RAYNE STORM is back with a new mixtape, a new EP and a new single featuring Juelz Santana. The latest track ‘Boom’ finds both Harlem rappers completely in their zones as they slide across the beat on this aggressive summer anthem. The up-tempo but ominous banger is produced by DJ Flippp, known for his production with Lil Yachty, Famous Dex, Playboi Carti and more.
The Storms Coming EP includes 6 songs previously released only on mixtape, specifically Storms Coming II. The EP features original songs like ‘Gettin’ Bizzy’, ‘Much More’, ‘Up Up Away’, ‘No Tomorrow’, ‘Revolution” & “Scorchers’. The Storms Coming EP represents Rayne in his “Pure Hip-Hop” form as a majority of these tracks take on a Boom Bap approach.
In 2002, two artists from opposite ends of the world– North Carolina emcee/singer Phonte of Little Brother, and Dutch producer Nicolay – engaged in a fully online, transatlantic musical collaboration that would help redefine modern music. On August 24, 2024, the novelty of their collaboration became their namesake, and they released their seminal debut album Connected as The Foreign Exchange. Over the course of 20 years, Nicolay and Phonte have both individually and collectively set a precedent for what indie artists can achieve, and revolutionized the way artists collaborate today. With a Grammy-nomination and their very own +FE Music label, the duo commemorates their 20-year-long journey as The Foreign Exchange by sharing a new 12″ single ‘The Grey” / “I Couldn’t Love You More (dub)’.
Out now on all digital streaming platforms, the dual release covers the musical gamut of The Foreign Exchange. ‘The Grey’, which serves as the theme song for ESPN’s new ’30 for 30′ film False Positive, finds Phonte spitting razor sharp bars, with a hook delivered by the silky vocals of +FE Music signee BeMyFiasco. In contrast, Phonte and Nicolay go full quiet storm mode on ‘I Couldn’t Love You More’, a beautiful rendition of Sade’s classic record.
“Rhyming and covering my favorite Sade song felt like the best way to encompass all that The Foreign Exchange represents. We’ve covered a lot of ground over the past 20 years. This single represents us coming back to square one.” – Phonte
ESPN’s new ’30 for 30′ film False Positive, which debuted on June 11, 2024, was scored in its entirety by Nicolay. The film tells the story of former Olympic Track and Field athlete and world record holder Butch Reynolds, who was falsely accused and banned for drug use by the International Amateur Athletic Federation. As a fan of Nicolay’s work, the film’s director, Ismail Al-Amin, first tapped the classically trained multi-instrumentalist from the Netherlands for the project in 2021.
“Ismail booked The Foreign Exchange for an event in Akron, Ohio years ago. He was keen on creating a decidedly soulful score, but with a European twist, as the sport of track and field traditionally is very popular there, and a lot of the crucial action in the film takes place overseas. He felt that I could be the right man for the job. This particular project represents twenty years of experience and accumulated style… the scope of this project and the sheer quantity of music required really allowed me to double down on it all… There’s quite literally a little bit of everything in this score. While I was working on some initial sketches for the film, I came upon the idea of mirroring all of the different stages of Butch’s life and career with the evolution of my own music over the years. So in the early stages of the documentary, the music is largely beat-driven and optimistic, mirroring the sound and feel of my own early years. As the situation gets more complicated and inevitably darker and more emotional, so does the music.” – Nicolay
Nicolay has also been hard at work on his forthcoming solo album, which is currently slated for an early summer release. The project’s latest single ‘Roll Up (I Can’t Lose My High). released in April.
Listen to ‘The Grey/ / ‘I Couldn’t Love You More (dub)’ below….
With a consistent back catalogue of high-quality releases, Australian artist X REVOLUTION returns with his brand latest single ‘Power Games’. The hip-hop and rap offering showcases a polished style, format, and dedication to the music scene with X Revolution’s extraordinary productions and excellent wordsmiths.
‘Power Games’ is a seamless blend of hip-hop and rap’s unadulterated energy into his artistic flair. X Revolution demonstrates his compositional skills and shows how his work has an impact in addition to resonance. This song combines his signature lyrics, masterful skills, and hip-hop roots.
X Revolution used the website Tracklib to sample a few older recordings. After that, he combined it with additional ambience and FX using a drum loop sample from an MPC sample bundle he owned. Lyrically, he intended to discuss his personal experiences with power and how he saw it as a child, advising on how to stay away from it and take some time to think things through.
On the track, X Revolution questions, “It’s my struggle with power growing up and how I viewed it; except I am fully aware of it through some form of self-reflection and have decided to own it for myself and not use it over others.”
Accumulating press coverage across the likes of Fame Magazine, PureMzine, Notion, and The Pit Ldn, and support from Spotify playlists, X Revolution has presented himself as an exciting musical talent with a lot of promise for the future. Listen to ‘Power Games’ below…
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…
Vietnamese-German producer QU‘s debut album ‘where did the sun go’ is a 15-track sonic journey featuring notable collaborators including Serious Klein, Josh Kye, Malaya, Jay Prince, and Agajon.
Signed to Kabul Fire Records, founded by acclaimed producer Farhot, qu is set to make a significant impact with his highly anticipated debut album. He expertly crafts his own unique sound that takes listeners on a soulful journey rooted in hip hop, RnB, and jazz, while pushing the boundaries of conventional songwriting and arrangements. His debut album serves as a sonic mood board, introducing him as an artist first.
The 25-year-old’s path to producing and songwriting began with his training in classical guitar, which explains his affinity for organic instrumentation in his production, distinguishing him from typical beatmakers. qu’s artistic maturity on this debut project suggests a lifetime dedicated to music, though his journey has been anything but straightforward. Like many creative individuals from immigrant families, qu had to compromise, forgoing academic education for a music career and working at a Vietnamese restaurant to sustain his studio time. His album reflects years of tough decisions, dedication, and navigating the uncertainty of choosing music over traditional career paths, all while grappling with perfectionism and ambition
The album title ‘where did the sun go?’ encapsulates the multi-layered struggles of creating music in times where art is often a privilege. Despite moments of doubt and exhaustion, the music itself offers an answer: the cyclical nature of the sun’s presence and absence can produce meaningful art. Have a listen below…
New Lease Music 