Lav's Music Corner

Megan Thee Stallion is a Texas rapper who has been pretty much impossible to ignore over the past few years. With numerous hit songs displaying her uncompromising artistry and big personality as well as some very public dramas unfolding around her. Traumazine  is Megan's 2nd studio album following 2020's Good News  and a number of EPs and mixtapes released in the years before and since.  Review by Lav: Like MANY great artists before her Megan knows her way around a great single. Her hard-hitting performance style and creative wordplay have served her well in releasing both hit songs and critical smashes over the past few years. However, like many other great artists this hasn't really translated that well into her full-length material. Whether it's her debut album, EP's like Suga  and Tina Snow,  or mixtapes like Fever  and Something For Thee Hotties  everything that makes Megan great on one particular song fails to get stretched out to the length of a...

Look at me. After almost being late two weeks ago and being late last week, this feature is actually coming out on time. Not just on time but even a few hours earlier than usual.  Enjoy <3 5.  Aquamarine  - Black Thought & Dangermouse (Feat. Michael Kiwanuka) One of the gifts that keeps on giving this year is the upcoming Black Thought and Dangermouse collab which delivers one single after another with not only great instrumentals and Black Thought's lethal delivery, but some awesome features as well. This time they team up with Michael Kiwanuka for a dramatic and totally intoxicating hip hop jam. Listen 4.  get high, breathe underwater (#3)  - teen suicide The return of teen suicide has been one of the more welcome additions of 2022 and Sam Ray's project is now two for two on new singles. This lo-fi indie cut is breezy by design packed full of swirling pianos and charming vocal harmonies. While it doesn't rewrite the book on this concept clearly the proj...

Latto is an Atlanta rapper who has broken out in recent years with tracks like Big Energy  and Bitch From Da Souf  as well as being named to the 2020 XXL Freshman Class. 777  is her sophomore album and follows 2020's Queen Of Da Souf . Review By Lav: While I don't think Latto has a particularly impressive back catalog thus far, I have always seen the appeal of her music, in particular her uncompromising personality. On tracks where she's lean into her confidence and demeanor she has been just as good as some of her best and most popular contemporaries, so it was no surprise to me to see her developing some more acclaim and commercial success. I wouldn't say that had me anticipating that 777  would be some kind of major breakout record, I was just hoping she would lean into that personality. Turns out she does, and the results are pretty solid.  A lot of discussion surrounding this record starts with one song, Big Energy . It has sort of become Latto's true comme...

The five best new tracks released this weekend below: 5.  Big Energy  - Latto Latto's most recent banger is built around a feature of Tom Tom Club's Genius Of Love , yes you heard that right. It uses the songs indelible key phrase as the base for an impressively sung hook while Latto attaches her trademark charisma to the verses all themed around the title concept. It's like a more mainstream and more danceable version of Shygirl's BDE  from earlier this year.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8GpG8C0YzA 4.  Nightfall  - Explosions In The Sky The best track so far from post-rock outfit Explosions In The Sky's new PBS affiliated soundtrack album is a short dreamy cut. It kicks off like a lullaby before driving into a wonderfully slinky and atmospheric conclusion, all in under two minutes.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FghKzKLgBlU 3.  U+Me  - alt-j Despite their extended break alt-j still sound just like themselves with an exciting and instr...