Word Around the Sound is… Seaan Brooks is back with a reassuring new album titled WELL BE ALRIGHT. The project has been a labor of love through various ups and downs over the past year with Seaan recording, mixing and mastering it himself.
While most artists are fiends for the spotlight, seeking it out and selling their soul to bask in its glow, Seaan Brooks is one of those artists where the light follows him. As a reflection of his life, his music is soaked with an honest integrity that’s been built on the strength and resilience that comes from persevering through the struggles of being a Black man in America. Through his hardships, his spirit still exudes a captivating essence that makes him, and his music, a guiding force in the world.
This project boasts some of the coldest flows I’ve heard Seaan spit alongside some deeply soulful beats that are balanced out perfectly in the mix allowing each element to really shine throughout. Easily one of my favorite albums released so far this year.
Seaan Brooks – WELL BE ALRIGHT
YTC (Yellow Trash Can) – SOGGY
When Portland based Jason Navarette and Los Angeles dweller Jitta hit the fusion dance, they form YTC, aka Yellow Trash Can, an alternative duo who produce music not bound by a genre. Their latest work, SOGGY, is a compilation album featuring 17 artists, including themselves, that explores a variety of sounds and audible textures.
From the floaty “Loveydove” featuring ILoveSnugsworth to the grittier “Feeling Violent” with WayneGrey. From the rap-centric “2 Piece w/ biscuits” with Donte Thomas to the punk rock “Devil in My Kitchen” featuring Blossom– every song absolutely BANGS. Every artist brings a different flavor to the album making the whole meal satisfying until the final track.
Overall, the quality of the production, the smart lyrical compositions, even the way the track list flowed gave me an overwhelming sense of adoration for this collection of artists and the inspirational community that they’ve built with each other.
Travis Thompson – My Wonderful, Horrible Life
Travis Thompson and Nima Skeemz have worked together since the beginning of Trav’s career. His new album, My Wonderful, Horrible Life sounds like a reflection of their journey so far, reinforced by the memoir-like lyrics that are written throughout. Although he’s always put his feelings into his songs, on this album I can really hear him emote through his melodies on a deeper level than before. His vocals also sound more refined and confident, making this release, in my opinion, a pivotal moment in this chapter of his artistry.
Karma Rivera – “Been Awhile”
Coming in hot with her signature flow, Karma Rivera gives us a fresh banger for the summertime with her new single “Been Awhile”. By combining her savage rhyme schemes with bouncy beats, Karma creates music catered to the dance floor. There’s no denying the invigorating feel of her tracks, and “Been Awhile” truly exemplifies that.
2oopaid Tk & Lewie – “Hell Yeaa”
2oopaid Tk and Lewie linked up for their collab track “Hell Yeaa.” The contrast between Tk’s scratchy cadence and Lewie’s melodic flows works really well for this release. On top of that, the hook is infectious making me want to scream “Hell Yeaa” with all my might.
Josiah Mekhi – “Cringe”
The latest release from Josiah Mekhi makes me do everything except “CRINGE.” This single is hitting on all levels with an upbeat and light-hearted production from Oliver Crosby, a silky mixdown from P. Kruise, and a polished final product mastered by Matthew Wolk. Between “CRINGE” and his previous release, “Memories,” it’s obvious that Josiah Mekhi is one to watch as he continues to rise as an artist.
Rick Reams – “Head Trips”
Rick Reams says that his latest track “Head Trips” was inspired by those moments where “the blunt smoke from my fingertips arose, I’m in a state of mind where my whole body is froze.” The saucy beat behind his smooth flow sets a casual groove for you to roll one up to. Meanwhile, his lyrics are coated in trichomes and pack an extra punch of potency that will leave your head floating in the clouds.
Jaiden Grayson – “Sugar”
Open up your wallet and give Jaiden Grayson $100,000. Her latest release, “Sugar” is a bubbly dance track that, in her own words, “is inspired by sex work, sex workers, and my constant fantasy to bludgeon patriarchy. What’s not to love?” Quite frankly, there’s nothing in this song that I don’t love. I’m assuming that she’ll be performing this during her set at Capitol Hill Block Party on Friday, July 19, and I truly can’t wait to see her sparkle and shine doing so.
Milc and Andy Savoie – “Pendleton”
Never ones to miss a bar or a beat, Milc and Andy Savoie are back with another track that hits on all levels. For their latest single, “Pendleton,” they linked up with Richmond’s Fly Anakin who compliments both Milc’s flow and Andy’s production with his raw delivery style and cutthroat rhymes.
Groovypeso – “Who’s Alive”
Groovypeso has released three tracks in the past month with each one matching the energy of the last. The three-peat started off with “Crash The Whippopotomus” which features his gritty flow over the top of a haunting string-focused production. The second release, “Rock Yo Body,” takes a breathy sensual approach while his most recent release, “Who’s Alive,” has that groove that everybody’s talking about.
