Fool’s Gold

360 deals; advances in assets rather than money. Rappers are often better at depicting the dream than living it authentically. It's nearly impossible to gain notoriety and avoid the hustles that when surfaced, immediately cancel careers. Socially transcending racial and economic status limitations with music is taken seriously and interrupted pettily. Is your favorite rapper selling albums or selling dreams?

AZ Chike - Look Like My Mama (feat. Tyler, The Creator)

Ken Carson - Xperiment (R.I. Review)

Ken Carson is Playboi Carti's very lucky protege. Similar to Playboi's come up, connections are the primary appeal of Ken Carson. It's not that he's a bad rapper, it's just his context is why he's relevant. The strange thing about this album is Xperiment has a scientific level awareness, but the lyrics seem geared towards people that are border-line illiterate. It's reminiscent of Lil Uzi Vert in delivery, but he has Playboi's subtle infrastructural awareness. This album is designed to perform well and expand Playboi Carti's brand, but as a stand alone audio experience, at best it's a celebration of urban culture. Xperiment is perfect for social media's agenda to make art easy and inclusive, but it's a little uninspired.

Token - I'm Leaving Soon (R.I. Review)

Token is a rapper from Salem, Massachusetts. It's hard to explain his presentation. He's good. Immediately that's obvious. His early songs were very technically proficient but a little too clean cut to assimilate with most hip hop. He's mainly releasing music from videos which is not bad, but it gives him a different kind of audience. "Looking like a rapper" is a closed-minded critique, but there are Caucasian rappers that look more like rappers. 

Personally, I think his look adds to his relevance. My hope is that Token doesn't confuse being corrupt with being cool. Smoking, swearing, police, and dark themes aren't necessary for rap respect and concepts like "RRN" are acceptance contradictory. His music confidence is impressive, but something makes me question if he can keep his lyric persona in a social situation. Maybe he's as cool as his lyrics, but subliminally theres a different vibe than his lyrics that you can feel.

Denzel Curry - UPS (feat. Kenneth Blume)

26j - Faded

Don Toliver - OK (feat. Ye)

NBA YoungBoy - What Da What ?

Khantrast - Poster Child

Fivio Foreign - Chasin (feat. The Fire Choir)

Khantrast - Up!

Dual Citizenship

Picking a side is easy, being universal is difficult. RapIndie is a universal space. As such, we create and advocate for people striving to be universal. The most important aspect is practicing what you preach. Hip hop has many different perspectives but are you a foe to hip hop?

Sideshow - CCP LIKE OTO

Prof - Kin

Stan Complexity

Stans at first glance are admirers; People that see a successful formula or idea and want to be a part of it. While seeing a standard for a specific benchmark or approval makes sense; sometimes that's not the point. Sometimes Stans follow the losses. That is a little harder to decipher. Redemption, joy, acceptance; maybe the flaws are still roadmaps. However, without a benchmark, the goal is probably seeking a destination due to feeling a little lost.

Connor Price - Another Day In The Sun (feat. LaRussell)

Moneybagg Yo - I See Why

Token - RRN (feat. Pouya)

Molly Santana - Walk (feat. Chy Cartier)

Tyla - A Pop (R.I. Review)

Tyla is a singer from South Africa that had a very successful debut with the viral song, "Water". She has returned with a new album called A Pop. From a conceptual standpoint, it is a lot more serious; K-Pop success with African/American unity. Personally, I think that her first album was more universal. A Pop sonically is more EDM and RNB. Tyla is talented, but she's still trying to find her core audience. The album is good, but like most artist's early careers, it's a little generic and experimental.

It's nice to see a musician reach success without jumping on a controversial campaign or diluting their talent. Tyla is solid, but she needs an ace, and it isn't bowing down to mainstream cultural ideas. A-Pop is a flex, but it's also a submission. Hopefully, it's successful enough to teach her who her fans are.