This right here is an exceptional single. I have pledged my dinosaur alliegance to rap music here many a time, but I still appreciate the modern EDMR&B wave that’s been blossoming in parallel with the explosion of our 802 hip hop scene. Kitsune takes a reserved approach in the booth, but it serves his songwriting and better still, he’s got a very mature sense of how to get the most out of small touches. Sonically, “Catch Me If You Can” is audacious & gorgeous, taking just enough risks to carve out a unique space without getting too muddy or raw. One of the best submissions I’ve gotten this year, looking forward to what this young gentleman has on tap next.
Classic vibes from two young emcees who love what they do, the energy here is pure spring and very contagious. The Funky Diabetic has been building a real buzz with his high energy live shows and hungry work ethic. FOZ. is gearing up for a big 2023, capitalizing on his connections & acclaim and working on a followup to his 2022 LP Building Blocks.
Hot damn, this is a show-stopper. The closing track of D.FRENCH’s excellent new project West End North Side is both heartfelt and perfectly orchestrated, a slow, thoughtful song that ends on a high note with a crazy raw Kasidon feature. He’s always been an outstanding spitter, but after the wild experimentation of their guessWHO project, he’s got a newfound control over his voice as an instrument that shines through on this take.
A speaker-folding new single from Kami Ok! that showcases a killer performance from Phoenix Ashby, a standout from 2022’s freshman class. It’s a nimble, melodic verse that makes the most of his raspy pipes and inherent sense of flow. Kami Ok! remains, of course, effortless radio gold. It’s a strong duo.
I missed this when I dropped, but it’s a strong, atmospheric banger — and further proof that Topia is drawing from a deep well of talent and still has a lot more facets to reveal. Alongside new wave kingpin Hakim XOXO and Cooper Rexroad, this is a workout demonstration of modern style. You can catch Topia and Hakim XOXO at the upcoming NSPB Live show at … well, it’s one of those “DM for Address” type deals.
Raw Deff’s latest, Ghost Orchid, is a knockout. And apparently it’s just a sampler before the real album. The man is a monster, as “This One” proves. The beat is a crushing hit, and it’s courtesy of Jarv. Like I’ve said a lot, people sleep on his skills behind the boards because he’s so flashy on the mic.
This is yet another great video from the prolific Sammy Chan TV, who brings a gently psychedelic color scheme to table this time around. It’s a simple enough shoot, but he makes the most of movement, camera angles, and of course, that bonkers lighting. As ever, Yung Breeze and YM keep it all impeccably 90’s on this bright, horn-driven throwback. It’s grimy and luxurious all at once. Dig it.
Another hard-won blast of positivity from Real Ricky, who has carved out a real fanbase in BTV off the strength of his live shows and sheer hunger. That’s still not enough, of course, and he’s aiming to make 2023 his year. Then again, so is everyone else, so this will be a pretty amazing horse race to witness.
Neverendingspliff is the rap alias of skateboard legend Jordan Maxham, who has been dropping light work verses on Instagram for awhile now, many of them quite fuckin’ hilarious. “Safe Place” is a much different animal; a personal and introspective track over some low-key jazzy production — a whole-ass song. And it’s a solid debut. If I hadn’t heard him talk before I’d think the voice was an affectation, but that’s just him, rapping. I’m very interested to see if this side hustle evolves into a more serious project in the near future.
Brand new video from Conmac, and hot damn, does this ever look good. Elias Gillen is one of a handful of new young videographers shaking up the scene (big shout to the HOLY SMOKES team of Pat & Seamus Brennan, too) and Mr. Gillen is clearly determined to keep leveling up every time. If Conmac sustains this level of quality control all year? Sky is the limit, bud.