SEARCH FOR: SONGS

Porsh Bet$ has made a resounding case for himself as one of my favorite new artists occupying the alt-pop space. The Harlem-native had me hooked from his debut single, “Apple Eyes,” and has since delivered nothing but top-tier songs that sway effortlessly between pop, rap, and R&B. His latest single, “2 The Weekend,” hits the mark again as another exceptional example of his genre combining-bliss that radiates with a warm glow through his voice and stellar lyricism that makes you feel like the main character in a coming-of-age blockbuster. Texturized by the subtleties of pop-punk instrumentation, Porsh Bet$ builds a world filled with angsty drums, defiant electric guitars, and his metallic voice that acts as the ringleader of this rebellious ballad. Not far from the release of his six-track I Used To Think Forever EP, Porsh Bet$ is making it look incredibly easy, delivering again and again. If his insane precision wasn’t impressive enough, let me remind you he is only a year and a few months removed from his debut single. If this is just the beginning for Porsh Bet$, I cannot even imagine what the next installments of this artist’s catalog will sound like, but if his previous releases …

Chicago’s own Gayun Cannon makes her Lyrical Lemonade debut with an excellent song titled “My Negro Baby.” The track is off her equally impressive EP titled Brown Sugar Baby, which contains five other fantastic songs. I chose this particular record as a standout because it has everything to offer musically. From the vocals to the production and instrumentation, the execution is beautifully met on all fronts. For starters, Gayun’s voice is delicate but also emphatic from a lyrical assessment. Each word is romantically sung with a touch of sultriness through a genuine Black woman’s perspective. “My Negro Baby” is like an emotional canvas that Cannon paints via her own unique  expression. Not to mention, the unmentioned identity of the ‘negro baby’ adds a layer of ambiguity only known personally by the beloved pair. Given that Gayun Cannon is a multi-instrumentalist, the assortment of sounds throughout the track serve as the painting’s colors to finalize the masterpiece. An epic electric guitar, shakers, an electronic keyboard, drum percussion and of course an appealing melody all seamlessly mesh with the artist’s affectionate voice to create one masterful offering. Listen to “My Negro Baby” off Gayun Cannon’s new EP Brown Sugar Baby below!

“To me, ‘Cloud 9’ means otherworldly. It is another realm and frequency where everything is possible. “Cloud 9” is my world, lifestyle and I want to take my listeners there. I want them to dream away with the help of sweet melodies and sounds. I want them to recharge whenever they experience the project. It’s truly an elevation of what I want to pursue musically, and I want to bring my listeners in on the journey I’m on. It’s a cohesive EP with different sides of me as an artist” – Nápoles  Stockholm, Sweden based artist Nápoles makes her Lyrical Lemonade debut with a stunning new EP titled Cloud 9. With six breathtaking songs each record provides its own heavenly listening experience. The production is predominantly ambient and/or dreamy with a few modern hip-hop and R&B elements, such as the incorporation of 808s on “Know My Place.” Nápoles’ vocals are luscious; the lyrics are organically refined to seamlessly blend with the background music. As a Ladieslovehiphop member, she does her collective proud by integrating her soulful qualities to create a versatile record. Cloud 9 provides tastes of R&B, hip-hop, soul and jazz, but no matter the association an atmospheric joy is …

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 …

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 …

Although it might not be the typical type of music I tend to listen to, Kaytranada is one of my all-time favorite producers, and that’s not a difficult thing for me to say at all. He just always knows how to get the vibes right no matter where you’re at. Whether you’re in a club, at a party, cruising down the road in your car, or hanging out with a group of friends, his music is upbeat enough to want to party, but also low-key enough to just bob your head to as you immerse yourself into the music. Not a day goes by where I don’t listen to a song produced by him, whether it’s an original track put out by him or another song that was released by another artist, he always knows how to bring out the best in the singers and rappers he works with, and his latest EP Intimidated is no different. With just 3 songs that clock in just short of 10 minutes long, this project is a nice little gift that will have your speakers bumping before your very eyes. The first track is the title song called “Intimidated” and features H.E.R., a …

I feel like with every single new release from $NOT, I find myself consistently enjoying him more and more. I’m just overwhelmed at the fact that he’s seriously one of the most dexterous, versatile artists in the entire music industry, and while way too many people sleep on him, in my personal opinion, his real fans know exactly what kind of skill he brings to the table. This past weekend, I had the pleasure of seeing him live for the second time (my first time being during his insane set at the Summer Smash), and it’s safe to say that his live shows don’t disappoint whatsoever. He had the crowd jumping from the front to the back, getting each and every fan there into every song he performed before even jumping into the crowd and getting a first-hand look at the chaos that was going down in this hoard of people. He also performed a few unreleased songs that got me excited for what is to come, and even though I typically don’t love when artists perform unreleased songs because it can be hard to get into them live without knowing the words or the rhythm, I made an exception …

Chicago’s own Jean Deaux returns to Lyrical Lemonade with a stunning new EP titled Most Wanted. With eight songs total, Deaux in my opinion has delivered her best work so far sonically. From the opener to the final track, the project flows seamlessly thanks to the well-timed transitions and A1 record mixing. Jean’s vocals sound as crisp as ever; her all-around skillset creates a versatile offering with R&B, hip-hop, and borderline trap influences. As for personal favorites, “Stay Down” is one of the most impressive songs I’ve heard all year; all musical aspects are executed with a quality of finesse as if to illustrate the unmatched flare of her artistry & persona. “ChopNScrew” featuring Ambré is another standout; it flows like a Pinkpantheress single with a slower tempo for a more mature (albeit enthralling) atmosphere. Not only is Jean Deaux the ‘most wanted,’ but after delivering an EP of this considerable quality, she’ll be among the most-listened to artists on my radar for the foreseeable future. Have a listen below!

With the fact that I’m always on the hunt for promising up-and-coming acts, I try my best to tune into as many artists as I can, especially the ones that my friends send me. Some might be better than others, but either way, I can often see the promise in one’s music and their skills, so I always have to remind myself that this is just the beginning for most of them, and their talents are only going to grow if they surround themselves with the right people who know how to take them from a regular musician to an all-out superstar. One person I was put onto a few months back goes by the name of Damien Styles, and while I’ve written about him in the past, I just simply can’t get enough. At first, I was captivated by his music because he almost had a vibe similar to Lil Peep, Lil Tracy, or some of the other punk/emo-inspired musicians that have graced a microphone, but there was something different about him that I couldn’t quite pinpoint. After doing some thinking, I feel like the main differentiator is his demeanor, because even if he gets into dark, depressing topics …