Deezy Fresh is an emcee who does things his way or no way at all. “On Shight” has a great beat but when it comes to the delivery, it could be a bit stronger. It’s a bit all over the place. With “Boo Thang” things are slowed down at the start and it’s far from a love song between people. It’s for those who aren’t ready to be tied down by love, but are all about that baller life. When it comes to “Bob Marley,” it would’ve been expected to hear a reggae beat, so it was surprising when that’s not what came out when “play” was pressed. At this point in the listening experience with Deezy Fresh, “Real Nigga” is one of the best. It’s slow paced but it seems to be the best representation of what he’s all about as an artist. With that said, “Packman” is pretty great too. It’s like a chilled version of Childish Gambino. If you’re a fan of hip hop that plays by its own rules, check out Deezy Fresh today. (https://soundcloud.com/abcfresh)
Marc is all about the money and representing his home base in his slick hip hop tricks. When it comes to money, who wouldn’t want more? Well “Currency Affair” is all about that idea. While it’s a great song - it won’t magically make money appear if your pockets, but it will leave you musically satisfied because it’s got a sick hook and keeps your mind ironically off the dough. With “She Say” we get another great beat, one that really sounds video game-like. It is very light and has a tone that makes you want to move like you’re on the beaches of Miami. Which makes perfect sense because that’s where Marc calls home. Whether you’re in the market for musical money or want to hit the dance floor, this Florida artist is where it’s at. So check out Marc today. (https://soundcloud.com/305_marc)
We’re not sure where Illstreet is in the US, but that’s where Enoch Maddox likes to say he hails from. So sit back and relax, but not too much because this young emcee knows how to take the wheel and go for it. “Life is Like a Freestyle” has a really cool beat to it. It’s not overdone to the point that you’d grow bored of it. It’s very cut and dry, to the point. But that’s what makes it great, that raw appeal of it. With “Urban Cowboy Stories” you get more of a story that captures you and holds tight. The music does nothing more than help that tale glide from his lips to your ears. He gets a little more assertive with “The Imagination of the Invisible Man.” Then he lightens up as we head into “R.I.P. 2014.” Here we don’t get low key or assertive, but a song that could be on the radio yesterday. It’s great in terms of lyrical content and beat. If you’re a fan of artists like Kendrick Lamar, check out Enoch Maddox today. (https://soundcloud.com/celestial87)
Who knew Minnesota had a hip hop scene? Not many, but KidDr1ft is doing what he can to change that. “All In My Head” isn’t what I expected. I thought, this looks like a young kid who’ll act a bit immature in his rhymes. Proven wrong, what came out of this track was a well composed man - not a boy at all. With “Hard to Tell” it got a little too repetitive and wasn’t the best of the bunch. The beat was good but the lyrics fell by the wayside. We come back though with “One Wish.” It’s not the most hype song and not one you’d put on to get a party going - but it has a composure that makes you want to just chill to it with your boys. KidDr1ft also hops on some tracks with his boy Ladell Parks. “Goodbye” takes you for a serious ride with a story at hand while “I Changed” has more of a dramatic feel. If you like hip hop that keeps it mature and classy, check out KidDr1ft now. (https://www.reverbnation.com/kiddr1ft)
The Don knows his way around the rhymes. “Why We Trap” starts and comes off as a surprise. The face doesn’t match what we hear. I was expecting a youthful sound, instead came a man. After knowing we were not dealing with some young buck, at least vocally, it was easier to concentrate and that’s great because “3 Heat.” It sounds a little like what you’d hear from Gorillaz. Which was another unexpected thing, but only at certain parts. Moving on to “Music Made Me,” this is the song that almost every rapper has to do - that one about where they came from or how they came to be. It’s a hip hop necessity. As far as beats go and delivery, “Cradle to Grave” was one of the best. It had a beat that made you want to learn and sing along as soon as possible. Not so much in a pop way, but in a challenge yourself way - like when you want to learn an Outkast song, only The Don doesn’t come at you with those fast as heck Andre 3000 rhymes. Final one up is “World of Change.” Here you have a strong finish. This and “Cradle to Grave” are the money shots of The Don’s game. If you are ready, check him out fast. (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtDEsjo78KGC5jqkLuADtOQ/videos)
Hip hop isn’t all about the fast paced lifestyle and Saj Jones is here to prove just that. “Live It Up” starts off with a futuristic tone and overall could be likened to what Drake’s putting out - that smooth rap. That continues as we head down that path with “The Road.” It’s very low key and doesn’t overdo it with the delivery or the beat. It’s all laid out very calmly. Kid Da Great pops up to help out with “Think of You.” With this one we don’t overdo it but Kid does bring more of a Lil Wayne vibe to the table. It’s clear that nothing is ever going to pop off with this guy, but stay a chilled listening session, even when out and about with “Tour Life.” I spoke too soon…”Some how’ somehow managed to surprise me. It was what Saj and listeners needed. It was hyper than the rest and showed a much needed side of this emcee. While the ride with this Zion based rapper is relaxed for the most part - he proves he can play ball fast every once in awhile if you stay tuned. Check Saj Jones, one of the best from the midwest, now. (https://www.reverbnation.com/SAJJONES)
If you want a show that’s packed full of energy, check out Gordy Walbangar. He puts on a show that could be likened to both LMFAO in that it’s all about having a good time, but also hip hoppers like Tyga who bust out those serious rhymes. His stage presence represents someone who already thinks he’s a star so the confidence is there and it very well should be. He’s a professional with the mic and knows his way around it. In just a short amount of time he’s able to make you want more and want it now. If you like hip hop that’s genuine and fun, check out Gordy Walbangar today. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sUmcUeYxOs)
A lot of artists intertwine hip hop and pop - Chris Brown is one and Nick Wise is another. We kick things off with a remix of “All She Wrote.” It starts off like a pop song and them the rhymes are laid down and it transforms the song as a whole. “Believe In Me” starts like last and grabs you with a great vocal and then the rhymes come in once again. This time they carry a sense of positivity in their spirit. Lastly, “For the First Time” begins unlike the previous ones. This time things begin with a monologue but is like the last in that it speaks volumes about this guys character as an artist. Nick Wise creates an uplifting atmosphere with his music that’s a grand mix of mature pop and hip hop. Check him out today and take him all in. (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdNy0ZBsH9IUxqzKf7Ps7UA/videos)
One thing people don’t know about radio is that you have to capture listeners within 2-3 seconds or they’ll change the station. That’s what makes Louie Bang a strong contender for airwave domination. What’s great about introducing yourself to the music world with a song like “Partition” is that you guarantee yourself a spot in the back of their head. It’s not catchy in the way a pop song is, but the beat allows you to at least hum along. “My Lady” though has a more old school, ‘90s hip hop feel like something you’d head on the west coast then. By now I can tell the best thing about Louie Bang is that he doesn’t waste your time with long intros that lead nowhere. He jumps right into things like with “Hip Hop (I Don’t Love You)” and the freestyle from “Elevators.” We get a little intimidation from “Let Me Fly.” Up until now it’s been more lighthearted but here he brings some aggression to shake things up. If you’re a fan of emcees who won’t waste your time, check out Louie Bang today. (https://soundcloud.com/jacob-vinson-jr)
It’s not every day that you hear the types of subjects Wisdom puts to song but he takes them and brings a courageous take on music and spoken word. “Molestation” is pretty to the point and doesn’t sugarcoat anything for one second. It’s a tough one to get through as there’s no symbolism - just the basic, clear cut facts of what happened to a young boy. That was more a song, while “Single Mother” has more of that spoken word vibe that Wisdom does from time to time and just as well. A wonderful drum intro welcomes us to the powerful world of “Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.” Lastly, “Son” really pulls at anyone and everyone’s heart strings with its honesty. Losing a loved one is never easy but to hear a father speak about it - that’s rough. If you’re a fan of passion and reality, then please - by all means, do yourself a favor and check out Wisdom’s music and spoken word today. (https://www.reverbnation.com/mauricewisdombishop)
D.Holder is one part of I AM. Together they’re a force to be reckoned with, but they’re also highlights on their own. We kick this off with his “Hyyer.” It comes across vocally like Lil Wayne taking a R&B pill and giving us a dose of singing and losing the rap ways. With “My Soul” he has that singing thing going on a bit but it really has more of a hip hop feel thanks to the hook and beat. After his soul, we get into his tale with “My Story.” It was like a slow and steady race to get to this point, but here - this is the song where D.Holder goes full on hip hop and it was worth the wait. He’s on point from start to finish and truly embraces himself as an artist. Lastly, we end with “She Say She Love Me.” In this one we go back to the finish line a bit with that Lil Wayne like vibe. If you like that Cash Money flow check out D.Holder’s jams today. (https://soundcloud.com/independentartistmovement)
We got a rough start with Dillin Ickes, but he was able to turn it around and make us fans. With the help of J-Real, “The Risk” does very little at the start to get you interested with the tinkle of some keys and an inviting monologue. It has a very slow beat and could be picked up just a bit. He steps it up for “I Can’t Rap” and proves the title wrong. He spits it fast and this is what you want to hear from a young emcee. You want that fire under them in a blaze. That continues on with “East to West.” It’s great that he really stepped it up from where we began and showcased a drive to make it. What’s sick about Ickes and should also be highlighted are his beats as well. Like the ones found on “I Got Swag” and “My Way” featuring Young Frost.” If you’re in the mood for new music in your possession, check out Altoona’s Dillin Ickes. (https://soundcloud.com/icko187)
