SEARCH FOR: MAXO KREAM

Most people, at least listeners in the world of hip-hop and rap, have heard of Maxo Kream and are more than likely a fan of his work. Aside from Travis Scott and Meg Thee Stallion, he is one of the most prominent voices to come out of Texas in the modern age of music, and it’s clear that he is here to make even more of an impact on the world than music alone. Thanks to this, he has created a movement and brought along other talents that he believes in, and the first person he ever signed was KCG Josh. Josh is actually Maxo’s brother, and you may have heard him before on the toughing record “Brothers” off of Maxo’s 2019 project Brandon Banks, but I have tapped in with him a few other times since this song surfaced, and I have been a big fan ever since. While I can’t claim to be completely caught up on everything he has put out, the homie sent me some new music and I was pumped to listen. This new release comes in the form of Josh’s debut album The Book of Joshua, a 10-song, 27-minute-long project that showcases why he’s …

Over the last couple of years, it’s hard to think of an up-and-coming artist who has had more success in this industry than $NOT. He had already built quite the legacy with his series of mixtapes prior to worldwide fame and his cult following was always as strong and loyal as it gets, but it almost felt like a switch was flipped and he instantly took off, soaring to heights that I knew he’d eventually get to, I just didn’t realize it would be as quick as it turned out to be. First off, I’m a massive $NOT fan and have been for years, but I honestly don’t know what it was that really took him to the next level. I think it has to be a mixture of his diverse sonic portfolio and versatility over any instrumental placed in front of him, but I also think that the connections he has been able to make throughout the years have had to help him grow and expand his name much further than other emcees that were in a similar position as him. One way or another, $NOT is now a household name and I couldn’t be more excited for him, …

Though August might mean the solemn end of summer to most, Bay Area natives embrace the month as the welcome harbinger of Outside Lands. With the festival set to kick off this Friday, many of us are scrambling last-minute to assemble the perfect schedule – a painstakingly precise itinerary filled with high-energy performances, insane crowds, and gourmet corn dogs. For the indecisive and uncertain, let this list of must-see acts be your guiding light during the weekend’s festivities. Maxo Kream It’s been a minute since Maxo dropped his newest LP Weight of the World late last year – but having just dropped the long-awaited deluxe version, few artists on the lineup are as essential to see as this young rapper. From the triumphant horns of the Tyler-assisted “BIG PERSONA” to the downtempo ambiance of album closer “BELIEVE” with Don Toliver – the Houston rapper’s energy is just as infectious as it is massive, making him the perfect act to see if you’re looking to throw a few elbows. Having received co-signs from artists like Megan Thee Stallion and Travis Scott to A$AP Rocky and Freddie Gibbs – Maxo Kream’s ascension to hip-hop stardom is anything but accidental – and you …

Although Texas and Michigan are literally on the complete opposite sides of the country, I feel like there are some commonalities between the rap scenes in both states. Not only were these artists heavily slept on for no reason until they grinded their way to the top where they deserved to be, but so many of these emcees seem to place an emphasis on unique flows and curated lyrics that aren’t strictly about guns, money, drugs, or women. Even when these are the focal points of a verse, they figure out a way to talk about them in a way that no one else has managed to accomplish prior, so I have a huge respect for both destinations without a doubt. Maxo Kream is an all-star, as you could tell once again on his album Weight of the World, and when he dropped the deluxe version of the project that featured a song with BabyFace Ray called “Mixin Juices”, I knew this was going to be one of my new favorite songs. Produced by Tez, Sage Skolfield, and Sean Solymar, the fast-paced tempo pushed Maxo to quicken his cadence more than the normally laid-back and velvety style he uses, but …

$uicideboy$ have been a duo that truly means so much to me on a personal note, and while not everyone will understand their messages or style of music, it has impacted me greatly throughout the years. I used to strictly listen to them and almost no one else regardless of if I was at the gym, in my room alone, in the car, or anywhere else. I just had never experienced music that was so raw and genuine, and while the bulk of their music was as high octane as it gets, there was this deeper narrative that I connected with in an indescribable way. There was a stretch of a few years where they seemed to put out mixtapes and EPs on a very regular basis, flooding fans with music that never grew old even to this day, and while this output has slowed down as the years go by, it just makes me appreciate new releases that much more. Today, I am beyond thrilled to announce the release of their third studio album entitled Sing Me A Lullaby, My Sweet Temptation, a 13-song effort that boasts a runtime of about 36 minutes long. Although this album seems to …

I feel like nowadays, artists aren’t judged nearly as much for their actual lyricism or rapping skills nearly as much as they are for the things they wear and the jewelry they purchase. I am not going to sit here and claim to be one of those old heads who hate on anything new, but I do think that the industry could use a bit of an audit, and the emcees who are really showing out with their talents need to be given a lot more appreciation for keeping this art alive. Houston’s own Maxo Kream is one of these talents because he has always been known for his storytelling abilities and incredible cadences, and Benny the Butcher is right up there with him in a class of their own. Last October, Maxo dropped his album Weight of the World, a 16-song, 45-minute-long effort that really went crazy on all fronts, from thunderous production to mind-blowing lyricism, and everything in the middle. Recently, I came across his song “Football Heads” which features Benny, and while I’m honestly not sure if this is just a single or a cut from a deluxe version of the album, it is great, nonetheless. The …

Last week producer powerhouse Powers Pleasant dropped “Overseas” – a stacked new single featuring an unparalleled roster of hip-hop talent. Sporting verses from Maxo Kream, Kenny Mason, Bas, and Erick the Architect, “Overseas” is a strong contender for one of the hottest hip-hop releases this year. From Kenny’s perfectly-dextrous raps to Maxo Kream’s signature Houston flair, “Overseas” is yet another powerful entry into the NY producer’s already-stacked discography. Channeling the sacred energy of tracks like “Mercy” or “Fuckin’ Problem”, Powers is thankfully revitalizing the “get all your friends on a track and go crazy” vibe all year long – and I’m totally here for it. Sporting a fakedell-directed visual, “Overseas” also sees Powers Pleasant voyaging across the country to shoot with his peers. The result? A video that combines every artist’s own style and energy into something refreshingly unique – just like “Overseas” itself. Whether he’s driving around with Kenny Mason or lounging by the pool with Bas and Erick the Architect – Powers Pleasant’s 2022 takeover is just as effortless as it is understated. Between his recent releases, fans are wondering the fated question: could Powers Pleasant be indicating a follow-up to 2019’s Life Is Beautiful? The answer is …

Texas has always been a place that has been grossly overlooked in the music industry. Sure, there are world-renowned artists like Travis Scott, Megan Thee Stallion, Maxo Kream, and plenty of others, but it’s the underground scene that truly has me mesmerized. There are countless emcees who I could go into heavy detail about, but when I was put onto BIG TEEZO recently, I knew that he was probably going to be the emcee that I was most excited about and that enthusiasm spreads beyond Texas and into the overall underground scene. The Missouri City, Texas native is a part of the ØUTLAW collective, and one of the homies always tells me about new releases either from artists in this group or talents connected to this crew one way or another, so when he mentioned that TEEZO dropped a self-titled project recently, I didn’t want to miss out for another second. BIG TEEZO might only be 7 songs that last almost 15 minutes long but believe me when I say it feels like a much larger spectacle than it sounds. I mean, he evades all of the current cliché parts of rap like unnatural sounding, overblown vocal effects, and the …

The Houston rap scene is something that is absolutely flourishing at this moment in time thanks to artists like Travis Scott, Megan Thee Stallion, and Maxo Kream, among others, and even despite the Astroworld tragedy that occurred last year, the fault seemed to come down on Travis rather than the city itself. Beyond this, the scene there is unique because although I’m sure there are tons of underground artists trying to make a name for themselves, it seems like it is purely known for a handful of larger names and the rest of the country hasn’t dug deep enough to discover too many up-and-comers quite yet. This is why I try my best to dive into the lesser-known names hailing from the Texas mecca because it is simply too big of a city to not explore, and when the homie sent me a new song from KCG Josh featuring Lil Mexico called “Jackson Bo”, I knew I had no choice but to write about it after checking it out. At first, I thought I was unfamiliar with Josh, but after giving the song a spin, I realized that I had heard of him before thanks to his inclusion on Maxo …

2021 has very much been an up and down year for most, but it’s undeniably been a phenomenal year for music. In fact, I enjoyed listening to so many releases that I’d forgotten some even released this year. Not only has there been plenty of stylistic/genre variety, but also artists of all types (small, emerging, mainstream) actively releasing their art. To showcase my appreciation, I decided to put together a list of my favorite projects; (in no particular order) all of which remain in my rotation heading into the new year. I hope you discover an album, EP or mixtape that you might have missed! Last but not least, this list is also a token of gratitude to each and every person that has read a Lyrical Lemonade piece of mine. I wish you a happy and fulfilling New Year. – – – – – Issa Gold: Tempus (album) Genres: Introspective hip-hop, Conscious rap Favorite track: Cold Summer   Amaria – Bittersweet (EP) Genres: R&B Favorite track: Lose Control   Richie Quake – Voyager (EP) Genres: R&B, Indie Favorite Track: Sensitive   Jean Deaux – Most Wanted (EP) Genres: Hip-Hop, Modern R&B, Electro-Trap Favorite track: Stay Down Marlon Craft – How We Intended (album) Genres: Hip-Hop, Jazz …