Coming straight to you from Hotlanta is Maverick with his EP “Prosperous Psyche." We kick things off with “Only Tonight.” This joint has a hip hop backbone, but the skin of a R&B track. It’s smooth but has those rhymes laid out clean. We get that same smoothness with what sounds like a little Asian influence in the music. It’s a great east meets west fusion. Reality sets in with “Pain and Pleasure.” Those who like to keep it real will gravitate towards this one, for sure. Last up on this EP is “On The Move.” Here Maverick stays positive and offers some advice while keeping it cool. If you like hip hop that has been baked in the oven with an R&B glaze, make sure that Maverick’s “Prosperous Psyche” is put in your iTunes cue. (https://soundcloud.com/maverickworld)
Mic. Carr’s “Cut The Jazz” makes you think you’re in for one thing and then another pops off. “Give to Get” starts out smooth and then you’re welcomed by a very calm storm of hip hop that has a sense of refinement. With “Second to None” you’re introduced to more singing than rhyming right off the bat. Then vocals like Common come through and you’re taken under a musical spell with a sample of what sounds like “I Wanna Sex You Up.” A little R&B flare settles in nice with “Nothin’ Better” as Ronny Soprano does his thing with Mic. Carr on both “Somethin’” and “The Move.” Wrapping up this record is what appears to be the best, judging by the title, “MVP.” What’s great and what listeners should know about Mic. Carr is that his style comes across as a poet and not as some run of mill rapper like Lil’ Wayne. Mic. does his thing with a sense of class and it’s all on “Cut The Jazz,” out now. So check it if you’re into that neo-soul hip hop scene. (https://micmusic9.bandcamp.com/album/cut-the-jazz)
Black Out’s “Throughell4wealth” is a healthy dose of rap, rap and more rap. “Sanctuary” starts out in an eerie way with a childlike intro but as soon as Black Out comes in, all that is pushed aside and his audacity takes over. It takes a second for “You Playing” to get underway but it’s worth the wait. It doesn’t go hard, but it has this very easygoing pace that has a chilled feel to it but it keeps the swag high. Smacks hops on for a double dose of hits on “All This Hell” and “Never Stop.” Things take an aggressive turn with “My Future” but it’s welcomed. It showcases that this is an artist who doesn’t mess around and won’t be pushed around. We close out with a great start on “The End.” That feminine touch at the start is way better than where this mixtape started with that horror movie like children chorus. “The End” is the perfect well, end to the record. If you like artists like Kendrick Lamar, check out Black Out’s “Throughell4wealth,” out now. (https://www.datpiff.com/-blackout-Throughell4wealth-mixtape.659132.html)
Heatho the Pharaoh’s “#YGSU” is a throwback to some classic hip hop. We waste no time and jump right into things at the start of the record with “O.S.N.S.” It has this low key attitude to the delivery but one cannot deny that it’s fly as heck. For a song called “Dat Loud,” it’s not as wild as one would initially assume. It’s rapid at times, but not this overtly hype track that would turn it out. We step back into the late ‘90s with “Candy Alligators.” It sounds like something from those days of Cash Money. As the record plays on, “Get It, Got It, Good” is where that wild track comes in and makes you stand up and take notice of what Heatho the Pharaoh can really do as an artist to get the party started with a reality based jam. Closing out the album is one with a futuristic feel, “Gorilla Ballz.” The beat has a spacey vibe and it’s a good way to cap things off. If you like early Cash Money, check out Heatho the Pharaoh’s “#YGSU,” out now. (https://heathothepharaoh.bandcamp.com/album/ygsu)
7 Solo has an abundance of things going on when it comes to “The Grand Incredible Mixtape.” “Relocator” opens us up to an emcee who has a light beat but a fierce bite. As we head onto “We Gone Make It Jump,” the intro sounds a bit like Jay Z welcoming us in, then things stray away from that and it turns into something that sounds like a song LL Cool J may have released around the same time he did that track for “Deep Blue Sea.” We pick things up and head to the dance floor with “Write One” and then strap up for “Boot Camp.” What’s great about that one is that it sounds like something you’d hear at an actual boot camp, one that Major Payne ran. When it came to “Wild With Cheese,” it was hard to say you knew exactly what to expect. It was a little street, but a little funky - in a good way. If you were to ask the direction this mixtape had, you’d be spinning in circles. It’s all over the place but in a way that makes you want to try and navigate it. If you like rappers who never cease to come up with something interesting, check out 7 Solo’s “The Grand Incredible Mixtape.” (https://www.datpiff.com/7-SOLO-The-Grand-Incredible-Mixtape.600441.html)
Travis M.’s “The MisUnderstood” is a blast from the past with a note in the present. After we get through the introduction we head into “Process.” It is a really laid back track. I thought from the intro that this one was going to be a ratchet record, instead this song came on and was well composed and straight laced. With the title track we get a fresh beat that has an old school, ’80s feel. With “BEAST” I thought we’d step up the energy a bit, and I was kind of right. The rhymes come a bit faster than we’ve gotten so far and it was a nice shake up. Travis M.’s pal Gina Smith hops on to help out on the anthem-like gem “Faith” while Serene gets in on the fun with “Gennesis.” As the record rolls on you can hear his influences that sound a bit New York in “Dream Land Gone Wrong.” He ends things with “Monsta with Xan.” This one really picks it up and comes across like a different artist. Travis M. gives us an old school feel in 2015 and it’s a reminder that some young emcees are still picking things up from the past and making them new again. If you like chill hip hop that can get hype when it’s necessary, check out Travis M. (https://soundcloud.com/TravisMjustM)
Get familiar with J.O.E.Y’s “Biggest Fan: Biggest Critic” record. We start things out slow with “G.M.T (All A Nigga Need).” In case you’re not in the know with the acronym, the song spells it out clearly; girl, money and team. When you’re young that seems to be all you need. That’s where this music is targeted at - those who are young and still learning the ways of the world. Stylistically “Dreams Money Can Buy” is great. The odd background noise in the music you hear slightly at the start and throughout pulls the curiosity out of you. Then we get to this chilled love track, “I Wanna Be You.” Vocally you’ll know it’s J.O.E.Y but musically it sounds like a different artist than the previous tracks. This only goes to show how eclectic this artist can be. His growth is throughout a record instead of a career. You have youthful hip hop intertwined with relaxed beats and then samples of pop tracks tossed in with “Deep” that samples the Adele hit. We pick things up as we roll on with “Rollin’” that steps it up energywise. The best though seems to be “Dreams.” The hook is stellar and comes through like perfection. If you’re into being in the know about artists about to pop off, check out J.O.E.Y and his record “Biggest Fan: Biggest Critic” ASAP. (https://www.audiomack.com/album/joey-2/biggest-fan-biggest-critic)
Carmen Skyy is a female emcee that has an huge amount of talent encased in her mixtape “Backstage.” The “Intro” sounds like something you’d hear in a movie. It’s less musical and more Lifetime biopic. Then the actual music settles in with the title track featuring Rheka. It doesn’t sound like a overly pop track, it has substance to it. Giel hops on to help with “Glitter” and unlike that Mariah Carey movie, this “Glitter” is something to put on repeat. Things do get a little pop, but more on the dance side of things with “I’m Ready.” I thought it was reminiscent of what Black Eyed Peas would spit out with Fergie delivering the rhymes. We get a hip hop fueled love song with “I’m a Believer” and then simplify things with “Be.” All in all “Backstage” wasn’t what you’d expect. When it’s easy for female emcees to fall into the same boat and be pushed out to sea, Carmen really does a good job defining her sound and style. If you’re into musical individuals, check out Carmen Skyy. (https://carmenskyy.com/#page2)
David Dennis’s “Allure” isn’t your typical hip hop venture. The “Intro” of the record plays like a preview for what’s to come and sounds like a quick clip you’d see on YouTube for for an album. It’s less of an intro and more of a preview. From that I wasn’t expecting what came from “Enticement.” I thought this would be a party rock record but instead this song was well composed and showcased a musical maturity. That same mentality flows right into “Elevated.” The lyrics are more sensual than realistic than the last though. That chill factor keeps on going as we glide into “Disbelief.” The best of “Allure” comes with “Isolation.” Which is kind of ironic when you think about it. If you’re into hip hop that doesn’t go overboard in the least, check out David Dennis’s “Allure,” out now and be prepared to sit, listen and be cool, calm and collected. (https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/david-dennis-allure-mixtape.107400.html)
MURDA 1’s “Lost Soul” is a record overflowing with hits and jams. We kick off this record with the intro and it’s framed with intimidation but then a freestyle comes through and it plays out wonderfully as it goes into something a bit more constructed with a beat. It’s not exactly the John Travolta classic but this “Face-Off” is well, better than that weird movie. Anyways the delivery here is what’s key. I like the pace at which MURDA 1 brings the words to the forefront. There are a lot of great guests on this record from Skoob & Redd on “No Other Way” to just Redd on “My Gang.” That one really gets to the point with repetition. Parents will like “Ask No Questions,” well parents into hip hop because they can relate to the title. You know you’re in for a treat with “Real Niggas Only” based upon the intro alone. It has this epic build up and doesn’t let down once it starts. If you’re a fan of artists like A$AP Rocky and Wiz Khalifa then you’re going to love MURDA 1. So check out “Lost Soul,” out now. (https://www.datpiff.com/MURDA-1-Lost-Soul-mixtape.644309.html)
Out in the windy city sits Kraine’s “Kraineland” and it’s ready to blow you away. We waste no time with this record and start off right with “Savage” right out the gate. It comes hard and sets the bar high for the rest of the record. The spirits are kept high with “Walkin with Da Money.” The Paperboy TPB hops on “She Lick We Lick” to give us a naughty ditty. While C-Rock helps out with “Stunting On These Hoes” and they bring the energy and keep it up nice and good. Kraine steps out on his own with “Touchdown” and it goes for the goal in the end. When you sum up this record “Kraineland” has a lot of good tracks but the stronger ones are when Kraine has his friends by his side. If you’re a fan of Chicago style hip hop, check out Kraine now. (https://soundcloud.com/krainemane)
Rabanales’ “Real Hip Hop” comes at you from Tennessee. The record kicks off with “Alpha Omega.” The most interesting part of this song is that old school record player feel it has. The background music makes it sound like it’s an album spinning on a record player from the prohibition era. “I Need You” also has this classic feel to it. Rabanales really knows how to pay homage to what came before him. The rhymes are great, but what is really great about this EP is that old school vibe. That stops though once we wrap up “Real Hip Hop” with “Collective Thoughts.” It’s like this journey through time and then he ends with the modern era with just a handful of songs. If you’re looking for a fresh new face in rap check out Rabanales’ “Real Hip Hop,” out now. (https://soundcloud.com/rabanales)
