FEBRUARY 7TH, 2020
We start the month of February off with a sad note. Pop Smoke, a rapper out of Brooklyn New York was killed on February 19th 2020. This tragedy struck the whole Hip-Hop community by surprise as not only did Pop Smoke release his highly anticipated album just a week or so before, but he had a bright future ahead of him. H already changed the sound of New York and captivated the city last summer, but he was poised to do it again with “Meet the Woo Vol. 2”. I send my Condolences to his family and friends during this period and hope that this type of violence and injustice stops sooner rather than later.
D-smoke is a rapper from Inglewood California who recently competed and won the Netflix show “Rhythm and Flow”. Due to this show his popularity skyrocketed and he was able to showcase his amazing talents to the world on a global platform. Although he does come from a music background D-Smoke has his own lane and his own style. His mother a background singer for The Jackson 5, and his brother a singer signed to TDE was merely a point to reference as D-smoke is talented in his own right.
Brent Fiyaz in seemingly a couple of years has amassed a good sized following and a style that he excels in which is hard to do. The Maryland singer released his fourth project in 5 years and at the age of 24 is already in a position to win and reach greater heights than most artists at that age. At this pace if he continues he can be one of the more prominent male R&B singers of this generation and truly make a case for being in the number one position.
FEBRUARY 14TH, 2020
A Boogie has become a household name in rap, in particular when it comes to his hooks. He is part of a select few that really know how to write to, and craft a proper hook. IN this generation especially that is key because it sometimes seems like people don’t really care about the verses and it’s the bridge+hook combination that gets all the love. Nevertheless, A Boogie has done well for himself and at such a young age it seems like he only going up from here.
Tink has had an interesting career. A singer that has both had mainstream appeal with her ability to sing and craft songs, but at the same time seemingly struggles to captivate an audience as well. Tink in my opinion should be a thriving artist as she can make music just as good, if not better than other musicians. Hopefully all the stars align and Tink can be put in the right situation to flourish and get praised for her talents as she rightfully should.
Fetty Wap has had an interesting career. Coming out of nowhere and owning the summer of 2014, to going away, to making a comeback now, it’s been a rollercoaster to say the least. It’s unknown to us if. Fetty Wap is trying to simply get bakc to where he once was on the billboard charts or he is continuing to make music beccause he loves it and has a passion for it. If it’s the latter then I hope he is having a blast being creative and making the most of his situation.
FEBRUARY 21ST, 2020
Royce Da 5'9 is the greatest rapper on the planet. If you disagree, go back and listen to Royce from PRhyme which was released in 2014 to now. In 6 years Royce has not only elevated his rapping ability in his 30’s, but has taken on the role of producer/beatmaker as well. The Detroit MC has always been known for being lyrical but in this past decade he has elevated his content at the same time. This is an incredible accomplishment when others would start to wind down in their career Royce just gets better and better. He is getting his credit for his work as well. His album is critically acclaimed, he has respect in the streets and in the industry, and is taking care of his health and his family most importantly. He is literally and figuratively eating from creating his own music the way he wants to which so many artists strive to do. I said a while back that if I could have the persona it would be Royce Da 5'9". That statement still stands true and every time he spits a verse I can confidently say greatness is being professed.
It seems like NBA Youngboy doesn't stop rapping. Since 2018 he has dropped 7 projects in total. If you had told soeone in 2000 that in 20 years artists would be dropping this amount of music they would look at you like you’re insane. However, since artists like Gucci and Wane hit the scene that crazy idea is not a reality. NBA Youngboy is a star in his own right. A polarizing figure, many either love his music or hate it. Nonetheless, he is also the most viewed artist on youtube every week which is a huge accomplishment.
Kamaiyah is a Cali artist that is starting to get more and more notoriety over time. She has been releasing music since 2011 but it was in 2016 when she was truly noticed. That year. Kamaiyah dropped her album “A Good Night in the Ghetto” to mass acclaim. She has kept the buzz going ever since and this year dropped her sixth project.
FEBRUARY 28TH, 2019
“Quality Control” has. been able to make stars out of so many artists in such a short period of time. Lil Baby is no different, he already had his own buzz but lately he’s been able to find his sound. Similar to A boogie he’s been a heavy addition to features from multiple albums. Lil Baby has also teamed with Gunna for multiple projects and other artists such as Moneybagg Yo as well. Now he’s able to showcase his talents on his own and be a complete artist.
G Herbo is a Chicago artist that has cemented his place in not only Chicago but rap in general. He has been consistent and has been at the forefront of the music scene in the midwest for quite some time now. Himself, Durk, and Keef are all prominent artists that so many people know about and have respect and love for. Since 2014 Herbo has been dropping consistently and has made a name for himself .
This artist is one that I most recently discovered going through R&B albums on iTunes. Her sound is what captivated me at first, not only does the production suit her it’s a full sound. I realized that I prefer a fuller sound to my R&B music rather than the airy sound that is so popular today. I played this album in the car with my girlfriend and she kept complementing her singing voice as well. Coming from a singer, that compliment means a lot in my eyes. This is her first project and I’m excited to hear more and see how she does in the future.
