Innholdsfortegnelse for ISSUE 2 - Jun - Aug 2025 i Urban Barz Magazine

Welcome to Issue 2 of Urban Barz Magazine – where rhythm meets resistance, and storytelling reigns supreme. In this issue, we honour hip-hop's unrelenting spirit—tracing its 50-year rise from Bronx block parties to a global movement. It's a celebration, yes—but also a reckoning. Because hip-hop has never been just music. It's been protest. Prayer. Poetry. Survival. You'll hear from artists navigating vulnerability, faith, race, and reinvention—from Dax's whispered confessions on Lonely Dirt Road, to Born 2 B's firebrand anthem U Don't Know. We dive into the sonic memoirs of artists like ExclusiveBoy D, Guess Pre, and EROCBOY, each channelling pain into purpose. We showcase political lyricism, genre-defiance, and the unfiltered voices of those living truth out loud. You'll also find tools for your own creative grind—whether that's discovering how to…

UNITED STATES, BOISE With over a decade of grind behind him, Boise-born artist Axiom Tha Wyze returns with his most fearless offering to date – Ethos, a self-produced masterclass in resilience, honesty, and golden-era Hip-Hop craftsmanship. From the first beat to the final bar, this record hits with purpose. It's gritty, heartfelt, and speaks volumes to those who know the weight of the everyday fight. Released on 18 April 2025, Ethos marks a major milestone in Axiom's career – not only because it's his first self-produced album, but because it peels back every layer to reveal the man behind the mic. This is more than a musical release; it's a therapeutic exhale. Tracks like “Death to the Old Me” and “Trailhead” make no apologies – they're declarations of rebirth, packed…

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READ MORE JACE MASTRA ‘HOME, HEART & SOUL’ Florida-based artist Jace Mastra bares it all on Home, Heart & Soul, his new EP released on 7 May 2025. A deeply personal project crafted in his own home studio, the EP captures Mastra's raw reflections on love, struggle, and self-worth through a melodic blend of emo rap, trap, and autotuned soul. Drawing inspiration from artists like Juice WRLD, Post Malone, Eminem, and Chris Brown, Mastra channels a genre-fluid sound rooted in emotional honesty. The result is a project that offers as much catharsis as it does late-night, headphones-on replay value. MADDY SUPPEZ ‘CATCH AND RELEASE’ Catch And Release by Oregon-based singer and rapper Maddy Suppez is a low-key soul groove with high-frequency intention. This isn't just a vibe track—it's a lesson…

UNITED STATES, SAN CLEMENTE With Suave, Cheeni doesn't just craft a track – he creates a mood. Released independently from his San Clemente home studio, the single leans into lo-fi textures and boom bap rhythms, offering a moment of soulful stillness wrapped in razor-sharp lyricism. It's mellow, meditative, and subtly defiant – a statement of self-assurance in a world full of noise. Built around jazzy samples and laid-back percussion, Suave blends old-school hip-hop sensibilities with contemporary introspection. There are shades of Mac Miller's early charm, the grounded spirituality of Mick Jenkins, and the fluid ease of Isaiah Rashad. Yet, Cheeni's voice remains his own – calm, confident, and completely unbothered. Thematically, the track explores the art of moving with intention through life's pressures. “Nothing happens unless you make it happen,”…

UNITED STATES, CHICAGO Theron Roosevelt Jr., known musically as Theron J.R., brings decades of lived experience into sharp focus with Kular of My Skin – a raw, funk-laced reflection on identity, race, and the long shadow of discrimination. Released on 28 February 2025, this single speaks not only from the past, but directly to the present. Rooted in personal memory, the song traces Theron's early life in 1970s Chicago, where his family stood as one of the few Black households in a predominantly white neighbourhood. It was a place of silence and side-glances – a reality where a tenant refused to pay rent to a Black landlord, and the beauty of brown skin was questioned daily. Yet through this truth, Theron offers not resentment, but rhythm. Musically, Kular of My…

ENGLAND, LONDON On U Don't Know, South-East London's own Born 2 B doesn't mince words – he sharpens them. Over a brooding Boom Bap beat laced with razor-sharp scratches and heavy-hitting bars, the veteran MC delivers a potent reminder that the real war isn't overseas – it's psychological, systemic, and closer to home than we dare to admit. Released 9 May 2025 via Hustlerz, Inc. Recordings, U Don't Know isn't just a track – it's a manifesto. With production from DJ Dax and Curtis T. Forde, the song pulses with a gritty, underground energy. Think raw 90s London cyphers meets political poetry – and it hits like a warning siren in a sea of auto-tuned apathy. “You are a slave in your government's eyes…” – the lyric is blunt, uncomfortable,…

THAILAND, PATTAYA Tropical Hoon is more than just a debut – it's a manifesto. A bold, rhythmic statement from Pattaya-based artist O.G.Bling, the single blends funk, hip-hop, and pop into a summer-ready groove laced with unexpected production turns. Released on 18 April 2025, the track introduces an artist with global ambitions and local roots, guided by a tight-knit team determined to bring something fresh to the table. Produced by Alex Base (Alexander Basov) with lyrics by Alexander Goryachev and O.G.Bling, Tropical Hoon is the product of organic collaboration. Recorded in a cosy Thai studio, the creative process took an exciting turn when a spontaneous idea for sound design was introduced late in production. The result is a dynamic sonic experience – lush with bouncing basslines, intricate effects, female backing vocals,…

NAMIBIA, WINDHOEK Namibia's Proklaim returns with Celebrate, a mellow, soul-soaked single designed for open roads and open minds. Released on 28 February 2025, the track blends lyrical sharpness with a breezy Afrobeat instrumental, proving that conscious rap can still dance. Recorded at Pen Pushaz Studios and mixed by Wojtek Majewski at Audio Art Namibia, the single captures the spirit of carefree reflection, driven by a freestyle adlibbed chorus and verses written with deliberate ease. At its heart, Celebrate is exactly what the title suggests: a toast to life's understated joys. Proklaim's cadence rides the beat like a summer wind – confident, relaxed, and rhythmically locked-in. The production is warm and textured, bringing a West African feel to classic hip-hop sensibilities. Think boom bap, but sun-soaked. What makes this release stand…

UNITED STATES, LUMBERTON, NORTH CAROLINA Emerging once again from the introspective depths of his artistry, ExclusiveBoy D returns with Dark Shades, an evocative 12-track body of work that cements the North Carolina native's position as a storyteller with both vision and vulnerability. Hailing from Lumberton – a town where making music was one of few creative outlets – ExclusiveBoy D channels his life's trajectory into a rich sonic diary that blends hip-hop, trap soul, alternative R&B, and a hint of indie eccentricity. The result? A project that refuses to play by the rules. A year and a half after his debut solo project No Better Time Than Now, which gained attention from outlets like Earmilk and Hype Off Life, Dark Shades finds the artist not just matured, but fully stepping…

CANADA, FORT MCMURRAY On Slow Down, Canadian artist Tommy Yankees delivers an introspective anthem that swims deep into the emotional currents of love, personal growth, and the art of being present. Released on 24 May 2025, this self-penned single is a gentle but urgent reminder that life's beauty often lives in its quietest moments. Recorded in March 2025, Slow Down blends melodic sincerity with a vibrant, almost Afrobeat-inspired undercurrent. But it's not just the groove that holds weight – it's the lyrical depth. “Bring back all the things I've missed in a moment,” Tommy pleads, reflecting on time lost to distraction, disconnection, and inner turmoil. His voice is smooth but tinged with longing, grounding the song's philosophical tone in emotional authenticity. At its core, the track is about learning to…

ENGLAND, LONDON With Omo Mandela, EROCBOY delivers more than just a catchy Afrobeat tune – he offers a melodic tribute to strength, dignity, and the quiet grace of a woman who captured his heart and inspired his soul. Released on 17 April 2025, the track marks a defining moment for the London-based rising star ahead of his forthcoming EP ARRIVAL. Recorded during a vacation in Ireland and produced by a former college mate, Omo Mandela carries an organic intimacy that reflects its origin. But don't let its breezy rhythm fool you – beneath the groove is a poetic ode to a woman whose presence, according to EROCBOY, mirrors the spirit of Nelson Mandela. The song seamlessly blends Afro-fusion melodies with emotional storytelling, painting a picture of a muse who is…

UNITED STATES, LOS ANGELES With Lay It All Down, Rebecca Anderson doesn't just sing – she ministers. Released on 9 May 2025, the single is a stirring blend of gospel, soul, and R&B that explores the quiet power found in letting go. It's not about giving up. It's about releasing control – and trusting that peace often comes after surrender. Following the success of In the Beginning, this latest offering sees the classically trained Los Angeles-based artist lean deeper into her calling as a voice for hope and healing. Written during a season of internal wrestling, the track reflects on the tension between agency and acceptance – and lands on faith as the bridge between the two. Anderson's vocal performance is nothing short of luminous. She delivers each line with…

Freedom Corner Brand: Independent Hip-Hop from Jackson, Mississippi Freedom Corner Brand is an independent record label and music collective born in the heart of Jackson, Mississippi—known as the birthplace of America's music. With a bold motto, “Our Life, Your Entertainment,” the label channels the spirit of southern grit, community pride, and lyrical integrity into every release. At its core, Freedom Corner Brand represents a grassroots movement in modern hip-hop, bringing together artists who reflect the lived realities and creativity of their region. With a focus on independence, authenticity, and cultural impact, the collective continues to push boundaries while staying true to its roots. Tracks like FRESH N CLEAN by Yown Benny and Jay “Quokane” Cruz, SLIDE (FREESTYLE) by Jaxxx City, and Play The Album featuring Quokane and Ryha showcase the…

UNITED STATES, RALEIGH With First of the Month, Paulo and the Problems officially launch into their Stupid Sexy Paulo era – and they do it with flair, funk, and a whole lot of bounce. Released on May 1, 2025, via Fogwood Records, the single delivers an upbeat blend of soul-drenched melodies and hip-hop rhythm, featuring labelmate Saynave in a feature that complements without crowding. Sonically, the track is a smooth cocktail of classic R&B, modern hip-hop, and that unmistakable “blue-eyed soul” sheen the band has quietly perfected. The bassline is infectious, the keys buttery, and the vocal interplay between Paulo and Saynave brings a dynamic push-pull that keeps things lively from the first bar to the final beat. Lyrically, First of the Month taps into the idea of new beginnings…