SEARCH FOR: LIL PEEP

There is no single album that quite matches the level of influence at a forward-thinking level in the realms of pop music this year than ericdoa’s COA. Being the most prominent instance of this coming paradigm shift for the genre, the all-encompassing impact that this album has as it stands today will ring true for the months and years to come as we enter this brand new era. Of course this status mostly results from the album’s star figure in Eric himself; not a single soul could possibly ignore the masterwork that he put in throughout each and every track without a single miss in sight. His energy was enigmatic; his delivery was entrancing; and his overall musicianship was exuberant and ever-so-perfected as he truly came into his own element as the tried and true pop phenom he was destined to be. But even Eric could only do so much on his end as a singular presence on the mic. The setting that surrounded him – both physically and inside the music as it came to be – played integral roles in crafting what would end up being this impactful and momentous musical experience. Simply put, if Eric was not …

“I just like to let the kids know that this shit is authentic and it’s real. The dreams always come with nightmares. I’ve been down bad before, so I know what it’s like to get up.” -A$AP Twelvyy The rate at just how fast the game moves can be mind blowing at times. It seems like it was just yesterday when everyone was bragging about how much they wanted to be signed to major records, and now a lot of artists are preaching about independency. The art of making your own and owning your own art is something that is being highly praised right now–even to the point of some of the major artists are threatening to leave their labels and go down the independent trail. That’s not to disrespect the artists who are currently signed to major labels and are doing their thing. There are definitely some labels out there that will take care of their artists and mean the best to their artists that are on the label. However, there are also a lot of artists who are currently in bad record deals, receiving terrible splits, and overall not getting the push that they deserve from their label they …

Versatility is always something I look for and respect from artists because doing the same thing repeatedly time and time again will only appeal to fans for so long. While Lil Tracy’s following might be more cult than mainstream, his dexterous deliveries and wild experimentations have accrued more and more admirers to his fanbase, and they’ve stuck with him the entire time because they know that he’s always got something inventive and brilliant up his sleeve. As for his most recent release, he dropped a track entitled “Chrome Heart Lens” and a music video to accompany it. Obviously, if you know anything about Tracy, you know that he’s no stranger to designer goods, and with references galore throughout his discography, this mention of the designer brand Chrome Hearts is just another addition to his arsenal. Nagra and Ginseng got together to tag-team the production on this hit, providing us with some mischievous, almost less playful Curb Your Enthusiasm-like strings or synths of some sort that are elevated by crispy hats and claps as well as subdued, background 808s that hit at the perfect moment. Tracy raises his tone to complement the instrumental perfectly, providing us with some incredibly unique autotuned …

Over the past year or so, Lil Yachty has seemingly found a second him in the Detroit music scene. Collaborating with a number of rising talents from the area, he has strangely yet thankfully fit in with some of the wildest and most unique personas that hail from the Motor City, and although I for one didn’t see this coming, I’m not complaining about it in the slightest, either. Lil Boat and Sada Baby are definitely no strangers to each other, at this point, and I’m so excited that the dup decided to team up yet again and deliver a brand-new single and music video for their joint effort “Not Regular”. The title of the song makes total sense because neither artist can be considered normal or methodical, and when they get together, the results make this one hundred and ten percent clear. A quick, chaotic instrumental is built through alarming, high-pitched synths, a deep baseline, and crispy percussion that allows both artists to speed up their deliveries and bring out some of their most energetic and charismatic bars to date. As Yachty begins to spit, his lines are beyond quick, and although it might be hard to decipher exactly …

It is absolutely unbelievable that at such a young age and not necessarily being in the music industry for an extremely long period of time, Pop Smoke created a legacy that is going to exist for decades and possibly even centuries to come. Not only was his voice unique, his flows were incredible, and his swagger was unmatched, but he can basically be credited with popularizing the entirely new subgenre of New York City Drill music. Although others try, no one can do it quite like Pop, and that’s one of the many reasons why he is so deeply missed by fans every single day. One of the most popular songs off of his posthumous album Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon is undeniably “Mood Swings”, and although it has received extra recognition thanks to TikTok virality, it was a hit from the moment fans heard it on the album itself. I just think that Tjay’s higher, more harmonious voice combined with Pop’s smooth, baritone vocals work so perfectly together, and hearing Pop actually get more melodic with his delivery was something that was new and obviously appreciated. Although it might not be the same without Pop physically …

There are certain names in the Rap scene that have reached legendary status and they’re cited as influences for almost any artist you can name. Nas is one of these emcees, and although it’s not a shock to anyone that I’m saying this, he is one of the greats. Even after the new age of Rappers came through and changed the scenery, Nas remains one of the best to ever make music, and instead of hating on the new generation of music, he rather likes to include them in his career while also getting them out of their comfort zones and pushing their limits to the edge. His collaborative album with the legendary hitmaker Hit-Boy King’s Disease was a success, including some of the biggest names in music such as Charlie Wilson, Big Sean, Lil Durk, Don Toliver, Anderson .Paak, and more, and seeing him come together with artists like this shows off his dexterity just as much as them, if not more. Luckily, just a few days ago we received a visual for the project’s closing song “Spicy” featuring Fivio Foreign and A$AP Ferg, and the results are as good as the song itself. As for this track, Hit-Boy …

It’s no secret that when a young artist gets a co-sign from an icon in music, they’re bound to do great things in the industry. As for Yung Kayo, he received some love from the one and only Young Thug last year, and the moment I saw Thugger post his music on Instagram, I knew he was a special talent that I had to pay attention to. Thanks to his hard work, unique sound, and his adaptability to all kinds of production, it was announced earlier this year that Kayo signed to Thug’s YSL Record label with the likes of Gunna, Lil Keed, Lil Duke, Wheezy, Turbo, and many other notable members. When I saw he dropped a new song late last week, I had no choice but to tune in, and the results were magnificent, per usual. This record is called “U N I”, and he teams up with frequent collaborator Warpstr to bring this hit to life. Warpstr creates a light, airy instrumental through angelic synths, pungent, echoing 808s, and subdued yet crisp percussion. This beat is perfect because it’s not only fun-loving and lighthearted, but it also shows a different, less aggressive, and more adoring side of …

There are a very select few people who truly make a lasting impression with their music, and I think it’s safe to say that almost none of these artists or musicians made a mark at such a young age that was even remotely as massive as Lil Peep. He legitimately changed the way the new age approached music and he paved the way for artists to be themselves no matter what people might think of them. While uncertainties and insecurities are abundant throughout his music, this helped connect with fans on a more personal level unlike most people are able to do with their music, and it’s part of the reason why Peep is so dearly missed after his extremely untimely passing. HELLBOY is possibly my favorite all-time project from the artist and I don’t think that’s an unpopular opinion amongst fans, so when I saw that his estate worked hard to get the project on all streaming services just in time for its fourth anniversary, I’ve been revisiting it daily ever since. Not only does it take me back and help me realize just how incredible of a mixtape it was, but it also breathes new life into the …

Sydney natives Triple One recently released a single titled “Salina” that not only introduced me to the band but turned me into their newest fan as well. After building a very strong base in Australia, the group found success abroad after landing themselves on Lil Peep’s Spotify playlist and the widely known YouTube channel Astari. This song (and video) showcase everything you need to know and give a glimpse into the massive potential that Triple One carries within. From the pop-like melodies to the intense-yet-fascinating visuals, the band brings an energy that only few have been able to do before. Vocalist Marty Bugatti noted that “Salina” is about heartbreak and how it often leads to self-destructive behavior” while Lil Dijon describes the track as being “a battle of choices and dealing with the consequences when the choices are made.” With their debut album Panic Force scheduled for October, “Salina” serves as the perfect welcoming committee and will only create a strong desire for more music, visuals, and hopefully soon-to-be shows. Watch the video for “Salina” below and follow Triple One on Instagram and Twitter!

I like to think that I’ve always been fairly heavily invested in the underground Rap scene, and Maryland is one of the most underrated hubs producing some of the greatest talents in the game. One of the most notable, in my opinion, is Lil Xelly, and although he’s no stranger to the Lyrical Lemonade pages at this point, I always find incredible new talents through his various collaborations. This is thanks to his insane work ethic, dropping various songs, videos, and projects every single month and although this overflow might be too much for some, Xelly would look at you like you’re the one with the problem. The thing is, he doesn’t just work with any artist in order to keep up with this amount of output, but he still carefully chooses his collaborations in order to work with some other promising talents in the underground. Insert Nast B, another Maryland emcee who I was previously unaware of but after hearing the duo’s collaborative song “Never Fall”, I certainly have a lot to catch up on. This song begins with a magnificent beat that utilizes Drill-inspired yet somewhat elementary sounding xylophone hits of some sort that are elevated by momentous, …