SINGLE REVIEW: The Weekend by IAmOaks

http://www.iamoaks.com

IAmOaks is a hip hop/RnB artist hailing from New York City. His previous releases include the singles Boom, Undaunted, Kickin It and Trap Goals (feat. Kridakal). His music is essentially a laid back form of hip hop with RnB elements, vocally delivered with his own unique style that lies halfway between rapping and singing.

This track, The Weekend, is a chilled hip hop track featuring the vocals of Tamara Nekola. It starts out with a brief spoken word intro before a languid but infectious hip hop beat kicks in. IAmOaks delivers the verse in an assured and relaxed style, with a natural talent for eloquent and free flowing rhymes.

His strong self belief shines through in the lyrics: “Confident…took my ego and polished it”. However he cleverly undercuts this with the instantly memorable sung chorus: “These times that I feel so good, only on the weekend, only for the weekend….”.

It’s a sentiment that most people will be able to relate to and will connect with quickly. The second verse maintains the high lyrical quality of the first, with some entertaining lines: “I’m like a diamond in the rough or you can call me Nemo…”. Besides the slinky beat, the track is nicely grooves along by the subtle but effective bassline and given a nice sonic shimmer by the synths in the background.

Overall, this is a fine hip hop/RnB track by a charismatic artist with his own natural style. The Weekend has that killer combination of a great hook with a relatable message and the summery vibe to the sound means it’s the perfect time of year to release it. I expect this track to exponentially expand the fan base for IAmOaks and bring him to a deservedly wider audience.

 

VERDICT = 8.7 out of 10

Alex Faulkner

 

 

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SINGLE REVIEW: Body Talk by JayQ

JayQ is a singer, songwriter and rapper in the hip hop/RnB/dancehall genres and hails from New Orleans. He has been involved in music from an early age, honing his singing and performance skills while participating in his local church choir. Since then he has developed his own music and on his debut EP, JayQ 4U, he has collaborated with the Grammy award winning hit maker SOK07 (who wrote Drunk In Love by Beyoncé ft. Jay Z). He has also collaborated with the up and coming OBA.

This release, Body Talk, is his major release for the summer and it’s a slinky RnB/dancehall track with a decidedly sensual vibe. Starting out with a simple but effective synth melody, JayQ enters with sparse handclaps, which soon develops into a seductive beat that will lure people to the dance floor. Similarly, the arrangement is cleverly built up with subtle layers of synth and percussion brought in gradually.

JayQ has a naturally assured and relaxed style on the mic, with a distinctive style and artistic persona. The vocal melody is very influenced by dancehall and reggae and delivered with panache. The catchy “Talk to me, babe” hook quickly sticks in your mind.

Lyrically, it depicts a situation that many will relate to, about chasing after a woman who is playing hard to get but has a strong physical allure. This game of cat and mouse is captured in edgy, entertaining lines like, “You give me the cold shoulder when I try to get intimate…I’m like the Pentagon baby, I don’t negotiate with terrorists….”.

Overall, this is a perfect RnB/dancehall track for the summer by a naturally gifted up and coming artist. Designed for the dance floor but equally radio friendly (except for some suggestive lyrics, perhaps), this should help to put JayQ on the musical map and garner a wave of fans in the process. With further strong material in the future, he may find himself being hailed as the new Drake.

 

VERDICT = 8.8 out of 10

Alex Faulkner

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SINGLE REVIEW: Two Hands by DreamState

 

https://www.facebook.com/itsdreamstate1/

DreamState are a music group based in Maryland, consisting of Josh Hilson, Tyler Gagnon and Kyle Santos. The three members have diverse musical backgrounds ranging from country to hip hop and R&B, and they have fused these elements to create their unique sound that lies between R&B, pop and electronica. The genesis of this musical project led to the formation of their own music studio, DreamLabs and the group have now released their debut EP, Take Care.

This track, Two Hands, is taken from the Take Care EP and is essentially anthemic R&B/pop with cutting edge production. Starting with a brief intro, the track launches into a simple but effective 2/4 groove before we hear strong male lead vocals in a low register over sparse but evocative layers of synth. After a well crafted verse it launches into an instantly memorable chorus with touching lyrics: “Let me put two hands on you, baby and I will be careful with you….no, you’ve got nothing left to prove so I’ll show you what to do….”.

As the track progresses, you start to hear elements from other genres incorporated into the music such as the subtle lead electric guitar lines that are interspersed through the song. This lends another colour to the sonic palette and enriches the overall sound. Lyrically, its a sincere expression of wanting to love and care for someone, with a depth and subtlety expressed that transcends cliché and sentimentality.

Overall, this is an excellent release that showcases the DreamState signature style which should find huge popularity with fans of artists like Drake and The Weeknd. They show a real skill for well crafted songwriting and memorable hooks, made manifest with first rate lead vocals and slick, commercial production that manages to sound different from the rest of the R&B/pop scene. With this, DreamState have already proven that they have huge commercial potential and Two Hands could well be their breakthrough track.

 

VERDICT = 8.8 out of 10

 

Alex Faulkner

 

SINGLE REVIEW: Mama Left Me by Pologang DB

Pologang DB is an American hip-hop artist and one fifth of the acclaimed rap group PoloGang. This group is made up of multiple independent rappers, releasing music together under separate aliases. As a group they have already received great acclaim, featuring in a top ten list in famous music publication Complex, alongside Gucci Mane who has been one of DB’s major influences. Originally from Toledo, Ohio, DB’s debut music video for Get a Roll (ft. Nick Kane) got a lot of traction online. He cites influences such as Lil Wayne and Drake on his infectious, storytelling rapping style.

This track, Mama Left Me, is a perfect example of that style. It’s a searing, hugely  honest and poignant depiction of having to be raised by his father due to his mother’s drug related issues. Musically, it fuses soul/RnB with hip-hop, a mid-paced intricate beat providing the platform for DB to lay down his rhymes. His rapping style is distinctive, with an incredibly fluent and fast lyrical delivery.

On the first verse it depicts a moving story of his father working hard to support them, then DB finding out the harsh reality: “When I was a teen I found out the real…see my Mama chose crack instead of life with her kids….”. In the second verse, the poignancy ramps up another notch as he finds out he has a sister he didn’t know about: “I got a sister that I just met, for real…so Caitlyn you gotta forgive her but she never will….how many other siblings we got that never lived?“.

DB is also brutally honest about the emotional issues that his childhood has left him with: “Sometimes I think I ain’t able to love, I play some bitches cos I’m scared to let emotions out, cos if my Mama played me what is you capable of?“. There’s an understandable feeling of anger and bitterness to some of the final lines of the track: “Hey, when I make it don’t you call, cos you don’t deserve shit…I remember that you left me…”.

Overall, this is a highly emotive and powerful hip-hop track by a massively talented rapper who has the courage to wear his heart on his sleeve. His fiercely honest, ‘for real’ approach combined with finely honed skills as an emcee means that just one listen to Mama Left Me will make a big impact on anyone with an ounce of soul. Like the best rappers, his innate self-belief also shines through, and if there’s any justice in the music industry Pologang DB should be a dead cert for success. Mama Left Me should be a big stepping stone towards that.

 

VERDICT = 9 out of 10

Alex Faulkner

 

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SINGLE REVIEW: Hit It Then I Quit by Pascal Stadelmann ft. Fabian Beerli

Pascal Stadelmann is a 19 year old RnB/hip hop/EDM artist. In 2018, he has already released several singles across an eclectic range of genres including house (E-Waves and Heaven), dubstep (It’s Hard), and hip hop/rap (TypeBeats and Squeezing). This ability to write in different styles has already proven his artistic versatility, all the more impressive for his young age. However, he’s now decided to concentrate on RnB and hip hop.

This track, Hit It Then I Quit, is an RnB/hip hop track also featuring Fabian Beerli. It begins with a simple but effective chord progression on piano which is interweaved with a synth melody throughout. The vocals enter quickly, immediately grabbing the listener with both the smooth, distinctive voice and irresistible vocal melody. The beat is sparse but grooves the track along and, most importantly, allows the vocal hooks to take the spotlight and truly shine.

Lyrically, it’s a confident expression of prowess with the ladies and a casual approach: “Wake up in the morning, catch a fly….”. The chorus varies the vocal melody of the verse by becoming more rhythmic and allowing more space between words. This contrast is highly effective and the main hook latches in the mind very quickly. I soon found myself humming it which is always a good omen, commercially speaking.

Overall, this is a slinky and deceptively catchy RnB/hip hop fusion that will work both on the radio and the dancefloor in the clubs. Pascal Stadelmann is clearly advanced for his age as an artist, and Hit It Then I Quit makes a strong case for his musical credentials. With slick modern-sounding production and easy-on-the-ear vocals, it has everything necessary to kick down the door to commercial success.

 

VERDICT = 8.7 out of 10

Alex Faulkner

SINGLE REVIEW: The Meditation by ReachingNOVA ft. Amnel Holguin

 

ReachingNOVA is a hip hop artist hailing from the Bronx, New York. His style of hip hop is to combine the melodic sound of contemporary rap with the hard hitting lyrical approach of the era he refers to as the “Golden Age” of hip hop. He cites legends like Biggie Smalls and more modern stars like Kanye West and Drake as influences. He has so far released two albums, both in 2017, It’s About Time and It Was What It Was. These were met with a very positive response and his fanbase has grown exponentially.

This track, The Meditation, features the vocal talents of Amnel Holguin. It’s a laid back, highly philosophical and reflective track that features some deep, soul searching lyrics. It’s a refreshing contrast to the bling culture brand of hip hop and ReachingNOVA has a distinctive rapping style that’s clear and authoritative.

The lyrics are full of wisdom borne of experience: “Same mistakes bring the same lessons…”. Rather than glamorizing youth and beauty like many hip hop artists, he instead chooses to celebrate what we can learn from our elders: “Grandma had raised me up on her wisdom…” Amnel’s smooth as honey vocals are the perfect counterpoint to ReachingNOVA’s spoken word delivery on the powerful and memorable chorus, and they combine in tandem at certain points to great effect.

Overall, this is a highly intelligent and mature track from a hip hop artist who is using his art to pass on the wisdom that it’s the spiritual qualities in a person that truly matter. Amnel Holguin puts in a fantastic vocal performance that raises the bar even higher, and the production quality is flawless. The Meditation definitely deserves to make a strong impact on the hip hop scene as ReachingNOVA is an artist with something important to say.

 

 

VERDICT: 8.9 out of 10 

Alex Faulkner

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SINGLE REVIEW: Promise For Keeps by Matthew Schultz

https://www.facebook.com/matthewbschultz/

Matthew Schultz is an artist with an interesting background in the entertainment industry, having been involved in it since his teen years. He’s a multi-instrumentalist, producer, singer and performer who started out playing guitar in Chris Daughtry’s first band. He’s also diversified into acting, cast for a role in The Dark Knight Rises as well as roles in the award-winning short film Redemptio and comedy 10 Rules For Sleeping Around, amongst others.

He has already made a strong impact on the music industry with his previous releases. His first single, Money or Me, was produced by Armando Guarnera and earned him a nomination at the 2013 EOTM Awards, as well as one for best new male artist. He followed this up with Crazy Heart (ft. Alessia Guarnera) in 2014, then in 2015 he released We Own The Night (feat. Jim Jones). Last year saw a house remix of this track by Follow The Moon gain considerable popularity. These releases were all widely acclaimed and he has accumulated a huge following on Facebook and Twitter in the process.

His latest single, Promise For Keeps, sees him return to the fray in some style. Musically, it is has its finger on the pulse, blending elements of EDM and Major Lazer-esque dancehall to create a fresh sounding, cutting edge pop track. The theme is highly romantic, with the protagonist pondering the idea of long-term commitment to the new love in his life: “I love that I’m close to you, so much love to show to you, I hope I’m not thinking too far ahead….”.

It starts with just vocals and synths, gradually building with light percussion up to the first chorus, which is instantly memorable the first time you hear it. In the second verse a four-to-the-floor beat kicks in and the track starts to really groove. This incrementally structured arrangement means there is frequency something new entering the mix and so doesn’t get old after repeated listens, there is always something drawing the listener in. After the track has built up to a full beat, there’s a drop down section which works well dynamically, making the last choruses more effective.

There are several hooks that deployed throughout the song that make it super catchy, such as the romantic “I’ll take you far from here…”, “Let’s plant a seed for love to grow” and the philosophical “You reap what you sow and you sow what you reap“. The laid back tempo is reminiscent of Drake’s monster hit One Dance, and you can imagine this track going down equally well in a nightclub.

Overall, Matthew Schultz has come up with a first rate piece of modern pop that effortlessly blends several genres and styles, which will work equally well on the radio and the dancefloor. It’s a song that will fit in perfectly in the current musical landscape of Taylor Swift, Drake and Justin Bieber, with mainstream pop the place where the innovations are being made. In short, it has massive hit written all over it. With an army of fans awaiting new material, he will undoubtedly make many new ones with this single, and 2018 could find him taking his success to a new level.

 

VERDICT: 9.1 out of 10

Alex Faulkner