With a brilliant blend of melodic R&B and hardcore trap comes North Carolinian artist, Benjamin Ken. Loaded with fourteen, versatile tracks, is his recent, astronomical endeavor, “BEN 2 REAL”. When it comes down to it, there is a distinct dichotomy that spans the entirety of the project. On one hand lies the gentle, melodious side of the Atlanta-based artist, that bleeds out on records such as “INTRO (HERE FOR YOU)”, “PRETTY GIRL VIBES”, “REAL ONE (ft. Lea Robinson)”, “DRUNK TEXT”, and “LIFELINE”, among others. In the shadow of that hand, lies Ken’s darker half, molded by those Southern streets. That treacherous, trunk-thumping sound can be found in cuts such as “ROOFTOPS”, “2 Real”, “GUCCI (ft. Walt)”, “CELEBRATION” and “CRAZZI”.


What Ken demonstrates through this duality, is the powerful dexterity of his songwriting. He proves proficient in crafting slow-burning, alt-R&B records for the ladies; while, likewise, giving fellas a list of bangers to ride to. The only other we’ve ever known as skilled with this separation of sound, hails from Toronto, and has been dominating the charts for the past ten years, hit after hit. The moment “BEN 2 REAL”, in all of its impressive versatility, hits the mainstream, Benjamin Ken could be following in those same, exact footsteps. Click the link, and see for yourself.



“Ben 2 Real” 
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“Even God fears me...” ring loud and clear within the intro of Decatur duo, Boss Mayne Trill & Juney’s, summer offering, “Eastside Story”. The EP comes packed with six melodic, modern-trap bangers, in perfect allusion to their homeland of Zone 6. Comparing them to Outkast, the legendary ATLien duo before them, is made quite effortless on this album; highlighted by the specific specialties and roles each artist seems to bring to the table. By the sound of it, Boss Mayne Trill fashions most of the project’s hooks, displaying a superior control over autotune and melody (this talent exploding on tracks such as “Aaliyah”, “No Guidance”, “Nah Fr”, and “Outside”). “Outside” and “Aaliyah” happen to be two personal favorites; the former for its contagious, rhythmic cadence throughout the hook and the latter for its R&B-esque qualities. Although, both artists bring phenomenal bars and stories tobthe table, you know when Juney hits the mic, he’s there to rap. He spits with an ATLien aggression, tearing through every record with rawness and reality. The only effort exempt from this unaltered quality, is fourth track “Mlk”. Here, Juney proves he is just as formidable with melody as he is without, delivering a victorious, trap ballad. “Eastside Story” is the coronation of a talented, tag-team of rappers destined to be the next dynamic duo of Georgia. No matter how long the list of Zone 6 legends may be, Boss Mayne Trill & Juney will assuredly live up to them.


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“Eastside Story” 



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Dynamic duo, Ron Oneal & SV Skee (otherwise known as OandS4ever) strike as new-age progenitors of cocaine rap. They have a repertoire consisting of thumping, drug-induced bangers; and that rep is only magnified with the release of the latest single, “Kilo”. “Kilo” is an ode to hustling; complete with an addictive chorus and narcotic instrumental. 808s slide smoothly across the bassline of this record, surrounded by hats, claps, and a menacing synth-key arrangement. SV Skee, through a syrupy surge of autotune, raps within the hook “They just want the money from the Kilo”, letting you know exactly where his and his brethren’s priorities lie: getting rich. And the only thing more guttural than the ambition for winning, is their delivery on each of their verses. Both emcees attack the beat in a blend of aggressive snarls, and ravenous rapping, showing that this song can not only be felt in the club, but likewise on every block in the country. Especially the Lower East Side, Manhattan ones they hail from. With the way “Kilo” is blowing up thus far, thanks as well to the visual they recently released, these brother New Yorkers are about to find themselves pleasing an entirely different clientele.




“KILO”



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There’s a ghostly echo that slithers across the beginning of this single, “Obsessed”, and it will immediately put you in a particular mindset. Reminiscent of many autotuned anthems before it, you will start anticipating a modern-trap, party record. Yet, just as you are awaiting the impact of an infectious, melodic chorus, Canadian rapper, JSTN DMND, comes from left-field in a flurry of bars. That’s not to say “Obsessed” isn’t fit for the club scene or radio play. On the contrary, a vibrant hook, bathed in melodious autotune, does grace the mix later; backed by the sprint of trap violins, hihats, snares, and a pounding kick-808 combination. This record would have no problem exciting a crowd. It’s simply that those elements aren’t the primary focus for our Ontario artist. What JSTN DMND proves to place more value in is his lyricism and delivery; rapping some honest, yet incinerating bars, at speeds that will scorch you as they pass. There’s a fire in his lungs, spawning from the passion and dedication he has to his children. He makes it a point to let us know throughout the record that his daughter and son are the only reasons he can even bless the booth with his talents, and deliver such an astounding trap smash. JSTN DMND shows a remarkable duality on this track; proving to be lethal with bars, and lovable with his melodies. This is an invaluable combination in the current climate of Hip-Hop, and if he continues proving just how “Obsessed” he is with his family and craft, Canada will be crowning another king of the charts very, very soon.



“OBSESSED”



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A horror movie-esque piano, complimented by an undulating, sub-bass and pad, opens Michigan artist, BRVDFXRD’s, latest offering, “Swurve”. Just as a distorted 808 makes impact, the Detroit emcee launches into a tirade of bars. “Six feet tall, who?” he questions, surfing a smooth, poised flow across waves of hihats and claps. Adlibs lunge up from the depths of the track, adding newfound, crowd-ready energy to the entire record. Albeit, this Midwest spitter’s release makes the most titanic impression in your car, rocking its speakers; it will go equally as crazy during a packed event. Because BRVDFXRD harbors an amazing command of energy. As subtle as he comes across, tossing bars to and fro along this malevolent, trap production, he still manages to create a raging, contagious banger. Detroit has been blazing hot this summer; and “Swurve” kicks the temperature up even further.



“SWURVE”



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On August 16th, back in 2016, a Louisiana singer-songwriter had a brush with death. New Orleans’ own, Mansa Obi’s, story almost ended with a horrific fall from a thirty-five foot height. Yet, as the saying goes, the only thing that can circumvent death is new life; and our creative crooner embellished every ounce of that notion with his latest work of unignorable vitality. Titled “What Matters”, Obi’s latest drop is a four-track reunion with the life he almost lost; and genesis of a new chapter in his artistic parable. 

In every way, “What Matters” is Obi’s heart in audio form. Just as his own refused to quit pumping on the eve of that fateful day, the project pulsates with a consistent tempo of “New Orleans Bounce”. This groove slithers through every beat on the singer’s album, undulating underneath some of the most breathtaking R&B ballads you’ll hear all year. Your soul will be opened by his initial track, “You Remind Me”, which features Obi’s vivacious vocals and disemboweled adlibs flowing freely across a violin-tinged melody. On the record, the Louisianian smolders with infatuation over a particular love interest; letting them know who they remind him of, and exactly what he wants to accomplish for the night. Tracks “Cinderella” and “Now” trail close behind, with the latter being a personal favorite next to the album’s opener. It is a softer record in comparison to its predecessors, featuring Obi singing in a falsetto that will reach deep into that very soul of your’s he opened not too long ago. “Lust” is the final track on the project; and here, he’ll ultimately melt your spirit away; burning with such sultry, and soulful inflection. There are synth stabs and xylophone melodies that season the instrumental, spicing up the man’s vocals even further. Next to his vocals, the sparse production on this album is one of its greatest assets, due to how well it allows Obi’s performance to shine; and showcase his undeniable star power. In 2016, this talented musician took a life-threatening fall. In 2018, he’s landed on the top of underground R&B.



“WHAT MATTERS”


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Texan rapper, Kokaine Karter, wants all of us to “HOLL UP” with his latest, enchanting single. Having been born and raised in two separate Lonestar cities, Karter combines the leaned-out, autotune swag of Houston with the grittiness of Dallas, and jumps out that cauldron blazing hot with rhythm and flow.

Featuring guest artist T2, the record is incredibly suited for the club. Its ominous melody, matched with the groove of well-placed kicks and 808s, creates an atmosphere that will have you itching to escape your seat. If that’s not enough, however, his lyrics and flow certainly will be. In smooth breezes of melody and autotune, both artists bless the beat with addictive cadences and street parables. As much as they have indeed crafted a party record, suitable for setting any nightly event on fire, they never abandon their lifestyles. The grittiness of their attitudes and surroundings are matched with the lavishness of their desires, which fuse in a sea of melody and trap verses, to create one, irrefutable banger. “HOLL UP” is an excellent, club-ready release from Kokaine Karter. Makes it impossible to overlook him among the list of Texas’s talented. 


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When you forego conformity, and pursue your own, distinct artistry; the product you produce will be that much more powerful. It will breathe an idiosyncratic life of its own, and that life will bless you with prestige unlike any given to those around you. Coming from me, you can take that with a grain salt. Coming from Bay Area duo, Off Kilter, and their brand new EP, “No Filter”, this truth becomes harder to resist. Because they, over the course of six tracks, go completely against the status quo, and that makes their music all the more fascinating. 


The first thing that will captivate you about rappers, TLick and Burny, are their brisk and breathless flows. They deliver some of the most lax, yet rapid-fire raps; and that unique blend of tone and cadence extremely compliments their production, creating a completely avant-garde sound. Their flows aren’t the end all be all either. Riding the rapid-fire wave of their cadences are shots of lyricism and vocal acrobatics. They will bend their voice into different bellies of the beat, all the while giving you metaphors, imagery and similes that will spin your mind. When dealing with such sporadic spitting, you would expect the instrumental to be made at a tempo that can keep up. That is not the case with this duo. Their self-produced beats facilitate a slow head nod at best; being hypnotic and chill. Some of my favorite tracks on this project (“I Make It Rain In The Desert” , “Unfuckwittable” , and “Nuthin To Me”) feature this matchless harmony between fast and slow. It is that matchless harmony that breathes this originality into Offkilter’s music. That originality, in due time, is going to earn them a powerful fanbase and peerless longevity in the world of rap.


“NO FILTER”

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Soaring on a melodic cloud of vocalism and versatility, is New Jersey upcomer, Rich Ab. Representing Sicklerville specifically, the artist shows not only is he a force to be reckon with in the studio, but that he has also been gifted with the ability to create something for everybody, through his latest album, “E.W.R.”. 




 “E.W.R” comes ten tracks in length; and by the end of a single listen, there shouldn’t be an audience in the world he hasn’t captivated. In the short span of 35 minutes, Rich Ab dives from his cloud of bars and melody, into nearly every urban genre imaginable. If you fiend for trap smashes, his intro “5 Freestyle” and third track, “Too Much” will throttle your speakers and turn up any function you find yourself in. Nostalgic about the early 2000s? His record, “Body” comes with an undeniable East Coast bounce, that would’ve set any club in the country on fire. In the mood for the softer, more melodic takes of modern hip-hop? “Nights Like This”, “White Girl”, “Ghost”, “Alive” and “Dance With Me” are soaking in autotune and emotion; perfect for those smooth, nighttime rides through your area. He even freaks a dancehall record through the stellar track “On It”, and a remix of Young Thug’s “Killed Before”, through the ninth track, “No Love Left”. All in all, this album is undisputed proof that, in being blessed with such well-rounded range and versatility, Rich Ab has all the makings of a superstar. The moment mainstream radio gets a hold of any one of these records, he will be unstoppable.





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Young Whip is a shark in the water talking that young fly slick shit. His new mixtape "Ya Hear Me" is at the intersection of new-age trap meeting classic hiphop. Enter the smooth pimp talk on "The Mack intro". You will enjoy the sheer confidence and boomin' soundtrack of "Ted Dibiase". Fall into the savage hustler's anthems of "The Pot" and "BM2" ft. celebrated Chicago artist, Prive City. Download "Ya Hear Me" full project and join Young Whip's growing movement today.



"Ya Hear Me"
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"Ya Hear Me"

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Photo by Paul Buchholz

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 Hold on to your sock! Checkout Red the Man Without the Machine & Marko Dragan Zecevic as they deliver a roller-coaster ride of hiphop and electronic fun with "I Should Tell Ya Mama on You" (Marko Dragan Zecevic remix). The video is packed with non-stop high adrenaline, hyrdro puffing, naughty behavour, and all-around dope clicks that will have you hooked! Just sit back, lite up, and enjoy the sick beats and eye-popping visuals.

Red and Marko are launching a Kickstarter campaign in August to crowdsource funds to produce a new music video and album:





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Flowing like the myriad Georgia rivers, is 16-year old rapper, Blessed.Savage; and his recent release, “Frequently”, is soaked in undeniable swagger. It is two-and-a-half minutes of Zaytoven-esque production (completed by milky, gospel organs and vocal chants), layered underneath the raps of a kid fully coming into his own. Because, the track is not reflective of this artist’s age. On the contrary, it is a testament that if he’s dripping over beats like this now, he’ll be making tidal waves in adulthood. His delivery and flow, over this smooth series of snares, claps and 808s, is inexhaustible. He never seems to tire; in fact, he only gains more vigor as his verses lunge onward. By the second verse, our Riverdale representative was whirling with melodic inflection; spitting throughout the song about the impact that rapping has had on his recent years. If Blessed.Savage can push through the hatred, and continue dropping joints just like this, he’ll be “Frequently” seeing dollar signs.
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