Crank Laureate

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blackyouth 

NRG UP

I can’t peg blackyouth. Half prolific underground producer, part auto tune flexer, part Twitter vocalist, black youth carries a few hats. His production can never be questioned and his Soundcloud serves as a daily update on his progress and current niches. On NRG UP he meshes an airy light pad with reckless drums and a distorted delivery that keeps everything unique. The clash works. There’s always an alternative spin on his verses that makes them sound like long hooks so its an easy listen. Hopefully a project full of these is on the way.

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knight 

Bad Idea [snippet]

You know when you forget people exist and then you see them on Facebook and its like ‘Damn my mom lost hella weight!’? Thats what Soundcloud is becoming these days. knight is one of those guys who puts out quality tracks and just vanishes in thin air. I literally couldn't remember the last time I seen his name on my Dashboard but its a pleasant surprise. With all that said, he acknowledges this gap amongst other well-versed topics that have probably been on his mind since his 3rd hiatus. Over some sneaky production, knight gets a few points across and sounds excited to flex if not for only 1:36. So from here we just wait. 

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NAHJEA

Cuff No Thot [Prod. thankyoutakeoff]

I don’t know if its my love for Sasha Go Hard and Katie Got Bands but from the second I heard this, to the ratchet cover and Drill reminiscent backdrop, I knew this was a gem. But NAHJEA is a young a female lyricist with a few layers. Her Soundcloud ranges from auto-tuned love jams to post-OF suicide notes but on this particular gem she's no holds barred on her distaste for thots. Man hoes beware, she not with the shits. 

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GHOSTIE

Closing Time

Admittedly I clicked this hoping it would be a trapped out apocalyptic cover of “Closing Time” because you never really know with this Weirdclvn. GHOSTIE is a primary figure in this 11 deep squad of anti-everything rap nihilists. His first official full length Digital Ghost just dropped, and with a few days of digestion, I can add GHOSTIE to a small list of new favorites. Closing Time, the outro does a lot of what the project does best. It shines in the dark, with GHOSTIE’s voice maintaining a electric auto-tune flair the whole way through. The beats combust, gleam and rumble but its never hard on the ears. It combines his deep determination with a side of “fuck it, I”ll figure it out”. Who can’t relate. Don’t sleep. 

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Sleaz

On A Roll feat. Mitch [Prod. K.eYe.D]

Sleaz is the lowest low-key member of DC’s M.I.L.F crew. They make a pretty distinct brand of low-key, give no fucks, take no shit rap music and Sleaz’s latest full-length ‘Mista Nice Guy: I Got That Work In’ is the best affirmation of that. On A Roll is a personal favorite, a hazy one that finds Sleaz hitting melodic strides on a K.eYe.D cranker, sounding like your neighborhood pimp. Mitch shows up to blow some good kush and finesse a few folk, closing it out smoothly. 

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Rezt 

On Deck [Prod. Jett Dean]

Every since I’ve heard Rezt’s collab with Warhol, its been hard to skip through his songs. Consistency is key in this digital Wild West and Rezt gets that, releasing a steady stream of singles on his Soundcloud and others alike. The latest is a cash out banger from Jett Dean, whose responsible for some of Swaghollywood’s best jams. Rezt is in full flex mode, demanding money, power and respect amongst a few things he wants on deck. Bump his Gas Station project for a better taste of his sound.

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Drippin So Pretty - Muscle

Prod. blvckdolphn

I’m new to Dripping So Pretty’s discography, so I started with his newest work. Muscle is a highlight and intro to his latest ‘STILL BROKE OFF’ tape, an all out ode to flexing up. Drip maneuvers over the beat with finesse making it all sound pretty effortless. It’s an odd beat, with melodies that swell in and out and hi hats that frolic over a thundering bass but I can’t deny this one. 

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Crank Laureate

Everything is subjective.

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Yung Mojo

Make The Trap Rock (Prod. Forza)

Have you noticed Philly lately? I’ve noticed Philly lately. Five Finger Posse has been key in this, providing a dark wave of trap punk thats gotten the approval of wave makers SGP and the WOD collective alike. Yung Mojo is the resident trapper of Five Finger Posse and makes sure you knows he needs the bands. Every crew has a flexer, but his distinct dialect and tough demeanor makes his delivery a little more than flexing. Forza has not made a bad beat all year so of course with a title like this you expect a lot. The keys are sinister, the bounce is heavy and it doesn’t disappoint. 

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lil raven - my shorty (FAST)

We are stuck in the post-Broke Boi wave. It’s ok, it’s just rap. With rap trends comes millions of people trying it and few actually capturing the spirit of the trend. Lil Raven blends quirky beats with neat wordplay, something missing from a lot of this wave. I don’t wanna categorize him, this is probably just as much a wave to him as it is a quick swim to me. As long as people keep pushing it forward though, we can remember this place in time. When I look back, I’ll remember songs like this. 

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Zheep DZ

Sandlot [Prod. Sanchez]

Zheep is one of Baltimore’s best in my opinion. Hard delivery, stong lyricism, that Baltimore accent and a consistent stream of drops? You blink and you can miss one of his best bangers. This being one of them. Liberated from Frigidar Karats, fresh off his sick 20/20 tape, Sandlot is a straight up banger. Zheep gives you all block boy, straight off the stoop 3 to 4 deep ready to just fuckin get it. Sanchez’s backdrop is like black ice and Zheep literally just slides over it. Cop that physical copy of 20/20 if you a real one. 

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Chase Smith 

Anne Hathaway feat. Al Hostile [Prod. Chase Smith]

This Chase Smith kid is interesting. I only know his name from production credits across the Soundcloud sphere but this new single is refreshing. 800 mate Al Hostile’s melodic intro sets the tone for a schizophrenic palette of reverbed snares, militant drums and auto tuned pleads. Chase raps with an impressive ferocity for a new comer, nodding to Kanye and aiming to make a mark early. With a debut rap project coming, this could be a good look for him.

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Everything is subjective

Even the opinions here. Even your opinions on said opinions. Crank Laureate is here to fill the gap in your thoughtless feed of click bait music authorship. Expect big words and descriptive reviews from a thoroughbred mind adept at hearing beneath whats the substance. I also smoke mad weed so I may ramble. It’s all subjective.