The Weekly Dip 2/3/23

We’re back with our 1st dip of the month & let me tell you, while most of these records don’t revolve around love themselves, in order to get music this good, we know full well the artists loved creating them for us so shall we!?

Armani Caesar - Survival Of The Littest (Video)

One of the sharpest joints off her 2022 album “The Liz 2” gets the visual treatment this week as Armani Caesar rocks and shocks the crowd of real hip-hop listeners while the frail rappers and haters are on the sidelines as she showcases who the “Survival Of The Littest” is. Designer bags with overextended clips; if you think about doing some funny shit, one minute she’s ladylike with the stilettos, wearing something fly glammed up, then if you think about testing her, she becomes the female version of Nino Brown taking over the whole block scaring these male rappers back into submission. Armani is lyrically vicious when she wants to be, and in the viewing, she bursts an entire depth of energy in sharing why she’s the baddest and bossiest of them all when it comes to the rap shit. Don’t you dare approach her when she’s in a wardrobe more expensive than your housing lifestyle; just shut up and show her the respect she deserves.

Maya Sampleton - Promise (Video)

Right at the buzzer before the weekend begins, I came across the latest release from songstress Maya Sampleton titled “Promise.” The angelic vibrato from Maya got me hooked to the viewing, then hearing her spill her heart in wanting a promise from the person she’s seeking love from by having them keep their word of honesty that she’s the only girl in their life. She’s been hurt before, which is why it’s dire for her to know right at the start; she doesn’t want to make the same mistakes, so please be truthful. The passion in her tone, mixed with the melodic cadence in her vocals, shows just how much it means to be direct with her; she doesn’t know if her heart can take another loss. Maya has been on the other side of deceitfulness and doesn’t want to relive it again. You’ll miss her & her love in its entirety if you’re not faithful to your word, don’t lose her trust, or better yet, don’t lose her at all.

San Joseph - This City Sucks (Visualizer)

If you’re not familiar with San Joseph then fret not, you can start anywhere in his discography thus far & instantly become a fan. However, if this is your first time with him then what a high note you’re starting with. He’s one of the more earnest voices I’ve heard come out of the alternative pop world & his lyricism is unlike most. These lyrics he’s woven together on this little number will surely tug at your heartstrings, so much so that you’ll be yearning to move far away from your city. Sometimes it’s not the city as a whole, it’s just the people you surround yourself with or sometimes, it is & you’re just so used to the same old frivolous activities you maybe once enjoyed but now have this looming sense of bland mundanity attached to them. Regardless, this is a beautiful ode to wanting to start anew. Also, can we just let artists shoot their videos, what’s the big deal? This visualizer loop is still great though!

Izzy93 - Luka Doncic (Video)

Izzy skills as an MC have been growing rapidly with each release. I’m pretty sure before we even have time to break down his seemingly never ending bars that he’ll have dropped another heater on us. The Luka Doncic of the rap game, just straight stuntin’ on them but never lyrically stunted, no sir, this man don’t miss a step & with the ball in his court, it’s like each line is dunking on the so called competition. It’s his raspy, lean laced nonchalant menace that really dominates these beat choices of his. He’s truly a work horse in this game, a tour de force of bravado & belligerence to be reckoned with & with him choosing to remain this consistent, he’s certainly about to crash into more than just instrumentals. He’s about to be crashing through the industry just cause.

Hellcat! - ALLTHESAME (Video)

Anyone in need of some raw talent from out the underground shall look no further than HellCat! The 210 spitter has crafted a unique sound all her own with her solo work & with her latest “ALLTHESAME”, she shows no signs of compromising who she is for anyone or anything. Even with all the success she’s attained, it’s still evident that it was never about that for her, she’s more concerned with the journey rather than the destination. It wasn’t easy for her to get to this juncture in her career as she reminisces on the come up but with skin tougher than leather, it’s evident that she was cut out to handle the hardships this business has to offer. Overall, it’s a Lo-Fi, smooth number that showcases how effortlessly her lyrical skills flow while also keeping a sense of mystique around her character throughout the visuals.

Kayyroe - LMK (Video)

What’s that? Kayyroe Da Don is back to mollywhop us with a reminder of how much we possibly slept on music of hers from 2021? If you recall, she released a few singles around this time & “LMK” was one of them, a subtle banger that I felt flew a bit under the radar but with these new futuristic visuals to accompany the smash single, it’s surely to regain some more traction. Here we get to see many different sides of her, from her lyrical prowess to her vocal work, she can be both a beast & soothe you with her sultry serenading. A lot of men aren’t ready to handle someone as blunt as she is, the way she aggressively tackles this beat. Whoever she was speaking to in that 2nd verse is surely one sorry sap for dropping the ball on a baddie like her. If you can’t handle this heat she’s bringing then get your ass out the kitchen. Matter of fact, go back in there & wash the dishes!

HOODLUM - SOMETHIN 2 SAY (Video)

HOODLUM, ACE & BIG TEX JOHNNY are never not a triple threat, a witches cauldron of lean laced lyrical lullabies of morose menace. Anybody who’s been following HOODLUM knows that he only continues to be a portentous cloud of marijuana smoke looming over the industry, suffocating any who can’t handle the heat he brings, shattering any notion to him being all smoke & mirrors. In an industry chock full of fugaziness, it’s been clear that he’s as real as they come. The lighting in the 1st part really puts an emphasis on his mystique, he’s like a damn poltergeist whenever he speaks to us through this heavy hitters. It’s great to see that footage of him performing live for the people. You wouldn’t expect it to look as lively as it is being that his music is as nonchalant as it is but he tore down those stages he was called to outside of his hometown & in the 2nd part to this video, with the beat switch up & all, it’s evident that he’s having the time of his life with all this newfound success!

Awkward Lowlife - Crash! (Video)

Another vulnerable number from Awk Low & certainly a new fan favorite of those part of the Kult! Anybody who knows Awk, knows that he’s never one to slow down, not even for himself, he can’t help but be on go at all times, like he’s hell bent for leather to escape his “blue” demons. Awk has never shied away from his struggles with substance abuse & while he’s not necessarily asking for your pity, he still is self aware enough to at least acknowledge his issues, even if at the end of the day, he still chooses to go down that path, it’s his choice to make after all. They don’t just call him Lowlife for nothing but with records like this, it’s evident that he’s much more than that. He’s still a human being at the end of the day, with real, raw emotions & touches on unique experiences that only very few of us can relate & empathize with so even if he winds up crashing, if his pain can prevent any member of his Kult to hit the brakes, then he’s gonna be as open as it gets. An instant classic in his ever growing catalog.