Don’t Sleep On These New Releases
The new year continues to provide a bounty of bars and potent platters from the subterranean realm for Insomniac Magazine’s top ten. Tap into the symphony of stellar steez on this showcase of bonafide gems.
1) Comic book fans are waiting for The Fantastic Four to return to the big screen but they slid in under your nose in the form of COAST CONTRA! These mic marvels are the heralded superheroes of the underground who showcase their limitless powers on the new joint “AYO!” The group (composed of RIOLOZ, ERIC JAMAL, and RAS KASS’ sons TAJ & RAS AUSTIN) ascend to new heights and leap beats at a single bound with Eric unfurling top tier lyrics so intricate & impactful all other MCs should just quit the biz after they hit PLAY. In reference to the dying state of modern day Hip Hop he drops gems like: “Check vital signs/she still stable/We need an IV/It’s on us FOUR to keep her stable.” Or “To all the rappers who only here to gangrene(gain green)I amputate ’em!” And that’s just the tip of the iceberg cause there’s much, MUCH more.
Taj is up next with a joyous account of his first achievements in the industry and his passion behind the lyrics pushes the verse over the top! Rio, who also produced the transcendent gem, then steps up to bat and you become completely absorbed in the love & losses of his life. There’s so much heartfelt emotion behind the gruff delivery that you might find yourself wiping away a tear or two while listening. Ultimately, Ras ties everything together by becoming the living embodiment of the duality of man. He effortlessly shifts between angel & demon as the positive and negative forces wage a battle within that challenge us to take control of our moral compass. THIS right here is EVERYTHING Hip Hop should be. Many are called but four were chosen to spread the word!
2) RIM, 100GRANDROYCE & BHRAMABULL incinerate the opposition & leave ’em in the dirt on “Dust!!!” The ill bassline sounds like there’s a heist in progress with danger lurking at every turn & a menacing mood that’ll keep you on the run!!! Bullets fly, bodies fall, and the scent of death permeates the air. The last thing you’ll remember is the high-powered impact of this song!
3) When THE MUSALINI dropped “Uptown Bandits 2” we kept many joints on REPLAY. But none more so than the JOSE CIENFUEGOS seared sizzler “Raw Haze!” This s**t is so smooth that it will transform you into a playa overnight to build up your stable! Mus gets the hos out dem drawers by caressing the mic with fly rhymes that prove he’s ill wit’ the izm all day!
4) I “Can’t Believe My Ears” every time I hear some mind-blowin’ s**t on the underground!!! S-18 & MAESTRO Z linked up with BUGSY H. & PROSPER BENJAMIN for some “Vertical Rehab” audio excellence that left an everlasting imprint on our minds! Y’all better tap into this mackalicious mic display. Don’t sleep on the skills cause the lyrical onslaught is ALL TOO REAL!!!
5) ‘Wonderin’ what song Lebron James will be blastin’ when he emerges on the court? Look no further than the HIT-BOY produced BENNY THE BUTCHER mega banger below! “BRON” dominates the set with a triumphant soundscape and a true champion on the mic who leaves fans cheering in the rafters. Benny’s in his bag for this Hip Hop tour de force. Now ya know what life’s like when you’re on the winning team!
6) “Are you not entertained?!!?” NICHOLAS CRAVEN & BOLDY JAMES pour a lifetime’s worth of pain & problems into a new “Penalty Of Leadership” sizzler called “Straight As!” The sonic opulence crafted by Craven is on a level few MCs can completely grasp but Boldy James is more than just your round the way, every day rapper. Boldy boldly takes the reins & completes his mission. We’re pulled out of despair & led to a better day!
7) COOKIN SOUL x THA GOD FAHIM suffer no fools as they take all opponents to the “Guillotine!” The magical pairing of these two underground entities manifests a track so compelling you’ll have to be surgically removed from the speakers once you hit PLAY! We can’t wait to hear what else they’ve got percolatin’ in the lab. Y’all should kick your feet up & tap in!
8) THE BAD SEED, HONEY DINERO & JAMIL HONESTY are “Sick Of Talkin.” But they’re not sick of rippin’ the mic without mercy!!! On the NOTTZ laced banger, each MC wreaks havoc in the booth before taking a breath to let TONE SPLIFF throw down on the 1 & 2’s! When ya get heat like this it instantly lands on the charts! Take a listen then go play the joint again!
9) LUGHZ lets loose on a new LG ROC laced sizzler called “Baby Stroller!” “The LuGhz ExPeRiEnCe” audio gem finds the ascendant MC in a completely unhinged state of mind and GOTDAMMIT, the insanity suits him just fine! Instead of feedin’ his family he’d rather feed you slugs…and deal with all the consequences that come from his decision! We love the way the mic assassin tapped into his inner demons & transformed them into a slice of sonic bliss for the fans!
10) We wanted to conclude the countdown with a “Big Bang” so we sent an SOS out to CERTAIN.ONES! FERAL SERGE, DALI, REIGN MFN SUPREME, DZL, WHICHCRAFT, FAZEONEROK, BOBBY CRAVES, FORTIFIED MIND, JIMMI DA GRUNT, GUTTAMOUF, THE WIZ, KEEF WOOKIE & WANN SKLOBI all arrived on the scene to rescue the wayward underground from obscurity! The ill combination of lethal lyricism, dope beats, and wild cuts kept the earth spinning on its axis while weak MCs were submerged deep within the bowels of the planet!!!
Well that’s it for this week. Catch ya next time and…DON’T SLEEP!
– Kevin Keith
