King Bizzie sounds like a man with a plan. “All These Problems” has an epic intro that makes you sit on the edge of your seat - like what’s about to start. What comes through is an intense delivery of strong words and imagery. D. Blake comes on and out for “Still I Rise.” Together they make a song that’s a great balance of R&B and hip hop. It sounds a little like Sisqo on a rap track. With “Be the Man” Bizzie is as aggressive as where we started, but there’s a life lesson within these walls. In “Gettin’ Benjamins” he sounds a little like DMX on a chill pill - no barking, just a gruff delivery. Lastly, “Unwind the Twine” ends on a high note. The beat here is like one you’d hear in the club, but not in some mainstream Pitbull - this one remains street without crossing into the mainstream. If you’re a fan of hip hop that’s all meat with a lot of heat, check out King Bizzie right now. (https://www.reverbnation.com/kingbizzie7)
Frankie Pyro is all about the balancing act. “Nietzsche (Interlude)” is where we begin and it’s this monologue of sorts that’s short and to the point, not delivered by the artist at hand. Then we get into “Sour Patches.” This one has a Common feel to it. The lyrics and beat have a mission, one that’s more about informing than entertaining. In “Phoenix” things take an aggressive turn. It’s not a harsh beat, but rather the lyrical delivery. You can hear the anger in every line. We head back to the laid back ways with “European Poverty” while “Thoughts at 5am” sounds like such. When it’s that early, or late depending on how you look at it, thoughts are random and come out in a bit of a ramble. That’s what this song sounds like, so it’s perfectly titled. If you’re a fan of Common but also have a love for the harder stuff, check out Frankie Pyro now. (https://soundcloud.com/frankie-pyro)
J. Light is an emcee who illuminates with sweet sounds. We’re kicking this off right with “Where the Party At” featuring D. Cannons. Instead of this over the top party anthem, this one is more laid back and chill. It’s got a sensual feel to it. Vidal Garcia hops on “Bad Behavior” to help out with the track that will have all the ladies on the dance floor dancing and shaking in a manner that will leave men weak in the knees. “Keep It On the Real” has this old school R&B feel to it right off the bat that is welcoming, while “Showcase” gives us a real hip hop laced track. While the rest up until this point have has this laid back feel, this one goes street on us. If you’re a fan of emcees who give it to you with a bit of sensual thuggery, check out J. Light ASAP. (https://www.youtube.com/user/carlos102395/videos)
Claiming to be from a place called Nicetown, USA, Mulah brings a classic, steady pace to the hip hop table. “5 On It” has a good beat that takes you back to the late ‘90s but the lyrics and the pace of what Mulah is doing, keeps you in the present. With “Smile” he dishes out the chill pills to anyone who’ll listen. This laid back track will ensure you leave with a smile, so pass it along. His pal Ambitious hops on to help out with a couple of tracks including “Hollyweezy.” It has a sense of energy we have yet to hear from Mulah. His boy brings it out in him. In the other he and Ambitious keep the spirits high with “What We Do.” In “The Ride” the reality of his storytelling stands out above everything else and it’s clear that he is a wordsmith above everything. If you’re into emcees who write with their heart, then check out Mulah today. (https://soundcloud.com/ulah45g)
A lot of artists from Miami are all about that club and party music, not Ryder. “I Like What She Do” starts this party right. It has this beat that sounds like something you’d rarely hear in hip hop, but rather something you’d hear at an EDM show. In “Got Her Own” a feminist anthem is born. That was very unexpected coming from a male artist, so that’s refreshing in a way. With “Do My Thing” Ryder slows things down and presents a new side of his act. Here he plays with the R&B just a little. That continues as “T-Shirts and Panties” begins. As we head towards the end of our time with Ryder, we get “Long Time Sound” and a little aggression in his delivery. As for the music, we’re still keeping it pretty chill. If you’re a fan of hip hop that takes the slow lane, but can speed up and keep up with the pack - check out Ryder today. (https://soundcloud.com/yungryde88)
Multi CashGang manages to sound mainstream while keeping it street alongside TDLK. “For You” starts with what sounds like it’s going to be a mainstream track that falls into the company of Akon, but it then gets a little more swag to it. TDLK hops on “Molly Run” and here we get a track that would be great for a house party. You get that chorus that everyone learns in an instint. TDLK is back for “New Shit” and here he brings slow jams to the forefront of hip hop. Not apparent from the start, but as the song rolls on, you hear his social commentary shine through strong. It’s always nice to hear a song that has a real message within the beats and rhymes. If you’re a fan of hip hop that’s making its way to the top by being well prepared and structured, check out Multi CashGang and TDLK now. (https://soundcloud.com/multicashgang)
Cee$pitz and Don Munchi€ of AFE Union do it up in a chill way. We start off with a great tradition with “Spring Break” featuring BeatKing. Except this isn’t about the time of year when students flock to tropical locations, but rather a more long lasting tradition of the sexual kind. In “Wet Jame$” it’s like they took the mentality of a R&B track but gave it a true laid back hip hop makeover. These Houston boys have a style that sounds very New York. It’s chill but has this metropolitan feel. If that sounds like something you’d be into, check out Cee$pitz and Don Munchi€ now. (https://soundcloud.com/afe-union)
Who would’ve guessed Ohio had so much going on in the rap game? G.B.A.M is proof of that. “No Trust” will grab ‘80s kids in an instant thanks to “The Goonies” spot at the start. Then it goes into a rap track that relies heavily on attitude and coming a bit hard. It’s definitely aggressive. With “Can’t Stop” has a similar vibe, but this one seems a hint lighter, like you’d hear it at a party. It’d be the song that made the whole party turn up. “You Know” plays like the last while “Problem” offers up something different. It starts with what sounds like Lana Del Rey. Then it goes into a killer chilled delivery. This is the direction he should travel more. Speaking of, “Get Like Us” is the icing on the cake. Between this and “Problem,” these two are what G.B.A.M does best. If you’re a fan of hip hop that teeters between the streets and the house party, check out G.B.A.M now. (https://www.reverbnation.com/gbam9)
You don’t always have to fast forward through life, and that’s what Barii is all about. “Know It” starts us off on this journey with this emcee from Florida. It has this relaxed feel to it, but packs some intimidation within the lyrics. I didn’t really know where we were going to head after that, but I didn’t expect “Do It.” It has this sense of maturity to it, but also the music has a R&B feel to it that takes it from a run of the mill mixtape to the airwaves. In “Waiting” we finally figure that Barii isn’t about the hype. He’s about delivering songs you can sit back and chill to. Even with “Keyz,” it comes across a little harder, but the beat doesn’t overdo it and make the listener feel overwhelmed. If you’re a fan of artists like Drake and Big Sean, check out Barii today. (https://soundcloud.com/Barii)
There are a billion and one indie artists trying to make it and if his cards are played right, Kevin Darbo will be one of the few to see his name in lights because he’s got what Simon Cowell would call the “it factor.” With just one song he’s proven that. “On Fleek” takes us to the Top 40 and their annual radio station. You could hear this song being a hit with the teens out there, and some adults too - college students heading out for a night out on the town. It’s in time with what’s current and would play well with the latest from that of Chris Brown and Jason Derulo. If you’re a fan of pop music that has an R&B and hip hop twist, check out Kevin Darbo’s “On Fleek” to get your fix today. (https://soundcloud.com/flywhipmusicgroup/kevin-darbo-on-fleek-prod-by-xavior-jordan)
PK The Lyricist comes at you from two sides and meets you in the middle of a good time. “The Game” is a song you can truly get lost in. It has this Bronx feel to it, a reality that while has a story behind it - comes through due to a chill beat. After you play a game, check out “The Power.” This one has a bit more attitude to it than the last, but still stays chill. The aggression continues to build as “Unknown” plays. This one takes us from that laid back vibe to a more streetwise demeanor, but all in all it stays true to who we’ve come to recognize PK The Lyricist as an artist. As “Bring It To Life” starts, you’re welcomed with a bit of a wait. The anticipation continues and then we’re like Malcolm and placed somewhere in the middle of that kick back feel we started out at and the more hip hop from the street feel. If you’re a fan of artists like Childish Gambino and Nas, check out PK The Lyricist - he’s like the perfect balance of the two in terms of style. (https://soundcloud.com/jashawn-wade)
Sure Shot guarantees a grand delivery with his New York style rhymes. “1st Flip” does just that as it gets to business right away and doesn’t waste anyone’s time with dead air. He comes in stern and displays a sense of finesse. With “Still Glitty (Remix)” he does more or less the same. He is a serious man who isn’t about bringing this pop, mainstream flare to his hip hop. He keeps it true to the classic ways of the genre. In “A Sticky Situation” tells a great story while “Affirmations of A ‘G’” gives us a new side of the emcee. He brings a more sensitive man to the forefront here, but continues to be the storyteller we’ve come to recognize him as. If you’re into rappers like Nas, check out Sure Shot today. (www.jango.com/music/SURE+SHOT+S+S+?l=0)
