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The Slice, Episode 73 [Hip-Hop + R&B]

Episode 73 of The Slice is finally here! We have sorted out some of the best submissions from around the globe, so without further ado let us get right into it. UK act Ragz Originale sets it off on a mellow note with his sultry single “brush u”—an Afropop track bolstered by catchy melodies buttered over an infectious production. Singer Ishani explores the flaws of social media and the human mind on the punchy trip-hop song titled “Perfect Life” while Swedish emcee MC Porno goes the boom-bap route on “Go hard.” MC Porno delivers a fiery performance laden with an energetic hook and references to classic songs such as The Wu, Nas, and others. “Allow Me Say” is a somber but melodic track by emerging UK singer I Am i-D who shares his thoughts on personal space, materialism, and life in London. OCHÉ who has been featured here before returns with “Time Will Tell”—a heartfelt look at the aftermath of breaking up with a girl. He showcases his vocal range and insightful verses over a sparse dreamy backdrop courtesy of producer TwoFifteen.

Veteran emcee ILL KNOB shares a personal tale on his song “They Don’t Like That” and inspires the listeners to look within and find their greatness even if no one else sees it. The duo of Jamar Carr and D. Thompson team up for the quarantine inspired song “Bad Thing.” Taken from their joint EP titled Dark Winter, the track features a more R&B sound to it and is quite different from but it works. Emerging rapper Dre A.M. showcases an interesting lyrical style on “barely alive.” Armed with a fiery flow and vivid imagery he paints a gripping picture of an individual fighting his inner demons. Austrian band Gazelle & the Bear team up with emcee Stimulus for a love-drenched soulful single “When You’re Around” while the duo of Urii and Godfruit share their fusion of jazz/hip-hop on the song “The Game.”

Singer, pianist, and actress Imogen takes the bull by the horn on “Fight,” a record that explores keeping the peace in a tumultuous relationship. Louis Metric and Natal1e throw the proverbial middle finger to the naysayers on “Salt.” Metric and Natal1e implore listeners to stay focus on their goals and take criticisms with a grain of salt. Rising Nigerian star Jujuboy Star‘s single ” I Dey There” gets a vibrant remix from producer TMXO and it’s a solid club banger. MoeSOS DC and Chase Johanson flip a classic R&B sample on their collaboration titled “How Deep”—an insightful record that details the insecurity a rising artist faces in establishing intimate relationships while pursuing music.

“Intergalactic Interlude(Galaxy-Prelude)” is a laidback sultry record by KID TRAVIS who has been dropping fantastic R&B infused records for a while now. The track is off his last release Strawberry Skies. UK emcee Britizen Kane and producer Turkish Dcypha team up with RaggZ, D.Tail & Miss R Lee “More Than.” The track is a hard-hitting and energetic track that showcases pure lyricism and deft defying flows from the emcees involved.

We close this week’s list with Mōnki Bznzz and afro soul singer Maka’s “Jide Nu M”—an eclectic piece that pushes the envelope of experimental soul, R&B, and pop.” Jide Nu M” is taken from their collaborative project Sometimes it Rains in December.

Check our previous editions of The Slice here.

For a full tracklist of this week’s featured artists:

Ragz Originale – “brush u”
Ishani – “Perfect Life”
MC Porno – “Go hard”
I Am i-D – “Allow Me Say”
OCHÉ – “Time Will Tell”
ILL KNOB – “They Don’t Like That”
Jamar Carr x D. Thompson – “Bad Thing”
Dre A.M. – “barely alive”
Gazelle & the Bear – “When You’re Around” feat. Stimulus
Urii – “The Game” (feat. Godfruit)
Imogen – “Fight”
Louis Metric x Natal1e – “Salt”
Jujuboy Star -” I Dey There (TMXO Remix)”
MoeSOS DC x Chase Johanson – “How Deep”
KID TRAVIS – “Intergalactic Interlude(Galaxy-Prelude)”
Britizen Kane x Turkish Dcypha – “More Than” (Feat. RaggZ, D.Tail & Miss R Lee).
Mōnki Bznzz & Maka “Jide Nu M”

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