Following the release of the BBC 1Xtra-approved track ‘Come Over’ (The Remix), featuring R&B queen Teedra Moses, RICARDO WILLIAMS serves up an irresistibly slick freestyle of Jodeci’s hit, ‘My Heart Belongs To You.’
The mini track serves as a stop-gap for more amazing things to come from the Birmingham powerhouse’s critically acclaimed EP, ‘Intermissions’…So stay tuned for that.
In the meantime, check out Ricardo’s freestyle below…
Exploring the idea of rap as a form of intellectual art, radical hip-hop artist and storyteller OTISH MENSAH releases his debut EP ‘Rap Poetics’ – a six track project challenging and breaking down the white-washed elitism of the art world.
Otis’ work reads like a stream of consciousness, documenting journeys of thought as he manoeuvres expertly throughout the project. Valuing art as a fundamental form of activism, Otis is opening up an important dialogue between himself and the ruling establishment, positioning emotional vulnerability at its core.
Lead single, ‘Grand Finale Funeral Show’ tackles the pressures of the art world – to continue to create, design and compose. Otis documents these journeys of thought with artful introspection, his experimental hip-hop rippling with themes of displacement and artistic vulnerability.
Recently making his debut book premiere with SAFE METAMORPHOSIS!!, a collection of poems and philosophical ideas exploring the voice of unspoken trauma, ‘Rap Poetics’ is a continuation of this earnest human expression, taking rap as an art-form in its own right – one that is raw and impassioned.
Describing the artist as “dynamic, skillful and radical”, former Lord Mayor and current MEP Magid Magid appointed Otis as the first hip-hop Poet Laureate of Sheffield in 2018. Having performed with the likes of Mahalia, Arrested Development, Killah Priest, Oddisee and Open Mike Eagle, as well as garnering support from The Guardian and EARMILK, Otis articulates societal injustices with innate precision and candidness.
Enjoy the video for ‘Grand Finale Funeral Show’ below:
THUGZ SNE‘s latest track,’We Ain’t The Same’, highlights all the things that separate him from the rest of the rappers of today.
The song starts with a sample of Brooklyn NY rapper Maino saying: “This year, I wanna be so honest… I wanna look a couple of these niggaz in their eyes and be like… Nigga…. I don’t like you” a sentiment that resonates all too well with the rest of the song.
The fast paced instrumental (pieced together by @farooqgotaudio) feels like the perfect foundation for such a brutally honest theme, apologetically stating: “we are not the same & I don’t like you” something which is made abundantly clear throughout the chorus.
The boisterous track also pays homage to the late great Nipsey Hussle by the way of: “I can never see you as my equal, fuck I wanna hear yo CD for?” a sample from his ‘Victory Lap’ single.
Available on all platforms, ‘We Ain’t The Same’ sets the pace for the next 12 months of singles and visuals. Get the taste of the first installment below…
J. KAS returns from his second home – Portugal – and bounces right back with brand new video for latest track, ‘Reckless’, featuring Breana Marin.
Filmed in Portugal’s Coastal City, Porto J. KAS had the pleasure of performing at an event at ‘Hard Club’ venue.
The three-and-a-half minute Dreamlife production, features a host of Portuguese, including Salama from the UK spitter’s track and video ‘Madness’.
Hit the play button on ‘Reckless’ below…
London-based songwriter and musician FRED LESSORE – of Anglo – French and Malagasy descent – has released his stunning record ‘Linger’.
‘Linger’ is written from the perspective of a woman facing doubt. Produced by Pete Boxsta Martin (James Arthur, Jessie J), the stirring ballad pulls on the shadows of a past love, confronting the burning question many of us have to ask ourselves: Am I ready to try again?
Speaking on the release Fred says “It took me less than 20 minutes to write and record the demo for ‘Linger’. It was easy to pull inspiration from the strong women in my family; I’ve seen each of them carry their battle scars with grace, dignity and acceptance. At the crossroads of love and loss, ‘Linger’ is a drop in the ocean of what it might take to build a strong woman, and I only hope that I’ve done them justice.”
Whilst recording new music, Fred has been emerging through London’s live circuit, including bookings at Proud Camden & Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club.
Have a Listen to ‘Linger’ below…
New Lease Music 