“I want to make music that I needed to hear when I was down. I want to make music that people need to hear when they’re down so they can get up.” Kota The Friend recently told okayplayer. With the release of his third album EVERYTHING he’s doing just that, and the timing couldn’t be more perfect. The world is…
Rap
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MIST, the Brum hitmaker that doesn’t seem to be stopping at anything. Born and raised in Birmingham, MIST comes with a different accent to many of the other artists featured on our Across The Pond segment so far. Just North of London, the area is no stranger to having rap stars, but MIST’s voice in particular seems like he was…
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A few days ago, Brasstracks dropped ‘Change For Me’ with Samm Henshaw. I won’t lie, as soon as I heard about the song, it was the first thing I listened to that morning. And that’s because nobody does brass quite as well as Brasstracks. Their feel-good vibes, instrumental covers of bangers, and versatility put them on a different level. I’ve…
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The worlds of rap and rock have always shared spirits and remained within the continuum of genre-melding. Atlanta rapper Kenny Mason’s debut album, Angelic Hoodrat, is a project that rides a fair share of its tracks on the more avant-garde side to much avail. For many, Kenny Mason first caught attention with the single, ‘Hit,’ which more or less keeps the…
- BLOGRap
Alchemist and Conway the Machine’s ‘LULU’ EP Is An Ode To Grim Survival
by FUXWITHITby FUXWITHITThe first time I ever heard of Alchemist was the summer of 2012, when he produced Domo Genesis’ No Idols mixtape. I remember listening and noting how much more matured Domo sounded on top of the sample-heavy MPC vibes curated by the Alchemist. Throughout his career, the Alchemist has collaborated with both emerging artists and veterans, which takes us to…
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East London’s finest, Kano, is a pioneer of grime and U.K. rap culture that you need to know. Considered one of the true OG’s alongside the likes of Dizzee Rascal and Wiley, Kano was originally part of the East Music Crew ‘N.A.S.T.Y’. With other members including Wiley, Ghetts and D Double E, the crew are widely considered responsible for making…
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What up y’all? Surprised to hear from me? Well shit, I didn’t expect to be back so soon either but, I feel when I hear compelling music I have an obligation to share. I truly believe that – especially now. During my indefinite work from home situation, I find myself looking for new music to bump while I work through…
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In a time where the world needs a pick me up, three of the U.K.’s heavy hitters come together to drop a surprise collaborative album. Skepta, Chip and Young Adz are all well established and successful artists in their own right. While Skepta and Chip have collaborated a number of times in the past, Young Adz is an interesting add…
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This month is Women’s History Month, so we have to shout out the ladies that are killin’ the game right now. We know there are mad female producers on the rise and making money moves out there. But we’ve decided to limit it to female trap and rap producers, because, well… that’s just what we like. We’re proud to say…
- BLOGRap
Jay Electronica Releases Long Anticipated Debut Album ‘A Written Testimony’ Alongside Jay-Z
by Colinby ColinJay Electronica first amazed fans with the incredibly captivating Act 1: Eternal Sunshine back in 2007. Leveraging the score of the film as a foundation, Jay’s intricate and original visual rap style made him an instant favourite. That along with tracks like ‘Exhibit C’ landed Jay Electronica a deal with Roc Nation in 2010. Few artists of that era created…