Cesar The Mann is a rapper who doesn’t speed through things. “On The Run” is a problem I wish I had - getting money and not looking back. The song on the other hand could’ve used some more energy. It could’ve been like the Zone Beats produced “No Wonder.” It starts out with a good pace but slows it down a bit. It seems like Cesar The Mann is always on the move. First he ran with that green and now he has “Runaway.” At this point I’ve come to realize that this emcee isn’t about getting super hype. He takes this laid back, cool approach to his rhymes. You can hear that in all of the above as well as the sensitive “Wondering” another one about heading out, “Go.” If you like your hip hop that’s more easygoing, check out Minneapolis’ Cesar The Mann before you start your day. (https://soundcloud.com/callmeceeez)
White Noise’s “Gravity” is chalked full of fine tuned hip hop. “Paint My Picture In Blood” is a graphic mental picture, and a great track. It’s strong and doesn’t let up. The same can be said of “Bran New” as well. Only this one brings it at a different pace. It’s more sensual with the delivery while still being street. Things slow way down, understandably, with “Smoke On.” That sentiment plays on with the Cheech and Chong shout out in “We Gone Rally.” Then White Noise gets deep questioning almost everything with “Whats The Reason.” It’s a song that really makes you think, while “All They Count Iz Ones” rounds out the record on a high note. If you like hip hop that gets deep, but also keeps thing entertaining, then check out “Gravity” now by White Noise. (https://www.nimbitmusic.com/whitenoyz)
Joe Phuz’s “Compressed Audio” is a hip hop EP that features the antics from B. Zip. “Stop Frontin’” is a slow and steady track that takes its time to actually get to the action. I think the pace of “Now Tha World” actually works in Joe Phuz and Zip’s favor. The music and the lyrics actually play better together than the first track. Then wrapping things up is “Hunger Painz.” It’s the most energetic of the bunch and has a bit of a club vibe to it with all the different sound elements heard throughout. It was definitely a good note to end on. If you are a fan of artists like Chance the Rapper, check out Joe Phuz and his boy B. Zip on “Compressed Audio.” (https://soundcloud.com/joeberry-1/sets/compressed-audio)
Da Hired Gunz is a west coast hip hop duo who turn it out. “She Wanna” is all about what a girl wants, and it is quite different than what Christina Augilera sang about back in the day. Right off the bat “Fuck The Game” comes at you like a shark attack with the f-bombs. It’s definitely not one that’s ready for the radio world. It’d lose its essence having to be edited down. You get this sense of empowerment with “R U Ready.” It sounds like something you’d hear on a EA sports game geared towards the NBA or something. One of the best from Da Hired Gunz has to be “Death Before Dishonor.” It was just basic hip hop that wasn’t the least bit overbearing. Then we round things out shaking it with “Shakin They Tail.” It’s one of those songs that dominates a club floor. If you’re into west coast hip hop that’s about doing it up, check out Da Hired Gunz today. (https://www.dahiredgunz.com/#!__home)
Dre Blac combines the best of a R&B hook with the skills it takes to make a hip hop track pop to create “Miss Materialistic.” It sounds like something you’d likely hear on a Drake record since he’s known for that he’s known for doing that best. This track’s well produced and executes what it sets out to do with precision. It’s definitely recommended if you’re into Top 40 hip hop. So make sure to check out South Carolina’s Dre Blac today. (https://www.jango.com/music/DRE+BLAC?l=0)
CalDoJa is an actor, director and even finds time to be an emcee. “CalDoJa City” featuring Christoph has a rock feel to the hip hop. The music gives you a full band feel rather than a beat. Christoph is back to help out on “The Good Die Young” rocks it out as well while delivering the rhymes. It reminds me of when Puff Daddy would team up with Jimmy Page and Travis Barker. Stepping away from Christoph, “The Anomaly” comes at you and really relies on the lyrics and aggression they’re sung with. There’s a definite passion behind CalDoJa that’s not to be questioned. That fervor takes a little break and gets a little laid back, for CalDoJa, with “Miami.” It’s not your Will Smith version, but a more street homage to the Florida city. If you’re into hip hop that comes with a big dose of attitude and skill, check out CalDoJa. (https://www.caldoja.com/)
Nate B. comes at you using the power of collaborations. “Dreamer” featuring J-Dwb is a very demure track that’s sets the base for Nate B.’s whole persona. He tells his start and from there it’s all the other parts of his story. Rich Deezy hops on “Best of Me” and this one turns it up just a little bit compared to the last one. This one’s a more universal track and less personal. You’ll soon come to realize that Nate loves to collaborate and on “Gettin’ Smashed” he works with Sass, as he does on “Sounds In the Street.” Both capture a good vibe and showcase a lot of rhyming skills. Actually, Nate B. works a lot with Sass, so it’s in your best interest to get in tune with Sass as well. They work well together and are pretty much a well packaged item. If you’re into well made hip hop that covers all the bases, check out Nate B. and all his friends now. (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdCpl_4D-CvGfyUGD2S868A/videos)
Identity Crisis’ “The Passion of the Crisis” puts actual thought to the hip hop genre. “Air Raid” is definitely a different take on hip hop. It’s not about the typical topics you’d find in that genre. It has a more world news aspect to it. That one was a bit intense as far as content and delivery, but “Kill Em With Kindness” comes across more laid back in the sense that you don’t feel under musical attack. It’s about living in “harmony” so it makes sense. Somewhere between those two sits “House of Pain.” It’s not abrasive nor is it demure. It serves up something that feels just right. When it comes to the best of the best on “The Passion of the Crisis,” it might just be “Win or Lose” thanks to the feminine hook. If you’re in the market for conscience hip hop, look no further because you’ve found your new favorite with Identity Crisis. (https://weareidentitycrisis.bandcamp.com/)
Carolinah is a young emcee coming straight from Louisiana to your stereo. The great thing about “Alright” is that it gets right to the point and doesn’t stop. It’s one of those songs you hear that doesn’t allow you to forget it. It has a great beat and the lyrics are easy to comprehend as well. You don’t get enough of “80s Baby,” it’s over before it really gets started…Then with “Block Music,” I expected something lighter in context - just had a block party in mind. Instead it was more on the serious side of life. The best coming from Carolinah has to be “King.” It takes all the great things he has to offer, lines them up and executes a prime track. The beat, the lyrics, the pace - they are all on point and deliver. If you’re into that southern style hip hop, check out Carolinah ASAP. (https://iamcarolinah.com/)
Down in Florida Buckwild does his thing and keeps it street and real. As “Dope Boy Dreams” you feel like you’re in a few different tracks. In four minutes it goes from a sing-along fashion to a very serious tone by the end. It always circles back to where it began but after a while you get the jist of it. “Mighty Deadly” starts with a nice sounding intro matched with a radio like monologue. The Buckwild comes in and breaks that nice sound with an aggressive impression. “We Made It” may be the best one from Buckwild. It’s got this great pace that makes you bounce with an intensity. Well I said that and then in walked “Fuck Fame.” This one really questions the idea of fame and music and really makes you think while still being entertaining. In the end all you can do with anything though is “Keep It Real” and that’s just what Buckwild does, not only in this track but all around. If you’re into street hip hop then you have got to do yourself a favor and get wild with Buckwild. (https://www.slipnsliderecords.net/profile/Buckwild)
The West Coast is still churns out great emcees like Jay Stubbs. “Waitin For You” tells a really great narrative and you can really hear the storyteller in him. With “Coke and a Smile” you get a song that’s a little lighter at the start, but it still has that sense of reality and you can tell this is a West Coast boy from the first line. Jay Stubbs switches it up just a bit and tosses in an old school R&B feel with “She Loves Me,” while “My Type Of Party” brings you back to the very intense hip hop realm that Jay Stubbs likes to create. We end things with a great one that samples not only a classic but Maury, “I Need Money $$$” really does it up and takes the cake when it comes to this rappers jams. If you artists like Kid Cudi and Big Sean, check out Jay Stubbs now. (https://www.jango.com/music/Jay+Stubbs?l=0)
If you had to sum up NZO’s music in two words they’d be intimidation and precision. “V For Virginia” is a very aggressive song that states where NZO stands as an artist and is really an intimidating track, which isn’t a bad thing. Then things get really cool with “Motivated.” It sounds like he has someone like Twista on the record. It’s fast, but still has that intimidation factor. Finally with “Who Run It” you lose that aggression and get a more laid back song that really follows a slower pace, but remains on top of its game. I thought of the song that states “We built this city on rock and roll,” but was not expecting the sample even if NZO titled this one “We Built This City,” so after the shock, I really dug into this one with both hands and came out with it being one of the best this rapper has to offer. If you like artists like YG and Young Thug, then you’ll definitely be feeling what NZO is dealing with his music, so check it. (https://www.jango.com/music/NZO?l=0)
