NegroSaki & Dave Universal - Saki x Universal
Tampa, FL producer extraordinare NegroSaki collaborates with his fellow producer and brother Dave Universal over the course of 8 ethereal neck-snapping instrumentals on their new album Saki x Universal. Mixing NegroSaki’s soulful sample chopping sensibilities with Dave Universal’s very electronica/Southern-influenced sound results in an aesthetic that can captivate multiple audiences. The combination just works.
Buffalo Black - Buffalo Black LP
Texas emcee Buffalo Black combines just the right amount of energy, awareness, technical skill and sonic cohesion for his new self titled LP. The beats, made by various producers such as the Midnight Kids N.O.M.A.D, SamuraiMugen and more, all have a dark tinge that increases the intensity of Black’s delivery; creating a brand of intelligent fight music. The aesthetic is even applied to subjects such as sex on the very abrasive “Just Breathe”. Things get toned down towards the end to create a more insular experience that balances out the ferocity. A very well-rounded release.
Alias: The Architect - Steady Rock
Drawing influences from the worlds of 8-bit, Reggae, Soul and more, Southern California producer and multi-instrumentalist Alias: The Architect composes beats with every ingredient made completely from scratch on his free debut LP, Steady Rock. You’d swear these tracks all used samples, but everything (except the obvious recordings) down to the 8-bit and the singing is organic. Stay tuned for much more new music from Alias.
SLik d - “Compassion”
prod. F.A.M.E
Released this past Earth Day, Las Vegas/Los Angeles artist SLik d provides quite the anthem for environmental awareness and positivity with his new track “Compassion” which is laced with a dreamy beat by F.A.M.E. Sing along and throw your biodegradable/organic lighters up.
N.O.M.A.D - N O / H I D I N G
Texas producer N.O.M.A.D returns with his latest album N O / H I D I N G. An appropriate title, N O / H I D I N G reveals N.O.M.A.D making his debut as an emcee on a few tracks. More than likely, almost all producers make great emcees as they are the ones who understand their sound better than anyone else, and N.O.M.A.D evidently knows how to tame his very wild sound.
Supah Mario - Supah Mario World
Very chill but knockable instrumental album by Supah Mario, an acclaimed Southern producer who has provided beats for the likes of Brick Squad while maintaining a growing fan-base in the instrumental music realm. You gotta love that artwork. S/O to Chuuch.
Gunplay & Isaiah Toothtaker - “FROWNIN”
(Blue Sky Black Death Remix)
MMG standout Gunplay makes yet another random collaborative gem. This time, its with Arizonian emcee Isaiah Toothtaker of experimental hardcore rap crew Machina Muerte on new track “FROWNIN” featuring booming dark electronic production by Blue Sky Black Death. Don Logan brings the reality and floats on the beat as always while Toothtaker hits with some blunt-force punchlines such as “Ride or die, right? Why you acting car sick?” and “A real son of a gun, right? My mother was a cartridge. Wanna shoot the fair one outside? I’m somewhat of a marksman.” Interestingly enough, this is actually the remixed version of the track. It’s not every day you get to hear the remix before the original.
Airospace - Earl Sweatshirt
Shoutout to the homie Ryan for dropping this in my inbox last night. Airospace is an MC hailing from the Washington, DC area. On this track “Earl Sweatshirt,” Airospace goes off like a motivated version of the Odd Future member the song is named after. Needless to say, I enjoyed what I heard.
eMex - The Message
Baltimore MC eMex is back again, this time with a banger of a track in “The Message. Philadelphia producer Paris Artelli laced him with an absolutely great beat and eMex flows over it perfectly. I’m still waiting on a full project from eMex, but these singles he’s dropping off will have to do.
Lord Byron - Cosby (Prod. Doughmars)
Denver native Lord Byron dropped his latest track “Cosby” yesterday. Byron has always come across to me as a heavily lyrical MC (much to my approval) and with “Cosby” he does not disappoint. Maryland producer/MC Doughmars provided a great soundtrack that complements Byron beautifully.
