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It’s mind-boggling that nearly a decade ago, Bobby Shmurda first made his name known as a hitmaker in the rap world. The New York icon dropped hits like “Hot N*gga” and “Bobby Bitch” and instantly went viral, being recognized as one of the most prominent figures in the industry, and no one ever questioned it. In the blink of an eye, though, we found out that he was going to jail for not snitching, a move that made him as honorable as it did notorious, but I had no idea what 7 years from that first day was going to look like. After serving 6 of the 7-year sentence, Bobby got out in 2021 and was greeted with love and admiration from fans and musical counterparts alike, but the one thing that I was surprised by was that he wasn’t diving right back into music. I mean, I don’t blame him because he has a lot of life to live and didn’t want to go from being locked up in a cell to locked up in the studio, but as time passed and we were given a few songs here and there, I wasn’t sure where he would eventually find …

It seems like the music scene in Detroit had barely gotten its feet off the ground before Icewear Vezzo completely took off, but after hearing a handful of his songs, it’s abundantly clear why he has become so ridiculously successful. His skill set is diverse, his work ethic is unmatched, and he has this personality that you can’t ignore even if rap music isn’t really your thing in general. Whether he’s dropping entire projects, singles, or even being featured on other artists’ songs, he is literally everywhere, and due to the fact that he always works with different emcees with various styles, it shows just how adaptable he is, and he proves that every chance he gets. I know I already mentioned it once, but his work ethic is seriously insane, and even though he isn’t even a month removed from dropping his latest album Rich Off Pints 3, he is back with a brand-new Antt Beatz-produced single entitled “Its All On U” featuring none other than Kodak Black, as well as a Kardiak Films-directed visual that brings out his entire city once again. In this one, prominent horns shape the melody as splintering percussion and pounding drums paint the …

As I have gotten older, I have realized the importance of honesty and being transparent with everyone I interact with, even if it’s online. I just feel like there are way too many people who tell simple lies or just aren’t as honest as they could be, and this leads down a path of dishonesty and overall untrustworthiness. The same goes for these articles, because although. I do my best to get the facts and give my genuine opinion of the songs I write about, the simple fact is that I can’t always get all of the details right, so I either don’t include them or write down something I heard or surmised rather than something that I definitively know is factual. I try my best to not let this happen, but I say all of this because I have written extensively about Kelo of Dopeness’ music in the past, and most of the time I refer to him as a Chicago artist. Well, since my last article, it has come to my attention that he is actually from Los Angeles, so I had to clear the air and set the record straight. Regardless, he does so much work for …

Although it feels like hyperpop is a genre that is bigger than anything else right now, I think that has to do with my own listening habits and the news/releases that I personally pay attention to. Clearly, it’s a genre that is still heavily underground and very niche but considering my social media newsfeeds are filled with brand-new drops, various artists, and so much love being shown to up-and-comers, it just feels like it’s a movement that’s so much bigger than it actually is. Well, I have no doubt in my mind that this is the future of music. Even if the mainstream media isn’t going to show it too much attention beyond the likes of superstars like 100 Gecs, glaive, midwxst, or ericdoa, I am always going to show love to artists that truly deserve it. Juno is a musician who is at the very top of my list. Back in July, juno dropped what appears to be a 3 song EP called open your moirai, and even though it came up just short of 5 minutes long, it was a quick offering that I was a massive fan of. As most hyperpop fans know, these artists don’t take …

Photo by: India Richert I think people underestimate the power of conversation. The ability to exchange ideas, thoughts and perspectives is a superpower that can often fly under the radar as something that we just do…As I get older though, I have come to the realization that some of the most impactful moments in my life, areas where I experienced the most growth, came from conversations. Whether it was someone sharing some form of wisdom or passing the time laughing about something shown on TV, conversation not only changes us, but shapes us as well. For as long as I’m writing for Lyrical Lemonade, I am going to try and place an emphasis on the importance of conversation; because without it, we are robbing ourselves from experiencing all that this life has to offer. Today, it is my pleasure to document for you all a conversation I had with one of my favorite artists. I’ve written about Daniel Price before, but never like this. The Los Angeles-based talent is coming off of a successful rollout for his most recent EP that culminated in a marvelous live performance on the historic, Love Street (attached below). In this first of its kind …

Coming out of the Bay Area, 8BitJ is creating music solely for himself and his fans that can relate to his emotions. Deeply influenced by 2Pac, Kanye West, Quest Mac Miller, Jay Z, and others, 8BitJ is an old soul who enjoys music with a message. Ever since he realized that he had the power to create music that people enjoyed listening to, music was no longer a hobby but a career that he decided to take seriously. Earlier this year, 8BitJ released his latest album titled Tokyo 8. The 17-track collection is a diverse collection of hard-hitting,up-tempo music. His intense raps and trippy flow throughout his album were amazing to hear. Like a true lyrical storyteller, the rising artist takes a deep dive into self-reflection and becoming a better person. “The album is cohesive. It’s very similar, but not – everything ties into each other. And getting a new perspective is good,” He told Upcoming 100. “The cultural shock of Tokyo is where everything changes. Getting away from home for something so different from what you’re used to is good.” With songs like Yakuza, an old-school funk rhythmic pattern, and Haneda which speaks about self-reflection, Tokyo 8 has something …

There is no hiding the fact that literally thousands of new artists try and make a name for themselves in the rap world every single day, and while a minuscule fraction of these people will actually gain some traction, the rest of them will most likely give up after releasing a couple of songs and not putting in the time. While this might be tough to cope with for some, the fact of the matter is it’s the name of the game, and if you’re not willing to put in the hard work and effort that it takes to eventually find some success in your craft, then it’s probably better off that you leave things as they are and find out something that might better suit you in the long run. Regardless of if we’re talking about the current generation of musicians who have made an impact or the ones who cut their dreams short, I think one commonality amongst most of these people is the fact that they were more than likely influenced by Trippie Redd. Whether you like it or not, Trippie has been one of the most influential characters in music throughout the better part of the …

The history of Detroit rap is one of great talent and also many stories. At one point in time, the Michigan scene was pretty much carried by Eminem, one of the most notorious emcees of all time, but this narrative has shifted with time, and there is definitely a new wave that has changed the way the modern music business views the midwestern hub. Regardless of the current scene, there is no denying Eminem and his cohorts’ legacy considering they all paved the way for these contemporary emcees to shine, and that’s something that I don’t think can be overlooked. D12 was one of the most vibrant and game-changing groups in the entire saga of rap music, and while Eminem might’ve been the poster child, there were plenty of others who made an impact along with him, including the late, great Proof. Well, music seems to run in his family because the homie just put me onto Nasaan who appears to not only be one of the most buzzing talents in the city right now, but also Proof’s son. “STOP PLAYING!” is the name of Nasaan’s most recently released song, and after tuning in, I completely understand why he’s making …

Whether you’re a listener, an artist, or have anything else to do with music, it’s an art that always comes with a journey. It’s a journey that I find fascinating because it always leads somewhere that you might not expect, but you can learn so much about yourself and others if you really take it seriously and pay attention to the details. When Cam I Am first got into the industry, it was a bit to my surprise after he had a promising career in the NFL. Unfortunately, a few injuries prevented him from continuing to thrive in this endeavor, but the mindset and determination that he has always had helped him realize that it wasn’t the only gift he was given. To rewind a bit, I have been familiar with Cam for quite some time. Although he is a few years older, he actually went to the same high school as me, played football on the same team that my dad was a coach for, and he was always someone who people looked up to as a role model. He just had all the qualities you’d look for in a leader, so whether he was on the field or …

I have gone on record plenty of times in the past claiming that TDE is one of my all-time favorite labels in the entire rap world, and that opinion only grows stronger as they add more ammo to their roster and continuously release insanely good music. Now, I would be lying if I said I listened to these artists religiously every day because I like to switch things up and tap in with a plethora of different sounds from day to day. When I look at the various projects and songs that have been released throughout the years, though, there is no denying this label’s star power and sheer heightened abilities when compared to other collectives, and I’m not even talking about the Kendrick Lamars and Schoolboy Qs of the label. Carson, California’s Reason fits into the label’s historic sound without a second thought, and even though he seems to fit the aesthetic that TDE has become known for, he continues to incorporate new sounds that diversify the complexity of the artists on the lineup. Currently, he is working on his highly anticipated sophomore effort, and singles like his recently released track “Barely Miss” have me on the edge of …