Big T AKA Gemini came from the streets and knows what it’s like to struggle for what you have in life, and he portrays that in every ounce of the music he puts out. “Wartime” is all about that mentality and you can hear that explosive drive in his delivery to make it and overcome. It sounds like a violent attack on the world. In “Fucked Up” he calms it down a bit and gives a bit of a softer side but at the same time he doesn’t drop the fact about where he came from and how hard he’s had it. The same can be said about “10 Gold Rings” while “Sawed Off Pump” comes through like a mix between the two sides we’ve come to know from Big T AKA Gemini. It’s the most “pop” his sound gets as he’s a street emcee through and through. If you’re a fan of rappers who have a real struggle to their past and portray that through song, check out Big T AKA Gemini. (https://soundcloud.com/big_t_aka_gemini)
J.R LaFlame is repping the Seattle scene with his laid back take on the rap game. “Pilot” introduces us to his sound like a pilot of a TV show would to its main characters. With this, he’s like a hip hop version of the rock band, The Gorillaz. Listen closely to the vocals for that one. That chilled factor of his music continues with “Second Quarter.” He is coming hard, but like a gator - waiting for the right second to attack. With “Memories” he sounds more like he’s spitting out spoken word than a rhyme while he’s serving up some dreamscape like music with “ReFLEXtions.” It starts off very hazy but then comes through fast and quick. If you’re a fan of hip hop that sounds like the hottest underground, check out J.R LaFlame out of Seattle. (https://soundcloud.com/jrlaflame)
Miles Paradise’s latest single “Depression” featuring Loud starts out with an almost Tupac like beat but then it goes into something little more Common, neo-soul feeling. The content of the lyrics is not something we hear often in hip hop, it’s taking on the reality of a mentality that many suffer from but also noting the environmental factors of it all. The hook about having problems and no one helping you solve them is something we could all take note of. If you like hip hop with a message, check out Miles Paradise’s “Depression,” out now. (https://soundcloud.com/miles-paradise/miles-paradise-ft-loud-depression-prod-by-kevin-mabz)
We start off our time with KenG Ricks and his track “Tonite.” This sounds like a song you’d hear hanging with a young crowd. Not One Direction young, but a group of people who also like to let lose with Big Sean and Rihanna. The same goes for “Many Hearts.” While the last song was pure hip hop, this one is more like something you’d hear from Chris Brown when he showcased the pipes. Lastly, “Summertime Fun” really is a welcoming song in the dead of winter. It has this well, fun, feel that really makes you want to head back to the hotter months. If you’re a fan of mainstream music that you’d once find on BET’s “106 & Park,” check out KenG Ricks today. (https://soundcloud.com/user-651557531)
BooMoney is an emcee working hard to make the presence known. “Blow” has a good, laid back beat that could get things started. His boy Y.G. MoneyBagz hops on to help out with “GangShyt.” Together they’ve created a song that relies a little too much on the T-Pain like elements at time. It’d be nice to hear this one without the effects. In “Hard and Strong” BooMoney delivers something you could hear on a Lil Wayne mixtape. It has a really big sound in terms of the beat and music is concerned. Last up, “16 Barz” is slow to start and is the pure definition of chill. It never hits that huge mark but it’s got a good foundation. When it comes to BooMoney, he’s got what it takes and could make it if he keeps at it. (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_W987iPYoQnQjBCfTnit5Q)
BANDCAMP: https://campdark.bandcamp.com/releases Minneapolis based band Campdark has a splash of several different genres with a masterful conglomeration of unique sounds and dynamic instrumentation. This gives them a sound that has a modest kinship reminding you of monks chanting in a temple but also adds an edge that incorporates an eerie sound that’s quite frankly hypnotic. The electronics added in are very well placed that pop out at you as an unexpected surprise that at first feels as though it doesn’t belong but as you continue to listen, you realize that it is a brilliant ratio of creepy and whimsical.
Lobos is part of the ElNEl crew and what he brings is a case of grit to the table. “303” sounds like a pitbull took the mic. There’s a strong sense of aggression in a calm setting. You never know if he’s going to bite, but his bark is quite intimidating. With “God,” that same sentiment is heard throughout. Only this one has more life to it. The beat allows more movement of the body while listening. ElNEl has a lot of great emcees under their umbrella but what Lobos brings is the muscle in the music. Check him and the rest of the ElNEl crew now. (https://soundcloud.com/elnelproductions)
Iigo Killin Em really knows how to make a song that makes you get all lost in the music. At least that’s how we started out with “DaMonster” featuring Eeks Stevedrive. It doesn’t overdo things, and has an attitude to it that really makes it this swagger filled gem. With Kingtoot by his side, Iigo Killin Em goes into “Pressure” with his head held high and kills it. It’s also a great song that people can really dig their teeth into on a personal level. We ease up with “Have Some Fun.” It isn’t too different from where we began, but there is a lighter sense to the track. Going out with a bang, “Likes” is simple in title, but it brings it throughout. It’s laid back approach is stellar. You don’t have to get all cray to have a good time. If you’re a fan of hip hop that doesn’t pull tricks, check out Iigo Killin Em. He has more where all this came from. (https://soundcloud.com/mike-iigo-killin-em)
Toni knows how to balance the best of what he has. “B.I.G.G.I.E” is a funky song that has a sense of R&B to it, but it really sounds like when neo-soul was coming up through the rap spectrum. It has some aggression to the delivery but the music kept things going cool. Then there was “Successful.” This one was more hip hop based, like a freestyle of sorts. There’s more of story with this one. In “Legacy” it’s not as concise as the other two. This one could use some tinkering. What he did with the first song was what he did best. I really liked how he married a few elements rather than just sticking with run of the mill hip hop. That’s the path I hope he continues to follow in his career. If you want to check out a budding emcee, check out Toni today. (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbg_kEJmt2F7arOmoDgcOwg/videos)
The Radio Hour
https://theradiohour.com/
“The Radio Hour,” is essentially Chicago artist Tim Hort. He has been performing live either to Chair and event he has organized as a fundraiser for local and international benefit, or he performs at venues with proceeds to a designated charity or community service, which is announced at eash show. Hort’s extremely personal material brings its own brand to the term “loneliness” while using pop hooks to keep your attention riveted on the melancolic lyrics. The line-up includes not only Tim Hort on vocals and guitar, but additional performances by guitarists Joe Griffin and Jordan Maracus, with Natan Britsch on bass, Sean Burke on drums, also Andy Swindler and Yeater on B3.
Souleye - Shapeshifting URL: https://www.souleye.net/ Souleye’s fourth full-length album, Shapeshifting, represents a quantum leap forward for this respected artist and performer. In the ten years having passed since his 2005 debut, Souleye has garnered considerable praise for his lyrical and rapping skills, but despite the uniform quality defining his career, each new release felt semi-shrouded with the whiff of even greater potential. Souleye has stood among the vanguard of the genre for a number of years, but his latest studio album Shapeshifting creates some daylight between him and his nearest contemporaries. Never before has Souleye written, recorded, and released such a well-constructed effort with every nuance seemingly attended to and deliberated over before documenting it for the album. Make no mistake, however, this is far from a sterile, over studied affair. There isn’t a single song on the album that sounds composed. Instead, the eleven tracks sound as if they emerged, full born, from Souleye, a moment of ephemeral inspiration luckily preserved for posterity.
2 Real is a little Drake a little street. When hip hop meets that smooth R&B, it’s great. That’s exactly what I heard when I pressed play on Me & You." With a touch of romance, this one flowed on point from start to finish. We stick with the romantics as we head into “Kissing On Your Body.” Here that streetwise feel is gone and we’re left with strictly vocals and good ones at that. They sound even stronger here. With that, we head back to the hip hop thanks to “Gone Twerk.” It’s even a bit ratchet at times; very aggressive at the start. Flipping back and forth between the two genres and sometimes blending them seamlessly is what artistry is all about. If you like that blend, check out 2 Real today! (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC46K8KykNtIqUnKRxnQ8KqA/videos)
