With so much music being released these days from major, indie, and bedroom artists at a rapid rate, it’s become increasingly difficult to keep track of what’s actually hot, and what’s being spoon fed to us. Music distribution sites such as SoundCloud and Audiomack have made it easy for just about anybody to release music whenever and wherever they may choose to do so. As you can imagine, this floods the internet with music that would’ve mostly been unheard of, bringing both amazing and underwhelming music to the forefront like never before. One thing it also does, is make it hard on the casual music consumer to find good innovative music, thus placing a higher importance on curators. A lot of good music is being slept on, and it’s our job to fix it. So without further a due, we present: With All Due RESPECT., which is a list of 5 songs that you’ve been sleeping on whether indie or major. Check out these 5 sleepers and let us know what you think in the comment section.

“External Payment” – Wave Mmlz

Utilizing an underrated Temptations sample reminiscent of a young Kanye West, North Las Vegas producer/rapper Wave Mmlz (which stands for Make Music Live Zen) absolutely rips this in to pieces. Lines like, “It’s crazy how they switched because they never f****d with you/ Now they show me love and want collabs but I got stuff to do” and “Now it’s been a couple months since the lights turned on/ and my neurons/ cooking up some work that I can stir on” highlight Wave showing off not only his mental state but his interesting flow pattern. Check out the Sin City native’s track here and pick up his recently released album, Poly on Apple Music, Spotify, and Google Play.

“Bulls**t” – Jay Bel

Over a wavy futuristic synth that repeats throughout the song, Brooklyn native Jay Bel attacks this vicious track off his groovy new EP, Bohmia right from the jump with lyrical darts such as, “Came, came, came with the chillest of the flows/ While I flame lame lames, like I lit another raw/ Ain’t say-saying I’m a ni**a with the war/ But they ain’t really saying what they chilling here for” and “Any ni**a lurking’s a serpent to me/ Get a wave and they surf it for free” showing off his innovative double time flow pattern. Coupling that with a catchy chorus that makes you want to chant to your lungs, “Bulls**t” will most definitely become your new favorite ode to the haters.

“Gettin’ Real” – MaZhe.

“Sharp enough to puncture a lung/ string my vocal chords together/ ya boy is clever the puns” and “Double time like jigga my ni**a” were instantly favorites when I first heard the creative new track by 18-year-old San Diego artist MaZhe. His nasally tone plays in to his favor while he teams that up with intricate flows similar to Pro Era. Though his flow is similar at times, his bars are dense. Putting all of that together on a wavy beat produced by First Letter, MaZhe. shows potential and delivers a track worthy of your time now. Check it out here.

“Jamaican (feat. Haresha & Chief) – Flow Simpson

From the absolute get go, Arizona singer/rapper Haresha completely makes her presence known with bars such as, “Find us stirring in the kitchen/ been cooking up the pot/ everybody with the sh**ts but ain’t nobody got shot” and personal favorite “Wish I had a tissue I could wipe ya tears/ something bout the look on ya face tells me I own ya fears” which sets the tone for the chillingly futuristic track produced 187Beatz. The track, which is off of Flow Simpson‘s Hamsterdam, mixtape is a 4:44 long constant head bobber with lyrical treats from Flow, Chief and Haresha that set the perfect tone to get your rasta on.

“For You” – Ashoka

Easily comparable to a young Drake or Big Sean at first listen, Philadelphia native Ashoka showcases an arsenal of flows and rhymes on this 3:33 long track suited perfectly for riding through the city late at night. Though missing a catchy chorus like other songs, the chilling sample in the background keeps your head ringing while Ashoka feeds you self reflecting bars like, “Did I change?/ Or did life change?/ as the days go/ and the night fades” over hard hitting high hats and roller coaster transitions. Check out this cut off his recently dropped EP, Hard To Gain, Easy To Lose.

Did we get it right? Did we miss some? Let us know in the comment section!

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RESPECT. Review: Brooklyn Emcee Jay Bel Comes Into His Own On ‘Bohemia’

The post With All Due RESPECT.: 5 Songs You’re Sleeping on Right Now appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Last January when Brooklyn native Jay Bel dropped his video for his single “Kate” via Pigeons & Planes, it showed a young talent with an extraordinary raw sense for melodies and hooks. Like most, the song struck a cord when the now 19-year-old emcee rapped about his distaste for the hypocrisies of college and his adoration for weed. After such a strong debut solo single, and a strong collaboration tape with fellow Sleeper Camp rapper Jimi Tents, Sex You Can Dance Too, fans of the artist anxiously waited for his own tape to be released. Those fans go their wish May 3rd in the form of a spacey new aged EP named Bohemia.

Bohemia features 7 tracks which include the singles “Kate” and “Acid Lake” and boasts one of the strongest mixtape covers of the year which if you look closely can show art that represents song names like “Acid Lake”. The EP starts off with the suspenseful sounding “Intreaux” which features Jay flowing over futuristic synths about his struggle to get just to where he is now. The song does justice as the intro as he properly introduces the journey he’s getting ready to take us on with lyrics like “I’d like to welcome you/ to a place where a ni**a ain’t concern bout it.” just before the it transitions into a hard drop of drums, melodies and forward sounding muffed synths. Jay then takes us into “Acid Lake” which personally is one of my favorite songs of the year. The chorus shows Bel flexing his singing chops where he sings about taking it to his enemies in a soulful way. Jay also dives more deeply into his thoughts with the lyric “I ain’t never been the one driving the boat/ but they like how I flow/ when I rose they afloat” which in my opinion can be seen on him touching on his unselfishness. More on that later. The 3:52 track not only shows Jay’s frequent ability to ride the wave and the sonics of the production, it also shows his growth from previous songs he’s done. On Sex You Can Dance Too, Jay had impressive lyrics, but at times was overshadowed by Jimi Tent’s strong flow and presence on the track. On this track as well as the strong banger “Bullsh*t” Jay exhibits his progression as his flows are more tightly compact and his ability to command the track is more clear. On “Bullsh*t”, the 19-year-old rapper shows his patience being tested over hard hitting machine gun high hats and new age keys. “I been up too long for this bullsh*t/I been pondering how I’m too strong for this bullsh*t” says Jay on the chorus which is the overall theme of the track.

Though the aforementioned songs were strong in their own right, the stand outs from the strong debut EP were definitely “Kate” and “Often”. “Kate” aesthetic represents the overall aesthetic of the EP with lyrics that open the song, “Went to school it didn’t make sense/ but thank god that we made tents” which shows where his head was at. As said before “Kate” also showcased Jay’s potential to be at a higher creativity level than most others with bars such as “gang green like a bucks fan”, “pocket full of pot like I walk with a dish”, and my personal favorite, “They ain’t know a ni**a spit like he talk with a lisp”. If “Kate” showed his lyrical potential as an emcee, “Often” displayed Bel’s potential as an overall artist with his surprisingly good vocal chops on the wavy dance track. Though it’s not very dense in lyrical presentation, the melodies and electronic vibes carry the song and help Jay live up to his nickname Groove.

Overall the 7-track EP was exactly what I was looking for in an EP from the Big Apple native. The only track I particularly didn’t enjoy was “BGL” which I felt saw Groove settling for the norm instead of pushing the creative boundaries as usual. Other than that hiccup, the project is a perfect appetizer to a full length project from Bel as well as maybe another collaboration with Jimi Tents. It’s one of the stronger projects of the year so far and showcases Bel as an artist to watch for the near future and more. Stream the project above and let us know what you think yourselves.

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The post RESPECT. Review: Brooklyn Emcee Jay Bel Comes Into His Own On ‘Bohemia’ appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

The origin for the stoner holiday of 4/20 has been widely debated for years. With theories such as police codes and chemical compounds nobody really knows the exact truth, but we do know one thing: its awesome. April 20th has been a day for decades for stoners and prudes alike to come together in unison and celebrate their hidden or public love for the tree. With the wide popularity of the holiday, there will sure to be many ganja related playlists that will mostly feature similar songs. This is not that list. With hidden gems such as Azizi Gibson to stoner staples like Wiz Khalifa, check out this hazy playlist we put together for you to sit back, relax and enjoy your smoke sesh to. Light it up.

1. “Let’s Get Blown” – Snoop Dogg featuring Pharrell 

 What better way to kick off the holiday than with a silky banger from the Doggfather himself? While other well known Snoop hits like “Gin and Juice” and “Drop it Like its Hot” are certainly classics, it’s this funky album cut off of Rhythm & Gangsta that sets the spark off right like no other. With a funky baseline accompanied by offkey melodies from Snoop and Neptunes front man, Pharrell, this track provides the grooves to get the vibe going. Plus, you can never go wrong with a Snoop and Neptunes collab.

     2. “Smoking With the Gods” – Azizi Gibson

Anybody who’s ever been around stoners knows that when you’re on cloud 9, you tend to think a little deeper into situations than others. Pothead conversation topics usually can range from anything from conspiracy theories to debates about politics. But the number one hotly debated ganja topic has always been and will always be about religion. Trainwreck psychologists have always had crazy and fairly rational theories on our origin and our creator. Maryland hotspitter, Azizi Gibson did his own freethinking on his 2014 track “Smoking With the Gods” in which he explores religion and religious tales with lines like, “Don’t you dare pass the blunt to Judas// He a traitor motherf*****, are you stupid?” The song is paired with a catchy hook and banging production that will get your mind thinking and your head bobbing.

     3. “How High (Remix)” – Method Man & Redman

Longtime collaborators and known weed connoisseurs Method Man & Redman are a must on any hazy playlist you might throw together today. After helping bring weed to a more popular mainstream mass with their stoner cult classic, How High, they must be acknowledged as legends in the toking business. Meth & Red spit over a hard hitting dusty, Erick Sermon track while trying to reach the top of stoner mountain. Coming off of the duo’s 1999 classic Blackout, this track is a mainstay on many smokey playlists.

   4. “High All the Time” – 50 Cent

While Queen’s emcee 50 Cent has said on many occasions that he doesn’t smoke weed himself, he sure does know how to make a record for the smokers. A hungry young Fif spits over a hard hitting Sha Money XL track about how he’s getting ready to take over the industry, and like it or not he’s doing it stoned. Lyrics such as “You don’t want me to be your kid’s role model// I’ll teach them how to buck them 380s and load up them hollows,” give you the overall gist of his mind state doing the recording of his Freshman classic Get Rich Or Die Tryin’.  The chorus itself could be a ceremonial chant for any weed advocated group. It’ll be the perfect sing along for you and your blunted friends.

   5. “Herb Shuttles” – The Underachievers

The Flatbush based duo features Issa Gold & AK and have been a fan favorite in the underground scene for a few years now. Their forward thinking rhymes and far out theories about many topics have grasped the attentions of stoners across the country. A big reason for that is this wavy cut from their 2013 mixtape, Indigoism which along with the video, drew acclaim from critics and fans alike. Make sure to bump this to help energize you in the middle of a crucial sesh.

   6. “Herban Legend” – Capital STEEZ

Keeping the vibe in the Beastcoast, the next track in the 4/20 playlist comes from the late Pro Era co-founder Capital STEEZ off of his 2012 classic tape Amerikkkan Korruption. The short two minute track shows Steelo going into a lyrical presentation of a day in life of Steez, the weed head. Going in on topics from slangin’ eighths to copping beats from a young Kirk Knight, the “Free The Robots” rapper takes you into his mind for a brief moment. RIP King Steelo.

  7. “Acid Lake” – Jay Bel

Brooklyn upstart, Jay Bel turned some heads in 2015 with the release of his hazy and accurate dive into the mind of a struggling artist with the track “Kate.” He failed to disappoint with a 2016 follow up with the faded and new age sounding “Acid Lake.” With crazy keyboard melodies and nice blends of singing and rapping, the song captures your head and will help ascend your already blunted mind. Keep an eye on the 19-year-old emcee.

  8. “Still Blazin” – Wiz Khalifa

 28-year-old Pittsburgh native, Wiz Khalifa made his way on to the scene as the heir to Snoop Dogg’s stoner throne with his mega hazy 2010 mixtape Kush & Orange Juice which is widely regarded as one of the best new aged mixtapes. The reggae themed track shows Wiz spitting bars about how the weed is making him feel with lyrics like, “You might go to sleep// Your throat might ache// You off that good weed// you need a nice break.” While the flow is simple, any seasoned stoner with many bong hits under their belt will be able to easily relate.

  9. “Crumblin’ Herb” – Outkast

While some people love to use grinders as a means of breaking down their weed because of things like the convenience and the opportunity for kief, any classic smoker will tell you themselves, there’s nothing better than breaking down a good nug by hand. Nobody captured this feeling better than Atlanta natives Big Boi and Andre 3000 with the classic joint off of their 1994 album, Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik. With smooth bars about how all of their troubles are temporary, this is the perfect track to help get you out of your worries and into the sky.

  10. “Mary Jane” – Rick James 

Words don’t do this justice, throw this on to close out your playlist and then check out Rick bully Charlie Murphy. Happy 4/20 y’all!

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The post RESPECT. 4/20: 10 Songs to Celebrate this Wavy Day appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

In a landscape where New York MC’s are boxed in as just bars, Jay Bel & Jimi Tents are opening the door for a wider understanding of East Coast’s potential. Follow Jay Bel on Twitter here to stay tuned to the next releases. 

The post Sleeper Camp’s Not Sleeping: Jay Bel feat. Jimi Tents – “TransEuro” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Independent artists keep music exciting & always remind us that there is so much talent in the world. Nowadays it is easy to get swamped with all the mainstream music that is out & you often forget to take time out to discover some new sounds that’s where Unsigned Spotlight comes in. Sundays at Respect Magazine will now be dedicated to giving Unsigned artists the spotlight & showcasing their talents. These artists will come from all over the country & have various backgrounds but all their music will be unique in a way as they pave the way for the next wave of music. Enjoy!

1. Wordsmiff – (@_WordSmiff_)

Coming out of New York, Wordsmiff comes with strong delivery & plenty of bars at all times. Wordsmiff carries the ability to switch up between conscious records & can also have fun with his music. The talented lyricist has constantly been releasing good music & continues to show us the extent of his artistry.

1. What’s the biggest goal you hope to accomplish in 2015?

My biggest goal is just to expand my sound and fan base. I try not to set too many goals and just let things flow organically, because everything we do is grassroots. Takes a little longer that way. As long as I keep creating and marketing how I am, the music will get me where I need to be. If I ever hit a wall, I’ve always adjusted and got around it to move forward. With all that being said, as I said before, the goal is to simply expand the fanbase and sound. Probably try some new things and switch the live show up. Really just tweaking the small things so that when the big things happen I’m prepared for it.

2. What message do you hope your music gives to the listeners?

The message I want to give the listeners is just to not let people box you in. I may not say the message directly in my music all the time, but if you pay attention I live it. I do so many things sonically that people aren’t sure what to categorize me as. Which to me, is perfect. I’ve lived most of my life boxed in by outside expectations. I’m just trying to show you can get anywhere you want to be if that’s what you’re passionate in. Regardless of what your parents, friends, coworkers, and love ones say, do you. I’m promoting positive thinking, living life however YOU see fit and just showing the world how fuckin dope you are. Fuck it. Utilize every tool, talent, or passion you have.

3. How would you describe your own sound?

I think I got ahead of myself that last question because that kind of wraps it up, but I’d describe it as whatever you want to hear. I make music for everybody so its hard to describe my sound. I have that classic hip hop sound, then I have that neo soul sound, I have a little trap, and I have the modern sounding records so it all depends. I write how I’m feeling and I’m someone in tune w/ the people so I feel everything. It’s a gift and curse, but it helps me write any type of record, so you never know what you’re going to get. Just always expect bars. I take pride in the pen. So, expect well crafted verses every time. I always make sure I have something witty or some kind of wordplay or flow. Way to describe my sound to sum it all up.. think a mix of Fergie and Jesus, basically

4. What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned since making music?

Biggest lesson I’ve learned is that I have to focus on myself and my purpose and never lose that. I’m here to tell the story for my people that don’t have the voice to, thats either in prison, in the grave, or in the street. I lost sight of that with the whole “People are underrating me” thought process. I had to ask myself “Are you here for the culture or the recognition?”. From that point on, it’s just been about putting out the best product I can for the fan base and to expand the fan base. People like what I do and like it for a reason. The talent is there, the drive is there, and the music is there. It’s about standing tall in my purpose and providing some dope music to the people. That’s the biggest lesson I’ve learned. My path is mine for a reason. Embrace it, appreciate it, and keep working constantly.

2. Kelow – (@SuperKelow)

Kelow comes out of D.C. with a great sound & her own style. The female lyricist brings us an abstract sound as she is able to play with various elements & switch up flows. She’s been steadily picking up traction as she continues to show off her originality.

1. What’s the biggest goal you hope to accomplish in 2015?

I wanna make moves !!! Skurrrrrr lol but seriously I wanna make big moves change my life and lives for the better; learn more than I did in 2014 & share the jewels of life with my listeners I’m not even gon swell I got content and I got a lot of crank coming this year. See my mind is already evolving A whole new revolutionary crank is coming now constant work.

2. What message do you hope your music gives to the listeners?

To be great you must be grateful; fuck all that ova nonsense feed your faith and starve your doubt
know That knowledge & Good energy is key!!! I wanna make you smile. Music now days just lacks and is sad as fuck! Like who wants be sad tho moe lls.

3. How would you describe your own sound?

Like a gramma ray in our outer space a beautiful organic bright COLORFUL explosion

4. What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned since making music?

Always make more n more I can’t be afraid to push creativity and try something unusual when we’re / (I’m) changing and evolving everyday by the hour sec mines and your story/perspective changes evolves grows switches but someone in this universe will relate from something old new or soon to come
The more I create the more I’ll reach .

3. Jay Bel – (JayxBel)

Meet Jay Bel. The Brooklyn artist comes with a sound that is fresh & original. With elements of Hip-Hop, Soul, R&B, & more, the SleeperCamp emcee has set himself apart with his artistry. As he continues to grow it will be great to see how he continues to push the limits of his sound.

1. What’s the biggest goal you hope to accomplish in 2015?

The biggest goal that i hope to accomplish in 2015 is to be heard, to be acknowledged as more than just a rapper, basically to express that we’re the creatives of the future.

2. What message do you hope your music gives to the listeners?

Be yourself. Aim for being the best version of yourself possible. You never know what your capable of.

3. How would you describe your own sound?

I’d describe it as like a new atmospheric groove-rap thing, definitely fresh in many aspects and mad fuckwithable. Puts you in my zone almost.

4. What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned since making music?

I’ve learned that you cant run around playing everybody your unreleased shit sometimes lol, it’ll get copied whether on purpose or inadvertently eventually if someone likes it enough.

4. Fresh Moss – (@Fresh_Moss)

From New Jersey, Fresh Moss is a talented emcee that has mastered releasing original content in creative ways & continues to expand on his artistry. Fresh Moss carefully curates all his releases & has a hand in every step of the process. Doing this has set him apart & has helped him to be able to fully show us his creativity. With plenty of new material on the way, Fresh Moss is set to have a good year.

1. What’s the biggest goal you hope to accomplish in 2015?

My biggest goal of 2015 is to keep my music as diverse as possible. As an artist, I feel like it’s important to remain creative in order to maximize my growth and success.

2. What message do you hope your music gives to the listeners?

I need my listeners to be able to understand me and my craft. Since I am an independent artist, I would like for my listeners to not just enjoy the music but realize through hard work and grit, anything is possible. It hasn’t been easy to gain what I have already accomplished and I’m nowhere near done, but life is a challenge. In order for me to take that challenge head-on, I have to take those risks.

3. How would you describe your own sound?

It’s difficult to classify my sound because I represent all types but being a fan of music, my sound is a mixture of all genres, not just hip-hop.

4. What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned since making music?

I’ve been doing music since I was 11, so I’ve learned quite a few lessons. My biggest takeaways would be to be patient, take your time, persevere through the hardships, practice your craft, and cultivate your sound. When that happens, I believe there’s no doubt in being able to increase your success

The post Respect Magazine’s Unsigned Spotlight – Series 4 appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

After the successful release of his single “Kate” and a premiere on Pigeons and Planes, Brooklyn emcee Jay Bel decides to liberate the track with some dope new visuals. The track describes the traditional push and pull between any up and coming artist faced with juggling the reality and their music careers.

The post Watch Jay Bel’s Video For “Kate” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.