Spooky season might be well and truly over, but Florida’s MeRCY decides to keep the scary hours alive as he at last brings his ‘Michael Myers’ EP to life.
The artist continues to build his “Michael” catalog of releases with the second installment of the series as he previously dropped the EP ‘Iron Mike’ back in January. Now MeRCY strikes again but this time with no gloves over his hands, only with a mask over his face as he takes on the persona of Michael Myers. You’ll find yourself encaptivated for 22 minutes while MeRCY delivers deadly blows of lyricism over the dark and grimy sounds provided by Slimrock, Homage, Flowers In Narnia, JQ Mr. 54, Kubo and Livin’. Standouts from the EP include ‘Scary Hours’, ‘Death Note’ and ‘Myers Theme’. Whether he is going round for round in the ring or slicing and dicing up his foe, MeRCY is now two for two with his “Michael” themed projects.
If the EP wasn’t enough for his fans to indulge in, Merc’ also gives the greenlight on the release of the visual for track 3 ‘Scary Hours’. Directed by Ike Anyanwu, the black and white video brings those scary hours in Broward to life as MeRCY comes face to face with the Michael Myers persona in the thriller visual.
Why not check out the EP below…
Must Listens: Evil vs Good, The Boogeyman (Holy Ghost)
Canada’s hip-hop artist ARLO MAVERICK shared his astute perspective on working-class struggles last month with the release of his album, ‘Blue Collar’. Now he’s unveiling a new video for his track, ‘Retail Therapy,’ which probes the artist’s complicated relationship with money and materialism, and offers a suitable soundtrack to Black Friday remorse.
Over hard-edged UK drill-inspired beats and name-checks to Central Cee, the track captures the anxiety and impulsivity of consumption without the means, and the acquisition of material things as a form of social currency.
Alongside the track, is a dance-fueled video that Maverick says, “flaunts flyness and gives UK drill an Alberta twist.” Directed by Natalie Meyer and shot at various Edmonton and Calgary train stations, the video features rhymes and moves from Mahk Milliano and cameos by Calgary rapper Tea Fannie, R&B artist Rome IX, Edmonton MC and clothing designer Lion Luciano, and video director Da Kid T.
In probing materialism as a means of status-chasing, Maverick reveals the superficiality and foolishness in it all: “Got a closet full of product/That I only wore once/If I’m honest there’s no logic/I just bought it just to stunt.”
With every amusing, scathing observation, Maverick holds up a mirror to many of today’s social ills. “In our society a lot of us wear our successes and seek validation with items we purchase,” he says. “We acquire things that we don’t need to feel a certain way; to appear successful or flaunt status. But we often find ourselves in debt and still unhappy.”
Following up their critically acclaimed 2020 collaborative project ‘21st Century Blues’, RBG rapper NE$$ (previously featured in The Source’s ‘Unsigned Hype’) and UK producer baby J (known for collaborations with Skinny Man, Mark Ronson, dead prez, Iman Thug, and Shabazz The Disciple of Wu-Tang) return with ‘The Price of Bread’, a groundbreaking concept album that dives deep into the lived experiences of oppressed communities navigating the harsh realities of capitalism.
Housing previous support from Earmilk, Notion, Kiss FM UK (MK), Viper magazine, Wordplay magazine, ‘The Price of Bread’ serves as a groundbreaking concept album that dives deep into the lived experiences of oppressed communities navigating the harsh realities of capitalism.
The term “the price of bread”, often referring to the state of inflation at any given time, is an ideal title for an album exploring these themes in a time when inflation is at the highest rate it’s been in decades. In true hip hop form the word “bread”, slang for money, transforms the title into a paradoxical double entendre ‘The Price of Money’. In this context, the album fearlessly poses a poignant question: “What is the cost of money, or to put it plainly, what does it cost us to make money, to navigate capitalism?” Doubling down on this concept, the album’s tracklist is a veritable anthology of money-themed titles (Sell Our Pain, Human Capital, Stripper Money, etc.), each serving as a chapter in a larger narrative.
Baby J weaves a broken, lo-fi, and slightly out-of-tune dystopian soundscape that resonates like the echoes of dusty, long-forgotten 60’s records, but what’s astounding is that no samples were used in creating this haunting and mesmerizing atmosphere. This unique auditory canvas allows the listener to immerse themselves fully in the stories and emotions presented in this album and sets the stage for NE$$’s storytelling and lyricism to paint vivid pictures of lumpenproletariat life.
Known for his work with Brooklyn duo Weekend Money and Dead Prez affiliated rap group A-Alikes, the seasoned hip-hop veteran takes centre stage as a modern-day griot on this opus. His lyrics peel back layers to reveal a world where every dollar counts and every decision can be a matter of life and death.
The album flaunts an impressive tracklist, graced by a carefully curated roster of guest appearances, with standout songs ‘Sell Our Pain’, the aforementioned ‘Stripper Money’ feat. Conway the Machine, ‘Illegal Business’ feat. RBG comrade Coach NYM & Rukus “Vice Grip” feat. Houston rapper Fat Tony, among other gems.
NE$$ and Baby J invite you to join them on this evocative journey, offering a unique perspective on the world we live in, the price we pay and the hope we hold.
Must Listens: Sell our pain, Stripper money, Get rich quick, Dollar 2 the fire
Brooklyn’s Hip Hop/rap artist LOLA BROOKE releases new song and video ‘Don’t Get Me Started’ featuring Coi Leray and Nija. Please check it out above and drop a comment to let us know what you think about it.
The fierce joint is taking from her long-anticipated first project, ‘Dennis ‘Daughter’, out from last Friday (10th November) on all DSPs via Team Eighty Productions/Artista Records and features Bryson Tiller, Coi Leray, French Montana, Latto, Nija and Yung Miami.
A blockbuster collection of songs she nurtured and perfected over the past year, ‘Dennis Daughter’ highlights a culmination of life experiences relating to growth, pain, love, compassion, and earned success that has equipped the hip-hop phenomenon to embrace supreme self-confidence as she continues to make her mark as a superstar in hip-hop. Great hip-hop debuts are illuminated by a powerful statement and a mastery of musicality that connects the masses further to an artist and their story. With no limit in style and sound, Lola delivers a fearless soundtrack to life stemming from her origin story on ‘Dennis Daughter’. Entirely in control of her music and what she has been ready to express to the world, Lola double-downs on her warning to the masses as one not to be played with.
Check out the high energy video for ‘Don’t Get Me Started’ below…
Iaraeli-American rapper KOSHA DILLZ has penned a hard-hitting joint following the news of Hamas’ most recent attack on Israel. Within just a few days Kosha Dillz (aka Rami Even-Esh), had written ‘Bring the Family Home’ and recorded and a stunning video shot in old Jewish New York on the Lower East Side that includes shots of the famous Yonah Schimmel’s Knishery and the new Beastie Boys Square.
“(Saturday’s) attack will go down as one of the most horrible days in Jewish history in our lifetime,” Kosha Dillz told AllHipHop in a recent interview. “It’s a day when children and grandmothers were slaughtered, ripped from their homes and documented on social media for the world to see.”
Many of Dillz’ relatives and friends have died and/or been kidnapped, including those at the infamous Supernova festival where over 260 people perished. With over 150 people kidnapped, how can one artist think about releasing a song at a time like this? Kosha rhymes, “Bring the family home that’s what the world saying, cry to death or can’t sleep that’s the worst pain”When there is no point of return, the only option is to create any form of communication on our platform as an opportunity for education. When you hear Kosha Dillz on a Griselda-type beat, he does just that.
An advocate of peace, Kosha has been elevating the stories of survivors from October 7 via social media. “I already know that there are people with historical fact sheets, but even with footage of the horror, our current world doesn’t accept it as truth. My only option of not seeing it within my own eyes is getting videos from all my followers.” By sharing real messages from his fans followers and friends, it resonates more with how society wishes to feel the urge to chime in with proximity. “The world seems to want to feel close to a cause, so the only way to do that is to give a platform to survivors, just like the Holocaust Museums did. This one is ours. Never again is now.”
Speaking out for causes he believes in is not new to Kosha. Last year he dissed Kanye West on Death Con 3 when he made Nazi sympathizer statements that canceled him. The world was against anti-semitism for a moment but then came back to its normal acceptance. Not even one year later, Jewish life and the world as we know it as a whole have been changed for eternity with over 1200+ Israelis being killed; the equivalent of 33,000+ Americans in population.
Kosha is a New Jersey native who was born to Israeli parents. He is a successful independent artist who has toured the globe with everyone from SZA to Matisyahu and is known widely from his recent appearance on VH1’s Wild ‘N Out.
Check out the video for ‘Bring The Family Home’ below…
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