STAFF PICKS: MID YEAR TOP 10 LIST

XANDERS TOP LIST

1. 070 SHAKE - YOU CAN’T KILL ME

Modus vivendi was one of my favorite from the year it drop and You can’t kill me is no different. The amazing synth atmosphere that 070 created with this project along with the robotic yet emotional voice is a perfect combination and really is an experience to listen too

2. KWAJO -INSIDE OUT

KWAJO. KWAJO. KWAJO. please miss once. When I first heard this song I knew it would be on rotation. The soft but energetic instrumental mixed with both artists poppy vibe is amazing and works great. The hook is catchy to the point I say it randomly and overall my mood always improves after hearing this. (Yes this a single and not project but its that good)

3. ANDREW KELLY - KELLY

Kelly is Andrew Kelly’s most cohesive and personal project yet. The production done by STIX is top tier and each bar is executed and created with purpose. There are songs for those who want a more conscious style and those for who want a hard hitter. Kelly sees Andrew at his best yet and shows signs of improvement for the future

4. COAST CONTRA - APT.505

Coast contra is a group I discovered this year and man am I glad I did. With a more vintage feel, the rap group delivers a solid project that gives us a modern take on old school rap. The whole group has great chemistry and an amazing sound together. Its a super fun listen and im always going back to it.

5. VIDEO G - IN CHARACTER

Video G’s project was probably one of my sleepers of the year. With 7 songs each showing off a different style, video is able to prove that he isn’t only stuck into one lane. While I love the ambition and innovation as an artist, the many different style do hinder the project a little as I would love to hear a project with each style. Nonetheless this project is a great listen and a fresh take.

6. MYNAMEISNTJMACK - THE LORDS OF SOUNDS AND LESSER THINGS

Jmacks latest project is an amazing showcase of the artist. With heavy influence from Isaiah Rashad, the smooth production and lazy flow fits JMACK perfectly as he puts his own twist. His use of different flows and styles is really what sold me on this project. The production is solid and everything just fits together perfectly. While this is at the bottom of my list, it doesnt diminish the quality and how great this project truly is.

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IJR’S TOP LIST

1. ERICDOA - THINGS WITH WINGS

ericdoa’s “things with wings” has been a highlight for the underground music scene, and the hyperpop scene especially. As eric enters the mainstream more and more, it seems like his sound finds more and more of a focus. On Things with wings, eric takes a majority of the project with an upbeat, and enthusiastic approach, delivering a blend of hyperpop that leans on catchy pop elements, with a bedroom pop twist, a refreshing take on the genre that unsurprisingly works and adds a sense of innovation to eric’s discography. The project is full of melodic bangers, backed by some stellar production and well as crisp vocal engineering. Lastly, it would be a shame if we didn’t discuss my favorite track from the album, the emotional cut that is “Commander dr,”  the emotionally sweet love letter for eric’s own mother, that gave the album that touching moment that the album was in need of.

2. WETHAN - MIDNIGHT

EDM producer Wethan gave us an amazing album this year, venturing into bigger and better sounds, collaborating with a handful of the underground’s rap and hyperpop up and comers. Collaborators aside, the project’s stand-out feature hands down is in its quality production, everything about the way Wethan compliments his featured artists through his production is unmatched. From Yeat, midwxst, and Mattox on the intro track “LOCK IT UP,” to the absolute bop that is “THINK YOU RIGHT,” you’re set for a fun listen where you just bop your head as you take in the outstanding beats and vocal performances. “THINK YOU RIGHT” takes my favorite spot on the project, by the way, Wethan plays perfectly off the chemistry that Glaive and ericdoa have set up for themselves through the song’s fun and extremely melodic production.

3. ALDN - GOOD GRIEF

Aldn’s “Good grief” is a project that has grown on me a lot. Over the past two years or so Aldn’s been pioneering this sound that the underground is labeling as “hyperpunk,” a mix of glitchy vocal mixing, and punk-pop/alternative rock style beats. Admittedly the project initially sounded sort of boring for me to say the least, but the more I gave the project a chance, the more I’ve seen that the project has a lot more going for it than I chose to give it credit, such as Aldn’s vocal performances, and writing which give the instrumentals a ton of life. My favorite cut of the project is “ignorance is bliss” which is absolutely a bunch of fun to jam out to, and is it just me, or does this song sound like it belongs in a teen movie soundtrack? Someone, please get on that ASAP!

4. TOPHILFREDDO - FAITH

tophillfreddo’s “Faith” is a great listen if you’re a fan of that psychedelic rap sound similar to the likes of Travis Scott, and Don Toliver, complete with trippy vocal mixing, and synth-heavy production. Throughout Faith, tophillfreddo delivers incredibly strong vocal performances that keep his melodic tendencies in focus amongst the bass-heavy beats supplied by the underrated producer fish, who I must say totally completes this project, as the two musicians compliment each other extremely well every single time they lock in together on a song. My favorite track off this project is “Angels” which is a track that just embodies every element previously mentioned and executes them perfectly to form an extremely killer vibe.