Pawns & Giants is a brand new album from hip hop artist, YoRel. This guy is an indie hip hop legend. He’s been in the game for decades and originally built up a following the old school DIY way, by marketing CDs and cassettes to people in person. While he now takes advantage of 21st century distribution channels, his music still has that organic and real feel to it. A factoid I remember about YoRel from reviewing one of his previous releases is that he is the nephew of co-pilot Leroy Homer (one of the heroes of Flight 93 on 9/11).

YoRel’s recent album, When Ink Turns To Blood was massive and contained 24(!) tracks. The release was probably most memorable for the iconic song Crossroads II (featuring Krayzie Bone and Justin Moore), as well as the soulful mini-hit, Gods & Devils (feat. Ekaterina & Arianna Celaeno). There was so much material I didn’t even get a chance to cover it all in the last article. Crackpot-Jukebox was another noteworthy song, with its exotic, almost medieval-style backing music, and theatrical dialogue. Many of YoRel’s songs have a conversational presentation. At times it’s like your listening to the soundtrack of a hip hop musical or stage production.

Pawns & Giants, YoRel’s newest album includes songs which he didn’t have space for on the last one. Don’t let that fool you though, these jams are every bit as good. He incorporates a lot of spoken word narration, creatively intertwined with robust hip hop. YoRel also offers up a lot of casual social commentary, making references to current events, often in subtle and humorous ways. He doesn’t beat you over the head with his message, but rather challenges you to think about what it is he’s getting at. His lyrical style is very cerebral, and even when he’s seems cynical, there’s always an inspirational theme swimming around in the undercurrents.

That being said, there are some real powerhouse tracks on here. Often times, YoRel draws you in with a cozy narration intro and then bam! The hard hitting action kicks in, and his delivery comes at you full throttle. He really makes excellent usage of sound effects and background ambiance. The song Black Opps for example, plays like a thrilling A-Team adventure. The title track Pawns & Giants lays down straight up real talk about how the world operates…taking no prisoners. Yorel also proves once again that he’s a master of retro pop culture (Steven Seagal references, etc), and some of his most clever similes and analogies may whiz right over listeners’ heads if those individuals are below a certain age. It won’t matter though, because these jams are wild.

This is top tier entertainment honestly, party central. My favorite song is probably Grandma’s Soup. It’s very well put together, and serves as a window to YoRel’s sentimental side. Overall, Pawns & Giants is an intelligent and thought provoking release. There’s a lot of good hip hop out there now, but this album is a reminder of just how advanced some of the more experienced hip hop pros are. This is big league stuff right here.

For more info:
https://music.apple.com/us/album/pawns-giants/1547525224

https://music.apple.com/us/album/when-ink-turns-to-blood/1537634837

Done Believing is a new single from Atlanta-born artist, SnapDibz. The song blends elements of pop, hip hop and R&B to create a colorful and melodic sound, which is not surprising given that the artist’s influences range from Outkast to Garth Brooks. Despite the title, the track is musically upbeat and packed with passionate energy. SnapDibz gives a solid and sincere rap performance. He has a straightforward, concise and “matter of fact” delivery cadence.

This song is actually a duet, featuring a conversational style exchange between SnapDibz and an excellent female vocalist, with a narrative about a relationship gone awry. It’s a romantic and invigorating jam, which gives voice to the problems couples often face with communication. It has a very liberating feel. The beat has decent bass and the backing music really sparkles. I expect we’ll be seeing more releases from SnapDibz. There’s a lot of enthusiasm and initiative here.

For more info:

https://www.reverbnation.com/snapdibz

Charmed to Death is a new album from artist, Stephen Jacques. A collaborative effort with multi-instrumentalist producer Alan Weatherhead (The Cardigans, Cracker, Sparklehorse), this release is colorful and vibrant. The songs are indeed charming and have a quirky, sentimental vibe. Backed by some of the most sonically pleasing guitar tones you’ll ever hear, Stephen Jacques’ vocals are reflective and down to Earth.

He has a knack for storytelling and the tracks all feature elaborate lyrical narratives. There’s a lot of material for the listener to engage with, and it is very compelling. Listening to this album is like going on a road trip. You really feel like you’re experiencing all these adventures and meeting the people discussed in the songs. It’s hard to categorize the general sound, but the best way I could describe it is that it reminds me a bit of R.E.M., but with more of an indie folk rock ambiance. There’s even a hint of Americana in there somewhere. It’s still early, but this is one of the best albums I’ve heard so far this year.

For more info:

http://www.boxofmoxie.net/
https://www.facebook.com/boxofmoxie.net

Sorry Wrong Person is a new single from Italian singer/songwriter, Matiltde G. Based in Singapore, this pop artist has an extensive musical background. In addition to being an accomplished vocalist (who began writing her own songs at age 13), she also can play the piano and guitar. Her voice on this latest track is phenomenal. She’s clearly a professional singer and knows what shes doing. Backed by a cutting edge synth beat that’s brimming with melodic intensity, Matiltde G’s vocal delivery is charismatic and delightfully sassy.

She brings a lot of personality to her performance and has a genuinely magnetic quality about her. Sorry Wrong Person is one of those songs that feels like an instant pop hit. It’s fresh and dynamic. From a songwriting perspective, it’s more advanced than most contemporary radio jams and just has all the ingredients of a catchy, successful song.

For more info:

https://www.matildegirasole.com/
https://linktr.ee/girasole

EXODUS is a new album from hip hop artist, Lit Rich. Featuring 10 robust tracks, this is an ambitious, full-length release. The backing music is ambient and ethereal, creating a dreamlike vibe that almost reminds me of EDM at certain points. Lit Rich’s vocals are the main driver of the songs though. His voice is dynamic and fluid, flowing smoothly throughout. He raps at an impressive speed, and has a unique, stream of consciousness style delivery that is ideally suited for these synth-driven beats. The songs range from sentimental to meditative, with a few booming party jams like Summertime High mixed in. There’s definitely plenty of talent, versatility potential here.

For more info:

Skyline is a recent album from singer/songwriter, Richard Schroder. Blending elements of country, pop and rock, the songs on this EP have a bright, upbeat and energetic vibe. Musically, the sound is highly advanced, with excellent production and listeners will marvel almost immediately at the technical complexity of the songwriting. Everything is very well put together.

Richard Schroder sings with passionate combining romantic and sentimental themes with a lively and optimistic vocal style. He sings about everyday subjects and emotions, “stuff he knows.” The hooks are what really make these songs though. The choruses are set up just right so that when they kick in, you can really feel the potential for these jams to be hits. They’re just very catchy. This genre is probably one of the most competitive and difficult to find success in as a musician. There are just so many talented artists, yet Richard Schroder is clearly at the top of his game.

For more info:

https://www.richardschroder.com/music/skyline-ep
https://www.facebook.com/rschrodermusic/
https://www.instagram.com/richardschrodermusic/

Carro Preto is a new single from London-based singer/songwriter, Lucas Berloff. This is actually a nostalgic track, as Berloff reflects on memories of time he spent living in Brazil. A melodic manifestation of youthful exuberance, the song is brimming with feel good vibes. It’s difficult to classify this musically, but in terms of ambiance, it’s light, summertime pop/rock with exotic undertones and a suave, sincere spirit.

The music consists of colorful guitar riffs, a robust beat and Lucas Berloff’s sentimental vocals. His performances are professional on all fronts. Clocking in at just over 2 minutes, Carro Preto takes the listener on a brief but romantically satisfying trip down memory lane. It should resonate with anyone who longs to recapture the freedom and uncertainty of their formative years.

For more info:

Instagram – https://instagram.com/lucasberloff
Twitter – https://twitter.com/lberloff
YouTube – https://youtube.com/c/LucasBerloff

Entitled Pxrt2 is a new album from Charlotte-based artist Nevo Sway. Released on Black Friday, the album combines pop, hip hop and R&B. The synth-driven backing beat is surprisingly smooth and ambient. It occasionally incorporates piano melodies, giving the tracks an artful, lounge vibe. For his part, Nevo Sway sings with passion and his voice often takes on an inspirational, optimistic tone. Dealing with subjects like romance, friendship and overcoming personal hardship, the lyrics often contain a spiritual component as well.

The songs do a nice job of balancing sentimental expression with an action oriented ad lively sound. This is a legit full length album and represents Nevo Sway’s second project since 2018. In addition to creating music, he’s also an entrepreneur, with a focus on real estate, binary option trading. Check out the links below and his youtube channel for more info.

For more info:

https://linktr.ee/NevoSway
https://www.instagram.com/nevosway

Gothbxch (ft. Spaceman Zack) is a new single from Minneapolis-based artist, Kobenz. He has only began releasing music recently, and already has amassed a substantial following. This particular track blends elements of alternative, grunge, emo, goth and even a bit of hip hop. Though it takes inspiration from a hodgepodge of genres, the finished product is cohesive, and listeners will pick up on the vibe right away. Against a melodic and slightly industrial-style electro back beat, the vocals are darkly expressive and emotionally authentic. Kobenz conveys a genuine sense of anguish and detectable pain, in a way that is artistically presented and musically satisfying.

The production makes effective use of vocal layering, creating a “voices in the head” effect and correlating with the song’s themes, which center around personal demons and inner struggle. Gothbxch has a deeply therapeutic appeal, for both the listeners and the artist. Contemporary audiences are starving for this kind of humility and honest reflection, and Kobenz delivers.

For more info:

https://kobenz.net/

Somewhat Romance, Somewhat Poetry is a new album from Northern Virginia-based alternative rock band, The Guilty Lenses. Not only have these guys managed to capture the authentic “alternative” sound, but their music is as good or better than even the most iconic groups in the genre. The singer is really quite good, combining charisma with emotional sensitivity and superb vocal ability. Production quality is also excellent. It’s very clean and allows you to experience every bit of sonic richness in the guitar tones. The guitar melodies in various bridges and solos give the album some of its finest moments.

Thematically, Somewhat Romance, Somewhat Poetry has a nostalgic quality to it, with tracks like Five Mins to Close and Dance Bar Blues deal with subject matter that almost feels like it’s from another, more innocent time. If I had just came across these songs randomly on the radio, I would never assume they were made in 2020/2021. This is indeed a romantic release, but it also rocks pretty hard when it needs to. It’s balanced, elaborate and dynamic. It’s only a matter of time (and marketing) before these guys have a massive following. There’s a lot of talent here.

A small inscription indicates that the album is dedicated to the frontline workers, especially those in the food and service industry.

For more info:

https://www.instagram.com/theguiltylenses