King Mez: Long Live The King
This was a big one to sleep on, I know. I’ve know of King Mez through various features, but never grabbed his critically acclaimed mixtape.Mez is the forerunner of North Carolina hip-hop, and his crown on the cover of Long Live The King is indicative of the rap throne he sits on. This project is booming, dense with hard-hitting drums and tightly packed bars.
From more traditional hip-hop standards to energizing, trap-related hits, Long Live The King is the portrait of King Mez’s incredible abilities over heavy instrumentals.
Stream | Download.
Prie: Beautiful Memories
Who knew Hawaii produced such great hip-hop talent? Just check out rapper Prie‘s Beautiful Memories project and take a gander at what this Pacific emcee can do.
Even clocking at a pithy twenty-three minutes, Beautiful Memories features various skits (and even a freestyle session) that add to the personal element Prie expresses on this stand-out effort.
Gleaming in ethereal production, Prie’s 2014 release is modern and refreshing and begs for a full-length follow-up.
Stream/Download.
Boogie: Thirst 48
Long Beach’s newest star is Boogie and last year, his project Thirst 48 certainly stood as a pivotal release for the emcee.
Boogie utilizes a deliberate, tantalizing flow to write open letters, provide social commentary and show himself to the world over bassy production. Standouts include the menacing “Bitter Raps,” the lead single “Westside,” and the show-and-prove “Let Me Rap.”
The California rapper has a unique voice and easily crosses over between lyrical raps and less-wordy bars that focus more on potency than narratives. Thirst 48 is short, too, adding to the replay value this album possesses.
Stream | Download.
Euroz: Memories of the Future
If there’s one thing Euroz gives off through his music, it’s confidence. The Las Vegas born entertainer already has a solid track record, working with Meek Mill, DJ Drama, and touring with Dizzy Wright. But that doesn’t stop the singer/rapper from sounding hungry on his project, Memories of the Future.
If you like one song, there’s a good chance you like them all. While versatility probably isn’t a strong suit for Euroz, consistency is. He’s already gained some comparisons to Drake for obvious reasons – he sings as well as he raps. But Euroz has his own sound, one that is supported by spacey, trap production.
Euroz goes out with a bang on Memories of the Future. For fans of the whole sing-rap gig, Euroz is a force ready to take on the style with confidence.
Stream/Download.
Divine ScienZe: The Wake Up Album
I’ve heard both of these artists’ individual work before, but never together. Producer King I Divine and rapper Scienze teamed up a few years ago to form Divine ScienZe, and last year they dropped their sophomore collaborative effort, The Wake Up Album.
Divine ScienZe’s latest record is the most traditional hip-hop record out of all the albums on the list. The beats are mainly sample-based and the drums are definitely boom-bap. Science spends time telling his story and rhyming alongside Chuuwee, Sharmelle Hunte and others.
The Wake Up Album embodies a classic sound with a modern spring in its step, making this one a record that shouldn’t be missed.
