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KXNG Crooked Names One Problem With New Albums
Not only has KXNG Crooked developed a reputation as one of hip-hop’s most esteemed and formidable lyricists, but he’s also become an excellent analyst of hip-hop culture. Frequently using his platform as a means of sparking rap discussions, Crook has dropped no shortage of gems worthy of further exploration. Today was one of those days, as Crooked took a moment to reflect on an interesting problem currently impacting the rap game in a major way — even if the long-term impacts aren’t necessarily seen quite yet.
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“Imagine the time and effort put into creating some of these albums that only get played for 7 days..if that,” writes Crook, a commentary on the admittedly short shelf life that many modern-day albums tend to have. On that note, it’s hard not to remember a time where DMX dropping two albums in the same year was a monumental accomplishment — now, it’s a borderline necessary tactic for rising artists hoping to stay relevant.
In the shadow of Spotify CEO Daniel Ek’s recent take suggesting that artists need to release music more frequently in order to stay afloat. “You can’t record music once every three to four years and think that’s going to be enough,” he stated. “The artists today that are making it realize that it’s about creating a continuous engagement with their fans. It is about putting the work in, about the storytelling around the album, and about keeping a continuous dialogue with your fans.”
Unsurprisingly, many musicians were displeased with Ek — not only for the seemingly dismissive tone, but because his mentality encourages the same outcome Crooked has raised to be problematic. Not that the music itself is lackluster, but that fans have become so conditioned to expect (and receive) new content all the time, that a given album seldom has time to properly sink in. What do you think — has replay value gone down in the average rap release?
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Kyle Ashen’s sun-drenched recollection with new release “That Local Girl”
Kyle Ashen’s latest release, “That Local Girl,” is a gorgeous trip down memory lane, a country single that explores that golden glow of memory, like flipping through old photographs touched by salt air and summer sunlight. It’s warm, cinematic, and deeply relatable, a song about the kind of love story that never quite goes away, even as time moves on.
“That Local Girl” is filled with imagery that quickly takes the listener into a world they can walk right into. You got a blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl on a boardwalk street by the ocean, a souped-up truck driving through town, neon lights reflecting off the ocean breeze, and the electric innocence of young love burning in the background.
But under all that cutesy trapping is something more than that, longing. Some people, some places that leave permanent marks on Kyle Ashen and us know that. What’s so brilliant about this song is that it marries those two ideas, making love and hometown memory feel beautifully inseparable. Sometimes you miss a person. And with that person, you miss an entire version of life. “That Local Girl” is more than a country love song from Kyle Ashen. He is a living postcard from the past, sun-faded, bittersweet, and glowing with feeling. A reminder that summers pass by, but some memories stay with us forever.
Connect with Kyle Ashen on Spotify || Instagram || Facebook || Youtube
Artist Spotlight
ECHOFLIP inspires faith and fire with triumphant anthem on “Kingdom Rise”
ECHOFLIP marches forward with commanding purpose on “Kingdom Rise,” a single that not only demands attention but also commands it. Driven by pounding drums, soaring melodic textures, and full-conviction lyricism, the song arrives like a battle cry with the heart of worship. Bold and energized and spiritually charged from beginning to end.
“Kingdom Rise” is street realism meets kingdom vision at its heart. It’s got grit in its pulse but grace in its message as well. Each bar rings with resilience with ECHOFLIP, a record that embodies struggle, perseverance, and steadfast faith in the face of adversity. The result is music that is rooted in reality while reaching for something much larger.
What makes the single particularly compelling is how seamlessly it combines high-energy Christian trap with uplifting spiritual themes. The hard-hitting production has edge and urgency, and its faith-centered focus gives it soul. It’s motivational without being pushy. Worshipful without momentum loss, without losing authenticity. Ideal for trap gospel, inspirational rap, and urban playlists that aim to uplift as much as energize, “Kingdom Rise” delivers on all fronts. It moves the body, it sharpens the mind, it stirs the soul.
Connect with ECHOFLIP on Spotify
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