I Am EmmanPelumi is a new album from hip hop artist Emman-Pelumi. Clocking in at over 1 hour, this album is long. It must have taken quite a while to compleye and Emman didn’t cut any corners or sacrifice for quality. The record opens strong with the upbeat, fresh and full track, All Day. Many of the songs feature sparkling, 80s style synth beats. I must say this artist has a certain talent for choosing really great backing music. The ethereal dance beats definitely enhance the experience. My favorite tracks on on here are Acercate Pt.1 and Pt.2. which boast some stellar female guest vocals. As an album I Am EmmanPelumi has everything: a plethora of guest artists, synthwave instrumental tracks, hip hop pop. Even with this much variety to spice things up, the sound remains cohesive and consistent. Nothing seems out of place. This release is definitely worth the price of admission.

For more info:

iTunes: https://music.apple.com/us/album/i-am-emmanpelumi/1467818311
Smart URL: http://smarturl.it/c2cqmb
Website: https://emmanpelumimusic.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emmanpelumimusic/

The Mask is a new single from Oakland based singer/songwriter, Tess Posner. This is no ordinary indie track. The vocals were recorded at the iconic Hyde Street Studios in San Francisco, and Tess also worked with CA Grammy-nominated songwriter/producer Sal Oliveri. The Mask has a warm, analog-like sound with record crackle and tape hiss for avant garde effect. The music is darkly electrifying. The Mask is a synthpop jam which explores the struggle to find authenticity and inspires listeners to confront the fears and demons which function as obstacles to outwardly displaying our true selves. Tess’s voice is delightflully haunting. Her tone conveys an emotional depth we don’t often seen in this genre of music. This song is an example of how pop music can break out of the constraints of superficiality when it wants to.

For more info:

Website: www.tessposnermusic.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/tessposnermusic

https://soundcloud.com/tessposnermusic/the-mask/s-P59I3

WE is a new single from Stig Gustu Larsen, an artist from Norway most recently known for being a contestant in season 5 of the show, The Voice Norway. However, his career spans back much further than that, having released a plethora of albums and singles dating back over a decade. So, it pretty much goes without saying that this guy can sing. They don’t let people on those shows that can’t.

Stig displays his vocal prowess in WE, as his passionate and dynamic delivery drives the song. What’s notable about this track though are the tropical vibes. The music has a very late 80s/early 90s feel to it, bringing to mind The Beach Boys’ Kokomo as well as soundtracks to films like Captain Ron and Weekend at Bernie’s. The tone and lyrics are very uplifting. This is a summertime song for sure. Ultimately though it’s a song about fulfillment in finding one’s “home,” in finally reaching the destination where they are in their element, whether it be a physical location or an emotional state of inner peace (perhaps both.) In any case, this is a professional single that’s sure to resonate with adult contemporary audiences internationally.

For more info:

Website: www.gustu.no

Facebook: www.facebook.com/stiggustularsen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JabvqeTM9Qg

Dark Mode 2: Suffocate is an album from hip hop artist “Tripple D” from Norway. Tripple D got into making music at the age of 10 and became prominent locally around the time he turned 15 years old. The album is massive, containing nearly 20 full tracks. The beats feature a lot of killer synth variations, though some incorporate a piano sound. The songs are very well produced, professional studio quality. While the backing beats are generally mellow and chill, the lyrics are often explicit and of the aggressive variety (as the title suggests.) Tripple D maintains his intensity throughout and has a charismatic vocal presence, but the awesome music and blended guest vocals help soften things up a bit to make these songs accessible as party jams as well.
My favorite track on the album is Atmosphere (Bloodline.) It opens with an intriguing sample and is brimming with dark and melodic ambiance throughout. Musically it’s just beautiful. As a whole this album contains a lot of variety and is rich with content. It is simply an epic endeavor. You’ll definitely get your money’s worth.

For more info:

https://www.facebook.com/OffisiellTrippleD

Guns is a new music video from Beav, a Charleston, MO based hip hop artist. The video opens with a card game and titles like you’re watching a film or documentary, and that’s almost what it is. Guns blends hip hop with Beav’s social and political messaging. He raps about the issue of guns while “Cops” style footage is reenacted in the background through much of the vid. From a cinemtagraphy standpoint this just as much a short film as it is a music video. In ths song itself, Beav takes lyrical aim at almost everyone associated with this issue, from cops to thugs to a lot of people in between. Whatever one thinks of his opinions on these hot buttom issues, Beav is a charismatic rapper whose commanding presence drives the song. His hard hitting delivery style is slow, blunt and matter of fact. The song hits on a lot of talking points and is sure to resonate with audiences. Check it out below and see what you think.

For more info:

https://www.facebook.com/beavlife/
https://twitter.com/@youngflygenius

Civilizado Como Los Animales is a new release from Catalan artist, Macaco. The title essentially means “Civilized Like Animals.” Dani Macaco’s musical fundamentals are very strong, as is the production. While containing elements of rumba and reggae, the songs are also very avant garde and experimental. Macaco is not afraid to go a little wild and push the envelope in terms of structure and predictability. There’s synth, slick beats and even some spoken word mixed in. No Nos Pararan is one of the more memorable jams for me. It has a catchy intro and some really cool synth sounds I’ve never even heard before. My other favorite track is De Serie which features numerous guest artists and collaborators. It has a Mediterranean quality to it. The album as a whole is a nice blend of traditional and experimental music that hits just the right balance.

For more info:

https://www.facebook.com/Macaco/
https://twitter.com/macacomusic
https://www.youtube.com/MACACOOficial

Infiernos is a new album from Panteón Rococó, a very well known ska band from Mexico City. Production on this album is top notch, better than what you hear from most major labels. The songs remind me a lot of the ska bands I grew up listening to in the 90s, except that all the lyrics are in Spanish. I do speak a little bit of Spanish but not enough to seriously analyze the lyrical content. The songs on here are lively and brimming with energy. You can just picture everyone having a ball dancing to this. The tone is very upbeat and fun throughout. Botella is probably my favorite track on the album, with it’s catchy horn lines and elaborate interludes. Most importantly I want to mention that the musiciansmanship on here is phenomenal and expertly performed to meticulous detail. It doesn’t take much to figure out this is an excellent ska album from a seasoned group of professionals.

For more info:

https://www.panteonrococo.com
https://www.facebook.com/panteonrococo/
https://twitter.com/RococoTweets

Legend You Never Knew is a full length album from hip hop artist, Zone00 (pronounced “Zone double O.”) Zone00 grew up in Texas but is well-traveled thanks to his stint in the military. He’s been around the block musically as well and has released several independent projects.

While the album cover is pretty epic and grandiose, the album itself has a lot of artistic, grounded substance to it. There’s no empty flash and posturing here. It’s also awesome that Zone00 actually raps over a variety of productions to include LoFi beats, rather than canned, overproduced pop. It gives the songs an old school analog quality while retaining top notch mixing and production standards. These tracks are smooth and easy on the ears right from the get go with Birthday Flow. A lot of indie rappers are just dudes tinkering around and seeing what they can do, but Zone00 stands out as an obvious professional. These tracks are polished and meticulous, and he raps like someone you can tell has been in the game a long time and has his own style totally perfected. He makes it look easy in fact. Don’t try this at home folks.

The main single of this album is The Pimp. Even though it’s only the second track on the album, this is the jam where he reveals his power level. The piano backing gives the song an intensity which is matched by Zone00’s speedy delivery and substantive lyrics. He displays a knack for conversational storytelling and run-on monologues that would leave lesser men breathless. Each occasional well-timed pause and echoey vocal interlude functions as a unique moment for the listener to reflect with a “wow.”

Excerpt from The Pimp:

Bars in my bars
I never been behind the bars
But still hold down the bars
I never did buy the bar
but I also didn’t buy my bars

Also worth noting is that on the hook for The Pimp, Zone00 is paying homage to late great “Pimp C,” and one half of legendary super group UGK whom he is an absolute fan of.

Another notable track is Ride Wit Me, which features a kind of candyland, circus music beat which both charms and serves to provide a nice complement to the casual, laid back seriousness of the song itself. My favorite musical backing though is the one on Usual Suspects Part I (there is no part II yet.) It has a light folkish rock tune that is both futuristic and retro 50s/60s.

Every song on this album is worth listening to, and there’s both variety and artistic consistency. Zone00 clearly has a recognizable style and persona, something which is crucial for success as a hip hop artist. I kind of wish I had some constructive criticism to give so this review doesn’t seem too over the top gushing. This is just a really solid release and Zone00 is no amateur. He has this down an exact science.

For more info:

Legend You Never Knew: https://ffm.to/zone00.ois
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealzone00/

Extra Mile is a new song from rapper/producer/singer-songwriter/composer/multi-instrumentalist, Khaleel Mandel. The son of professional bass player Carl Carter, Khaleel cultivated his interest in music at a very young age. Khaleel was born in Boston Massachusetts, and raised in Bridgeport, CT.

This particular track stands out for it’s groovin’ surf-like backbeat which reverberates throughout the song, creating a deep vintage ambiance. Mandel’s lyrical delivery is casual yet low-key passionate and physically expressive. The video helps to magnify this expressiveness and allows the listener to recognize Khalees as almost an avant-garde performance artist rather than just a mere musician. His rapping can stand on its own, like a slam poetry reading. The pacing is mellow and the timimg is unconventional, while the beat is psychedelically hypnotic. Khaleel doesn’t rely on smoke and mirrors. He’s clearly more interested in creating art than hype, and this song delivers the goods.

For more info:

https://khaleelmandel.com/