TrapTeamBeats

dead prez – by Loe Kee Phlicks On Friday, June 19, legendary hip-hop duo dead prez made a highly anticipated stop in Los Angeles, taking over the stage at the historic The Regent Theater in Downtown LA. The evening brought together a diverse lineup of artists, headlined by dead prez and co-headliner Vic Mensa, while also featuring the legendary Medusa of the renowned Project Blowed collective. M-1 – 1/2 dead prez Stic Man – 1/2 dead prez The night began with several opening acts representing a variety of musical backgrounds and styles, creating an energetic atmosphere that set the tone for the evening. As the venue steadily filled and anticipation grew, Medusa took the stage and immediately captivated the audience. Drawing from her extensive catalog and decades of experience, she delivered a powerful performance that showcased her lyrical skill, commanding stage presence, and deep connection to hip-hop culture. Throughout her set, she engaged directl...

Brand new mixtape & the 7th overall from Detroit, Michigan veteran  Boldy James . Breaking out in the fall of 2013 off his Alchemist produced debut  M.1.C.S. (My 1st Chemistry Set) , there was a point where  Nas ’ independent label  Mass Appeal Records had them on their roster for a little while before getting locked up. Once coming home, Uncle Al would help get his name back out there once getting out by dropping the  Boldface  EP around Christmas 2019 & then the sophomore album  The Price of Tea in China .  Manger on McNichols  produced by Sterling Toles was as equally fantastic & the  Griselda Records -backed   Versace Tape  EP was a tad bit disappointing given how rushed it was.  Bo Jackson  though would become his most critically acclaimed work to date &  Super Tecmo Bo  was almost as great for an EP.  Fair Exchange No Robbery  produced by  Nicholas Craven ,   Penalty of Leadership , Mr. Ten-08  produced by Futurewave , the  Conductor Williams -produced   Acr...

Qwel of Typical Cats On Saturday, June 13th, Typical Cats marked a major milestone—25 years in hip-hop—with a celebratory performance at Don Quijote in Los Angeles. What could have been a standard anniversary show instead felt like a living archive of underground rap history, pulling together different cities, eras, and voices under one roof for a night that leaned more toward culture than spectacle. Denizen Kane Qwazaar From the moment the doors opened, it was clear this wasn’t just another stop on a tour. The Los Angeles crowd showed up with intention—fans who knew the catalog, understood the significance, and were there to witness a group that helped shape independent hip-hop at the turn of the millennium. When Typical Cats took the stage, they didn’t rely on nostalgia alone. Instead, they moved through selections from their classic debut alongside deeper cuts from their broader discography, reminding everyone that their impact wasn’t limited to a single era. ...

This is the sophomore effort from Belleville, Michigan emcee  Kain Cole . Coming up artistically as a teenager, he would unfortunately wind up incarcerated for 8 years until signing to Detroit independent powerhouse Middle Finger Music almost immediately after coming home & showed us how much he perfected his craft by having the label’s co-founder  Foul Mouth producing his 2022 debut album  S.U.M.P. (Surviving Under Major Pressure) . Following a string of guest appearances for his fellow MFM alumni  Bizarre  &  Isaac Castor , the time for the  Khronicles of Kain  to be told as finally come. “Gotta Have It” begins with this soulfully jazzy intro thanking all of his haters whether it be past or present whereas “It’s Up to You” embraces more jazzier vibes taking a more motivational approach to his songwriting for a couple minutes. “Heavyweight” switches things up with a boom bap instrumental & the gritty penmanship leading into...

East Coast native Hus Kingpin returns with the latest installment in his acclaimed Threesome series, Threesome 6 . Serving as the follow-up to Wavo Forever , the project continues his signature blend of introspective lyricism, vivid storytelling, and atmospheric production. Once again, producer Cory Atkins provides the sonic backdrop, crafting a cohesive soundscape that complements Hus Kingpin’s reflective and imaginative writing style. The album opens with “SHORT WISH,” an introspective and poetic narrative centered on themes of transformation, dreams, and life’s complexities. Next is “THE HEARTBREAKER,” a smooth, atmospheric track that blends abstract, rhythmic lyricism about luxury and relationships with a reflective spoken-word segment on career longevity and perseverance. “VAMPIRE DIARY” embraces darker themes, using intense supernatural and vampire-inspired imagery to portray a volatile and obsessive relationship. ...

Brooklyn meets Copenhagen on Villano De Medianoche , a gritty new album that proves street energy doesn’t need a passport. NVY JONEZ LKR links up with Danish producer MACHACHA , who handles all beats, for a ten-track session recorded at ARTILLERY Studios in Copenhagen. The result is a raw, unfiltered ride through the grimy streets of New York and California, filtered through a European lens that somehow makes the boom-bap hit even harder. From the menacing opener “VILLANO” featuring Bruxas Brew to the posse-cut chaos of “ECW” (with ethemadassassin, K.Burns, Lenox Hughes, and Starz Coleman), the album never lets up. Standouts like “STICK UP” with Felix De Luca and the D-RELL & Rodey Cali’s Remedy-assisted “STREET POLITICS 4” capture that late-night, stick-and-move energy that underground heads crave. The production is the real backbone here. MACHACHA lays down a palette of dusky samples, hard kicks, and minimal but...

This is the 9th studio LP from Brooklyn, New York skateboarder, MC, producer, songwriter, visual artist & model  Navy Blue . Breaking out a decade ago off his debut EP  According to the Waterbearer , he would go on to drop 9 more EPs & 6 full-lengths preceding the Def Jam Recordings-backed  Ways of Knowing  produced by Budgie to critical acclaim. Coming off the   Memoirs in Armour  EP along with  The Sword & The Soaring  however, he’s refusing to slow down giving us  Sir Render  almost 7 months later. “Commencement” opens up with this drumless intro talking about capsizing & turning his life over to God afterwards whereas “Baron” produced by  The Alchemist embraces a boom bap vibe instrumentally hitting us with more poetically abstract penmanship. The title track strips the drums once again talking about there being lessons in every move made while “Over” featuring  Mike Shabb  finds the pair bringing their A-game over a heavenly drumless loop from Shabbo hims...

Cali Agents – by Loe Kee Phlicks On Thursday, May 28, legendary West Coast hip-hop duo Cali Agents, comprised of Rasco and Planet Asia, brought the house down at Los Globos in Los Angeles with a memorable performance that celebrated their enduring legacy in underground hip-hop. The event marked another milestone in the duo’s remarkable career, which began in the early 2000s and helped solidify their place among the most respected lyricists on the West Coast. Throughout the night, Cali Agents treated fans to a powerful set featuring selections from their acclaimed debut album, How the West Was One. Widely regarded as a classic within underground hip-hop circles, the project introduced many listeners to the chemistry and lyrical prowess of Rasco and Planet Asia. More than two decades after its release, the album’s impact remains evident, as fans enthusiastically recited verses and celebrated songs that helped launch the careers of both artists. Plant Asia ...

Brand new LP & the 6th overall from Rochester, New York producer/emcee 38 Spesh. Known for being the leader of the Trust Army & founder of TCF Music Group, he’s been steadily busy throughout the last few years whether it be him producing projects for the likes of Planet Asia & Elcamino or his own solo output. Last time we heard Spesh by himself was the intimate  Mother & Gun  nearly a couple summers ago, firing off 8 Shots to end the month of May. “Free Game” hops over a drumless, crooning loop to spend the opening 105 seconds talking about rappers taking his life story & making competition out of it whereas “The Main Line” aggressively discusses the reaper being at one’s door with Jesus trying to call. “Used 2” featuring Rome Streetz finds the pair talking about how having 1 gun simply isn’t enough prior to the self-produced “Be the Best” soulfully speaking against being a small-time individual. Che...

Here is the brand new extended play & the 10th in his discography overall from South Bronx, New York emcee Seth Narley. Dropping his debut EP  5am on Crosby  in 2019, he would later follow it up by putting out the Trissland trilogy & drop 3 more EPs in 2024:  Night at the Roxy ,  A Millbrook Story  &  S.A.L.Y. (Still Ain’t Lie Yet) . Coming off both  The American Dream: Son of a Dealer  &  Oceans: Mondrian  however, he’s copping  Prada Cups in the South of France . “Jordan on the Baseline” begins with a soulfully jazzy opener clocking at 109 seconds likening himself to my favorite basketball player of all-time whereas “$2K on the Knicks” chops up a gospel sample to talk about betting for his home team in the NBA Playoffs & not trippin’ live it because of his bias instinct. “Unplugged from Marsielle” kicks off the 2nd half of the EP admitting his brother took his own life over a drumless loop while “...

New York City emcee  BVNGS  has returned for her 9th extended play. Beginning over a decade ago off the strength of her debut EP  Not Available , she would follow it up with  7 Dutches & a Sweet Tea ,  Brown Girls & Bubble Coats ,  Lula  &  Only Crying Because I’m Drunk  respectively. She later blew up off her 6th EP  LaQuisha  in the spring of 2021 & only 4 months later, I had the privilege of meeting her at a Catch 1 show in Los Angeles & was impressed by her set. Coming off  Mary Mack  &  Twice a Day w/ Food   however, she’s admitting to  Only Crying Because I’m Drunk Too . After the “Statistics Show” intro, the opening song “In Love Again” hooks up a soul sample to get things going talking about her falling for someone whereas “Crazy” embraces a smoother sound instrumentally describing the way this person drives her insane. “Opal” takes a more melodic approach in terms of...

GILLtemper is an east coast underground hip hop duo consisting of Millville, New Jersey rapper & producer Gibby Stites alongside Trevose, Pennsylvania rapper ILLtemper . Both of whom have already made themselves known whether it be Gibby briefly signing to Majik Ninja Entertainment in 2021 or the other being 1/2 of the Even Heathens , making his Lyrikal Snuff Productionz debut last fall with  Paxil Rose . However after linking up on songs like “MayNeedAxe” or “April Showers”, they’re linking up for an eponymous extended play. After the intro, “Save Us” begins with an opener produced by Gibby where he hooks up a gospel sample & both of them are pleading to be saved whereas “Lost Puppy” takes a more darker approach talking about darkness constantly following them. “Doing Fine” works in some pianos & strings to explain that nobody’s gonna get in either of their way leading into “Violence” ending the 1st leg talking about the enjoyment they get outta watching bruta...

Lupe Fiasco – By Loe Kee Phlicks On Saturday, May 16th, Lupe Fiasco brought the Food & Liquor 20th Anniversary Tour to the Wiltern in Los Angeles, delivering an unforgettable night for fans. The sold-out venue buzzed with anticipation, and from the moment Lupe stepped on stage, it was clear that this was more than just a concert—it was a celebration of a landmark album that helped define a generation of hip-hop. Performing the entirety of his debut album, Food & Liquor , originally released in 2006, Lupe took the audience on a nostalgic journey while reminding everyone why he remains a powerhouse in the game. Two decades later, the album’s sharp lyricism, social commentary, and intricate storytelling still resonate, proving its lasting relevance in hip-hop culture. The energy in the Wiltern reached new heights when special guest Ab-Soul made a surprise appearance. A longtime collaborator of Lupe, Ab-Soul joined him on stage for a few standout tracks, creating an...