Syracuse, NY’s Reallyhiiim just dropped the full-length album “The Crux,” executive produced by Puzzle of The Diggers.
The project boasts an impressive guest list including: Willie The Kid, Planet Asia, Raz Fresco, Pounds, Fly Anakin, Estee Nack, Al Divino, Maf, B.A. Badd, Adonis, Koncept Jackson, 448 Brad, Lord Juco, Falcon Outlaw and introducing PT.
The project is available digitally and in limited CD format (only 50 made) here!
San Dimas, California singer/songwriter Izabel Honey with a gorgeous voice and look ready to take over the new year. After developing her sound during a pandemic, the new star releases her anticipated debut EP, titled, Pieces of Me. Lead by her buzzing song, “Crazy,” now is the perfect time for any newfound fan to hop on the Izabel Honey bandwagon.
Honey’s first effort is a five-song project that includes an array of refreshing new hits. Honey wants to make sure her music appeals to her peers who endure the same trials and tribulations as her. She explains: “I really want my listeners to be able to relate to me and that’s why I try to make every song very real. All the songs I write I write from the heart or past experiences.”
Honey continues, “All the songs I write I write from the heart or past experiences.”
Pieces of Me was inspired by Izabel’s recent rise in popularity with her first single. “My song “Crazy” that was released in July a lot of good feedback it made me so much more inspired to keep going with my dream! My new EP that releases on January 16 has five songs that really mean a lot to me. Each song that I wrote about were past experiences and experiences that were happening in the moment of writing them. This EP is super personal to me and I hope that everyone that hears it can feel it to.”
After the stream, for more on Izabel Honey, follow the rising star on Instagram and Tik Tok.
Listen to Izabel Honey’s new EP Pieces of Me below.
D-Loc of Kottonmouth Kings vents about the times we’re living in on his new single “We Roam”. This is the final single leading up his upcoming album dropping April 20 under his newly formed P.T.B. Records in conjunction with Suburban Noize Records.
Check out this new EP “Citizens Band Radio“, by rising underground artist Dangy Omen X. It’s a “driving while black” themed EP centering on the perspective of a black trucker in the American countryside, highlighting the maxi-single “Trucker Bounce.” Make sure to follow him on Instagram @xcaliberdaomen.
C-Lance is a 33 year old producer from Boston, Massachusetts who broke out in 2010 after becoming an in-house producer for Vinnie Paz. He would go on to become one of the underground’s most prominent names for the likes of the Army of the Pharaohs, La Coka Nostra, Swollen Members, R.A. the Rugged Man & G-Mo Skee throughout the last decade. However, C-Lance has decided to drop a new album every month throughout 2021 & is kicking it off with a sequel to his previous instrumental album The Ghosts of Mt. Fuji.
Things kick off with the title track, which has these dusty boom bap drums & some horns that kinda remind me of the classic Pharoahe Monch joint “Simon Says” for some reason. The next instrumental “Duel Under Autumn Leaves” has a sound kin to that of Visions of Gandhi while “The Ghost of Yarikawa” gets back on the boom bap rip albeit with a more alluring loop attached to it. The “Bamboo Forest instrumental has these string sections throughout that give it a cinematic feel to it while “The Hannya Mask” sounds like it was originally made for Chaly & the Filth Factory.
The “Curse of the Snow Woman” instrumental perfectly lives up to it’s name with it’s spooky vocal harmonies & icy keys whereas “Oni & Yurei” dives right back into that Jedi Mind Tricks sound. The “Haunting in Kawasaki” kinda reminds of me C-Lance’s first instrumental album House of 1,000 Beats with its horror movie quality while “Shrine of Kobe” stands out as the most uptempo beat on the entire project without question.
The “Spirits of Inunaki Tunnel” instrumental is laced with a heavenly vocal loop throughout while the penultimate beat “Shadow of the Samurai” is the complete opposite as the crooning samples sound evil & the trumpet is a nice touch as well. The album ends with “Tears Falling in Tokyo”, where C-Lance & Aaron Hiltz come through with a more mellow & relaxing beat.
This dude has been one of my favorite producers in recent memory & I can’t wait to hear everything else he has in store for the year. Much like The Ghosts of Mt. Fuji, he does a good job at taking all these Japanese samples & putting his own grimy spin on them.
Score: 7/10
This is a brand new soundtrack album brought to you in part by Buffalo hip hop labels Griselda Records & Black Soprano Family Records. Both of whom have been taking over hip hop with a plethora of high quality albums, EPs & mixtapes since late 2015.Their first feature-length film Conflicted is set to be released next Friday & of course the movie had to be accompanied by songs from or inspired by it.
After the intro, the first song “Mobbin’” finds Benny the Butcher teaming up with Chase Fetti & Heem to talk about just that over a devilish instrumental while the track “Element of Surprise” by Lloyd Banks talks about being mindful of snitches over a supernatural beat. The song “Ain’t Hit Nobody” by Westside Gunn, Flee Lord & Eto sees the trio coming together for the brick buyers over a grim, drumless instrumental from Daringer while the track “Pride” by Ransom triumphantly talks about his success over a soulful beat from the man himself.
The song “Welcome Home DMX” by Dave East & Jonesy finds the 2 comparing themselves to Sam Giancana & John Gotti over a weepy trap instrumental from the late DJ Shay & the 808 Mafia while the track “Squaaaaad” by Elcamino, Rick Hyde & Smoke DZA sees the 3 talking about being baptized by the streets over a victorious beat. The song “3:30 in Houston” by Benny the Butcher addresses being shot a few months back over a despondent instrumental while the track “Voices” by Boldy James, Chase Fetti & Heem finds the trio telling their opposition to run over a bloodcurdling beat.
The song “Rank” by YN Billy gets braggadocious over a mediocre trap instrumental & after the “I’m Not the Enemy” skit, the track “Nerve of You” by Armani Caesar talks about someone doing her dirty over a Camouflage Monk beat with some plinky keys. The song “Conflicted” by Flee Lord talks about the hustler lifestyle over a dreary instrumental from GhostDave while the penultimate track “Mission Accomplished” by Armani Caesar, Benny the Butcher & Westside Gunn sees the 3 talking about turning to the boss life. “The Hurt Business” by Westside Gunn, Smoke DZA & Wale then talks about being the flyest in the game over a thunderous instrumental.
I was curious to hear how this would turn out given how cheesy a lot of soundtrack albums turn out nowadays, but I’m actually pretty impressed with what we got here & it has me even more curious to watch the movie when it comes out next weekend. Much like Griselda’s collective debut W.W.C.D. (What Would Chinegun Do?) that was released under Shady Records a couple years back, everyone involved manages to stay true to themselves & not whip up a focusgrouped product.
Score: 7/10
Independent Hip Hop artist out of Toronto, Canada I.V. releases his new single and lyric video titled “Truth“. The seasoned emcee hands out forceful bars delivered over hard hitting basslines, asserting his dominance in the game while keeping unfaithful artists in check. Follow him on Instagram @idotvdot.
Buzzing recording artist Zerdle Bandz had a hella of a 2020 — in which his fans accumulated over 138,000 streams. Entering the new year, the rising star continues on last year’s momentum with the release of his new song, titled, “Wanted.”
Like most of his music, on “Wanted,” Bandz raps about dealing with drug addiction & the pull of the streets. Through the melancholy vibes you can feel the longing for connection in the midst of drowning in one’s demons. He continues delivering punchy introspective street bars intertwined with catchy heartsick hooks on top of melodic trap beats. The new song follows “Zwervin” off his PM2 project.
As the new year revs up, Zerdle and his new song are off to a great start in the race for the year’s best new artist. Let’s see how the new star directs his trajectory moving forward. “Wanted” is available on all streaming platforms. Stream it below.
After “Wanted,” want more Zerdle Bandz? Follow him daily on Instagram and Twitter.
From the Crenshaw District of California native to the late great Nispey Hussle, rising underground rapper Dough the Freshkid releases his latest music video titled “Blow” featuring label mates Cuzzy Capone & Wee Dogg. The song “Blow” comes off his latest project Tal’s Café. The video is shot as a small film rein-acting criminal Mob Bosses robbing banks in the late 1940’s. Produced by up and coming Bronx producer Val and Directed by Alexander Pardo.
R.A.P. Ferreira is a 28 year old MC/producer from Kenosha, Wisconsin who’s been making music for a little over a decade now. However, I personally have had him on my radar since his 2015 sophomore effort So the Flies Don’t Come. His last album Purple Moonlight Pagesthat came out almost a year ago at this point was not only his most reflective work yet, but one of my favorites of 2020 too. Fast forward to New Year’s Day, we’re already being treated with a follow-up.
After the psychedelic boom bap “Battle Report” intro, the first song “The Cough Bomber’s Return” talks about being the last of a dying breed over a meditative boom bap beat whereas the next track “Yamships, Flaxseed” with s.al sees the 2 talking about “pain coming in dreams” over a soulful instrumental with a piano-transition during the 2nd half. The song “Diogenes on the Auction Block” talks about riding on when he was alone over a minimalist beat while the track “Redguard Snipers” with SB the Moor finds the 2 talking about people complaining about new verbs & sounds over an instrumental that starts with a upbeat vibe, but then transitions into something more deadpan in it’s final moments.
The song “Sips of Ripple Wine (No Stemware)” talks about having to level up over a funky beat with an acoustic switch-up while the track “Skrenth” talks about what it is to be a poet over an instrumental with some keys & bass guitar. The song “Bobby Digital’s Little Wings” talks about his father having a panic attack 2 weeks after he was born over a piano-inflicted boom bap beat while the track “Listening” talks about how he’s doing good in the end over jazzy instrumental.
The song “High Rise in Newark” talks about spirits clinging to theoretical lives over an abstract beat while the penultimate track “Rejoice” speaks for itself lyrically over a wavy instrumental. The album finishes off with “Abomunist Manifesto”, where R.A.P. Ferreira tackles abomunism as a whole over a bass guitar & an acoustic guitar.
Even though I didn’t think we’d get another album from him this quickly, I really enjoy it for what it is. I think it serves as a fantastic tribute to Bob Kaufman as his cryptic lyricism is always captivating & jazz-flavored production is once again well incorporated.
Score: 8/10