Flowers & chocolates may have worked in the past, but what your bae really wants for Valentine’s Day is Insomniac’s Weekly Top Ten. So forget about the dinner, the hotel, and the unnecessary spending & show love to the artists on the list below!
1) JOELL ORTIZ has worked with many behind the boards collaborators on various projects…but his upcoming “That’s Hip Hop” album with production legend, Domingo, is destined to be one of the best! A complex, soul-driven track that gives a major salute to Big Daddy Kane is further enhanced by Joell’s flawless delivery & a rapid-fire star turn from newcomer, TOKEN. “Kill At Will” is exactly what we want & need from these giants of the genre. You better pre-order your copy of the LP NOW ’cause they’ll be flying off the shelves on March 15th!
2) Whenever THE SLOTH & JADEN CASTRO team up you can expect pure FIYAH! The kind that burns down crews, competitors, and torches neighborhoods, states…f**k that, ENTIRE COUNTRIES! Now the rhyme maniacs are destroying everything “Within Reach” on a new Remulak produced banger & we wouldn’t have it any other way. This is Voyager music for the soul. Hip Hop’s never sounded better!
3) TRUTH is one of those emcees who can’t lose. He’s co-signed by the supremely talented PF Cuttin who produced “Genuine Article,” featuring DITC legend, O.C. and wins on every release by possessing that confident flow that sounds incredible on every track. His debut, “From Ashes To Kingdom Come” is dropping February 26th & if you’re a fan of REAL Hip Hop we know you’ll be adding the project to your collection!
4) DANIEL SON delivered unstoppable “Man Power” to the masses with his new PhybaOptikz produced gem & proved he’s a BEAST on the mic! This is that laid back, late-night banger you pump loud in your ride while cruisin’ the city. Brown Bag Money is forever droppin’ the heat!
5) AGALLAH crushes the competition again with a new banger from the forthcoming “Wave: The Legend Of The Water Dragon” featuring SEAN PRICE & IKE EYES. Powerful bars from a powerhouse trio make “Brooklyn Emcee Murders” the perfect song to upend the current market of carefully calculated corporate rap. This joint stomps out the weak s**t, spits in its face, and proves that raw lyrics and beats are here to stay!
6) The STATIK KXNG combo of STATIK SELEKTAH & KXNG CROOKED dropped another masterpiece from their collabo project titled, “I Hear Voices.” The artist formerly known as Crooked I delivered soulful lyrics about public criticism, haters, and life as an artist over Statik’s brilliant production. “This is really a love story.” Yes it is. A perfect Valentine’s Day treat from Statik KXNG to their adoring fans.
7) NOLAHS, THE WAVE GOD & JADEN CASTRO brought more Voyager excitement to the listeners with the sinister, “Gravestones.” Sporting minimal yet highly effective production from Nolahs himself, the track provides the ultimate Boom Bap wet dream for true Hip Hop heads everywhere! Nolahs & Jaden rip the mic with the kind of passionate fury few emcees could ever hope to muster. When listening to this joint we think of one word…POWER!
8) VICE SOULETRIC delivered more musical magic from his “Vice For President 2” LP by enlisting SKYZOO for a chilled out turn on the mic to complement the lounge vibe of “Stayin Out The Way.” It’s a mellow track you can cool out to when the stress of the day is bringing you down. One play will ease all your worries.
9) MARVELOUS MAG linked up with D. FLOWERS & SIRAJ to give the 9 to 5’ers a jazzy anthem to groove to. “Beat Goes On” flaunts lyrics from an everyman who understands the daily struggles we must all endure. Mag & Co. never stop grinding…That’s why they’ll reach the top! What are a few minor losses to an artist destined to win?
10) A-ONE joined forces with NIPSEY HUSSLE for a new joint & we have “Two Words” about the track. IT’S DOPE! We’ll actually say a little more about the Mike The Martyr produced gem because it warrants the attention. The laid back production drips with classic soul that guides the lyricists toward greatness. Each emcee flows like it’s the last time they’ll ever touch a mic again! If more Hip Hop artists were this hungry the creative possibilities would be off the charts!
Well that’s it for this week. Catch ya next time and…DON’T SLEEP!
– Kevin Keith
