and Charlotte, North Carolina- Kaos the Baker has been making waves for his emotive, raw delivery, detailed lyrical style and ear for engaging, soulful production. A mainstay in Charlotte’s hip-hop scene, Kaos co-founded the label AKB2 Entertainment alongside his cousin and fellow talented emcee Lord Jah Monte Ogbon. His latest album, THE ESSENCE OF KAOS, is a powerful addition to his consistent discography, featuring versatile, charismatic vocals atop rich soundscapes from SB11.

On THE ESSENCE OF KAOS, Kaos the Baker handles a variety of soul-laced, lush instrumentals from SB11 with ease. He demonstrates dynamic flows, a confident, emotive cadence, and re-playable lyrics that give THE ESSENCE OF KAOS much character. Coming through with a variety of sonic flavors while staying true to himself throughout, Kaos delivers potent, driving tracks like victorious opener “The Essence”- while also laying down ethereal, thoughtful joints like “Forming Galaxies” with ease. With ceaseless energy and poignant focus, Kaos the Baker and SB11 present a sonic tour-de-force with their latest offering THE ESSENCE OF KAOS.

Listen to Kaos the Baker’s latest project THE ESSENCE OF KAOS, produced by SB11, here now.

NAHreally and The Expert have dropped off a new album titled BLIP. This new LP from Massachusetts-born, New Jersey-based emcee NAHreally follows up his poignant 2022 album HACKINAWAY, and it finds him connecting with prolific producer The Expert for a thought-provoking collection of character-rich, ruminative songs. BLIP draws the listener into a hypnosis with a set of focused songs that are detail-oriented and relatable- putting a refreshing twist on observational lyricism while dissecting life’s minutiae from the outside looking in.

Songs such as standout track “Breaking Down in Real Time” featuring Open Mike Eagle, display NAHreally’s sharp eye for detail atop The Expert’s pensive production, as NAHreally tackles anxiety around aging in a manner that zooms in and gives listeners a clear picture. Jazz-tinged songs such as “Movement & Light” use ethereal production and vivid, poetic lyricism to convey a bittersweet wistfulness- while “Read the Room” discusses the awkwardness and uncertainty of human interaction atop potent, dark instrumentation from The Expert. Overall, BLIP is truly a journey through light and dark, and various integral emotions, while exploring the quirks and little complexities of being human.

Take a listen to NAHreally and The Expert’s new album BLIP here:

Producer BhramaBull has dropped off a new track called “Victorious”, alongside Toronto emcee Raz Fresco and New Orleans’ CKooliente. A meeting of three standout minds in hip-hop’s underground, “Victorious”‘s effortlessly soulful, laid-back feel comes through in its weaving, graceful vocal samples, warm keys, and rich rhythm section. The emcees sound poised and sharp atop BhramaBull’s ethereal beat, as they trade raw verses while demonstrating a natural chemistry. Focused and in the pocket, Fresco and CKooliente’s assured tones match BhramaBull’s rugged yet smooth production style for a truly “Victorious” offering. Give it a listen here now.

By Jacob Ezra

California duo MOMO AZUL!, consisting of emcee Masongo Ogora and producer SoulLoops., come together for a soulful, uplifting release in THE ALBUMLUDE. A reflective, warm set of songs that feel freely expressive in a refreshing manner- THE ALBUMLUDE‘s potent, hopeful energy refuses to be constrained. With much character and engaging songwriting that often opts for unorthodox approaches, THE ALBUMLUDE is a vibrant, likeable offering from MOMO AZUL!. “GRIEF GUY // COMMERCIAL BREAK” introduces a carefree like-ability that lingers throughout the record, distilled by its chorus, which truly grows on the listener as time goes on. “DIM TO 2% BATTERY” feels like a sonic sigh of relief with its laid-back, thoughtful sound- while songs like “HALF-HUMAN 2ME” blend in free jazz and lo-fi elements for psychedelic offerings. Overall, THE ALBUMLUDE is a sonic journey that surprises and charms at many points. Give it a listen here now.

Jaysanityy has dropped off a new album, titled bag man julio. The prolific artist has become known for his ear for hypnotic, soulful production, and especially his ability to go deep with his lyricism and content. Building a prolific catalogue of releases that put a forward-thinking twist on boom-bap, he continues to expand his sound with bag man julio, which features Jordan Ali, omontizay, and more. Jaysanityy has a penchant for building expansive worlds with his songs, while injecting a heavy dose of potent introspection. Both grounded and surreal, bag man julio cuts past the surface level from the get-go for a thought-provoking listen. Highlight tracks include the ethereal, epic “50 years of hip hop”, with the powerful catharsis it displays in its vocals, as well as the rich, meditative “generational artist”. bag man julio feels like one of these albums that just tunes the external world out, and inspires a deep dive within. Give bag man julio a listen here now.