Author: Alana Walls

Varn Curtis and Kice (T.O.N.Y) share new single “Jealous Ones Envy”

Posted on by Alana Walls

Varn Curtis and Kice (T.O.N.Y.) return with their new single “Jealous Ones Envy” which dives into daily struggles, love, loyalty, and the ups and downs of life as a whole. Over a somber piano-laden backdrop, both emcees share their experiences growing up in wild environments but with a positive mindset and perseverance, one can make it.

 

T.O.N.Y. is a collaboration between Toronto artist Kice aka A.W.O.L. and Queens NY artist Varn Curtis. T.O.N.Y. stand for Toronto (TO) New York (NY)

Keep up with Varn Curtis| SoundCloud: Spotify : Bandcamp: Twitter: Instagram

THE WEEKLY TOP 5 VIDEOS [EPISODE 27 ]

Posted on by Alana Walls

Welcome to TWIB’s Weekly Top 5 Videos. This is a segment where we will be looking at some exceptional visuals from various acts from around the globe. The music video format has been around for decades and through the 90s and 2000s, it has really taken flight from multi-million budget music videos, to mid to low-budget videos with exceptional features. In this section, we will not discriminate but rather highlight some of the creative visuals that pop up on our radar.

 

 

Relaye – “Waterslide” (Feat. Mick Jenkins)

Lacey, WA-raised songwriter/rapper Relaye kicks off this week’s list with “Waterslide” featuring Mick Jenkins. The upbeat track has a steady rhythmic vibe and is filled with punchy performances and vivid lyricism from both rappers. The visual is motif-driven and is a mix of moody and cinematic elements that blend stylish performances and set pieces.

Trizz – “All Black”

Trizz ‘s “All Black” gets a visual treat and it’s perfect for our list. The bravado-laden track sees Trizz in his element dropping hard-hitting bars and warning shots. The black and white visual directed by Trizz and Castro follows Trizz on a trip with his team, doing what they do best but they get stopped by the cops, and well, it gets crazy from there.

 

 

 

“Nizz Sentine – One Time (ft. Clinton LG)”

Nizz Sentine teams up with Clinton LG for “One Time”, a mid-tempo jam that blends insightful bars with braggadocio in a seamless manner. The visual is a smooth fusion of performance shots that capture the rappers in their element.

 

K*Ners – “This is From Bristol”

Bristol veteran emcee K*Ners is in reflective mode as he reminds us that “This is From Bristol”. The track sees him reflecting on his youth and experiences growing up in Bristol. The visual has a retro vibe and blends sepia-toned scenes with modern-day aesthetics as we follow the rapper from his early days to the present. This song is lifted from his  I AM K*NERS Mixtape which was released on all streaming platforms earlier this year.

 

 

 

 

Dax – Dear Alcohol “MEGA REMIX” [ft. RVSHVD, Phix, Erv Ello, Thagreatwhite, Skydxddy, AK & MORE]

Dax ‘s “Dear Alcohol” gets a MEGA REMIX” featuring 25 indie artists from RVSHVD, Phix, Erv Ello, Thagreatwhite, Skydxddy, AK, and more.

Chizo_ faces the demons in “Tell the Devil”

Posted on by Alana Walls

Emerging rapper Chizo_ ‘s new release “Tell the Devil” is a heartfelt and insightful piece that details a man’s inner struggle with his demons. Backed by a somber and soothing soundscape, he takes listeners deep into his mind and the craziness he had to deal with. From his own flaws and struggle with addiction and the immense weight of trying to climb out of it, he gives quite a relatable and evocative performance that listeners can vibe with.

Keep up with Chizo_ | TikTok: Spotify: Instagram

Terell Safadi links with Chris Antonio for the feel good jam ” Easy on Me”

Posted on by Alana Walls

Canadian Hip Hop/Rap artist Terell Safadi teams up with singer/songwriter Chris Antonio for the feel-good jam ” Easy on Me”. The genre-fusing record blends Afropop/dancehall with hip-hop and r&b sensibilities. Backed by a smooth and bouncy soundscape,  Safadi shares his thoughts on trust, respect, and loyalty in a relationship which in turn leads to. being the right partner and expecting the same in return. Chris joins the fray with his smooth melodic runs and heartfelt lyrics that help buttress the message.

 

” Easy on Me” is the lead single from the 5 track EP Stay Blessed from Terell Safadi and  Chris Antonio.

 

Born in Vancouver, BC to parents of Haitian and Arabic descent, and raised by his mom, Safadi would write songs and ride around the city on his skateboard to escape the realities of life.

Keep up with Terell Safadi | SoundCloud : Facebook: Twitter: Instagram:Spotify

Nia Wyn finds truth within the “Checkmate”

Posted on by Alana Walls

London-based Welsh singer/songwriter Nia Wyn drops the new single “Checkmate” which further cements her rising star as one to watch. Armed with her unique sublime vocal texture and vivid songwriting, here she dwells on the communication difficulty in a blossoming relationship, and having to learn the other person’s love language can be an interesting and somewhat tasking job.

 

Keep up with  Nia Wyn | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | SPOTIFY

Hitpapa and emtee team up for “I’ll Be There” [Video]

Posted on by Alana Walls

South African artist HITPAPA teamed up with Emtee for an aspirational tune titled “I’ll Be There” which blends lush Afropop vibes with futuristic pop elements. Hitpapa delivers a smooth melodic performance as he implores listeners to never give up and keep on pushing. He is joined by Emtee who adds his chilled laidback melodic flow to the track.

The visual captures both artists as they chill with a bevy of ladies at a house party. The visual aesthetic is bright and summery from start to finish.

Keep up with HITPAPA | Website: Facebook: Twitter: Instagram

O.T. the Real Continues to Bring his A-Game on ”Maxed Out” (Album Review)

Posted on by Alana Walls

O.T. the Real is a 36 year old MC from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania who came up in 2016 after coming home from prison & dropping his debut single “Papercuts”. His profile began to grow from there after showcasing his skills on radio stations as well as dropping 3 full-lengths & 4 EPs so far, my favorites of the bunch so far being the Heatmakerz-produced The Irishman & the DJ Green Lantern-produced Broken Glass. But fast forward 5 months later since we last heard him, O.T. has recruited Boston veteran Statik Selektah behind the boards for his 4th album.

“Loyalty” is an airy boom bap opener discussing what it means to him to be loyal whereas “Make It Count” works in a symphony providing words of wisdom for the listener. “Revelations” feels like something out of an Italian mobster flick talking about disclosure just before Statik-Free tags along for the soulful “Hardcore” spitting that rugged street shit. Meanwhile on “Turned on Me”, we have O.T. on top of some pianos & dusty drums taking aim at those who betrayed him leading into Merkules coming into the picture for “The Bottom” to talk about never forgetting what having nothing feels like over a cheery instrumental.

G-Weeder definitely has the weakest feature on the album with “Treachery” even though I like the production & the concept of deceiving people, but then “Windows” has some jazzy undertones talking about his coming up. The penultimate track “Came Up Fast” incorporates an operatic vocal sample discussing his meteoric rise in the underground within the last year or 2 & finally, “History” ends the album with an organ advising to check his resume.

I think O.T.’s been putting out some of his best work within the last year & you haven’t checked him out based on The Irishman or Broken Glass yet, then PLEASE give Maxed Out a listen. Statik remains one of the most consistent producers in hip hop today & O.T. continues to put his life on wax ever so sincerely.

Score: 9/10

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Crotona P and ManZu Beatz team up for “Fed Up (Club NY)” [Video]

Posted on by Alana Walls

Crotona P and Italian beat-smith ManZu Beatz share the visual for their collaboration titled “Fed Up (Club NY)”. Bolstered by a cinematic guitar-laden soundscape, Crotona P blends insight and adulation for his hometown of the Bronx as he proceeds to clear out the negative thoughts in his dome.

 

The video (directed by Crotona P shot by Jacqueline Baez and edited by Manzu Beatz) follows P as he brings the viewers on a tour through his old stomping grounds of the Bronx. This includes stops by the Big Pun mural, Yankee Stadium, and the infamous Crotona Park.

This track is the first leak from the forthcoming KILLER INSTINCT album. This is a follow-up to their previous release with emcee M Doc Diego entitled 3Kingz.

Keep up with ManZu Beatz   | Soundcloud:  Instagram

Keep up with Crotona P |  Instagram

Jaykbird Locsta Delivers “Ping Pong” Instrumental

Posted on by Alana Walls

Jaykbird Locsta always had a strong interest in beat making, production, drums, and even rapping. In his latest single (instrumental) “Ping Pong” he shows off his beat-making and production skillset.

The track is literally a chill, yet compelling ping pong match between a stabbing synth and punchy drums. Listeners will get a captivating blend of a melodic and cinematic vibe.

The instrumental is ideal for conscious rap lyrics to flow over, for an emcee who has a potent story to tell. Stream “Ping Pong” above and connect with Jaykbird Locsta below.

https://www.tiktok.com/@jaybkirdlocsta

https://www.instagram.com/jaybkird_locsta/

https://linktr.ee/locstabeats