YB Linkz Mixtape is a new release from hip hop artist, YB Linkz (formerly known as just “Linkz”). This EP features an ensemble of guest artists, including A.Vinchi, K.Reef, Koko Banx, Swelly OD, Kenni, Heavy Thought and Yun Nostra. This all-star cast combines forces to create a hip hop Voltron of chill. The songs are more melodic than the average hip hop jams out there, as YB Linkz has cultivated his own unique style, one which blends a variety of musical genres with his own fascinating backstory.

YB Linkz was born in Brooklyn to a musician father (reportedly signed to Universal Records) and cultivated an interest in making music from an early age. After a few unlucky breaks in the music industry, he ended up doing a stint in the Marine Corps of all places. To make a long story short, after going through some stuff, getting out of the marines and finally getting a couple of releases and party jams under his belt, he’s come out with this self titled mixtape.

The tracks utilize some very high quality beats, mostly synth driven. Along with the vocal effects and editing, a futuristic, almost “trip hop” atmosphere is created. It’s very smooth and ambient. My Life’s a Party may seem like a common title for a hip hop song, but I can assure you this is unlike most rap music you’ve heard. It has a very deep and hauntingly industrial sound. In a similar vein, Got What You Want blends a smooth, retro synth beat with contemporary charisma and a modern edge. The music flows creatively and contributing performers add a distinctive flavor to each track. All of these people can rap, and YB Linkz’s devotion to his collaborative associates and friends is admirable. They each get their shot at the limelight in these recordings, and the finished product has a more polished and complete sound as a result. For his part, YB Linkz has an assertive delivery and transforms his voice into a melodic musical instrument in its own right. This is a solid mixtape. YB Linkz clearly has passion and is absolutely driven when it comes to making music. Stay tuned for more from this guy.

For more info:

Website: https://yankyboilinkz.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yankyboilinkz/
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/yankyboilinkz

Don’t Play is a new single from Capo Corleone. The song also features B. Gullie and is a prelude to these two artists’ upcoming collaborative, effort Hawallywood. Blending hip hop with a plethora of other stylistic influences, Don’t Play stand out as having a unique sound. The groovy, unconventional beat is fronted by dual rap vocals. The lyrical delivery has subtle rock’n’roll and funk qualities to it, but the tone is very crisp and straightforward hip hop. Really excellent production on this track, perhaps partially owing to the artist’s background as a music industry executive. There’s effective usage of vocal layering, and everything sits cozily in the overall mix. Don’t Play is cool, catchy and keeps it classy at all times.

For more info:

https://www.instagram.com/bigcapeezy/

Nadie Se Entera is a new single from Puerto Rican artist, Raymon G. Also featuring Ralfy Haze, this track packs in quite a bit of intrigue and suspense into its modest runtime. The song is in a style known as “Urbano Latino” (which I am unfamiliar with, but one can quickly pick up on the vibe). Nadie Se Entera deals with the conflicting emotions experienced by a man and a woman who are having affairs behind each other’s backs. The lyrics are completely in Spanish, and the vocals are delivered in slightly hushed tones, as if whispering a secret in musical form. Synth driven beats take on a slightly futuristic character, while maintaining recognizably latin American undertones. As the complex narrative intellectually enhances the song, the music is vivacious and approachable enough for the average person to dance to it. Nadie Se Entera is brimming with sensual tension.

For more info:

https://music.apple.com/us/album/nadie-se-entera-feat-ralfy-haze/1501974251?i=1501974257

https://www.instagram.com/raymongoficial/

Kyd Money is a new, self-titled single by the LA rapper of the same name. This sizzling jam maintains its intensity from beginning to end, keeping you on the edge of your seat. Utilizing classic samples and a dope beat, Kyd Money lays down the lyrics assertively. With a delivery that’s pointed and clear, he demonstrates a great sense of timing. Strategic breaks and pauses are employed for effect at critical moments, giving the song the occasional spark to break up any potential potential monotony. The production is particularly good when it comes to the vocals, which are presented organically and without any unnecessary processing. Kyd Money has a good natural voice, that can stand on its own.This single makes a bold statement. The guy can actually rap, and he does so with inspired confidence confidence in this tasty little recording.

For more info:

https://www.instagram.com/kyd_money/
https://soundcloud.com/magnificent-king/kyd-money

I Can’t Sleep and Idk Why is a new EP from Florida-based artist, Wolf Mason. The songs deal with the artist’s struggles to come to terms with facing the real world. Overcoming the temptation to run away from his problems, he chronicles his challenges in a very sincere and self-aware manner. His lyrical delivery is sentimental and refreshingly humble. We’re treated to over 10 full minutes of pure, unadulterated soul searching. The backing music is mellow and at times almost resembles that of an indie alternative rock album (particularly on the last track). I get the sense that creating this EP was a very therapeutic experience for the artist. The lyrics will resonate with a lot of people, as the “coming of age” issues he grapples are very relatable. I Can’t Sleep and Idk Why doesn’t claim to have all the answers, but it makes for an enjoyable late night listen.

For more info:

http://www.instagram.com/wolf_mason/

Gedanke is a new EP from a 21 year old, Germany based pianist and composer, Vincent Krennerich. This soft and delightfully haunting release quietly mesmerizes with its atmospheric ambiance. Minimalist, piano driven melodies convey delicate emotions that straddle the fine line between blissful tranquility and rainy afternoon blues. These approachable recordings are brimming with class, yet do not contain any pretentious undertones. The songs have a cinematic quality to them, as though you’re listening to a contemplative, dramatic sequence in an avant garde film soundtrack. The final piece, Das Tal has particularly climactic and evocative moments. Gedanke is very reflective in nature, and whether or not one interprets the music as somber or uplifiting can be dependent on the individual listener’s mood at the time. From a technical standpoint, the music is very well done. The mix allows us to experience every meticulous detail of the piano sound, leaving nothing concealed or blurred. Even for its short duration, this is a mature release that subtly but powerfully explores various depths sentimentality.

For more info:

https://music.apple.com/us/album/gedanke-single/1502240020

Survival is a new single from King Du, a hip hop artist representing Brockton, Massachusetts. This tenacious anthem exlores the suffocating struggle of our “survival of the fittest” world. Embracing the realist mentality of “doing what you’ve gotta do,” King Du’s action oriented lyrics focus on perseverance and overcoming obstacles. The song is catchy and his use of a football running back as a visual metaphor is effective in conveying the central theme. He’s out there breaking tackles and just pushing whichever way he can to get those few extra yards ahead. King Du’s delivery is assertive and subtly motivational without coming across as arrogant or preachy. He presents as a humble guy just “aiming for a goal.”

The song has an unexpectedly cool guitar intro before the beat kicks in (for a few seconds I momentarily wondered if this might turn out to be an alternative rock song). Then track quickly transitions to a high octane beat and removes all doubt. There is some light processing on the vocals, as is common in contemporary hip hop and pop music, but it isn’t particularly excessive or distracting. For his part, King Du actually can rap well and at an impressive pace. He’s a skillful lyricist as well and does a fine job at constucting a cohesive narrative. While Survival doesn’t try to position itself as being profound, it absolutely captures the zeitgeist of the times we live in.

For more info:

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/kingdu/survival

Isolations Vol.1 is a new EP from 16 year old UK based artist, J D. This mellow lo-fi instrumental album is sonically pleasing. Analog warmth, subtle tape hiss, and the occasional crackle give the songs a classic, retro feel. Light synths/electric piano give these tracks a quietly roaring sound while the effects envelope them in an avant garde, rainy day ambiance. While the album is instrumental, certain song like Friendship do contain vocal samples (including a famous line from the film, Casablanca). My favorite track on this release is probably Bliss, which sounds like a cross between vintage video game music and a Super8 art film soundtrack. It’s just very beautiful. The final song, No New News features Farfisa like organ sounds, giving it a subtle Napoleon Dynamite vibe.

This EP is classified as “lo-fi,” but the production is so well done that even the most discriminating audiophiles would concede the sound quality is quite high end. Isolations Vol. 1 almost serves as a musical homage to old black and white movies. It captures their atmosphere with such clarity that you’ll feel like you’re right there in the frame. It’s a mood.

For more info:

https://soundcloud.com/j-d-890422938/sets/isolations-vol1

https://soundcloud.com/j-d-890422938/sets/isolations-vol1

1993 is a new EP from East Coast based artist, alexandrïa. This lo-fi alternative pop release is an avant garde mini-masterpiece. The vibe trends towards the dark, with alexandrïa’s vocals marked by jaded honesty and subtly seductive undertones. Her voice is hypnotic as she demonstrates lyrical depth and conveys afflicted sincerity. Her delivery style at times almost resembles an energetic spoken word poetry performance. Ultimately the songs deal with heartbreak in very authentic and realistic terms. It’s refreshing to see an artist with the aesthetic attributes of a popstar forgo all the overblown production and hype in order to create something organic and real. alexandrïa’s a creative and talented songwriter, and her endearing angst captures the spirit of lo-fi alternative. Raw emotion reverberates through these recordings. I haven’t heard anything like this in a long time. 1993 punches well above its weight.

For more info:

https://soundcloud.com/alexandriaintheclouds

https://soundcloud.com/alexandriaintheclouds/sets/1993-ep

Without You is a new release from China-based artist, Trivon. A mere teenager, Trivon is something of a child prodigy in working with Ableton and has been creating music since the age of 11. I have to say, I listened to many different versions of this song from various artists, and this is by far the best one. This piano driven jam features crystal clear vocals and excellent production. Trivon wisely avoids utilizing a lot of abrasive processing and sound gimmicks, opting instead to focus on sonic clarity and warmth. The whole thing just sounds very professional and achieves major label levels of mix quality. Without You as conceived by this artist is more of a radio friendly pop track than a high octane dance mix, but the song still contains enough energy and pep that you can dance to it if you’re in the mood. Trivon has also done similar remix style versions of songs like Ariana Grande’s Don’t Call Me Angel. I recommend you check out those as well. Trivon appears to be expanding into experimentation with other genres and musical forms. He’s very young but has demonstrated advanced skills so far and will only get better.

For more info:

https://www.james.su/
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