Though August might mean the solemn end of summer to most, Bay Area natives embrace the month as the welcome harbinger of Outside Lands. With the festival set to kick off this Friday, many of us are scrambling last-minute to assemble the perfect schedule – a painstakingly precise itinerary filled with high-energy performances, insane crowds, and gourmet corn dogs. For the indecisive and uncertain, let this list of must-see acts be your guiding light during the weekend’s festivities. Maxo Kream It’s been a minute since Maxo dropped his newest LP Weight of the World late last year – but having just dropped the long-awaited deluxe version, few artists on the lineup are as essential to see as this young rapper. From the triumphant horns of the Tyler-assisted “BIG PERSONA” to the downtempo ambiance of album closer “BELIEVE” with Don Toliver – the Houston rapper’s energy is just as infectious as it is massive, making him the perfect act to see if you’re looking to throw a few elbows. Having received co-signs from artists like Megan Thee Stallion and Travis Scott to A$AP Rocky and Freddie Gibbs – Maxo Kream’s ascension to hip-hop stardom is anything but accidental – and you …

As I’ve grown up I’ve come to realize that sometimes the best music leaves the listener at a loss for words – and while I love the spirit of this sentiment, this also creates an unfortunate reality for those whose job revolves around writing about good new music. Thankfully somebody managed to take the words right out of my mouth around midnight last night when the YouTube user “Cyber Giggle” left the following comment on the visualizer for Neggy Gemmy’s new single: ‘Ohhh…what a smooth yummy tune…Neggy Gemmy tickles me again with her musical talent‘. They’re not wrong – “Daydream” is nothing if not a “smooth yummy tune” sure to “tickle” you after just one listen. Neggy Gemmy returns to us ahead of her upcoming LP with a hypnotic and dreamlike electropop banger that synthesizes lofty electronic instrumentation with sleek house basslines and percussion. Her vocals are light and ethereal, detailing a colorful journey through outer space while indifferent to the monotony of quotidian life. On the inspiration for “Daydream” Neggy Gemmy reveals “People have made fun of me my whole life for being “spacey” and for zoning out and not paying attention. But I think it’s okay and even …

According to legend, the Chinese Zodiac calendar was created around 4000 B.c. by Ta Nao, an esteemed minister of Emperor Huang Ti. 6000 years later, I am hereby proposing that we forget this year as the Year of the Tiger – because all signs point to 2022 being the year of the Drelli. At this point, Drelli is far from being a ‘deep cut’ – we’ve seen the Minneapolis rapper featured on the LL pages for years, so what makes his newest single “Seven” any different from “Fancy” with Khary or “Yayaya” with AJRadico? Nothing, it’s another fucking banger from one of hip-hop’s most consistent burgeoning acts, and consistency is a skill many talk about but few possess. If you haven’t listened to “Seven” yet, then allow me to paint you a word picture. Drelli’s rapping is laid-back yet instilled with his signature electric energy that could turn him reading the phone book into a strong SOTY contender for me. The mix is bouncy and 808-laden, colonized equally by delicate string plucks and glitchy instrumentation that easily make “Seven” an instant add to your weekly rotation. If you’re a fan of artists like Mike Dimes, Al-Doms, or JID, Drelli is …

Though I like to pride myself on being a know-it-all that tends to be pretty early to anything in the realm of music – I have no issue admitting when I’m late to the party. This week Brett from Sparky humbled me by sending over a cheeky little tune in the form of UK rapper Saiming’s “WOOF MEOW” – which seems to be having a little bit of a viral moment right now. It’s not hard to hear why people like the track – Saiming’s rapping is concentrated and tightly woven, equally clever and laid-back. The dilushselva-produced mix is a hazy and hypnotic plugg-meets-drill beat featuring Rhodes-esque instrumentation and electrifying mechanical percussion. “WOOF MEOW” is one of those tracks that is somehow perfect for an expensive night out or a quiet night at home – because no matter what context you listen to Saiming in, you’re going to enjoy it no matter what. This song came out in February, and since then Saiming has also released “Night Tube” with Zuko Rosemeid – a lo-fi yet cinematic banger that proves that tracks like “WOOF MEOW” are far from a fluke. With more music hopefully slated for the near future, Saiming might …

If there’s anything I love more than unlistenable ambient albums, it’s hip-hop that dares to be different. Today I’m honored to present listeners to LOCS, who returns to listeners this month with “Youngin” – his first release since he dropped the ANOMALY EP last spring. You may recognize LOCS from his semi-viral “2020 Freestyle”, and if so, you’ll be happy to hear that this month’s release “Youngin” is instilled with just as much (if not more) electrifying energy than its predecessor. Over a warped and demonic mix decorated with distorted vocals (?), LOCS pulls zero punches as he flows effortlessly on a beat that most rappers would be scared to touch. Between “2020 Freestyle” and the previously-released “Nothing Less”, the ATL-based artist has been making waves out east for a minute now – and luckily our king continues his momentum more and more with every release. Though I’m crossing my fingers that “Youngin” is an indication of more music to come soon, LOCS has kept fans more than fed already in 2022. Until LOCS circles back with more heat, however, you can bet that “Youngin” will colonize my weekly rotation for the foreseeable future.   Check out LOCS’ new single …

The landscape of abstract and experimental hip-hop is decorated with some of the culture’s most celebrated writers – and from Mavi to Messiah!, from MIKE to Earl Sweatshirt, there never seems to be a shortage of sage wordsmiths ready to seamlessly flow over an unyielding beat that only they can tame. This week fans of the genre are blessed with a new track from two of the scene’s most talented upcoming acts, DiZ and Frank Sativa, in the form of the warped and nostalgia-filled bliss of “SOULFOOD”. Reflecting on their ascendancy into music’s spotlight, DiZ and Frank trade effortlessly hypnotic bars over a mix that is just as cleverly crafted as it is understated. Whether or not you find yourself to be a hip-hop skeptic or an already-initiated fan of the genre that spins “EAST” at every opportunity – “SOULFOOD” is sure to win you over and gain a coveted spot in your weekly rotation. With likely more light and sunny bangers primed for release before the end of the year, DiZ and Frank Sativa are two artists that need to be on your radar as spring turns to summer – and I’m hoping that “SOULFOOD” is a harbinger of …

One of my favorite things about being alive has to be having anxiety. Nothing beats needlessly worrying about imaginary scenarios with no basis in reality, or gaslighting myself into thinking that everybody hates me. To live with anxiety is like living life on challenge mode – and who doesn’t like a little bit of a challenge? Encapsulating both the highs and lows (mostly lows) of anxiety is NC-based rapper and singer Mere Raj, who returns to us this month with the aptly-titled “ANXIETY”. Synthesizing a dreary-yet-ambient mix with a versatile vocal ability that rivals many of his superiors, Mere Raj holds nothing back on his newest single of 2022. Like the two previously-released singles that preceded “ANXIETY” this year, Mere Raj’s newest release is a relatively downtempo and introspective look into the young artist – but unlike “PSYCHO” or “inmyhead”, “ANXIETY” is instilled with a potent vulnerability that allows listeners to immediately transport themselves into the mind of young Mr. Raj. The picture that “ANXIETY” paints is vivid and wrought with tension, and unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be any hope in sight. With more music slated for release later this year, Mere Raj is an artist that needs to be …

This week I have given myself the impossible task of describing the cultural significance of “Bag”, the long-awaited yet unexpected collaboration between Miami-via-Jamaica rapper BEAM and plugg pioneer 645AR. For the uninitiated this collaboration might not raise any eyebrows, but for those with their ear to the ground, “Bag” is the second coming, a cause to celebrate, and perhaps even worthwhile of a national holiday. Released late last month (sorry for the wait), “Bag” sees the dulcet and dreamlike raps of 645AR going bar-for-bar with the effortlessly sharp and versatile BEAM – and as a longtime fan of both artists, “Bag” feels like a dream come true. At this point, both artists are fairly prolific and wildly successful, and hearing the two work in sacred harmony is something I never thought I would be blessed with. Whether it’s 645AR instilling his own laid-back and futuristic energy into the track, or hearing BEAM reference older tracks like his Cardo-assisted “Lost” with masterful precision and dexterity, “Bag” is easily one of my favorite hip-hop releases in recent memory. Before you start drafting that tweet roasting me for taking three weeks to write about this song – I’ll be the first to admit …