Harlem, New York emcee Josiah Hotwire and London producer Illinformed‘s album BODYBAG SEASON LP, featuring Bristol’s Wish Master is a blazing collaboration from across the Atlantic from start to finish. Equipped with hard-hitting, eclectic production that feels focused throughout, as well as detailed, razor-sharp rhymes from Hotwire and Wish Master, BODYBAG SEASON LP makes for a late year scorcher that blends NYC and UK hip-hop aesthetics cohesively.
Album single “HARLEM KNIGHTS” is a powerful song from early in the track-list that kickstarts the album with a fierce energy. Weaving strings, crunchy percussion, and immense flows give “HARLEM KNIGHTS” a gripping sense of urgency, paired with a sense of style that lives up to the song’s name. “IT GETS GREATER L8ER” contains angelic yet raw instrumentation that sounds poignant and cohesive when paired with Hotwire’s captivating verses. The orchestral, epic feel of “INSIDE MY MIND” makes for a truly impressive closer, with expansive energy and vivid lyricism from the two emcees. Give BODYBAG SEASON LP a listen here now.
It’s rare that a live show captures my true full attention. I often end up getting distracted, or the performer doesn’t quite have the stamina to make every moment of their set intriguing. So, it was an unexpected treat to witness an act that I was truly impressed by. A couple Saturday evenings ago, I found myself with a spare bit of time. I contacted a friend of mine to hang out, and he said he was going to a show in Bushwick to see his friends perform. Intrigued, I tagged along.
Pretty soon after we had arrived, a large group of people walked onto the stage, and my friend became super excited. “This is them!” he exclaimed. The group was clearly trying to make a memorable impression. They were dressed in eccentric outfits – sports jerseys, camo vests, chains, sci fi-esque glasses, and baggy clothing. One of them even had a device that shot bubbles into the air. Their stage presence and chemistry was something to behold. There wasn’t a single moment when at least one of them wasn’t airborne – flying around with a contagious wave of energy.
As I would come to learn, this group was called 3rd Ave. Though they knew each other informally at NYU in the music technology program, their group formed essentially by accident, after they all happened to win tickets to the Rolling Loud music festival via a giveaway through their school. After combining forces, they began to build a creative environment that feeds off collectivism. Each member contributes different elements based on need, instead of having designated producers and vocalists. Most of them if not all have the ability to produce for the group by themselves as they are all sufficiently talented, but they have mastered the art of splitting up tasks so that the final product is as polished and perfectly crafted as possible.
This would of course be irrelevant if their sound wasn’t there, but their sound is perhaps 3rd Ave’s most alluring quality, They manage to turn some of the most ubiquitous, familiar, and over-represented genres out there – trap, hyperpop, emo rap, and commercial pop – into a style that is undoubtedly unique and fresh. They almost manage to make you feel like you went back to the 2010’s in a time machine and were able to experience the Soundcloud era all over again.
Their most streamed release entitled “ackerman” is a perfect example of this. The beat is as simple as it gets – trap drums, booming bass, and a catchy flute sample. On paper it should just be another generic trap song, but it isn’t. The hypnotizingly infectious hook samples the fitness gram pushup test audio halfway through it, injecting it with charisma and nostalgia. Jaden, the first MC to take a verse on the track, does so in his signature whisper delivery, immediately forcing the listener to pay attention due to how unconventionally it hits the ear.Thai and Type Oh Negative attack the other two verses with punchy, effortless flows that glide over the instrumental with grace and swagger. The lyrics themselves are nothing revolutionary, but they still manage to jam pack in tons of quotables and charismatic lines. “Elastipussy, call her Ms. Incredible”, is a bar I won’t be forgetting any time soon.
Their recent album “CYBERBULLY” is their first full length LP, and it features an impressive diversity of production and vibes. It has cuts similar to “ackerman” on tracks like “BOP IT!”, to mind-warping hyperpop breaks on “TAMAGOTCHI” and “HOLD MY HAND // PIECES”, to jarring tracks with beats that are absolutely bonkers such as “???” that would fit perfectly in an expository scene of a depraved dystopian sci-fi flick.
3rd Ave. has immense potential, and should not be overlooked. The group is set to study abroad together in Prague this upcoming Spring, and there’s no telling how that experience will inspire their music moving forward.
Long Beach, California artist Mikem Nahmir has caught our attention for his recent project, THESE THINGS JUS‘ HAPPEN. The soulful, personal release provides vivid lyrical imagery that paint pictures of Nahmir’s mindstate and environment, laced atop immersive, sampling production. Here, the West Coast lyricist’s poetic pen shines through, especially on tracks like the evocative “no cryin’ no sufferin'”, a song that balances stark realism with hopefulness eloquently. Elsewhere, Nahmir achieves a similar effect with the rapper inspiring the listener while always keeping a grounded sense of matter-of-factness. “faces”, featuring cystic, contains haunting beauty, enhanced even further by Nahmir’s detailed, cathartic lyricism. The smoky, jazzy sound with uplifting notes on THESE THINGS JUS’ HAPPEN calls to mind some elements of Common or Blu, but Nahmir is certainly doing things his own way. All in all, THESE THINGS JUS’ HAPPEN comes through as a late-year highlight and will likely go down as one of our favorite projects from 2023. Support Mikem Nahmir directly on Bandcamp HERE.
New York artist Dustrial Dre is an emcee we’ve been following for some time now, and his latest release “Mind’s Good” takes things to a new level with refreshing, vibrant production from Arlo Walker alongside sleek, charismatic flows. Both gritty and elegant, “Mind’s Good”‘s weaving keys, crunchy percussion, and nonchalant confidence make it a track that’s easy to immerse yourself in. The laid-back yet focused joint has also been paired with a nocturnal visual that suits the track’s textural, grimy feel. With classic East Coast influences merged with their own refreshing twist, Dre and Arlo Walker provide an engaging lyrical cut with a vivid atmosphere and solid chemistry. Give the music video for “Mind’s Good” a watch below and be sure to stream the song as well while you’re at it.
Brooklyn artist Meechy718 has connected with fellow Kings County standouts T’Nah and Chelsea Reject for a fresh single called “VIBE WITH ME”. Having been a staple in the New York scene for a number of years, Meechy718 continues to impress with his latest offering, which demonstrates his ear for crafting eclectic, lyrically-focused hip-hop with vibrant authenticity. Demonstrating a natural chemistry with T’Nah and Chelsea Reject, the three artists tackle a bouncy, atmospheric instrumental built around watery synth layers and buoyant drums. Blending engaging, smooth melodic vocals with sleek, raw flows, “VIBE WITH ME” is a dynamic track that provides something for everyone. Give it a listen below now.
Charlotte, NC artist King Adroit has caught our attention for his fresh single, “The Gentleman”. The 34 year-old MC has an eclectic taste of the golden era with rich, vibrant sampled records and poignant lyricism. His unorthodox rhyme patterns that seem to be off-beat and off-topic, and yet they add up to a cohesive and engaging style overall. His most recent project Himology, Vol. 1 created a strong impression with its smoky, jazz-tinged smoothness, and he seems to be following up that trend with his new song “The Gentleman”. The North Carolina emcee sounds poised here atop silky jazz-laced production with nostalgic undertones, deftly weaving together imagery-rich verses with a laid-back delivery. Check out King Adroit’s latest song “The Gentleman” below now.
Listening to ras_koala‘s beat tape ‘buggie’ gave instant nostalgia- as it took us back to the OG beat tape days of discovering releases from the greats like Ohbliv, Tuamie, and Knx, and watching Godsconnect edits on Youtube. ras_koala not only has this engaging beat tape to vibe to, but they also have a project the dropped back in october titled ‘listen.’ if you want to check that out as well.
This current tape ‘buggie’ may have been a quick offering, but it was worth every second of listening. The beginning of the tape features very mellow but still head nodding worthy tracks such as ‘drivein’ and ‘land’. Going towards the ending, while the beats are still mellow, the crisp clear drums start to give more of that signature boom bap sound. Our favorite track is ‘nodding’ because everything about the beat is comforting. The nostalgic feel, the drums, the sample, the piano…..what’s there to hate about this beautiful hypnotizing beat? Please support the artist by purchasing directly from the bandcamp link here. You won’t be disappointed!
Detroit artist Drew Verdé has shared a new song called “Wake Up Call”, produced by Jake Bass, along with a fresh music video. Verdé is a versatile and multi-talented artist, being a videographer, director, studio engineer and logo designer. His songwriting and sound is very versatile, with Verdé injecting elements of hip-hop, R&B, rock, and more into his music- while staying true to himself with each record he creates. He had a rough upbringing in Detroit, with a family of addicts including his mother and father, and he first used music as his escape when overstimulated in his household, and as a way to express and release his emotions. His most recent single is called “Wake Up Call” produced by Jake Bass, and with bass by T-Money Green, a vibrant, powerful song made for the mother of his child. Paired with a lively, engaging music video, “Wake Up Call” is a potent new release that finds the impactful Detroit artist returning once again in full form.
Warm, vital layers of guitars and rich bass build an uplifting backdrop for Verdé, merging with punchy percussion that locks in a memorable groove. He comes through with smooth, eclectic vocals with an energetic, melodic take on lyrical hip-hop- building into an ear-worm hook. The new music video captures the song’s lively feel with saturated shots, vivid coloration, and expressive choreography that gives the track added energy and flavor.
Watch the new music video for “Wake Up Call” here and be sure to connect with Drew Verdé on social media for updates regarding new music and more.
Brooklyn artist Memoir. has returned with a fresh new release, titled “luxury freestyle”. On “luxury freestyle.”, sleek, graceful keys merge with a crisp, booming rhythm section to create a lush backdrop for Memoir.’s vocals. He comes through with smooth verses packed with infectious melodies that give the song added replay value, throwing in memorable refrains in the process. The new video features sharp, focused editing, warm saturation, and a charismatic performance from Memoir. that captures the song’s confident energy.
After a 7 month hiatus Memoir. returns with the single “luxury freestyle.” produced by Benihana Boy, and shows us that he has not lost a step. From the track’s stylish sonics and buttery flows to vivid music video, the New York native showcases his overall creative vision with a focused, poignant drop laced with the likeable charm he has become known for.
Shane, the Shaman, Supernalist, and Shah Leezy have connected for a fresh single, titled “In The Air”. With Shane and Shah hailing from New York, and Supernalist from the DMV, “In The Air” makes for a soulful East Coast collaboration that contains an airy, uplifting energy. Atop layers of breezy soul samples, rich bass, and minimalistic percussion, the emcees deliver imagery rich, vivid verses that blend together seamlessly, accentuated by the laid-back, smooth sound of the instrumentation. With undertones that feel both nostalgic and hopeful, “In The Air” presents a vital new release from Shane, the Shaman, Supernalist, and Shah Leezy. Give it a listen below.
ROUNDHOUSE MUSIC 