Watch: @Rapsody on NPR's Tiny Desk Concert; A Niles P. Joint

If you know her work, then predicting that Rapsody will wind up as 2016’s undisputed best emcee isn’t farfetched. For those living under a rock that missed her numerous solo projects or star making appearance on Kendrick Lamar’s Complexion (A Zulu Love,) you have another chance to get familiar.  North Carolina’s premier emcee made an appearance on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert Series.  Flanked by her band The Stormtroopers and her producer/Jamla label head 9th Wonder, Rapsody performed Godzilla, The Man, and Hard To Choose for an intimate crowd of NPR staffers.  Clearly she’s got the ability to connect with a small audience, now watch her blow up and rock stadiums and festivals sooner than later.  You heard it here first: Rapsody is taking all of the belts in hip hop this year.  Check the video after the break.

Watch: Think About it - MostDope (@_daGifted)

It’s funny where you can find quality hip hop nowadays. In this case, I didn’t have to comb through SoundCloud, rap blogs, or DatPiff mixtapes to discover this up and coming emcee. Hell, dude just happens to be my kid brother’s best friend and roommate. Hailing from Asbury Park, MostDope recently put out visuals for his song Think About It.  The song itself reminds me of something that would come from mid 2000s Roc-A-Fella or maybe present day Jamla. The beat is sample heavy with a distinct guitar riff and light piano melody over snapping drums. It’s refreshing to hear a young rapper from around my way that isn’t obsessed with the Southern trap or Chicago drill sound when it comes to beats. I can also appreciate with MostDope’s craftsmanship inasmuch as he created a song with two verses, a melodic bridge and a good chorus. He goes the introspective route on this one and speaks about life around the way and how he aspires to do better than his surroundings. It’s honest but hopeful.

The video complements the message in the song. When I first heard the song I was like “This is some real bodega/corner store rap. We need more of this. I’m feeling it.” So naturally the video was shot in and around the notorious Sheffield Market in Asbury Park and the surrounding area. The video looks professional but still has a gritty feel to it. New artists naturally film their first video in their neighborhood and in this case MostDope and director King Ramses made a good choice in keeping it local. If this is what MostDope has to offer as a debut I can’t see what he has going on next.  Keep an eye out for him because he seems to be wise beyond his years.