Weekly Gems 1/17
With a new year starting and people having New Year's resolutions, I wanted to begin mine and help out others by putting them onto new music. Some people are tired of hearing the same track cycle and need a new song to listen to 20 times on repeat. With weekly gems, we can change that.
We’ll talk about at least five songs that caught our attention or a new song that has recently earned a spot in our rotation.
EvilJordan - Playboi Carti
Need I say more? The snippet was posted late last year and lingered in my mind incessantly. Experiencing the full song alongside the video was truly amazing and lived up to the hype. His rollout for the upcoming 2024 (we hope it'll be in 2024) album “Music” has been remarkable, with promo singles exclusively dropping on Instagram and YouTube, effectively boosting engagement on his spam account.
All-Star - OsamaSon
OsamaSon has been gaining significant traction lately, especially after the release of his long-awaited tape, Flexmusick. All-Star is currently making waves on TikTok and within the Underground scene. I highly recommend giving his new tape a listen, as he's poised to be in everyone’s ears soon. BALL LIKE AN MVP!
Third Coast - Teezo Touchdown
Teezo has been on an incredible rookie run. I've been a fan since around 2020, way before his major breakout feature with Tyler, the Creator on “RUNITUP.” It made me want to witness his success and see him at the pinnacle of his career today. Recently, Third Coast dropped the Deluxe Edition of his debut album How Do You Sleep At Night? He also collaborated on an editorial video with Apple Music, earning the title of Apple Music's Up Next Artist.
Featuring three beat switches, each infused with his signature Boom&B sound, the album showcases Teezo's versatility. Personally, my favorite has to be the third beat switch – I'd do anything to have it longer.
Decatur - Tana
Another snippet that I’ve been waiting to hear is “Decatur.” With the beautiful Zaytoven production and Tana’s experimenting with his voice to solidify a new sound for himself. The song could have been filled with another verse but I’m satisfied with what was given. Tana has a lot of potential to go beyond the underground and become “mainstream;” he just has to keep releasing projects on DSPs.
On The Radar Freestyle - BBYAfricka
I recently discovered a new artist while scrolling through Instagram. A freestyle on my feed caught my attention, and I was genuinely amazed. The beat was dark and uptempo, creating an insane vibe. The artist, BBYAfricka, showcased an incredible and unorthodox flow, delivering a Detroit style that was both offbeat (but not offbeat) and refreshing.
On the Radar, a rap show hosted by Gabe P, is where I first encountered BBYAfricka. Gabe brings in a diverse range of artists for freestyles and interviews, ranging from signed to unsigned, well-known to unknown. The show has featured the likes of Drake, Lil Yachty, and Ice Spice, along with breakthrough artists like Zeddywill with the viral hit “Cha Cha.”
BBYAfricka's performance in the freestyle segment was outstanding, prompting me to explore more of her work. With her unique style and impressive flow, she has the potential to make a significant impact and become a recognized name shortly.
Duofade - Leon Vynehall
A friend introduced me to this track with a DJ transition from another song I wasn't familiar with. However, as soon as this particular track started playing, it immediately caught my ear. The riser is like ear candy, and its beauty complements the bouncy drop. The song creates a perfect flow to get your body moving. Regrettably, I haven't delved into Leon's discography yet, but that's something I plan to do very soon.
I hope you guys check out and enjoy the songs I talked about and I’ll see ya next week!