Stallitix, THRIVE Cincy and Elementz Produce Cincinnati’s First-Ever Hip Hop Orchestra
Listen to orchestral versions of Kendrick Lamar's "LUST," Kanye West's "Diamonds from Sierra Leone" and more by Cincinnati musicans.
hip-hop
Dayo Gold Channels Great-Grandfather on Timeless Eddie Kane EP
Dayo Gold makes his return with his latest offering, The Eddie Kane Chronicles, Vol. 1. The six-track EP finds the Cincinnati rapper trying out a smooth flow with classic, old school beats – a stylistic choice that he says...
JayBee Lamahj Brings The PHONK to Bittersweet LP Nostalgie Supreme
JayBee Lamahj serves up the bittersweet taste of nostalgia on his third studio album, Nostalgie Supreme. Using dreamlike and jazz-tinged production – courtesy of his PHONK bandmates Amari Emàn, Roberto, and others – the rapper thoughtfully and effectively captures his...
PLAYING CINCY: K. Savage On Making The Most Out Of Quarantine As An Independent Artist
2020 has been a tough year for independent artists. With no touring in sight – save for a few one-off virtual performances – underground bands and solo acts have had to be creative in finding new sources of revenue...
PLAYING CINCY: Audley Talks ‘ROY,’ Poetry And His Colorful World
Audley’s world is colorful, honest and full of possibilities. The 27-year-old singer/rapper just released his new album ROY—a glittery yet deeply personal offering that shifts between pop, R&B and hip hop sounds and combines introspective tales of love, pain...
Khari Launches This Is How We Feel Series with Reflections on Incarceration
Khari begins an introspective journey with his new project, This Is How We Feel: Act 1 (Trapped). Boasting his trademark thought-provoking lyricism, packaged in a silky melodic flow, Act 1 (Trapped) is the first vulnerable offering from the trilogy....
Y2K Kitsch and Bedroom Rap Bravado Meet on Debut Brujita EP Cyber Angel
While doing my preliminary research for this article, I double checked the meaning of the word “Brujita.” In Spanish, “Bruja” means witch, but a few websites suggested that “brujita” (“little witch”) can also be a term of endearment, like...
WhatUpWally? Recruits Cincinnati’s Best Rappers & Producers For ‘Pandemic’ LP
Wally Hart, aka WhatUpWally?, tapped some of Cincinnati’s best rappers, beatsmiths and vocalists for his debut album, Pandemic. Spanning across 14 tracks and picking up assists from over 15 MCs – not to mention another seven producers – the...
PLAYING CINCY: GrandAce Urges Fans To “Bus Back” Against Systemic Racism In New Single
GrandAce confronts systemic racism and police brutality head-on with his bouncy new single, “Bus Back.” The self-produced track lays down a vibey minimalistic base, while the Cincinnati MC gets straight to work. “These last few weeks have had me...
Get To Know Cincinnati’s Virtual Rap Playoffs Winner Duprae
Duprae is plotting his Cincinnati takeover. The up-and-coming MC was recently crowned the winner of the 2020 Rap Playoffs, hosted by the “Queen Behind The Scene,” NaQuia Chante. Beginning on April 15 and wrapping up this past Friday (May...
Electronic Duo 18th Vineyard Show Versatility With ‘2 Deep’ Debut
The debut effort from Cincinnati-based production duo 18th Vineyard, 2 Deep, has arrived. The two-track EP delivers an experimental hip-hop/jazzy beat on “Adam Levine” – expertly paired with somber bars from Jay Hill and Roberto – while both electronic...
Blimes and Gab Debunk “Female Rap” Stereotype With Forthcoming Debut & TV Show
Tía Blimes (aka Blimes Brixton) and Gabrielle Kadushin (aka Gifted Gab) first met on Facebook in 2017 through a mutual friend, and when they met up in person in Seattle, it was clear they had a special connection. “We...
Joness Discusses Upcoming Debut P.O.L.R.
Cincinnati’s Joness is gearing up to release her debut studio album, P.O.L.R. The record’s title stands for Path Of Least Resistance and is expected out this fall. “It’s really touching on the idea of polarity,” the Cincy-based singer/rapper tells Audiofemme. “There’s the...
Zach slump talks ‘Outskirts & Outcasts,’ Casual Crooks & more
With hard work and a multi-faceted team, Ohio-bred collective Casual Crooks has been steadily paving their way to becoming the next big Midwest next rap crew. Their latest release comes from group member and rapper Zach slump, who recently...
Khari Reflects on his Hustle with “K-Balla” Video
This month, Khari dropped an inspiring clip to accompany his second single of the year, “K-Balla.” The video, directed by Khari himself and filmed by NTNK Productions, finds the Cincinnati rapper reflecting on his younger self’s work ethic in...
Neneh Cherry’s Raw Like Sushi Gets 30th Anniversary Re-Release
We were existing on the cusp of the 1990s. The ’80s as people remember it now, an era marked by new wave, John Hughes’ teen flicks and Ronald Reagan, was essentially over by 1989. Yet we were still a...
IN2ITIV3 Invent Punkadelic Sound on Debut EP
IN2ITIV3 is making waves as a musical embodiment of the growing punk/hip hop crossover in Cincinnati’s local music scene with their debut self-titled EP. Featuring bandmates that listen to everything from B2K to Patti Smith, IN2ITIV3 settles on lyrical rap...
Devin Burgess Gets ‘Alone’ EP Off His Chest
Jumping into 2020 head-first, Devin Burgess released his 14-track Alone EP last week. The 26-minute project finds an engaging balance between Burgess’ introspective and unfiltered lyrics and his gritty self-produced beats. The tape’s flow can best be described as...
PLAYING CINCY: Roberto finds himself on ‘Many Truths’ EP
Cincinnati-bred rapper Roberto has delivered his first project of the year: the Many Truths EP. Balancing carefully crafted verses with a casual flow, Roberto’s introspective lyrics are perfectly housed within Matador’s gritty lo-fi production. Vulnerability and easy-listening coexist as...
Aziza Love Set to ‘Bare Soul’ On Solo Debut
Following up her debut solo EP, Views From The Cut, Aziza Love will release her debut solo album, Bare Soul, later this month. “Over these years I’ve watched myself choose everything and everyone else first… from people I’ve worked with,...
PLAYING CINCY: SIOUX Finds His Groove On ‘Whiskey House Bar Music’ EP
Earlier this week, SIOUX flexed his introspective side on his new EP, Whiskey House Bar Music. Over danceable lo-fi beats produced by Rocco., the Cincinnati MC expresses extreme relatability when it comes to all sides of love—the good, the...
PLAYING CINCY: Jay Hill, JayBee Lamahj & Ronin Halloway Collide on “Babs Forever”
Ronin Halloway, JayBee Lamahj, and Patterns of Chaos alum Jay Hill teamed up on a high-energy single and video called “Babs Forever.” The three Cincinnati emcees spit bars at a fiery pace while maintaining their lyricism over the cascading...
PLAYING CINCY: Zell’s World Is The Class Clown In “That’s What It Is” Video
Zell’s World released a fun video for his new single, “That’s What It Is.” The turn-up track marks the first offering from Zell’s forthcoming sophomore effort, Welcome 2 Zell’s World. The Chicago-bred and Cincinnati-based rapper last dropped his 5-track...
PLAYING CINCY: Khari Unites Cincinnati Emcees In “Da Art Of Ignorance” Remix
Earlier this year, Cincinnati rapper Khari released his debut project, Sinsinnati. Now, he’s enlisted some of the Queen City’s best talent to hop on a remix of the standout track, “Da Art of Ignorance.” Maintaining his hard-hitting chorus, Khari...