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The Latest from TafHeardIt.

Tafadzwa Muchenje
Jun 28, 2017
6 min read

New Artists

KWAYE

Zimbabwe-born, London-based artist KWAYE is totally transfixing. He has currently only released two tracks “Cool Kids” and “Little Ones” which are both unique brilliant and endlessly playable. His music really marks a new chapter in music, with how he his sound is influenced by the past sounds, within a modern electronic funk sound. With influences of his African heritage and this fresh take on catchy 80’s synth-pop KWAYE is making some heads turn with stunning funky tracks.

Debut single "Cool Kids" was followed by "Little Ones," a catchy song with a real message.

"We are not born with prejudice—it is learned," KWAYE explained. "'Little Ones' encapsulates the binding nature of prejudice, and the boundless freedom expressed in the minds of children. It is about persevering and nurturing that innocence, and refusing to be denied of that freedom of expression."

You need to make sure that you keep your eye out for this guy, I have a feeling that he will have a breakthrough year. From what he’s released so far I can only say, I hope that he releases some more great music soon.

Amber Mark

NYC pop musician, Amber Mark, is another musician that I’ve been watching, not in a weird way. I think that her album 3:33am is brilliant and powerful when you go beyond than just the music. This EP was a release, a release of pain and was in a way maybe a helpful in overcoming the grief and pain of losing her mother in 2013. The EP is 7-trakced and each song represents a different stage of the grieving process.

I think she magically encapsulates in her own way through music this tragic process of losing someone close. With tracks, “S P A C E”, “Monsoon”, and “Way Back” are all different but are transcending and beautiful. She is yet to release anything since this debut EP but I can’t wait to see what is next, because this EP was really something special.

Lil Uzi Vert

Another newcomer in the scene, a lot of people and music sites are all talking about him and really rate him. For me rap is always changing, we saw it with Kanye and the new rappers now like Goldlink, Migos, Odd future, Future, and Chance the Rapper etc. I have been sceptical and really haven’t given him the time, I sort of put him in the same category as Lil Yatchy and Kodak Black just talentless artists. I actually gave him a chance, and the first track I listened too within the first couple seconds of the track I new this was a hit and he wasn’t flop.

I am going to make sure that I listen to more of his music of the duration of the next couple of weeks, and write a little article on him. I defiantly miss judged him, that is why our parents tell us don’t judge a book by it’s cover and that is exactly what I did, regret that now.

MoStack

This kid has come outta nowhere, this debut album is the album that J Hus should’ve made. They do have a very similar beat-style and rap flow, but regardless of that this, the album was by far the better album than that of the better known J Hus. The album titled, High Street Kid was defiantly made for those ‘high street kid’s’ who will be blaring this for weeks to come now.

In a growing age where you could become a star just by chance and not have any talent, this kid has talent and I can see him rubbing shoulders with the likes of Dave, AJ Tracey and those newcomers in the hip/hop-rap-grime game. It is quite difficult to label these newer artists because they all have their own unique styles, grime was the vocal point for newer rappers but now they’re expanding and exploring new ways to create.

If you feel like tuning into something vibey, fresh, and dancehall South London edge this is for you.

Meech

Meech was discovered just by chance on twitter. The gift that just keeps giving. Meech for me in a mix in-between someone like Chance the Rapper and Smino. This gives this young man a high level of expectation. There is no need to doubt his potential, I really think that he could become something big. Chicago have Kanye, Chance and will now have Meech in that category soon.

His bouncy chords and infectious optimism make his track HBH a hit. He only has two tracks to his name but even with only a limited amount released you can already see and hear this guy’s potential.

Tom Tripp

Written and produced by 21-year-old Tripp himself, "Aurelia" is just the beginning of what I know will be a huge twelve months for the Caledonian Road newcomer. With only two tracks to his name, he has showcased real potential with such a small amount of music released. There is only one thing to say, make sure you keep your eyes and ears peeled for this lad. Tripp's choice of wonky synth stabs, painstakingly layered drum patterns and distorted funk guitar riffs are the perfect compliment to his voice. I can’t wait to see what is next from Tom Tripp.

Snoh Aalegra

She first really came to my attention when I saw her credited for part writing IMO Drake’s best track on his newest album/playlist, the track titled “Do Not Disturb” but yeah she wrote that. I did a little more digging and found out that Snoh Aalegra is Stockholm-born, but is now L.A.-based. She’s been releasing music since 2014, and was signed to a label at 14 so you could say she was destined for stardom.

Everything feels filtered through cigarette smoke. Her voice is just unreal, in all honesty when I first listened to her track “In Your River” I was like WOW, this sounds like Amy Winehouse. Her sounds verge on a cinematic soul jazzy vibe, and I love it. I really dig this, and think a lot of you guys will as well. Her EP is out and it’s called Don’t Explain, and is brilliant.

New Albums

PartyNextDoor – COLOURS 2

Canadian musician PARTYNEXTDOOR has gifted fans with new music thanks to the release of his COLOURS 2 EP. Consisting of only four tracks, the EP serves as a sequel to PARTYNEXTDOOR’s PNDCOLOURS EP, which was released nearly three years ago. That EP also consisted of only four songs. Production on the newly released project comes courtesy of G. Ry, who has worked with the likes of PARTYNEXTDOOR and Drake. The sequel EP follows the smooth hypnotic music PARTYNEXTDOOR releases. The one thing I could say it that the EP isn’t amazing but the production is really good. There isn’t anything new or striking with this EP. However, if you’re into his type of breathy, echoed vocals then this is the EP for you.

Bryson Tiller – True to Self

There wasn’t any build up to this album, and when it released there wasn’t any hype following it’s release which made me feel that Tiller may be a one hit wonder after his debut album Trapsoul in 2015. In this album, Tiller tries to offer new dimensions to that story arc created from Trapsoul, while reconstructing the dividing lines between R&B. The 19 tracked album has some good tracks with striking production (Self-Made, Something Tells Me) but overall the album isn’t really exciting. This is a disappointment but hey we can always just enjoy the greatness of Trapsoul.

Vince Staples – The Big Fish Theory

This will be his 4th studio album it is one of the best hip-hop rap albums of 2017 the second being Kung Fu Kenny’s DAMN. Both these Californian musicians, are going against the current musical flow, by performing dense, politically charged music in an era that is more enamoured with the simplistic sing-song decadence.

Staples is technically gifted, to the degree that he is actively evolving the art of MC’ing. He is similar to Kendrick in the beats that they make to rap over, these oddball, square-peg beats that sound like nothing else out there right now. These guys have really taken rap to another level this year, Kendrick with DAMN and now Staples with The Big Fish Theory the title of the name makes me this of the Wesley’s Theory in Kendrick’s critically acclaimed album To Pimp a Butterfly.

On this album, Staples really pushes with his love of electronic funk, and he embraces that creative urge more eagerly than ever. There’s slo-mo techno, dystopian G-funk, field recordings, growling industrialism; abstract, icy grooves more indebted to Berlin than Atlanta. This album really is the album of the future; it has this raw feel like with Dizzee Rascals Boy In Da Corner.

Listen to Crabs in A Bucket, 745, Yeah Right, Rain Come Down, and BagBak. Those are my favourite out of this rich visionary album. You’ll be seeing a lot of people comparing this to DAMN and rightly so, the album is on the same level and Staples can finally now get the acclaim that he deserves – this is his year I think.

Other Notable Mentions: Denai Moore – We Used to Bloom, H.E.R – Vol.2, 2Chainz – Pretty Girls Like Trap Music, SZA – Ctrl, alt-J – RELAXER.

Hottest Tracks

Lil Uzi Vert

XO TOUR Llif3 🔥 🔥 🔥

Hare Squead

Pure 🔥 🔥 🔥

Kyle Dion

Hold on to Me 🔥 🔥

KWAYE

Cool Kids 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥

6LACK

That Fear 🔥 🔥 🔥