Music Hall

Rap has always been a fast-paced genre where only the smartest and industrious survive. Female rappers are reminding us that they are exactly that. In a world of begging male artists to “take it to the booth” instead of social media, its time we start looking to the girls to see how it's done.  In 2023, the misogynitic idea that there can only be one “great” female rapper is a claim of the past, as the world of female rap is more diverse than ever. Artists like Latto, Megan Thee Stallion, Sexyy Red, Monaleo, Flo Milli, Ice Spice, Cardi B, Nicki Minaj, Rico Nasty, Doja Cat, Glorilla, Fendi Da Rapper, Tierra Whack, Coi Leray, Kash Doll, BIA, Tokyo Jetz, Rubi Rose, Saweetie, Lakeyah, Little Simz, JT & Yung Miami of the City Girls (and so many more), make up a blossoming new space for female rappers and MCs. They are topping charts , finding critical acclaim , and have accumulated numerous high-profile industry awards . In addition, the newer girls that have come up in the last ...

Best New Songs (June 22nd-30th) June 22nd - Lil Tjay Release Date: June 22nd, 2023 Solid flow and beat with great narrative structure, Tjay walks listeners through the day he sustained 7 gunshot wounds in a robbery attempt; amazing music video . 8.6/10 Vampire - Olivia Rodrigo Release Date: June 30th, 2023 Rodrigo plays to her strengths in this song, transitioning her traditional piano ballad to an upbeat, passionate pop treatise to a parasitic ex. 8/10 ABC - Cameron Sacky Band Release Date: June 23, 2023 A summer break song about the woes of school maintains the fun swagger and acoustic-driven melodies that fans want from the group. 7.8/10 Hurts Me - Tory Lanez, Trippie Redd Release Date: June 27th, 2023 Thrown together alongside rising TikTok use, Tory Lanez stays true to infectious melody and 80s synths with Trippie Redd surprisingly not ruining the song. Short, but expected with a likely quick turnaround. 7.1/10 Oh U Went (feat. Drake) - Young Thug Release Date: June 23rd, 2023 A g...

a Gift & a Curse (2023)   Album Cover On Friday, June 16th, 2023, Gunna released his fourth studio album a Gift & a Curse . This release had eyes for more than a few reasons. Apart from the fact that this is Gunna first published response to allegations of snitching on his friend and mentor Young Thug from cultural landmark and label YSL, this album follows Gunna’s previous DS4EVER, which received positive buzz and acclaim from rap fans upon its release more than a year an a half ago. Content-wise, this album sits with zero features and is more introspective than his past work, as he paints a sense of solitude, almost isolation, on the record. Melodically, though, its still Gunna’s classic trap beats and melodic persuasion.  Album Highlights & Lowlights "bread & butter" single cover The intro track is a powerful tool; it can catapult an album from a complication of songs to a consistent and complete work. “[B]ack at it” fulfilled this role. The light electric...

Look at me, look at me... You lookin’? "Attention" Single Cover Doja Cat is entering her 4th album era with her new single “Attention,” a more-lyrical, dark treatise on fame, the limelight, and artistry. The pre-era of this new image was marked with a style change and controversial tweets, showcasing her aggressive, darker humor that often took jabs at her own fans and led to online debates about Doja’s attitude—both towards her own past projects and the stage she has found herself on. Now, Doja sports her shorter hair and more grunge look with blood-dripping aesthetics to create a stark line between this new era and her past pop-rap chart-topping eras “Hot Pink” and “Planet Her” which were known for their characteristic bright imagery and radio-club hooks. Doja Cat in the "Attention" Music Video Attention starts with a lighter, almost spooky chorus with Doja’s classic light and high vocals that always seem to hide a deeper punch or flair. This hook will be the on...

Morgan Wallen for his Dangerous Album Photoshoot Halfway through 2023, one artist has been dominating the charts at a career-defining pace. That artist is not Drake nor Bad Bunny, and not even Taylor Swift, currently making her way through the United States on her record-breaking Eras Tour. That artist is Morgan Wallen, a mainstream country giant from outside of Knoxville, Tennessee. Starting his career on the singing show “The Voice,” Morgan Wallen has since amalgamated multiple number 1’s on Billboard’s Hot Country and Top Country Albums charts and sold out stadiums across the country. But what makes him the guy to watch is how his catalog is squaring up to, and even defeating, the pop giants of our time. We’re going to talk about how successful he’s been on the all-genre Hot 100 and album Hot 200 charts, which, to non-country fans, seems to have happened out of nowhere.  If I Know Me,  Album 1  His first album If I Know Me (2018) was home to huge country hits like "Wh...