SEARCH FOR: THE BLOSSOM

The independent Houston artist Aaron May revisits LL in his latest visual (produced by BLACKSHEEPFILMZ) for “HIDDEN VOICES.” In my short time living in Chicago this last year or so, Aaron May and his music accompanied me on seemingly every train ride, walk to class, and walk to work, as I kept digging deeper into his work the more I listened. 2022 ended with him in my Spotify “wrapped” top five, as projects like No Recognition and Outside Looking In filled my library with tracks I didn’t know I needed. One chunk of his discography that also came out during that time was a two-song simultaneous drop that included one of my most-played songs of the year, “HIDDEN VOICES.” This track emphasizes what I already knew and loved about Aaron’s work; unique vocal delivery, melodic and genre-crossing instrumentals, and masterful lyricism. I can’t tell you how many times I replayed this joint last Spring. With great pleasure, I was reintroduced to the track a couple of weeks ago as he dropped the visual. BLACKSHEEPFILMZ took a simplistic, yet effective approach as many producers have with Aaron’s work, and it works well for whatever reason. I’m a huge supporter of in-studio content, and …

North Carolina emerging singer FrankHaveMercy is bringing his unique talent into the R&B genre one song at a time. After graduating high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army with a burning passion to discover greater meaning in life. He credits his time in the military as the force that propelled him to explore this early love for musicianship. Growing up in a music-filled household led to his love for music blossoming at an early age. His musical style has evolved since then, drawing inspiration from other musical artists such as artists Sade, J Cole, and his previous collaborator Kendrick Lamar. Frank’s new single, “Tuesdays,” showcases his alluring vocals and smooth instrumental beats. Frank’s personal life experiences and the name of his producer are the two main sources of inspiration for the record. It’s a reflective, passionate track that connects you to the emotions he felt at the time. Check out his new single below.

Collectives used to be a lot more common in the music industry, it seems, so when I come across a group of musicians who are really making waves as large as Barely Legal, I have to tap in without question. Although they’re a quartet that I hadn’t yet heard of, I am clearly sleeping considering they’ve already achieved some massive success in their blossoming careers and with a few performances at Rolling Loud, their fanbase is rapidly expanding. For good reason, too, because the crew made up of Chowder Band$, Kid Dre, Miquel Morales, and Jø have a sound unlike anyone else in the industry and after proclaiming themselves the “Black Backstreet Boys”, how could anyone not want to tap in with them? The video single that was sent through my email is for their record “CHACHASLIDE” with Jay Browne, and it’s a video that seriously captivated me in every sense of the word. On the unique Major Seven and Sauron-produced single, every artist finds their perfect niche, showing off exactly how individualistic they are on their own but not overshadowing the fact that they play off of one another in this unforced way that makes me feel as if …

In life, taking a chance on yourself can change your entire life in a blink of an eye. Louisiana artist TCM Pain was known for his academic success during his college years. However, he developed a love for music very early on in his life. It wasn’t until the fall of 2022 that he decided to pursue music and experiment with his sound. He originally started making music to help cope with his everyday struggles, and over time it blossomed into a way of life. The independent artist released his singles titled “For My Heart Too,” “Switch Sides,” and “I’m Coming Home,” alongside many well-known producers. His unique melodic voice can be compared to Rod Wave, Lil Peep, and Post Malone.  “ I hope I’m able to reach ears all around the world and inspire! I’m hopeful I’ll elevate to great heights as an independent artist,” he exclaimed. Most recently, TCM shared his new record “Patience.” This song stems from R&B-type energy, with hip-hop roots. It takes listeners to a love-filled, peaceful space as his pain spills out through his distinct harmonies and rhythms. His talent displays throughout the entire song, as he showcases his versatility on the feel-good track. Be …

Admittedly, I am late on this release, very late – BUT better late than never, right? Earlier this summer, Chicago native Joyfriend dropped his latest release called “Dumbo”, and I just listened to it today for the first time + instantly became hooked. Joyfriend is the type of artist whose music you may not be used to finding on our website, his sound is a bit more alternative/rock-leaning, but good music is good music + I am a huge fan. Joyfriend is fresh off of a live performance at Sleeping Village earlier this week, and from what I heard, it was phenomenal. I am truly eager to see how Joyfriend blossoms as an artist over the next year or two, but for the time being, press play below!

Kentucky has never been a stereotypical state that the average rap fan appreciates, but as more and more emcees have been coming out of the woodworks, industry professionals have been keeping a very close eye on everyone from the southern state. Jack Harlow is one of the people you can credit for helping bring attention to KY, and even with so much insane success coming to him from all directions, he is literally just the surface of what the state has brewing. One of the most prominent up-and-comers I have been vibing with for a while is E the Profit, and just today, I was sent 408 Darwin’s brand-new track “Shooters”, so I’m beyond amped to be hip to another promising talent from there. Hailing from Lexington, Darwin proves why he is inching his way into the conversation whenever someone brings up Kentucky, and this new track has me itching to hear much more. Produced by marvy ayy, the instrumental is pure, spotless, and smooth, but nothing can compare to the butteriness that Darwin brings to the table. As he spits, his words just seem to pour off of the tip of his tongue, never rushing himself to get to …

Both A-Trak and Cam’ron have built iconic careers in various different lanes, causing them to be considered legends without a doubt in anyone’s mind. While A-Trak is a DJ, Producer, and record label founder (Fool’s Gold), Cam’ron is considered one of the greatest emcees to ever hop in a booth or grace a stage. Although. A few months ago I never really anticipated them working together or even knowing each other, but my knowledge of their relationship was as minimal as it gets, and I am glad that their affiliation has blossomed into something spectacular. In fact, the duo’s friendship started way back in 2014 after being connected with one another through Damon Dash, a music trailblazer who had hopes of a 3-way collaboration between the Diplomats, Fool’s Gold, and Bluroc brands in the form of the Federal Reserve EP, and nearly 10 years later, the duo is back for more. The result of their latest collaboration is their highly anticipated project U Wasn’t There, a 9-song effort that brings you back to the sounds of Dipset in the early 2000s as a sonic walk down memory lane that seems more relevant than ever. While I admittedly wasn’t heavily into …

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. …

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 …

Surging out of Houston, Texas and landing in our pages today is Marco Flex who at the age of twenty-one has made quite the name for himself both in his hometown and across the country, most recently unloading his track “UP!” which features Stunna 4 Vegas who keeps the energy high. O-ShotYou teamed up with TeoShotThis to bring the raucous visual to life, matching the mood and intensity of the artists well. I look forward to seeing where Marco Flex builds from here and am excited to watch him continue to lead the “New Houston” movement which he is at the forefront of. If you enjoyed this track I would definitely recommend checking out Marco’s biggest track to date “All Day” and the rest of his blossoming catalog.