Song of the Day: No More Magical – Wax Tailor x Mick Jenkins

Legendary trip-hop producer WAX TAILOR has teamed up with MICK JENKINS for single, ‘No More Magical’, just over one year after the release of his last album, The Shadow Of Their Suns. Languishing and unhurried Wax Tailor and Mick Jenkins present the spirit of disillusionment and the apathy that follows. Harsh and raw, the unflinching lyrics are contrasted against production with nostalgic fragrances of old school hip hop elements.

With seven studio albums and more than 800 concerts in 60 countries and numerous awards, Wax Tailor is recognized as one of the main ambassadors of the electro-hip hop international scene. Wax Tailor’s music videos, directed by Berkay Turk, won prestigious awards including SXSW, NYC, L.A, Cannes Indie Short Awards. His music has been featured in several tastemaker publications including Pitchfork, Mixmag, NME, Wonderland, CLASH Magazine, HiphopDX, XLR8R, Rolling Stone, Pop Matters, Under The Radar and Respect Magazine while receiving radio play from BBC Radio 6 Music, KEXP, KCRW, NME Radio, RADIO EINS and RADIO NOVA, to name a few.

Born in France, near Paris, and currently based in South Africa, Wax Tailor has sold nearly half a million physical copies and holds hundreds of millions of plays on streaming platforms around the world. The works of Wax Tailor calls to mind the likes of Nightmares on Wax, DJ Shadow, RJD2 and The Avalanches.

Featured rapper Mick Jenkins was born in Huntsville, Alabama and is currently based in Chicago, Illinois. The producer is signed to the renowned Cinematic label has previously worked with the likes of Kaytranada, Ghostface Killah, Disclosure and Chance The Rapper amongst others. The producer has earned support from the likes of Medium, NPR, Rolling Stone, NME, Paste Magazine, Complex, Highsnobiety, Flaunt, Hot New Hip Hop, Chicago Sunday Times, Billboard, Pitchfork, Consequence of Sound, Dazed Digital, Spin, Stereogum, Under The Radar, This Song Is Sick, Earmilk, Brooklyn Vegan, XXL Mag, Clash Magazine, The Fader and Magnetic Magazine to name a few. In total, Mick Jenkins has collected over 250 million plays across platforms.

Check out the pair fiery joint below..

Watch Classified’s Video for Track, ‘Day Doesn’t Die (Retrospected)’

Hip hop artist, songwriter and producer CLASSIFIED (aka Luke Boyd) shares a look into his life growing up in a small neighbourhood in Enfield, Nova Scotia with his latest acoustic version and video for ‘Day Doesn’t Die (Retrospected)’, the second release from the anticipated RETROSPECTED, his forthcoming hip-hop acoustic album due out later this spring.

With appearances from Classified’s parents, his grandfather’s best friend and mention of his friends and neighbours, ‘Day Doesn’t Die (Retrospected)’ offers viewers an intimate and emotional look at the subdivision where Classified grew up, while at the same time sharing the message that even though time has passed and things have changed, what remains (for life) are the memories and impact the community has had on his life.

About the song, Classified shares, “To me, the DNA for Day Doesn’t Die is about learning how to forgive people. A lesson I’ve learned is that holding grudges for so long isn’t healthy and we do need to let go to grow as individuals. While writing this song I wanted to dig deeply into my emotional side, and I think the chorus really helps get across the hope that I want this song to be for people. I’m not saying that we forget past wrongs, but I think the activity of reflecting and letting go is a much healthier state of being.

Check out the video below…

Watch Dutch ReBelle x King Fiya Video For Track ‘Santa Monica.’

Boston’s rappers KING FIYA and DUTCH REBELLE join forces to present a four track EP to kick off the Spring. Following the release of the visuals for the first single ‘Q.O.Q’, the duo announce their upcoming collab project ‘Money Diaries’ with a new visual drop for the Humbeats produced track ‘Santa Monica’.

Fiya and ReBelle pay respects to their previous solo releases ‘Money Dreaming’ and ‘ReBelle Diaries’ respectively to create the ‘Money Diaries’ EP – a collection of tracks featuring the two artists seamlessly swerve back and forth between their individual flows and cadences trading bar for bar while representing for the men and women of the hustle.

‘Money Diaries’ drops 11th March…but for now, check out the duo’s fire visuals below…

Rapper Raimie Puts His Cards On The Table With Track, ‘Insecure’.

Often described as self-defined “hip-hop outsider” New York-born/ Los Angeles based rapper RAIMIE delivers a brand new pensive confessional track titled ‘Insecure’, where he shares how alcohol opens windows in his consciousness.

Raimie shares of Insecure: “When writing (and partially producing) Insecure, I wanted to recreate the dramatic and quickly changing emotions I often feel on a daily basis. The storyline of the song moves from introspective to depressive and ultimately to both inspired and hopeful, as is often the case when dealing with my own challenges, both personal and professional. Ultimately, through the trials and tribulations, my passion and love for both music and self-betterment propel me to continue striving to reach and accomplish my goals. More than anything, I wrote this song in hopes that others who go through similar issues feel less alone, like somebody truly understands them.”

The song starts with a captivating rhythmic piano line which helps to set the tone of the track. Throughout the sonic landscape darkens dramatically within the piece. A combination of descending chords from a vertigo-inducing guitar, accompany the terse testimonial as Raimie shifts from rapping to singing.

With multiple EP releases, a series of singles, music videos alongside extensive production, mixing, and collaboration credits, Raimie is at home behind the board as he is in the vocal booth. Having studied at the Cre8 Academy in partnership with famed Westlake Recording Studios in Los Angeles, where legendary projects including Michael Jackson’s Thriller were famously tracked, Raimie is a name to watch for 2022.

Have a listen to ‘Insecure’ below…

Ads The Barbarian Drops Brand New EP, ‘The Lone Ranger’, Produced by Redd Tunes Productions.

Manchester’s hip-hop collective ADS THE BARBARIAN have joined forces with London’s veteran producer REDD TUNES for the first EP of the year, ‘The Lone Ranger’.

Featuring members Fya Da Flame, DJ Hook Raida, DJ Cut and Slice, the three-track project features the smooth, retro vibes of hip-hop/boom bap, where the featured spitters take the spotlight to drop some serious bars on current affairs (namely the pandemic) and the hard knocks that life presents.

As well as teaming up with the Northern fierce crew, Redd Tunes have collaborated with various artists across the globe for the past 30 + years as a Britcore producer. If you’re not familiar with his work, here’s your chance to check it out here.

Before you head off to check out his catalogue, have a sample of Redd Tunes’ collab EP with Ads The Barbarian below…