Rosie Belvie - Unapologetic

Unapologetic - Rosie Belvie (Pop) We are excited to have one of our favorites back with us, Rosie Belvie, for her fifth feature on our blog with latest single “Unapologetic”. Having previously reviewed cuts “O.M.G.”, “Survive”, “Crush” and “Attitude”, we’ve come to expect versatility, ranging from her comfort zone of 00s R&B vibes to EDM to pop to afrobeat—basically we know to expect something sizzling, but we can never expect the flavor. With “Unapologetic”, Rosie is giving us a funky synth-pop R&B diss track, a combo we don’t often see. The track feels like it could be from Christina Aguilera’s “Bionic” era, with a touch of Britney Spears “Work Bitch.” On “Unapologetic”, Rosie is telling you that she said what she said over a collection of buzzy synths. And while the lyrics are sharp, the standout is the chorus, which begs for repeat listens.

Best Lyric: “I’ve got the power to defeat my enemies.”

Nova Blu - Satellite Love

Satellite Love - Nova Blu (R&B) We’re back this week with a new artist on our roster, Nova Blu, bringing us her latest single “Satellite Love.” A sharp and sizzling production, Nova’s silky vocals take center stage on this mid-tempo groove about being the secret love hanging around in her lover’s orbit. Tonally, it’s an R&B/pop crossover that gives heavy early-Ariana Grande vibes, with similarly engaging touches of ear candy in the background vocals. There’s a sweet sadness to the song, and Nova tells us her goal is to make emotionally driven records to forge a real connection with her listeners. We’d say she’s done exactly that with “Satellite Love.”

Best Lyric: “I see the ghost of her upon your skin.”

R.Nelson - Gravity

Gravity - R.Nelson (R&B) This week we are joined by R.Nelson with his latest track, “Gravity.” A sultry R&B mid tempo groove, our Washington, DC-based artist gives us the feels of a 00s pop/R&B crossover record, which tells the story of being pulled in by the magnetism of a coworker. It’s a track we might ascribe to Neyo or Bruno Mars back in the day—that feel good music that can’t help but make you smile as you bump it in your car, windows down on a sunny afternoon. “Gravity” was created by a meld of traditional songwriting with AI-assisted workflows, resulting in a polished and professional number with humanity shining through the lyrics. Overall, it’s a head-nodding two-stepper built for summer.

Best Lyric: “Then you walked in, now my days move stranger.”

Tori Lord - Conman

Conman - Tori Lord (Pop) This week we welcome Canadian-born and New York-based artist Tori Lord to our blog with latest track, “Conman”. On “Conman”, Tori is a woman who knows her ex’s story well, and serves a warning to his latest flame that the guy isn’t the strongman he appears to be. Tori does so with a pillowy soft vocal, like an oracle foretelling the future, with the intensity in her delivery building as her warning becomes more dire. She’s been there before, she knows the version of himself that he plays that is only a facade. There’s a country sensibility to the track, be it in subject matter or hints of the production, but remains focused in the top 40 pop lane. Overall, it’s a fierce mid tempo, and a great track for the jilted ex.

Best Lyric: “Take her down to that dump in Costa Rica, and when the bill comes I bet you won’t pay.”

Young V - On Top Of The World

On Top Of The World - Young V (Hip Hop) We’ve got Young V riding the beat this week with latest track “Top of The World”, where our artist relishes in his success in a groovy, mid tempo feel good number. Starting with an introspective, atmospheric chord progression, Young V slides into the mix with vocals that remind us of T-Pain, but without the pitch effect. The cadence finds a middle ground between sung and spit, giving that early 00s hip hop vibe. The pen game is superb, clever and memorable, especially during the spoken breakdown — and boy do we appreciate a proper bridge. Good energy abounts in “On Top Of the World” and we rock with it.

Best Lyric: “Now that I’ve got the bases loaded, I’m swinging for the fences.”

Antoin Gibson - Diss Tribute

Diss Tribute - Antoin Gibson (Pop) Antoin Gibson returns to us for the third time with latest track “Diss Tribute”. When we last heard from Antoin, it was with a roiling stormcloud of a track, “Venom-Laced Tears” which followed our review of the gritty “Diss Qualification”. What those two tracks set up was a high bar with respect to lyrics, as in both reviews we noted Antoin’s stellar pen game. “Diss Tribute” does not disappoint, delivering her cleverness with a Nicki style flow, taking shots at the current state of democracy as well as the culture around fame and virality. Pointed, vicious and delivered with passion, “Diss Tribute” goes hard, and is a perfect track for those moods when you just want to set the world on fire..

Best Lyric: “Being heard has become a bureaucracy”

Amara-Fe - A Queen's Ambition (LP)

A Queen’s Ambition (LP) - Amara-Fe (Pop) Amara-Fe has returned with a brand new LP just weeks after her 9-track LP “Echoes” with latest project, “A Queen’s Ambition”. We always love hearing from Amara-Fe, whose typical mid-tempo R&B lane is one we love to travel. Last time around, Amara-Fe brought us her confidence at full force, along with some cracks in the facade that led to love and loss. This time around, Amara-Fe expands her sound into more pop crossover territory, but keeps her strong point of view that defines her as an artist. But before we go any further, let’s recap what we know about the artist.

Hailing from Mission, rising star Amara-Fe comes to us with deep-rooted connections to the music industry. With uncles Eugene & Rene jamming in Tulsa and a grandmother writing for Minnie Ripperton, music is in Amara-Fe’s blood. We’ve been fortunate to review Amara-Fe in the past when she brought us feel good track “To good for that” from her REBORN LP and the “Echoes” LP. On those projects, a self confidence permeated the track in a Lizzo’s “Good as Hell” kinda way, with a pop Top 40 flare and hard hitting, theatrical vocals preaching a simple message: “Boy, bye!”

Feeling very much like a sequel to the “Echoes” project, Amara-Fe continues to explore the contrast between vulnerability in love and confidence to maintain boundaries and know what one deserves out of love. With 16 tracks, the album starts out with a suite of love songs before a turn to the collapse of love. But those are just the intro to the project, as the bulk of album is focused on a woman’s strength, resilience, inner fire and ability to survive her darkest times and fight her own battles.

Production wise, we lean much more Top 40 than R&B this time, with even a few dancehall Skrillex-style flourishes that elevate Amara-Fe’s typical sound, showing her to be a crossover artist. The mixes and masters are impeccable, deep, rich and thudding, with hyper modern sounds that fit perfectly on today’s radio landscape.

“Moonlight” sets the stage with an ode to what makes Amara-Fe special, her glow, before diving into tracks “Rooted Love” and “Solid Ground” which give pop/R&B feels when describing the strength of the love Amara-Fe has with her partner. However, things quickly go south with “Don’t Walk Out That Door” and “No Games No War”, two tracks detailing the end of her relationship with varied soundscapes, the latter giving us a nice funk sound that feels fresh for our artist.

There’s a brief diversion into “Ecstacy”, a pure R&B cut that might be our favorite on the album, before all the remaining tracks veer into Amara-Fe’s proclamations of her strength and ability to rise from the ashes like a phoenix. Of those tracks, we get soul rousing numbers like “Legacy Untold” and finale “Strength Of A Goddess” which use choral backings to give an anthemic feel to those records. She also makes sure to give us her spit game with “A Woman’s Worth” and “Fall Back”, as well as another glistening Ariana-tinged R&B cut with “Far Above Rubies.”

In sum, Amara-Fe’s “A Queen’s Ambition” stays true to her point of view and messaging about female empowerment and rising above the challenges of love, while at the same time expanding her sound into crossover appeal.

Tracks:

1. Moonlight

2. Rooted Love

3. Solid Ground

4. Don’t Walk Out That Door

5. No Games No War

6. Ecstacy

7. Ascend From Ashes

8. Legacy Untold

9. The Reckoning

10. I Won’t Fold

11. Fighter In Me

12. Far Above Rubies

13. A Woman’s Worth

14. Fall Back

Jnabe - Respect Her Bag

Respect Her Bag - Jnabe (Pop) This week, we welcome Jnabe to the blog with pop/dance confection “Respect Her Bag”. Mixed and mastered by platinum-winning engineer Mostwanted and the Grammy-nominated Chris Gehringer, “Respect Her Bag” is gaining streaming traction for reasons we can clearly hear. A catchy mid tempo with an island vibe, the song is a certified hip winder. The bass fills the backing as Jnabe’s crisp vocals slice through the mix, constantly switching up the cadence of the rhythm in the verses to keep the listener engaged. “Respect Her Bag” tells the tale of a woman whose ways of making money are looked down on by her man, but not Jnabe. The track reminds us of all those afrobeat inspired dance cuts of the 2010s in the best way possible. We defy you not to get to the dance floor with this one.

Best Lyric: “He outta respect you girl. So goodbye.“

Baby Booder - Champion

Champion - Baby Booder (Rap) Baby Booder joins our ranks this week with latest track “Champion”, an ode to the artist’s challenges and triumphs during the last year. Recorded from his home studio for an underground vibe, Ann Arbor artist Baby Booder gives us a tight little biographical track with “Champion”. The intro of warbly keys gives a mystical vibe, underlying a tight and crispy percussion. It’s a contemplative record with a very catchy chorus led by a pitch dropped chant and a lilting female vocal line that are both great ear candy. On the verses, Baby Booder gives us somber and reflective, injecting a little melancholy into the record. Overall, it’s a moody record with a tight production, and a perfect little head nodder.

Best Lyric: “Kinda hard to be me but I manage it.“

Solar Soundz - Loyalty & Respect

Loyalty & Respect - Solar Soundz (Rap) Solar Soundz joins our blog this week as we review the title track to latest album “Loyalty & Respect”. Lisbon-based producer Sam, better known as Solar Soundz, has been making music for over two decades, and with his latest LP bringing a blend of classic boom bap grit and modern trap energy. Joined by Kinetic 9 and Legs Mc on the track, we are treated to a breezy old school 90s hip hop vibe with twinkling keys backing a punchy, dirty percussion. Our vocalists ride the beat with ease, and are treated to a crispy distortion effect that blends well with the grit of the instrumentation. But while the standout production provides a nice balance of gritty and smooth, what pops out most about this record is the excellence of the pen game, which displays thoughtfulness and maturity. It’s a “calm before the storm” feeling kind of number dipped in poetry.

Best Lyric: “Grappling with gravity, pulling you in tight.“

Jade Barbara - breathe (a little)

breathe (a little) - Jade Barbara (Pop) This week, we’re pleased to feature Jade Barbara on our blog with her latest track “breathe (a little)”. Hailing from Sydney, Australia, Jade ups her game from bedroom recording artist to professional workspace with this track, marking a significant milestone in her musical journey, ready to take on live performances and a wider audience. On “breathe (a little)”, an angelic, innocent vocal slips through a punchy percussion, with a slinky, fuzzy funk bass winding around a thick kick. With a sparkling verb and some fun spoken backing adlibs, this track is a well baked collection of earcandy, mixing the hardness of the beat with the softness of Jade’s vocals.

For6i66en 3laxk - Insecure (ft ATS Semaj)

Insecure - For6i66en 3laxk ft ATS Semaj (Hip Hop) For6i66en 3laxk and ATS Semaj return to our blog this week with their latest collaboration, “Insecure”. A few weeks ago, we reviewed “Villains”, a menacing track full of danger and grit. With “Insecure”, we pivot more to the emotional and get some rapid fire spit as our artists pass the baton back and forth. Thematically, the song takes aim at those that didn’t believe in them before their rise. The haunting keys underlying the track give Halloween main theme vibes, while the record overall feels like it could be pulled from Kanye West’s “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.”

Best Lyric: “I can’t fuck with you if you weren’t at my darkest.”

ALLEGRA - Ash

Ash - ALLEGRA (Pop) One of our blog’s frequent features, ALLEGRA, returns to us with another music and video pairing with latest track “Ash”. A bit of a pivot from the high octane dance-pop we’re used to from ALLEGRA, this week she brings us a moody midtempo, telling a former lover that there’s no chance of coming back. Foreboding synths and a resonant distorted bass bounce underlay the track as ALLEGRA’s intimate vocals shine through the production. As always, ALLEGRA comes with an impeccable production value, from the quality of the mix to the vocal production to the slick music video. “Ash” gives us all the vibes of a mid 2010s Top 40 bop.

Best Lyric: “You can never take the heat, leave you with a third degree.”

Attack the Sound - Can't Stop Loving You

Can’t Stop Loving You - Attack The Sound (Funk/Soul) We’re getting funky this week with Chicago indie pop soul band Attack The Sound’s new record “Can’t Stop Loving You”. A sparkling retro duet between Davo Sounds and Lauren “Lo Keyz'“ Bell, “Can’t Stop Loving You” sparkles with nostalgia as the patient midtempo features a rich stack of vocals over a dreamy instrumentation. The track brings serious 70s vibes, even featuring some fun key shifts in a trippy bridge that elevates the track. In addition to the masterful production and mix, what stands out most on this track is the texture, especially how complementary the vocal stacks are. In sum, it’s a mature record, and a real a two-stepper for adults.

Best Lyric: “Phoenix from the flame, astral to the plane, melts my heart away.”

Katie Belle - People Pleaser

People Pleaser - Katie Belle (Pop) Katie Belle joins our blog this week with her latest, “People Pleaser.” An American singer-songwriter, model, actor and pop artist, Katie Belle splits her creative time between Atlanta and LA, with “People Pleaser” being the title track off of her recent EP, whose two lead singles have garnered over 500k streams across streaming services. On “People Pleaser”, a sizzling, intimate vocal coos in your ear, telling the listener that she is changing her ways and will no longer be a people pleaser. The instrumentation is pure ear candy, with a crispy and engaging percussion underlaid by splashy synths that give this modern protection just a touch of retro. Smooth and groovy, “People Pleaser” is a smash Top 40 midtempo bop.

Best Lyric: “I just killed the girl you thought I was in side of your head.”

Lisa Jo - Hood Rats (LP)

Hood Rats (LP) - Lisa Jo (Hip-Hop) This week’s album review comes from Lisa Jo with her latest project, “Hood Rats”. While we typically just focus on the music, selecting those projects that stand out for their quality, we feel the need in this circumstance to also highlight a little about Lisa, and all of her trials, as it brings a heart-wrenching context to the work.

Lisa Jo has used music throughout her life to get her through the ups and the downs, of which we find Lisa has had far too many downs for any one person to have to shoulder. Tragically, a terminal illness took a toll on her vocal chords, and so she began writing music to find her musical fulfillment. She lost her husband and is also caring for her mother and sister, and unfortunately struggles under the heavy weight of medical bills. But in the darkness of losing her career and battling multiple forms of cancer, she has become a creative powerhouse and firehose of new content. It appears she clings to music to get through, and what incredible music it is.

Learning her story before diving in, we were surprised to find that though there is the occasional commentary on the haves and have-nots, sometimes with respect to health care, the album is mostly commentary on the everyday struggle and speaks very little about Lisa’s personal circumstances. It shows a multi-faceted woman who has a lot to say beyond her personal circumstances, and instead of creating a sort of diary of her current trials, she has surprisingly created a very catchy 90s hip-hop record about life in the hood. Let’s dive in to a few of our favorite tracks.

Most of our favorites are in the front half of the project. The album kicks off with a 90s hip-hop flare in “Everyday Struggle” and immediately introduces Lisa as a powerhouse lyricist with a sick pen game. J-Mac, who is the primary vocalist on the project, has a low-key flow, with a delightful rasp to his tone that makes each track he is on sizzle. There is a melancholy mood to the mid tempo, just someone trying their best to get through their mundane daily life, feeling as if they will never win.

“Voodoo” continues the 90s feel with a real West Coast vibe—Tupac, Dre, Snoop…this is where this track sits. This song hovers in a cloud of chronic, painting a picture of life in the hood. “Hope in the Hood” adds a level of darkness as a cloud passes over what had previously been a relaxed acceptance of circumstance. We also get a bold female vocal that cuts through the darkness like a ray of sunshine.

“Everybody’s Friend” brings Ebony Reign to the track, a female rapper who tears into the record with fierceness, showing off a delivery that reminds us a lot of Eve. On the track, Ebony has had it with the fakes and they can kiss her ass. Later in the project, “Sassy Frassy” gives us a twinkling piano underlying a rough hip hop percussion as a man contemplates the single life or going after the girl.

As we write this, Lisa is preparing to go into a life threatening surgery which may permanently destroy her voice. So as you listen to this incredible collection of music, which gave us all the retro feels, keep Lisa in your thoughts.

Tracks:

1. Everyday Struggle

2. Voodoo

3. Hope in the Hood

4. Everybody’s Friend

5. Lord of the night

6. Instascam - Special Version

7. Unbroken

8. Sassy Frassy

9. Beast With Rage

10. Same Ladder

11. Victory is Mine

12. Street Queens

13. Fierce