Canada continues to churn out elite artists and Ontario's own CiVIK is the latest example of just how much talent is coming out of the provinces. "Let Go The Ghetto" is a unique blend of well-written raps mixed with a melodic delivery that makes it very digestible and light on the ears. The instrumental is reminiscent of 90's hip-hop and CiVIK's narrative is also very golden-era in the sense that the focus is storytelling and life experiences. "Let Go The Ghetto" is packaged with a music video that captures the vivid imagery and storytelling in CiVIK's lyrics. The visual uses everything from reenactments to animations to get the message across and CiVIKs creativity as a visual artist is on full display to go along with his exceptional ability as a recording artist. Check out "Let Go The Ghetto" below. 
Listen to Nto Speedy float on his latest single "D Squared" where he provides an assortment of flows, cadences and melodies that are sure to catch your ear. Speedy represents Baltimore, Maryland which is a city infamous for violence and poverty but "D Squared" focuses on the lavishness of Speedy's lifestyle as he flexes the fact that he's beating the odds and making it in this game. Fashion is an integral aspect of hip-hop in 2018 and Speedy clearly has a pulse on the climate of that industry by referencing his favorite designers and how they all contribute to his unique style. Check out "D Squared" below and look out for more gems coming from Nto Speedy coming soon. 


It was once said that stars are born and not made. It has also been said that they are born everyday, so it wouldnt surprise me if a little favor has been shown to the home of the Hollywood Stars. One listen to L.A.'s own, Hollywood Mac and you can tell he was born to be a star. Mac, who recieved his nickname in high school is dropping his debut solo single "Hundo." The L.A. emcee hops on the speaker quaking, infectious head banger effortlessly spitting bars of gold, all while keeping the club moving. 


Hollywood Mac ironically spent years running a club before stepping to the mic and exercising his natural gift. Mac is the son of two musicians(father is a drummer, mother is a singer), it was inevitable that he would one day make dope music of his own. Keep an wye out for what Hollywood Mac has in store and while you wait, play "Hundo" that many times. Enjoy “Get Away” and join Hollywood Mac's growing movement today!




“HUNDO” Stream/Download:


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Back in 2006, legendary New York emcee, Nas, declared that Hip-Hop was dead. The insurgence of autotune, melodies, and growing “pop” aesthetic in the music, made this declaration incredibly logical. Even modern day, where the culture is leaning further and further towards a commodity instead of artform; Golden Hip-Hop seems to have lost its place with the turn of the century. That’s what makes rap act, Lockness Carnival’s, recent release “Tickets To The Dope Show” such a blindsided sucker-punch; loud enough to throttle the graveyard, and awaken that Golden Age artistry from its deathly slumber. “Tickets To The Dope Show” is a seven-track resurrection of one of the most celebrated eras of rap; hearkening back to the 90s time period with a beautiful blend of lyricism and old-school production. The only exception to this is the second track, “Urban Litty” which features a more new-age, electronic beat. Everything else follows a strict, satisfying rubric; with which the emcee, Dark Angel, shines impeccably across his producer, Strange’s, instrumentation. Dark Angel has a powerful affinity with imagery and storytelling; and he uses such to paint the most polarizing portraits. There are strong horrorcore themes locked in the stories of “Margo Santana” and “Hector”, yet backed by Strange’s warm, vinyl-singed primeval production, this imagery becomes eerily gorgeous. Another great element of this duo is that they do not solely rely on music to tell their tales. In the middle of the project, there are skits and snippets that fit flawlessly between Angel’s own verses, giving his stories even greater dimensionality. “Tickets To The Dope Show” is an outstanding blast to the past from two amazing creatives. If Hip-Hop is dead, they’ll be of the few to thank for its revival.


 [Download/Stream]
“Tickets To The Dope Show”
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/tickets-to-the-dope-show/1417721010


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JFK spits it how he lives it on "Pull Up" his brand new single presented by FPC 5150 Entertainment. Born in Brooklyn in 1981, JFK has elements of traditional hip-hop in his charisma but for the most part his style is modernized and geared toward the new generation from a sonic perspective. The melodic flow and bouncy cadences are a nice compliment to this smooth instrumental and make for an easy listen, a sound that you can just cut up to. Currently based in Miami, JFK has clearly been living it up and you can hear it in the lavish imagery in his lyrics. JFK has been on fire in 2018 and his album Kingwayz is a special body of work that really displays his versatility as an all around artist. Go check out the Kingwayz project and make sure you enjoy the new single "Pull Up"





LoUd Life Crew presents the second installment of OverWorked & Underpaid by SwizZy B. In an era where rappers feel obligated to flex like they're rich, SwizZy B is keeping it transparent and acknowledging that his hard work is yet to pay off financially. With that being said, OverWorked & Underpaid might not be a trilogy because volume 2 sounds like it could be the one that gets SwizZy B paid forreal. This 7-track project is a hip-hop clinic that puts multiple styles and techniques to the test from complex rhyme patterns to catchy hooks, SwizZy B has mastered the craft across the board. SwizZy B really lives the over-worked title as he continues to record music, tour, and operate his Indy label LoUd Life Crew out of Colorado Springs. This 24-year-old has a bright future and a solid work ethic, get used to the name SwizZy B. 






Atlanta, Georgia is the hottest city in hip-hop in 2018 and it almost seems like a new great artist comes out of the ATL every week, but Louie Casino is determined to break through the clutter. Louie prides himself on his entrepreneurial bossed-up approach to the game and his latest project Dice Control is presented by 4 Play Campaign, a label that he founded himself. Louie makes sure he handles his business and his craft on this project and it is clear that he has mastered his sound. The trap-inspired flows, cadences, and beat selection are all there while the melodies and content are far more advance compared to his contemporaries in the Atlanta trap scene. Louie is a unique artist who has what it takes to make it out of a crowded hip-hop scene and Dice Control can be the project that can take him to that next level. 





  Not a single nook or cranny in the life of Santa Cruz rapper, Recklous, goes unexplored on his latest “Cop This Mixtape” project. The twelve track opus is a melting pot of subjects and sonics all blending together to paint a unique portrait of the man behind them. The first two tracks (“L.O.R.D” and “Blocked Numba”) are scorching trap bangers, aimed at incinerating an ex-lover whose ostensibly done Recklous wrong. “I Bet You Would” strikes as an ancient, G-funk anthem; whose production could have been graced by the likes of Dr. Dre. In alignment with that aesthetic, Recklous taps into an off kilter, Eminem-esque flow near the end of his ultimate verse; tying the song together, sonically. A personal favorite, both production-wise, as well as lyrically, will be the track “Deadpool”. “Deadpool” features a spine-chilling, synth-based melody; backed by a dark, heavy brass, and galloping trap beat. On the record, Recklous dives completely into his past struggles with drug abuse and suicidal thoughts; touching are two topics that are extremely relevant to the youth of modern America. And he does so with unshakeable confidence; as if he fully knows the power of his voice is greater than any shame he may feel about his past. “Perfect 10” is a confession of the rappet struggling with finances; dealing with being kicked out, homeless and owing some significant debt. The last track, “Sextape” is a smooth, fun, melodic cut done in ode to Recklous’s new love interest. On the record, he expresses his desire to turn her into a star akin to Paris Hilton, and Kim Kardashian... by identical means. This rounds the mixtape off beautifully; having started with torment over a past relationship, and ending with hope in a new one. All in all, this is a great, wholehearted debut by Recklous; and if he continues to be this honest in his music, he will build a fanbase like no other.

“COP THIS, MIXTAPE” Stream/Download:
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One of the most indisputable objects in our universe is Truth. Truth is a titan, that has historically opened the eyes of millions and led to irreversible changes within societies all across the globe; both personally, and with people as a whole. As Philly-NYC producer, Klem, likewise demonstrates to us, Truth can also lead to one amazing record. A four-minute sonic escapade, “The Truth”, feat. Rino, is Klem’s breakout single from a mysterious, upcoming project. On this venture, while guest rappers take the reigns as far as vocals go, our East Coast beatsmith diving completely into production. And in this sonic sea, he swims flawlessly. The track commands attention from the jump; showing unique character through an ambient pad and EDM-esque bass frying in a bed of vinyl crackles. Eventually, in tandem with the verse of Rino, a loop of conventional, boom-bap hip-hop drums are introduced, and the record immediately gains traction. Rino drops gargantuan gems about the notion of Truth, and its impact, while Klem guides us on an aural adventure. There is a moment around the 1:15 mark where a sweet melody of rhodes keys come in, giving the instrumental a completely different flavor. Then, at about 1:45, a gorgeous, soft-rock guitar rift splits the mix, seasoned by series of melodic, reverberated licks. To tell the Truth, this is one of the most progressive, yet gratifying instrumentals I have heard all year; and if this is any preview as to what Klem has in store for us on the album, he is most certainly holding a masterpiece.



“THE TRUTH” Stream/Download:

7 Questions with KLEM


1. When did you you 1st begin making music?KLEM: Alright so I first started making music when I was 13, I’m 23 now so it’s been a solid 10 years of learning production. I started my musical experience though when I was 9 and learned how to play the trumpet. I then learned to the play the guitar when I was 12 and got my first audio interface at 13. It was an old Line 6 pod audio interface that came with Ableton.

2. What genres do you specialize in?KLEM: I grew up listening to a bunch of genres. Between Red Hot Chili Peppers, Blink 182, Elton John, Eminem, Tupac, and Johnny Cash - I grew up with every type of music and found ways to appreciate everything that was made with hard work and determination. I have been working with alternative rock for a long time and then started working with electronic music when I was 15 (it was my Deadmau5 phase and electronic music and dubstep was bumping everywhere) and recently that turned into working on hip hop beats and phusing that with typical electronic and alternative instrumentation.

3. What hiphop producer has influenced you and why?KLEM: I absolutely love the guys that help produce for Kendrick Lamar, Run the Jewels, and clipping. That includes Top Dawg, El-P, William Hutson, and Jonathan Snipes. They all aren’t afraid to try something different and new. They don’t really care if people love or hate it because they are always against the grain of what’s popular and it seems like they are all years ahead of everyone else. They take risks and most of the time it works out beautifully.

4. What kind of equipment or programs do you use for making a beat?KLEM: I use Ableton as my DAW with plenty of plug ins by izotope, Line 6, and many third party company plug ins. I use a focusrite pre-amp with my arsenal of condenser vox and instrument mics. I have a Taylor acoustic guitar along with an Ibanez semi-hollow body and another Ibanez solid body guitar. Everything I do with my beats come from either my Arturia midi controller or sounds I record myself. I also sometimes use some samples through splice when I want to add another layer to my tracks.

5. What is the concept behind your new project? 6. What artists are on the project and how did you connect?
KLEM: The concept behind my new project has a lot to do with nostalgia - either sonically, lyrically, or both. I found a lot of vocalists from around the US using Instagram, Fiverr, Facebook, and even some home town friends. I wanted to create a sonic soundscape with different vocalists for each song. There are also a couple instrumental tracks as well. I’m throwing all my chips down and putting my all into this project because I want it to be something to be proud of. I love the sounds from the 80s and I really dig vapor wave / aesthetic art styles and I wanted to find a way to paint that picture with sounds. Some of the artists include Rino, Keybeaux, Woodsy Wasabi, preachblvvk, Jordyn Oran, S-Class, and Nekrog

7. What does the future holds for your career?KLEM: Well that’s a real open ended question. I’m working on a separate alternative/folk/rock album with an awesome producer, Josh from Invengo Productions, which might be out in the winter, and I’m hoping to release this current HipHop project in October. It’s going to be called Aesthetic and I can’t wait to see how it’s received. My current single, The Truth (feat. Rino), has been received very well from most listeners so I’m excited to see where this project takes me. I love working with and collaborating with others so I’m just excited to see where this all takes me.


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Hip Hop culture is ever growing and the boundaries of expansion appears to be limitless. With international star Drake leading the way and the advancement of social media, Hip Hop has been able to connect its artists from all over the globe and almost instantly increase their visibility. Canada, specifically Toronto has been birthing some of the biggest artists in music for the past 10 years. The eyes are looking north of the border for the next big thing and Polo Sho knows his time is now. 


Putting on for Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Polo Sho is coming through with his new single/video "I Know Freestyle" off of his new mixtape 'No Feelings'. The cinematic video was shot in Capetown, South Africa in Cosher Recording Studios and features Polo flowing over a smooth instrumental of Busta Rhymes' hit “I Know What You Want”. He makes the jam his own while charming a young lady with his boss-like charisma. I dont see Polo heading anywhere but up as he continues to craft heartfelt hiphop bars over high powered production!



“I KNOW (Freestyle)” on Youtube: 




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Since its inception, America has been ravaged by racism. There was a hope that the ending of brutal, centuries-long slavery, and furthermore, the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, would annihilate this hatred rooted so deeply in our country. However, recently, it seems as though nothing has changed. Police brutality in urban, minority communities is re-approaching its zenith with the popularity of racist, police shootings; and it feels as though we are voiceless in the midst of these atrocities. That is, for everyone aside from Chicago rapper, John Will. 

On his latest release, “Black In America”, produced by Grammy Award winner, Ricco Lumpkins, Will refuses to go unheard. Over a room-shaking, golden era beat, the Chitown emcee is brash and in-your-face. There’s a pulse of undeniable adrenaline and unquenchable anger coursing through each bar he spits regarding the current state of our nation. “Police buy you food after you’ve shot up a church—“ he rhynes in his second verse, referencing the tragedy that struck Charleston, South Carolina in 2015. It is bars such as that one that divide this record from so many other conscious ones before it. On this joint, backed by a sample-heavy, boom-bap production, he addresses the harsh, gut-wrenching realities of American racism. Wielding the spirit of the Black Panthers, and so many revolutionaries before him, John Will holds no punches on “Black In America”. And that makes for one, controversial, yet much-needed, perfectly-executed haymaker of a record. 

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In a game dominated by mumble rap, true lyricists are a diamond in the rough. Houston has a long historical imprint in Hip Hop from the Geto Boys in the 80's and 90's to the whole Houston movement in the early 2000's. Kweli(not to be confused with Talib Kweli) is next up to carry the torch for H-Town. His new EP 'B4' makes a good case if there were an argument. 

To simply describe the project, short and sweet. The 3 track, 8 minute tape is packed with hard hitting lyrics, gems for you ponder, and witty rhymes over billions mellow production that sounds out of the 1990s. B4 features the sounds from Emani, Lucid Sounds, and the legendary Organized Noize. Though only 3 tracks, Kweli's impressive skills remind me of hearing a young T.I. for the first time. I'm definitely anticipating what Kweli has in store, he's only going to be able to hold us over with B4, but so long.



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The feel and sound of Caribbean culture has always been a driving force in Hip Hop's evolution. Pioneer, DJ Kool Herc is of Jamaican descent and is credited as the founder of Hip Hop. Boston, Ma. artist, KÖD looks to keep tradition running with his new single "I Love My Brothers." The song pairs KÖD's strong voice and Reggae style with a bouncy, heavy bass instrumental to create a great feeling vibe for the summer. But, it's not only a good song to sip Henny to, the video will make the experience that much better. The visuals for this video were filmed in the beautiful U.S. Virgin Islands. While friends were out visiting the Gucci store, KÖD decided to use the visit as an opportunity to make a music video. And he did. The one take video(I dont know if people realize how hard that is to do) came out as the perfect compliment to a nice track. KÖD has a very bright career ahead of him and with singles like "I Love My Brothers", international superstardom is only a matter of time away.


“ILOVEMYBROTHERS”




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If the spirit of 90s Neosoul, and sonics of early 2000s R&B had a lovechild; that offspring just dropped an earth-shattering new single. Meet Sheena Jackson, a Columbus, Georgia songstress whose latest tune, “In Too Deep” is bound to seize your summer. The record is in many ways a quintessential R&B jam. It opens with a clean, bluesy guitar lick that briskly transitions into a thumping drum loop backed by a progression of poignant piano chords. After ten seconds of gorgeous instrumentation, we are introduced to Jackson’s even more gorgeous voice. Bleeding a similar soul to that of one of her idols, Chrisette Michele, our southern songbird hits the mic with matchless vitality. Each and every second of her vocalization is warm and embracing; unyielding to the magic of her production; and determined to outdo it. Likewise, on this record, she does not choose to waste her breath on the typical R&B tropes of sex, love and heartbreak. On the contrary, “In Too Deep” is something of a conscious record; wherein Jackson is using her vivacious voice to warn her community about the dangers of their detrimental lifestyles. 






She tells vivid stories of individuals involved in the street life whose decisions have landed them in unforgiving circumstances, as a means of reminding the “hustlers” who “keep hustling” and “riders” who “keep riding” to “watch the choices that you make.” If the spirit of 90s Neo-Soul, and sonics of early 2000s R&B had a lovechild; no doubt, that child is Sheena Jackson and she is poised to make a powerful impact on the world. Listen to her recent interview and download “In Too Deep” today.


“IN TOO DEEP” on Spotify:



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