Controlling tempo with percussion or a groove-powered bassline is one thing, but to take a verse and use it as an agent of movement and vitality takes skill on another level, which is essentially what B. West is wielding in his new single “The Narrative” this June. While some of …
Read More »Single Review: Mighty Koba “2 Many (ft. Jaey London)”
From the second the beat pounces on the melodic underpinning in “2 Many,” it’s pretty clear to the listener that the groove-powered afrobeat track is out to put us in a mood this June. Neither the chaotic grind of trap nor the artificial bassline of mainstream rap are present in …
Read More »Single Review: Najjah Calibur “I’m Good”
Some voices can do anything – from R&B to rock, jazz to country, these singers can cover just about any ground they lay their eyes on, and while I just got turned onto the music of Najjah Calibur this month, I have a feeling he might be one of these …
Read More »Single Review: AJ Smith “Better”
The concept behind the new music video for AJ Smith’s single “Better” is admittedly more cerebral than what you see in the bulk of indie-pop releases coming out of the underground this year, but its postmodern fusion of self-awareness, humility, and an understated longing that inevitably evolves into a brief …
Read More »Single Review: RM47 “Strangers”
A lot of acts spend the better part of their early careers searching for an identity, a signature sound, and even a jumping-off point from which to launch a narrative unto their audience, but this isn’t a problem plaguing RM47. “Strangers,” their inviting and fun new single and music video, …
Read More »Single Reviews: guUs “Baron Saturday” and “Moonhangin Man”
In the truest of blues and jazz music, hiding behind synths and samples isn’t an option – if you’re not able to exploit the credibility of a real harmony, an honest groove, or a heartfelt lyric, you don’t have a show to play. guUs’ sound, which veers between blues and …
Read More »Hard Rockers, Fate Will Come, Self-Titled Album Soars on Radio Charts with New Single
Fate Will Come’s latest single “The Cost”, off their new self-title album, is climbing international and national radio charts. Maybe it’s faith…or maybe it’s their impressive hard work ethic and undeniable talent. Either way, the hard rock band Fate Will Come have released an eponymous album that is gaining worldwide airplay traction …
Read More »Single Review: Albert Cummings “Meet the Man”
Against the shadows, Albert Cummings is standing in the lone ray of light in his music video for “Meet the Man,” and the symbolism of this expression isn’t hard to interpret. In a genre that has contemporarily slid into commerciality a little more each year for the better part of …
Read More »Single Review: Hitpapa “I’ll Be There” (feat. Emtee)
Hitpapa doesn’t just want to make another stock rap single, as many of his rivals seem more than content to do this summer, and that could be why he decided to team with another heavyweight indie player in Emtee for his latest single, “I’ll Be There.” In this song, these …
Read More »Single Review: Veve C “Breeze”
Don’t mistake the visuals in the new music video for Veve C’s “Breeze” to be a seduction sequence – rather than pandering to the standard among a lot of female rappers in her scene, this is one player who is presenting her personality straight-up and without the frills some build …
Read More »Single Review: Star2 “Big Bands” (feat. $tupid Young)
Sporting a west coast-style beat and melodic elements that are far more minimal than what I usually hear from this artist, Star2’s new single “Big Bands” feels like an homage to the old school, from its compositional construction to the featured artist helping him dish out the verses. As a …
Read More »Single Reviews: Major Spark “Run Run Run” & “Beautiful Noise”
Although the new singles “Beautiful Noise” and “Run Run Run” were both performed and produced by the same act in Major Spark, there’s a lot of contrast to be appreciated between these two tracks. “Beautiful Noise” brandishes simple melodies fused with compressed beats in an electronic dance fashion, but “Run …
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