ShaSimone can spit hard. An intimidating persona, she’s also not afraid to be open. Recent single ‘Lock Off’ showed the rapper at her most dynamic, lifting the tempo for those epic double-time flows. Aiming to keep fans on their toes, new single ‘Thug Affection’ flips the script once more, with ShaSimone dropping the tempo for a work of ruthless honesty. Opening with spoken word testimony from a therapist, ‘Thug Affection’ boasts bass-heavy LikkleDotz production, the spartan arrangement moving from sub-low elements through to those tinkling notes of piano. Putting her heart on the line, ShaSimone talks about the trials of the dating scene, and the necessity that love and commitment hold in her life. She comments… “’Thug Affection’ is a song I made which is a reflection of the current dating scene from my perspective. Situationships have become so glamorised and I feel like a lot of people are craving genuine, real love. So this song is a dedication to all the people looking for something real.” A bold yet subtle track, ‘Thug Affection’ spins everything you know about ShaSimone on its head. MRMTMMG directs the visuals – tune in below. [via Clash]

Self-proclaimed “queen of drill” Ivorian Doll is sharing her newest track ‘Messy’. Coming alongside a montage video directed by Bas Haselager, the vid follows Ivorian Doll behind-the-scenes and performing on-stage. Speaking to DIY last year, she told us, “I try and make my music really fun, and people like that unapologetic person – the person who doesn’t really care. That’s what I put out every day. I’m doing me!” [via DIY]

Leicester’s very own Queen Millz has accompanied the release of her latest single, ‘Red Light’, with a fresh set of visuals. As always Queen Millz comes through with a whole load of confidence on ‘Red Light’, which she uses to detail her success to motivate her listeners. [via GRM Daily]

FLOHIO has shared a new video for her latest single, ‘SPF’. It’s a cut from recently-announced debut album, Out Of Heart. Set for release on October 7, the record also features single ‘Cuddy Buddy’. Director Aiden Hermit-Williams says of the video recording process: “Making this music video was truly a labour of love on my part and if I can speak for my majestic team: I’m sure it was for them too. We went through the fire to make something great but luckily we were wearing our SPF. Having the opportunity to work with Flohio, who’s such a focused and engagingperformer was really something special, turning it up to 11 for every shot. Not tomention the amazing cast and crew including Matt (@mattgillan) our DOP and Scott(@scottgriffithsdp) our focus puller who really brought their A-games for thecamerawork and Ellie (@ellie_r1) our stylist who really elevated the concept with herstyling. A great experience from start to finish.” [via Dork]

Continuing a red hot summer, Dallas rap star Erica Banks serves up a sizzling new music video for her latest single ‘Trick’ via 1501 Certified Entertainment/Warner Records. It remains a standout from her 2022 mixtape, Diary of the Flow Queen. The track’s thick bassline wobbles between a head-nodding beat. She launches into a series of raw and racy rhymes before a hard-hitting hook. As if offering up an instruction manual to the hustle, she urges, “Give ’em a show.” The sexy and celebratory accompanying visual illuminates her uncontainable spirit and star-power on-screen, bringing the song to life with no shortage of seduction. The clip features show-stopping pole dance routines as vibrant as the song’s bold bounce. It might just be her wildest and definitely most bodacious video yet! [via Broadway World]

New York rapper CLIP returns with bold new single ‘FALL BACK’. The artist’s debut EP PERCEPTION is out on September 8, released via tastemaker imprint In Real Life. Recent single ‘Calvin K’ caused a ruckus, with CLIP’s natural flamboyance coming to the fore. Ahead of this, bruising new single ‘FALL BACK’ is online now. The bass-heavy production carries a real sense of swagger, illuminated by those bright, buoyant electronics. Self-described as “pretty girl music” there’s a real sense of style to the way CLIP approaches this track. She says: “The energy for ‘FALL BACK’ came naturally. The beat is so beautiful and brought to mind iconic women rappers of the 90s and 2000s – I wanted to channel pretty girl music while still talking my shit.” The full video is also online, with CLIP continuing: “Moshpxt’s video brings ‘FALL BACK’ to life because it’s as if he created my own dream land, and that’s where my mind is most of the time. The visuals ultimately complement how euphoric and yet energetic the beat is.” [via Clash]

Birmingham’s Brixx has returned with visuals for her brand-new tune ‘Bad Like Dat’. Produced by Moshino Royale, this track is infused with a vibey dancehall-infused tone which Brixx uses to remind us what she’s all about. In the visuals by MarpzNorthside, we see Brixx in therapy where she speaks on her bad antics. ‘Bad Like Dat’ is Brixx’s first release of 2022 following last year’s ‘2nd Warning Freestyle’, and is said to be a taste of what’s to come from the Brum artist in the next few months. [via GRM Daily]

Nigerian-born, New Zealand-raised, Australian-based hip-hop act Sophiegrophy is back with the perfect answer for the haters in her new song ‘Question Mark’. The track sees her heading back to Lagos, Nigeria to soak in the energy and deliver a no holds barred assault on the naysayers over a bouncy drill/grime-infused soundscape. Armed with her bass-laden vocal tone and unrelenting confident demeanor, she reminds folks not to jump to conclusions because the reality might not be palatable hence don’t pose a question when you have an assumed answer. The track also sees her blending English with her native Yoruba language in an effortless manner as she glides over the beta with much gusto and finesse. For the visuals, Sophiegrophy taps Nayaeffecz of NayaCreativesStudios to help bring her vision to life. Using a mix of performance shots, indoor and on-location shots with themed set pieces, we get to see the rapper in all her glory from her animated performance and unique fashion style. [via Earmilk]

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During the closing credits of the premiere episode of Disney’s new series Ms. Marvel, a scorching hip-hop track can be heard playing in the background. As it turns out, the song, titled ‘Rozi,’ is by Eva B, who is dubbed as Pakistan’s first-ever female rapper. Entirely rapped in Urdu, the track marks Eva B’s first release on Naughty Horses Records. Gingger Shankar co-wrote and produced ‘Rozi,’ which features both Pakistani and Indian influences. The lyrics match the journey of Ms. Marvel protagonist Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) as a Muslim teenager navigating life in New Jersey. “Asar he ye mjhpe logon ki baton ka,” Eva B spits with authority. “Faraq he ye soch or duniya ki nazron ka/ Duniya to bolti thi bolti rahegi ye/ Himmat ka he parwana parwaz he hoslon ka.” In English, this translates to: “This is the effect of people’s words to me/ The difference is this thinking and worldview/ The world keeps talking/ But the courage to fly is the flight of destinations.” Shankar opened up about the song in a statement, saying, “The track is done in Urdu, which for a mainstream Marvel series to do is fantastic. I’ve always been a fan of Marvel, but if you had told me five years ago that we would be doing an Urdu hip-hop track with Pakistani and Indian influences for a Pakistani female superhero, I wouldn’t have believed it! ‘Rozi’ is an anthem for women’s empowerment and Eva B delivers. Eva and I worked on it through the pandemic between Los Angeles and Pakistan and are thrilled for folks to see its debut on Ms. Marvel.” [via Consequence]

In recent weeks, the New York rapper Princess Nokia has been making new connections — showing up in a Kacey Musgraves video, opening for HAIM at Madison Square Garden. Soon, she’ll star in Daughter Of The Sea, a short film about grief and spirituality in Puerto Rico. She’s also coming out with her own music, too. Princess Nokia released her single ‘No Effort’ a few months ago, and now she’s got a new one called ‘Diva.’ On the song, she sings and raps about feeling like a pop star, a goddess, and a diva, ratting off the names of her inspirations and showing off her own confidence over regal horn bursts. Princess Nokia shot the accompanying video in Puerto Rico with director Robot MoonJuice, and she looks absolutely unreal in it. [via Stereogum]

Sound London riser Cristale has provided us with a new set of visuals for ’13 Going On 30′, taken from her debut EP. Teaming up with director Yukki, Cristale provides us with a football-themed set of visuals which mirror the youthful nature of ’13 Going On 30′ and the reflective lyrics. The track is taken from Cristale’s debut EP, What It’s Like To Be Young, which she’s described as being a “tribute to my younger self” and is out now. “Turning 21 has been challenging to say the least,” Cristale explains. “Some of these songs date back 2 years, but some of the experiences that I touch base on are at least 10 years old. I’m using this project to say congratulations to my younger self, all of the challenges that I faced, I overcame and now because of the music, the process will live on forever and always mean something somewhere.” [via GRM Daily]

Within the last few months, Rubi Rose liberated new singles for the masses including ‘I Like’ and ‘Single.’ Now, she makes her swift return with yet another strong offering titled ‘Wifey,’ which sees Rubi drop some lyrics about owning her own narrative over a sample of NER*D’s iconic track, ‘Lapdance’. [via Revolt]

Sophiegrophy, an Australian-based Nigerian-born hip-hop artiste has released a new song titled ‘Question mark’. ‘Question mark’ is the third song to drop from Sophiegrophy’s forthcoming sophomore EP. Recorded in Lagos (Nigeria), ‘Question mark’ effortlessly blends raps rendered in Yoruba with the hard-hitting punch lines that have become her style. The song places Sophiegrophy in a narrative of false assumptions where the definition of one’s perceived identity is in a constant state of flux, based on misdirection and under attack by fake news and the endless enquiry into an artist’s real state of mind. According to her: “Don’t ask a question when you have already assumed the answer. The real answer won’t fit your reality. They want to get to know me so they ask questions, but the answers I give does not fit the narrative so they continue to ask more questions.” [via The Guardian]

DMV rapper Kelow Latesha puts her energetic personality on full display for latest release, ‘Titanic.’ The accompanying visual feels like a variety show equipped with costume changes and personas. Her lyrics challenge haters and provide an instant serotonin boost. ‘Titanic,’ has a playful trap beat. The rapper toggles between high pitched inflected vocals and casual bars. She raps, “Free the nipple, call it Janet. I love money, it’s romantic.” Featuring the late rapper, Goonew, the two artists serve witty verses with a boastful candor. The track has a unique SoundCloud rap vibe with the articulate flow of a chart-topping single. [via Earmilk]

Currently touring with the Tony award winning Broadway musical HADESTOWN, artist Hailes has also somehow found the time to self release her own music. This time, she shares the free-flowing single ‘Only One,’ a heartfelt narrative of falling in love with someone special. Written about someone she’d just met and the “prospect of falling in love in the summertime ‘Only One,’ showcases Hailes incredibly rhythmic flows. Despite not considering herself a rapper, her talent prevails. A mixture of sleek beats and lo-fi rhythms, the track is an expressive revelation of feeling in utter contentment. Harnessing those feelings of finding the perfect person for you, ‘Only One,’ navigates the enchanting waters of new romance, touching on the whirlwind of heightened emotions. Telling us more about the track’s creation, Hailes says: “During the pandemic I escaped to a little beach house in Cape Cod with my writing partner/producer Daniel and this is one of the songs that came out of that time. We wanted to get away from the chaos that was New York City at the time, and surround ourselves with good vibes and nature.” [via Earmilk]

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