Mikey PX & UliCookUp, shot by Lunaville

Earlier this year, Long Beach resident Mikey PX put out one of the 1st Quarter’s most surprising projects with his debut, It’s Depressing, Being A Shooter. With a strong buzz that’s carried Mikey all the way through the summer, he returns with the short, but sweet follow up EP, Since You’re Here Now.

Clocking in at five tracks, Since You’re Here Now is a brief but exciting ride that showcases Mikey rapping a bit harder & a lot more inspired than he was on his last project. Right from the start, the intro sets the tone with what might be the most quoted line from the whole project, “I got some head from a freak bitch with a choker.”

Despite the project being an easy listen for each of the 5 songs, the two that standout without a doubt are, “When The Moon Blue,” & “Upset.” The former is an energetic, motivated track where Mikey spills all the beans about everything from label woes, cases & more over some ridiculous KapeThaGoat production.

The latter, on the other hand, is the party anthem of the project. Crafted by perhaps the hottest producer on the West Coast at the moment in Ron-Ron, “Upset,” is a very 2018, California-sounding track that has the best potential on the album to go viral. With a wildly infectious hook to go along with addictive melodies from RonRon to compliment, expect this song to be on your radios sooner than later.

Other songs that highlight Mikey’s potential are, “Plug >>> Deal,” the high octane, Bambino assisted song that sees Mikey ditiching the nonchalant cadence for some much needed urgency & “This High Forever,” a sobering & reflective cut that broadcasts Mikey’s personal feelings on a jumbo screen over some distinct production from one of Las Vegas’ best, UliCookUp.

Check out, Since You’re Here Now below & be sure to stay hip to Mikey PX.

The post Long Beach Native Mikey PX Returns With His New EP, ‘Since You’re Here Now’ appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Richie Bux (far right) pictured with Mikey PX (far left) & B.B. Knight (middle).

In Hip-Hop, there’s a thin line between paying homage and biting. This was probably the first thought that jumped into my brain when I first seen the cover for Indiana native Richie Bux’s new EP, Early Infamy 1.5: Salute Me or Shoot Me.

Initially, I thought it was an odd name… then I heard the music. Clocking in at 8 tracks long, Early Infamy 1.5 plays true to the sound that Waka Flocks introduced — with his Salute Me or Shoot Me tapes — & pays homage to a great time in rap. Sticking to heavily drawn out trap drums and hi-hats that sound like they’re coming straight from a machine gun, Bux tapped producer Dymon Beats to exclusively handle production on this tape.

… & we were not disappointed.

Following 2016’s fan favorite, Early Infamy, Bux finally finds his signature sound on 1.5. Executive produced by Industry Plant Management Group, 1.5 see’s Richie sounding as confident as ever, as he gasses through flows and cadences like his aresnal is never ending.

While all eight tracks go crazy & there’s virtually no room for skips on this project, the two standouts are without a doubt, “Lemme See,” the piercing first single from the project that shows Richie rapping like a man possessed, & “Ballout,” an infectiously, energetic and enjoyable song that is just short enough to make you want to run it back 10-15 times before you move on to the next track.

“I’m going to try and make the Early Infamy series a late summer thing every year,” Bux tells RESPECT. via email, “I think it fits perfectly with the fall weather.”

Check out, Early Infamy 1.5 & be sure to keep an eye on the IPMG star, who’s set to perform at the A3C Festival, this October in Atlanta.

The post Rising Midwest Star Richie Bux Drops Off His Newest EP, ‘Early Infamy 1.5: Salute Me Or Shoot Me’ appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.