French Hip-hop is back in effect and it is coming correct, the new up and comer Le Makizar just dropped the album Schéma de vie at the end of April. Makizar delivers smooth rapid flows over boom bap production provided by Lex, Makizar, and Parental. The album is on Akromégalie Records, and this record imprint continues to drop quality releases. Highly Recommended!!
It has been a minute but the music is still flowing. I am a little late getting into Epidemic but I haven’t been so hyped on a group in such a long time. Their flows are on point and the production is super tight, it is like these guys should’ve been releasing albums in the early nineties with their boom bap sound. They just dropped the album 4 dimensions On Paper in April. Go cop this album!!!
I can honestly say, we are blessed to be in a the middle of a jazz resurgence. These new jazz players are pushing the musical boundaries and make their own genre of jazz. I found that jazz was getting stale, it was like we were always hearing the same sounds and styles. Terrace Martin is one of these originators creating this new jazz hop sound. He has just released a new album titled Velvet Portraits, one of my favorite tracks off the album is called Think Of You. Terrace Martin gets help from the talented Kamasi Washington and the vocals are handled by the dope Rose Gold. Check this track out!!
It has been a minute, but the music keeps flowing with some real gems being discovered. Space Captain is a soul collective out of New York, they can be characterized by dope musicians arranging some creative musical landscapes while vocalist Maralisa Simmons-Cook drops some smooth vocals. In late February, the group dropped an EP called In Memory, and it is a real heater. Cop the new EP, Space Captain will not disappoint.
Little Simz has been touring North America promoting her new album A Curious Tale Of Trials & Persons which she dropped in late 2015. In all the busyness, she was able to drop a new freestyle over Kanye’s Heard Em Say. As usually, Little Simz’s flow is on point with some quick delivery and smooth rhyming. Definitely on heavy rotation!
It is never too late to hear another interpretation of the Jay Dee’s infamous album Donuts. Leonard Charles, the New Zealand native, dropped his live instrumental rendition of the album while it has more funkiness than the original, it still has that signature Dilla style. The first volume dropped at the end of February, and the second will be coming in April. Go cop this album!!
I am always astonished by how far hip-hop has travelled from the early beginnings in New York, it been a positive impact and has given a voice for many different groups of people. I may get some flack this statement, but outside of a few emcees, hip-hop in North America is lacking some direction and purpose. It is has gotten too big for its own good. I tend to be searching for these foreign emcees to bring back the Golden Era. Ryler Smith out of Switzerland is making a name for himself. He just dropped a new EP Alleviation with MZ Boom Bap, and it brings you back to that Golden Era sound. MZ Boom Bap brings the jazzy samples, and Ryler Smith’s delivery and verbal attack is on point. Check this EP out, highly recommended!
The UK Rnb Soul is back in effect, NAO the UK songstress just dropped her new single Fool To Love on the Little Tokyo Imprint. The production style reminds me of some classic 90s Rnb, and NAO’s voice is on point, it is like a modern Brandy, Monica Hybrid. I can’t wait to hear more from NAO, go check this track out!!
The New Zealand Hiphop group Soul Chef just dropped the remixed EP of their dope album Good Vibes. They recruited some heavyweight producers to revamp their tracks. Soul Square, out of France, starts the EP with a pumpin jazzy vibe and then continues with Flofilz provided a more mellow sound. Soul Chef always comes correct with their lyrics and delivery, the new productions just gives you another set of tracks to bob your head to.
Miles Bonny is back! The classic jazzy soul is oozing out from his newest single Way. He links up with the Australian singer Shhor, and they create a real gem. Both their voices are on point and matches perfectly with Miles Bonny’s Flugelhorn. If this is a sign for more things to come from Mr. Bonny, 2016 is going to be a fantastic year. Check it out!
ModulatorSoul 