There are so many different traits that can be appreciated throughout the diverse landscape that is hip-hop music, and some artists grab my attention much more than others. As for SSGKobe, he has been making music for a handful of years, but his patience is a quality that I think so many young artists can learn from. Sure, he’s still young himself, but the fact that he’s been grinding for years and has only recently begun to see success in his career should show up-and-comers that as long as you have the drive and desire to succeed and mold your sound into something that will appeal to the masses, you can make it in this cutthroat industry. Although his catalog of hits grows more extensive by the day, it seems, he always maintains that workhorse mentality, and this is what separates him from the rest. I’m not sure what the rest of 2021 holds for the young star, but I do know that just the other day he decided to team up with Lil Yachty to release another banger entitled “FUK EM”, and you need to hear this song to truly appreciate it. In the instrumental, some lively, electronic synths …

There are certain artists who very easily could call this year their own because they not only made waves and introduced themselves into the music industry, but they also made some moves that will solidify themselves in the hip-hop world from here on out. For Nardo Wick, it’s pretty easy to see that he has dominated this year probably more than anyone else, working with artists like Lil Durk, 21 Savage, G Herbo, and more as well as even receiving an unbelievable music video from our very own Cole Bennett. It’s just insane to think that even though he has been making music for a couple of years, he had so many prominent moments in 2021 that are setting him up for success, and the year isn’t even over. His debut album Who is Nardo Wick? is set to release this Friday, and in case fans weren’t already excited enough, he decided to build even more buzz with the release of one more single entitled “Me or Sum” which features massive guests in Future and Lil Baby. Z3N produced this hit, beginning with some serene string progressions, booming 808s, and tapping percussion before quickening the tempo and incorporating some much …

The work ethic of Chicago’s very won Chief Keef is pretty much unmatched when comparing his discography to other artists’, and even though this year might seem relatively quiet for him, that doesn’t mean he hasn’t dropped off some incredible releases. In previous years, he has released numerous mixtapes and projects seemingly every few months, and even though we haven’t received a full-length project in 2021, he’s still working as hard as ever. It has been quite some time since he announced that he’d be teaming up with Mike WiLL Made-It for a collaborative album, and even though there is no word as to when that can be expected to drop, all of the singles that they have put out together have been absolute heaters, so I truly hope we get more information on this album as soon as possible. Nonetheless, Sosa is a Windy city legend, and it doesn’t matter if he drops full-length projects, mixtapes, EPs, or singles because I’m going to tune in regardless. Out of nowhere, Keef decided to bless fans with a brand-new track entitled “Tony Montana Flow”, and although I feel like its release went way more under the radar than it should have, …

ITSOKTOCRY is one of the most captivating artists in the entire music industry, and if you don’t believe me, just check out any of his countless songs and tell me you disagree, because I’d tell you that you’re factually incorrect. The way he is able to manipulate his voice is unheard of and can’t be compared to anyone else in the entire music scene, and the instrumentals he uses always keep you on your toes because you have no clue what kind of sounds to expect prior to listening in. He is grossly underrated, in my opinion, but his fans know just how special of a talent he is, and I won’t be quick to let that point go by the wayside because he’s just making music in his own lane, and no one else is even close to catching up to him. After a lot of hype was built up around his album GWEN STACY 4EVER over the past few months, the day has finally come, and after tuning in, I can say with the utmost confidence that the wait was well worth it. With 11 songs that add up to just over 25 minutes, this is more than …

It should be no secret to you that BONES is probably the most prominent underground legend in the entire landscape of music, but if that’s new to you, you probably have a lot of catching up to do. Luckily, he is never one to slow down or put his foot on the breaks, and this year more than ever seems to prove that. In 2021 alone, BONES has released 5 full-length albums throughout the year, and with the fact that we’re still a month out from the new year, he might not even be done. Instead of lingering in the uncertainty of what the rest of the year will bring for the Michigan star, I want to focus on the present, and that’s because he just dropped off another full-length album entitled Scraps, but the outcome is anything but a collection of loosies. Teaming up with TeamSESH producer Lyson on this release, he is able to give BONES a plethora of different sounds that bring out his aptitudes and let his skills shine more than ever. I just feel like working with an in-house producer that you have so much chemistry with always yields the best results, and this project …

There are numerous artists in the underground music scene that I think deserve so much more credit than they receive, but their grind is always notable and it’s going to pay off one day or another. When I first dove into this wild and unpredictable underground arena, 909memphis was always someone who I found myself gravitating towards because he had one of the most unique voices I had ever heard, and he knew just how to utilize it in order to bring out the best in himself and his music. At first, I would compare him to Young Thug because of the way he would manipulate his voice and his deliveries, but as I thought about it more, I realized that he was in a lane of his own and deserved so much more respect than is given when comparing him to someone else because he truly is one of a kind. Most recently, I got extremely excited because he not only dropped a brand-new track entitled “Bad News”, but he also announced the release of his upcoming project Whatever It Takes which will gift us with 6 new tracks that I’m overly confident will just contribute to his storied …

If you’ve paid attention to any of my articles over the past two years, Lil Xelly should be bumping on your speakers more often than not. He has been one of my favorite underground legends for quite a handful of years and considering the influx of music he has put out into the universe, there is literally no chance for any songs to get stale because there are just so many gems throughout his extensive discography. Whether you’re a fan of his sound or just appreciate his workhorse mentality, there is literally no way you can hate on the Maryland native, and if you do, it’s probably just because you don’t appreciate hard work or a hustler mentality like the one Xelly has. While it can be hard to decide where to start listening with his catalog of music, he has been hyping up his latest project Angel Dust for quite some time now, and even though I know I’m late, I simply couldn’t miss out on the fun for any longer, and I’m glad I finally got a chance to actually sit down and divulge my full attention into this incredible tape. With 16 songs that last just short …

Every day, it seems like there’s a new superstar coming up out of Chicago and putting on for our city, and it makes me so proud to call this place my home. While superstars like Juice WRLD, Lil Durk, G Herbo, Chief Keef, and Lil Bibby are household names and world renown, there are so many other talents making their claim for the throne known, and Lil Eazzyy is one of the most prominent names in the entire city. Obviously, his mixtape Underrated which dropped last year put him on the map and it’s still a project I revisit regularly because it has longevity and is full of hits, but I’m sure his fans don’t need to hear that from me in order to know that it’s true. When he dropped Rookie of the Year earlier this year, I feel like it flew under the radar way more than it should have and it didn’t quite add to his legacy as an artist the way it was meant to, but nonetheless, I think it’s a very solid album and something that deserves so much more love than it received. Nevertheless, Eazzyy is always working, and even though he might’ve been …