Queen and SLim is a beautifully rendered track. The song succeeds because of its constituent elements. There are nods to late-1990s R&B and gospel genres here, a bit of Jay-Z, and production that is inspired from the early days of Kanye’s production. There’s a narrative that is weaved through the entirety of the track that will have fans hanging onto every word, while the range that the vocals achieve here…
On “No Dey Lie”, Ugotaya is able to get listeners out on the dance floor. The catchy beat that comprises the backdrop for the song will immediately have fans’ toes tapping, while there’s a bit of hope that is presented in Ugotaya’s voice that will brighten one’s day. There’s a timeless flair that drips off No Dey Lie that ensures that fans of any era of popular music and of…
Drunk Mass has a video that really hammers home the titular state of the track. The song itself straddles the line between rap and pop. There’s nods to the mid-oughts Atlanta scene and the more dreamy, complex flow of performers like Kid Cudi and Chance the Rapper. Drunk Mess includes a feature with Young Thug that is a welcome boost to the momentum of the song’s second half. Listeners will…
On Break Mine, Kelsey Coleman is able to craft a catchy pop track that not only acts as an ode to any romance that has broken down but as some of the most emotionally intense music we’ve heard so far this year. The track benefits from multiple instrumental layers, from the snapping sound to sequenced drums and hints of distorted guitar work. The track whips into high gear with a…
Daydream iis a tender and touching track that is able to effortlessly move through new age, classical, and flamenco approaches with the greatest of ease. The arrangements that listeners will find during this track are able to ferry the single’s narrative in a way that few vocalists can. The gradual increase in the track’s tempo will have fans on the edges of their seats. Daydream’s percussive elements play at the…
My Friend Hip Hop is a love story to rap music. By going through the entirety of 1990s rap styles with quite a few stylistic nods to California, NYC, and Louisiana. I feel that the switching out of sounds throughout this song is a strong stylistic decision that ultimately makes the resulting song that much stronger. My Friend Hip Hop is infectious, with a backing beat that will bounce around…
With their cover of Mad World, Me And My nightmare are able to ramp up the pop approach while keeping the bleakness of the original. The vocals bring in hints of Madonna and Shirley Manson while the backing instrumentation adopt equal amounts of industrial and EDM. What results is a version of this modern classic that is purely Me And My Nightmare’s own. Ample synths and sequenced percussion sweep over…
Pierre Porter’s “Marry Me” is a wonderful call back to the pop and R&B music of the late-oughts. There’s a bit of Akon, some Trey Songz, and a whole heaping of Pierre Porter’s own approach that can be picked out here. Marry Me is an honest pitch to the other part of a relationship. The song’s got enough in the way of hooks to work well without context on pop…
FreeWorld’S “D-Up (Here’s To Diversity)” is one eclectic track that draws upon the corpus of music from 1960 until today. There are so many musicians that are contributing to the overall sound established in this sound. The true testament to their ability has to be how cohesive the finished work is. there’s a style that is crafted during this single that ties in funk, soul, jazz, and blues. The bit…
Fresh Da Zoe’s “No Sleep” is catchy as all get out. This track will immediately draw listeners in with haunting keys and Fresh Da Zoe’s beastly flow. Fresh Da Zoe is one of the raw rappers that is able to deliver line after line without taking a breath. This is Em’s Rap God meets a Twista level of intensity. The story that is told during No Sleep will be something…
Lemme Go Talk My Ish had Red Shaydez shooting out some serious fire. The rapid-pace approach that the rapper hits here is matched perfectly with acerbic synths and a booming bass beat that will shake windows. Red Shaydez is able to craft a track in Lemme Go Talk My Ish that is able to hang with the highest echelon of rap music while allowing her to infuse the track with…
Sparkle’s “Easy” is a laid-back R&B track that showcases the silken vocals and thick bass lines of the composition most prominently. While the song is grounded in the style of late-1990s and early-oughts pop, there’s a contemporary approach and modern production that ensures that the song is able to hang with what’s currently garnering attention. Sparkle’s track will bury itself deep into the hearts and minds of listeners, all while…
There is nothing worse than hearing that a loved one has a critical illness. Even when a person has been sick for some time, a terminal diagnosis can be devastating. After the initial shock passes, you will have to get ready to deal with the realities of a terminal illness. You might have to talk about death and plan for end-of-life care. These conversations are painful, but you can follow…
Cheri Moon’s “Ain’t I A Woman” will immediately draw attention. There’s a tremendous groove that is crafted at the onset of the song between the guitars, drums, and bass. Cheri’s vocals are able to spin the song in a bold new direction, with the vocal range that she hits here in the same vein as the virtuosic playing that preceded it. Ain’t I A Woman’s narrative will have fans going…
The Remedy (Feel Alright) is our first experience jumping into Xavier Toscano’s music in the last few years. I feel that the music coming from his camp is a bit more firm, a smidge more coherent, and as a result, is that much more ready for playlist placement. Xavier’s vocals are front and center here, hitting fans over the head with a message of “do whatever makes you happy”. Made…
WHATCHUGOT is an effort that is incredibly difficult to pin down. This means that the track is able to come forth with a special blend of 1980s new wave, modern EDM, and hints of indie music. Inzerra’s work here is impressive enough that listeners could easily imagine hearing this tune on 1980s radio stations. There’s the same vim and vigor of a Duran Duran or Peter Gabriel here, while the…
Sin For Saints’s “Sad Songs” is a track that links together the Chicago emo approach of acts like Boys Night Out and Panic at the Disco with a harder-edged rock approach. Moving between these poles, Sin For Saints is able to keep listeners firmly planted on the edges of their seats with charismatic lead vocals, intense drum work, and a rapid set of switches of tempos. Sad Songs has a…
Shonte Renee’s new single “Pretty Girlz” draws upon the R&B of the 1990s and the pop of the early 2000s for inspiration. What results here is a high-energy, dance-infused track that has cotton candy-sweet vocals. The bright and sunny style of Shonte Renee here is matched perfectly with sweeping synths and immaculate arrangements. With her Pretty Girlz, Shonte is able to offer up a timeless track that allows her ample…
Jameel Mason’s “Black Queens” is an introspective and thoughtful track that is wholly uplifting for the titular subject. The backing arrangements do well in providing a colorful backdrop upon which Jameel’s flow can shine. This means that there are emotive synths as well as booming bass and drum beats kicking in all while Jameel puts forward his message. In this frankly depressing period of humanity, it’s always good to hear…
“No Kizzy”, the latest effort from Snypa and Lil Duke has a booming beat and a downright evil sound to the backing instrumentation. Distinguishing the single from the rest of the music currently garnering attention on rap playlists, the duo is able to refresh mumble rap and mid-oughts Atlanta rap like no others could. No Kizzy is the sort of track that will begin to get listeners back onto the…