Home Team is a new album from Atlanta-based hip hop artist, TazForte. Featuring high octane beats and a theatrical intensity, the backing music sets a high energy tone. TazForte’s delivery alternates between mellow and conversational to vigorously expressive. He has a distinctive vocal style, often manipulating his voice for effect and to serve as its own kind of instrument. The title track was a wise choice as Home Team is an instantly catchy song, that just entices you to wanna sing along right from the opening bell. What TazForte does effectively with most of the songs on this album is start them off low key and casual, until they have a moment where the beat just kicks in, and suddenly the jam is action packed. After a while, the listener begins to anticipate this, and it just adds to the excitement and suspense. The album has several solid songs on it, but main single Home Team is a potential hit. TazForte demonstrates some excellent songwriting and structuring ability on this release. He definitely has some skills and is a well rounded performer.

For more info:

https://music.apple.com/us/album/home-team/1532501953

Fuel is a new album from Philadelphia-based indie hip hop duo, Rhino Fight. The backing music is ethereal, sometimes bordering on psychedelic and has a warm, analog quality. While the delivery is mellow and laid back, the lyrics are substantive, containing everything from casual reflections on daily life to more in depth philosophical insights. The seemingly light-hearted nature in the performances is balanced by the captivating cerebral music which envelops them. The artists rap about everyday struggles romance, humor, sensuality and a host of other random subjects. My favorite track on here is probably Down With the Thickness, which has an awesome intro that sounds like something you’d hear in a suspenseful moment of 1960’s Star Trek episode. All of the music on this album is phenomenal, and consists of an eerie blend of retro synths, unidentifiable samples and crisp beats. Fuel is an artistically authentic, experimental hip hop release with a teriffic ambiance.

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Color Coated 2 is a new album from Detroit-based abstract artist, Lokye. Originally from NYC, Lokye (aka Brian H Newman) has been active in the Michigan art scene for over ten years and is the owner of Granny’s Chandelier, an art gallery in Hamtramck, MI. As we see with this latest album, the abstraction carries over into this artist’s musical endeavors as well. The sound blends elements of jazz, boom bap, avant garde hip hop and spoken word poetry. It reminds me a lot of underground 90s arthouse film soundtracks I remember when I was a teenager. The vibe is just very real and has an approachable, community oriented feel. Lokye’s delivery is powerful, which is remarkable given that he has a very mellow and sincere style, often coming across more like a stage poet performing in a theater troupe than a traditional rapper. He’s actually an impressive vocalist as well. While this is subtly apparent even on quasi-hip hop tracks like Neverland, on other songs like Kick Flip In Penthouse he goes into full-on lounge singer mode and does so beautifully.

Of course, while the musical backing is stylish and creates the perfect intimate, conversational atmosphere, the lyrics are rich with abstract, thought provoking commentary. According to Lokye, the album is about “living in abstraction” and seeking out understanding in the world. It chronicles the hardships people face as they build local communities with family and friends. One of the more straightforward hip hop jams is Small Business, which details the struggle of having opened an art gallery right before the pandemic hit. Ultimately though, the theme of this album relates to overcoming these kinds of obstacles on the path toward excellence. Color Coated 2 has 17 tracks, and the music is both enjoyable and inspiring.

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Alfa Romeo 2 is a new album from hip hop artist Aztro. In case you were wondering, there was a previous album, Alfa Romeo, which this appears to be a sequel of. We’re going to focus on the most recent release, since it’s hot off the presses.

The first thing I noticed about Alfa Romeo 2 is that it features some the raddest beats I’ve ever heard on a hip hop album. The retro-futuristic backing music consists of dreamlike synths that are sonically satisfying on every level, setting the listener up for a smooth ride. Atmospheric and surreal, the music elevates the album both intellectually and in terms of the relaxed “mood” it facilitates. It’s worth noting that DJ Dizzy produced all the beats and is also a featured performer on several tracks. Other artists like Kapp Kush and Kbo UKrazy make appearances on the album as well. It’s fitting that a producer with a name like “Dizzy Mcfly” would be involved in this production, given the exotic sports car motifs and general Back to the Future ambiance instilled in the recordings.

For his part, Aztro’s delivery is consistent with the quality of the beats. His style is mellow and business-casual. He has a conversational manner of rapping, that flows very well and matches the tonality of the music. His voice is extremely pleasing to listen to, and he demonstrates his rap skills without ever coming off like he’s trying too hard or posturing aggressively. He allows his performance to speak for itself. Also, the vocals have great clarity, and he doesn’t ruin the sound by tinkering too much with unnecessary effects and production gimmickry. In fact, the entire mix is clean and completely free of the abrasive elements typically found in hip hop releases, such as excessive processing and irritating sound frequencies.

Alfa Romeo 2 is better than almost anything you’ll hear on contemporary hip hop radio. (Do people still even listen to the actual radio?) The album has pretty much everything going for it: excellent production, catchy lyrics, talented (and marketable) performers and even a coherent theme. Musically it’s a complete success. Hopefully, it will receive enough exposure to send Aztro and his associates through the hip hop stratosphere. We’ll be looking forward to number 3 in the trilogy.

For more info:

IG: http://www.instagram.com/aztro_bynes
FB: http://www.facebook.com/aztrobynes
Sporify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2wsfaL8hJvUS16WKEC4yg3?si=djv6xzIuSQiUKS8jkqGlHA

Heart Full Of Pain is an upcoming mixtape from hip hop artist, Joe Solid. A second generation rapper (his father was a rapper also) born in Memphis, Joe Solid has accumulated his share of skills. He comes across as professional and experienced in his performance. One of the tracks on this release, Big Homie features a beat by Grammy nominated artist, Tony Fadd. It’s a high octane, theatrical jam and Joe Solid certainly does it justice. One of the more impressive aspects of his delivery is how he maintains a consistent flow at a brisk pace, without taking breaks or missing a beat. Seriously, this guy doesn’t come up for air.

Other tracks like Peace of Mind convey a more a soulful and R&B sensibility. These melodic songs demonstrate Joe Solid’s versatility as an artist, musician, and even vocalist. No Feelings is surprisingly sentimental and Joe Solid dives down deep for a rather personal and heartfelt tribute, while the robust Solid’s Back dials the intensity back up for an action packed power rap. Overall, this mixtape looks promising. The songs are constructed competently, musically enjoyable and rich with emotional substance.

For more info:

https://soundcloud.com/user-508486884

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

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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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.

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

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

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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