Category: Songs of the Day

Song of the Day: Feel It – POP Buchanan (ft. Planet Asia)

Released via Grand Echelon, ‘Just Feel It,’ is an instant classic boom bap collaboration featuring Brooklyn’s rapper POP BUCHANAN and legendary West Coast artist PLANET ASIA. Produced by the talented ED-APE, this track taps into the profound power of hip-hop, capturing its essence and making listeners feel invincible.

‘Just Feel It’ showcases Planet Asia‘s sonic mastery and dope flows, who passes the lyrical baton to POP Buchanan, giving him the green light to spit fire. This collaboration merges the best of West Coast boom bap with East Coast energy, creating a powerful and dynamic track.

POP Buchanan, a partner of NJ producer Nudgi-Nudge adds ‘Just Feel It’ to their ever-evolving catalog. POP Buchanan goes hard on the song, addressing themes like community empowerment, staying aligned, and personal elevation. Planet Asia delivers his signature lyrical heat, emphasizing freshness, and upgrading sound, style, and bars. Together, they make a compelling contribution to the ever-evolving hip-hop scene.

With over 11 years of sobriety, hip-hop artist, author, and entrepreneur POP Buchanan channels his journey of recovery into his music, podcast, and writing. He is the host of the “Sober is Dope” podcast and the author of the “Sober is Dope” book. As a recording artist, POP Buchanan delivers powerful lyrics that blend personal experiences with broader themes of empowerment and self-improvement. His innovative work extends to the digital art world, where he creates compelling NFTs. POP Buchanan continues to inspire and uplift through his multifaceted artistic endeavors.

Legendary West Coast hip-hop artist, Planet Asia is known for his lyrical prowess and authentic sound. Hailing from Fresno, California, Planet Asia has been a prominent figure in the underground hip-hop scene since the late 1990s. He gained recognition with his debut album How the West Was One and has since released numerous critically acclaimed projects, collaborating with notable artists such as Talib Kweli, Ras Kass, and Evidence. Renowned for his intricate rhymes and smooth delivery, Planet Asia continues to influence and inspire the hip-hop community with his timeless music and undeniable talent

‘Just Feel It’ is out now for your pleasure…listen below…

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Song of the Day Cold Water – Tom B (ft. Lucy Wroe)

Hailing from London, experimental producer TOM B‘s single ‘Cold Water’, featuring long-time collaborator, Lucy Wroe, is an unapologetic statement on the music industry as an independent artist. It embodies all the frustration towards gatekeeping and the devaluation of independent artists. Cold Water can also be felt as an ode to women in the industry, trying to navigate the border between ‘playing the game’ and maintaining self-respect.

Lucy says: “The title itself is a metaphor for the industry. Feeling submerged in Cold Water; regularly feeling the numbness left in the wake of bad experiences, which are all too common on the independent music scene”

Tom says: “You spend enough time in a scene or a circuit, you slowly figure out what the game is and how to play it. Eventually, we got to the point where we thought ‘do we make music because its what we want? Or do we make music to entertain promoters and get more gigs where we have to sell all the tickets?’”

‘Cold Water’ was exclusively available on Bandcamp from 22nd May and was released on all streaming platforms from a week later. All Bandcamp profits was donated to The Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund.

Listen to the riveting single below…

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Song of the Day: Leaves – Sann Rao

SANN RAO‘s latest offering, ‘Leaves’, is an introspective track that blends moody piano synths and punchy drums with soulful, expressive vocals, creating a vibe that’s both defiant and reflective. The song uses rich metaphors to express the superficiality and emptiness of certain figures in the music industry, while celebrating one’s authenticity and strong foundation. The song will be promoted with skits, a music video and short-form content.

“Leaves to me is about shallow relationships and the lack of authenticity in the music industry but also everyday life. (…) I talk about how I’m trying to live life differently to the people I’ve met and the meaningless interactions I’ve experienced.

(…) I want the listeners to have a better understanding of who I am as a person and I’d like them to see that I make music to contribute something truthful to the world” – Sann Rao

Sann Rao, a 27-year-old R&B sensation hailing from Surrey, UK, brings a unique and distinctive voice to the industry. Of Indian heritage, Sann’s vocal prowess is characterised by an impressive range that captivates audiences. His sound has earned him praise at open mic performances, where his hard work and dedication shine through.

Investing in his craft and driven by an unwavering belief in his talent, Sann is a relentless artist committed to pushing his musical boundaries. The singer-songwriter has garnered praise from both fellow musicians and new fans, who recognize his exceptional talent and eagerly anticipate his future releases.

In collaboration with BBC Radio Producer and frequent creative partner, Illatek, Sann Rao is building a lane for himself in the music landscape. Their latest release, ‘In 2 U,’ dropped mid December 2023 and has garnered over 9,000 listens on Spotify, contributing to their collective success of over 50,000 streams across their collaborations. The track made waves across the UK, with radio station shows such as BBC Radio and Kishmeister at Itch FM featuring the song in their rotations. Sann’s first official release, ‘Honest,’ which debuted in February 2024, has reached +15k streams on Spotify.

Currently under the representation of Oh Eight, a label and talent management services agency, Sann is poised to ascend to the next level of his musical journey. As he continues to evolve and enchant with his melodies, Sann Rao stands as a rising star in the R&B scene, leaving a mark on the industry with his one-of-a-kind voice and unwavering passion for the art.

Listen to ‘Leaves’ below…

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Song of the Day: I’m Climbing – Ericka Nicole Malone

‘I’m Climbin”, is the powerful lead song from NAACP winning ERICKA NICOLE MALONE‘s documentary The Bucketwish. The song is a cathartic release, ushering in an era of abundance for Ericka Nicole Malone as ‘I’m Climbin” is a reminder to take the reins and set the course in pursuit of our wildest dreams.

The single lends its unique R&B meets neo-soul sound to songwriter Ericka Nicole Malone and producer Printz Board, a Grammy Award winner and co-writer of the anthemic ‘Where Is The Love?’ from the iconic music group, Black Eyed Peas. Malone’s soul-striking vocals collide over earthy bass lines and emboldening cascades of piano, offering listeners a profound and transcendent musical experience.

Ericka shares, “I penned “I’m Climbin’” as a lead song on the soundtrack to The Bucketwish because I want people to remember who they are and to keep climbing up the stairs of life to different levels no matter how hard it gets.”

Ericka is an NAACP award-winning filmmaker and songwriter who works to elevate female voices and creatives of color. Her new documentary, The Bucketwish is about pursuing unexplored passions, reminding viewers that it’s never too late to start a new journey. It is an intimate profile on Malone’s story, fears, and impending future ahead.

Listen to ‘I’m Climbin” below…

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Song of the Day: Wile Out – TC & The Groove Family

Ten-piece UK afro-fusion outfit TC & THE GROOVE FAMILY continue the rollout of their ‘We Have Each Other’ EP with simmering, jungle-tinged hip-hop cut ‘Wile Out’. Released via Bridge The Gap, the track is a cross city collaboration, bringing together two of the UK’s best underground hip-hop MC’s, BBCR1Xtra and SXSW-backed Birmingham MC SANITY, and Sheffield wordsmith Franz Von.

Building off of lead single ‘Stand Strong’, ‘Wile Out’ showcases the band’s darker electronic and UK bass influences. Growling, subbed-out bass tones, tight-knit hip-hop grooves, and furious horn lines develop into a double-time whirlwind of jungle and immersive turntablism, with lyrics from SANITY and Franz Von subverting the meaning of ‘Wiling Out’.

SANITY explains: “First hearing the track, I liked the idea and juxtaposition of Wile Out, as it’s a term with connotations of recklessness, or using energy carelessly amongst young people; but here, to ‘Wile Out’ is to challenge norms, not fall in line and utilise individuality to reach maaximum potential.”

Franz adds; “Wile Out is about doing what you love and enjoying it to the fullest, for me it’s music. The chorus echoes the advice from my mother to embrace life, to love myself and follow my dreams. This track is about sharing this advice and attitude to people around us.”

The EP ‘We Have Each Other’, released earlier this month, sees the band refine the sound debuted on their 2022 album ‘First Home’. Returning to work once again with producer Tom Excell (Nubiyan Twist, ONIPA), the project explores a darker sonic palette, channeling a deep appreciation of UK bass and electronic music alongside afro-jazz sounds and hip-hop sensibilities. Lead single ‘Stand Strong’ offers a great connection between eras of the band. Created as a love letter to afrobeat, the track offers a contemporary twist, integrating turntablism and Khruangbinesque guitar lines amongst infectious basslines and weaving horns.

The EP documents a time of change within the group – a new lineup, plus members living in different cities and pursuing various paths – whilst also reflecting the turbulent socio-political climate, and the major shifts and changes on the horizon for humanity. Despite the heavy subject material, the band strike an optimistic, uplifting tone, encouraging listeners to look around and embrace community, whatever that may look like. No one should be lonely when celebrating each other, and the band encourage an ethos that says ‘it’s good to be me, but it’s better to be us.’

Originally formed in Leeds, TC & The Groove Family’s sound reflects the diverse musical and cultural backgrounds at the core of the project, with songs exploring grooves and genres including afrobeat, broken beat, jungle, jazz and grime. Their music has drawn widespread acclaim, supported by tastemakers including Jamz Supernova and Craig Charles on BBC Radio 6, BBC Introducing West Yorkshire, Jazz FM, Rinse FM, Radio FIP and more. The group have performed at the likes of Glastonbury, We Out Here, Greenman and Boomtown, and will embark on a UK tour across May & June in support of the release of ‘We Have Each Other’.

Here’s your chance to check out ‘Wile Out’

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