Word Around the Sound is… Grieves and Mouse Powell are back with the second installment of their collaborative series titled, Why Not? 2. The unique sound that they create together has a very don’t-give-a-fuck swagger to it that asserts itself in your eardrums, which is best exemplified in the second track, “Fuck It.” The two seasoned artists bring the best of the North and South to create a full-bodied, well-rounded West Coast sound backed by a light-hearted humor that balances out their hard-hitting talent.
Grieves and Mouse Powell – Why Not? 2
AJ Suede – Opta Mystic
You already know what time it is, better not even look at your watch because it’s fresh drop season from the Suede God. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: my favorite AJ Suede projects are the ones where the beats, rhymes, and art are all self-produced. His latest project, Opta Mystic is his first self-produced offering of the year and I believe it’s one of his most polished to date. Even though on the surface his beats feel dusty, disjointed, and often dissonant, when you break down the beat, it brilliantly matches his conversational yet poetic lyrical delivery.
Grxtty – Vol. 2… Grxtty?
I honestly can’t remember how I heard about Grxtty, but I’m pretty hyped that he’s in my rotation now because he just hit us with a cold cut combo of banging tracks. Vol. 2… Grxtty? features a few upbeat, groovy songs that capitalize on the smooth and charismatic tone of Grxtty’s flow. On the final track, “BENADRYL,” KHRIS P adds some extra flavor that rounds out the project making for a crispy addition to your musical menu.
Yonny – “City in Motion”
Yonny is causing a commotion right now with his fresh approach to an old school sound. His latest track, “City In Motion,” pumps up the volume with a more dance-centric flavor. The catchy hook and tasteful changes to his flows throughout the song showcase Yonny’s potential to be a major name in the years to come, and one that I’m excited to watch takeoff.
Aleques James – “So Smooth”
Aleques James is “So Smooth” with his latest single. He makes it do what it do as he whispers a quick succession of bars over a cloudy beat. The video shot by Dom Morris depicts him rhyming from the back seat of a car as he cruises through Renton while the sunsets. This is just a brief glimpse into his upcoming debut project, “The Aleques James EP” which will be dropping soon.
Wasabi Samba – “Ontas?”
Wasabi Samba wants to know where you are in one of their latest releases titled, “Ontas?” The floaty single flutters along with sultry vocals that evoke a feeling of desire. Pair that with the powerful, punchy delivery of “ALV!,” the other single they just released, and you have yourself a beautiful snapshot of the energy these latin rockers bring to the table.
Milc and Televangel – “Thirty Three 3’s”
Milc and Televangel are back at it again with a unique single centering around the number three, specifically “Thirty Three 3’s.” This is the lead single off their upcoming collaborative EP Extra Phish, which is set to release March 1. Weaving his life into witty bars, Milc discusses everything from studying 3 Stacks method of delivery to three-pieces with mild sauce.
Blake Anthony, Nobi, and Perry Porter – “3 to Infinity”
Clearly the product of smoking weed, Blake Anthony’s latest single “3 to Infinity” plays out like a fanciful dream only further emphasized by the AI generated imagery used in the music video. Both Nobi and Perry Porter sprinkle a little extra kief on the bowl with their short and sweet, yet highly impactful verses.
Webb Wavvy and Tré Ross – “Everybody Else”
The latest single from frequent collaborators Webb Wavvy and Tré Ross paints the picture as to why they’re not like “Everybody Else.” One of the things that Webb and Tré do best is amp up a crowd and get them engaged with the music. I can tell that this is the kind of track that ideally is listened to during a live performance rather than digitally in order to really capture the energy that they bring. That being said, the way that they play off of the beat that Wffls cooked up makes it an enticing listen regardless of how it’s delivered.
Bocha – “Gritty Teeth”
Like concrete streets, Bocha paves a hardened path for his listeners to walk along. In his most recent release, “Gritty Teeth,” he’s coming for your head like a turtleneck sweater as he cements his clever lyrics deep in your ears. The eerie instrumental features rolling snares and haunting melodies that add a nocturnal depth to the track that only further amplifies the gritty nature of Bocha’s rhymes.
