Evil Twin, the duo consisting of sharp-witted lyricists Ricky Mapes, who hails from New York, and Fatboyshaun out of Texas, have returned with a fresh installation of their self titled EVIL TWIN series. Their latest offering picks up where they left off on the original EVIL TWIN project, but adds extra layers of complexity both lyrically and sonically that give it much character. Both Mapes and Fatboyshaun have a knack for versatility, able to flip heartfelt, personal rhymes and raw, piercing bars at the drop of a hat. This skill is shown throughout EVIL TWIN RELOADED, and it helps to engage the listener, having them on their toes across 7 tracks never quite knowing what to expect. Laced with soulful production from the likes of Micro, A U R, and more that ranges from ominous and bleak to rich and vivid, EVIL TWIN RELOADED finds the two emcees trading razor-sharp verses packed with dense imagery. Give EVIL TWIN RELOADED a listen below.
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.
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.
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.
Wiseboy Jeremy and Kirti Pandey have dropped off a new video for their song “Do I Not”, featuring Phoenix James. Jeremy, hailing from New Jersey, expresses life through his lens of the world with hip-hop as his chosen medium. The 21-year old artist relays his introspection over jazz-tinged, contemplative production with a little bit of classic East Coast grit. His latest release finds him connecting with prolific producer Kirti Pandey and soulful singer Phoenix James for a potent, emotive new offering.
Warm, layered production creates a laid-back and assured backdrop for Jeremy and James, who each bring refreshing elements to the track while showing much natural chemistry. Jeremy begins with heartfelt, introspective verses that touch the soul and relate to the listener, while James follows up with a silky hook that adds extra dynamics to the song. The visual, directed by redbrags and Wiseboy Jeremy, features intimate cuts and low-key, hazy coloration that give it a lived-in feel, enhanced by the song’s rich, jazzy soundscape and relaxed vocals.
Hidden Renaissance are certainly a group you should be paying attention to in today’s underground hip-hop landscape. Glued together by a love for hip-hop and community, the expansive collective helmed by duo T H R O N E have just released their largest collaborative effort ever in their new record BA SING SE. Rarely has such a wide number of artists contributed to a project, with over 200 artists competing to appear on the LP, and the final product manages to remain cohesive throughout. Soulful, lyrically-focused tracks tie the threads together on BA SING SE, with an undercurrent of love and creative cooperation giving the record a uniquely vital atmosphere.
The textural, warm sampling patchwork of songs like “1996 (In the Heart, In the Mind)” and “There’s a way!” are simply beautiful, and when paired with evocative lyricism they become touching. The group keeps it raw as well, with songs like “It gets dangerous” varying the flavors with its gritty soundscape and potent, urgent verses. The cascading, glowing samples of “Heaven’s Resources II” add a touch of surrealism, combining neatly with the track’s detail-rich lyricism. The organic, lo-fi sheen of the project gives it an immersive, layered feeling and makes it easier to sink in to some of these tracks, particularly on the smoky “Jazz Cigarettes” and “And I’m Still Here”.
With its community-first approach to creation, Hidden Renaissance transcends the bounds of a record label or company. It is, instead, a revolutionary community that makes and releases music together as a shared creative experience. Their latest offering BA SING SE marks their largest collaboration ever, with over 200 artists competing to appear on it, crafting more than 300 songs in a 2 month period in the process. The final result is a curated, multi-genre ode and homage to the raw skill and diversity of the underground. Take a listen to their latest project BA SING SE here now, a sonic odyssey of soulful sounds built around a love for community and hip-hop.
ROUNDHOUSE MUSIC 