Londoner LIAM PHELAN delivers another irresistibly hazy fusion of neo-soul/hip-hop, adding a lick of some rock riffs through his latest single, ‘Far Away.’
following single, ‘Khao San Road’, released earlier this year, ‘Far Away’ is from Liam’s second EP, ‘Finding Love Over Wealth’ out this Friday (1st November).
Check it out below…
Brooklyn artist and sober lyricist POP BUCHANAN goes deep on his latest track ‘Only Human’.
Former Jaz-O protégé, POP BUCHANAN drops this track in celebration of his Birthday. Boasting an old-school vibe, ‘Only Human’, talks about the highs and lows of being a rapper, businessman, and alcoholic. POP BUCHANAN blends his evolution in business and the streets, with his spiritual consciousness.
He states; “On the road to riches we make many mistakes, and have many failures. This track is about perseverance and not giving up.”
Produced by Boom Bap producer Nudgi-Nudge this is a cool addition to the Sober Rapper’s catalog…check it out below…
THUGZ SNE‘s latest track,’We Ain’t The Same’, highlights all the things that separate him from the rest of the rappers of today.
The song starts with a sample of Brooklyn NY rapper Maino saying: “This year, I wanna be so honest… I wanna look a couple of these niggaz in their eyes and be like… Nigga…. I don’t like you” a sentiment that resonates all too well with the rest of the song.
The fast paced instrumental (pieced together by @farooqgotaudio) feels like the perfect foundation for such a brutally honest theme, apologetically stating: “we are not the same & I don’t like you” something which is made abundantly clear throughout the chorus.
The boisterous track also pays homage to the late great Nipsey Hussle by the way of: “I can never see you as my equal, fuck I wanna hear yo CD for?” a sample from his ‘Victory Lap’ single.
Available on all platforms, ‘We Ain’t The Same’ sets the pace for the next 12 months of singles and visuals. Get the taste of the first installment below…
GRIFF/SCORCESE‘s latest project, ‘Dream Team: A Stokely Hathaway Joint’ serves as a time machine, possessing mainly hazy boombap tones and, at times, a menacing b-line (mafia -style) inspired by the golden hip-hop era of the late eighties/early nineties.
In parts, the mammoth album leaves the nostalgic feeling and goes bang up to the date. ‘Slick Talk’ could be described as a union of old school and new school hip-hop, with a real slick flow that (personally) uncannily resembles the likes of Jay-Z.
Towards the end of the set, the guys gets all experimental with the genre, through ‘It’s Personal (Lucky Lefty)’ for example, where the distorted guitar riffs create a sound that’s disorientating yet soothing.
So if you fancy taking a journey with hip-hop through the years, well ‘Dream Team: A Stokely Hathaway Joint’ is your perfect guide…let me tell you; this is one bada** set. Check it out below…
Must Listens: Peruvian Encrusted Swordfish, Classie Freddie Blassie, Slick Talk, Flex Kavana
Taken from her debut eponymous EP, ‘Stop To Play’ is the latest single to be released from KELTOUM. The fast-emerging artist from France is already being compared to leaders in her field like Sade, Jill Scott and Erykah Badu as her neo-soul and pop influences caress from all sides. An original composer and player KELTOUM also brings to the table a unique French sensibility which demonstrates the sort of warmth felt by Janet Jackson or perhaps Alicia Keys at their most impassioned. The list of greats she could be compared to could go on but KELTOUM herself has struck her own blend of jazz and smoky vocal which is hard not to melt away to.
KELTOUM has already picked up fans across the board including some distinguished influencers like Gilles Peterson among others at Jazz FM and beyond. Her live show is also on another level as the energy of her trio seem to get the best of her tantalizing subtle soul voice bringing emotion to all who see her play, such as those who attended Gilles’ Worldwide festival in Sète last year where she completely bowled over the crowd.
Check out ‘Stop To Play below…and while you’re at it…take out and listen to her EP – ABSOLUTELY STUNNING.
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