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Ovrkast. delivers smoky new single, “Month In Brooklyn”

Oakland artist Ovrkast. has shared a new single, titled “Month In Brooklyn”. The lyricist and producer has steadily carved his own lane for his eclectic, soulful, and relaxed sound, influenced by the likes of Knxwledge, Flying Lotus, and more, while retaining a distinct sense of minimalism. Following up his recent singles “TBH!” and “SHUTUP!”, “Month In Brooklyn” presents a smoky, jazzy single that reflects on his recent time spent in Brooklyn- being away from his home, family, and friends back in Oakland, CA. 

“Month In Brooklyn” contains laid-back, warm production centred around ruminative brass, infectious, organic-sounding bass, and pillowy 808s. Underscored by crisp percussion that locks in a steady groove, Ovrkast. drops emotive, engaging verses as he weaves together dynamic rhyme patterns. As crawling keys drop in beneath, he flows smoothly and with ease atop the sleek production, suiting its easy-going feel.

Ovrkast.’s latest continues his run of potent, jazzy DIY-inspired singles, with Ovrkast. producing, mixing, and crafting the artwork for “Month In Brooklyn”. Give “Month In Brooklyn” a listen below.

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JazzZ and Tenten share immersive new album ‘ABSINTHE’

Nigerian vocalist JazzZ and Zimbabwean producer Tenten have shared a new project, titled ABSINTHE. The 14-track offering emanates an immersive warmth that draws the listener into its soundscape from the get-go- delivering a comforting listen with fuzzy guitars and keyboards, organic bass grooves, and silky vocals.

ABSINTHE has a lived-in, intimate feel that gives the project its own character, made evident from early in the track-list with the cozy keyboards and hypnotic grooves of “Again, Again, Again”. The instrumental’s coarsely-chopped, textural sound gives it a natural swing, complemented by JazzZ’s laid-back yet emotive vocals. The ethereal guitars, expansive strings, and watery keys of “Woe, Writhe & Hype” give the track a feeling of depth, as JazzZ’s verses soar with mesmerizing melodies. While the ruminative, nocturnal “Everytime” takes on a meditative pace, as crystalline keys and airy percussion mould naturally with JazzZ’s soulful delivery. “Gloria” makes for a standout later in the project with its regal sound and undercurrent of energy, laced into graceful keys, punchy percussion, and rich vocals, paired with imagery-rich lyricism.

ABSINTHE makes for a smoky, immersive new release from JazzZ and Tenten that exhibits expressive, jazz and soul-laced production and heartfelt, focused songwriting. Give it a listen below.

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Gxldsoulrebel asks “What’s Real?” on heartfelt track

We came across South Bend, IN artist Gxldsoulrebel‘s track “What’s Real?” recently, and from there delved into his recent project The True Man Show. From the record, “What’s Real?” makes for a highlight with its insightful exploration of self and society, containing richly poetic bars laced atop warm, hypnotic production. With his characteristically laid-back, crisp delivery, Gxldsoulrebel lays down heartfelt bars woven into dynamic rhyme patterns, that work cohesively with the song’s soulful instrumentation. Above thought-provoking key melodies and airy percussion, he shines on the mic by piecing together lines filled with vibrant imagery. Conveying a sense of hope while maintaining a true-to-life feel throughout, “What’s Real?” makes for a highlight cut from the South Bend artist. Give it a listen here now.

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King Adroit gives a display of bars on “Heem”

Charlotte, NC-based rapper King Adroit caught our attention for his sharply-crafted new joint “Heem”. 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. On his track “Heem”, Adroit flexes his lyrical abilities with a series of clever, charismatic verses atop warm, resonant production. Raw, glowing samples underscore him, moored by an organic-sounding rhythm section- as he handles the beat with ease, dextrously delivering lines in an unpredictable manner. It seems Adroit’s style could be described as “organized chaos”, with all elements working together despite their patchwork feel, demonstrating Adroit’s overall focus. Give his latest “Heem” a listen below now.

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Ricky Mapes shares potent visual for “Banksy 88”

The Bronx’s Ricky Mapes has dropped off a new visual for his track “Banksy 88”, produced by The Natural Law and directed by Schweppes Baguette. The opening cut from his recent album OVERTHINKING, “Banksy 88” presented a standout off the record with its emotive, sharply-crafted lyricism and soulful, textural production. Atop a tapestry of gritty horns and rich strings that give the song a powerful sound, Mapes delivers line after line of potent social commentary and introspection, drawing the listener into the track’s immersive feel and relating them in the process. The new video, directed by Schweppes Baguette, features crisp shots and a compelling performance from Mapes with warm, inviting coloration. Check out the video for Ricky Mapes’ “Banksy 88”, released on the prolific Soulspazm, below and stream OVERTHINKING while you’re at it.

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Finch and Chaos TV share warm single “Count My Luck!”

Philadelphia producer Finch has linked with Chaos TV for a new single called “Count My Luck!”. The track continues a prolific run for Finch that has included recent singles like the engaging “Kingdom” with Jawny’s Room, and “Empty Pockets” with dkj. “Count My Luck” finds him continuing to carve out his niche and sound, utilizing vibrant, expansive soul samples to create an uplifting, energizing soundscape, while mooring an infectious groove with crisp percussion and booming 808s. Chaos TV delivers charismatic, smooth flows atop the buoyant instrumentation while keeping a brisk level of energy that suits the instrumentation. “Count My Luck!” demonstrates a kinetic level of chemistry between the two that translates on to the record, which packs a punch despite its 1 minute 24 second run time. Give “Count My Luck!” a listen below.

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YB shares triumphant album ‘Dreams Don’t Have Deadlines’

By Todd Anderson

Arkansas-born artist YB has dropped off a fresh new album called Dreams Don’t Have Deadlines. YB is what happens when optimism and uplifting content meets melodic trap. He wraps emotional storytelling over hard-hitting 808s and trunk-knocking drums, making for a refreshing blend of sounds and styles. He has now come through with a triumphant, infectious new album called Dreams Don’t Have Deadlines, which finds him further defining his sharply-crafted style with a set of relatable, cathartic bangers.

YB is an artist that has a penchant for combining emotive themes and content with hard-hitting, gritty sounds. Over a tapestry of booming 808s, raw horns, and clasping percussion, he manages to rhyme poetically in a way that feels emotionally captivating for the listener. This contrast helps YB stand out and provides him ground to continue expanding his characteristic style, as made evident by his new project Dreams Don’t Have Deadlines. It sees him building on the positive elements of his past releases, with songs like “HOSTAGE” and “LIGHT” displaying a keen sense of songwriting and focus that translates naturally into YB’s confident vocals and production choices. Songs like the lead single “PRAYING HANDS” push the energy levels to the limit while also providing thought-provoking content. Then, there are tracks like “B.I.G.” that take on a laid-back approach and in doing so demonstrate YB’s overall versatility.

With the release of Dreams Don’t Have Deadlines, YB continues to transcend the medium with his studio work. Over 10 million streams as an independent artist, and a prolific streak of releases has led to him building much momentum in the underground and beyond. Give his latest release Dreams Don’t Have Deadlines a listen below and be sure to connect with YB while you’re at it for more soon.

Connect with YB: Spotify | Instagram | Twitter

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Ania Hoo shares vibrant release, “Dreams/ Truth Is…”

Ania Hoo has caught our attention for her fresh 2-pack “Dreams/ Truth Is…”. The sharply-crafted, versatile new release finds Ania cohesively blending genres such as R&B, electronic, and more. With focused songwriting, Ania laces the first song “Dreams” with silky, smooth melodies atop bubbling bass, atmospheric synths, and lively percussion. Her vocal lines are catchy and engaging, embedding themselves in the listeners memory from the get-go. The second track, “Truth Is…”, creates a humid, vivid atmosphere with its layered keys, infectious bass, and expansive vocals. It’s an immersive, hypnotic track that arrives perfectly in time for the summer, presenting a refreshing new drop from Ania.

Jamaican-American artist Ania Hoo navigates a colorful, eclectic, and vibrant universe through her music. Inspired by artists such as Marvin Gaye and Teena Marie, she strives for her music to emulate the purest of emotions. Taking us away from the modern world and its endless need for consumption, we see Hoo opening us up to her vision that is focused on creating with integrity and intention. A world where music gives space to the collective to not only want to feel good, but to demand to be loved properly. Take a listen to Ania’s latest, the eclectic, vibrant 2-song offering “Dreams/ Truth Is…” below and be sure to connect with Ania Hoo.

Watch the music video for “Truth Is…” here:

Connect with Ania Hoo: Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | Spotify | Apple Music | SoundCloud

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Ki Storii shares R&B-infused self-love anthem, “Taboo”

Ki Storii has returned with a fresh single, titled “Taboo”. With the recent resurgence of rap queens leading the pack and ushering in a new group of rising stars, the door is open for captivating new voices to emerge.  Enter Bronx, NY artist Ki Storii, who is making the charge and consistently proving herself as one of the bubbling young acts in the female rap game. After her 2021 “Whole ‘Nother Level” single topped 100K streams on Spotify and her latest party hit “Shawty Lo” is approaching 50K, the ‘BX Baddie’ is ready to make her mark on 2023 with her new single, an intriguing spin on self-love titled “Taboo”, featuring Brianna Knight.

“Taboo” makes for an enticing, vibrant listen- with retro-tinged yet sleekly modern production and charismatic vocals from Ki and Knight. Colorful vocal samples and electrifying synths drift atop a crisp drum line, recalling the nostalgia of mid-2000s hip-hop and R&B but with a refreshing twist.

“Taboo” finds Ki Storii continue to carve her lane coming out of the East Coast with another strong track that empowers with its lyrical content. Take a listen below and connect with Ki Storii for more.

Follow @Ki.Storii on Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Youtube

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Pastel Blank shares warm single “Shareholder”

Victoria, Canada’s Pastel Blank has come through with a fresh single, titled “Shareholder”. Formed in 2019, the versatile project, which often blends art-rock and funk, is headed by singer/ songwriter Angus Watt. Pulling influence from the jerky rhythms and genre-bending curiosity of Talking Heads as well as the interlocking guitar work of Canadian post-punk luminaries Women, the music of Pastel Blank coats experimentation in pop-minded song structure. It’s a potent, warm release that arrives just in time for summer, putting Watt’s songwriting on full display with infectious melodies and a laid-back charisma.

“Shareholder” contains vibrant, balmy guitar stabs that take on an organic tone, underscored by lively percussion that gives the song an engaging pace. With rich bass dropping in beneath to moor the track, Pastel Blank delivers silky yet confident vocals that contain a self-aware confidence. With energizing synths layering in beneath to give the song a captivating pace, Pastel Blank adds a chorus that entices the listener with its hypnotic melodies, capping off the track in style.

The latest from Victoria’s Pastel Blank, “Shareholder” makes for an exciting new track that blends art-rock and funk for a cohesive offering.

Watch the new video for “Shareholder” here:

Connect with Pastel Blank: Instagram | Spotify | Facebook | YouTube