South Bend, Indiana artist Gxldsoulrebel has dropped off a fresh single, titled “Known Stranger”, produced by Yung Elder. Taking on a spiritual tone backed by refreshing sonics, Gxldsoulrebel delivers poetic lines entrenched with wisdom and wistfulness that give “Known Stranger” its own character.
Listening to the aptly-titled song feels like re-uniting with an old friend- or perhaps a meeting with a stranger that you intuitively feel you have always known. It’s immersive warmth and relaxed, cosmic production reflect this motif, while the chorus solidifies it with its references to campfires and sharing stories. Gxldsoulrebel and Yung Elder manage to do something truly refreshing with “Known Stranger”, a track that strips back frills and pretenses to examine our basic nature, storytelling, and methods of communication and connection.
New York artist kuya‘s album Tales From Ophir: Moros y Cristianos is an introspective sonic journey- backed by soulful sampling and laced with detailed, thoughtful lyricism. Inspired by hidden and forgotten stories from kuya’s ancestors and heritage from the Phillipines, Tales From Ophir: Moros y Cristianos is an album that is refreshing and enriching in its take on spirituality, personal growth, and more topics. The record finds kuya flexing his lyrical skills as well, with many vivid, detail-oriented bars that pair well with the album’s emotive, sampling soundscape.
kuya keeps his sound organic and his message clear on Tales From Ophir: Moros y Cristianos, established from the first song “Get you back!”. Discussing his origins and ancestry in the Philippines, realities of living in New York, and embracing Islam, kuya gets personal in his verses while examining how history creates who we are in the present. “hi-fi” is a warm, nostalgic track that feels like re-discovering a lost and treasured memory. “Child of Ophir” creates a sense of optimism while simultaneously being reflective, paying homage to NYC with various sentimental, vivid references. “salaam!” is a soulful closer that finishes the album with emotive touches. Here, kuya delivers expressive, introspective verses atop glowing keys and laid-back percussion, tying together the record’s sound succinctly.
Support kuya directly by purchasing Tales From Ophir: Moros y Cristianos on Bandcamp HERE.
Listen to Tales From Ophir: Moros y Cristianos here now:
Indiana artist Heyzeus has shared a new two-pack called Buy One Get One Free III. Packed with clever, self-aware humor and charismatic lyricism that give Heyzeus’ music its own unique character, Buy One Get One Free III is simply an enjoyable project- with a fun-loving edge and refreshing feel that makes it entertaining and energizing.
“Rappers Grow On Trees”, featuring blkk j, contains a boisterous brass section and bouncy, sturdy percussion that sets an appropriate foundation for the two emcees confident flows. They come through with witty lines that keep the listener glued to the speakers to catch everything, while also demonstrating a natural chemistry. The second track, “Abundantly”, continues the two-pack’s character-rich flair with soaring horns, infectious bass, and raw, energizing percussion. Heyzeus drops off potent lines that match the vital energy of the track, adding extra life to the cut.
New Jersey artist THE i OF A GENiUS has connected with fellow Garden State emcee Fatboi Sharif and Noble for a fresh new song called “Y LO HACES”, produced by genius.world. Following up THE i OF A GENiUS’ psychedelic, potent single “DREAMFIRST.”. “Y LO HACES” contains a similar feeling of hypnotic surrealism that suits his flows as well as those of Sharif and Noble. Underscored by eery, dream-like vocal samples, ethereal guitars, and crystalline keys, the three emcees deliver detailed, vivid lyrics that enhance the song’s otherworldly tone. Darkly meditative and minimalistic, “Y LO HACES” is a lyrically detailed, layered track that manages to do a lot with a little. Give THE i OF A GENiUS’ latest song “Y LO HACES” a listen below now.
Hip-hop collective Hidden Renaissance has been building into an underground supergroup of sorts, as made evident with their prolific recent streak of releases that included the “The Hidden Ones” series. On the third instalment of “The Hidden Ones”, we get a dose of vibrant production from Alkane, as well as blazing flows from Chaos1.0, RahkStar, Humanbien, Ri, K Folks, and Les. With a sleek, energizing R&B and house-influenced melodies, “The Hidden Ones III” picks up an irresistable groove and sets a solid foundation for the emcees dexterous flows. Throwing in engaging melodious inflections and lacing their verses with clever quips that give the song added replay value, the 6 emcees flex their lyrical skills atop Alkane’s colorful sound palette. Check out Hidden Renaissance’s latest song “The Hidden Ones III” below, executively produced by T H R O N E.
In his latest release, “Nervous,” Professor Green, accompanied by K Koke and R.A., delivers a compelling and confrontational exploration of hip hop’s essence. Renowned for his unapologetic storytelling and rooted in Hackney, London, Professor Green brings forth a track that not only pays homage to the genre but also exhibits a distinctive musicality complemented by captivating visuals. As an experienced MC with a history of triumphs and challenges, Professor Green’s “Nervous” stands as a testament to his resilience and commitment to authentic expression. From his early days winning freestyle battles to catching the attention of Mike Skinner, Professor Green has consistently pushed boundaries in the music scene. Surviving adversity, including a life-threatening incident, he continues to redefine his genre. With chart-topping hits like “I Need You Tonight” and “Read All About It,” Professor Green’s latest release cements his position as a trailblazer, inviting listeners into a world where unfiltered storytelling and raw expression take center stage.
North Carolina artist Myles T. Jordan has dropped off a new song called “Light”. Following up a prolific streak of versatile, lo-fi tinged releases that put Jordan’s lyrical abilities and dynamic vocals on display, “Light” contains expressive verses laid atop warm, calming production. Atop swelling, airy keys, punchy drums, and an infectious bassline, Jordan delivers melodically-tinged yet raw flows with a commanding presence. Mixing in catchy inflections, while keeping his content heartfelt, Jordan releases a heartfelt cut with “Light”. “Light” culminates in an ear-worm hook that adds diversity and vibrance to the track, making “Light” an immersive sonic journey. Give it a listen below now.
Bryson the Alien has dropped off a new song called “Faces”, featuring Tezmanian and produced by Ghowste. Based in Portland, the prolific Bryson the Alien is the co-founder of SUMALIENZ with Just Alfa and Tezmanian, who appears on his latest cut, as well as outfit Unexplained Aerial Phenomenon. Following up the eclectic single “Shepherd” with Fatboi Sharif, “Faces” takes on a similarly hypnotic, lo-fi atmosphere laced with a surreal mood and vibrant lyricism.
Murky, raw bass and space-age synths blend into a hypnotic groove on “Faces”, while creating an otherworldly soundscape. The production creates a “sheets of sound” effect that pairs cohesively with the emcees’ off-the-wall flows and outside-the-box lyricism. They display a natural chemistry while delivering head-spinning rhyme patterns in a hushed yet contained delivery, giving “Faces” a mesmerizing feel.
The music video for “Riches Part Two”, directed and animated by Unjust, starts with the turning on of a television- and as the beat drops, an animated man shoots his gun, while the camera follows the bullet into a third person view. The viewer is then able to see the lyrics come to life in a vividly cinematic experience.
Seminal lyricist Roc Marciano starts the song off verbalizing ‘there’s too many washed rappers the market is crashing’- while the animation exhibits crashing objects outside of a high rise building. The animation then zooms in on another high rise building and briefly shows Roc Marciano on a podcast with Talib Kweli. Then with each verse, the animation transforms into something different matching the rest of the verses from Roc Marciano.
Continuing the animations alongside verses, Westside Gunn starts off the next verse with one of his infamous adlibs which mimics a gun shooting multiple rounds. Two guns appear in the animation shooting bullets in the air identical to his adlibs. When Westside Gunn mentions dreams, an illusion of an empty field with birds flying in sky shows on the screen.
The third verse transcends so effortlessly as Talib Kweli starts to flow over the hypnotizing beat. The fluid animations perfectly illustrate how Kweli’s metaphors are intertwined into his rhymes. From showing birds, fish and New York City to a rare vicious animal over the city; The animation flowed flawlessly over his verse.
The video then ends with the same person who turns on the television at the beginning of the video now sleeping in front of the screen. Concluding that he he fell asleep while watching the music video. A vivid, cinematic new offering from Talib Kweli and Madlib featuring Roc Marciano and Westside Gunn, “Richies Part Two” captivates with its engaging animated visuals and enticing storyline.
New York artist Lord Sko has shared a new single called “James Worthy Goggles”. At only 19 years-old, the Washington Heights native has positioned himself as a true school hip-hop revivalist, proof that classic hip-hop is not lost in the new generation. With an ever-expanding catalogue that demonstrate his potent, refreshing take on classic NY sounds, Sko continues to build momentum within his city and beyond. Following up his recent singles “Finder’s Fee” and “Yellow Tape”, “James Worthy Goggles” emanates with a nonchalant charisma that captivates from the get-go.
Sko delivers silky flows atop smoky guitars, winding flutes, and warm bass that conjure a hazy, laid-back soundscape. He sounds comfortable in his lane and in the pocket- delivering detailed, observational verses atop the relaxed production. Dropping some quintessentially NY lines and shouting out Stack Bundles, he paints a vivid picture of his life in his city on “James Worthy Goggles”, drawing the listener into the track’s atmosphere in the process.
ROUNDHOUSE MUSIC 