As he & Devereaux prep up their double album The Beginning of the End for later this year, Darby O’Trill debuts the 2nd single “Down By the Lake”.
DJ Seedless x Maru_Wine – “About Time” Ft. Pawz One, LMNO & Mando the DJ (Video)
SoCal artists DJ Seedless and Maru_Wine releases their new music video titled “About Time” featuring Los Angeles heavyweights Pawz One, LMNO & Inland Empire turntablist Mando the DJ.
AINILL – “GOD MODE” (Video)
With KHIP-HOP exploding out in Korea, AINILL is definitely in the forefront of that overseas movement. Check out his new music video titled “GOD MODE“. Follow him on Instagram @llcometru.
Culxure – “My Dawg” (Official Video)
The A has another one, meet the emerging-to-superstar new group, Culxure.
For their introduction, the trio of Baby Slapp, Baby Ticc and Baby Dreco hit the iconic Atlanta skating ring, Cascade, for the debut visual, titled, “My Dawg.” A song about loyalty to the crew, each member showoff with energetic braggadocious verses about day-ones and never betraying family better than the next.
“I only hang round my day ones that’s on the same thing I’m on, I kno right or dead wrong they slidin for me so it’s only right I’m on the same thing,” says Baby Slapp.
Baby Ticc concurs: “I lost my friend and all I could think about was my dawg I would’ve risked my life and did time for my dawg.“
Baby Dreco, who delivers the song’s best verse, remembers his verse being inspired by his friend’s unity. He explains: “Me an my brudduhs feel the same if I’m ready to slide they right behind me an if I’m ready to ride out they right behind me.”
“My Dawg” is merely the beginning of what Culxure have in store for music in 2021. And with more music to come, now is the perfect time for newfound fans to hop of the ATL-bread bandwagon and spread the word. Only a matter of time before Culxure reaches the top of the scene and follow in the footsteps of so many before them. It’s magnetic.
Watch “My Dawg” below and follow Culxure on Instagram.
Darkness I Am – “Psycho / Strange” (Album)
Out of Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN rising underground artist Darkness I Am releases his new 2-part album titled “Psycho / Strange”. Started out as one half of a duo ended up parting ways after a short time, he considers his style vulgar, disturbing and grimey yet motivating. We Definitely recommend this project for all real Hip Hop heads!
Oz Sparx Shares New “Vlone Friends” Visual
When it comes to Hip Hop, fashion has always brought along a level of respect that people would kill for. Today, for the latest release from his popular project, Vibin, Slidin, N’ Connivin,’ rising recording artist Oz Sparx connects his style to the final destination in the music video for cut “Vlone Friends.” In the new visual, Sparx is casket sharp as he spits arguably his best verses yet from the spreading like wildfire EMPIRE release.
The Visual by Luke presentations serves as both an ode to A$AP Bari’s international streetwear brand and an on-camera vent session about finicky friendships. When asked about the record the Philly native states: “This is one of my best videos. What better way for me to descriptively depict my pessimistic philosophy. When it’s all said and done, you’re brought into this world alone and die alone.”
“Vlone Friends” follows “YSL” featuring 2kBaby. Vibin, Slidin, N’ Connivin is filled with hits. Released late-2020, the 18-track project has spawned breakout songs like the previously released “Dancin Wit The D3vil.” The project also includes fan-favorites “Antisocial,” “Backseat Freestyle” and “Way Too Much.” The album features JGreen and 2kBaby.
Sparx and his latest project have positioned themselves to be one of the biggest highlights of 2021 hip hop, period. The array of hit singles is undeniable popularity going into his next project, expected late-2021. Vibin, Slidin, N’ Connivin is available now on all DSPs via 510 Music Group/EMPIRE. Follow OZ Sparx on social media for daily updates of his forthcoming project.
Watch the new video to “Vlone Friends” by Oz Sparx below, afterward, add the single to your playlist today.
Conway the Machine – “La Maquina” (Album Review)
Conway the Machine is a 39 year old MC & entrepreneur from Buffalo, New York who blew up in late 2015 as part of the 3 OGs of Griselda Records alongside his brother Westside Gunn & their cousin Benny the Butcher. Ever since the trio have rose to prominence, they’ve had hip hop lock by their constant work ethic balancing quality & quality as well as vividly detailing their lives in the streets on top of boom bap production kin to that of RZA & Havoc in their music. Con’s full-length debut From King to a God was my Album of the Year for 2020 & his sophomore effort with Big Ghost Ltd. that just came out a couple months ago If It Bleeds It Can Be Killed is a worthy sequel to No One Mourns the Wicked. But just when even thought we were getting the Shady Records-backed God Don’t Make Mistakes next, we’re getting another prelude album out of the woodwork.
“Bruiser Brody” is a a grimy opener from the boom bap production from JR Swiftz to the lyrics calling out those who pray on his downfall whereas the Bangladesh-produced “6:30 Tip Off” is a jazz-trap fusion speaking on his profit. The song “Blood Roses” is about how “I came to prove I came improved” with a fiery beat from Cardiak, but then “Clarity” opens up on how he spares “no feelings when my pen is movin’” on top of a soulful trap instrumental from Don Cannon.
The track “KD” has a weepy trap instrumental from Murda Beatz with lyrics talks about those speaking on Conway’s legacy while “200 Pies” with 2 Chainz of course gets on that pusher shit & the bare loop that The Alchemist comes through with is hypnotic as fuck. “Sister Abigail” is a dusty boom bap tune where The Machine recruits his new protégés Jae Skeese & 7xvethegenius to declare themselves as world champions, but then Jae returns on the peppily-produced “Grace” to talk about how they don’t live in disguise to get their blessings.
The song “Scatterbrain” brings in J.I.D & Ludacris to get murderous on top of a frigid instrumental, but then Elcamino & Shots hop on Had to Hustle” to speak on what they had to do to get where they are now. The closer “S.E. Gang” serves as a response to those who said Conway was leaving Griselda earlier this year as he, Westside Gunn & Benny the Butcher spit that mafioso shit over a flute sample from Daringer.
Not what I was expecting from Conway, but still a dope album regardless. In comparison to him returning to a more grimier sound on If It Bleeds It Can Be Killed, I like how he continues to build off the the versatility that From King to a God brought. Whenever the time for God Don’t Make Mistakes comes, I’ll be more than ready to hear where he takes it.
Score: 7/10
Gotham – Self-Titled (Album Review)
Gotham is an MC/producer duo from New York consisting of Talib Kweli & Diamond D. The latter being a founding member of the seminal collective D.I.T.C. & was one of the first to co-sign Kweli back when he originally formed Black Star alongside childhood friend Yasiin Bey. The first time we really heard Gotham together was on “Where’s the Love?” off of Diamond D’s 2014 solo album The Diam Piece & then they got back for “The Zone Out” on the follow-up The Diam Piece 2 back in 2019 but ever since then, they’ve been hard at work on their full-length debut as a duo & I’m very excited to hear the results.
“Sons of Gotham” kicks the album off with a misty boom bap beat along with lyrics calling out “rappers acting like Kanye” whereas the next song “Olympic” incorporates an organ & a guitar as Kweli proclaims that they do this rap shit for sport. “The Quiet One” touches down on being the voice of the people accompanied by an eerie instrumental & an animalistic Busta Rhymes verse while “On Mamas” goes into a more synth-heavy direction with Kweli spitting about getting the speakers pumping. Meanwhile, the song “Attention Span” is a more atmospheric cut addressing those who’re out to lunch & the Skyzoo verse hits the nail on the head.
The track “In Due Time” is a fiery anthem about how you’ll be getting yours eventually on top of a classy boom bap instrumental whereas John Forté of all people comes into the fold to take a jab at the system on the minimally-produced “Pick Ya Head Up”. The song “Chillin’ While Black” is the one of the only 2 on the entire thing where Diamond D himself jumps on to spit as he & Kweli talk about racial profiling over a horn-inflicted beat & even though the penultimate track “I’ll Tell Ya Later” has a cool concept, the skeletal beat is underwhelming & the Niko Is feature is kinda weak. The album does end strong though, as Kweli & D hop on a dusty instrumental with some jazzy undertones to talk about holding it down.
Despite the fact that Talib’s recent output has been hit or miss with me admittedly, Gotham knocked it out of the park on this one. He & Diamond D do a damn-near perfect job at paying homage to their home-state as the lyrics & production both take listeners back to the traditional days.
Score: 9/10
Recognize Ali & Bronze Nazareth – “Season of the Se7en” (Album Review)
Recognize Ali is a Ghanaian emcee who’s been shaking up the underground for the past several years now off projects like Back 2 Mecca, The Shining, I.S.L.A.M. (I Self Lord And Master) & Guerilla Dynasty. Dude’s previous effort Recognition just dropped back in August & for his 9th full-length outing, Ali has enlisted Bronze Nazareth of the Wu-Elements to produce the whole thing from front to back.
After the “Motown Connection” intro, the first actual song “God Aura” incorporates some horns as Ali spits about the champ being here whereas “Hand Count the Cake” is a dope money ode & the vocal loop was well-picked out. The orchestral-tinged “Tear Drops in the Sky” connects with his Dueling Experts cohort Verbal Kent alongside former Army of the Pharaohs member King Magnetic to rap about catching bodies while “Street Gospel” is a soulful tune about “bringing Terror to your Squad like Big Pun”.
After the “Knew Legends” skit, the song “Silver Spear Promise” seems like a homage to the iconic Jay Electronica joint “Exhibit C” from some of Ali’s rhyme schemes down to the sample of “Cross My Heart” by Billy Stewart while the gospel-tinged “Olympic Gold Medalists” taps in TriState & Willie the Kid to get on the spiritual side of things lyrically.
After the “Find It in Him” skit, the title track has a plinky piano loop throughout with lyrics about greatness whereas “How Many Times” finds Bronze hopping on the mic with Ali as the 2 pondering about a number of things on top of an elegant beat.
“Rivers in the Basement of Truth” taps in Napoleon da Legend & Lord Jessiah to spit the battle bars over a piano & some vocal harmonies while the track “How We Roll” brings in a boom bap beat with some harmonization in the background as Ali spits about being on the corner until the AM. I also like the Money Miz shoutout at the end of the first verse as well.
“Camouflage Dons” is a cool homage to the Wu-Tang Clan & the Killa Beez as Ali jumps on an instrumental that has the Wu sound alongside Dom Pachino & before the “Outro to Detroit” outro that finishes off the album, “The Grind” is a symphonic coda about his hustle.
In my opinion, this is one of the best albums that Recognize Ali has ever done. Dude continues to further demonstrate as to why he’s one of the most thought-provoking MCs to emerge from the underground in recent years & Bronze Nazareth comes correct on the production per usual.
Score: 8/10
ReadyRockDee ft. RJ Payne – “Boom Shakalaka (Remix)”
ReadyRockDee is back to deliver some new heat for the streets in the form of a fresh single titled “Boom Shakalaka.” This go-around, Dee links with Philly rapper RJ Payne, who is a very respect emcee in his City. The Tu$hay-produced cut is just a taste of what fans can expect on ReadyRockDee’s recent project, “Flow God 4,” which spawned the single. You can stream the project now across all available DSPs.
Check out “Boom Shakalaka” below and/or on your DSP of choice.