The Weekly Dip 1/27/23

We finally made it through the 1st month of 2023 you guys! Lots of gems popped up on our weekly Dip throughout January & we got a little bit more for y’all to close out this month!

Treylen feat Dru - HiPPiE Flow (Video)

The hood hippie, Treylen, is starting 2023 on the right foot by dropping another visual treatment off his & Denzel Stone collaborative EP, “3 for $1.69,” titled “Hippie Flow”. The record features Dru with Toby Aspects & Club Galleria behind the lens for the corner store scenery that shows tha Block Party emcee getting his treats just before being swallowed up by the city light for the nighttime activities. The record features Treylen pressing down on his lyrical work while Dru changes up the tempo on his flow that, when mixed together, it gives you a hit of that audio dope for you to kick back and high to.

WHYJAE - No Hook (Video)

Why Jae? Why do you have to constantly remind them how effortlessly better you are than they could ever be on the mic? Bro got bars for days, it’s so seamless to see how never ending his flow is. We all know that skill technically doesn’t matter in this day & age, everyone’s always screaming “content this” & “content that” but, for those of us who value the craft, the art of rhyme, it still very much does matter. That skill is the one thing that you can stand on firmly more than any of the other byproducts of this rap game & WHYJAE got that technical skill down to a T! After the mild flak he caught over one of the illest double entendres he’s ever spit on this record’s predecessor, he’s back once again to relentlessly unleash his usual onslaught of bars. We can sit here & break it all down for you or you can just constantly hit that rewind button on this one & do so yourself. Me personally, my favorite line out of this lyrical flexercise is those opening lines, that shit is too tough. Where all my debit card masters at!?

Meech Bold - HEAVENS GATES (Video)

Meech is so bold when it comes to his introspection. His vulnerability is that light glow illuminating the darkness in these abysmal visuals. This one is a far cry from his previous release & has me even more excited for what his upcoming record is about to showcase cause already, the versatility is present. It’s almost like he’s in the confession booth, pleading with God as to why he’s been forced to walk through as many storms of turmoil as he’s had to in this life. It’s an ominously daunting testimonial hearing him expressing his faith, praying that it never falters. Artists who wear their heart on their sleeve this much are such a rarity nowadays so for us to receive someone who’s such an open tome about his pain should be cherished wholeheartedly. Music like this pretty much speaks for itself, you just really gotta listen.

ALEXIS MUNROE - Burn (Video)

You may have known her as PRINCESSBRI & she released a lot of great music under that moniker but don’t think that just cause the name switch that that’ll suffer by any means, even with a heart wrenching debut single like this. I’m loving the resurgence of that real rock sound, raw lyrics & vocals, as well as the visuals, you can just feel the pain seething through her voice. It takes me back to a time when this is the music I was really listening to, almost reminiscent of bands like Flyleaf, if y’all remember them. It’s the way this person doesn’t care if she hurts that keeps her fire ignited unfortunately. She’s seemingly addicted to the pain as the two together create scorched earth. If this is how she’s starting off this rebranding then we’re in for one hell of a ride! 

Gwalla Boi Slim - Cross Tha Line (Video)

After the success of his freaky deaky heater “Creamy Cram’N”, Gwalla is back with another street edge R&B banger with “Cross Tha Line”. This record here got that mid 2000’s feel for sure, from the production to Gwalla baring his heart & soul to this girl who insists on playing games with him. I’m sure all the fellas can relate to the real spill he’s laying out for us here. Sure, we may love the girl but at the end of the day, if all she’s doing is affecting our mental then we gotta cut that bitch loose. He seems to be the one wanting to be more communicative in the relationship but she would much rather find any excuse possible to start an argument & frankly, he’s just sick of it. She may try to continue chasing his validation after the fact but he’s got these streets to run & it ain’t the streets she belongs to, that’s for damn sure.

Christine Renner - Drinking Coffee (Video)

You wouldn’t think with a title like this that this record would have a far more deeper meaning but I’m sure that Dr. Suess quote in the beginning will tell you otherwise. Christine dedicates this number to her family, despite the heartbreak surrounding her brother’s estrangement from the family. You can tell how dearly she misses him & worries about his safety out there alone in this cold, cold world, longing for the day he can hopefully accept her & the family’s warm embraces & maybe enjoy a nice cup of that hot brew. Although she’s had many experiences in her past that could’ve hardened her heart, hers remains a glass one, as fragile as can be. Too many people allow themselves to become bitter because of their past but with this record here, she’s asking you to please learn to embrace it, all of it, the good, the bad & the ugly fore that is what makes you, you. 

ParkMall - Into My Dreams (Video)

You gotta love that Lo-Fi Hip Hop, those dusty loops & obscure samples coupled with these abstract raps. ParkMall is just the latest in this subgenre to bless us with this style. He ain’t going out the way people wish he would, he’s marching to the beat of his own drum, even with no drums! There’s a lot of self reflection on this number here, as he’s stuck in his head, pulling out all the thoughts that have clearly been clouding it for quite some time. It starts out with color but the more he reflects upon this life of his, the more the color starts to fade out of it. His self awareness is present but with his skill, I’m certain he can continue to heal the things within him that need it.

Charwellz - Circles (Video)

I’m loving the introspection with these artists. Charwellz is just the latest to bless us with that. He raps at a high level but with the melodies & self reflection to match it. He don’t got time to be dealing with the envy that comes with him making a name for himself, he’d rather drown out that noise the same way he drowns out his sorrows. It’s a lot of smoke & mirrors in this life but if you keep it real with him then he’ll match that energy & the two of you can have an out of body experience, maybe even fly further than just the moon. Those final lyrics are what really stand out here though, so simple & direct. There’s just such a lack of communication going on, whether with the music or relationships, whatever it may be. We’ve been down these roads far too many times but it’s that familiarity that brings us a certain comfort, therefore we keep coming back to tread these paths. That’s why he’d rather just embark on this emotional musical journey alone, it’s easier that way.