Typical Glo is a new single from up and coming hip hop/pop artist Wynter Glo. Born in Germany and raised in Texas, Wynter Glo lives up to her moniker as this jam radiates with pure unadulterated energy. Her performance is characterized by a vibrant and no-nonsense delivery. Backed by a futuristic, synth driven beat, her lyrics are catchy and expressed in a well-timed fashion which subconsciously encourages listeners to sing along. The action moves at a moderate and deliberate pace, all the while brimming with determined intensity. Typical Glo has a slight edge to it, yet will appeal to pop sensibilities. This artist is all about getting things done and putting first things first.
Oh God is a new single from Canadian-based band, Peace Spirits. This beautifully performed and spiritually satisfying song aims to help people find their peaceful center. Featuring religious sentiments expressed in their purest and most sincere form, the music is carried by truly stellar vocals and backed by a theatrical backing sound. This is powerful and moving stuff. The lyrics never veer into preachy or judgmental territory. Rather, the song consistently promotes a message of kindness, hope and goodwill throughout. OH GOD was written by singer/songwriter Kyla Lynn Vezina. The production is very professional, creating an atmosphere of cinematic quality. Laszlo Koós is credited on bass guitar, and drummer John Lovaghy provided additional backing vocals. Oh God by Peace Spirits is a free download that is available to anyone through Bongo Boy Records, here.
T R A V E L S is a new single from Los Angeles based artist, LEHUA. A collaborative effort with her associate Brock Liles (Tombstone), this song is the second release off her three-track, self titled EP. This avant garde song features experimental beats and propagates a desolate Saturnian ambiance. The vibe is positively mechanical, in a sense that the music literally sounds the inner machinery of a haunted moonbase. It’s what one would imagine an astronaut or space colonist would hear in the background while conducting their daily experiments. An unpredictable collage of samples, sythns and totally unidentifiable noises, T R A V E L S is brimming with eerily delightful atmosphere. I’m not gonna lie, there’s a little bit of uneasey suspense in this jam as you almost feel like a creature might jump out at you at any moment. Bottom line is that T R A V E L S is darkly uncomfortable, artistically interesting and pretty cool.
Ships Sail is a new single from NY-based artist, LongliveMoses. This incredibly unique, avant garde hip hop jam features ambient backing music and creatively structured vocal delivery. The music takes the listener on a “Final Fantasy like,” meditative odyssey. Ships Sail is just very artful and ethereal. With its melodic beat and cerebral vibe, this music will elevate your consciousness as you allow yourself to get lost in the sound. The vocals are pleasant to listen to and somewhat hypnotic. This is a true indie hip hop song in that feels more like a genuine work of art than a consumer product. Even the cover art conveys this aesthetically, as it resembles more of an arthouse indie pop or new age album cover than a hip hop one. Production is smooth, and the mix is softly oceanic. This track is really a cut above.
As a musician, producer or content creator, it can be frustrating to find backing music and beats online to use for your projects. There’s usually some gimmick associated with services that offet beats, or you simply get stuck with the same basic, crappy presets that can be heard in a zillion other songs. The beats (and I listened to quite a few of them) at FreeBeats.io are of label quality and suitable for professional recording projects. Nothing, cheap or “homebrew.” They are also available right there on Youtube and simple to browse. You don’t have to go mining the depths of some obscure, buggy database to find these jams. Many of the beats are hip hop oriented, catering to a plethora of moods and sub-genres, but there are also some pop and EDM adjacent instrumental backings as well. They even have a pop punk, Blink 182 style track, which does in fact capture the authentic pop punk sound. There’s not much more to say. Just check out their channel and listen to the beats for yourself. Make sure to read the fine print and respect their guidelines if you decide to make use of any of their music.
Let’s Ride is a new single from Salt Lake City based artist, J.T. Hiskey. Haters can say what they want about this jam, but it has all the ingredients of a viral hit in the making. First off, the production is clean, and the audio is very high quality. The song blends elements of country, alternative and hip hop but does it a way that’s more mellow and laid back than something abrasive like Kid Rock. The ambiance here is closer to 90’s Beck. This is one of those songs that people will claim is super annoying while secretly singing along to it. The catchphrase “Let’s Ride” is repeated to an almost comical degree (though clearly J.T. has done this with a “tongue in cheek” self awareness) and will absolutely be burned into your brain. The song’s brief runtime (1:37) and macarena-like verses make Let’s Ride an instant pajama party classic. Hiskey clearly has a lot of talent and knows how to write a catchy song. I’ll ride with this guy anytime…Let’s Ride!
LAPTOP AND A MIC is a new full album from Miami-based hip hop artist, 2millie. Featuring 11 salubrious tracks, this release is brimming with energy and electric vitality. The beats are mostly synth driven, with an atmosphere ranging from “bright and uplifting” to edge of your seat intensity. The musical sound is very cinematic and could almost hit like EDM if this were strictly an instrumental recording.
2millie (whose moniker is a reference to a car accident he survived when he was young) delivers his rhymes with pure dedication. Vague and Ambiguous song titles like You know and Yeah I know conceal lyrics which actually go into great detail about personal pain and life struggles. His delivery style would best be described as “stream of consciousness.” As he allows his deepest thoughts to play out in his head, they are converted into the form of a rhythmic monologue for the listener to enjoy. Many of the songs express romantic sentiments, dealing honestly with subjects such as longing, conquest, jealousy and heartbreak.
There’s an element of voyeurism when one listens to this album, because we get the sense we’re overhearing messages meant for certain people specifically. It’s like listening to someone read a letter they wrote before sending it out. If there’s a consistent theme throughout LAPTOP AND A MIC, it’s one of perseverance and personal resilience, of overcoming obstacles and pushing forward.
Assuming the title of the album relates to the gear he’s working with in creating LAPTOP AND A MIC, production quality is quite good, all things considered. The mix is tight and overall the audio is ambient and non-abrasive. The title also serves as kind of metaphor for the artist’s minimalist and substantive approach. Nothing too flashy, just a guy “riding alone,” the engine of his creativity fueled by raw passion. My favorite types of indie hip hop albums are the ones that are intensely personal and sincere. This one definitely falls into that category. 2millie doesn’t attempt to emulate rap superstars or construct some cardboard, “larger than life” persona as a facade. He does not even seem preoccupied with being perceived as stylish. Rather, the focus here is on realism and facing the curves that life throws at you.
Hatemonger is a new single from Indian hip hop artist, Atishbaz (Mo Boucher). After a 6 year hiatus, Mo gloriously returns to the scene with this fresh and highly anticipated jam. Mo Boucher and his associates from the crew “Thugs Unit” are rumored to be the only Urdu rappers in the entire world. This particular song is pimp tight, and I have to say is one of the most interesting hip hop releases I’ve ever heard. It blends melodic elements from traditional Indian music with hip hop and even Jamaican vibes. While some of the lyrics are in Urdu, there’s a substantial amount of English spoken (as one might ascertain from the title) as well. A few listens, and I guarantee you’ll be singing along with lyrical gems like “Hatemonger! Round the clock I be spitting hate on ya!” The vocal interplay is impressively choreographed, and the structural dynamics of the sound are solid. This jam is musically, artistically and mathematically legit. The timing makes all the difference in this type of track, and it is on point here. The guys from Thugs Unit may be the only Urdu rap game in town, but they still manage to perform at a high level. Their upcoming album is called Resurrection 040. Be sure to keep an eye out for it.
In the Shit is the debut single from Georgia-based artist, QTdabutcha. QT lays it down eloquently in this lucid and frank track, which features haunting beats and faint piano melodies. The artist offers up a pressure cooked batch of emotion, refreshing in both its honestly and expressions of angst. QTdabutcha doesn’t hold anything back as he discusses his troubles and triumphs. The song combines elements of hip hop and soulful, old school R&B. In the Shit manages to pack quite a punch for its modest 2:38 runtime. There are a number of catchy lines repeated that make this jam a quietly memorable “sleeper hit.” QT obviously has some skills in the delivery/flow deparment and above average singing chops. This is a pretty solid debut, and more importantly it establishes QTdabutcha’s distintive style, which is actually unique.
Black Rose Project is the debut independent album from artist, Manny Maserati. Released on the Street Allure Music Group record label, this album contains a whopping 15 adrenaline packed tracks. Super stylish and occasionally retro backing music sets the stage for Manny’s no-nonsense delivery and commanding vocal presence. His lyrics are less cliche than those of most hip hop adjacent releases. He often goes into great detail and uses creative metaphors and similes, occasionally even incorporating medical terminology into his songs. I found myself wondering if maybe this guy even spent some time in med school. There’s a worldly “jack of all trades” element to his writing and just a ton of substance here.
The ambiance ranges from laid back to intense, but all songs are lively and action-oriented. For example, the title track Black Rose is formidably engaging, while Flooded Jewels is more of a getaway car jam. Black Rose Project is professionally put together, and it would still be impressive even if it wasn’t a debut album.
