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)
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)
MaC Dee’s “Kim” starts with a traditional intro and then goes into “What?” featuring Noble. It doesn’t have a traditional flow to it. The rhymes come out in this unstructured manner but it works. As the chorus rolls through, it’s like a mixture of monologues and music. With “On U” we get a bit of a funky meets R&B vibe with the music and because of that, the words come through in a finer manner than the last. The title kind of makes you expect it, but MaC Dee and Vanhook’s “Magical Woman” does have this magical touch in the beats used. Almost a throwback to ’90s R&B for a second. Don’t adjust the volume when “Understand (Karma In Magnitude)” comes into play. It will start soon enough and when it does, you’ll have one of the best on “Kim.” In the end “Keep It Movin’” caps off the record with a ’70s feel that MaC Dee makes come full circle back to the present day with his delivery. If you’re a fan of hip hop that plays well with classic R&B, check out MaC Dee’s “Kim,” out now. (https://indy.livemixtapes.com/mixtapes/35767/mac-dee-kim.html)
Young G aka Iceolated dropped a new mixtape called “Confidential Evidence 2” and it’s as dope as could be. Right out the gate Iceolated does it up with “G Thang.” Sampling one of Eminem’s best, “What You Done To Be” pays homage to the classic with the beat and the aggression in the delivery is on point as well. You can hear that the emcee is passionate about every word he spits out. With “Pretty Boy Swag” I was expecting a lighter tone, but instead that same angry vibe is going on. Then with “My Best Friend” the tide changes with the music at least. All in all “Confidential Evidence 2” is a record that does not lack in the passion department. Iceolated is an emcee with a mission and he’s clear with it. Check him out now if you’re a fan of artists like Machine Gun Kelly. (https://www.datpiff.com/TG-The-Beast-Confidential-Evidence-2-mixtape.720276.html)
Over in Clarksville Moze is doing it up and making you think. “Life Lesson” isn’t what I expected at at first but then the rhymes came through, but I will say that soulful intro was quite welcoming. It eased me into Moze’s smooth delivery that came not too long after. In “Midnight Drive” we get that same format, only the beat is what has this throwback sound to it. It’s not too far back, just to the ‘90s neo-soul movement. It sounds like a beat that Common would’ve used back when he was starting out. Hip hop fans will instantly recognize where he’s sampling from in “Divine Nectar” while “High School Graduation Night” gets a little too real and “Words of Wisdom” lays things down on a real level. If you’re a into hip hop that’s a little in between Nas and Fetty Wap, check out Moze now. This is just a handful of what this emcee has up his sleeve and we’ve barely begun to scrape the surface. (https://soundcloud.com/so_moze)
Joe Cash Mahall’s latest mixtape “2 Sides 2 Everything” jammed packed with tracks so let’s get right to it. Sean Kyd hops on and helps out with the intro, “Long Time” and here we get a feel for what’s to come on the rest of this mix. “Moving” starts out subtle but then gets into the action as does “Heaven Knows,” only with a funkier beat. “The Message” takes us to the street and then we are taken aback by the cascade of talented friends Joe Cash Mahall has from Cory Jones to Tory Lanez. This is a mixtape for hip hop fans who are into acts like Big Sean because Joe brings it hard, but still can be fresh for the mainstream folks. Check out “2 Sides 2 Everything,” out now. (https://indy.livemixtapes.com/mixtapes/35405/joe-cash-mahall-2-sides-2-everything.html)
Out on the east coast in Virginia is an emcee by the name of Baybay. His name sounds young, but his sound is anything but. “Lifestyle Remix” sounds like it’d be something Lil Bow Wow would come up with back in the day when it starts off, but then it gets mature fast due to the language. It turns into something you’d find on a mix with Tyga. In “The New Me” it’s less of a mainstream sounding track than the last, but does have a sense of street smarts to it. Things take a hype turn as we enter “ROTLK.” What I like about this one that I’m sure listeners will too, the sick beat. That can be said of “Dead Weight” as well, but this one also has a great set of lyrics to go along with it. Last up, “Blunt Muzik” slows things down and brings a sense of old school to the table to end our time with Baybay. If you’re a fan of Tyga and Trey Songz, check out Baybay’s music - out now. (https://www.reverbnation.com/baybayakafreakyty)
While rappers like Machine Gun Kelly attack the stage with a rapid fire pace, his fellow Ohio emcee Rox Ran, does it with ease. “G shit” sounds like a rhyme you’d hear on the urban version of “Sesame Street.” Not because this is a light and airy hip hop joint, but because of the repetition of it being the seventh letter in the alphabet. Moving on, “Brown Eyed Girl” takes away from that and leads us into a place that has this modern rap feel. There’s something experimental about the beat that makes it stick out. “How Bad Do You Want It” starts with a real ‘70s AC vibe. The music has an elegance to it and then Rox Ran comes in with this chilled but in command delivery. It sounds like something Nas would release. We stay on that same page as head into “She Rollin’ Up” only we take a turn on the sensual side of the road. Last up is “Lights, Camera, Action.” Here I thought we’d end on this hype track, instead we have a laid back feel intertwined with an upbeat rhyme game. If you’re a fan of hip hop that’s well executed when it comes to the beats and the rhymes being in tune, check out Rox Ran now. (https://www.reverbnation.com/roxran)
Learning to balance things is something not everyone can do. That is not the case for Canton’s Cali. The drawn out intro to “Don’t Deserve” builds up a sense of dramatics, and then he comes in with this demure touch of passion. You think he’s mad at the world, but he’s really mad himself for messing up what he had with someone he cared about. It’s quite an interesting track. In “Underground” we get a similar start, but then when Cali comes in he’s less about the sadness and more about creating a track that the gang would get down on when cruising around in the whip. As soon as that one’s said and done, we head back to the emcee who packs a lot of emotion into his rhymes thanks to “You Really Just Loved Me.” If Cali ever wanted to switch it up and leave hip hop to pursue R&B, he could. He has a good set of pipes on him but for now the balance between rapping and singing works well for him. We remain on this singing kick into “Memory in June” and overall this one is his best vocal performance. He hits all the marks as we head into our last one with him, “What I’m All About.” This last joint has a bit of an ‘80s feel in the beat, but the rhymes break that apart and we end on a rapper’s delight. If you’re a fan of emcees who can also bust out a heartfelt track or two, check out Cali now. (https://soundcloud.com/calvinjamescriss)
Mtell Tha BreadWinner is all over the place, in the best way. “Never Called” gets right to the action. The lyrics come fast, while the beat sits back and lets the rhymes take center stage. Charlez Angels and Mocha hop onto “For Everybody” for a chill but attitude driven track that comes across like a shady mix. Mtell Tha BreadWinner likes to keep his friends close, especially the ones who can do it up. That’s why he has Mack Skeezy on “Came Off the Corner.” This one plays well with the ears. It’s like a song you’d hear over and over at house parties because it has this upbeat feel and a sick beat that makes it a song you can get lost in, singing along. With “For My City” we’re introduced to a track that would take us from the crib to the club. This one even has a hook that allows itself to become a dance craze; hustle, hustle, hustle. We then get a bit experimental with “PlayWay Every Day.” The beat here is scattered, and doesn’t follow a clear path. What is great is that it makes for an eccentric listen. From a local chill session to the night life, Mtell Tha BreadWinner is there for every moment. If you’re a fan of emcees who can bring it in the traditional manner, but who also take chances here and there, check him out now. (https://soundcloud.com/mtell-tha-breadwinner)
