In celebration of inking a deal with Atlantic Records, British vocalist Annabel Jones has premiered her first single as a member of the label. Entitled “IOU,” the punchy electro-pop cut finds Jones’s infectious vocals riding along in tandem with a grimy undercurrent of bass that underscores her lyrical furor. While no release date has been announced just yet, Jones’ […]
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Annabel Jones Hits Us With The Truth On “IOU”
February 4th, 2016 
Mike Giegerich 
Posted in News, Streams 
Tags: annabel jones, atlantic records, cooked paintings, iou, single 
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Alex Aff Releases Minimalistic Visuals For “Understand”
February 2nd, 2016 Mike Giegerich Durham native Alex Aff first caught our attention in 2015 with Forever, a full-length project grounded in hip-hop’s classic, boom-bap aesthetic. After kicking off the new year with a supremely raw cut in “The Regency” that he describes as “a gritty joint over a jazz sample,” Aff has returned to Forever with black-and-white visuals for the standout […]
Posted in News, Reviews, Streams Tags: alex aff, durham, ep, forever, mixtape, North Carolina, understand Comments Off on Alex Aff Releases Minimalistic Visuals For “Understand”
UTG INTERVIEW: Wara From The NBHD Digs Deep On ‘If Guns Could Speak PSA’
January 12th, 2016 Mike Giegerich The roots of Wara From The NBHD‘s If Guns Could Speak PSA run deep. Part personal testimony, part La Haine-influenced artistry, the record is a meticulously composed representation of life in urban America and the tragedies it entails. Visceral expressions of anger and confusion function as its lifeblood, reinforced by gripping instrumentals that forgo preconceived notions […]
Posted in Features, Interviews, News, Streams Tags: bubblin, conner youngblood, don't call 911, if guns could speak psa, kidnapped, music video, playin four keeps, rellajamu, tunji ije, wara, wara from the nbhd Comments Off on UTG INTERVIEW: Wara From The NBHD Digs Deep On ‘If Guns Could Speak PSA’
SINGLE REVIEW: Sophie And The Bom Boms – “Big Girls”
December 17th, 2015 Mike Giegerich Artist: Sophie and the Bom Boms Song: “Big Girls” Album: TBA Sophie Stern’s knack for songwriting has never been in question; as a former associate of Dr. Luke, the Los Angeles-based musician has more than her fair share of thoroughly infectious music under her belt. Yet, when comparing Stern’s newest single with last year’s The […]
Posted in Features, News, Reviews, Streams Tags: 80s, big girls, California, dr luke, electro, electro pop, electronic, los angeles, pop (genre), sophie and the bom boms, sophie stern, the shmixtape Comments Off on SINGLE REVIEW: Sophie And The Bom Boms – “Big Girls”
UTG INTERVIEW: FKi’s 1st Talks ‘First Time For Everything’
December 14th, 2015 Mike Giegerich 1st has spent much of his career outside the immediate gaze of hip-hop’s spotlight, but he’s no stranger to the success that it entails. Half of Atlanta’s trap production-duo, FKi, the multi-faceted artist’s career began in the studios of Collipark Music and quickly ascended after a basement-studio session with Travis Porter resulted in two Billboard-charting singles. Since that fateful […]
Posted in Features, Interviews, News Tags: asap rocky, Atlanta, diplo, Dipset, dipset anthem, first time for everything, fki, fki 1st, forever, heatmakerz, hurtin, i love makonnen, iLoveMakonnen, key, loudpvck, Mad Decent, makonnen, metro boomin, post malone, Riff Raff, sauce lord rich, sonny digital, uzi Comments Off on UTG INTERVIEW: FKi’s 1st Talks ‘First Time For Everything’
REVIEW: Wara From The NBHD – ‘If Guns Could Speak PSA’
December 7th, 2015 Mike Giegerich Artist: Wara From The NBHD Album: If Guns Could Speak PSA Genre: Hip-Hop, Rap In a year where gun violence has demanded the nation’s collective attention, Wara From The NBHD provides vital commentary on the power of the pistol in urban centers with his sophomore offering, If Guns Could Speak PSA. As a blend of […]
Posted in Features, News, Reviews, Streams Tags: Atlanta, conner youngblood, if guns could speak psa, kidnapped, on god, rellajamu, shotclock, tunji ige, wara from the nbhd Comments Off on REVIEW: Wara From The NBHD – ‘If Guns Could Speak PSA’
UTG Mixtape Roundup: November 2015
December 7th, 2015 Mike Giegerich Future and Young Thug have set the standard for balancing high quality with high quantity when it comes to mixtape releases, but even without the media attention, their lesser-known contemporaries have echoed a similar ethic in 2015. Thus, it’s no surprise this month’s mixtape roundup features multiple artists from the current capital of hip-hop following […]
Posted in Features, News, Reviews, Streams Tags: 808 mafia, Atlanta, bones, dirty glove sacii, ethan sacii, hermit of east grand river, hermitofeastgrandriver, i am que, lil uzi vert, luv is rage, mick jenkins, mixtape, noelz vedere, pyramid poet, que, sesh hollow water boyz, shwb, sonny digital, spike sacii, team sesh, Tm88, Wiz Khalifa, young thug Comments Off on UTG Mixtape Roundup: November 2015
REVIEW: I Love Makonnen – ‘I Love Makonnen 2’
November 30th, 2015 Mike Giegerich Artist: I Love Makonnen Album: I Love Makonnen 2 Label: OVO Sound Genre: Hip-Hop, R&B I Love Makonnen entered the national conversation with his Drake-assisted “Tuesday” in the summer of 2014, but his self-titled OVO Sound EP hinted toward a much broader vision beyond the overt quirkiness of the left-field club anthem. After a year spent exploring his […]
Posted in Features, News, Reviews Tags: album, club goin up, Drake, ep, i love makonnen, iLoveMakonnen, new, santigold, trust me danny, tuesday 3 Comments »
SINGLE REVIEW: LZRS TXN – “Let It Go”
November 9th, 2015 Mike Giegerich Artist: LZRS TXN Song: “Let It Go” Album: TBA Self-described “intergalactic groovy” duo LZRS TXN‘s debut Side A EP existed somewhere between Graduation-era Kanye West and a medley of danceable, upbeat electronics. The combination was potent enough to garner the attention of the Boston Globe, so it’s only right their new single, “Let It Go,” continues the tradition of […]
Posted in Features, News, Reviews, Streams Tags: electro, Graduation, hip hop (genre), Kanye, let it go, lzrs txn, pop (genre), rap (genre), side a, STRFKR Comments Off on SINGLE REVIEW: LZRS TXN – “Let It Go”
UTG Mixtape Roundup: October 2015
November 6th, 2015 Mike Giegerich While September’s all-star lineup of mixtapes was impossible to top in terms of household names (special thanks to Thugger, Migos, and co.), October allowed us to focus in on a slew of lesser-known talents from across the country who were bursting with potential (if not already firing on all creative cylinders). Thus, read on to discover releases from a […]
Posted in Features, News, Reviews, Streams Tags: alex aff, ballin' like kobe, Delorean, devontee, district vibe, forever, g herbo, jah-x, lil herb, mad feels, perfect black Comments Off on UTG Mixtape Roundup: October 2015
UTG Mixtape Roundup: September 2015
October 5th, 2015 Mike Giegerich With the collective work ethic of rappers at an all-time high, it’s easy to sleep on a lot of quality (and free) music. Thus, at the end of each month, contributor Mike Giegerich will bring you a list of the best mixtapes to hit the Internet in the past 30 days. Know a struggle rapper whose […]
Posted in Features, News, Reviews, Streams Tags: 100% juice, almighty dp2, Back To The Bando, bandcamp, Chief Keef, datpiff, download, free, juicy j, Meow The Jewels, migos, mixtape, my liver can handle what my heart can't, Run the Jewels, Slime Season, stream, suicide boys, suicideboys, young thug, YRN Comments Off on UTG Mixtape Roundup: September 2015
UTG INTERVIEW: Emily Hearn Discusses ‘Hourglass’
September 25th, 2015 Mike Giegerich Singer-songwriter Emily Hearn hails from Athens, Georgia, otherwise known as a town with high expectations for its musical inhabitants. After years of performing at local venues while doubling as a student at the University of Georgia, Hearn is positioned to take her country-tinged pop music to the masses as her songs continue to find success online, […]
Posted in Features, Interviews, News Tags: album, athens, country, emily hearn, Georgia, Hourglass, interview, pop (genre), volcano Comments Off on UTG INTERVIEW: Emily Hearn Discusses ‘Hourglass’