Chicago’s own Vic Mensa has been killing recently and, with songs like “U Mad” featuring Kanye West, it’s hard to not see how. On new track “Codeine Crazy”, Vic shows off a great and soothing vocal over a beat worth getting stuck in your head. Reviewed by Jake Goldstein.
Vic Mensa 
(Twitter)
Ever since Kyle’s first album came out, Beautiful Loser, the SoCal rapper has been one of my favorite artists. Kyle just dropped 3 new songs (incl. the G-Eazy-featuring “King Wavy”) that are dope and unique in their own way. Take a listen, none disappoint. Reviewed by Jake Goldstein.
KYLE 
(Soundcloud)
In conjunction with their not-yet-released joint project called The Daisy Chain, Cali MC/rapper-producer duo HASEEB and Curtiss King team up for a sweetly rhythmic melodic-guitar-laced street-vibe-rep’d dark-hit stunner hip-hop jam “Deep Gritty”; which revels in a pleasantly-palleted soft-atmospheric vintage hip-hop vibe and felicitous array of lushly-delivered raw-surfaced vocals (featuring the raspy-toned rhyme n’ flow of vet Philly rapper Freeway). New track “Deep Gritty” (which includes flowery gritty-sensed cover artwork created by HASEEB) is the second single to release off the collaboration’s upcoming new “The Daisy Chain” EP (which has an unknown release date at this point). Great track! Reviewed by Erin Shay.
HASEEB (Soundcloud)
Mike Stud connects with Philadelphia’s own Moosh and Twist on this car banger of a track. Louis Bell captures the pulse of the song with the beat, while Moosh and Twist nail the lyric verses as usual. In classic Mike Stud style, the artist provides a smooth flow that you’ll feel guilty skipping over. Moosh and Twist are due to drop new material in the coming months, so be on the lookout. Reviewed by Jake Goldstein.
Mike Stud 
: (Soundcloud)
In March we felt totally transfixed (in a good way) by the fresh and imaginative radio-ready sound of Noah McBeth on his catchy-hooked viral-breakout hit “California Girls” which he created under his new nom de act called NoMBe. Not surprisingly the stupendously talented new LA-based artist just released another excellent darkly-textured trap-centric equally-as-catchy (to Cali Girls) hip-hop-rapper-tinged new one called “Miss Mirage”; which impresses us immensely with its poetically-spun lyrics and deeply-electrifying atmospheric-synth-charged moments of moody glory. We absolutely love the muted-pace, far-out-expansive vocal harmonies and superb quietly-dedicated folk-guitar melody of “Miss Mirage”. NoMBe is one to keep an ear on. Reviewed by Erin Shay
NoMBe (Soundcloud)
We’re into the impressively-smooth subtly-robust beats and seamlessly well-constructed Tribe-sampling ways of New Zealand producer Jetson (who is also one half of NZ hip-hop duo Chill Children) on his short and sweet, totally excellent new one “Bonita” which especially grabs us for its classic-essence expansive-vibe horn accents, quiet rhythmic syrupy-slow-paced charm and sunny melodically-expressive jazz-piano-toned perspective. A+ hip hop. Reviewed by Erin Shay.
Jetson 
(Soundcloud)
We’re into the new scratchy-vocaled horn-accected jazzy-tropical-lounge-inspired hip-hop stunner remix of “OG Bobby Johnson” (by Atlanta rapper Que) from talented New Jersey artist (Aaron Valasquez) a.k.a. Flamingosis who we recently covered for his super-cool seductively summery melodic-vocaled funk-soul flip “Love Me in the Evening”. Reviewed by Erin Shay.
Flamingosis 
(Soundcloud)
It has been a long time since we have featured Toronto MC/singer-songwriter/guitarist K-OS who hit #25 on our top 40 tracks in 2009 list for “I Wish I knew Natalie Portman”. We are happy to be reacquainted to the creative talents of K-OS on his quite phenomenal catchy-hooked hip-hop-scratchy bold-versed Ella-sampling recent release “Crucify” off his forthcoming Can’t Fly Without Gravity LP that is out on August 28th via Dine Alone Records. A+ Reviewed by Erin Shay.
k-Os 
(Soundcloud)
Tune into the classic r&b silly-as-f boyfriend-honesty-awesomeness, slick bass-line and compelling meld of vocals on new Drake joint “Drama” which showcases the immense promise of 19-year-old Brampton (Toronto suburb) vocalist homeboy Roy Wood$ who we recently discussed in regards to Krs’s newest bootleg endeavor “All Of U”; which is a slightly more upbeat percussively-textured bass-heavy take on Wood$’s track “All of You”. As you might recall Roy Wood$ wowed us on his original track with his superbly impassioned MJ Reverbing vocals and we are not surprised to discover how much we enjoy his super-fresh accompanying vocals on “Drama” (to the one and only Drake). Evidently the refreshingly light-hearted r&b-bent track is one of several Drake pet-projects (fellow Canadian) that aired on the debut OVO Sound Radio show on Beats 1 via Apple Music. Stay tuned and be sure to check out Roy Wood$’s upcoming project EXIS which is scheduled to drop sometime in 2015. Reviewed by Erin Shay.
Roy Wood$ (Soundcloud)
New B3 producer/artist-find Egyptian Art carefully seams together form and function with style and pizzaz on their new gracefully-executed ultra-smooth beat-driven hybrid remix “She’s So Lovely” which we especially dig for its deep sweepingly-cinematic vibe, glossy absolute-winner bass-line adaptation, and seductive dynamic between synth, beats and vocals. “She’s So Lovely” is an irresistibly catchy artfully-crafted well-calibrated mesh of abhi//dijon’s “Honest” and Kendrick Lamar’s track “Poetic Justice”. Excellent track. We are listening Egyptian Art. A+ Reviewed by Erin Shay.
Egyptian Art (Soundcloud)
In June we highlighted the lavishly atmospheric instrumentals and remarkable production talent of Portland producer/DJ Dallas Cotton on his fantastic disco-leaning house track “Sometime”. The versatile young rising-star producer impresses us again with a head-turning ultra-smooth sultry-saxed new one called “Writer’s Block”, which revels in a gorgeous evocative jazz groove and seamless sample from Tribe Called Quest’s epic tune, “1nce Again”. A short and sweet, inventive mesh of hip-hop and stunning jazz instrumentals “Writers Block” is one of the best fusion tracks we have heard in ages. We love it. Reviewed by Erin Shay.
Dallas Cotton 
(Facebook)
NYC-based radio-DJ/producer and Showoff Records founder Static Selektah chose an opportune 7/7 date to launch his new star-studded and seamlessly-executed Lucky 7 album; which includes an excellent talent-packed out-with-a-final-bang new single “In The Wind” that hit yesterday as a lead-in to Static’s midnight album-release party at NYC’s Santos Party House. Static’s new track “In The Wind” (which is Lucky 7’s fifth and final pre-release track after “Crystal Clear”, “All You Need”, “Top Tier” and “Beautiful Life”) excels for its wax-philosophical smoothly-stated rhymes and life-is-an-inspiration so lead by positive example equals power message. We also dig the track’s 90’s-esque lyrical styling, bass guitar accents from Brady Watt and distinctly-NYC quintessential-Static blend of hip-hop with soul and jazz instrumentals; including Static’s picturesque meld of beats and horns with heavy metallic percussion. We love the deeply-ponderous positively-charged rap-flow of Joey Bada$$, a sweet and demure chorus hook from Charlie Red’s Chauncy Sherod, and the creative “spittin’ bars” acapella-style ending from southern rapper Big K.R.I.T (who laments that Static won’t give him any beats). We’re into it and look forward to checking out the other songs on the album; although word on the street states that “In The Wind” is the standout track. Excellent song. Reviewed By Erin Shay.
