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.
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!”
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.
Esteemed EDM collaborator and versatile hip hop/pop artist PEYTN, changes lanes to melodic rap with single ‘Issues’ to deliver a heartfelt, vulnerable and raw account of the mental anguish toxicity in a relationship brings.
Peytn expands further on the release: “Everybody has been through that toxic relationship that left you questioning everything you’ve believed about love. From the listeners perspective, the only thing I care about them gaining is the knowledge that they are not alone.”
Formerly known as Atarii, Arizona-born/Salt Lake City-based Peytn has created his own lane in the Hip Hop and EDM industries. Moving from fast paced, hard styled hip hop, like all of his biggest inspirations, (Mac Miller, J Cole, Kendrick Lamar), Peytn focuses more on making music that comes from experiences, simply to create new experiences for many. Since rebranding from his former name, Peytn collected over 1.5 million streams on Spotify alone within the first year.
New York’s emcee IamDJSTAXX continues to capitalise on the momentum he has built as he is primed to release the third and final chapter of the Lost Talent Series, ‘Lost Talent 3’.
After releasing the first chapter in 2018 and the second one in 2019, he is now all set to offer the new fully-loaded EP. Released via UpNexx Digital LLC, This six-track project sees IamDJStaxx joining forces with new talents, Rah Dior and WaveGodTj.
A perfect combo of smooth after-hours tones along with a heavy bass introduces the EP with the track, ‘Ina Minute,’ which is topped off by the fiery bounce of IamDJStaxx’s and WaveGodTj’s delivery.
Some slick guitar plucks lead the way in the second effort, ‘It Is What It Is’ blossoming into a mid-tempo, cursing-in-the-summer noughties-inspired R&B (which is kind of reminiscent of a Ja Rule/Ashanti collaboration), where IamDJStaxx and WaveGodTj continues to light up the feel-good joint with some fiery bars.
In the second half of ‘Lost Talent 3’, IamDJStaxx calls on fellow NY rapper Rah Dior to inject a heavy dose of trip-hop that runs deep in tracks ‘Like Me,’ ‘Bandz,’ and ‘Flingz,’ where the two take turns in dropping some melodic bars that melt right into the arrangements.
IamDJStaxx’s final installment, ‘Lost Talent 3, ’ encompasses the past and the present, which can potentially be a worthy collection of generations who enjoyed the 90s/00s R&B and trap and even drill music. Check out the EP below and the blog’s song recommendations:
Must Listens: InA Minute, It Is What It Is, Flingz
