#151 - indie tribe., Mike Teezy, tylerhateslife, & More...
NRT's CHH contributor Joshua Galla collects what's new in Christian Hip-Hop and Urban Soul for the week of Friday, August 4, 2023. (Photo: indie tribe.)
Each week, dozens of singles and a handful of projects are released in the Christian Hip-Hop (CHH) and Urban Soul spaces. Below, we listen to a few highlights and list the rest for your own discovery. As always, follow our New Christian Rap & Hip Hop playlist on Spotify and Apple Music to listen to all the latest.
L O W B L O W by indie tribe. The indie tribe. collective out of Tennessee returns two years later with the follow-up project to their debut U P P E R H A N D. Jon Keith and DJ Mykael V joined the OG's nobigdyl. and Mogli the Iceburg. Back then, the band of brothers was just getting to know each other and each other's artistic talents. This time around, things feel much more refined. Things feel and sound like family. You can hear that these four have been through some stuff together. The level of transparency throughout is unheard of; next level. The same is true for the production throughout. The soundscape almost stands out beyond the combined lyricism. With vibes of boom-bap, live instrumentation, an array of 101 sound samples, and wordplay out of this world - combined it's an easy candidate for album of the year (AOTY).
My favorite tracks that stand out above others are "ACT," "DON'T SHOOT THE MESSENGER," and "TRIBAL COUNCIL II." Listeners are treated to Keith's vocalist abilities, Mogli's rapping dominance, and seeing every artist stretch across talents and rise above champions across all platforms. I didn't think their debut album in 2021 could be topped, yet I was wrong in every manner. Reach Records isn't the only collection of CHH artists atop the peak, as the tribe. is game ready to play "king of the hill." Stream L O W B L O W on Spotify here.
Mike Teezy - "Worship" Raised in North Carolina, Mike Teezy does a little bit of everything (similar to his latest single). Teezy is a singer, songwriter, rapper, director, dancer, and master of nearly all things music-related. A state of busyness is an understatement, as he's dropped a dozen singles, several feature verses, an album as well as featured on Reach Records' Summer Twenty-Three playlist.
Worship is a single close to perfection exhibiting most hip-hop elements such as a beat switch, a sample used, various instrumentation, and rapid-fire content cementing Teezy's lyrical abilities. Like most "hip-hop heads", I go crazy for a beat switch midtrack when tastefully done. One of my favorite lines from the track is where he says, "I had to back up because I was too attached to my ego / I don't write no more, I let it free flow." Stream "Worship" on Spotify and Apple Music.
tylerhateslife - "leave it to beaver." Full-time musician, yet loyal to his Army Reserves obligations; tylerhateslife is unique as one of the few remaining pure artist. He dabbles in just about every genre ranging from hip-hop, jazz, rock, and now country. Pegged as his first country single, "leave it to beaver." crosses multiple genre lines too. Listeners are treated to his singing, soulful abilities in-between solid bars delivered one after another. I love the repetitive banjo strumming as the main instrumentation used throughout. The concept of the track relates to a past relationship, a particular female called out as a homewrecker, a "beaver." Stream "leave it to beaver." on Spotify and Apple Music.
DJ Mykael V x 350 x Scootie Wop x Not Klyde - "LOWKEY!"
Samuel ASH x Alexxander x Tommy Royale - "De Camino"
Mali Music - "True Love"
Roy Tosh x Kurtis Hoppie - "Giants"
Sareem Poems x Terem – “What Up?”
Tylynn – “It Is Well”
Mitch Darrell x outr.cty - "H8ERS"
Sansone - "Never Letting Go"
Kemvr x Parris Chariz x Silver Steph – “Postal”
PRESTXN - "Chronic"
Beacon Light x Silverberg – “Battle Me”
GRAHAM – “write me in”
Jeremiah Paltan – “Only Jesus”
Angeloh – “God When”
Donutello x Kidd Lee – “Safe N Sound”
Cyrus Sonata x QEW - "Took A Trip"
Solachi Voz – “MUZZLE CAR” (YouTube Exclusive)
Nu Tone feat. V.Rose – “Wait on Me”
Zae Ortiz feat. Curtis K - "Jiminy Crickets"
adamariz feat. callemjj – “LEVANTARA”
Wingy Danejah x Toyalove x Childlike Cici – “Everybody Dance”
God’s Music x Alcott x DJLC x Jack Tyler – “Come Back”
Shirlvin Desir x Christ United Music x RVIVXL x Swaggy Jay – “FAKE WRLD”
WYSEMEN x Kajmir Kwest x Survivor Q x Classmaticc - "Make Sense"
BrodieDaVinci feat. PEEDY CASE - "Codefendents"
Byron Rhodes - "Dios Te Bendiga"
Pacaso Ramirez – “Juggernaut” (Maxi Single)
Maranda Curtis – “Let Him In”
HYLEM x Joseph Goulding - "PICK A SIDE"
John Michael Howell – “Little Bit of Love”
Joseph Muniz x Ilish – “Agua Viva”
Austin White 711 x Jai Lynn – “Living Water”
Zachary Heider – “PRAYERS!”
Dre Beeze da Godson – “ACTIVE”
Kushim - "The Basement"
Noexcuse - "YEEN KNOW"
Trulah feat. Madison Ryann Ward - "Till It Kills Me"
Render Music feat. Diamone - "Come"
Phontera x A.Mose x Echow Clay - "Show Me"
Sam Jamz – “Intoxicate Me”
Isaac Mather - "Paranoia"
Titus Haskins x Abstract – “Nikon"
Joshua Galla is an audiophile hyped about all forms of art in music, but his passion rests behind CHH and soulful vibes. He's a devout husband, father, and child of God. Concerts are his happy place.
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