POSTS TAGGED : Hip Hop

Pharoahe Monch & Buckwild – ‘Get Down’ (Remix)

Pharoahe Monch, one of the finest emcees to pick up a microphone, joins forces with revered, veteran hip-hop producer Buckwild, and the resulting track is unsurprisingly spectacular.

Pharoahe Monch & Buckwild are no strangers to each other having worked together on some of Organized Konfusion’s classic albums, and their latest collab ‘Get Down’ (Remix) comes with all the allure and chemistry that characterised their previous work. It is a jazzy, reflective track that drifts along a super seductive groove flanked by vibraphone and snapping drums as it slaloms through a hazy chilled air while Monch’s flawless raps flow smoothly and melodic in the space left to breathe. Smooth, melodic and entrancing – it is just superb!

Check out ‘Get Down’ below:

BURNT – ‘Shadows’ (feat. Frank Lasalona)

California-based outfit BURNT craft a soulful blend of reggae, ska, punk and hip-hop sounds with psych brushstrokes, and inspired by DIY artist subculture, they have independently produced 10 albums since forming in 2003.

Lifted from recent album Reaching for the Sun, latest single ‘Shadows’ features Frank Lasalona on vocals and provides a superb introduction to their wears in four minutes flat. It swaggers along a deep and seductive groove while the collective energy and hypnotic power of reggae vibes bathed in flourishes of bleary eyed psych and Latin flavours, making for a companion for Lasalona’s richly smooth vocals to flow. A wonderful amalgam of hip-hop and reggae with a soulful core that will leave it’s mark you and powerless to resist its magical charms.

Check ‘Shadows’ below and the album is here if that is to your liking:

Justy – ‘Rinse, Repeat, Regress’

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 some super singles last 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 new single ‘Rinse, Repeat, Regress’. It is a smooth, soulful and super chill tune as soothing melodic vocals cruise cooly above a gentle bed of pattering beats and seductive groove. ‘Rinse, Repeat, Regress’.is totally captivating and marked by impactful lyricism and deep emotional weight as it slinks through a woozy atmosphere peppered with lush melodies, sunny tones and chill vibes. As with previous releases ‘Cool’ and ‘Love Letter, Pt.3’, ‘Rinse, Repeat, Regress’ is yet another reminder of why we should look forward to the arrival of Justy’s forthcoming debut album, which is in the works at the moment. 

For now, tune in to ‘Rinse, Repeat, Regress’ below.


Deyah – ‘Ultimate Dinner Party’

Fresh off the back of winning the Welsh Music Prize 2020 with excellent album Care City, Cardiff MC & producer Deyah, has returned with brand new single ‘Ultimate Dinner Party’.


The new single continues a trend established by the excellent self-produced and self-released Care City; real prowess for honest, personal and introspective tales backed by laid-back vibes and slick beats. A warm but wistful synth purrs amid a hazy nocturnal air, marked by an overwhelmingly laidback, chilled vibe while a slick, snappy and quite skittish beat ping pongs around the woozy atmosphere. As great as this is, everything is secondary to Deyah’s voice. A rich soulful voice delivering an honest, personal and powerful tale with a distinct and precise lyrical flow. Deyah is one of the most exciting and unique artists to cross my path in a while, no word of a lie, ‘Ultimate Dinner Party’ has been on repeat for the past two weeks. Simply superb.

Listen to  ‘Ultimate Dinner Party’ below now and while you’re at it, check out Care City as well.

El Levtchenko – ‘After Hours’

We were introduced to Brazilian / American pairing El Levtchenko and their lush, sun-kissed and world encompassing sonic distillations throughout 2020 – offering beautiful and beguiling bouts of escapism as they did. 

El Levtchenko’s sound is magpie like, in the very best way possible, borrowing 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 ‘After Hours’ is – like previous singles ‘Hopeton Overton’ and ‘Sunday Social’ – a perfect exposition of their well honed style. It is an intoxicating brew, built on seductive grooves and cool, calm and chilled vibes, offering a zen-like state as it drifts along a funky, hypnotic groove as guitars chime and chords strut their languid wares amid the late night vibes. This is super chill, beautifully addictive and mellow, while oozing nocturnal vibes, it is a tune make the day better no matter the hour.

Check out the sunny delights of ‘After Hours’ below:


Sal Dulu – ‘Alien Boy 96’

Dublin-based producer Sal Dulu has established a rep in this neck of the woods for fabulous hip-hop flavoured electronic productions with a series of stellar singles last year; ‘Duluoz Dream’, ‘Antasma’ & ‘Tyko’, ‘Buzzcut’.

Continuing this rich vein of form, Sal Dulu has returned with a hypnotic new single ‘Alien Boy 96′ and taster track from his forthcoming debut album, penned for an early 2021 release. It is yet another beautiful piece of instrumental hip hop that transfixes it slinks along a hypnotic groove, underpinned with dusty beats, jazz-inflected keys and slo-mo melodies. A fuzzy ambience and downtempo chill-out vibes, collides with snatches of eerie vocal peek through the atmospheric swirl. It is dreamy and hypnotic, cinematic and escapist, and most importantly a wonderful insight to what we can expect from his album come the new year.

Listen to ‘Alien Boy 96’ below now:

Checkmate Corleone – ‘Southpaw’

Checkmate Corleone is a Los Angeles rapper who’s style draws inspiration from hip hop, R&B, rock, jazz and country.

Latest single ‘Southpaw’ is a slick, smooth and seductive groover. It flows majestically along a bubbling bassline that mingles with head-nodding, shuffling percussion submerged amid a lush sea of subtle and melodic instrumental touches amid woozy vibes and layered sunny charms. ‘Southpaw’ oozes with all the smooth and soulful seduction while Checkmate Corleone gently reveals his greatest attribute; his smooth, smokey voice and melodic delivery.

Tune in to ‘Southpaw’ below:


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:


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: