Category Archives: Reviews

Yolo Mike – Let’s Talk

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Let’s Talk is a new single from hip hop artist, Yolo Mike, a Jackson, MS native who is currently based in Dallas. The song is a pretty straightforward hip hop jam. As the title suggests, Yolo Mike engages in some lyrical real talk about various subjects that are on his mind. He gets a lot of things off is chest, ranging from personal reflection to social commentary and the struggles of life. His delivery is sincere, and the timing is right where it needs to be. Basically, he has his style nailed down and performs with confidence. The beat is piano-driven and maintains an ethereal, dreamlike quality through the use of vocal layering and various effects. The tone is also somewhat inspirational. There’s a video for this track as well, which features some rather impressive murals as scenic backdrops and Yolo Mike demonstrating his effective stage presence.

For more info:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100036158691143
http://www.instagram.com/B.g.p_yolo

David Sosa – Journey to Love

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Journey to Love is a new album from New York-based singer/songwriter, David Sosa. Featuring melodic, jazzy beats and dynamic vocals, this soulful R&B release is ultra smooth. The backing music has a polished and pristine late 1970s-early 1990s feel, just that type of professional musicianship and expert production you don’t really see any more in the mainstream. Essentially, this is major label-tier music but better than what contemporary major labels put out.

The real driving force here though is David Sosa’s voice. He is a truly gifted singer. Combining emotional expression, passion and sensitivity with technical ability, his performance earns high marks. In this challenging genre, you can tell right away whether someone can really sing, and David Sosa delivers his lines at an award worthy level. The music is refreshingly creative also. While this may have been inspired by classic 90s R&B, it incorporates a number of experimental intros, unique synths and isn’t afraid to take chances. Journey to Love is a highly romantic album, which will leave listeners mesmerized, impressed and charmed even if they’re not “in the mood.”

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8BitJ – Dreamland

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Dreamland is a new album from hip hop artist, 8BitJ. Not much is known about this enigmatic performer, who sports a mask, but he was apparently born in San Francisco. His music has more an an experimental, cerebral style than straightforward hip hop. This latest release is a soulful, “concept album,” which manifests as a 15 track, avant garde tour de force. On these rather unique recordings, 8BitJ is surprisingly open about his thoughts and feelings. The reflective lyrics are rich with detail and substance. They range from intensely personal to broadly philosophical, but they are undoubtedly raw and uncut. His delivery style is clear, concise and casually charismatic. He has a very “matter of fact” way of rapping.

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Musically speaking, the songs incorporate a plethora of different elements, including samples, snippets, creatively constructed beats, synths and who knows what else. 8BitJ manages to weave it all together to form a coherent and artistically distinct sound. Some of the sounds are reminiscent of the kinds of quirky “boings” and “bonks” you’d hear in vintage cartoons. Indeed one track is even titled Old Cartoons. Interestingly, the backing music often takes a soulful turn, as 8BitJ raps against a backdrop of obscure, classic records. Wholesome melodies play in the background, accentuated by a warn analog crackle and subtle tape hiss. Some tracks like Heaven’s Gate have a more symphonic and theatrical ambiance that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

What’s striking about listening to this album is realizing what a massive undertaking this project must have been. There’s just so much material here, so many pieces to the puzzle and somehow 8BitJ makes it all fit. While the songs are beautiful musically, they are of course designed to bring you out of your comfort zone, so be mentally prepared for that as you enjoy these exotic jams.

For more info:

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/8bitj/dreamland-4

OLYA K – HOLLYWOOD

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Los Angeles-based pop/folk artist OLYA K has released a new video for her sensational jam HOLLYWOOD. The song itself has already amassed 90,000 plays on Spotify and has received radio airplay on a global scale. It’s not surprising. This song is ultra catchy, as OLYA K’s unpretentious delivery and magnetic personality make HOLLYWOOD “everybody’s favorite” tune. Combining contemporary freshness with classic disco rhythms, the music is positively invigorating and brimming with an innocent charm. OLYA somehow manages to capture the “magic” of Hollywood, demonstrating that for many people, it still exists.

The video does an excellent job of conveying the dreams,the sense of excitement, and the overwhelming sunshiny vibe that engulfs this iconic destination, with OLYA K right there in the center of it all. Everything is professionally shot and well-edited. There’s footage of all the classic tourist spots like The Hollywood Sign and the Walk of Fame, but really the video showcases the people, just living life to the fullest, having a ball and pursuing their dreams. It’s really quite inspiring. HOLLYWOOD is one of those songs you find yourself singing along to even after hearing it just once. With enough exposure it could easily become a major hit.

For more info:

https://www.instagram.com/olyasongs
https://www.olyafans.com

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Morgan Gavin – Bounty Hunters Heartbreak

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Bounty Hunters Heartbreak is a new album from Hesperia, CA-based artist, Morgan Gavin. This guy already has a lot of releases under his belt and a substantial cult following. After hearing this latest concoction, it’s easy to see why. The sound is incredibly unique, and there is quite a bit of variety to go with it. On some songs, it’s as if you were to combine Woody Guthrie-inspired vocals with futuristic synthwave or trip hop. This kind of ingenious experimentalism permeates every tune in some form or another.

The title track, Bounty Hunters Heartbreak is a “desert rap” featuring excellent backing music that falls somewhere between a vintage 5th Dimension record and the Italian soundtrack to a 1960s Clint Eastwood spaghetti western. The ambiance is consistently soulful and surreal throughout. There’s obviously an element of humor here, but the music is too good to be written off as strictly for laughs. This is avant garde, “Southwest futurism” in sonic form. There’s even a climactic jam called High Noon, which incorporates a lengthy spoken word intro to build up the suspense. Morgan Gavin is clearly a man of eclectic tastes, and these recordings are filled with neat surprises. He often transitions from folk Americana into hip hop when you least expect it. Every genre he incorporates into his songs, he presents in his own distinctive way. I’ve reviewed a lot of good music this year, but this is one of the few truly original works I’ve heard in a long time. Would be great to listen to this while sitting around a campfire with friends.

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Cocaine – Yin

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Yinis a new EP from Jersey City-based hip hop artist, Cocaine. If you’re in need of an end of summer pick-me-up, these jams will hit the spot. The beats are crisp, and the mix has a very polished feel. Tracks like Pinyata feature a robust bass with rich, deep synths. The song Closed-In-19 appears to be reference to the contemporary “COVID-19” pandemic and its cultural effects.

Cocaine’s delivery style is assertive and charismatic. His pacing alternates between mellow and quick-witted, while the tone is consistently confident and reflective. One thing he does very effectively is utilize his voice as a kind of instrumental backing vocal, incorporating subtle sounds and well-timed repetition to accentuate the beat. Cocaine reveals that he wants his rap to appeal to all kinds of people, basically anyone who loves hip hop. This EP can definitely be appreciated by anyone. It’s compact and punchy, with the production quality calibrating the tracks for maximum impact.

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Demon Mine – Flamefarmer

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Flamefarmer is a new album from artist Demon Mine. Blending elements of death metal, trip hop, downtempo, house and glitch, Demon Mine refers to his genre as “tank music.” The songs on this album feature delightfully eerie synths, which have almost a late 1970s sci-fi quality to them (the gold standard of synthesizer sound in my opinion). Tracks like Cactus Wind convey a futuristic, desolate desert vibe. I’m from Arizona, and this song (whether intentionally or not) authentically captures the “feeling” of driving through the desert alone at night. Another notable jam is Twist Top, which acts a powerful, psychic sonic wave. It’s melodic and intense and you can just feel it beaming into your brain.

The ambiance of this album is dark and subtly suspenseful. At the same time, the music is quite enjoyable and even calming at times. My favorite song on here (aside from the stellar opening track) is probably Mr. Midnight. Not only does it have a nifty little glitch/chiptune intro, but the beat is shape-shiftingly dynamic. Alternating from robust pulsepounder to Castlevania-style castle music, this fun-filled track keeps you guessing. Thematically, Flamefarmer is consistent in its identity while incorporating enough musical variety to offer a satisfying listening experience.

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OSF Profit – On And On

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On And On is a new single from artist, OSF Profit. The track combines pop, R&B and hip hop to create a fresh and catchy sound. The backing music incorporates piano, while the beat has a summertime, slightly tropical vibe. The lyrics oscillate between romantic sentimentalism and youthful angst. OSF Profit’s vocals are honest and expressive. He really lays it all out there. The timing in his delivery is quite good, and his light, melodic tone matches up well with the ambiance of the music. There’s some nice backup vocal layering in the mix, which gives the track an enhanced, ethereal quality. The beat has a peppy, casual bounce, which balances the bittersweet lyrics quite well. On And On is a decent jam musically, but just as importantly, it seems like the artist was able to get a lot off his chest.

For more info:

https://www.instagram.com/osf_profit/

Ace Drucci – Big Talk (feat. Blue Da_Artist)

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Big Talk is a new single from hp hop artist, Ace Drucci. The backing music is exotic and has an almost retro film quality to it. It’s pretty rare to hear a hip hop jam incorporate wind instruments, and it’s done masterfully here. The hauntingly charming beat juxtaposes beautifully with Ace Drucci’s robust delivery. Seriously, his rhymes are tight with the beat and on point like geometry. The actual beat itself has a potent thump to it. There’s an interlude which showcases the impressive skills of “Blue Da_Artist,” whose assertive, no-nonsense style demonstrates a readiness to handle biz at a moment’s notice. There’s obviously lots of rap talent on display here, and the creative “new agey” musicality elevates the track into something uniquely avant garde and memorable. Big Talk is grand.

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Aze Hi – DIE FOR NO REASON

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DIE FOR NO REASON is a new single from New York-based hip hop artist, Aze Hi. The song takes a profound stand against senseless violence, reminding people of the consequences. Aze Hi’s delivery is passionate and he demonstrates a sincere appeal to humanity. The lyrics often come across as personal, implying he has experienced the loss of people he cares about to these kinds of tragedies. As far as the musical aspect, Aze Hi is a solid rapper who clearly has some rhyming experience under his belt. He goes hard, while maintaining a sentimental realism that many performers lack. The beat is crisp, while the chime-like synths create an almost heavenly, ethereal ambiance. This is really just a great heartfelt hip hop song, and the video features some excellent views of the New York area.

For more info:

https://www.facebook.com/michael.gould.9231