Tag: new music

By Jacob Ezra

Chelsea Reject- “Grounded”

Chelsea Reject has recently been garnering significant buzz out of Brooklyn, NY, and she dropped off a solid recent project with BUBBLE GRL. Her warm, breezy sound is refreshing in tone, as she seamlessly blending hip-hop and R&B elements for a dynamic listen. The opening song on BUBBLE GRL, “Grounded”, is a prime example of this, with its laid-back yet assured sound that reflects its themes of remaining grounded and true to oneself despite external opinions and influences. She possesses maturity and focus as a songwriter across the 10 diverse tracks on her recent project BUBBLE GRL, and “Grounded” is definitive of this early in the project’s track-list.

Jay Wood- “OVERACHIEVER”

Jay Wood caught our attention this month for his strong new track “OVERACHIEVER”. Hailing from the fertile Chicago music scene, which has produced many overlooked artists of late, Wood further imprints himself as a noteworthy voice from the region with “OVERACHIEVER”. The song has an anthemic quality to it, while remaining self aware in a way that makes its grandiose sonics feel natural. His vocal melodies are smooth yet confident, merging with the expansive, sleek instrumentation to give the release added replay value.

Nick Rose- “Pulp Fiction”

Connecticut artist Nick Rose shares his first single of 2023 with “Pulp Fiction”, an energizing track that showcases his ability to blend genres with ease. Characterized by raw synths and punchy percussion that give the track dashes of synth-punk, “Pulp Fiction”’s pulsating rhythm is immediately recognizable and catchy. Mixing elements of punk and alt-pop, Rose’s vocals contain an undertone of urgency that grips the listener from the get-go.

Hidden Renaissance, kllz- “New Friends, Same Old Pains”

Rich grooves and organic-sounding samples characterize the prolific Hidden Renaissance’s recent project BARBAROIS, and one standout track from early in the record is “New Friends, Same Old Pains”, with production from kllz. The track demonstrates the attention to detail seen in a lot of the Hidden Renaissance collective’s work, while elevating its sound to new heights with rumbling bass, vivid samples, and infectious percussion. It’s a solid dose of instrumental hip-hop that feels effortless and well thought-out simultaneously. 

Johnny VùDOE- “introducing”

This track was technically released at the end of March, but this is one of my favourite tracks from 2023 so far and certainly deserves an inclusion. The Bronx’s Johnny VùDOE makes his presence known with a free-spirited track that kicks off his soulful EP 2pieceAAbiscuit. His lyrical abilities shine through atop the textural instrumentation, as his ability to paint vivid pictures within his verses becomes clear. For an unassuming, carefree track packed with inherent talent, check out VùDOE’s “introducing”, as well as his project 2pieceAAbiscuit.

Detroit’s Valid and Stretch Money have delivered their highly anticipated joint album Bill & Isiah. Preceded by an intensive roll-out that found them hitting fans with track after track of diverse, vivid sounds that kept them on their toes, they come through with the finished product now in Bill & Isiah, and does it ever impress. Across 11 concise yet detailed songs, they further prove that they are a duo to be reckoned with not just within Detroit, but on a wider scale as well.

There are many potent moments that draw the listener into Bill & Isiah’s tasteful and retro-futuristic soundscape, beginning at the gate with the opener “89′ Cadillacs”. The track demonstrates the artists’ focus and dedication to the record’s themes early on, showing their integrity as songwriters and emcees. Bolstered by strong flows, engaging rhyme patterns, and vibrant production, “89′ Cadillacs” is a standout near to the start of the tracklist.

Then there’s the funky, velvety “Revenge”, which drips with swagger and style. Melodious, 80’s-influenced moods continue onto “Sentimental”, the well received single from the record, and show up again at numerous points throughout Bill & Isiah. However, the album does not lack in hard-hitting, lyrically-focused moments either, with tracks like “Game Film” and “Commentate” showcasing both rappers’ venomous pens. Closer “Like This” brings in a classic Detroit sound, with rolling bass and bouncy percussion that recalls the hallmarks many of us love about Motor City hip-hop. It’s a potent mixture of styles and sonics that makes Bill & Isiah stand on its own and finds both rappers bringing their full effort alongside a talented cast of producers and collaborators.

Detroit legend Stretch Money links with Valid on the full-length LP Bill & Isiah, overseen by platinum- credited Grammy-Award Winning DJ Head formerly of Shady Records/ Interscope. Although this is a concept album with a theme throughout, the album is far from a gimmick. Valid and Stretch Money honed in on exactly where they are in their careers and personal lives while adopting the Detroit Bad Boys persona. Give Bill & Isiah a listen below and further familiarize yourself with Detroit heavyweights Valid and Stretch Money.

Connect with Valid: Instagram | YouTube | Twitter | Facebook

Connect with Stretch Money: Instagram | Facebook

Shore has shared a new single called “7.7.7”. Shore is a developing independent rapper, singer and songwriter from Annapolis, Maryland. The 19-year-old has shown his versatility and ability to write catchy hooks, sing with conviction and spit emphatic bars, which have perked the ears from outlets such as Lyrical Lemonade, Fashionably Early, Daily Chiefers and more. Shore hopes to continue to be a source of inspiration for the youth in his community to show that your dreams are worth chasing and there is a way out.

His latest offering, “7.7.7”, follows soon after his well-received single “Pure Souls”, and it finds him taking on a crisp and clean, yet hard-hitting sound. The production on “7.7.7” is focused and compact, as booming 808s contrasting with inspiring, emotive keys, locked in by punchy percussion. Shore himself shines as a vocalist with memorable melodies and a heartfelt delivery that grab the listener’s attention from the get-go. Following up a prolific streak of releases, “7.7.7” provides us with even more reason to be excited about Shore in 2023.

Take a listen to “7.7.7” below.