Tag: hip-hop

Album Review: Young HeartThrob – Kodie Shane

KODIE SHANE‘s latest album ‘Young HeartThrob’ displays a harmonious meeting of 90’s style  afterhours R&B and a real gritty hip-hop b-line.

Hailed as the one-to-watch by the likes of Pitchfork, Complex and Vogue, the Atlanta-based singer/rapper pumps an electrifying lick to the flirtatious arrangements, flipping between her sultry soulful vocals and her fierce yet eloquent flow.

There’s a bunch of musicians who are determined on keep that real authentic R&B sound alive, but KODIE SHANE takes R&B as we know it and adds a sizzling modern twist to the genre. Check her out below:

Must Listens: Lost, High Speed, Pulling Up,Sing to Her, Hiatus

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New Track: Think We’re Fine – Sub Blue (ft Manga Saint Hilare)


NEW LEASE MUSIC regular and favourite SUB BLUE hooks up with his favourite MC, Manga Saint Hilare and brings something a little different to the table with brand new single ‘Think We’re Fine.

The promising soul newcomer exchanges his melancholic take on soulful R&B for a mid-tempo combo of hip-hop/R&B. SUB BLUE‘s vocal instrument injects a summery nineties vibe (think Usher), whereas Saint Hilare, vibrantly spits over the laid back bars.

Speaking of his latest release, SUB BLUE says: “Think We’re Fine’ is about how we live our lives carefree; spending money, doing whatever it is we want – without worrying about consequence or seeming not to. This is often glorified publicly making it so easy to bask in the glory of it. But behind all that, we are all fighting our own battles that not everyone knows about.

For the artwork, I used an image of Mac Miller, who I felt perfectly personified the emotion of the record to me. I am a big fan of his music but I think that tragedy, like many others, reflects the duality of celebrated recklessness and internal pain vs external perceptions.” 

‘Think We’re Fine’ is the lead single from his forthcoming project, ‘Wilfully Blind’.

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New Music Video: Mindwalk – Nicki Knightz

Following her entry on NEW LEASE MUSIC with explosive debut track, ‘HATE’, NICKI KNIGHTZ bounces right back into the blog’s limelight with visuals for her latest offering entitled ‘Mindwalk.’

Like her debut, ‘Mindwalk’ boasts a heavy, attention-grabbing  bassline, topped off by the east London rapper’s baritone delivery.

Not to be missed…better check it out below…

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Song of the Day: Outside The Cave – Otish Mensah

Continuing the streaming hazy productions, NEW LEASE MUSIC regular OTIS MENSAH released track ‘Outside The Cave’, which also boasts a mellow sound of old-school soul.

Although the Sheffield alt-emcee expresses his feelings of entrapment, he holds on to the hope of a brighter future.

‘Outside the Cave’ sets the tone of his latest EP ‘Colours of it all’ out now  – his first release as Poet Laureate

Check out the video below:

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Album Review: Sketch (Abstract) – Mission

MISSION comes at you with full force with his latest album entitled album ‘Sketch (Abstract)’, released earlier this month.

The South African rapper teams up with long-term collaborator, producer and NEW LEASE MUSIC regular Jayd Soliar – aka JAS – to create abstracted sounds and overtones that’s rough around the edges, accompanied with a bed of scenic soundscapes offering some lightness. His rap delivery to the contracting combo gives that extra rawness to the nine-track project, whereas the female vocalist soothes over the (respectfully) jarring production.

‘Sketch (Abstract)’ is born from a strong partnership, aiming to push out pieces that becomes progressively dark and avant-garde. Rather than making a project that’s autobiographical, the pair deliberately left it open for the listeners to interpret the album through their personal experiences.

So the ball is in your court; check out ‘Sketch (Abstract)’…and don’t be afraid to leave your comments below about your experience of the album.

Must Listens: La Di Da Di, P*ssy, Questions, Ghost Phase

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