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)
JLC is a good ol’ Texas boy who said goodbye to an education when he had to find work to help out his family. After running into some trouble, he found the lord and now he’s spreading the word through gospel rap. In “For My Brothas and Sistas” he brings it like the rappers you’d hear on BET’s “106 and Park.” Really, while it’s a gospel rhyme, you wouldn’t unless you listened very closely. Which the lyrics are great and help with JLC’s mission to move people with music. You never know where life is going to take you, and for JLC - it took him down the wrong path for awhile but he had since found his way and is giving back through song. Check him out and support now. (https://www.allaroundaag.com/)
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)
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)
Illinois has a couple big places on the map, but PercyT is hoping to put Harvey on it in a big way. “Patron” is the way to start the party, right? Whether it’s the kind you sip or take in through your ears through a track. Here PercyT gives us a smooth musical taste of the drink and it’s definitely an homage to the pricey beverage. With “Under Pressure” he goes for a freestyle manner and what I love about this one is that it feels so in the moment. He’s the only one to focus on, those dagger like rhymes that come out with a honest force. We then head back into a more formal track with beats and planned out lines with “Amazing.” A chill track leads us into one with more bite in its step.” Hustlin’” is the song you want to come on when you’re out to get things going. Then we calm down and end this journey with “Put It Down.” It’s a calm ending to a ride that had us all over the place. If you’re a fan of hip hop that’s chill but has bursts of hype, check out PercyT today. (https://www.reverbnation.com/2wenty_thr33)
With new music on the horizon, there’s no stopping Hafi. “Mad Love” featuring Delaney Armstrong is a great track to start this off with. He brings this quick approach to the table while she settles things down with her soulful voice. The idea of “Ride or Die” has been big in hip hop and life for a long time. It’s like this Bonnie and Clyde mentality; always being there for the one you love. While that’s the basis, Hafi doesn’t get all romantic with it. He gives it a street feel. “Arisen” takes us from that to a beat that is a little dancey. It’s not as hard as the track that preceded it, more laid back all around. We go back to the rapid ways with “Top of the World (T.O.W.).” What I like about this one is that it’s the type of song that has no face. Anyone could relate to this one, because at some point in their life they’ll feel like they’re on the top. Last up is “Matter of Time (Monster),” and we’re ending on a high note. This one, along with “Mad Love,” would be the ones I took to radio and the masses if I were Hafi. He’s got the chops, now it’s time you check him out. Don’t forget to check out his latest, “Ashes to Ashes,” that just just dropped September 30. (https://www.facebook.com/hafimusic/timeline)
Over in Ohio rappers like Machine Gun Kelly are bringing things at a rapid fire pace, but then there are emcees like Lil Izz who prove you can take it nice and slow and still get the job done. We start out the gates fast with “Run It” featuring Lotto. Here we get a radio ready track right off the bat. It plays with traditional hip hop beats and intertwines them with this light autotune. In “Blew My Mood” continues on the hot streak. It’s clear that Lil Izz has his sights set on being on the level of the Chris Browns and Big Seans out there. Heading into “That Bitch” it’s a little rough as far as wording, but the music and beat stays true to what we’ve come to establish is this rising star’s style. Then just like that, Lil Izz pulls the charm out with “Only Us.” That continues with “Hold That Down.” If you’re a fan of hip hop that comes with a sense of swagger and finesse, check out Lil Izz ASAP. (https://soundcloud.com/dinerofinesse)
Moe Music started putting up his beats only a year ago, and already has enough to make true fans out of the masses. “Lonely” has a kickback beat that’s teamed with this great use of autotune. It’s one of those songs where the hook lives long after the track is said and done. With Krazi Money by his side, the put together “Money.” It’s all about the currency at hand, but what’s notable here is that it sounds laid back but at times it has these bursts of energy. Then we go to the other side of things and slow it down immensely with “Unspoken.” What I liked about this one was the calm and easing feel of it all. Then we hope onto the train and head into a bit of darkness with “Bloody Nightmares.” Visually, I thought this one would be scarier, but instead it wasn’t too different than what we’d heard from Moe Music so far. I would’ve liked if this one delivered a chilling vibe. If you’re a fan of hip hop that takes you from one extreme to another with the push of a button, check out Moe Music now. (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjFRwYs4_MODgoZ3BI9wHSw/videos)
