Album Review: The Come Up – Dorian Thorson

DORIAN THORSON‘s debut album, ‘The Come Up’ encompasses all the stages of a relationship – from setting your eyes on the one for the first time to carrying heavy languages from a break-up.

A bed of airy soundscapes kicks off the album, through ‘Fallen’ and ‘Better’, joining the catchy urban b-line for a harmonious union where Thorson’s vocal performance oozes swagger on both productions.

The ten piece set shifts to afterhours mode through third offering ‘Flex’, boasting a sugary tranquil overtones coupled with that head-rolling b-line becoming more prominent. Further along the line, tracks such as ‘Forgive me’ and ‘Trust Issues’ possess a similar vibe but with a tag of toe-tingling trap/soul added to the drive.

Finishing off the album are ‘Luv U’, which continues the trip/soul vibe, picking up slight speed, and ‘Her’. The latter could be described as the odd ball of the album – and I mean that respectfully – as the piano centric production provides an intimate setting which encourages the prospective listener to really soak up the delicately heartfelt vocals provided by the man himself.

‘The Come Up’ is one of those albums that you can check in from five – or even ten years from now –  and still be pleasing to the ears. His debut offering should put him firmly on the one-to-watch radar for 2020.

Have a listen below…

Must Listens: Better, Flex, Forgive Me, Trust Issues

Song of the Day: Relationsh!T – ShiesDaGod

Hailing from Montreal, Canada SHIESDAGOD makes his entry on the blog, claiming today’s hot spot with single entitled, ‘Relationsh!t’

Over a instantly catchy beat, the fiery emcee goes through the trials and tribulations of being in a relationship – an agony that we all experience at some point in our lifetime!

Go check him out below…and if you like what you’re feeling, why not check out more of his tracks on Spotify….enjoy!

New Rapper Mikano Reflects On Gender And Identity With Single, ‘Silhouette’

French-Cameroonian hip hop newcomer MIKANO, reveals pop-driven, Afrotrap single ‘Silhouette’ released last Wednesday (27th November).

The brand new cut is the first installment from his forthcoming mixtape, ‘Melting Balloons’, planned for release in Spring 2020.

On the meaning behind the song, Mikano explained: “It celebrates the female beauty in all its diversity. The word ‘Silhouette’ entails an outline with a featureless interior, we can see it’s a woman, but we can’t see her skin colour”.

Entirely produced by up and coming Parisian producer Sutus, the single mixes a pop-driven afrobeat melody with trap-tinged beats; “I wanted to create a genre-blending track, unifying different music cultures, the African element with British and American styles,” clarifies the young rapper.

Growing up in cities as diverse as Abu Dhabi, Cairo and Amsterdam, Mikano – who now resides in Paris –  is the perfect example of a Third Culture Kid whose music has been dramatically influenced by his rootless past. Inspired by artists from different genres such as Agnès Obel  and Alabama Shakes, Mikano’s first two EPs ‘No Devices Found’ and ‘Blind Man Dreams’, have seen support from some of the most prestigious French music publications including Tsugi and Rolling Stone.

Most French speaking rappers struggle to find fame outside France – even though the country is the second biggest market for hip-hop. It is time for a French, English speaking rapper to break the rules, and Mikano’s ‘Silhouette’ has the potential to set the young rapper on the right path for international success.

Check out for video for the single below…

Song of the Day: A F W M – MRG (ft. Lil Guccy )

On the heels of the release of MRG‘s full-length debut album, ‘Live From The Hurst 2’, the Dominican-American rapper shares the ‘new school’ trap number entitled ‘A F W M’.

Produced by Max Marlow, (producer of A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie and Cryssy Bandz’s “HALO”) and featuring fellow Queens emcee Lil Guccy, ‘AFWM’ form part of MRG’s debut album Live From The Hurst 2, which serves as the full-length follow-up to MRG’s debut EP Live From The Hurst. The album is now available on all digital streaming platforms via Westvilla Music.

Watch the A1Vision-directed video for A F W M below…

EP Review: Store Run – A1

A1 is that guy to put a crazy-dope spin on today’s hip-hop hits and classics, but for his latest EP, ‘Store Run’, he steps away from all the tunes and bangers that we know, to show us what he’s REALLY made of!

Running through this mini set, is a constant smooth and that old soul sound where this New York emcee slams down heartfelt/magical spark to the laid-back arrangements.

I was waiting for this moment for this guy to step into his own limelight and show me who he really is…and the ‘Store Run’ EP has completely satisfy my curiosity. Will it satisfy yours? Have a listen below…

 Must Listens: Arizona Tea, Egg & Cheese