Since99 is At The Forefront of A New Wave

No matter how you feel about Since99’s cadence, he has the beats, punchlines and puns to demand his respect as an artist. Layer his lyricism on top of an impressive, bouncy beat and you conjure a majority of his latest work, high energy, but somehow monotone hits. Since99 continues to embrace what makes him stand out from the typical rapper persona. There’s no gimmick. His songs stay true to him and cause the same characteristics that some doubt him for, to be his strong suit. It’s a sort of “nerdy” rap that’s hard to pin down. With Hip Hop in the hot seat of popular music, the genre is bound to be molded and morphed as it evolves. Since 99, however, has solidified himself as a historical figure in the emergence of this newer genre.

Click here to listen Since99 on SoundCloud.

Graveyard by Jeef Featuring J. Cast

Valentine’s Day brings forth a lot of emotions, love, passion, and heartache. Artists Jeef and J. Cast have worked together to put a spotlight on the flip side of the holiday. The single is catchy, but made for a downhearted mood. Graveyard is a melodic, melancholy track for those maybe without someone to enjoy the day with them. The pained vocals and heartbroken lyrics are a sentiment to the scars left from a dead relationship.

Click here to listen to “Graveyard” on SoundCloud.

Don’t Believe By Benkasso

Benkasso isn’t in the rap game simply for the money; he’s in it for the impact. His most recent music video, “Don’t Believe” is a testament to Benkasso’s commitment to bettering his community. His music speaks the truth and bring light and inspiration to his listeners. It was only right that the young rapper base the video in his home town. He goes above and beyond as a symbol to his local youth about the infinite possibilities beyond the world we know.

Click here to watch “Don’t Believe” on YouTube.

Protein by Tommy Ice

Tommy Ice is back on our homepage with an uptempo track to keep you warm all winter long. “Protein”, produced by 1cmBeatz, is a genre-bending, melodic trap song. Tommy puts his classic flare over the beat and delivers a fun-filled performance, a trait that his listeners love. There’s never a dull moment for this rapper and “Protein” is the perfect single to boost your daily playlist.

Click here to listen to ”Protein” on SoundCloud.

Baby Girl by DJ Omi.D & Jet Plane

Jet Plane takes on an all new sound in his latest single with DJ Omi.D. The track is bouncy with a dance hall and Caribbean influence. It’s a fun shift in direction from Jet Plane’s regular hip hop style and the collaboration couldn’t have been better. He blends in with the essence of the song effortlessly.  “Baby Girl” is the perfect song to add to an upbeat playlist that’s meant to really turn up your energy, just listening to it may brighten your mood.

Click here to listen to Baby Girl on SoundCloud.

LUVMIX VOLUME 1 by LUVGRIP

It can be hard to find music that possesses that unique, certain sound you want. Producer LUVGRIP has put together a mixtape completely curated and produced with his signature, experimental style. Consisting of five songs, each with an explosive artist to pair with some of his best instrumentals to date. The tape kicks off with “Case Closed” featuring Yung A.I. If you thought the project would be just heartbroken songs, he quickly corrects you. “Case Closed” is an instant headbanger and is followed by “Dumb Boy” featuring melodic rapper, Sugarblood. The second song is a more somber track, but the high hats and the use of high pitched ringtones keep it fun. Not only that, but “Sugarblood” meshes seamlessly with the third track “Cardi” featuring 2Shay. LUVGRIP is great at keeping his listeners on their toes, adding in unexpected breaks and shifts in tempo. He selected an amazing group of artists to showcase his skills and their own. “Ice Cold” features G.O Soul who uses a more classic flow over a dynamic, busy beat. Closing out the mixtape is MiNUTE on “Keeping It 50”. He has the most boisterous flow and this track is probably my favorite out of the mixtape. LUVGRIP proves he can produce for any artist, or any flow, cadence and style.

Click here to listen to LUVMIX VOLUME 1 on SoundCloud.

Or Do You EP by NOUTXXHANG

Heartbreak never gets easier and betrayal always comes as a surprise. NOUTXXHANG conveys these emotions well via the two tracks in his Or Do You? EP. “One Time” produced by Jay2Loud has a beat that almost transports you to the bottom of a broken heart. The heavy effects on NOUTXXHANG’s voice strengthen that hopeless, sluggish feeling that the rapper may know too well. “Money Talks” produced by Ace Maceo, is an only slightly more uplifting song. The artist distances himself from any sort of self-pity and sets his eye on the future.

Click here to listen to Or Do You? on SoundCloud.

Hunger by Jaelin Westbrook

Sometimes time is all we need to come back better and stronger than ever. Jaelin Westbrook has returned to the scene for the first time this year with his single “Hunger”. From the message of the song, one can tell Jaelin is focused and more determined to make this music thing work. The song is inspiring and catchy, the perfect hook to reel in new listeners.

Click here to listen to “Hunger” on Apple Music.

Home Depot Anthem by EyeKeem

It’s exactly what you think it is. LA rapper EyeKeem tested himself and pulled off the ultimate flex- making a song about Home Depot that actually pretty good. This track may fall into the lines of “meme rap”, but it’s certainly worth the listen. He pulls out all of the stops, probably with pliers, keeping each verse packed with punchlines. Producer Geeohhs’ beat definitely had a hand in making this a masterpiece. If you’re a Home Depot fan, middle-aged dad or just a fan of fun music, add this to your playlist.

Click here to listen to “Home Depot Anthem” on SoundCloud.

Binsecure by AntFlow

Soul music is not dead, not at the hands of AntFlow. His recently released EP, Binsecure takes listeners all the way back to the good old days. His intro track, “Tough Love” instantly alerts one to exactly what this project is, and AntFlow takes full advantage of your time, stringing you in with smoky guitar chords and slow bass. The trance continues with “Stuck On Pause” a heartfelt ballad. The EP, consisting of five tracks hits all of those wholesome heartstrings that we tend to miss in between the hustle and bustle. This project is sure to put your mind at ease and add that perfect touch to your cozy evening this Fall.

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Click here to listen to Binsecure on Apple Music.

Entr’acte EP by Dutcho

As the weather turns cold, it seems our feelings go along with it. Dutcho embodies that shift through his grunge and forthcoming music, Entr’acte furthers that bond. He speaks to those young people not looking for songs about material things, but rather real and sometimes unpleasant emotions or situations. ”War With Myself” is a helping hand for his supporters that may be dealing with more internal struggles. If you’re looking for a more alternative style or simply a new sound, this is the project for you.

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Click here to listen to Entr’acte on SoundCloud.

Waiting on Ascension by TyFontaine

It's said that hard work pays off, and TyFontaine has been putting all of his efforts into this moment. Waiting on Ascension is TyFontaine on his A-Game. The album is meant for those looking for something to boost their mood. ”Big Sosa” produced by Jr. Hitmaker, emulates the essence of the Chicago great, Chief Keef. TyFontaine puts his skills at the forefront throughout the album. With only eight tracks and a little over fifteen minutes, the Maryland rapper is up against the rest of the internet and listeners’ short attention spans due to something new replacing the next each moment. TyFontaine is an entertaining artist, he adopts different voices and personas seamlessly throughout his music. TyFontaine often uses a somewhat old school flow, giving him a solid foundation and allowing his ear and musical selection to project a more futuristic and vibrant mood.

Click here to listen to Waiting on Ascension by TyFontaine on SoundCloud.

Deadly EP by Shao

Smooth and calculated. That’s the best way to describe rapper Shao’s newest body of work. Deadly is a honest telling of life today. Shao is an open book and his flow is as rhythmic as an old school record. Consisting of six tracks, each song is meant to fascinate the listener and show off all of Shao’s skills. Wordplay is nothing to the young MC and his explosive energy is on full display in ”Hunger” featuring GenoPride. Surely, all of the artists’ rage must have been released while recording the dark anthem ”Christ” featuring Surge. The EP, engineered and partially produced by platinum-engineer TylerGENIUS, distances itself from the Trap style of Hip Hop that the younger generation has coined for themselves, and pushes energy, inflection, grimy bars and a crazy beat to drive his point.

Click here to stream the Deadly EP.

DAYS B4 III by Lucki

Lucki is at a high point in his journey to becoming one of the hottest rappers in the country. Last Friday, Lucki released his most anticipated and critical project today. More eyes are on Lucki than ever before. His fans are familiar with his confidence and bravado on songs, DAYS B4 III takes them to a new level. Right out the gate, with ”Me Myself & I” Lucki creates the party vibe that his listeners love him for. Consisting of fifteen tracks, DAYS B4 III visits all aspects of the Hip Hop spectrum, cutting the high energy with a slow jam via ”Geeked”. It's obvious that Lucki knows this is a huge opportunity to turn a lot of skeptics into fans. With this momentum it's not long before he has the attention of the whole nation.

Click here to stream DAYS B4 III anywhere.

Do Not Disturb by HateSonny

Chicago has been at the forefront of Hip Hop for a while now. It’s no surprise that the “Windy City” native delivered that epic and confident energy the city breeds. HateSonny is back, following his GOOD LUCK LP with Do Not Disturb. This EP is HateSonny’s chance to do a bit of storytelling through the track “Way Back”. Despite only having five songs, Do Not Disturb is a hard-hitting project. HateSonny didn’t cut costs when it comes to the project’s production or time when it comes to his lyrics. Do Not Disturb is a well put together body of work that any listener that’s looking for something a bit more genuine can gravitate towards.

Click here to listen to Do Not Disturb on SoundCloud.

I Gotta Go! by Hefna380

“I Gotta Go!” is the debut single of artist Hefna. The track, produced by JFlex, is bouncy and catchy from the very beginning. Hefna380’s cadence is like no other, it's entertaining and captivating to listen to. His confidence flows as he recounts the hustling he's done and the deception that often comes from relationships and living in the fast lane. With this being his only song available on SoundCloud, and already grossing over fifty thousand streams, I'm sure we'll be hearing a lot more of him.

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Click here to listen to Hefna380 on SoundCloud. 

Convolk Gets Candid With New Song

Convolk has never shied away from telling his supporters exactly what’s on his mind, it’s why they love him. Early Friday morning, Convolk made a confession to his fans: he relapsed. He posted a freestyle detailing his raw feelings, vulnerable emotions and sentiments that sometimes even fans share with the Californian artist. He opened up about a weaker point he recently experienced, to the extent of wishing he'll, ”find a bullet fast”. ”I Relapsed” is sonically beautiful. Without the name, it may even take a listen or two do understand the depth of emotions it stems from. Convolk never seems to fail to at least make you think.

Click here to listen to Convolk on SoundCloud.

Die 4 You Freestyle by DroGotDoe’

DroGotDoe’ sent his followers into a manic after releasing a visual snippet of his newest freestyle “Die 4 You” produced by Kush Newton. The video mimics a VHS tape, capturing the slow, old school elements of the track. DroGotDoe’ didn't make his fans wait long, he posted the freestyle on SoundCloud only two days later.

Click here to listen to DroGotDoe’ on SoundCloud. 

Trending Topic by Trend$etter CJ

Hard hitting bars never fail, even with the ever-changing sound of the new age. Trend$etter CJ captures this energy in his new album Trending Topic. The album includes hard-hitting bass, high hats and the punchlines listeners love to hear. This is his strongest project to date, stepping into the realm of a mature, developed artist and piece. Trending Topic has a song for every Hip Hop lover. The twelve-song project touches each of CJ’s strengths and eliminates any possible skepticism about his abilities.

Click here to listen to Trending Topic on Apple Music.

The Big Step for Tyler Fontaine

Tyler Fontaine is a gem and a testament to the whiplash-fast speeds of the underground scene. In today’s age of digital stars, it's difficult to weed out the organically grown artists and those that some believe are developed by labels to trick or influence listeners. Artists that went unheard suddenly bubble to the surface and are “instantly” stars. Taz Taylor, CEO of Internet Money, is continuously the suspected culprit, according to online detectives. When he somewhat covertly picked up another artist, Hip Hop & RnB artist Tyler Fontaine on Sunday, again suspicions grew. I wanted to get in front of the roomers and conspiracy theories that are sure to arise in the coming months as they begin business and musical ventures.

Tyler Fontaine is a multitalented artist from Maryland. His discography cross genres. He sounds bounces from Trap, Drill, RnB, even dipping into Reggae. He's diverse and not afraid to experiment with his vocals and musical abilities. A fearlessness such as this is what fits the criteria of each of Taz Taylor’s artists, or a long-standing musician. Every year the industry changes and collects sounds, genres, and new tools to further music, adaptation is to be expected.

Tyler isn't a stranger to hard work. So far on his own, Tyler Fontaine has released half a dozen singles and collaborations on all major streaming platforms. Do Not Disturb 2, the sequel to his mixtape of the same name is his first project on Apple Music. The original, released in 2018, has accumulated over a hundred thousand streams on SoundCloud. His music and following didn't begin with Hollywood recognition. Tyler’s music, like any other underground artist, has been gradually building a following as he’s built up his abilities, confidence, and catalog. Nothing happens overnight.

Click here to listen to Tyler Fontaine on SoundCloud.