Tag: written by jacob ezra

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Iman Nunez provides a potent energy with “I GOT TIME” (prod. LevyGrey, LIFEOFTHOM, & James Burns)

By Jacob Ezra

New York artist Iman Nunez has shared a new song called “I GOT TIME”. With a powerful energy and raw urgency, “I GOT TIME” is a track that grips the listener from the get-go. With hard-hitting production from LevyGrey, LIFEOFTHOM, and James Burns centred around intense key riffs and a trunk-knocking rhythm section- paired with Nunez’s commanding, deft flows- “I GOT TIME” is truly a scorching cut. Nunez especially stands out for his ability to deliver dynamic, flexible flows that engage by refusing to sit in one pocket. “I GOT TIME” is simply an exciting track to listen to, with an addictive quality and strong focus from the emcee.

Born in Washington Heights but raised in Yonkers, Nunez was introduced to hip-hop at a very young age with his uncles constantly playing Jay-Z and The Notorious B.I.G. around him. He continued to grow his passion for rapping as he got older, dropping the well-received project Everything is Everything and partnering with EQ Distro, Roc Nation‘s indie distribution platform. His latest offering “I GOT TIME” is truly a tour-de-force of hard-hitting sounds and infectious rhymes. Give the track, produced by LevyGrey, LIFEOFTHOM, and James Burns, a listen below now.

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Nkosi Bourne is “Saving Grace” on fresh single

Brooklyn artist Nkosi Bourne has dropped off a fresh song, titled “Saving Grace”. The New York emcee has become known for his penchant for personal, storytelling lyricism, laid smoothly atop soulful sound palettes. His latest song, “Saving Grace”, continues this trend with its refreshing, emotive sampling instrumentation and potent verses. Bourne delivers laid-back yet vital verses atop winding, warm soul loops and punchy percussion on “Saving Grace”. Give Bourne’s latest a listen here.

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Paris Jane impresses with “Move On It”

By Jacob Ezra

Paris Jane has caught our attention for her single, “Move On It”. A talented singer-songwriter affiliated with the eclectic The Cookie Store creative collective, Jane has been building momentum first with the release of her solo project Make Believe, alongside her work with The Cookie Store. With some strong performances on The Cookie Store’s solid the company party album, we were on the lookout for new material from Jane, and came across her recent song “Move On It”. “Move On It” impresses off the bat with its vibrant, airy production that merges rising synth lines with a bouncy, energizing house-influenced drum line. Atop the shimmering instrumentation, Jane enters with smooth, focused vocals that enhance the track’s character and vivid feel, while demonstrating an elegant delivery and range. Give “Move On It” a listen here now.

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mynameisntjmack and Sol ChYld share refreshing single “proper vertigo” (prod. Wulf Morpheus)

Virginia standout mynameisntjmack has shared a new song called “proper vertigo”, featuring Camden, NJ artist Sol ChYld, and produced by Wulf Morpheus. With an engaging, infectiously breezy sound that crafts a relaxed, wistful backdrop for mynameisntjmack and Sol ChYld, “proper vertigo” seems to be an apt song for the coming fresh spring weather. Graceful keys and a resonant rhythm section give the song a balance of liveliness and relaxation, while mynameisntjmack and Sol ChYld come through with nimble, vivid verses while playing off each other’s energy. Give “proper vertigo” a listen here now.

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Jay Cinema and Chow practice ‘Alchemy’ on new album

By Jacob Ezra

Jay Cinema and Chow have connected for a fresh project called Alchemy. Cinema is a visionary abstract hip-hop artist from Yonkers, New York, known for his boundary-pushing sound and thought-provoking lyrics- while producer Chow is a prolific beat-maker whose captivating, refreshing twist on underground hip-hop sounds merges particularly well with Cinema’s expressive style. On Alchemy, the two find a natural, engaging chemistry as they piece together a tapestry of raw, sampling soundscapes that drift from eery and claustrophobic to vibrantly psychedelic. Chow’s heavy, gritty drum lines, glitchy patchwork of samples, and potent bass-lines provide an intriguing soundscape for Cinema, as he lays down bar after bar of vividly poetic, often grippingly introspective lines. The project provides an interesting mixture of dark sounds with colorful textures, which gives it added character. Songs like “All On Me” are powerfully cathartic despite their laid-back demeanour, while joints like “Chemdawg” are kaleidoscopic and layered, bringing together that dark griminess with a certain almost intangible vibrance. Many projects get described as “sonic journeys”, but Alchemy is one that is certainly worthy of the title, with its vast range of emotions and sounds laced within Jay Cinema and Chow’s heartfelt performances. Give Alchemy a listen below now.

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Ryshon Jones finds a “Sense of Certainty” on new single

Philadelphia artist Ryshon Jones has shared a new song, called “Sense of Certainty”. Beyond just a unique delivery style, Jones has carved a lane for his ability to connect with listeners- as he is an artist unafraid to drop his guard and speak from the heart. His latest offering, “Sense of Certainty”, follows up potent releases like “Life Feeds the Work”, and “Weight My Senses”. On “Sense of Certainty”, the emcee displays his penchant for personal lyricism and vivid instrumentation with a refreshing song that cuts deep with its hypnotic blend of warm keys, infectious percussion, and focused flows. Give “Sense of Certainty” a listen below now.

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Nickelus F shares engaging visual for “PIMENTO”

By Jacob Ezra

Influential Virginia artist Nickelus F has dropped off a fresh video for his song “PIMENTO”. A strong addition to his ever-expanding discography, which always finds Nickelus F versatile and dynamic, “PIMENTO” condenses all of what we love about Nickelus F- witty, charismatic rhymes, soulful, eclectic production, and vivid lyricism. Atop textural, atmospheric vocal samples that drift alongside a buoyant rhythm section, Nickelus F glides with sleek flows that feel effortless and yet assured. The new video, shot by @Teonproductions and @theMSQ, captures the song’s focused, elegant sound with warm, stylish, fast-paced shots and an engaging performance from Nickelus F. Give it a watch below now.

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Evil Twin continue to build with ‘EVIL TWIN RELOADED’

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.

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Josiah Hotwire and Illinformed’s ‘BODYBAG SEASON LP’ (ft. Wish Master) is a blazing cross-continental collab

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.

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New York’s Dustrial Dre drops refreshing release “Mind’s Good” (prod. Arlo Walker) [Video]

By Jacob Ezra

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.