Nashville is known for making the greatest Country out there, but Yung Chief is proving they have some hip hop to share too. “Getn It In” finds a balance between a nice radio track and a gritty beat you’d hear in the hood. It’s got a great hook that won’t quit. We head more towards a Mystikal feel with “Work.” There’s a chaos found within this one’s confines that will make heads spin, in a good way. In “Bounce It” we’re still in that hectic vibe. It’s clear that Yung Chief likes to create tracks that ensure a hype time out. Just as soon as you think you’ve got a grasp on this guy, he calms it down with “Cali Life.” Being true to the Golden State, this one’s a chill zone. Lastly, “Pissed Off” ends things on a high note with a lot of rage intertwined with energy. It’s a great one that would get a club hopping. If you’re a fan of gritty hip hop from the south, check out Yung Chief today. (https://www.reverbnation.com/2thickrecordsyungchief)
Ziggy B is part of the Bum Squad and what he brings is a mixture of chills and risks. “Wraith” has this conversational aspect to it. The flow isn’t one you’d hear in the club, or even at a party but rather on a mixtape as a hidden gem. We’ve uncovered it early in the game. Now moving onto “Friday” Ziggy brings Fat Ray and Travy onboard and together the three bring this chilled track to life. Fat Ray is back with him on “Use.” This one builds up some suspense at the start and it’s here that we hear for the first time something I would consider ready for the radio. Last up, “Sanctuary” with R-Jizzle let’s us end on a high note. That suspense from the last continues on here and we’re welcomed into a world that has a bit of a nightmarish feel. I take it back, this is the radio hit of the one. It has the most life to it. If you’re into hip hop that takes risks at times but can be chill the rest of the time, check out Ziggy B today. (https://soundcloud.com/bumsquad)
North Carolina just got a little hotter with 100gran’s rhymes. “The One” isn’t what I expected. It’s this chill hip hop that makes you sit back and take in every ounce like water on a hot day. Then we head into “9 in My Hand.” It brings the energy levels up a bit, relying on the pace of the lyrics being spit more so than the beat. In “Queen City” 100gran takes us for a ride with this explicit journey. Like “9” this one is all about following the words - at first. Then the beat comes through strong and both flow together nicely. We take things back to the chill zone with “Lil Weezy.” As “One By One” takes us to the end with a sensual beat. If you’re a fan of hip hop that finds the balance between taking it easy and bringing it hard, check out 100gran today. (https://soundcloud.com/cuttaman100gran)
Out in the Midwest S$treetz (On Da Beatz) is doing his best with his rhymes. “Wave 2 Me” featuring Kabrina is where we start off and it’s on this slow ride that this journey gets going. The lead in is long and sounds like you’re floating down a hall of smoke, like in a dream. Things don’t pick up when S$treetz comes in but his vocals are crisp and intertwined with the effects, this is one stellar track. “Once We Leave the Bar” could go in a number of directions but the one we traveled is a hype track that makes you move in an instant. It’s definitely a hook up anthem. From hooking up to breaking up, “Words from a Broken Heart” really flips the script from the last. It’s clear he’s lost a love, but he’s not taking the woe-is-me route, but instead staying strong in this track that intertwines spoken word with hip hop well. With “I Care About You” we’re welcomed by a faint vocal performance that grows in strength as the track plays on. When S$treetz (On Da Beatz) comes in, he really tells a tale you’d want to hear on repeat. If you’re a fan of hip hop that has heart, check out Ohio’s S$treetz (On Da Beatz) now. (https://soundcloud.com/StrzBtz).
Ms. Keshion may call Miami home, but her sound sounds like it’s coming from the streets of New York. “Girl to Woman” is a coming of age tale done in a hip hop manner. Every little girl is going to grow up and this is an anthem for that. From Barbies to being grown. The hook shouting out the popular doll is on point. In “Breaking Down” we’re far from where we started. While the first could be likened to something Lil Mama would push out, this one really does sound like the woman of the equation from the first. This track showcases a sense of maturity. Lastly, “Nobody Had Faith” kind of takes the girl and the woman and meets in the middle. The beat has a hint of a youthful presence but Ms. Keshion’s vocals are coming through like a grown woman should. If you’re a fan of artists like Lil Kim and Trina, check out Ms. Keshion. (https://www.reverbnation.com/mskeshion)
Hiigh Society’s track “Finesser” has blockbuster written all over it. “Finesser” sounds like a song you’d hear at the start of a movie like “Fast and Furious.” It has this strong grasp right at the start with a haunting overtone. Honestly, that intro is the best part, but as the song continues on - you can see how movie makers would be able to break it apart and use different aspects at different parts of the film, be it a party, a meeting and the climactic parts. If this is just the start of what Hiigh Society is capable of, then stay tuned for more - most definitely. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umN31jLE_f8)
Having performed in Miami this month, That boi Cross is an emcee who comes at you like a shark attack. His boy DJones acts as the Nate Dogg like anchor in his “Stand Up In It” as he gives you line after line of a hit in the making. He sounds a bit like a young Ice Cube. In “Free Fall” DJones is back again and this time the two are giving a sense of hope as That boi tells his tale of where he’s been and where he plans on heading in his career. On his own, this emcee can still kill it. “And Then I” gives a song dudes will love and try to recreate. If you’re a fan of Cube, make sure to check out what That boi Cross is working with now. He’s a rising star that’s about to break. (https://www.thatboicross.com/home-1.html)
Tito Glenn is a man with a chip on his shoulder and he’s getting it off through sound. “I Like That” kicks off this journey with exact precision. Tito wastes no time getting to business. He comes in hard, but eases up to delivery a mid-tempo track that stays in the middle lane. He then slows it down with “What I Do.” Lyrically this guy comes through with a realistic approach, never relying on a fantasy, but what he’s experienced like in “Like You.” He sounds like a young Eminem in “I Know You Hate Me” not only because of the vocals but because of the anger present in the delivery. Music is often a release for those who make it, and it’s clear that Tito is a man with a lot bottled up inside. So open up and check out Tito Glenn if you’re into hip hop that has a lot of angst inside. (https://soundcloud.com/titoglenn)
Over in Ohio, TDH is doing it up for the world. “Sometimes” starts this off and it has great lyrics and a beat that gets you hyped quick. With all that’s going on in the news with “Black Lives Matter,” this is a great track to hear. Things are more or less the same with “Something Has to Be Done.” Instead of being energetic though, this one plays on the drama of the operatic vibe that starts it out and can be heard throughout. The topic continues to be talked about in “Venting” and this one sits between the two. It’s not as theatrical as the last, but not as upbeat and the first. We step back into some older tracks and get away from the social issues with “Cold Summer.” In this one, you just have a track that would get you riled up because it sounds like something a NFL player would hear to get pumped for his game. Note, that Hannah Montana reference that does through you for a loop. If you’re a fan of hip hop that can let loose, but also has something to say about what’s going on in this world - check out TDH ASAP. (https://soundcloud.com/TDH_CTMG)
B.u.D. comes from the mean streets of Santa Clarita. No, that is a beautiful area north of LA that is void of graffiti, but this emcee is bringing a sense of reality to the place that looks like a scene out of “Leave it to Beaver” with his rhymes. “Stranger In My Hood” starts off in a way that one would think this ambient rock song was going to start - something on the lines of Muse. Instead that theatrical intro continues as the backdrop to a clear cut hip hop track. Now that we know what is expected, “Hypocrite (Waves)” comes through with some ease. This time the delivery it taken down a notch. While in “Bottles” the beat strays away from that drama and is like club music, but the lyrics are laid back. The imagery set with just the first seconds of “Rainy Streets” cools the mind and puts you at ease. Last up, “Ocean Floor Kisses” continues to create this elegant imagery, and the music is easygoing while B.u.D. comes across with a bit of urgency in his words. If you’re a fan of artists like Mac Miller and Tyga, check out B.u.D. now. (https://soundcloud.com/b_u_d23)
Alabama has a lot of history running through it, but it’s time to focus on the present with Bunka Loyalty. “Patience” takes its time and comes through very stern. It’s like the father of the bunch. It commands your attention with very little effort. You’ll be drawn to it in an instant. In “Thank Ya” Bunk still takes him time, but there is a little more pep in this one’s step. It sounds like if you took Busta Rhymes down a notch. Fly Guy comes through with him on “It Hurts” and together these two raise the bar. It continues to rise as “No Feelins” comes through hard as hell. Whenever an emcee has a vibe that makes you think you’d be committing a crime if you were turn the track - that’s when you know that artist has complete control over what they’re doing. If you’re into rappers like Busta and The Game, check out Bunka Loyalty now. (https://www.facebook.com/bunka5150)
So Wavy TB comes from the east coast, but his style sounds a little west with some Florida in it. “We Stack It” has a great beat. It’s one you’d hear at a kickback, one that makes everyone sing along in a way that’s not too hype, but keeps things light and fun. Speaking of fun, “Don’t Need Wings to Fly” really takes us to another place with So Wavy TB. Here the island feel is strong and that gangsta’ vibe from where we started floats away with ease. We head back to the street with “Like Me.” It’s interesting to see how versatile this emcee is. With “100 Million Miles” he lays it down slow and the pace plays like a sing-song version of a hip hop track. It’s clear that So Wavy TB knows his way around a rhyme, but he just needs to settle on where he wants to be, the street, the island or both. If he’s going to spit out some Sean Kingston, he needs to put more into it and offer up more like that. If you’re into this, check out So Wavy TB today. (https://soundcloud.com/so-wavy-tb)
