There are some of us dedicated to rummaging the inner regions of the web in search of that good alternative urban music and serving it directly to music lovers. This initiative is what we call "The Slice" at EARMILK. Every fortnight we share with you 10 or more ear-grabbing songs from genres ranging from hip-hop, grime, soul, Afrobeat/pop and dancehall. So let us do the digging for you while you sit back, relax to some brilliantly crafted music from around the globe.
If you dug what you hear, you can revisit our previous episodes of "The Slice" here.
Tré Yung – "Tap In"
Budding rapper Tré Yung aka Donnie Durag kickstarts this week's episode with a smooth banger titled "Tap In". Clocking just a few minutes short of the 2-minute mark, "Tap In" showcases Yung in his element as he details the things that matter to him using solid lyricism and fluid delivery. "Tap In" is the intro song to Tré Yung's sophomore album by Tré Yung aka Dark 'N' Sharp.
Shari Marie – "I Don't Want It"
Multi-talented Bronx bred R&B singer-songwriter Shari Marie makes it known that she doesn't have time for haters and naysayers on her new song/video titled "I Don't Want It". The trap-infused R&B song shows Marie's gutsy demeanor and alluring melodies as she flips the bird to those that tried to stifle her growth. The track was produced by Grammy Award-winning, Swagg R’ Celious (H.E.R., Kehlani, Alicia Keys, Ne-Yo), while the video directed by John Tashiro aims to show Marie's playful side.
Pieces of a Man – "Lady Day & John Coltrane" feat. Amp Fiddler
Manchester-based six-strong soul collective Pieces of a Man, cover the legendary Gil Scott-Heron track "Lady Day & John Coltrane". The cover was produced by Zed Bias aka Maddslinky and features Detroit-veteran Amp Fiddler on guest vocals. This modern-day rendition pays homage to the Chicago jazz-poet and bluesologist Gil Scott-Heron, Billie Holiday and John Coltrane. Beyond this, the cover is an encompassment of the brokenness and recuperation both artists reflect.
"Lady Day & John Coltrane" is taken from the group's debut eponymous project out via Tru Thoughts.
Osvaldo – "Fourohfive"
Osvaldo is a Los Angeles based producer and beatmaker with roots in Argentina and Israel. His latest EP titled "Daily Commute" is an introspective look into the mundane struggles of daily life; balancing work and passion while trying to survive in the city. The 5 track instrumental EP was self-released on June 26th, 2019.
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina and raised in Los Angeles. Producer & multi-instrumentalist. Get it on Spotify.
Vic Sage – "Alright"
Omaha, Nebraska based up and coming rapper Vic Sage flexes his lyrical muscles on his new single "Alright". With a hard-hitting melody paired with bumpy 808's, the duo of Sage and Eric Heron flow effortlessly with smooth/fiery cadences and quirky wordplay. "Alright" is a testament to knowing how far one has come and knowing the future will be 'alright' because of it.
"Alright" is the third track from Vic Sage's album 'Broke & Happy.'
Bullhead*ded – "Muse" feat. Sleep of Oldominion
Bullhead*ded teams up with Sleep of Oldominion and The Chicharones for a thought-provoking track entitled "Muse". The emcees don't hold back as they share their opinions regarding many things from hip-hop, life struggles, and personal experiences. "Muse" has a vibrant cinematic feel courtesy of the production by Maulskull. It is taken from the second e.p. 'Heartstones'. The second installment in an ambitious series known as The Brazen Series. A three-part story consisting of 3 e.p.s, and 3 comic books sharing the same names. The music and comic books intertwine the tale of a young hero. Get it on Spotify.
Will Boy – "Vision" feat. Skyzoo
Will Boy teams up with NY rap vet Skyzoo on this new uplifting cut titled "Vision". Backed by a cinematic production by Chris Prythm, the duo aim straight for the naysayers who have the notion that hip-hop is dead. Lacing the guitar-driven energetic beat with gripping rhyme schemes and deft-defying wordplay, the duo position themselves in Atlanta's Krog Street tunnels to bring a visual from the graffiti walls to the ATL skyline.
Will Boy opens the track by reminiscing on the days he wrote raps but only kicked them to himself and the days of his mom seeing his breakthrough and feeling mushy after the work paid off. Skyzoo completes the cipher explaining that for no reason would he have given up on his dream. Confidently assuring the world that if you want something then you have to put your legacy on the line until something leaps out.
F.R.H. – "Run Away From It"
Hailing from the East Side of Pittsburgh PA, the rapper known as F.R.H.makes his debut on The Slice with his new release titled "Run Away From It". The laid-back track sees F.R.H. dive into the meaning of life and the profound experiences he has gone through. "Run Away From It" is the 14th and final song (For now) from F.R.H.'s Sunday Streams weekly series. Get more of his music here.
Lethal Bizzle – "Woah!"
Lethal Bizzle is back on the grind with the release of the colorful visual for his single "Woah!". The single comes after Stormzy namechecks him during his headline performance at Glastonbury Festival a few weekends ago. The addictive single was produced by his long-time production partner Diztortion. Lyrically, it echoes themes addressed in Bizzle’s recent viral movement #SkintGang, which sees the entrepreneur creating a series of videos across socials giving financial advice about how to manage your money effectively and providing more insight into how he’s managed his own business ventures. "Woah!" was directed by Carly Cussen (Stefflon Don, Krept & Konan, Little Mix) and boasts a stylistic nod to Miami Vice.
Karma Rivera – “A Game”
Rising Portland-based rapper Karma Rivera gets into the summer vibe with the visual for her single “A Game”. The spirited emcee snaps with her squeaky vocals and confident swagger over the minimalistic backdrop.
“A Game” is Karma Rivera's third single and serves as an artistic and social-cultural statement that visually summarizes the rise of an emerging rapper ready to join the ladies who are taking over hip-hop.
Get it “A Game” on Spotify and Apple Music
