A QUICK CONVERSATION WITH URA SENSEI

Ura Sensei draws his inspiration from within. His music is an extension of himself, thus each layer holds a piece of his story. His songs holds elements of old school style. Lyrically, he likes tends to speak what’s on his mind, delivering a message or a good time. Ura doesn’t shy away from talking about romance. His single “To My Girlfriend”, is currently his most popular song on Spotify, nearing 20,000 plays. He’s on a path to higher peaks, but will never forget these moments.

What’s your first memory of truly enjoying or creating music?

URA: At age 15, I never saw my father before until that time, he brought me my first mic & a computer to start making music on, never saw him again after that.

Is there a meaning or story behind your stage name?

URA: The anime Yu Yu Hakusho plays a big part in my stage name, I had a couple of stage names (ART, Trippy Art, Art Sensei) but none that were really original to where people can find me and me alone…so a friend of mine took the the main character’s name “Yusuke Urameshi” and mixed it around and I just added “Sensei”…funny how some who still like my music still refer to me as Art Sensei. 

Your music is based in emotion, was it difficult to be vulnerable through your music as a rapper?

URA: Not at all.

How do you select your beats, are any of your works self produced?

URA: YouTube, sometimes Traktrain and I go by type beats but they usually just become small beats people don’t really mess with and those are the best ones. None of my songs are self produced but that doesn’t mean I couldn’t make it happen. 

 What has been one of your most difficult tasks while building your career? (Finding a studio, looking for shows, beats, etc.)

URA: Looking for someone to do an article on me & looking to get booked for shows even if they’re small shows with 15 people. Where I live it’s hard getting picked when you don’t follow the trends & having an original sound. To most it’s weird..

How have you progressed as an artist since your beginning?

URA: I have so much that I laugh at my older tracks and wondered why did I think this was so good at the time. 

What can we expect from you this year? Will there be a major shift in your sound or approach to how you market yourself?

URA: Honestly….I can’t really say much but new songs, hopefully you might see me in other blogs…as far as marketing, just maybe if I do it correctly. It’s all about chasing the music bag and staying low-key, my brothers taught me that.

Click here to follow Ura Sensei’s musical journey on Spotify.

Always on My Mind EP by Hoodie Rob Uzumaki

Always on My Mind is a two-song EP detailing love and loss that often comes with following your dreams. The title track “Always on My Mind” is produced by Logan Kade and recalls a relationship that simply couldn’t last. His emotional revelations are the focus of this track. The second, “Call Please” is more optimistic, but still realistic, and features a fast tempo beat by 5head with speedy high hats. This quick project is refreshing and surely found its way into the library of many listeners with similar heartache.

Click here to listen to “Always on My Mind” anywhere.

Gosha by BIGBABYGUCCI

BIGBABYGUCCI is known for his natural and carefree tone. His projects sound as if rapping is just another passionate pass time of his. His music is essential for a time like this when many are cooped up inside their homes. This song is certainly an opportunity for BIGBABYGUCCI to flex,” I ain’t shaking no hands” he says, due to the dishonest attention he’s receiving. This is one of the last single’s before his awaited album A Girl Is A Gun April 16th. There are more eyes on BIGBABYGUCCI than ever, and he’s using that to his advantage.

Click here to listen to “Gosha” on Spotify.

I’m A Bad Person by XanMan

XanMan just made the day of each of his fans. I’m A Bad Person who was released late Thursday night and is stuffed with stand-alone bangers. XanMan has the cure for boredom. The project overall is fun and XanMan opens up about his anxieties. It features XanMan’s iconic punchlines and wordplay. He doesn’t hold back nor disappoints. The album holds only two features, NoCap and Tisakorean, as the rapper tends to keeps to himself musically. XanMan tries his hand at R&B for “Paris”. This isn’t his first experience, but his vocals have greatly improved since Broken his previous album. This album couldn’t have arrived at a better time.

Click here to stream I’m A Bad Person everywhere.

Harder by SKocho

“Harder” is a melancholy, distorted single for those looking to relax, perhaps with a purple drink. Produced by Rrenki, “Harder” has a classical beat for SKocho to rap over, falling more into the melodic category. It’s a great song to add to a “cool down” playlist or your everyday playlist when you want to switch the mood. SKocho has more music that falls into this low tempo, genre-bending style. If you need to update your “chill” playlist, he’s the artist for you.

Click here to listen to “Harder” on SoundCloud.

$lump2020 By Donald $lump

As the first few primary elections begin, Donald $lump is truly channeling his inner Trump. His latest single “$lump2020” is a satire of the 49th president, but it uncovers Donald $lump’s launchpad into the new year. Via his lyrics, his emotions and frustrations are tangible. His career and opportunities may be higher than ever, but it seems his victory circle is smaller than ever before. The track, co-produced by XZ and Dirty, is distorted and wild, giving $lump plenty of range to tell his story.

Click here to listen to $lump2020 on SoundCloud.

A Call For Love Towards Lil Skies

Over the few weeks of 2019, fans have noticed a shift in the mood and presence of rapper Lil Skies on social media. His posts became shorter, less about music and “outfits of the day”. These lighthearted posts were instead replaced with melancholy thoughts or declarations. “At the end... time to go” and “I love my son 5ever” with his signature butterfly emoji are the Pennsylvania artist’s most recent and alarming messages to his supporters.

The new year has brought forth new promises to look after our entertainers. Cole Bennett, videographer, CEO of the ever-fresh hip hop outlet Lyrical Lemonade, and frequent collaborator with his fellow creator informed the public on social media Sunday evening and asked everyone to “love and appreciate Skies more”. Although it may not be clear what he's going through, it's evident that he requires love and support at this time. If 2020 can be the year known for anything, it should be know for we as consumers learning how to create a boundary between an artist and their humanity.

Foot On The Gas by 909Memphis & Tommy Ice

909Memphis and Tommy Ice tag-team verses on their brand new, hypnotic hit “Foot On The Gas”. Produced by Moses Got Water, the beat is sultry and rhythmic, stepping into rhythm and blues. Both of the artists’ cadences compliment their beat selection effortlessly. This has the potential to be in your daily playlist within only a few plays. With such a great entry at the top of the year, we’re expecting to hear much more from these young talents throughout 2020!

Click here to listen to “Foot On The Gas” on SoundCloud.

EverybodyHatesChris by ChrisClay

The universe has its own way of throwing everything at you and expecting you to bounce back. Rapper ChrisClay bounces back by putting together a ten-song album all about the pressures and struggles that come with being Chris. The project begins with a rainy day, a somber track titled ‘Truthbetold’ featuring Matty Wood$, owning the theme of “Everybody Hates Chris”. The album is packed with features that raise the energy of each track and compliment Chris’ style. The young artist made details a priority during the album’s production. It hosts two interludes and the transitions between songs are clean, with very little pause between beats so you can listen continuously.

The project reaches its midpoint with ‘#FreeKrime’ featuring Young Jasper. The title is a possible shoutout to New York rapper Krime Life Ca$$. The tempo steadily slows from this point, but Chris still has some surprises up his sleeve. ‘Godzilla’ featuring Anwar has one of the more experimental flows, or whispers, from the album. It will be a hit or miss for some, but it brings personality to the project; it’s not all work and no fun. ChrisClay teams up with EyeKeem for the cool, soft-trap track ‘Forfeit’, he truly shows his versatility by switching effortlessly to this sub genre. The album comes to a close via his ‘Toshas Outro’ featuring Bad Day Dre and CrashJordy, an admission of love, or at least interest, in a girl. To tie it all together, ChrisClay ends the project with the iconic lyrics from the show the project is inspired by, “everybody hates Chris”.

Click here to listen to Everybody Hates Chris anywhere.

FH's Fresh Out Da Week Playlist

FH (@FHONIT) updates the Fresh Out Da Week playlist to present a new set of underground hits you must be familiar with!

This weekly playlist throws together the perfect combination of tracks. FH curates high energy, trap songs and places them amongst futuristic and melodic tracks. FH keeps the playlist balanced; you never feel like you have to skip a song or the vibe has suddenly switched.

Beginning with a big banger "PLZ DON'T HATE ME" by Yurms produced by Tha Fireman, FH introduces you to underground artists while still adding songs that you may already know. The curator places tracks like “MCM” by 10CellPhones at the best spot to pick up the pace. With all the different artists and styles, you’re bound to find a song you’ll “like”. As well as "Peroxide" by ECCO2K and "SingingInTheRain" by Bones, who just dropped their new projects E and IFeelLikeDirt last week.

Just to name drop a few:

 ✰ “lovestory” by SEBii (@sebseb122_)

 ✰ “exporting” by Jinzau (@kudzuu3)

 ✰ “euphoria” by landonszn (@landonszn)

 ✰ “Pay to Play” by TyFontaine (@tyfontaine1800)

You'll also find out songs from Mixed matches,Yung mootla,  Mardaratbh,  Wubz, Trillbazz, BBY King, XANMANSHAWTY, Don Gady & DIZZIEDMT and few more names you might have already seen on your timeline.

Click here to FH's Fresh Out Da Week playlist on SoundCloud.