Kay Blokx – Eyes On My Destiny (rnbxclusive4.com)
This mixtape comes from the new generation of RVA Hip Hop, and possibly the RVA version of Kendrick Lamar. Kay Blokx is one of the best lyricists that I have met so far in my journeys in this city.
Kay Blokx – Eyes On My Destiny (rnbxclusive4.com)
This mixtape comes from the new generation of RVA Hip Hop, and possibly the RVA version of Kendrick Lamar. Kay Blokx is one of the best lyricists that I have met so far in my journeys in this city. Every time I hear him I hear a little of the late Guru of Gang Starr, or Big L, both of whom were legends of their era. I really enjoy the fact that Kay Blokx keeps his delivery to the old school hip hop feel. Throughout the tape you hear a lot of words from family and friends. It starts off with a deep testimony over a 9th Wonder beat where Kay Blokx describes his relationship with his family, which he calls his “New Life.” Later on the tape, my personal favorite is “Blokx is Like”–the rhyme scheme here takes me back to the days of Reebok Pumps and breaking. The scratching on this track, by DJ Qeys, makes this a certified classic. “What I’ve Been Through” is a 7½ minute track in which he talks about the things he’s gone through in his life, being a father and a lover, and the pros and cons of what he’s been through. It’s followed by a relieving sequence of racks where Blokx kicks into being happy and drunk off of his musical high. I really enjoyed how some of the beats he used were taken from classic hip hop tracks like Jay-Z’s “Dead Presidents” or Tupac’s “Pain.” Overall I appreciate the direction of Blokx and his “New Life,” and foresee a lot of attention, as he has his own show at Kingdom on April 13th. Keep eye on this young RVA talent.
Must Listen: Based, Blokx Is Like, Eyes On My Destiny
Peter Sun – Blue Sapphire (datpiff.com)
I suggest you roll up one (as they say) for local emcee Peter Sun and his latest project, Blue Sapphire. With ambient beats and an eclectic style, this RVA artist is definitely one of a kind, holding on to his team HippiesNGoonz. This is one of those mixtapes that I don’t skip a track on. I was highly impressed with Peter’s versatility to harmonize on certain tracks, but still keep to himself. Most singers today have to change their voices or use Autotune to hit a note–Peter does it himself, without effects. The song “She Said” is a perfect example. I find myself going back to “REM (Rapid Eye Movement),” which is about dreaming of what you want, but having to wake up to reality–something we all deal with in life. There are so many great tracks I can pick from, but one I particularly like is “Merlot x Cohibas,” featuring fellow HippiesNGoonz teammate Coley. It’s a celebration of the HippiesNGoonz team, and the fact that any party you attend with this crew will have plenty of merlot (wine) and cohibas (cigars) around. Overall, this mixtape is a certified RVA classic; so says the streets. Look out for Peter Sun and the rest of the HippiesNGoonz team around RVA.
Must Listen: Hardwood Floors 91’, Drunk In VeGas, Don Heru
