Hype Highlights: Starring London Reyes, Crystal Tais, Courtney Bell & more
London Reyes - “Know You Want To”
Miami-based artist, London Reyes lets the ladies know what’s up on his latest release, “Know You Want To”. Combining elements from Hip Hop, R&B and Pop, London Reyes makes feels good music with commercial appeal, which has been resonating with the masses. Just check his his loyal fanbase and monthly Spotify listener count, well into the tens of thousands.
FOLLOW: @londonreyesmusic
Tamaraebi - “Brown Angel”
“Brown Angel” is the smooth new single and video from Tamaraebi, the first track to be lifted from the London-based musician's new EP 'Spectrum', which will be released May 19 via Believe. 'Spectrum' is a set of six classy and sensual songs that suggest Prince, Miguel and The Weeknd as kindred musical spirits, while revealing Tamaraebi's voice as a warm, soulful instrument with a modern edge and an effortless, knockout falsetto.
"'Brown Angel' is a modern-day psychedelic blues song with hip hop and RnB undertones," comments Tamaraebi of the single. "It's been described as a stoner's love song. The video was directed by Attend Jamera and we came up with the concept together. We shot it in an old pub in Peckham at the height of the Black Lives Matter protests last year. I wanted to do something visually that contributed to black art and also celebrated the varied beauty of blackness - from a fuller figured model to really dark-skinned ones. I wanted everyone to enjoy the beauty of blackness in its natural element, no matter what race they were.”
FOLLOW: @iamtamaraebi
Courtney Bell Ft. Icewear Vezzo - "DEEBO"
Detroit wordsmith Courtney Bell comes through with his latest lyrical onslaught "Deebo" featuring fellow 313 native, Icewear Vezzo. The track sees the two exchanging boastful bars boasting about earning their stripes over Kyle "IRock" Adams enthralling syncopated piano chords.
On "Deebo" Courtney Bell continues to display his innate talents while Icewear Vezzo shines with threatening metaphors about stripping rappers' jewels away a la "Deebo." The track concludes with an ode to the John Singleton directed film, Friday sampling audio from the infamous scene where Greg (Ice Cube) runs to his room to pick up a gun, only to be stopped and enlightened by his father, played by the late John Witherspoon.
FOLLOW: @officialcourtneybell // @icewear_vezzo
OG Spliff - “STILL”
North Carolina has been the budding ground for incredible music talent over the past few years, particularly in the hip hop world. Now, OG Spliff seems to be next in line. The Winston-Salem rapper has been making gains all 2020, solidifying his presence on the scene with his single “LUV ME” featuring TiaCorine (South Coast Music Group) , and most recently securing editorial placements on Spotify’s Fresh Finds: Hip Hop and Gaming Lounge for “St Nick”.
This week, the enigmatic rapper returns with a new song titled, “STILL” featuring fellow North Carolina stars Sonny Miles & LestheGenius (featured on Barack Obama's favorite songs of the year in 2019). Spliff raises the bar yet again as the three deliver a hometown anthem.
FOLLOW: @ogxspliff
Crystal Tais - “Uno” ft. Hey Choppi
Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter, Crystal Tais links with Hey Choppi for "Uno”, a seductive blend of the “Trinibad” dancehall genre and her Brooklyn roots. Produced by @abegotdatfuego and @brooklyndecent, “Uno” brings the two worlds together in a dope way.
FOLLOW: @crystalwroteit // @heychoppi
Projexx - “Sidepiece”
Genre-blurring Kingston dancehall artist Projexx shares the flirtatious “Sidepiece,” his debut single on Warner Records. The rising Jamaican singer’s playboy personality takes over as he spends a secret weekend away with a lover in the RD Studios-directed video. Projexx’s smooth vocals will make you miss late nights at the club. “You badder dan the girl wha star blues,” he whispers. “Mi nuh choose, ‘cause mi can’t lose ya.”
The production is bright, indebted to the dancehall’s bounce but folding in gleaming global pop sounds, too, from breezy Afrobeats to sensual R&B. The video starts similarly lightheartedly. Everything seems good for Projexx and his mistress—they even invite a third to come down to their coastal getaway. The ending seems to signal future drama for our hero, but for now he’s just basking in the moment.
FOLLOW: @projexxmusic
