Picture by Jay Lawrence

Rounding out your teen years is a confusing time. You find yourself constantly looking in the rear view pondering over bad choices and missed opportunities (remember all of the “Damn bro, I should’ve gotten her number” moments) all while mulling over what the future has in store for you. 19-year-old Tempe, Arizona native Milky Mel is no different. After gaining some attention with his inclusion in our segment, ‘With All Due RESPECT.‘, Milky Mel is back with the retrospective new track “Mama Told Me“.

Going in over synth heavy production from fellow Arizona native tEChnician, Mel gives lethargic but catchy bars about growing up in a city where nobody has made it from, all while attempting to keep it organic. “I just finally got confident enough with my direction and music that I felt enticed to make a song that covered my life as a young adult” the Arizona State University attendee said over email, “I think the 2016 audience is looking for hip-hop that doesn’t rely on the basic tropes, the people desperately want innovation.” While the track highlights many popular notions in a young man’s — particularly a young artist — life, the one bar that sticks out is “I coulda went to Princeton for unofficial visits/by senior year my GPA was two point mind ya business!” because, honestly, who can’t relate to that? Those family parties where everybody asks, “How’s school? How are your grades” are completely unbearable am I right? Also, the Obama bit at the end is just gold. Seriously though, where are those birth certificates Barry??

The track comes in as the latest single from Milky Mel after the release of this years EP, Notepad, and reunites Mel and tECh who make up the duo underpressure. Check out the track below and let us know what you think in the comment section!

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The post RESPECT. Premiere: Milky Mel – “Mama Told Me” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

River Tiber in San Diego, California

With the successful premier of the segment, ‘With All Due RESPECT.’, we decided to bring you another list of underrated music. Featuring a collection of 5 tracks that include artists from cities such as Harlem, Atlanta, Tempe and more, this list is diversity at it’s finest. Highlighting slept on tracks from up and comers such as River Tiber, Marty Baller and Royce Rizzy, we hope you enjoy this playlist of diamonds in the rough. Check ’em out below, and let us know your opinions in the comment section!

“Sun Come Up (Feat. Nephlon Don & Madeintyo)” – Royce Rizzy

Private Club Records label mates; Royce Rizzy and Madeintyo are usually known for their turn up hits such as “Uber Everywhere” and “Had To“, they opt for a more retrospective sound as they enlist Philadelphia emcee and fellow label mate, Nephlon Don for their infectious new track “Sun Come Up“. Released in May, the track features Rizzy and Don trading rhymes about the struggles of success and the hectic lifestyle that accompanies it. Combining a soothing piano sample with Madeintyo’s pain filled vocals and hard hitting bars from Rizzy and Don, this track is definitely one to keep your eye on. We had a chance to check out Madeintyo and Royce Rizzy in San Diego during the stop on ‘The Level Up Tour’, check it out here.

“Freaky” – Perrion

Going hard over a banging beat by GOLDDIGGA, Harlem native Perrion absolutely rips this track apart. Though the track is old — it was released way back in August of last year — the infectiousness of the track cannot be denied as Perrion utilizes his raspy voice to deliver an ode to all his people going through hardship. The chorus it’s self will have you feeling ready to take control of your day. Coming in at only 14K plays on his SoundCloud, this is your opportunity to jump on the bandwagon early and say you were there way back when. Take a listen to the track below and get acclimated with the latest export from NYC.

“West” – River Tiber

The 6 has been on fire for a minute now. After establishing acts such as The Weeknd, Justin Bieber, and Drake; Toronto has become the hotbed for underground talent as well as new artists like DVSN and Tory Lanez put the world on notice. While the regulars have been holding court, it’s the up and coming “do it all” artist River Tiber who has the 6 buzzing. Teaming up with OVO producer Frank Dukes and singer Daniel Caesar, River Tiber delivers a sensual coming of age track of his upcoming album, Indigo, that features the nighttime vibes that you’ve come to expect from Toronto artists. Going in over the track about the struggles of balancing expectations of holding down your city while discovering the new beauty in others, River Tiber delivers one of his most honest tracks to date. Though it premiered on Beats 1 Radio in February with Zane Lowe, the song has been heavily slept on. Check out the track below and check out our recap of River Tiber’s opening performance at the San Diego stop of the ‘99.9%’ tour here, in which he performed the track for the first time in California, the city that inspired the song.

“Roll Up (Feat. Smoke DZA & Fat Man Scoop)” – Marty Baller

If you’ve happen to read our recap of our time at ‘The Level Up Tour‘, then you know how we feel about A$AP Ferg’s protege Marty Baller. Keeping the Harlem vibe going, Marty Baller recruits vets Smoke DZA and Fatman Scoop for the stoner anthem “Roll Up“. Showcasing the rockstar like swank that was on display during his show, Marty goes absolutely nuts over this Fat Man Scoop track. Never to be outdone, especially on a weed track, Harlem OG Smoke DZA makes sure his crown is defended with lines like “High as giraffe pu**y” and “Smoke DZA, I’m the Kush God”. But it’s the the infectious cadences from Marty Baller that make this track a constant head knocker. Be sure to check out the track below as well as other tracks from the NYC up and comer. Marty’s got next, you heard it here first.

“Lvl 7” – underpressure.

Comprised of talented producer/engineer teCHnician and creative wordsmith milky mel, underpressure. has been gaining traction. Representing Tempe, Arizona, milky mel showcases his many vocal talents — which sound like an awkwardly enjoyable combination of Childish Gambino and Wiz Khalifa —  over this futuristic teCH track. Starting off the song with mel crooning braggadocios melodies and bars over tribal drum patterns, the song then takes a sharp turn into chilling synth samples that sound native to Super Mario adventures and bars about breaking through social barriers and expectations. underpressure. showcases their creativity and love for video game by paying homage with the bar; “Same dude/ New ways of thinking, same GameCube/ if we play melee, I’m Pele to these lame dudes”. With less than a thousand plays under it’s belt, “Lvl 7” is definitely a slept on track off of their recently released tape, Notepad. Check out the track below and get familiar with the electric new duo from the Grand Canyon state.

Did we miss something? Did we get it right? Get at us in the comments!

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The post With All Due REPSECT.: 5 Songs You’re Sleeping On Right Now (6/6) appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.