Tag: Roundhouse Music

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Ishmael asks “Where to Now” on engaging track

California artist Ishmael has caught our attention for his track “Where to Now”, a soulful, introspective joint off his album The Way I See It. Ishmael is an artist from Porterville, California and he began crafting music at the young age of 14. After releasing a series of mixtapes and EP’s, he went on to found an independent label and perform at the likes of Private Wax Festival, The Getaway Fest, and more. Under his new label, Maelrose Records, Ishmael released his The Way I See It project, containing the standout track “Where to Now”.

Containing upbeat, refreshing production centred around reverby, warm soul samples layered atop organic sounding percussion. The beat contains an engaging swing and a fuzzy, throwback feel, recalling undertones of 9th Wonder’s early production. As an emcee, Ishmael sounds focused as he delivers introspective verses detailing overcoming obstacles and striving for more. It’s a relatable track that puts Ishmael’s pen game on center stage. Give “Where to Now” a listen below.

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Johnny VúDOE shares a new 3-pack, ‘2pieceAAbiscuit’

The Bronx’s Johnny VúDOE has come through with a fresh EP called 2pieceAAbiscuit. The 3-track project finds VúDOE flowing smoothly atop character-rich, dusty samples layered on psychedelic drum patterns. He shines as a lyricist, as he packs his verses with thoughtful and clever quips that beckon many re-winds from the listener to catch it all. 

Coated with an enveloping warmth, the EP feels immersive, drawing one in further with each minute. In particular, “introducing” makes for a highlight with its grooving, textural bass-lines and lo-fi, grimy horns. It’s true-to-life music with a healthy dose of surrealism in its sound, and there’s a lot to be liked when it comes to the personality entrenched in VùDOE’s brief but potent 3-song project.

Give 2pieceAAbiscuit a listen below.

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Nick Rose shares engaging new visual for “WANDERING”

Connecticut artist Nick Rose has come through with a fresh video for his single “WANDERING”. While the single originally caught our attention for its vibrancy and genre-bending songwriting, the video expands upon its strengths even further- with colourful, fast-paced shots that capture the track’s vital energy, plus engaging storytelling to go with it. Capturing the song’s liveliness and subtle feeling of urgency, the video depicts a chase scene of Nick and a love interest, equipped with chaotic, psychedelic effects that add to its dizzying pace and layered sound. 

Born Nicholas William Costantini, Nick Rose is a 22 year-old artist, songwriter, and producer from Connecticut, born in New Britain and raised in Plainville. Nick is the co-founder and creative director of his imprint DONT TRIP RECORDINGS LLC. Inspired by his personal tribulations and his love for popular culture, he has built an expansive discography of releases that flirt with hip-hop, alt-pop, dance, and more.

Check out Rose’s latest video for “WANDERING” below.

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Shane, the Shaman shares refreshing EP ‘Lifestyles Of The Young, Black, and Gifted’

Brooklyn artist Shane, the Shaman has shared a new EP called Lifestyles Of The Young, Black, and Gifted, produced by Tenten. The potent, focused 4-song project finds Shane delivering pensive, sharply-crafted lyrics atop smoky, sample-based production. The instrumentals from Tenten creates a hazy, mysterious atmosphere and a feeling of depth that pairs cohesively with Shane’s thought-provoking lyrical style. His laid-back yet confident cadence draws the listener’s attention quickly, and on songs like “Right Place” he especially shines with sleek wordplay, while Tenten delivers a strong beat containing raw grooves and dusty percussion. “Ebony and Ivory” makes for an elegant track that slows down the pace and finishes the project on a high note, with swirling keys and textural horns that suit Shane’s vocal tone as he delivers some of his most potent lyrics on the EP.

Take a listen to Lifestyles Of The Young, Black, and Gifted below and further familiarize yourself with Shane, the Shaman.

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YB shares hard-hitting song “PRAYING HANDS”

Arkansas artist YB has delivered a fresh single called “Praying Hands”. With a style that can be best described as optimistic in tone and content, but hard-hitting and trap-based sonically, YB is an artist that has been keeping fans eyes glued to him with a flurry of poignant, powerful releases, and his latest, “PRAYING HANDS”, is no exception. The booming, expansive single employs a heavy, trunk-knocking rhythm section and ethereal, ominous keys to create a cathartic yet uplifting soundscape. YB himself shines with a fast-paced, razor sharp flow and focused mic presence that captivates from the get-go. The song demonstrates his skill as an emcee and mic control that set him apart alongside quick-witted lyricism and sleek production.

Take a listen to “PRAYING HANDS” here and connect with YB on social media for more.

Connect with YB: Spotify | Instagram | Twitter

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3vd is a “Man on a Mission” with new visual

Cleveland artist 3vd returns to our platform with a fresh release, called “Man on a Mission”. The prolific artist recently dropped offerings called “Euphoria” and “Cutthroat”, which caught our attention initially for their versatility and sonic vibrancy. His latest, “Man on a Mission” continues the same diverse songwriting he has been displaying on his rapidly growing discography, accompanied by an engaging, energizing visual.

Warbling, futuristic synths and booming percussion create an adrenaline-fuelled backdrop for 3vd’s powerful yet self-contained flows. He sounds focused and poised on the mic as he rides the heavy 808s and poignant synths smoothly, captivating the listener’s attention from the get-go. The new visual, shot by @Zenen Saneshige, does well to enhance the track’s raw, off-the-wall feel with nocturnal visuals and sharp, fast-paced cuts that suit the track’s buoyancy.

The latest from 3vd, “Man on a Mission” represents another solid outing from the young Ohio artist and it has us excited for whatever else may be coming from him this year.

Stream on Spotify HERE.

Connect with 3vd: Spotify | Instagram | Twitter

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Jxylen explores healing and growth with ‘DIVINE ORDER: ACT I’

By Jacob Ezra

Massachusetts artist Jxylen has dropped off a new EP called DIVINE ORDER: ACT I, produced by E.N.G. Creation, fresh off the heels of his recent LP PROJECT MAYHEM: FIGHT CLUB EDITION. While his previous full-length project was often a dark, ominous analysis of the world around him, DIVINE ORDER: ACT I turns things further inward with its introspective content, simultaneously taking on a lighter, cathartic tone in its production and lyricism.

Weaving, soulful beats carry a certain airiness beneath Jxylen’s flows, as he sounds more assured and less burdened on DIVINE ORDER: ACT I, managing to let much off his chest and turn his focus towards new possibilities. Songs like “DON’T WAIT” encapsulate this, with Jxylen still enhancing his delivery with force, yet containing it and throwing in a sense of subtle optimism to balance things out. “THE GOD HOUR” sounds nearly triumphant, despite its aura of gritty realism, as stabs of refreshing vocal samples and elegant keys ring out under Jxylen’s confident verses.

DIVINE ORDER: ACT I takes on a different tone from Jxylen, while retaining his usual penchant for poetic, thoughtful lyricism and grimy instrumentation. It gives off a sense of release and letting go to make way for a brighter future, while keeping its style and sound gritty and raw like the Massachusetts rapper’s previous efforts. Give it a listen below and check out the new video for “DON’T WAIT” while you’re at it.

Connect with Jxylen: Spotify | Instagram | Twitter

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Valid and Stretch Money share “Game Film”, an ode to 80’s cinema

Detroit’s Valid and Stretch Money have shared a fresh song and video called “Game Film”. After release the well-received “Commentate” and their engaging 80s inspired single “Sentimental” ,Valid and Stretch Money are back with their ode to 80s cinematography, “Game Film”. Co-production shared by platinum credited Grammy-Award winning DJ Head of Shady Records, Grammy-Award winning Anthony Rizzo, and Detroit staple Eddie Logix. “Game Film” is an ethereal, lush track that pairs silky instrumentation with assured, charismatic flows from the two rappers that demonstrate their natural chemistry.

Warm, hypnotic harps blend with drifting strings to create a blissful atmosphere, as crisp, refreshing percussion moors the track beneath. Atop the silvery beat, Valid and Stretch Money deliver poignant verses full of references to films from the 80s, demonstrating a deep love and knowledge of retro cinematography. The video, directed by Jerry Reid, makes for a cohesive accompaniment with VHS-inspired shots that capture the song’s old school feel, complete with locker room and gym settings and an engaging performance from the two emcees.

During a phone conversation, Valid mentioned to Stretch that an idea came to him for them to do a record referencing classic 80s movie titles, scenes, and phrases. As he was saying it out loud, it came to him instantly that sports team’s study game film. “Stretch, I got it. To stay true to the concept of the album, we watch game film like sports teams do, but our game film is these classic gangsta’ ass 80s flicks.” Stretch saw the picture painted clearly, and the two went to work on top of the Eddie Logix score. The two MCs would end up penning what both would consider some of their proudest works, and a legit ode to the VHS era.

Take a listen to “Game Film” on all DSPs HERE.

Connect with Valid: Instagram | YouTube | Twitter | Facebook

Connect with Stretch Money: Instagram | Facebook

Photo by Paul Lee

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Dzh takes them to “Practice” on new single

Dzh has shared a brand new single called “Practice”. Here, he provides a refreshing take on his usual sound and breaks into new ground with glitchy, progressive production that neatly splits the line between boom-bap, trap, and experimental hip-hop. Atop wavering, booming bass, grimy drums, and psychedelic, dark samples, Dzh weaves together poignant lines at a rapid pace, demonstrating his focus and inimitable mic presence. His flow is commanding and fluid as he attacks the track with a resonant confidence, shining with a laser-like delivery that hits the target with each syllable. As the production creates a buoyant, powerful backdrop for him, he steals the show as a vocalist and proves that his technical abilities are up there with the best in the underground with “Practice”. 

New Jersey artist Dzh is a dual threat on the mic and the boards, developing his own sound and style through years of hard work and experimentation. Building a burgeoning, dedicated fanbase through engaging projects like his 2019 debut Under This Hoodie and 2020’s The Durag Tape and La Vita Nuova with Oklahoma’s Levi Hinson, Dzh has consistently displayed passionate, focused songwriting across his discography. His latest offering “Practice” is a real scorcher with a progressive edge to it, making us excited for what may be coming from him this year.

Check out “Practice” here:

Follow Dzh for more: Spotify | Instagram | Twitter

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Mike Wilder and Jake Bass make a statement for Detroit with ‘D.E.A.P.’

When it comes to hip-hop, Motor City is a locale synonymous with the genre. Over the years, the city has spawned many sub-genres, sounds, and styles that have resonated with many and laid their imprint upon the rap game as a whole. On Mike Wilder and Jake Bass’ new album D.E.A.P. (an acronym for Detroit Emcees and Producers), they tie all of these sounds together in a cohesive manner alongside a gifted set of collaborators. A poignant, infectious set of 10 songs that is diverse as it gets, D.E.A.P. brings in elements of boom-bap, lyrical hip-hop, trap, and more, to further exemplify why Detroit remains as one of the top cities in rap year after year. It’s a potent statement backed by powerful sonics and sharply-crafted lyricism, and D.E.A.P. makes for a strong offering overall that combines the sharp skills of multiple talents, including the likes of Pariis Noel, Marvwon, and more. 

Some highlight tracks here include the atmospheric “Pray For Me”, which includes a dazzling set of lyrically-focused verses delivered smoothly, and the heavy, trap banger “Roll Witta Clique”, a track densely packed with charisma and style.

D.E.A.P. is the latest poignant offering from Mike Wilder and Jake Bass. Wilder, who executive produced this album alongside Jake Bass originally got his start in the industry by co-producing Eminem’s debut album Infinite in 1996. He also co-founded the prolific music company NUKID, LLC alongside Marky Bass. Be sure to check out D.E.A.P. below and further familiarize yourself with some of Detroit’s most talented rappers and producers.