MUST LISTEN 060
Every week, we’ll be bringing you Must Listen: a series that's a compilation of rising artists along with songs that must be added to your everyday playlist. This week’s playlist consists of emerging acts like Haviah Mighty, Sam Ezeh, and Kezia. Turn on, tune in, and zone out.
On the one-year anniversary of last year’s Black Lives Matter movement, Haviah Mighty releases “Protest” as a reminder that the fight and the fear is ever-present. Not new to advocacy and action, the Polar Prize-winning sensation tackles police brutality and violence in the thought-provoking, drill-inspired song; rapping over a menacing beat accompanied with an equally powerful verse by the Grime scene’s young frontrunner, Yizzy.
Crowned the smoothest operator, Sam Ezeh returns with “Relay,” the second single off of his upcoming EP, Sapphire Alley releasing late September. His smooth as almond butter voice gliding over soulful, jazz-inspired production leaves you feeling lighter, yet takes you soaring through the clouds on a high that never seems to descend.
With his dizzying lyricism and impeccable wordplay, Marco Plus has been making undeniable waves in the enormous Atlanta rap realm. Post the release and success of his second album, SPARCO, the young rap star continues to prove his versatility and talent with songs like “20K,” where the braggadocious bars and clever rhyming schemes are limitless, and Marco Plus’ presence is inevitable.
After accumulating critical appraisal and a steady fanbase post the release of her very first EP, Habits, it’s clear the young R&B songstress is evidently here to stay for the long run. Despite the acclaimed production from KAYTRANADA to features with BEAM and Buddy, Maeta holds her own on tracks like “Habits,” and “Bitch Don’t Be Mad,” proving to be a force to reckon with in the ever-growing and competitive R&B space.
As a prominent voice of Detroit rap, Babyface Ray continues to deliver glossy, versatile bars over hard-hitting beats on his newest project, Unfuckwitable. In touch with his roots and culture like no other, songs like “A Million Cash Race” encapsulates the prolific rapper’s famous conversational flow as he narrates his come-up: “I’d be lying if I told you I ain’t grind for this shit.”
On “Maths,” K-Trap returns to his finest praxis: a sinister drill beat to rap equally addictive and ominous bars over. As one of UK Drill’s stand-out artists, K-Trap dons his infamous balaclava in the track’s music video alongside featured rapper DoRoad, as the two hypothetically and ironically ask the pretenders, “Tell me if you really do road? Tell me if you really do trap?”
The twenty-one-year-old Tanzanian-American multi-hyphenate releases claire, her debut EP, and a very first look into the colorfully warped world of Kezia. The project perfectly depicts Kezia’s versatility and tractability as it ranges from tracks like the soft and emotive-dreamy “PORTLAND” to the frisky and bouncy “south!” With this unique blend of sounds, it’s apparent the stagnant R&B sphere is moving to make space for transformative talent like Kezia.
LA-based singer/songwriter Frex returns with the sensually silky single, “Slide.” A connoisseur of incorporating elements of R&B and chillwave, the singer gracefully croons over the fluid production, her charm and aura exuding tranquility yet leaving you hypnotic.
2nd Generation Wu’s iNTeLL releases Computers for the Hood, a collaboration album with producer DLP featuring rap legends like Method Man and R.A. The Rugged Man. The expressive rapper expertly bridges the gap between old school and new school in songs like “Know The Gospel,” as he spits prophetic raps and skillful rhymes on refreshing yet strong production.