Music
Rakim Applauds Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar, A Victory for Real Hip Hop
If “hip hop” had a face, it might just be Rakim. The legendary rapper, who revolutionized the genre in the 1980s and influenced icons like Nas, JAY-Z, and Kendrick Lamar, recently dropped a new album and shared his thoughts on the highly publicized Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar battle of 2024.
During his press tour, Rakim praised both Drake and Kendrick Lamar for their willingness to take on the challenge, risking their commercial success for the sake of the art. “A lot of people in that position won’t accept no challenge because they got too much to lose,” he told Billboard. “So, it was dope that these brothers put the mainstream success down and said, ‘Yeah, let’s do it.’”
Rakim acknowledged Drake’s prowess as an artist but emphasized that the battle highlighted a significant cultural divide in hip hop. He saw the clash as a showdown between mainstream and real hip hop, with the latter emerging victorious. “It showed the difference between real hip-hop and mainstream hip-hop,” Rakim stated. “Younger artists now know that there’s a difference.”
The rapper believes the battle helped redefine the genre, reminding artists that they can choose between different styles. “A lot of them didn’t understand that,” he explained. “They just listened to the majority, not knowing that people don’t categorize what they were hearing as real hip-hop.”
Rakim expressed newfound respect for both Drake and Kendrick Lamar, viewing their battle as a crucial moment for the genre. “The battle was very needed for the genre,” he said. “I tip my hat to them brothers. Let’s just hope that it stays to the music.”
Ultimately, Rakim’s admiration for both artists underscores his deep love for hip hop. While he’s always praised Kendrick Lamar, his recognition of Drake’s talent shows his commitment to the genre’s growth and evolution.
Artist Spotlight
The trapheaux gracefully glides over in new release “Marble Floors”
Trapheauxly’s latest release, “Marble Floors,” is a smooth, seductive single that combines clean, complex rap verses with melodic R&B. The song’s production, soulful vocal harmonies, and steady rhythmic pulse create a luxurious yet emotionally grounded atmosphere. All of these elements work together to create this atmosphere.
The most impressive aspect of it is the way it shifts from a catchy melodic hook to a rapid-fire delivery of the lyrics. One moment, “Marble Floors” is silky smooth, and the next, it is razor sharp. This contrast is what gives the musical its identity.
When it comes to lyrical concerns of intimacy, devotion, and elevated aesthetics, the image of marble floors appears, time and time again, as a symbol of elegance and emotional weight. Trapheauxly is a polished package that combines style, substance, and value that cannot be denied in terms of replay value.
Connect with Trapheauxly on Spotify || Instagram || Soundcloud
Artist Spotlight
NIHLNØTHING unleashes increased tides on new release “ocean” Power
NIHLNØTHING’s latest release, “Ocean” is a powerful, immersive single that defies classification as heavy music. The track sounds huge, punishing, and emotionally complex, as the title promises, drawing on post-metal, alternative metal, sludge, groove metal, metalcore, and deathcore.
A sense of depth makes “ocean” appealing. The song balances atmosphere and intensity like a violent current under calm waters. This track has towering sonic weight and textured melodic darkness, suggesting it can go from hypnotic tension to explosive release in a heartbeat.
Genre DNA enables NIHLNØTHING to create something expansive. It has sludge, groove, metalcore urgency, and a post-metal mood that’s probably more than aggression. NIHLNØTHING excels in contrasting crushing weight with atmosphere, chaos with control, and brutality with reflection. Balance distinguishes loud from powerful music.
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