Summer’s on the way, and we’re about to turn up. Just watch.
Welcome back to another edition of “Songs of the Week”. It’s finally May, as school comes to a close and summer makes its way on the horizon, I’m excited to share with you music that will shape the sound of the summer. These picks are suited for a nice summer’s evening. I hope you enjoy these as much as I do.
454 & Pig the Gemini – “Beretta”
This Floridian brother-sister duo flex their elite chemistry on this BNYX produced track. Driven by a whistle lead layered on top of ethereal padding, 454 proceeds to rap his ass off in his signature pitched up fashion, reflecting on his upbringing and the life he lives now. Pig The Gemini follows right after, carrying on the same range of topics as her brother. These two play off each other well, a musical yin and yang if you will.
Lunchbox – “Shady”
Lunchbox returns with new and exciting flows on his most recent release, L.B. Cooper. The Harlem native unleashes thrilling auto-tuned flows on “Shady”, the third track. This song is pulsating, as a sine melody carries the main melody that’s backed by a heavy 808 and silky hi-hat rolls that ring in your ear. Lunch’s confidence is out of this world, you can’t tell him shit at all. He’s over the moon, living the fast life with no way of slowing down. This “new jazz” style he developed is easily some of the most creative soundscapes that is being offered right now, it’s best to catch this wave now before you drown in it later.
Niontay – “So lovely”
Niontay’s newest release Fadaᐸ3of$ is a pack-a-punch of different styles that takes you into his world, giving you glimpses of where he’s at as a rapper. The Milwaukee born, Florida raised mumbler commands the presence of your ears throughout, using his southern drawl as a tool to leverage his voice as part of the beat. On “So lovely”, he sings passionately about a lover, proclaiming his love for them over a sample driven beat. It’s lush, intimate and an example of what true love sounds like.
1300SAINT – “Shut Up (feat. Young Thug & SahBabii)”
The new Atlanta is in full swing with 1300SAINT, the recently signed Young Stoner Life artist seemingly leading the pack. While I’m not fully familiar with all of his work, he appears as an exciting new voice in this recent wave of internet cosplayers rappers. On “Shut Up”, he travels back to 2017, inserting himself and his warbled vocal techniques in between a young and timid SahBabii and a then eclectic Young Thug, who were serving their own unique styles to the hip-hop world. A dreamy song produced by CashMoneyAP, it’s a staple piece of an era of our youth that we still continue to reminisce about.
skaiwater – “use me”
I feel like nobody is really highlighting this run that skaiwater is on right now. After releasing their 2024 breakout #gigi, they’ve completely commanded the presence of hip-hop’s alternative scene this year with #mia and its follow up pinkPrint and pinkPrint 2. skaiwater’s unique blend of hip-hop and R&B is an artistic statement. They push boundaries not only musically but aesthetically, as they are non-binary and express themselves through a mix of masculine and feminine looks and styles. On “use me”, they delve into issues about infidelity, competing with other partners for their loyalty through sex. The song is driven by a sample of Sabrina Carpenter’s “Taste”, perfectly fit since it’s about being a side piece, that perfectly seeps its way in during the bridge after skai’s verse.