Rapper/spoken word artist NATTY BOI ZOE is ready to open up his world with album, ‘I Am Who I Am 2’, out now across various music platforms.
The New Yorker tells of his trials and tribulations of being a black man in today’s world, finding his place as an underground rapper and entrepreneur, the betrayal he has experience from co-called close friends and the painful loss of a close friend and his mother.
The 14 track project includes previously released track, ‘Do Y’all’ which features fellow rapper and long-time collaborator, Dice Cannon. The 90’s inspired track was once named the blog’s Song of the Week over on Instagram back in April.
‘I Am Who I Am’ is now available across various music platforms. Why not check it out below…
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.
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
FR4NKIE (Formerly known as: XP Burstgang) a prominent member of the UK Grime scene, has dropped his highly anticipated sophomore project, ‘Overview Effect,’ earlier this month (3rd May). This project stands as a testament to FR4NKIE’s life work, representing a stylistic evolution and maturity from his previous releases.
‘Overview Effect’ boasts an impressive lineup of underground collaborations, featuring artists such as LPNoID, Illy From Da NW Side, Cosmo Laurie, Trapson, Dizmack, Masovelli, and Manchester Hypes. Produced by bass music royalty Trolley Snatcha, this project is a sonic amalgamation that showcases FR4NKIE’s versatility, blending Road Rap and Grime influences with elements of folk and guitar music.
Tracks like ‘To Be Frank’ delve into the realities of street life in the UK, while ‘Brick In The Wall’ offers a fresh take on folk and guitar sounds. ‘Benzema’ introduces a unique twist to the traditional ballad, reflecting FR4NKIE’s diverse life experiences. The project in its entirety serves as a window into FR4NKIE’s mind, offering a polished listening experience that resonates differently with each music fan based on their own life experiences.
FR4NKIE has earned international recognition for his contributions to the Grime scene. His triumphs include memorable wins in genre-defining events like Lord of the Mics and Red Bull’s Grime-A-Side tournaments, solidifying his status as a heavyweight in the genre. Collaborations with esteemed figures such as Mike Skinner and President T underscore his influence and impact.
Beyond Grime, FR4NKIE has ventured into various musical territories, crafting a diverse discography that encompasses trap, drill, and boundary-pushing ballads. His latest project, ‘Overview Effect,’ serves as a testament to his evolution as an artist, melding streetwise narratives with introspective themes. Through his decade-long music career, FR4NKIE has amassed a wealth of experiences and influences, shaping him into a multifaceted force in the UK music scene.
Check out ‘Overview Effect’ below…
Must Listens: To Be Frank, Simon Says, Janis Joplin, Is That You Yeah,Mess
Philly-based emcee ARTIMES PRIME has a sound with DNA that can be traced from Logic and J Cole, to Immortal Technique and Mike Shinoda. Throughout his career, Prime has fused disparate sounds to perfection, while using his inventive flows to tell personal stories of self-discovery and its importance to the social fabric of the world around him.
On Beer & Cookies, Prime’s third full-length album released last month, the emcee pushes his limits by fusing Pop and classic, Boom-Bap Hip-Hop. The album’s title reflects the audacious fusion of these two genres, an almost oxymoronic pairing held together by producer Digital Crates over the course of the album’s twelve tracks. On the first day of March, Prime shares the music video for ‘Grab A Corona’, an album standout that riffs on the complex issues that we’ve faced since the global coronavirus pandemic.
“This was written during the pandemic. I noticed all the different media voices from different levels telling me all kinds of different things, and I felt confused as well as conflicted. I imagined others felt this way as well so I wrote a song that speaks to both sides, and to not be afford of deaths but rather be conscious and intentional with how you live life. The song has a boombap conscious feel.” – Artimes Prime
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