“Ricky Davaine drops this in your face yet melodic groove that tell it like it is. ‘Metamorphosis’ is about recognizing the user and abuser and takers of the worlds and changing to protect yourself and your future.
The lyrical flow is dead on and the tone works well for the message being delivered. The track does a good job of straddling a coupe different vibes and gene lines and in doing so creates its own brand of sound. ”
“With a head nod to the Golden Age of Hip-Hop, Ishan drops his track, ‘Ishan.’ The flow hits steady and hard with just enough variation to bring the lines to life. The writing has punch and the beat hits an Old School vibe through out thought he track still manages to sound contemporary and hard edged. Ishan brings an intensity and passion which keeps the intrigue alive even without a pure, hype style hook.”
“A sports anthem that would feel right at home in a videogame soundtrack or in any arena or stadium. From the court tot he field, Wes Linden delivers a hard hitting flow that establishes a hook and rhythm right from the start. Lyrically the track has enough to hold you, but really it is the hook and vibe that carries the track alongside the vocal talent.”
“Dre come sin with passion and grit and the beat production adds to the vibe with perfection. There is a bit of old school intensity tot he flow though the construction and vibe is pure contemporary. ‘B-Sides’ is a free flowing track with nuance and confidence pushing the vocals. Lyrically it is the kind of track that keeps giving with each listen so add it to your playlists and dig in truly feeling the talented writing and performance. . ”
“Rowlan starts the track off with an R&B type groove, before unleashing a heartfelt Rap flow and hook to pull the listener in emotionally. The combination of styles and grooves plays a huge role in upholding the intrigue, but overall it is the honest and genuine emotions in conjunction with the talented performance that carries the day. Not an easy one to compare, but there are influences of Drake, Kendrick and Jack Harlow to name a few.”
“A free verse track about grief and loss, delivered with genuine emotion and heart.
Javy XI takes on the hurt of losing his mom and delivers this flow with a loving memory that is edged with the pain of his loss. The backing and beat mostly get out of the way, but do add enough to give the track a solid well-rounded feel. A single that simply hits hard with its genuineness.”
“A slow flowing, but deliberate and powerful track that is intricately written and unfolds with precision and confidence. Robb Hayes boldly delivers the affirmations and Jasmine Crowe lends her talent to the mix with a soulful hook and delivery that helps the listener invite the emotional impact all the way in. The track is low key motivational, but one you can listen to on repeat and pick up new nuances each time.”
“Keep rising symbolizes and reflects on the struggles for artists coming up in the LA rap scene. Rob Law and Yelohill come from different hoods and different backgrounds, but the pain is the same. The sound of this song is like if Tupac and Nispey Hussle came together on a track. Uniting LA as one.
The track brings heart and genuine emotion which keep the listener leaning in and anticipating the next line. The two flows offer a different style but the juxtapostion of that is what makes the track pop. ”
“Dax is no stranger to visitors here at LA on Lock, and as long as he keeps putting out passionate music we will continue to share this videos and be fans. ‘Dear Alcohol’ is a slower tempo track with less anger and a more reflective emotional nature than many of Dax’s hard hitting singles, but that is not to say this song does land with its own force.
We all need to stop and take time to reflect on where we are emotionally at times, and this track is about that and the realization we often use alcohol or other things to hide from what’s really plaguing our minds. ”
“J. Lately delivers an uplifting and soulful Hip Hop track with ‘Pictures.’ The steady cadence pushes the track forward over the top of a tranquil groove and rhythm. The track is a vibe that is easy to settle in on and ride out. Lyrically, the track is one that takes a few listens to truly catch all the nuance and emotion. ”
“The talent is in the mix. VerseBorn X Flamingo Fred have the musical ability to mix words and melodic sound in a conscious hip hop sound. The dynamics leaves no competition but reminds you of how immaculate the track is.”
Rating: 5 out of 5
“Motivation is the power of manifestation. Artist General’s “War Ready” featuring JChosen is a perfect Hip-Hop motivation track. The examples and words he use creates a blue print of you and your goals. He preps you to be war ready for greatness. This nearly 6 minute track will have you empowered and ready to fight the war for success.”
“Riding a nostalgic, jazzy hip hop vibe, this track by a Hawaiian Grammy winner, and a rapper from the DMV by way of Ghana, is about the neighborhoods they grew up in ‘Back Home.’
The flows are laidback but passionate and genuine and the lyrics feel a bit like a freestyle with genuine emotion backing it all. ”
“A freestyle type track with a nice arrangement behind it, giving the song that extra edge to truly stand out. Bshortt delivers a flow that emotes the passion behind the lyrics and the Jazz infused backing adds an extra verve putting ‘Daydreamin’’ into that next level of tracks for me. The writing is strong as well. and keeps you leaning in in anticipation of the next line.”
“Love is something we all crave and yet there are times we think we’ve found it only to discover the relationship is ‘Poison.’ Sonny Hendrixx deliver a passionate flow that emotes the anger, resentment, and even vulnerability of putting yourself out there and discovering you are in the midst of a toxic relationship that is killing your spirit and resolve.”
“Delivering a melodic flow that hooks and holds, Cam Blair, drops ‘Rain Dance’ on us. The track hits us with an easy groove and build and this infectious rhythm and delivery lends the single an easy to stay on vibe. That construction instills a strong instant connection, but that is not to say the lyrical flow is not intricate and evolved in a way that keeps the song intriguing long past the first listen.”
“Dax never fails to bring the passion and intensity and here, clever wordplay accentuates that given a a strongly written flow that lands its punches. The addition of Snow Tha Product adds some variation to the build and worked to bring this one to life for me. ‘A Lot At Stake’ is a hard hitting track that gives you nuance to think over with each listen.”
“In the face of haters and naysayers, sometimes all we have to hang onto is our our own stubborn determination and personal belief that we can get there. ‘All I Know’ is all about having the confidence and stamina to persevere when others say — give it up.
Dami and Messenger team up here to deliver this chilled vibe and laidback flow and in doing so they have proved any and all naysayers wrong, because they clearly have the talent and resolve to rise above the fray.”
“Frank D taps into so much on this track. There is a bit of old school to the flow and delivery, but not so much the track truly feels retro. What it does feel is ... real.
’Mad’ is a track we can all relate to. The world has a way of beating us down and sometimes we have an exact reason for being mad while other we simply wake up that way from the pressure of the world we live in. This flow makes you feel like you are not alone in these struggles and that is what the best music does no matter the emotion being explored.”
“Karras drops this track which conveys a nice October vibe both in its lyrical content and the brooding enchanted vibe of the beat and build. The tension is palpable and while this track might feel wrong for a sunny June day it is perfect for establishing those Halloween thoughts.
The construction has an old school vibe at times, but overall this one still feels contemporary and timed well for its release.”