Noname f/k/a Noname Gypsy is outfitted with a nice Goapele sample and snippets of a Nina Simone interview (both cool with us) on new “Freedom Interlude”. On the track, Noname flows neatly into the cool pedigree instrumental skittering lyrically through varying stages of emotional volatility about low touch drums and handclaps straight in rhythm with the viscera. Very good.
Chicago man Mick Jenkins turns to Kaytra & THEMpeople for a minimal production frame in which to spit an array of stylistically varied flows. The skittering creeper beat’s changing character gives MJ the appropriate chassis to cast a cool range of personas throughout the track. There’s a neat bit of narrative/symbiosis going on “The Artful Dodger” between the guise of each set of rhymes and its accompanying instrumental. Right. We like it.
The 22 year old Melbourne AU-based REMI aka Remi Kolawole connects with buzzing fellow Aussie Sampa the Great on the late-night disco-tinged “For Good”. Slow-motion rhythmic strums, cool bongo-driven polyrhythms and locked in flows from the track’s pair of emcees, “For Good” is an accomplished mood setter. REMI will release the Divas and Demons LP later this year and “For Good” is the album’s first single.
Chicago team Savemoney spots up for an ace new collaboration/three-ball between Towkio and Vic Mensa and producers Mr. Carmack and Kenny Segal. The Carmack sound on “G W M” (Gang With Me) is a cool fit around the disparate flows/timbres of Towkio and Vic Mensa. Dagger.
We’re spinning Hezekiah’s cool new mix of The Life of Pablo’s most meta track “I Love Kanye”. Sampling Joslyn Brown’s “Somebody Else’s Guy”, Hezekiah pushes “I Love Kanye” further down the meta rabbit hole by fixing KW’s bars to a “Old Kanye”-esque bit of fast moving chopped up soul. Love.
Tune into the muted street wise vocal flow, sunny-day keyboard sentiments, and outstanding Mndsgn-produced synth grooves of new track “Free Shit” from new-to-B3 Oslo artist Ivan Avenue. Stream “Free Shit” below. Reviewed by Erin Shay.
B3 recently covered Jerusalem-based producer SwuM. for his uniquely-creative dreamy beat-punctuated atmospheric hip-hop beauty “Lucid”. We are psyched to recommend to you his stupendously catchy hip-hop jam “Finesse”; a xylophone melody driven beat track that features a dynamic set of melodic tones and playful, terrifically blunt lyrics. We’re enjoying this song (almost) too much and its cover art is fabulous! Reviewed by Erin Shay.
The Irish-born US-based Rejjie Snow streams quiet storm-tipped new one “Keep Your Head Up”. The new song which follows the Future and Rich the Kid-featuring “Product” glides through a rhodes-y 70’s-styled vibes-down R&B and repeated refrain to magnetic results. Look for more music forthcoming very soon from Mr. Snow and further details on his debut LP Dear Annie.
The talented Trapo previews first track from upcoming “SHE” EP. “Bad Gal” hits a jazzy polyrhythm-driven (bongos!) groove tipped up with piano accents and Trapo’s smooth effervescent and melodic flow. We love.
