Shaun Michael - IDGAF

IDGAF - Shaun Michael (HipHop) New to our blog, Shaun Michael brings a booming hiphop bop with “IDAG”. Between the deep drums and pumping bass line, the track really moves. It’s also infused with reggae influences throughout, with Shaun’s spitfire flow dueting with bass and melodic guitars. At two minutes, the song gets to its point quickly, making it prime for repeat listens. We’d love to hear this one performed live, and to that point Shaun is known to have shared the stage with celebrated artists like Mobb Deep, Busy Signal, Gappy Ranks, Dub Pistols, and Grammy award winner Kabaka Pyramid. We look forward to more from Shaun.

Best Lyric: “Everyone out here looking for a savior.”

Zhenyok Chem Brat - Of Your Touch

Of Your Touch - Zhenyok Chem Brat (Pop) We welcome Zhenyek Chem Brat to the blog with newest track “Of Your Touch”, a funky pop groove. On “Of Your Touch”, Zhenyok is infatuated by a recent encounter, their mind taken over by the memory of the night before and craving more. The track has some real 80s vibes to it, with a guitar ramp up and lick that reminded us a bit of Prince’s “Kiss.” It’s a two-stepper for sure, and a mid tempo that would nonetheless fit quite well on a dance floor. Zhenyok’s vocals soar above the production, exuding passion with a touch of sensuality. Overall, it’s an easy track to slip into, with a catchy hook and tight production.

Best Lyric: “Even so I need what’s not right.”

Ado Drix - Mylar Bagz

Mylar Bagz - Ado drix (Rap) United Masters artist Ado drix makes their blog debut with latest track “Mylar Bagz”, available on streaming platforms on October 4. With a booming 808 and a dreamy production, the track evokes classic Timbaland vibes—think “Indian Flute” mixed with “Ayo Technology.” There’s a sense of danger to the production, which fits the subject matter of drugs, crime and sex. In addition to being quite hard, there’s a sultry aspect to the record as well, as Ado growls in your ear with a raspy baritone that blends nicely into the production. This is one to bump in your ride, you’re certain to wake up the block. Don’t miss Ado’s Charlotte, NC show on October 4th.

Best Lyric: “Swipin, scammin that’s the wave!”

CHALE - MOTHAFUCKER

MOTHAFUCKER - CHALE (Pop) CHALE has been scorned on his first track to be featured on our blog “MOTHAFUCKER.” On the pumping pop record produced by Vblaize and featuring the guitar work of Udu, CHALE reminisces on a love gone sour, turning their venom to their former lover as they remember all the ways they were done wrong. The message is delivered over an instrumental baked in nostalgia—heavy reverbs with lilting piano and that soulful guitar in the back, with a punchy afrobeat percussion driving the track forward. It’s a great take on a post-breakup anthem, setting the atmosphere as one of turmoil and regret as opposed to a more “angry” sound. The feelings are in the stellar vocal performance—emotive and memorable.

Best Lyric: “I’m looking everywhere don’t see what you have done for me?”

Louise Gains - Robots (AI Maiden)

Robots (AI Maiden) - Louise Gains (Pop) We welcome Louise Gains to the blog today with dance pop anthem “Robots (AI Maiden)”. The brainchild of Mykonos producer Jason Orozco, the track examines a society reliant on machines having to face life without those machines. Despite it’s futuristic musical flourishes and subject matter, the track feels very grounded in retro dance club spinners. The vocal talent is top notch, and sits alongside the great dance floor divas in tone and power, while the beat contains a nostalgic 90s sensibility. Released by new label Worldsong, the track is also accompanied by a neon-drenched lyric video. Certified two-stepper here.

Olivia Cox - Upgrade

Upgrade - Oliva Cox (Pop) The production on this one is FIRE. Olivia Cox joins the blog roster with latest single “Upgrade”, a pop bop from a temptress taunting someone from her past by keeping herself firmly in their mind. Her target is currently with another girl, but Olivia knows that she stays rent free in his thoughts. The production, which again is fire, sizzles with sensuality, with crisp instrument separation creating an engaging listen and a certified earworm. On top of the textured instrumental are silky smooth vocals that slither through the track. We loved this one.

Best Lyric: “Would she be surprised that I’m still on your mind?”

Candi Staton - Young Hearts Run Free

Young Hearts Run Free (Remixes) - Candi Staton (Pop) Candi Staton returns with her number one Billboard R&B hit “Young Hearts Run Free”, complete with 2 remixes, an alternative version, instrumental and vocal track—primed for additional remix pickups. Faithful to the original in every way, Candi juices up her newest version with modern production that only adds new sparkle to a timeless shimmering classic disco cut, while showing us that 50 years after the original released, Candi still delivers a smash. With the Sare Havlicek mixes, we keep the disco vibe, extending the track for additional spins on the dance floor. The track features on an album “Orchestral Eighties”, out now, which complies 14 covers of hits from yesteryear. Candi is back.

Proklaim - MIMOSA

MIMOSA - Proklaim (Rap) Proklaim is back with a fizzy morning beverage, “MIMOSA”, a track that is a sparkling celebration of life. We’re back on our Fugee’s tip with Proklaim, an often used soundscape for his tracks. Peppy and upbeat with an old school flavor, Proklaim espouses the virtues of ambition and perseverance. When the beat drops out in the second verse, we get an ethereal flute arrangement, which conjures images of a sun soaked landscape. It exemplifies the upbeat feeling of the track and hopefulness. On “MIMOSA”, Proklaim is a life coach.

Best Lyric: “Little bit of this, little bit of that, kept on sowing.“

Rosie Belvie - Attitude

Attitude - Rosie Belvie (R&B) We are honored to review the very first Spotify release by Rosie Belvie, “Attitude”. It’s a grand entrance to the scene for sure, as Rosie coaches her fellow independent ladies to hit them with an attitude. It’s a crisp R&B/pop production that reminds us a lot of the Missy proteges of the 2000s—this track sits alongside fellow divas of the era including Tweet, Brooke Valentine and Teairra Mari. But honestly, we’re mostly getting some Blu Cantrell vibes here—we’re sure Rosie would hit ‘em upstyle should she be tested. Rosie’s strong vocals steal the show on this midtempo record that seems to encourage a side-to-side sway and a screwed up stank face—that’s what we were doing at least during our listens. Congrats to Rosie, it’s definitely a strong foot forward.

Airyen Vay - I'm The One

I’m The One - Airyen Vay (Pop) Airyen Vay debuts on our blog with the hope that everyone gets to feel true love at least once in their life in her new pop anthem “I’m The One”, where she pleads with her love interest to say those magic three words. There is so much to love about this track, which we feel shares a lot in common with the Dream productions of the 2000s, specifically J. Holiday’s “Bed.” It’s brilliantly produced as a mix of pop anthem and power ballad, with Airyen’s heavenly vocals flying all over the track. We also appreciate a TRUE BRIDGE, which has seem to be pushed to the side in modern productions. Beautiful on the ears, lush and driving, this track is timeless.

DJ Roko - By Your Side

By Your Side - DJ Roko (Dance) We welcome DJ Roko to our blog with his funky summertime jam “By Your Side.” Featuring the talents of Florida native Novaman on the rhymes and vocals, the track is packed full of earcandy to create an incredible dancefloor spinner. From the tribal beat infused with nudisco and a cowbell that reminds us of the drum loop sampled in Missy’s “Work It”, to the plucky funk guitar, this “step, clap” bop is a lush production and we defy you not to move while listening to it. Showcasing his musicality, the repetition of the instrumental never gets boring as the baton is passed off between the instruments as the lead—including a retro sliding synth line towards the end—as well as a nice slowdown in tempo at the close. This one is a summer playlist favorite for sure.

Proklaim - PANTHERA

PANTHERA - Proklaim (Rap) Following “soul session” and “BABYLON”, we close with Proklaim’s third track of the week with “PANTHERA”, and boy are we glad we reviewed the tracks in this order as they come together to tell a nice cohesive story. Starting with a call to join him on the road to success followed by a setting of stakes of failure, in “PANTHERA” Proklaim lays out the obstacle to greatness that must be overcome, the singular source behind the adversity—the devil. Returning to his more standard point of view of telling the audience about his specific fight for success, Proklaim does so over a hard hitting beat, full of warning sirens and distressed bass. This one sizzles.

Best Lyric: “Not too many worthy of my dream.“

Proklaim - BABYLON

Babylon - Proklaim (Rap) Following “soul session”, we now have our second of Proklaim’s three new tracks this week with “BABYLON”, another groove, though more high energy and modern that the prior track. There’s a darkness to the trvptf, delivered by a deep, ominous bass line that winds itself like a snake through the production. While “soul session” delivered a “come with me on the road to success” mantra, this time Proklaim sets the stakes—”we can’t afford to lose”. He also points out that artistic expression can be thwarted by the fear of taking it to that last yard line of releasing it to the world—a feeling any artist can relate to—while pointedly noting that one might regret it in the grave. As always, Proklaim brings poignancy to his bangers.

Best Lyric: “Haven’t learned exactly what I want to do here, that’s why we always on the move here.“

Proklaim - soul session

SOUL SESSION - Proklaim (Rap) The ever-prolific Proklaim is back with THREE new tracks this week, the first of which is “soul session.” Much of his exponentially expanding musical catalogue roots itself in old school hip hop, and SOUL SESSION is no different. With Fugees-style crispy analogue percussion, we soon get introduced to a piano and synth FX arrangement that reminds us a bit of a TImbaland production, or even something from Lil Kim’s “The Naked Truth” album. New for Proklaim, we get some dialogue quotes sprinkled throughout, adding some diversity to Proklaim’s typical stylings. It’s a certified groove for sure, and definitely stands out as unique among Proklaim’s discography. Also a unique twist on his common theme of ambition and hard work, Proklaim isn’t preaching so much on this track as he is inspiring others to join him on the road to success.

Best Lyric: “Lyrics that are coming like a swarm.“

Jay Blakcs - Luv Di Gyal Dem

Luv Di Gyal Dem - Jay Blakcs (Reggae) August is the perfect time for this cool and breezy cut “Luv Di Gyal Dem” by Jay Blakcs, who today makes his first appearance on our review blog. The track kicks off with a chill guitar riff, but soon introduces a weighty chord progression with ominous strings. While the track might contain a lot of sex talk, it is more than meets the eye, with some surprisingly profound statements on race and desirability, Jay pointing out this his blackness is allure to some but a turn off to others—with a tough hit on Wesley Snipes! But despite the racism he faces, he just loves the ladies too much to take the foot off the gas, and he’s going to shoot his shot.

Best Lyric: “Press mi gas mi nuh need nuh brake, now that’s the chance I am willing to take.”

Ricko Baird - I'm Lit

I’m Lit - Ricko Baird (R&B) Ricko Baird confidently proclaims that he’s going to make us fall in love with him on his funky new single “I’m Lit”—and he has every right to be confident in that considering the fire he brings to this track. “I’m Lit” reminds us a lot of Bruno Mars’ celebration of all things retro, with a tension laden percussion and groovy horns delivering pure James Brown funk. We also appreciated the proper bridge followed by a jam session—which seems to be missing a lot in modern music. Don’t miss out on the expertly produced music video, which had us hooked straight from the quirky announcer intro.

Best Lyric: “I’m on my future self lately.”