Tag: rap

Rapper Mercy add new favour in album ‘Ink Blots’

MeRCY has always released music that is backed by a theme, purpose or some type of message. His latest album comes in the form of a collaborative effort with producer FVNTVNV titled ‘Ink Blots’, and just like its predecessors, it too carries a purpose. So what’s that theme or purpose behind the album? Well, in his own words, MeRCY says that ‘Ink Blots’ is “an attempt to digitally induce musical psychology by convincing hip-hop fans to care about music with substance again”.

The South Florida lyricist began his mission with the lead single ‘Psycho Michael’ delivering compelling bars over the funky canvas like “life been a gamble checking out my parlays/you can go and party/that’s where we part ways/rather go the hard way/listen to what your heart say”. After the release of the single the scene was set for what ‘Ink Blots’ would end up sounding like for fans of both the rapper and producer.

The opening track ‘Lake Of A Thousand Tears’ stays on course with the single showing MeRCY flex his pen game with lines like “In a lake full of guppies and I was the lone shark/this is Mozart/with this beautiful music homie/and that’s where I show art”. Big Man G and Franco East also provide some help as features on the set of sounds as they lend their pen to the collaborative effort. “Can’t coach a king/ask Darvin Ham/couldn’t tell you ’bout him/I am not Shams/in the kitchen my Gordon Rams/play with the heat/they are not Bam” – Franco East on “Smokey’s Breakfast”.

The album weighs in at ten tracks and all provide a sound we aren’t used to hearing MeRCY tangle with, which even threw him for a loop when connecting with FVNTVNV. “He had a unique style of production which I gravitated towards easily. So working with him was a smooth transition” says MeRCY. Both artists had never worked with one another before so for fans to get a collaborative album only adds to the odd aura surrounding Ink Blots. “FVNTVNV informed me he’s a producer and engineer. I needed a song mixed which I sent him and then after he was sending me beats. It felt like it was meant to be, we were meant to collaborate and do some music” – MeRCY.

Along with the release of ‘Ink Blots’ comes the official video for track number six ‘Ocean Drive’. The visual was shot at the Hollywood Beach boardwalk in Fort Lauderdale, bringing some 80’s VHS vibes to accompany the official audio. It’s not Christmas yet but it does seem like it so go ahead and open your present and hit play on the new music from both Merc and FVNTVNV. Be sure to tap in with them on their social media accounts. Handles can be found below. Before you head off, why not check out ‘Ink Blots’ below…

Mercy IG: https://www.instagram.com/musicbymercy/
FVNTVNV IG: https://www.instagram.com/fvntvnv/

Must Listens: Lake Of A Thousand Tears, Ocean Drive, Smokey’s Breakfast, Fever Dream

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D’Shaun releases his second iTunes charting project with ‘7eventape’.

Texas rapper D’SHAUN, goes back to back as he releases his second itunes charting project. This time the Converse lyricist does so with his most vulnerable set of sounds to date, ‘7eventape’.

Finding his way through struggles in his personal life like the loss of his close friend, Rob G or 7, D’Shaun continueds to make his way into the booth. Putting pen to paper and his words towards the mic, the final outcome paid homage to 7 which included seven songs and featured the late Rob G on the cover as well. Ironically, the EP charted at its highest peak of 17. The bond between two brothers can’t be broken, even through death the bond D’Shaun & 7 shared was still stronger than ever.

D’Shaun says: “I felt like 7 was in the studio with me working on the tracks. I know these would’ve been songs he enjoyed thoroughly because he always liked when I got into my bag of introspection or storytelling”.

The EP takes you on a journey of mixed emotions, from the good to the bad & even indifferent memories. Many of those memories include 7 and that quickly becomes evident with the first few bars off of ‘Orange’: “I just left Houston out with my twin/remember Rob G used to pull up in the benz/this a treehouse we got sticks/Dev-G in NY like he played the Knicks”, the opening record from the project. Stand out tracks from the EP include ‘Lord.Hell.Mercy’ produced by D’Shaun x Leek OAM, ‘Innocent’ and ‘Red Supreme Sweater’ produced by Benji. EATVICTOR and Ro$eGold.wav also find their names within the credits of the project as both continue to build their catalog with the RYLTY team.

You’ll find D’Shaun accelerating through this new groove/path he found with ‘7eventape’, opening the doors to a new realm saying: “these songs were very different than anything I’ve put out in a long time. They are more vulnerable and there is more storytelling in them than what people are used to hearing from me”.

Even if these doors were only open for seven songs that run a total of 30 minutes and 32 seconds, the work ethic nor support from his fans never changed. Not only did the project gift the RYLTY leader another milestone of hitting the charts as an independent artist, ‘7eventape’ gifted his soul some type of relief knowing his brother for life, Rob G, would be proud of the man and artist D’Shaun continues to be.

Check out ‘7eventape’ below…

Connect with D’Shaun via:
X: https://x.com/RylDShaun

Must Listens: ORANGE, LORD.HELL.MERCY, SCOREBOARD

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Song of the Day: Feel It – POP Buchanan (ft. Planet Asia)

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…

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Niko B unleashes debut album ‘dog eat dog food world’

Hailing from Milton Keynes, NIKO B‘s much-anticipated debut album ‘dog eat dog food world’, is fuelled entirely by raw creative vision and a powerful DIY spirit. The debut is a deep diving journey into the topsy-turvy tangles of modern life and deconstructing the concept of trying to adult in the 21st century – made almost entirely with beats from rising bedroom YouTube beatmakers.

Laid over 12 tracks, the album is Niko’s most far-reaching release to date, hitting hard with acute, introspective, relatable observations on small-town life that resonate with all – balancing end times gloom with absurdist wit. The release galvanises Niko’s role as a Gen-Z Mike Skinner; real, authentic, warm and honest.

Opening the album is ‘trespass coat’ featuring the South-London bedroom-pop artist dexter in the newsagent. First previewing some of the bars in his now notorious Victory Lap cypher going toe to toe with the likes of Central Cee and Dave last year, the single arrived earlier this year to acclaim from The Face, ACCLAIM, Spotify (Our Generation Cover), Hypebeast UK, NME, Hunger, NOTION, Wonderland, DMY and more. The cheeky ‘i’ve smoked weed 9 times and have had one good experience’ meets a shimmering minimal production with confessional lyricism.

New single ‘ur a bundle of joy !’ is a kaleidoscope of moody nostalgia, with funky guitar licks and sun-drenched vocals weaving between Niko’s bold wordplay. Niko breezily offers to turn pilot in the playful, blissed-out ‘boarded the plane’. Splicing percussive kick drums with cheeky synths, the chunky production makes ‘boarded the plane’ the perfect bop for summer. The hazy ‘tom did’ meets stipped-back breakbeats with low key fight talk. The lo-fi ‘miniclip’ was produced by Kwollem and features bars from rising rapper Kirbs, meeting relaxed alternative rap with Niko’s trademark eclectic references – from retired Welsh footballer Craig Bellamy to TV comedian Alan Carr and the throwback PC gaming website Miniclip.

The dreamlike brassy, jazz-infused, ‘it’s not litter if you bin it’ landed earlier this year to support from Zane Lowe on Beats 1, CLASH, DMY, VIPER, Hypebeast UK and more. The ethereal ‘i’m just a pretty face’ gives way to the atmospheric ‘dagenham to barking’ featuring a melange of obscure observations including the contents of lofts, former footballer and Soccer AM host Jimmy Bullard, and the price of a second hand VW Golf.

The jazzy ‘what counts as fine?’ features the bold claim that Niko could “beat Usain Bolt in a pair of Hunters”. ‘forteen days’ blends sugary synths with snappy bars on baby showers, Hobbycraft, crisps and pints. Rounding out the album is ‘who’s in designer’, splicing chopped up vox pop news clips with Niko’s honeyed vocals and groovy, layered instrumentation. It’s the perfect unexpectedly sweet note to round out the debut.

Destined for a playlist, speakers and stage near you imminently, ‘dog eat dog food world’ simultaneously takes things back to Niko’s roots but also zooms out to reveal a much wider picture of who he is and what makes him tick. It’s happy music, reflections of what it’s like to be a British teenager with each cut coming with a barbed tale of high, lows, lols and woes.

Exploding into the UK pop cultural psyche in 2019 with his viral single ‘Mary Berry’, Niko B racked up millions of streams overnight. Since then the songsmith, rapper and creative auteur has continued to delight fans with releases that showcase his acerbic lyricism, releasing unexpected creative visuals, growing his clothing brand Crowd into a cult favourite and more. Niko’s fearless approach to his art has been lauded by the likes of British Vogue, The New York Times, Hypebeast, POPEYE Magazine and DAZED who featured him in this year’s DAZED 100.

Have a listen to ‘dog eat dog food world below…

Must Listens: ur a bundle of joy, tom did, who’s in designer

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Song of the Day: Regret It – Ashwin

Rising alternative artist ASHWIN, formerly known as The ATG, shocks the industry with the release of his latest single ‘Regret It,’ a poignant and introspective track that showcases his unparalleled talent and innovative approach to music. Hailing from the industrious streets of Detroit, Ashwin has carved out a unique space in the music world as a beacon of creativity and artistry.

At the core of Ashwin‘s artistic vision is his pioneering of the “Cinematic Hip-Hop” genre, a fusion of symphonic orchestration and urban hip-hop beats that sets him apart as a true trailblazer in the industry. Drawing inspiration from a diverse range of musical influences, from the cinematic scores of Hans Zimmer to the genre-defining beats of Dr. Dre, Ashwin‘s sound is a reflection of his rich musical tapestry and deep connection to his Detroit roots.

With a discography that showcases his versatility and innovation, Ashwin‘s tracks like ‘Outside,’ ‘Twilight,’ and ‘Regret It’, demonstrate his ability to navigate a spectrum of emotions and storytelling styles. Each song in Ashwin‘s catalog is not just a musical offering but a chapter in an ongoing saga of artistic evolution, inviting listeners into a world where music transcends the auditory and becomes a vivid narrative journey.

‘Regret It’ is a powerful addition to Ashwin‘s repertoire, promising to captivate audiences with its emotional depth and thought-provoking lyrics. This single further solidifies Ashwin‘s position as a rising star in the alternative music scene, blending introspection with dynamic vigor in a way that is uniquely his own. Why not have a listen below…

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