We open up Episode 86 of The Slice in the 'City of Angels' as LA emcees Pawz One and Mykill Miers team up for a verbal onslaught. On the track "Stop Playin With Me" the duo have fun decimating weak emcees and poking fun at the rap industry over a grimy hardcore beat. The track is the lead single off the duo's upcoming album titled Double Homicide.
German producer Whatson brings a verbal triple threat on his single "Neck Tie." The gritty track sees him working with Conway The Machine, M-Dot, and Nutso who go full throttle with pure bravado-laden lyrics on the track. This is definitely not for the faint-hearted. "Du(el)ality" is a laidback guitar-driven reflective record delivered by emerging LA emcees Good.To.Go and Devro. The duo shares their personal experiences with self-doubt, depression, and the eternal journey of the struggling artist.
Indie artist Julien Jabre helps change the vibe with the house music-infused track "Lost Again." The production here is moody and warm while Jabre brings a soulful touch with his silky vocals. The best part is Jabre also produced it all by himself displaying his skill as an excellent musician. "Pips" is a new single from LA producer/rapper who goes by the moniker Jabali. The rapper chops up a moody vocal sample to create a bass-heavy track that fits the stylish flows and vivid lyrics from his cohorts. The raps are provided by Mistress of rap, Carl Angelo, and Jabali himself. The title is a nod to the Gladys Knight & The Pips sample he used to make the beat. The duo #SplashBrothaz blends soul, video games, and rap on their new summer jam titled "Level Up." The production is as vibrant as they come with hard-hitting drum grooves, video game effects, and a somber vocal sample. The duo reflects on the bad and good times and implores listeners to break from the doldrums and reach for a higher plateau. Emerging singer/songwriter King Brian pours "Blood Sweat & Tears" on wax. He makes use of a cinematic trap beat to share his struggles and pain and his unique melodic performance is quite engaging. His deep vocal tone cuts through the mix and it's commanding as well. The Nashville native brings something refreshing to this relatable and heartfelt record.
NY emcee Jamar Carr's "9PM in ShadyVille" is an open letter of some sort as the rapper dives into the dynamics of loyalty, fake love, and how he had to deal with unsavory characters trying to bring him down. Carr delivers his lines with an unapologetic demeanor and throws shots at all the naysayers as well. Experimental rapper Boy Pierce teams up with Nerdcore rap progenitor MC Lars on the reflective and humor-filled record titled "The Internet Used to be Funny." The duo takes us back to a time when the internet was still pristine and filled with cat videos, AOL, and Yahoo Messenger. Hampshire, UK producer Planky gives us some festival vibes on his new single "Soul Plane" featuring rappers Harry Shotta, Dynamite Mc, and PAV4N. The track is vibrant and ripe with funky guitar plucks, rousing drum breaks, and fiery rap performances by the rappers involved, This is pure feel-good vibes and the energy is great for street dancers as well. As Ali Cashius Jr prepares to drop his new LP, he teams up with fellow emcee Futuristic on the single "Hello." The upbeat cut is a display of the duo's fast-paced rap and showcase of lyricism. Mr. Risto Flow recruits Rockie Fresh for the soulful collaboration titled "Dreams (Next)." Bolstered by a chilled, reflective beat provided by Big Jerm, the duo deliver uplifting verses about finding inner strength and going out to achieve one's goals.
Singer-songwriter Abigail Bleu pens this heartfelt soul-pop jam titled "Wife This" with the help of Pink Sweat$. The production is a blend of lush and bright sounds layered on soft drums perfect for Bleu's melodic runs and evocative lyrics about guys stepping up their game to get the girl. Mostly George and Oblivious are making "Moves" with this dark gritty track. It is ripe with cinematic textures and a crunchy drum groove that blend perfectly with the heavy lyrical content. Hopefully, no wack emcees were harmed during the making of this heavy record. Alden Groves shares his experience in meditation therapy on his new single "Baptize." Over a moody off-kilter backdrop, he takes listeners on a journey where he is trying to find his true self through the chaos around him. The record is taken from his upcoming album The Comfortable Dark.
The Dream Sequence offers us hopeful vibes on their new release "Idol Hands." The jazz-infused track courtesy of Ess Be is built on sparkling somber keys, rumbling drums, dreamy textures, and Sareem poems' uplifting lyrics that help soothe our spirits in these crazy times. LA-Based, American-Nigerian singer-songwriter Swt Valli Hi (Sweet Valley High) makes her entry with this off-kilter R&B track titled "Over It." Armed with a sultry and alluring vocal tone, she reflects on the dynamics of loyalty, trust, and the need to let go of negativity for the sake of inner peace. The production by Canadian music producer Cj Eriksson is excellent as he brings something different from the norm with his dark vivid style. Emerging LA-based singer Omotola shares her debut single "ITMOI"—a heavy, soul-gripping track that cuts to the core. Omotoal dwells on the aftermath of saying goodbye and the loneliness that creeps up as time progresses. The vocals have an airy feel as they reverberate over the dynamic guitar-laden soundscape. The sound design is excellent too and gives the heartfelt track an off-kilter aesthetic. "Go Far" is a collaborative piece by Dj Overule and Hamali that aims to pump positivity and encourage listeners to never give up and go for their goals. The record is a potpourri of sounds and musical styles ranging from Reggae roots, electro-trap, dubstep, and soca. The melodies are definitely alluring but the production is just so out of this world with its numerous changes and switch-ups that keep the listener engaged from the onset. We close this week's edition of The Slice with the aid of Cydnei Chyan who delivers a sultry jam titled "On Me." The laidback sensual vibes are bolstered by her silky vocals, vivid lyrics, and smooth guitar-laden production.
Check out previous editions of The Slice here.
For a full tracklist of this week's featured artists:
Pawz One x Mykill Miers – "Stop Playin With Me"
Whatson x Conway The Machine x M-Dot x Nutso – "Neck Tie" (prod. by Whatson)
Good.To.Go x Devro – "Du(el)ality"
Julien Jabre – "Lost Again"
Jabali – "Pips"
#SplashBrothaz – "Level Up"
King Brian – "Blood Sweat & Tears"
Jamar Carr – "9PM in ShadyVille"
Boy Pierce – "The Internet Used to be Funny" (feat. MC Lars)
Planky – "Soul Plane" feat. Harry Shotta, Dynamite Mc & PAV4N
Ali Cashius Jr x Futuristic – "Hello"
Mr. Risto Flow – "Dreams (Next)" Feat. Rockie Fresh
Abigail Bleu – "Wife This"
Mostly George x Oblivious – "Moves"
Alden Groves – "Baptize"
The Dream Sequence – "Idol Hands"
SWT VALLI HI – "Over It"
Omotola – "ITMOI"
Dj Overule – "Go Far"
Cydnei Chyan – "On Me"
