Jelani Kay is a rapper from Moreno Valley, California whose single “Millions” made its way to my inbox and I wanted to share some thoughts on it. I’m really not too big of a fan of west coast rap, maybe it’s because I’m from the east coast but sometimes I feel like it can become to region locked for my taste. That and I simply don’t hear it enough when I’m out and about and among my peers. The start and the hook of “Millions” are my favorite part of this record. I still have to get used to the flows but in a unique and quirky way actually, believe it fits. I haven’t really dug into more of his discography but after listening to this it has me wanting to dive into some more regional-focused west coast rappers at all levels. Stream Jelani Kay’s recent single “Millions” for yourself after the break.

B. Alvee is an artist that’s already had an interesting career path in becoming a rapper and that naturally already makes his experiences and life journey interesting to follow. B. Alvee started trying to join the army and trying to pursue a bachelor’s degree out of high school. Over time things like the passing of his cousin and even trying to pursue a degree in law is what came into his life before eventually starting his rap career. His new single “Real Money” similar to his life attacks real-life problems that go beyond the surface level and touches on inner struggles. When I first hit play on “Real Money for the first time I was expecting to hear something similar to Rod Wave but I was mistaken. This was more lyrical and less melodic, the tone and mood of the song were actually a lot more relaxed than I expected. I enjoyed B. Alvee’s flow for the most part, but I do believe that’s something that he can work on to improve as he continues to grow. Stream B. Alvee’s newest single “Real Money” for yourself after the break.

Fresh off the heels of his internet viral single “Spit In My Face”, ThxSoMch is back with his infectious follow-up record “Caroline.” I feel like the pressure for an immediate hit right after you dropped a big song can be massive and immense. I also believe it shouldn’t and doesn’t have to be, it’s really just a byproduct of the expectations of us fans. I believe ThxSoMch delivered a strong follow-up with this new record and it’s something his core fans will love and casual listeners will grow to love over time. “Caroline” is more of a slow build of a record than “Spit In My Face” and I’m not mad about it at all. This single is a mellow track but carries an angsty tone and mood on track and the combination works really well surprisingly. As a fan of the upcoming rock scene, I think ThxSoMch will probably be one of the newcomers leading the charge in 2023 and I can’t wait to hear a full body of work from him. Stream ThxSoMch’s newest single “Caroline” for yourself after the break.

Carliane Tamera is an NYU student by way of Puerto Rico that’s made her first drop of the new year with her infectious single entitled “Kiss In Public.” What’s really wild to me is that Carliane didn’t even start taking music seriously until the pandemic hit in 2020. She also really didn’t start dropping a lot of music like that until towards the end of last year which was in the alternative pop space. With “Kiss In Public” takes on a drum and bass approach with a queer longing theme. Carliane stated via email that “in a lot of queer stories, there is a moment where you can’t really be in public with who you love because of society, family, or even how you feel about yourself; it’s about wishing you could love someone out loud and not being able to.”I think with a good enough push behind her movement 2023 could shape up to be special for Carliane. Stream and watch Carliane Tamera’s new single “Kiss In Public” for yourself after the break.

Lil Hudak is an artist based out of Cleveland, Ohio who recently released a single entitled “No Rest” back in December that’s been making some rounds in the underground. If you aren’t a fan of or appreciate the lane of sad and emo rap then this may not be up your alley. If you are into that soundscape then you’ll be in for a treat with “No Rest.” When this submission hit my email I read the synopsis on Lil Hudak and saw that he was inspired by artists like Juice Wrld and xxxtentacion and once I hit play it really all came together and made sense to me. This is an upbeat vibrant heartbreak single laced with vibey guitar riffs which are kind of the opposite of what the content of the song is about. Hudak goes on to talk about how he got over a toxic relationship and how he was able to move past it himself over time. Stream Lil Hudak’s newest single “No Rest” featuring ramisnotfaded for yourself after the break.

Taylor Hall is a songbird based in Los Angeles, California by way of Indianapolis, Indiana. Today she’s making an appearance on the Lyrical pages with her newest EP ‘Happy That It Happened’  which was released this past fall. In her biography on Spotify Taylor’s music is described as radiantly colorful, charming, and charismatic and with this 15-minute project I believe she embodies all of those and more. Taylor can put her songwriting ability on display as she constructs an audible love story filled with emotions, thoughts, and feelings the listener can relate to. One thing that stands out with this project for me is that you can jump from track to track and each way differs from the last. I think this is really tough to do that well in music today while making a cohesive body of work but Taylor accomplishes that. Stream Taylor Hall’s EP ‘Happy That It Happened’ for yourself after the break.

“Homesick” is Love Ghost’s 17th single of 2022, but this one, in particular, will definitely hit home for many listeners.  The Mike “Se7en” Summers produced track deals with loneliness, addiction, and mental health struggles, as well as the desire to escape from them all.  The song’s lyrical content comes mainly from the experiences of the band’s lead vocalist and guitarist Finnegan Bell. “I was really sad and depressed when I wrote it,” said Bell. “I’m at war with invisible barriers in my head and as a coping mechanism, I withdraw into my inner nothingness.”Bell, who has been making music professionally for the last two years, credits both his bandmates and his producer Mike Summers with helping bring his vision to life.“Mike Summers wrote the instrumentation and really pushed me to come up with a raw and interesting lyrical concept,” Bell explained.  “I came in with some lyrics and the other members of the band helped me to realize my full vision lyrically.”The band plans on continuing its prolific run of releases with two EPs that are scheduled to be released in December and January.  They are currently in the process of creating visuals for their upcoming projects and are working …

Brooklyn’s own Rockstar Payso has been dropping some consistent heat for a while now, and his latest single “End – Begin” is sure to turn some heads.  The track, which is his first release since July, is produced by Roy Lenzo, the Grammy-nominated producer who is known for his work with Lil Nas X and Kid Cudi.  According to the artist, he wrote the record about the lifestyle he has found himself in recently.“The inspiration behind this song came from constantly partying and being around people,” said Rockstar Payso.  “But still somehow feeling alone and empty but using drugs and alcohol to fill the void.”The track itself strays from a typical Brooklyn drill, with Payso’s melodic delivery flowing smoothly over a slow and dark instrumental.  It’s a new take on the sound you expect to hear from Brooklyn MCs, but that’s what sets Rockstar Payso apart from the rest. As for his next moves, he plans on releasing a long-awaited debut album and also hopes to begin touring soon.  If you’re looking for an up-and-coming New York rapper who is going in a different direction than the typical regional sound, then you need to get in tune with Rockstar Payso. …