Versatility goes such a long way in my book when I first listen to an artist that I don’t know a ton about, and it is pretty clear after listening to just a handful of songs if someone is going to be worth listening to further or not. I’m not saying someone has to go from rap to jazz to country or even dabble with different genres, but complexity goes a long way with me. Whether that’s with beat selection, flows, personality, or simply a style that isn’t like everyone else, I like unique, and I feel like that’s something that most people prefer, especially with so many people fighting to make a name in music. Atlanta is a place known for diversity, but that often comes from the overflow of artists from the iconic rap hub, not necessarily from most of the artists themselves. I say most because that’s not the case with everyone, and Anti Da Menace is certainly going to prove that to you whether you like it or not. Anti is a newer name in my world, but after hearing him featured on a song with fellow Georgia phenom Rot Ken just the other day, I …

Ever since I first found out about Pardyalone, it is hard for me to imagine a more captivating artist on the rise than him. I get overly excited when I find out that he put out something new, which is weird because his music is often pretty depressive and bleak, but it’s not just sad for the sake of being sad. Pardy isn’t just another musician with face tattoos and a fabricated story. In fact, he is exactly the opposite. If for some reason you judged him on appearance alone and had to predict what kind of music he made, you would be dead wrong, and that’s what I love so much about him. He is different, and I italicize the word because I can’t stress this enough. His dejected narratives might not get you pumped up or dancing, but he shares his experiences in a way that reveals every last bit of his soul, and it connects with listeners on a level much deeper than music alone. No matter what kind of mood I’m in, he forces me to revisit my previous hardships and put them into perspective, helping me learn to be a better person even if these …

I’m so used to underground artists putting out an influx of music while mainstream talents get away with sometimes only dropping something new once in a blue moon. While it makes sense for the up-and-comers to want to get as much music out as possible to increase their chances of success in this industry, I feel like the bigger names are given too much of a break and need to continue to expand on their work ethic as they celebrate their success. Now, I’m not here to lecture or complain, I just love hearing new music, but then again, who doesn’t? Obviously, there are exemptions to my previous statement, and the biggest exception I could ever think of is Icewear Vezzo, a Detroit spitter who makes nothing but hits, and lots of them. While he is certainly no longer an underground emcee, I don’t know if you could classify him as a mainstream rapper either, but with the music he makes, it seems like this is his choice, not anyone else’s. Vezzo just doesn’t appear to ever sleep or even leave the studio, for that matter, because not a week goes by when there isn’t a brand-new song, video, or …

We all know that Lyrical Lemonade is a predominantly hip-hop and rap-related site, and I write for them because these are two aligned genres that I have been in love with for decades. As LL has grown, so has the team, the creative endeavors that we pursue, and the audience we serve. Along with this transformation, we have become a much more well-rounded group of writers that cover a lot more than these two styles of music singularly, and while they still have my heart, I love the diverse submissions that come across my screen. A little while ago, one of my industry homies sent me some music from the Phoenix-based alternative/indie band fearofmakingout, a quartet of unbelievably talented musicians who bring something different but equally impressive to the table in order to truly bring out the best in one another. I can sit here and claim that I regularly listen, but that’s because I really only regularly listen to a handful of my favorite artists on repeat, which is probably more of a problem than something I’m proud of, in all honesty. Regardless, every time I have the chance to experience some new music from FOMO, I seize the …

Lil Zay Osama has been a legend in Chicago for more years than I could probably count, but it seems like, over the last few years, he has really blown up more than ever before. It seems like anyone who matters in the rap world here is on his side, and anyone who doesn’t ride with the Windy City spitter is behind the curve. Although he has come across my radar for a while, it wasn’t until recently (in the grand scheme of things) that I really started to pay attention, and I am sure glad I did. Zay has worked with the biggest names in drill music including Lil Durk, G Herbo, and more, but he has also collaborated with superstars not necessarily classified in this subgenre like Icewear Vezzo, Benny the Butcher, Sada Baby, Sheff G, Jackboy, Lil Tjay, and even Sean Kingston, amongst way too many others to count. His connections don’t stop there, though, because especially recently, he has been tapping in with some of Chi-Town’s most prominent young icons including the DCG Brothers, Fastmoney Ant, and even PGF Nuk, an emcee who is considered to be one of the most exciting up-and-comers in many years. …

Mother Nature has been one of the most spiritual and captivating duos that Chicago has ever seen for quite some time, and as their careers resume, their message also continues to grow more complex and philosophical. What makes them even more special than their intelligently unique perspective on things is the way they convey these messages, because their rapping abilities are versatile, impressive, and can appeal to anyone, regardless of if you’re a fan of wordplay and lyrics or simply enjoy smooth instrumentals and intricate flows. Klevah and TRUTH are as Chicago as anyone can possibly be, and while this is evident in almost every song or video they put out, they decided to bring a little bit of West Coast shine to their latest offering “Crystal Cadillac” which is produced by and features José Ríos and Kelsey González of the Free Nationals, an R&B brand that often joins the sunny Anderson .Paak during performances and recording sessions. In this song, the sunny instrumental provides a wonderful base for TRUTH to show off some impeccable bars before Klevah comes in, the beat simplifies slightly, and she puts on an absolute clinic prior to the instrumental picking back up and rounding …

SoundCloud is a streaming platform that means a lot more to me than most other music listening stages out there. I admittedly haven’t been on SoundCloud a ton in the last handful of years, but it was on this very platform that I discovered some of my favorite artists ever. Even if you are just starting out, have little to no following, and are trying to make a name for yourself, it seems like SC is the first place you should start uploading your music because even if listeners only have the free version of the app, they have unlimited access to your discography (even if you have to deal with a monotonous Wendy’s ad every few songs). This app has changed my life, and it’s the artists I’ve come across on there that have changed my outlook on the industry as well as my personal taste in music, and I will never abandon the streaming platform entirely because I’d be dumb to do that in any capacity. Although I get sent music daily from homies, publicists, and random people alike, when my friend sent me Remedy4Ej’s latest song “vulnerability”, the recommendation came through an email and an additional text …

Streaming platforms have been looked at in a few different lights, sometimes being praised for the diverse selections for listeners to choose from while other times being chastised for the often brutal payouts to artists based on streaming numbers. I can totally see the argument on both sides, and while they are in no way perfect, I do think that there are benefits. Just the other day, one of my homies sent me a song on SoundCloud to check out, and after getting distracted, SC moved right onto the next track which happened to be a song that I absolutely loved. After realizing my admiration of the record, I realized it was by an artist names Kid Moon, a 17-year-old Philadelphia emcee who I have heard mentioned in various circles I’m a part of, but I had never gotten the chance to listen quite yet. I am beyond grateful that the algorithm chose to play his track next because it finally got me to open my eyes to the incredible music that this young talent is creating, and it makes me want to dive even deeper to see what else I have missed out on. I then looked at some …