HNIC – “Yom Kippur” X “What’s Good God” Ft. Sun Ra


Straight out of the dorm room…Heaven’s Next Ill Child is putting out some new raps, be very afraid. No exaggeration, this is the closest to recent “Underground Rap” that I’ve heard in years, in the best way possible. “Yom Kippur” shows that HNIC is comfortable over the production of others (Daringer came through with the dustiest loops) while “What’s Good God” revisits some classics samples, including Sun Ra. Lyrically, the Maryland-based producer and rapper casually switches from braggadocios to conscious, while referencing local Go-Go, Adult Swim, Anime (Bleach, I think) and Assata Shakur…My excuse for being late on this is that (maybe) I was busy fasting and thinking on Yom Kippur instead of getting on here.

Lightshow – If These Walls Could Talk (Mixtape)


Lightshow is having quite a break-through year, with music on ESPN, songs with Kap G, and what seems like a steadily expanding fan base. To celebrate that, the Southeast DC rapper has just released his latest mixtape, If These Walls Could Talk, hosted by DJ Dynamite. The project has Trap tales, prayers, songs about relationships, the usual diversity you can expect from Lightshow, as well as some standout features from Icewear Vezzo and Kap. Production from Yung Lan, Mark Henry, Beat Zombie, Slick Go Ham and others. Enjoy.