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Hip Hop

Roy Wood$ – Drama (Feat. Drake)

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Tune into the classic r&b silly-as-f boyfriend-honesty-awesomeness, slick bass-line and compelling meld of vocals on new Drake joint “Drama” which showcases the immense promise of 19-year-old Brampton (Toronto suburb) vocalist homeboy Roy Wood$ who we recently discussed in regards to Krs’s newest bootleg endeavor “All Of U”; which is a slightly more upbeat percussively-textured bass-heavy take on Wood$’s track “All of You”. As you might recall Roy Wood$ wowed us on his original track with his superbly impassioned MJ Reverbing vocals and we are not surprised to discover how much we enjoy his super-fresh accompanying vocals on “Drama” (to the one and only Drake). Evidently the refreshingly light-hearted r&b-bent track is one of several Drake pet-projects (fellow Canadian) that aired on the debut OVO Sound Radio show on Beats 1 via Apple Music. Stay tuned and be sure to check out Roy Wood$’s upcoming project EXIS which is scheduled to drop sometime in 2015. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Roy Wood$ (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
07-16-15

Egyptian Art – She’s So Lovely (Kendrick Lamar x abhi//dijon)

egyptianart

New B3 producer/artist-find Egyptian Art carefully seams together form and function with style and pizzaz on their new gracefully-executed ultra-smooth beat-driven hybrid remix “She’s So Lovely” which we especially dig for its deep sweepingly-cinematic vibe, glossy absolute-winner bass-line adaptation, and seductive dynamic between synth, beats and vocals. “She’s So Lovely” is an irresistibly catchy artfully-crafted well-calibrated mesh of abhi//dijon’s “Honest” and Kendrick Lamar’s track “Poetic Justice”. Excellent track. We are listening Egyptian Art. A+ Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Egyptian Art (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
07-15-15

Dallas Cotton – Writer’s Block

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In June we highlighted the lavishly atmospheric instrumentals and remarkable production talent of Portland producer/DJ Dallas Cotton on his fantastic disco-leaning house track “Sometime”. The versatile young rising-star producer impresses us again with a head-turning ultra-smooth sultry-saxed new one called “Writer’s Block”, which revels in a gorgeous evocative jazz groove and seamless sample from Tribe Called Quest’s epic tune, “1nce Again”. A short and sweet, inventive mesh of hip-hop and stunning jazz instrumentals “Writers Block” is one of the best fusion tracks we have heard in ages. We love it. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Dallas Cotton oregon (Facebook)

reviewed by
07-08-15

Statik Selektah – In the Wind (Feat. Joey Bada$$, Big K.R.I.T. & Chauncy Sherod)

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NYC-based radio-DJ/producer and Showoff Records founder Static Selektah chose an opportune 7/7 date to launch his new star-studded and seamlessly-executed Lucky 7 album; which includes an excellent talent-packed out-with-a-final-bang new single “In The Wind” that hit yesterday as a lead-in to Static’s midnight album-release party at NYC’s Santos Party House. Static’s new track “In The Wind” (which is Lucky 7’s fifth and final pre-release track after “Crystal Clear”, “All You Need”, “Top Tier” and “Beautiful Life”) excels for its wax-philosophical smoothly-stated rhymes and life-is-an-inspiration so lead by positive example equals power message. We also dig the track’s 90’s-esque lyrical styling, bass guitar accents from Brady Watt and distinctly-NYC quintessential-Static blend of hip-hop with soul and jazz instrumentals; including Static’s picturesque meld of beats and horns with heavy metallic percussion. We love the deeply-ponderous positively-charged rap-flow of Joey Bada$$, a sweet and demure chorus hook from Charlie Red’s Chauncy Sherod, and the creative “spittin’ bars” acapella-style ending from southern rapper Big K.R.I.T (who laments that Static won’t give him any beats). We’re into it and look forward to checking out the other songs on the album; although word on the street states that “In The Wind” is the standout track. Excellent song. Reviewed By Erin Shay.

Statik Selektah newyork (Official) (Facebook)

reviewed by
07-07-15

Rejjie Snow – All Around the World

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Young London-based Dubliner Alex Anyaegbunam a.k.a. Lecs Luther and better known as hip-hop poet-mystic rapper/producer Rejjie Snow whose unique R&B rapper lyrical style features a careful soft-edged flow that our attention back in 2013 on “Black Pancakes” releases new track. “All Around the World”, Rejjie’s genre-blurring Neptunes-influenced Annie Mac-featured Cam O’bi-produced latest song waxes philosophical about such reverberating tides as “love and death”. The track is one of the first releases to follow Rejjie’s 2013 “Rejovich” EP. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Rejjie Snow ireland (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
06-26-15

starRo – I Will (Feat. Jay Prince)

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Talented Japanese-bred LA-based multi-instrumentalist musician/producer and Soulection artist starRo, who excelled on his Jan-released euphoric seduction of the senses remix of “At Your Best (You are Love)”, impresses again on his new smoothy melodic gorgeous-beat-driven original “I Will”; which began as an instrumental/beat track until the song met its perfect match with the mellow-poet vocals of rising star London rapper Jay Prince, who we last covered on B3 for his sultry beat-poppin R&B/hip-hop fusion anthem track “Polarioids”. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

starRo california (Facebook) (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
06-25-15

Krs & Romby – Cha Cha (Feat. Tierra Wilson) (D.R.A.M.)

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Electro producer and Noir Sound founder Krs. teams up with TX producer pal Romby and songstress/guitarist Tierra Wilson on a beautifully understated beat-enhanced acoustic-vibe fix of hip-hop track of the moment “Cha Cha” from VA indie artist D.R.A.M.. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Krs. (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
06-17-15

Rkwhy – Destiny

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Get into the Raekwon-esque chill-zone of new track “Destiny” the smooth and vocally gorgeous, melodic hip-hop track by seventeen year-old beat smith Rkwhy, who we recently featured on the B3 blog for his lush 8-song mixed-tape collaboration “Shrine” which he created with Atlanta artist .&.

Rkwhy (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
06-10-15

A-Cross – I Know

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Chicago’s wordsmith rapper-MC Alexander Ross, better known as A-Cross, impresses with his magnetically-wise angsty verse and impeccable melange of grounding Screwaholic-produced beats on hip-hop standout track “I Know”. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

A-Cross (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
06-09-15

Cali Cam – I Don’t Really Care

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West coast hip-hop rapper represent CaliCam (a.k.a. Champagne Charlie) joins forces with multi-genre electro producer Masego on new track “I Don’t Really Care” which excels for its fusion of a slick, catchy rhyme flow and jazzy-trip-hop instrumentals. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Cali Cam california (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
06-08-15

Jonwayne – Passing Fancies

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Stones Throw Records presents their 2013 Cassette 2 which features “Passing Fancies” the awesomely sublime rap track from producer-rapper multi-talent Jonwayne who is low key one of the best rappers out right now. A potent meld of expansive melody, Jonwayne’s signature masterful rhymes and a subtle grounding beat makes “Passing Fancies” as fresh in 2015 as it was upon first release. Reviewed by Erin Shay.

Jonwayne california (Soundcloud)

reviewed by
06-08-15

Drake – On a Wave (Feat. Tinashe)

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The genre of “Drake leak” is at a volume peak right now as the ramp up to Aubrey’s Views From the 6 LP is in full motion. The Tinashe-assisted “On a Wave” follows Beyonce-collab “Can I” in a simiarly styled latter-days “40” minimalist feel. A simple melange of piano and a four bar synth figure carry much of the track’s instrumental weight while D & T rhyme poetic on the subject “my schedule is busy”. “On a Wave” is great and probably our favorite of the post-Nothing Was the Same Drake tracks. If you’re not into Drake, we can’t be friends.

Drake (Twitter)

reviewed by
05-27-15