They’re being called Australia’s answer to Brockhampton – hip hop collective Savour The Rations have exploded onto the scene with the release of their hard-hitting tune, ‘THANK THE LORD’. A year since the release of their track ‘Bluffin’, the group currently consists of Raj Mahal, Domba, Gibrillah and Kwame, who are all local artists at the forefront of the changing Australian hip hop industry, breaking free of genre barriers and working towards international recognition. The group’s latest track undeniably reflects the style of musician Kwame, who’s launched into success with his solo performing career; recently supporting the likes of Tkay Maidza and jumping on stage with A$AP Rocky. With no hesitation to deliver solid bars from the get-go, Savour The Rations’ music is upbeat, unapologetic, loaded with energy and most importantly, erupting with talent.
Amongst an exciting week of hip hop releases, one album in particular is a stand out. I’m talking about Lupe Fiasco’s concept album, DROGAS WAVE. The 24-track production could easily be studied in the same way as literature, having been part of a Reddit thread helmed by Fiasco himself, updated frequently about the writing and production process behind the artist’s long-awaited seventh album. The imagery around the record hones in on the idea of “slaves” and “waves”, examining world history through the lenses of evil, choices, and consequences. In the tracks ‘Alan Forever’ and ‘Jonylah Forever’, Fiasco describes two alternate realities for Alan Kurdi, a three-year-old Syrian refugee who was found dead on a Turkish shoreline, and Jonylah Watkins, a six-month-old girl killed in a Chicago gang murder. As Lupe reimagines these lives as if they hadn’t ended, DROGAS WAVE delves into incredibly complex and profound territory, all while maintaining incredibly engaging production. It’s a must listen this week.
Hip hop lovers can lounge around to the sounds of Sydney producer, Third Floor. After returning to the music world after 12 months, the artist revealed his hiatus was due to a battle with chronic illness. Now, the British-born artist, known for his atmospheric pop beats infused with electronica, R&B, and soul, has released his first single, ‘Flying Eyes’. The track belongs to an upcoming EP, titled Almost Whole, that will explore the story of the artist’s emotional and physical recovery. The first effortlessly cool track off the four-track conceptual release is about following intuition, with a focus on honesty and authenticity within yourself and the ones you love. This smooth, groove-filled cut also features Californian singer-songwriter Ryan Konline. The Almost Whole EP is set to drop in the next few weeks.
