“Ice Meez unleashes a flow that hits hard, but don’t discount this beat and backing as it feeds the lyrics in a meaningful way by setting the tone. ‘The Other Side’ is a street anthem, a declaration of truth as lived by the artist.”
“Ese $antana’s “Malandrin PT. 2” brings gritty energy with hard-hitting production and a confident delivery that commands attention. The track leans into its street-inspired sound while maintaining a relentless pace from start to finish. I also love how he makes the song bilingual. ”
“New Orlean Hip-Hop has always been influential on the scene and FARROW joins a group of talented artist to come out of the city. ‘Planting Seeds’ is a track about investing in your future by taking care of yourself and your business. A thinking man’s track the lyrics give you something new each time you listen.”
“BlackDiamond and Compton Av team up to deliver this hard hitting flow. The streets of Fresno shaped BlackDiamond and a thirteen year prison stint further honed who he is today. ‘Who’s Next’ is the kind of track that will resonate for others but comes from the heart and soul of a an artist that is simply spitting his own truths.”
“Hypnautic is one half of the popular hip hop group Top Flite Empire. ‘Memories’ is a lyrical bomb just waiting to explode in your ears and heart. The track definitely is a tweener in terms of genre but that does not diminish the impact of the talent or writing.
A track to feel and complex enough to give you new nuance each new listen.”
“KSI mshes the pedal on this track and thrill ride of a video. ‘Catch Me If You Can’ is an anthem for those who have put in the work, defied expectations, and cemented their place at the top.
KSI says: “This track is all about levelling up, proving yourself, and staying ahead of the game. ‘Catch Me If You Can’ is my way of showing that I’m always pushing forward, whether it’s in music, boxing, or life. No matter what obstacles come my way, I keep moving.”
THe video is well down and is a throwback in some ways to the Golden age of music videos.”
“Earl Hondo might sound like a spaghetti western villain, but give this track a listen and you’ll discover he’s a killer alright ... A lady killer offering up a groove you can get down to between the sheets, or cruising up the boulevard.
Saddle up and ride the vibe!”
“Rah Cashiano teams up with Band boy and Capo DZ to unleash some straight up ‘Gang Activity.’ Old school attitude and swagger harkens to a time when Hip-Hop didn’t shy away from getting in your face, or try to appeal to the masses with Pop sensibilities.
The flow lands the lyrical punches without trying to be more than it needs to be to get the point across.”
“Marz Da Hippy and Chadster team to give us ‘Sleeping.’
The smooth easy beat and rhythm does indeed instill a calm, sleepy vibe though this track is one you will want to stay awake and alert for.
The track is a vibe an reminder to relax and roll with the punches while being grateful for the things that are going right. We all have a tendency to focus on the bad and that allows the doom to take on an outsized role in our lives. This track is a talented reminded to enjoy the good and weather the bad. ”
“This track’s intro didn’t do much for me, but once that flow hit around the :25 mark I was in and sailing right along.
The smooth delivery of the various flows held me, and the writing had some nice lyrical punches that landed with precision and talent. Already Legends teams with Freddy River and a bunch of other talents to create a nice tranquil Trap track that is as inviting and silky as a cruise down ‘Smooth Water River.’ ”
“Most of us long to find that elusive soulmate, and while waiting, we come up with our ideas and ideals of what that person will be like. Joshua Golden taps into those expectations with his tack, ‘I Can’t Wait To Meet You.’
The song straddles that line between Pop and Rap to create a Commercial track that should appeal to a wide audience. The emotion and performance and added snippets of conversation on each end really come together to feel true and genuine.”
“This track is a classic example of so many submission we receive here at LA on Lock. There is clear and obvious vocal talent, and even the arrangement has musical potential, the overall track lacks a clean production and build.
From a few pauses and skips that at least felt unintentional, to the mix, which left the vocals feeling too distant at times this track just didn’t quite realize its full potential for me. And yet, I can tell the artistry and talent it is simply a matter of getting it all put together in a tidier package.”
“I have a love hate relationship with this track. That steady cadence of the beat gripped me from the first listen though the lyrical flow took me a couple listen to full appreciate.
Yelawolf sounds like a Countryfied Snoop Dogg and his wordplay is ne point though the references are not what you hear in Hip-Hop. That is a good thing but it is a bit jarring upon the first listen. ”
“Peach3 is the Gen Z version of TLC you didn’t know you needed. Old school Trap Hip-Hip with a bit of Pop sensibility gives this track the Commercial edge to stand out in the marketplace, but it is the verve and attitude that truly separates the trio from everyone else. Either you have it or you don’t and these Atlanta natives clearly do.
Lyrically, I did crave more as ‘Ghostrude It’ relies heavily on the hook and bounce to carry the song, but I am eager to see where this trio goes as they establish themselves.”
“A Hip-Hop violinist out of Austin Texas, Shrey Panda is creating a very unique sound. This Instrumental track infuses Hip-Hop sensibilities with Classical music and the talent behind it pours forth like the flow of a dark mysterious river you just can’t turn away from. The track has some harder, almost Industrial tones as it builds and unfurls keeping the listener on the edge of their seat for what will come next.”
“This sounds so much like the original but with a little more added EDM to it. I found myself fast forwarding just to see if more was giving and it wasn’t. However, Waka Flocka has energy that makes you vibe so this unique mix is defiantly worth adding to a party or dance playlist.”
“Who would have thought a little bit of Memphis and a whole lot of New Zealand would hook up to establish a smooth groove like ‘CRASH DUMMY MUZICK.’
This is one of those tracks best digested in a cloud of smoke so you can kick back and enjoy the smooth ride. Each listen gave me a new nuance and thought. Simply a vibe!”
“Yung Jewelz brings the straight in your face passion on this track. The Dirty South is front and present on ‘Dirty Diana,’ a trap track with that deep south bounce pushing it forward.
The flow hits hard, and the writing cracks open your skull and lets the words pour straight in. A gritty and real, punch directly to the gut!”
“Daimo Dunkin doe a great job of honoring the old school era of Hip-Hop and infusing contemporary emotions and ideas into this hard hitting track.
’Posies’ is a hype track, but not in the traditional sense as it does the job of motivating with low-key grit and resolve rather than through hyper boasts and hard beats. The production behind the flow adds to the grime of determination on the track, and the flow is unrelentless in its emotive power.”
“Bshortt gives us some true Rap fusion on this track. Utilizing a Latin inspired beat and melody, the track ranges from a soulful R&B groove in the quieter moments, to an Old-School rap delivery that gives the listener retro vibes.
’Sushi at Mikuni’ takes the listener for a joyride on the back of a strong and confident flow that both cuts and soothes as it builds. ”