When the Top Ten drops, everything stops! That’s just the way it goes when you’re rockin’ with the only hit list in town that’s based on personal taste, not corporate pressure or dirty money in an envelope. Our trusted staff of writers and music tastemakers had another tough task of selecting this week’s chart champs, but in the end they pulled it all together and came thru with some gems. Now sit back, relax and check ’em out below…
1) SLAINE takes a break from the silver screen and his La Coka Nostra fam to deliver a dope joint from his forthcoming “Slaine Is Dead” EP. The Arcitype laced heat rocket featuring VINNIE PAZ, ILL BILL & JARED EVAN connects with powerful lyricism, a smooth hook, and the kind of Boom Bap aural assault that instantly elevates the track from high quality banger to something that could only be classified as “Legendary.” This is raw, blood and guts Hip Hop. Straight no chaser!
2) CONWAY x PRODIGY joined forces on a new 2 track EP, produced by the mighty Daringer, to remind listeners that “Hell Is Still On Earth!” Both joints deliver that gritty, gutter s**t we love and come to expect from the Griselda Records camp, but there’s something about “Broken Safety” that will penetrate your eardrums with the kind of sinister power that could transform the biggest nerd into a hardcore thug…even if it’s only for the 5 minute runtime of the track. The Machine and The Infamous QB kingpin add up to murder on the mic. With Daringer supplying the sonic ammo, there’s no stopping them!
3) FONGSAIU took Lil Uzi Vert & Lil Yachty to task and lit up their lil asses for dissing Hip Hop’s legends on “A Time To Kill.” Ripping into a soundscape of Boom Bap, the lyricist calls into question the skills of a new breed of rappers who value the money but don’t respect the art. When Instagram Likes become more important than your ability to freestyle it might be a good time to sit down and reassess your title as an emcee. Fongsaiu’s latest track warns the newbies to step their game up and pay their respects to the TRUE artists who came before them. Hip Hop wasn’t built in a day…and would probably cease to exist if Yachty & Vert were the bricklayers for the foundation.
4) JAY HOLLY, CA$ABLANCA, DANIEL SON & SMOOVTH show pretenders what REAL lyricism is all about on the Giallo Point produced, “Iron.” The Crate Divizion certified banger finds the lyrical adventurers riding a slinky funk groove that demands to be bodied by the best! Spurred on by a Tupac vocal sound byte telling ’em to “get that beat poppin,” the crew get busy as they make other “rappers dreams die right in front of their eyes” by delivering a Brown Bag Money, The Winners, and CDVZ collabo no other emcee can touch!
5) WOADAH brings that BX bravado and undisputed lyrical mastery to his “Off The Bench” mixtape cut, TOTALpackage.” The relentless rhyme assassin flows over the hardcore soundscape with ease as he hits listeners with a non-stop barrage of exciting bars and witty lines. His dominance on the Hip Hop terrain is not to be challenged. In fact, he’s so dope that “producers send him their whole catalog and give him rights to jack ’em.” You may think you’re in control of your life but Woadah holds all the power!
6) SPECTACULAR DIAGNOSTICS crafts a distinct & irrefutably funky sonic gem for fans on a new CHESTER WATSON featured cut called “Curse.” The track possesses an exotic and haunting rhythm that will mesmerize your senses and take hold of your soul. Before you know it the song is over. But there’s no escape from music this transcendent. The curse lingers on…
7) HELLO TOMORROW & WIZDOM deliver soulful Boom Bap and encourage Hip Hop fans to think for themselves on their “Goodbye Yesterday” EP cut, “Old Voices.” Skills are manifested in the form of clever rhyme schemes and cadences while driving home the point that if you allow artists to influence every aspect of your being, you’ll lose your own identity in the process.
8) DJ Supa Dave laced MIKE DELOREAN, BIG TWINS & NATURE with a sinister, get snuffed on your way out the apartment type banger called “Goonsbridge.” The crew are on the path to greatness as they attempt to leave the drama behind…but sometimes you have to return to where you buried the bodies. The undertakers dig up another gem for the listeners. QB’s finest deliver the heat while the competition is left holding the shovel.
9) NICKELUS F & NAMEBRAND deliver “Strange Fruit” to the masses and nothing could be sweeter than the taste of this musically ambitious underground banger from the phenomenal “Stretch Marks” album. Successfully merging Boom Bap, Jazz, and Quiet Storm harmonies into a powerhouse soundscape, Nickelus F flows over Namebrand’s complex arrangement with both intensity and elegance. The lyricist gives a brief account of notable moments from his past while looking forward to the future. He’s seen a lot so don’t play him. Cut that check to hear pearls of wisdom!
10) BLU must always be commended for reaching greater heights with his art. Without a doubt, he’s one of the most skilled lyricists in the game and he showcases his creative power once again by teaming up with Paris-based production duo, UNION ANALOGTRONICS, and OLIVIER DAYSOUL for the fantastic gem, “City Dreams,” from the forthcoming “Cheetah In The City” LP. Union bring their A-Game to the table as they regale listeners with a sonic throwdown for the ages. Olivier adds his superb vocals to the epic arrangement and adds another level of aural enhancement. It’s mood-altering music that can raise hope and inspire one’s dreams.
Well that’s it for this week. Catch ya next time and…DON’T SLEEP!
– Kevin Keith
