POST CATEGORY : Hip Hop

Karras – ‘Blades of Grass’

Karras is a rapper from America’s midwest who’s style finds a sweet spot between the grit of classic hip hop and off-kilter surrealism as he marries the mystical with manifest.

The latest from Karras is ‘Blades of Grass’ and it brings all the smooth, soulful and funky strutting vibes that you need in your life. Karras has an ear for melody and rhythm, and more pertinently, knows how to put it to good use and allowing space to enhance the potency of his lyrical prowess – all patently clear from even just the opening bars of ‘Blades of Grass’. It ambles along cooly, and calmly, over a seductive groove and rumbling bassline as lyrics are delivered unhurried and in his own time backed by dusty beats, funky riffs and stabs of brass. ‘Blades of Grass’ is a treasure trove of head-nodding, melodic and super smooth swaggering seduction that gets inside your head and refuses to leave; but hey, you’ll be all the better for it. 

Tune in below:


Justy – ‘Cool’

Justy is an independent musician & singer/songwriter from Staten Island, New York inspired by the likes of J Dilla, Amy Winehouse, NoName, and Lauryn Hill.

We were introduced to Justy’s delectable talents through debut record Soul Food earlier this year; a smooth, soulful and lush blending of hip hop, R&B, soul, jazz and pop, and filled with soul searching, heartbreak, loss, self-awareness and renewal. Building on these aforementioned attributes, Justy has returned with the aptly titled new single ‘Cool’. It is a smooth, woozy and super soulful coming together of lush hazy tones, syrupy melodies and seductive grooves as a gentle, warm strum is joined by subtle brass swells while soft beats patter below the chilled mellifluous vocals. In short; ‘Cool’ is another simply stunning and soulful cut from Justy – and one that will leave an ineligible mark on your soul.

Tune in below:


Shuko X Nia Wyn X KinKai – ‘I Ain’t Finished Yet’

Welsh soul singer Nia Wyn,  Manchester rapper KinKai and German producer Shuko have joined forces for a collaborative single on the latter’s label For The Love Of It.

The single, ‘I Ain’t Finished Yet’, is laid-back, lush and super smooth. Wyn lends her rich inimitable vocals as Shuko brings all the soothing jazzy vibes, seductive subtle grooves, soft brushed beats and layers of warm and colourful tones, and topped off exquisitely by the mellow and melodic vocals from KinKai. We’ve been following Nia Wyn’s rich, soulful and unmistakable sounds for a while now and never disappoints, and the same can be said for ‘I Ain’t Finished Yet’. It is one of the most smooth, seductive and mesmerising tracks you’re likely to hear – stunning.

Listen to ‘I Ain’t Finished Yet’ below now.


Just Geo – ‘Not in the Dance’

Last we heard from London Producer & DJ Just Geo was with the superb ‘Stick To My Guns’ with fellow Londoner, rapper and songwriter, Warrs McFreeman, and his latest single ‘Not in the Dance’ is just as electrifying.

Drawing influences from a wide variety of sounds, from old school Garage, grime and retro video game soundtracks, Just Geo has once again delivered something that is both fresh yet familiar. Beats rush and crunch like soft steps on gravel, while synths chime and peep while the melodic groove swerves with an all consuming dancey allure while soft, melodic and unassuming vocals flow above. Yet another super slick, smooth and perfectly packaged jam from Just Geo – it is a beaut.

Listen to ‘Not in the Dance’ below:

El Levtchenko – ‘Hopeton Overton’

We were introduced to Brazilian / American pairing El Levtchenko and their lush, sun-kissed and world encompassing sonic distillations earlier in the summer.

El Levtchenko’s sound is magpie like in the best way possible, their compositions borrow from a world of influences; there’s Cuban guitar music, a touch of hip hop, some Middle Eastern and African influences, funk and soul, and a whole lot of beautiful psychedelia. Their latest single is ‘Hopeton Overton’ and like its predecessor ‘Sunday Social’, has a suitably seasonal sound. A sort of a funk and dub fusion, ‘Hopeton Overton’ brings all the good vibes as it slinks and swaggers along a super seductive groove as a guitar chirps, ripples and twangs amid the hazy, dub-esque echoes. It is a catchy, feel good and vibrant jam that will work its way into your psyche and leave you all the better for it.

Check out the sunny delights of ‘Hopeton Overton’ below:

123 Mixtape – ‘Cloud Into River’

123 Mixtape is both the pseudonym of Producer/Mixer/Engineer, Brett Shaw and conveniently, the name of the project.

Shaw is better known for his work with Foals and Florence and the Machine among others but being at a loose end with no one else to record during lockdown, Shaw set out on a simple mission; make some music he’d like to listen to and share with friends. The fruits of his labour is 123 Mixtape which is released on August 24 and preceded by sublime single ‘Cloud Into River’. All recorded on old funky tape machines at 123 studios, ‘Cloud Into River’ oozes with coolness as it swaggers along a super seductive and irresistible groove. The funky bassline plumbs the depths of soul as soft beats ripple beneath the rich swells of brass and grandiose strings sweep by with an orchestral air and touch of pure class.

Listen to ‘Cloud Into River’ below, it is quite simply stunning!

Tebi Rex – ‘I Got My Whole’

Tebi Rex are a hip hop pairing – Max Zanga and Matt O – based in Maynooth, Co Kildare, who together craft slick and easy on the ear jams.

New single ‘I Got My Whole’ is a case in point; a lush, dreamy and sunny pop-infused track. It is a track of irresistible charm as the pair’s sweet, smooth and melodic vocals (delivering tongue in cheek lyrics) drift elegantly above a steady and seductive beat/groove al amid a plush and charming twinkling chime of shimmering synths and blanket of hazy electronic tones.It is a beautiful and delightfully addictive cut – one that will be stuck on your head for AGES.

Listen to  ‘I Got My Whole’ below.


Denise Chaila – ‘Chaila’

Limerick MC Denise Chaila has been on the up since the release of ‘Copper Bullet’ / ‘Duel Citizenship’ early last year but 2020 has been a big one.

In March Chaila appeared alongside other guests on God Know’s banger ‘Who’s Asking? South West Allstars Remix’ before a show stopping performance as part of Other Voices Courage 2020 series – and now, released a brilliant new single ‘Chaila’. A perfect blend of poise and poetry, it is slick, smooth and suave as it bobs along a ridiculously addicting groove and guitar riff – the latter is the hook that everything else is built on, providing an alluring platform for the syrupy smooth vocals to thrive as powerful and poignant lyrics. A superb track and one that’s been on constant rotation for the best part of the summer.

Listen to ‘Chaila’ below:

AfriCali – ‘Daughters of the Sun’

AfriCali is a California-based musical collective embracing a broad base of influences as evidenced by their work to date; a journey of musical exploration and fusion of sounds.

Their latest single ‘Daughters of the Sun’, and indeed the album in which it is lifted from Taught Of A Culture captures the very essence of what Africali and their sound is all about. It is a jazzy and soulful cut with a funky base-line that swaggers along a seductive groove and soft beats while guitars twang amid the sun-kissed shimmering feedback. A genre-hopping jam mixing up afrobeat, rock, pop, and hip-hop and topped with coastal-psych seasoning and catchy melodies. A superb, seductive and sunny groover – tune in below.

Listen to ‘Daughters of the Sun’ below and if that is to your liking, check the album here.

Introducing: SadoSan

SadoSan is a hip hop artist hailing from the Bronx, New York. His style is effortlessly cool, steeped in soul, delivered from the heart and super smooth.

SadoSan’s latest work is nine-track EP Special Moves, arriving on July 3, it encapsulates what he is all about in 12 plus minutes – as do taster cuts ‘Infinity’ and ‘Anti-Air’. The former sees SadoSan team up with fellow NYC native Sentry Sinvil for a vocal match made in heaven. as the pair’s bars work beautifully together and compliment one another exquisitely; one laidback and dusky, the other brighter and sweeter. The pairs’ vocal waltz is played out against a woozy and melodic backdrop that flows over lush and seductive grooves, soft dusky, brushed beats and all illuminated by parps of hazy brass.’Anti-Air’ is of a similar vintage; a melodic, seductive and super smooth marrying of lush hazy tones with seductive grooves as rich, soulful vocals flow over dusty beats, distant fading parps of brass amid a dusky air. Two bewitching and super smooth introductions to both SadoSan and the new record.

Listen to ‘Infinity’ and ‘Anti-Air’ below now and remember, the Special Moves EP is out on July 3.