SEARCH FOR: EARL SWEATSHIRT

If you clicked on this article because the figure in the cover art looks like the hilarious and always boundary-pushing comedian Hannibal Buress, you’d be right. Well, you’d be right to an extent because to my recent discovery, he has been making music under the moniker Eshu Tune, and while I hadn’t heard any music before today, I am just now realizing what I have been missing for way too long. Hannibal is from Chicago, but no matter where his home is, I would consider him one of my favorite actors/comedians, and since I knew he has always been a lifelong music fan, his introduction to rapping doesn’t surprise me even slightly. I want to say his rap skills surprise me, but he is one of those people who just doesn’t stop exuding creativity, so his knowledge of the history of rap along with his artistic track record doesn’t shock me in the slightest. The song that put me onto his music career is called “Knee Brace” produced by Haile Supreme who creates a casual, jazzy foundation that is laidback and relaxed, just like Eshu. In turn, the spitter strolls along the beat with this effortless ease, boasting remarkable bars …

Over the past couple of years, I have been raving about all of the talent pouring out of Detroit because emcees like Icewear Vezzo, Babyface Ray, whiterosemoxie, and so many others have really been putting on for their city and making it a true hip-hop destination. One person that I’ve been sleeping on, though, is Boldy James, and I think it’s about time that I woke up. I mean, I knew that he had worked with plenty of immensely talented producers like The Alchemist, Real Bad Man, and Nicolas Craven, and he is in the same circle as some of my all-time favorite rappers like Action Bronson and Earl Sweatshirt with whom he toured with recently, but considering the Milwaukee show that I was going to be at got canceled, I had to wallow in my sorrows and persevere through the FOMO. I just had this dumb preconceived perception of him for some reason that was entirely false, so now I have no choice but to play the catchup game, but thankfully, he just dropped a brand-new album entitled Mr. TEN08 that was entirely produced by Futurewave, so I know exactly where I need to start this rediscovery process. While …

Jean Dawson is a trailblazer, an innovator, and a master at his craft, and he’s only 26 years old. I have never come across someone in the hip-hop world that has proven to be as dynamic as Jean, and I honestly don’t know if I ever will. He never settles for the ordinary, and even if it takes years to put out a full project, the wait is minimal compared to the artistry that is shown. I have had a blast getting to cover all of Jean’s singles off of his highly anticipated album CHAOS NOW*, and just last week, the finished product was finally delivered to all DSPs. This 13-song project is seriously unreal, and every single second of the almost 36-minute-long effort packs a punch. Some tracks are much more upbeat and intense thanks to heavy electric guitar chords and a swifter tempo. Others take a step back, allowing his words to really reminisce with you and self-reflect as Jean appears to do the same on his end. He is also not one to typically include many features on his projects, so the only exception with this album is George Clanton and Earl Sweatshirt. Now, Earl is one …

While fans wait for Kwame Adu’s solo LP, the young artist seems to be hard at work playing shows with his duo KWAMZAY and cooking up new music for his fans. Today the hip-hop mastermind returns with two solo singles meant to tide listeners over until he releases his next project (which hopefully happens sooner rather than later). The two-track release “A Silly Little Prayer” is comprised of “Prayer” and “Silly” – each one finely tuned for your summertime rotation before fall turns the corner. “Prayer”‘s electric and energy-filled mix serves as the perfect foundation for Kwame to deliver listeners the carefully-crafted bars that they’ve been desperately missing. “Silly”, on the other hand, has Kwame rapping over something that sounds like it could have been pulled from a classic Disney movie – but the young rapper’s versatility proves to be his secret weapon as he easily flexes his Deltron-meets-Earl Sweatshirt affinity for songwriting. Though Kwame’s last single “7%” was released earlier this spring, it sounds like our hero hasn’t skipped a day in the studio since. Though I know making music is a time-consuming skill, I’m going to be PRAYing that I can get SILLY to new Kwame Adu music …

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 …

“During the process of writing Watching Paint Dry, I hated the state of rap and I still do. So to keep myself interested in the process of learning, I decided to mimic the styles of rappers I respected, as a challenge. Watching Paint Dry has stylistic influences from MF Doom, Common, Aesop Rock, Jay Electronica, and Earl Sweatshirt. If you listen closely you might catch a cadence here and there, but I didn’t completely rip any of them off. Those songs are the result of me needing something fresh to listen to” – Southside Anxt Chicago’s own Southside Anxt has re-released his 2019 debut EP, Watching Paint Dry on all platforms via Sparta Distribution. The Project FILO heavyweight lyricist has deleted his entire discography, but plans to re-release everything leading up to his debut album. At five songs total, the project showcases Anxt’s lyrical prowess while implementing subtle, yet ominously eerie production. Despite this record having been originally released three years ago, Anxt’s bars remain top-notch and on par with some of the most prominent emcees today. Despite possessing a naturally monotone voice, listeners will be able to grasp disheartening qualities of angst; a reoccurring thematic element in his music. To …

When Raé Luna’s “Pass The Water” went viral on TikTok back in March, I finally started to have faith in TikTok’s sacred algorithm. This week the young abstract rapper returns with her debut EP Oblivion – a soulful and introspective collection of tracks perfect for fans of artists like Mavi, Earl Sweatshirt, and Chynna. Though clearly a seasoned poet, Raé’s writing is just as much an asset to Oblivion as the project’s mixes are – synthesizing nostalgic samples with modern production techniques to create a record that is refreshing while also revering those that came before it. EP openers “Fair One” and the previously-mentioned “Pass The Water” bleed blissful soul, and are easily some of the best hip-hop tracks to drop this month. Oblivion’s second single “domepiece.” is dark and meditative, however, with Raé’s carefully-crafted lyrics breaking through the hazy dejection of the track’s beat. The next moment Oblivion’s eponymous track turns listeners on their heads once again with an explosive and victorious banger that is later succeeded by the melodic victory-lap “Moonrocks”. From the EP’s writing to its production, Raé’s attention to detail is so unparalleled that Oblivion sounds like it could have been something made during a TDE or …

Whether you know me from my articles and social media, or we’re actually tapped in personally as friends, you should know that Action Bronson is one of my favorite emcees to ever do it. Lucky enough, I am finally fulfilling a dream of mine this Friday as I travel up to Milwaukee from Chicago to see him on the NBA Leather Tour alongside The Alchemist and Earl Sweatshirt who are some of my other favorite musicians ever, so it’s sure to be a show that I’ll never forget. As for Action, I just feel like he incorporates this old-school vibe with new, inventive sounds that bring both worlds together, and whether I talk to old heads or fans of the new generation of rap, everyone seems to agree that he is as talented as it gets. I literally lose sleep when I know a new album is about to surface, so I had a lot of sleepless nights leading up to the release of his album Cocodrillo Turbo, but after it landed on Friday, I knew immediately that it was worth the wait. I mean, with production from The Alchemist, Daringer, Roc Marciano, and even a bit of Action’s own …

I have been seeing Destroy Lonely’s name pop up left and right, and this has been a constant for the last couple of months or more. While I have liked what I have heard so far, I have somehow not gotten nearly well-acquainted enough with the rising star, and after doing a bit of research, I realize just how much I respect this dude. Citing inspirations ranging from Tyler, the Creator and Earl Sweatshirt to Lucki and Chief Keef, he seems to rock with the exact type of music that I have adored for years, and even though he is in a lane of his own when it comes to his individual music, I can totally see this inspiration, and it makes every track he puts out even better than ever before, at least for me personally. The other day, Lonely dropped off his song “20YRS OLD”, and although it was artist Kodone who put me on considering he did the cover art, this song was so much better than I ever expected. With a very synth-heavy, futuristic-sounding instrumental, I can see why fans flock in his direction, and since I’m a big Ken Carson fan, I am still blown …

Boston artist DiZ returns to Lyrical Lemonade with a head-nodding banger titled “Point of Madness Reprise.” Off his debut album ULTRA.VIOLET, this track stood out to me because of how well-suited the production fits DiZ’s nonchalant yet emotional rap flow. Fans of elite lyricists such as Earl Sweatshirt, Chester Watson and Navy Blue will instantly appreciate how raw DiZ’s words are, as each line comes across as intense despite his serene nature. Sonically it’s easy to get to lost in the ambient, tranquil instrumental, but DiZ does a fantastic job to project his voice so he’s clearly understood. With an impeccable rhyme scheme and mature storytelling, it’s especially impressive how many bars I counted within a brief two-minute span. DiZ may not be an artist that you moshpit to for festival season, but it’s quite easy to get lost in his highly-personal discography during the times you need it most. Listen to “Point of Madness Reprise” and be sure to stream all of ULTRA.VIOLET!