L’Rain: Two Face

Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist L’Rain (aka Taja Cheek) will follow her eponymous 2017 album with Fatigue this June. From the album comes “Two Face,” a complex collage of sounds that’s simultaneously chaotic and perfectly polished. The swirling song employs elements of R&B and jazz, with digital effects, crisp percussion and haunting vocals. The Brooklyn-based artist says, “This is a song about a falling out with a …

Sons Of Kemet feat. Kojey Radical: Hustle

Sons of Kemet’s rich new track “Hustle”—featuring grime/spoken word artist Kojey Radical—is the first single from the British jazz ensemble’s forthcoming album, Black to the Future. Influenced by several genres and delivery styles, the song is dramatic and textured. Lianne La Havas lends background vocals, repeating a mantra Kojey Radical recites with a growl: “Born from the mud with the hustle inside me.” Breakdowns follow, …

Zo! + Tall Black Guy feat. Phonte, Darien Brockington + Muhsinah: Hold My Hand

Musicians and producers Zo! (aka Lorenzo Ferguson) and Tall Black Guy (aka Terrel Wallace) joined forces for the recently released Abstractions and from it comes the breezy “Hold My Hand.” The duo is responsible for all production and instrumentation, while the honeyed vocals come courtesy of Muhsinah, Darien Brockington and Phonte. The song feels free-flowing, but the crisp, polished production provides a perfect balance. A daydreamy …