ROUNDUP: The Wake-Up Call

Once again, this installment of the occasional ROUNDUP column is 100% focused on artists who don't get enough shine. Some of them are being mentioned here for the first time ever. That makes for a highly mixed bag, of course: not everyone is ready for the spotlight.

That said, here it is anyway.

Adnan Djozo - On To The Next

I love the aesthetic: this cat just loops up some sweet, simple, swinging drum loops and then vibes out on the keyboard. And it works pretty much every single time. I have enjoyed everything on his Soundcloud over the past year and dude just keeps improving. I'm surprised more 802 emcees aren't hitting up Adnan Djozo for production, but these things take time.

Creezy Bands - Stories

I was told that Creezy Bands put in more work than anybody in 2022, and holy shit, there is a case to be made there. His Soundcloud is a vertical wall of singles, and you have to scroll down for a long damn time to reach 2021. "Stories" was a standout cut on his Big Bands, Small City project, which just dropped this week. Put a promo team behind this kind of output and his 2023 might become a major story.

SlomoboyZ - reasons ft. Hakim XOXO

The SlomoboyZ crew are completely inscrutable, weird as fuck, enjoyably insane. "reasons" is a small slice of their recent release entitled, ahem, "The Legend of the SlomoboyZ - Act 1: SunSflameS." That project is perhaps best enjoyed in full, but this sample featuring Hakim XOXO should give you an immediate sense of whether or not you're ready for that.

Topia - Different ft. Isaac and the Brain

Another baffling cut, but don't misconstrue me, "Different" was a highly enjoyable ride on the good headphones. The vocals here are often more textural than lyrical, leaning out into the plugin abyss so far they're more like instrumental solos. And it's cool. Topia's catalog is worth digging through, lots of creative approaches to melodics instead of the same minor key trap intervals everyone else uses.

yung dor - NOTTA PLAYER (REMIX)

I was flat out surprised by how smooth this was. Right on, bud. yung dor handles what could have been an awkward recording session with charisma and range, nailing persuasive takes as both rapper and singer here. Poking around the rest of the catalog, it's clear this is a young artist finding their way, but hot damn, lots of potential here.

Phoenix Ashby - Pimp Anarchy

Phoenix Ashby is a young artiste who brings a lot of flavors to the table. In the second half of 2022, his quality control has been improving sharply with every drop. He’s got a dynamic voice, a punk aesthetic, and can write some choice lines, too, so it will be fascinating to watch Mr. Ashby evolve further next year.

4EYE$ - This One ft. Be Rich

No question, ol' boy has some hard work to do on both the performance and production fronts, but I have to give him credit for sticking to what he knows. Considering where we are, it's sad how few songs about driving around in trucks get submitted to my inbox. That said, this track is still more demo than finished song. The bar is set very high these days when it comes to making an impression.

Yung Pharma - The Third

Finally, a slice of, well, I'm at a loss here, I admit. Why doesn’t this click? No question, the kid can write some rhymes. The flow patterns bob and weave, and the cadence is pretty on point throughout, too. But overall, it's so full-spectrum corny that it's hard for me to sit through. That beat is not helping. Either way, there is probably a huge market for this, so perhaps Yung Pharma will dominate the industry for decades to come. Long may he reign.