Sibling Duo Beatnik Share Their EP, ‘Vol.2’

After years of contributing to London’s rich club culture via their Beatnik-themed parties, beloved YouTube channel, and having spun across many eras — from the Y2K pirate radio movement down to world tour arenas — BEATNIK is back with their latest full-length tape ‘Vol. 2’, a collection of six tracks that wanders through the worlds of drum & bass, R&B, dancehall, rap and electropop.

‘Vol. 2’ isn’t a solo affair — there are plenty of noteworthy guest cameos. D&B belter ‘Never So Much’ features vocals from UK songwriting legend and performer Royston, who worked closely with Estelle on her debut LP ‘The 18th Day’.

Beatnik are also both prolific DJs having spun on six continents in more than 70 countries, for events such as The British Fashion Awards, Glastonbury, Isle of Wight Fest and parties for Jay-Z and Beyoncé, Giuseppe Zanotti, ASOS and the F1 races. Working together officially for well over a decade, Beatnik has landed spins on Radio 1Xtra, Rinse FM, Reprezent, Ibiza Radio and many more.

In the studio, the duo has worked with many artists including bass guitar polymath Thundercat, All Saints, LA dancehall artists Nik and Navi, rock band Will & The People, Tyson and UK R&B legend Terri Walker.

When she’s not busy with her Beatnik mantle, Nikki is the personal DJ for Kelis [Milkshake, Caught Out There, Bounce, Trick Me] when she tours the globe, with a partnership spanning over 15 years. With their latest project ‘Vol. 2’, Beatnik has assembled one of 2022’s strongest six-track runs from any genre. Have a listen below.

Rap Newcomer DichoTomi Looks To A Brighter Future On Single, ‘STF 17’

Introducing Toronto-based alternative rap newcomer DICHOTOMI with their brand new single titled ‘STF 17’. The soulful and infectious lo-fi rap track comes just in time to take over our summer playlists, and is the lead single for dichotomi’s upcoming debut EP that is set for release later this year. ‘STF 17’ is the anticipated follow-up to last year’s fan-favourite ‘plush’, which was a massive radio hit with the likes of CBC Music in Toronto, and Wave Of The Bay in Florida, to mention a few.

Produced by fellow Toronto musician Frizzy Astro, ‘STF 17’ is a catchy melodic rap offering, which sees dichotomi – who wrote the song when they were sick during the pandemic and couldn’t be outside – in a very hopeful mood, as they imagine better times and fantasize about being able to enjoy summertime in Toronto once again. Over lush synth keys and sparse lo-fi instrumentation, dichotomi showcases their infectious flow, clever lyricism, and carefree energy, to great effect.

Speaking about the inspiration behind ‘STF 17’, dichotomi says, “It was the first pandemic winter, and I was really sick… I couldn’t go outside because the weather, and I had no energy or motivation to make life inside more enjoyable because of the mental and physical effects of the pandemic. At a real low point, I started fantasizing about summers in Toronto and told myself that ‘everything will be better in the summer’ – as soon as I said it aloud, I felt compelled to write a song on that theme.

The track quickly took a political lean as I began to ruminate on the social, political, and economic forces that forced me into such a fragile position in the first place. ‘STF 17’ is most definitely a critique of our capitalist society, but with the added goal of offering some levity — allowing us to hope for a more equitable future. Be critical, be angry, be sad, but don’t let the state of this world keep you from turning your face to the sun every chance you get, and tirelessly seek the tiniest moments of joy”.

Highly recommended if you like the sounds of Noname, Tierra Whack or Chance The Rapper, dichotomi is for listeners that like to discover new things every time you listen to a track – they are for fans of lyricism, authenticity and exploring new sounds. Born in Florida and now living in Toronto, dichotomi burst onto the scene in 2019 with resounding music, led by good vibes and wholesome themes that are intended to inspire hope and validate their listeners.

‘STF 17’ was released yesterday across various download/streaming sites. Check out their official animated music video below…

Song of the Day: Peace – Shades Lawrence

SHADES LAWRENCE is a Montreal-born, queer hip hop artist of mixed British, Jamaican, Irish and Scottish heritage. A pure lyricist, Lawrence’s style can be described as alternative hip hop. Her words uplift, while keeping environmental justice at the forefront.

“Peace, that’s what we need,” raps Lawrence on her single released on the heels of 2022 full-length album, ‘Trust Takes Time’. ‘Peace’ directly names the Russian government’s invasion of the Ukraine, and urges the global community to negotiate for peace.

Have a listen to ‘Peace’ below…

Christopher The Grey Encourages Us To Be Our True Selves In Single, ‘Oh My Damn!’

The immediately catchy melodies introduce Alabama rapper CHRISTOPHER THE GREY‘s new single, ‘Oh My Damn!’ which gives a taste of what is to come from his forthcoming album, ‘The Departure.’ Released in May via 3rd Child Records, it features his magnetic self-assurance and swag that’s so evident that you immediately take notice once he scorches the mic.

With the success of his previous release, ‘So Hot,’ featuring Snoop Dogg, Christopher The Grey is hoping to keep the hype going and continues to drop his neo-old school style unique flow in this latest authentic piece.

‘Oh My Damn!’ is Christopher’s most honest work to date. He states,”Look, this is who I really am. Maybe you had things confused but now you know. I want people to feel it’s okay to be who they are and know it’s cool. Most of my music is based on my life and experiences, nothing over the top, just everyday life. I want people to feel that it’s okay to live everyday life, and most of the time, it’s not glamorous and extravagant. The fun is in making the memories and living. So do some things that make you say, Oh My Damn!”

Have a listen below…

Song of the Day: Today – DFlexXx

DFlexXx‘s single, ‘Today’ was inspired by Ice Cube’s ‘It Was a Good Day’ and Tyga’s ‘Good Day,’ but with his unique spin added to it.

In the track, the Welsh rapper, songwriter, actor and dancer talks about pressures that young adults have to deal with today by putting on a fake face to fit into society.

Have a listen to ‘Today’ below…