“El juego” by Rafers ft. Mr. HumA A danceable tune at heart, the latest Rafers and Mr. HumA collaboration is a blend of pop, reggaeton and dancehall that looks to make people en el jangueo drop their booties to the floor. “enemy lines” by stz (prod. YVRE) Featuring bass-heavy production by YVRE, stz’s “enemy lines” displays the artist’s ability to be comfortable in the act of balancing bravado raps with a danceable beat. “VOLAO” by 13:00am feat. Joshua Torres (prod. Arov & Avila) A track that attempts to takes listeners into the sensation of feeling high, 13:00am and Joshua Torres’s collaboration with Arov and Avila is a trap tune that at the very least will play well in the late night scene. “Diablo Manin” by 13:00am ft. Gaby Chuleta & Jose Yellow (Prod. Avila) Featuring some infectious production by Avila, the latest collaboration by 13:00am, Gaby Chuleta and Jose Yellow is one that will definitely play well in late night playlists as listeners drive across city streets. “Alrevez” by Jose Yellow Ft. Gaby Chuleta (Prod. Axel Ghxst) Another collaboration between Jose Yellow and Gaby Chuleta, “Alrevez” sees the duo displaying their chemistry on an experimental trap tune that will surely play well in the strip club as well as moshpits. “No Voy Pa’ Tras” by Leo Dario (Prod. Bravo) A remix of the Russ track “Ain’t Going Back,” Leo Dario’s “No Voy Pa’ Tras” is a tune that sees the young musician looking straight forward as he continues to pursue his artistic goals. “Lo Enrolo” by Leo Dario X 6ELA (Prod. OreoBeatzzz) A tune featuring bravado raps and celebrating weed use, the latest collaboration between Leo Dario and 6ELA is a single that will certainly play well in moshpits. “Rehén” by Diego Hauz feat. STZ Featuring some fantastic bass-heavy and ominous production, the most recent collaboration between Diego Hauz and STZ is a song that fits perfectly into the late night and strip club scene. “Dolce Vita” by Rampolla (Prod. Fusté) Accompanied by an R&B influenced hip hop beat by Fusté, the latest Rampolla single sees the young musician exploring love, dreams, storytelling as well as singing abilities. “WASA” by Gaby Chuleta (Prod. Tek Banks) Another single by Gaby Chuleta on a very active month for him, “WASA” shows the young musician stay on his trap vibe as he delivers a tune that will play well in late night playlists, moshpits and strip clubs. “Revelatory Fallout,” “Deterrence,” “Age of Pillory,” “Parallel Paradox,” “Stricken Wasteland” by Martyr’s Tongue One of the most active bands this past May, Martyr’s Tongue has been releasing singles left and right in what seems will be an upcoming album called Ruinous Upheaval and if the singles are indicative of anything it’s that the group draws influences from hardcore punk, grindcore, extreme metal and other genres of the kind. “Animal Híbrido” by Joe Louis y la banda onírica de la puerta roja Another example of the wave of up-and-coming singer-songwriters, Joe Louis’s “Animal Híbrido” shows the musician’s storytelling abilities and fascination with folk music. “Tenerte” by Julio Angel Another showing of Julio Angel’s potential mainstream appeal, “Tenerte” is a love and melody-driven blend of pop and trap that could be found in many lovers’ playlists. “Solo” by Carly Musa A blend of R&B and synths, Carly Musa’s “Solo” explores themes such as solitude, friendship and love while displaying the musician’s production and vocal skills. “No Haces Na” by Michael Joel X ERRE A blend of trap and reggae influences, the latest Michael Joel and ERRE collaboration is a relaxing tune that shows the artists’ chemistry and their seamless blend of rapping with singing. “TOY SOLTERO” by GALDI PLAYBOI X YUNG 17 A bass-heavy tune that blends today’s trap with 2000s snap rap, the latest GALDI PLAYBOI and YUNG 17 collaboration is one that will definitely have listeners twerking to the floor and others even creating moshpits. “MAN T K” by GALDI PLAYBOI A single made for the moshpit, GALDI PLAYBOI’S “MAN T K” is a bass-heavy trap tune that explores certain elements that give it an ethereal and horror-themed energy. “Fumar y Chingar” by Fayad X Fabiio (Prod. Zor beat) A trap tune made for the strip club, Fayad and Fabiio’s latest collaboration is a fun track that will definitely have listeners dancing. “Kapiku” by Fayad Using some danceable trap production, with “Kapiku,” Fayad displays his ability to continue making music for the late night playlist while showing off his flow. “Tal Vez” by Kevo A blend of reggaeton, pop and other Caribbean sounds, the latest single by the Ponce musician is a track that will have listeners dancing especially in beach-like environments. “Di Que Si” by Matthew A mixture of dancehall, reggaeton and pop, Matthew’s “Di Que Si” is a love and sex-driven tune that’ll make it into late night and strip club playlists. “Si Estas Con Otro (Coming Out Strong Spanish Remake)” by Andre The Giant A love and sex-driven R&B trap tune, Andre The Giant’s “Si Estas Con Otro” is a single that one can easily imagine playing while driving across the city and in the late night club scene. “Ganas” by Andre The Giant ft. Brray (Prod. Chris-Xander) A blend of R&B, trap and reggaeton, the latest collaboration between Andre The Giant and Brray is a single that will definitely have listeners dancing in the late night scene. “Noche Joven” by Jan Mercé (Prod. FlyTwilight) Featuring some ethereal trap production by FlyTwilight, the latest collaboration between Jan Mercé and the producer is a display of Mercé’s rapping and singing skills as well as FlyTwilight’s ever growing sound palette. “Y tú y yo (San Juan Sound Demo)” by Pheelin A demo version of the young musician’s track, this version of “Y tú y yo” displays the artist’s love for lo-fi, psychedelia, jangle pop and indie rock as he slowly continues to expand his sound. “Despega (Instrumental) [demito]” by Pheelin A very relaxing instrumental tune, “Despega” shows Pheelin’s lo-fi aesthetics and his affinity for bedroom pop as he delivers a single that could be compared to the famous lo-fi/chill-vibe hip hop beats of today. “Kehlani's Interlude [envy Session]” by envy A very relaxing blend of R&B and trap, the latest Envy single is a tune that will definitely fit well into baby-making playlists and other late night compilations. “MiKaSa” by Kid WowZa (Prod. 703crissy) A pop rap and trap mixture, Kid WowZa’s latest collaboration with 703crissy is a single that shows the artist displaying his lyrical abilities while having fun. “Wet Hands” by Kid WowZa Featuring a surreal and trippy trap beat, “Wet Hands” is a comedic take on the subject of masturbation as Kid WowZa once again displays his lyrical skills. “Lucha de Clases” by Cartagena Rosario (Prod. MAC Mde) Featuring some reggaeton-influenced production by MAC Mde, Cartagena Rosario’s “Lucha de Clases” is a danceable tune that will have listeners twerking down to the floor and others reflecting. “new standards” by Marlon Frank A mixture of trap along with electronic and psychedelic elements, the latest Marlon Frank single shows the producer expanding his sound and making it more danceable than his otherwise more relaxed beats. “DESACATAU” by 6ELA (Prod. by A1 Beam) A bass-heavy trap track that will play well in moshpits, 6ELA’s “DESACATAU” shows the artist spitting bravado raps while displaying his first foray into a full-blown attempt at a song in Spanish. “Sufro” by Siloé Andino His first single in a while, “Sufro” presents Andino expanding his repertoire as he explores reggae in a love-driven track. “TU NO VES REMIX” by OMVR x JC x BLXXDSHOT (Prod.OMVR) A trap tune highly influenced by 2000s southern rap, the latest collaboration between OMVR X JC and BLXXDSHOT is a single that will definitely create moshpits and/or play well in late night playlists. “She Wanna Fuck Freestyle” by BLACKCROW (Prod. poloboy81) An aggressive trap tune, the latest BLACKCROW single is a short and to-the-point freestyle highly influenced by punk rock attitude. “Torre, Flores” by Corre Forrest! Their second single since the release of their debut album, “Torre, Forrest” sees the young pop punk band continuing in what seems to be their journey towards a sophomore project. “Fiend” by Mr. Kraken & the Wattz A tune that continues to display Mr. Kraken’s ever growing sound palette, “Fiend” is a song that blends elements of dance rock, punk, garage rock and Kraken’s haunting vocals with dark subject matter. “Fuzzbol” by Furry Vowels As Furry Vowels continues to release singles every now and then, one can notice the musician’s growth in sound and “Fuzzbol” is another example of him exploring different elements of the electronic music atmosphere, this time in the form of 1980s synthpop and a bit of vaporwave. As shown in previous months, the Puerto Rican independent art scene will always stay alive, despite any of the social and political problems which may arise. If May 2019 and the rest of the year has shown us anything is that the members of the scene seem to be more alive than ever in said dire times.
Listen to some of the singles on Soundcloud and Spotify
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As seen in previous months, musicians across Puerto Rico’s indie scene are no longer afraid nor looking for help in order to get their work out there and April 2019 was definitely a huge example of how artists’ throughout the island are letting themselves known. “Pu-Tony” by MC Tony Small (Prod. Jota Infinito) Featuring some 1980’s hip hop-influenced production by Jota Infinito, MC Tony Small’s "Pu-Tony" is a satirical take on the stereotypical rap tune where rappers brag about the amount of women in their lives. “Difícil es” by MC Tony Small (Prod. Jota Infinito) The second of MC Tony Small’s latest singles, “Difícil es” is a reflection of the life experienced in the projects, how hip hop serves as a way of expressing the circumstances faced in such an environment and how the previously mentioned upbringing is romanticized by the privileged. “MI COCHE” by YUNG BOI X ENYEL C A tune made for the night life, the latest YUNG BOI and Enyel C collaboration is a fantastic blend of trap, electro and synths that will definitely have listeners dancing under neon nights. “Get the Bag” and “SpcCdt//” by Marlon Frank As an active beat producer, Marlon Frank has been one to deliver singles regularly. This month, “Get the Bag” and “SpcCdt//” were found. The first of these is a trap beat featuring flexing vocals and a surreal atmosphere. Meanwhile, the latter is a blend of soulful sounds and today’s trap sound. “Media Noche” by Jace (Prod. Zaya’s and Jace) An ethereal R&B trap tune produced by Jace alongside Zaya’s, “Media Noche” is an atmosphere-creating track that will definitely make Travis Scott fans proud. “ALFA” by Danny Effe (Prod. Lezter and Pilgrim) A lyrical trap tune that features production by Lezter and Pilgrim, Danny Effe’s “ALFA” demonstrates the rapper positioning himself over the competition. “ROWBOAT” by YANDI Featuring a trap beat influenced by lo-fi aesthetics, YANDI’s “ROWBOAT” is a tune that shows the young artist’s rapping abilities alongside his introspective love and depression fueled lyrics. “SubZero (Freestyle)” by Jovan (Prod. Goldi) Featuring some creative and bass-heavy production by Goldi, Jovan’s “SubZero (Freestyle)” sees the young musician reflecting on the state of hip hop and flexing over the competition. “Siempre Activo” by Jovan (Prod. Goldi) A very danceable crunk and snap rap influenced trap tune, Jovan’s “Siempre Activo” is a track that will definitely have listeners dancing as he displays pop culture influenced lyrical abilities over a slapping beat. “Pa Ti” by Yaveh ft. Jovan (Prod. JRemers) A mix of R&B and trap, Yaveh and Jovan’s “Pa Ti” is a love-driven tune that displays the artists’ singing and rapping abilities alongside some of their storytelling skills. “Pa’ Que Me Lo Choques” by Rvsell (prod. Gian Walton & Towers) A homage to old school underground reggaeton, the latest Rvssel single is a throwback to the days of house and garage parties where people would dance all the way to the floor grinding their bodies to some classic reggaeton. “NPC” by Izzy (prod. Naytrack and Fatcatbeats) Featuring a sample from Scarface and some fantastic production, Izzy’s “NPC” shows the young rapper dominating the beat as he shows his lyrical abilities and flexes over the competition. “Rip Manolo” by Xyron An extremely heartfelt and personal song, Xyron’s latest single is a boom bap tune that will definitely touch listeners everywhere as the musician reflects and pays homage to his fallen loved one. “VR” by Kalell A love-driven blend of dancehall and reggaeton, Kalell’s “VR” is a display of the artist’s abilities as he mixes his natural singing alongside some autotune. “Night & Day” by A1 NWG X Broadway B A blend of reggaeton, dancehall and afrobeat, the latest collaboration by A1 NWG and Broadway B is a very danceable tune that will play well in the beach as well as the club scene. “Roll It” by A1 NWG X AC Metta Featuring some very visual sounds and lyrics, A1 NWG and AC Metta’s “Roll It” is a late night trap tune that celebrates marihuana and partying alongside some language mixing and trap soundscapes. “Sach” by Ferrori X ERRE (Prod. by Jodus) Featuring an aggressive trap beat by Jodus, the latest collaboration by Ferrori and ERRE is definitely that will play well live and will take listeners on trips across the nightlife. “Voy (Go Spanish RMX)” by ERRE A blend of R&B and trap, ERRE’s “Voy” continues to show the artist’s mix of singing and rapping as he provides some great nightlife atmosphere. “El Tirador” Jan Alex ft. Guzzie (Prod. EBM) Featuring production by EBM that’s highly influenced by crunk and snap rap, the latest Jan Alex and Guzzie single is a tune that displays the musicians rapping abilities over a very danceable beat. “Mr. October (Freestyle)” by Juanera A short and to-the-point freestyle, Juanera’s “Mr. October” sees the artist quickly flexing over the competition. “Get High, Go Work” and “Vamoa Destruíl” by Espuelerico A blend of folk, blues and old school rock n’ roll, “Get High, Go Work” shows Espuelerico reflecting on the hardships of being a working class citizen and rocknrolla trying to make enough money for essentials on a weekly basis. Meanwhile, “Vamoa Destruíl” blends similar elements of “Get High, Go Work” but it also incorporates elements of surf rock. “La nota de ayer (Despelote II)” by Rafers A tune made for dancing, Rafers’s “La nota de ayer (Despelote II)” is another homage to the nightlife and hanging out and the relationships that can be developed in said environment. “dosXtres rmx” bhy @787 ft. 13:00am & Enyel C A blend of pop, R&B and trap, the latest collaboration by @787, 13:00am and Enyel C is an image filled tune that sees the artists reflecting over a variety of themes such as love, ambition, rock n’ roll lifestyle and others. “GAME BOYZ” by Enyel C A trap tune influenced by music from classic video games, R&B and a bit of vaporwave, the latest Enyel C song continues to show the young musician’s growth as he pays homage to old school video games. “Lovestruck” by Chasing Nomads A dance and indie rock blend with elements of pop punk, the first single by Chasing Nomads after their Lucidity EP shows growth and a new direction for the band. “La Ber” bhy Working Class Hands A math rock tune at heart, Working Class Hands “La Ber” is good single that displays the band’s potential as one of the growing groups in the scene right now. “Ganas Ilegales” by Es ViVii Released in February, Es ViVii’s “Ganas Ilegales” is a love-fueled and R&B-driven boom bap tune that displays the young musician’s singing and rapping skills as well as storytelling abilities. “07:77” by Fenix Castro Featuring a heavy hitting boom bap beat, Fenix Castro’s latest single is a powerful conscious rap tune that will definitely have listeners thinking about the current state of various themes, but most prominently politics, and, if nothing else, banging their heads and admiring the lyricism. “Follow” by Jeysac x Barqui A slowed down reggaeton tune, Jeysac and Barqui’s “Follow” is a song that will definitely have listeners, especially couples, everywhere dancing to the single’s contagious beat. “Que Lo Que” by Young Ink An autotune-heavy dembow tune, the first single by Young Ink is a song that might make some listeners dance to its infectious beat. “Hey Tú” by Luckre Gerad A nice and smooth pop rock single, Luckre Gerad’s “Hey Tú” is a song that shows the artist’s mainstream appeal and ability to create a track which would most likely play very well in the summer time. “Fiel” by Negro Gonzalez Accompanied by a video produced by Producciones Tabaquero and Taller 2C1, the latest single by Negro Gonzalez is a boom bap tune that displays his lyrical abilities as he explores subjects such as trust and loyalty while paying homage to 1990s hip hop. “#PARTY” by Danny Effe feat. Barqui x Musa Featuring a trap song influenced by crunk and snap rap of the 2000’s, the latest Danny Effe, Barqui and Musa collaboration is a highly danceable tune that will definitely have many shaking their feet, twerking, clapping their hands and going wild in the club with its infectious beat. “Como La Olla” by Vladi and Shawn (prod. By Mitxhell, La Maldad) Featuring a nice and gritty yet soulful boom bap beat, the latest collaboration by Vladi and Shawn is a fantastic lyrical display that sees the musicians reflecting on their lives as well as the current state of hip hop. “ME QUIERE VER” by DonGa A love fueled blend of R&B and trap, the latest DonGa single displays the artist’s rapping and singing abilities alongside his storytelling skills over a nice piano driven beat. “CANDY” by Yung 17 (prod. eMe) Featuring fantastic crunk, snap rap and southern rap influenced production by eMe, the latest Yung 17 single is a fantastic headbang-worthy and danceable tune that will definitely have people stomping their feet, twerking and moving their bodies in all sorts of ways. “Candela Pura” by Vicks ft. Krey (Prod. Yondo x Krey) A love and sex fueled tune that mixes elements of boom bap and R&B, the latest collaboration by Vicks and Krey displays the artists’ storytelling skills, mainstream potential and the great chemistry they share in a song that will definitely have people going back repeatedly. “Three Way Knife” by Out Of Hand An aggressive blend of death metal, thrash metal and extreme metal, the first single for the upcoming Icons of Apathy EP is a tune that presents Out Of Hand criticizing people in power, like politicians, who continuously provide promises but never deliver on them. In addition, the song provides commentary on how mindless people can be as they re-elect the same kind of people over and over again. “PA' QUE VUELVAS” by Sharif Rafael feat. Rvf (prod. by Malu Music) A love story told through R&B-influenced melodies and lyrical feasts set to a trap beat, the latest collaboration by Sharif Rafael and Rvf demonstrates the young artists’ growth as well as their mainstream potential. “Danza Macabra” by Conco A blend of Latin sounds along with synth-fueled electronics, the latest single by the experimental project Conco is a highly danceable tune that will have listeners and viewers tripping with its appealing music video. “Yankee Go Home” by Orquesta El Macabeo The first new piece of music for the group in a while, the latest single by Orquesta El Macabeo is a politically-driven tune that explores Puerto Rico’s relationship with the United States while making sure to provide a highly danceable atmosphere. “Dos Amores” by MIMA and International Dub Ambassadors Released in March, the latest collaboration between these two independent music scene powerhouses is a great blend of storytelling and psychedelic dub music. “Se Mueven” by José Yellow and Fabiio (Prod. Axel Ghxst) After taking a brief break, José Yellow and Fabiio jump on a contagious Axel Ghxst trap beat that will definitely play well in the strip club scene and the nightlife. “AnXious” by Kid WowZa (Prod. Sauron) Featuring a blend of bass-heavy trap production alongside soulful boom bap sounds by Sauron, Kid WowZa raps some reflective lyrics in a little over two minutes. “SCALABRINI” by Kid WowZa (Prod. $aki) Featuring a bass heavy beat by $aki, Kid WowZa’s is a fun tribute to basketball where the young rapper displays his rapping skills while flexing over the competition. “Bien Happy” by Kid WowZa Rapping over another bass-heavy beat, Kid WowZa once again displays his rapping abilities as he provides a more party-oriented atmosphere. “Trágico/Mágico” by Labajura ft. Los Wálters A great blend of of Labajura’s late night electronic sound and Los Wálters’ lighter synth pop, “Trágico/Mágico” is a fantastic tune for those looking to add new songs to their “jangueo” playlists. “La Player” by PioTripz (Prod. Bravo) Featuring production by Bravo, PioTripz’s “La Player” is a bass-heavy party track that will definitely make listeners dance down the floor and one that might play well in strip clubs. “Hennessy” by MIKO (Prod. Alers La Pesadilla) With production by Alers La Pesadilla, MIKO’s “Hennessy” is a pop rap tune with 8-bit video game elements and Caribbean vibes that will surely play well in road trips across Puerto Rico’s coast and beach parties making it a song that will most likely continue to play well throughout the summer. “Te Encanta” by Yabdiel (Prod. Lyon) Featuring production by Lyon, Yabdiel’s “Te Encanta” is a danceable blend of pop and rap alongside Caribbean sounds that might go hand-in-hand with the night scene and the Puerto Rican beach scene. “M.I.A. Remix” by Kombo The X Writer (feat. Chyno Nyno & Wiso G) (Prod. Gaby Morales & Huztle) A remix of his contagious underground boom bap hit, Kombo The X Writer’s latest single is a fantastic revisiting of the tune with the lyrical contributions by Chyno Nyno and Wiso G. “Hola / Caricias” by Ser Colorido A relaxing and dreamy tune that provides some great melodies, Ser Colorido’s “Hola / Caricias” serves as a perfect single for the artist’s latest project, Lugar Escondido. Raro Sonido. “No me llames” by Mike-Ology ft. Al-ye & Aurel A collaboration between various up-and-comers, Mike-Ology, Al-ye and Aurel’s “No me llames” is a reggaeton track that serves as a danceable number but also as a display of the musicians’ rapping skills. “RAZORBLADE” by 6ELA A short and to the point track, 6ELA’s “RAZORBLADE” is a banging tune that will have listeners headbanging to the song’s bass-heavy beat as the artist continues to be one of the most active members of the scene right now. “La Dama de Blanco” by Alas Negras As one of the most active live members of the metal scene in the island it was only a matter of time before Alas Negras released a single and with “La Dama de Blanco” the group display their storytelling abilities through the sound of power metal. “Even//You” by Avandra Serving as the single that would prepare listeners for Avandra’s Descender, “Even You” is a tune that slowly builds as the musicians take their time to display their melodic abilities, storytelling skills as well as their prog rock influences. “La Membrana” by DSurís Featuring a hypnotic intro, DSuris’s “La Membrana” quickly captures the listener’s ear with the very relaxing jazzy boom bap beat accompanied with the rapper’s introspective lyrical delivery. “La 5ta Dimensión” by Frankie Maloja A short but to the point tune, Frankie Maloja’s “La 5ta Dimensión” is a contagious blend of reggaeton and lo-fi aesthetics that will surely make listeners dance in some way or another. “Desordenao” by GIO A slowly building electronic tune, GIO’s “Desordenao” will definitely have listeners moving their heads to the very detailed rhythms which gather inspiration from sounds such as pop and funk. “Nena” by Joseph Alex As one of the active members in the scene, Joseph Alex comes in with “Nena,” a display of rapping skills to a trap beat blent with late night ethereal vibes. “Mi Casa” by Kid WowZa (Prod. R Munoz) Featuring some groovy, jazzy and surreal boom bap production by R Munoz, WowZa’s “Mi Casa” is a single that shows his Spanglish lyrical skills while he displays his pride to be a Puerto Rican from Rincon and states his mission in the hip hop scene. “Desenmoña” by Krey (Prod. Big G x Krey) Released on April 20 as a celebration for the date at hand, Krey’s “Desenmoña” is a song that sees him blending some of his rapping and singing skills with a more reggae influenced sound. “Hoy” by Krey (Prod. Big G X Krey) Featuring co-production alongside Big G, Krey’s “Hoy” is a blend of romance and sex driven storytelling alongside a trap beat which features elements of R&B, thus serving as another example of Krey’s continuous growth. “Nations of Doom” by Massive Destruktion As one of the on-and-off thrash metal bands of the scene since the late 2000s, Massive Destruktion looks to come strong this year with the release of their latest single “Nations of Doom,” a tune that would make fans of classic thrash metal proud as well as newcomers interested. “NEBULA” by MAX A track that simply looks to make listeners dance, MAX’s “NEBULA” is a blend of reggaeton and dancehall that will definitely play well across the coasts. “En La Oscuridad” by Nébula Nice X Coo-Kee (Prod. Coo-Kee) Released a little over two months ago and featuring some hard hitting boom bap production by Coo-Kee, MHL and Epiphonia Musik, Nebula Nice’s “En La Oscuridad” is a fantastic display of lyrical skills as the musicians pay great tribute to classic hip hop and the Latin Hip Hop scene at large. “Destrúyeme” by Neysa Blay A fantastic blend of electronic pop and folk elements, Neysa Blay’s “Destrúyeme” has the potential to play well in clubs, parties and mainstream playlists showing the artist’s potential to be a lot bigger than what she is right now. “Llego la hora” by Timm Clayton Featuring some hard hitting boom bap production, Timm Clayton’s “Llego la hora” is a display of lyrical skills that takes a look at the hip hop scene especially those in the lyrical side of things. “RapJack” by Timm Clayton ft. AllOne Another heavy hitting boom bap track, Timm Clayton and AllOne’s collaboration “RapJack” serves as a form of sequel to “Llego la hora” as it is a diss track that, without mentioning names directly, takes a hit at a certain rapper who seems to be providing disrespectful commentary online. “Tiraera pa la caballeria” by Nolo835 Featuring some body slamming boom bap production, Nolo835’s “Tiraera pa la caballeria” is a response to Timm Clayton and La Caballeria del Rap’s diss tracks. In it, as in many diss records, the musician looks to ridicule the aforementioned group of musicians in many ways. “Punto Final” by Timm Clayton Serving as part of the final phase of the latest diss track saga, Timm Clayton’s “Punto Final” uses a different form of beat as the rapper continues to display his lyrical skills while dissing his previous targets as well as looking to present himself as a powerful enemy to beat in the hip hop scene. “Peligrosa” by Robin ft. Manuel El Presidente (Prod. Yeizel Beats) Featuring some R&B influenced reggaeton production by Yeizel Beats, Robin and Manuel El Presidente’s “Peligrosa” is a love driven tune that will surely make listeners dance in late night clubs. “SATIVA” by Tommy Blanco ft. Jan Alex (prod. DJ MEMO x Treetime) Featuring production by DJ MEMO and Treetime, Tommy Blanco and Jan Alex’s “SATIVA” is a highly danceable mid-2000s south rap influenced trap tune that will definitely have listeners shaking their bodies as the musicians celebrate drug use. “Que Fracaso” by Cartagena Rosario (Prod. Alex Rosa) Featuring production by Alex Rosa, Cartagena Rosario’s “Que Fracaso” is a boom bap driven introspective rap single which will have listeners analyzing the storytelling and lyricism presented. “ADICCIÓN” by KID BASKIAT Featuring some heavily danceable production, KID BASKIAT’S “ADICCIÓN” is a song that will definitely play well in the late night scene as well as showing some potential to play across the summer. “BLON” by KID BASKIAT (PROD. BY YVRE & WALDE THE BEATMAKER) Featuring production by YVRE and WALDE THE BEATMAKER, KID BASKIAT’s “BLON” is yet another celebration of marijuana use but this time in the form of a hype trap track that will surely make listeners headbang and dance. “Squirtle” by Clveless (Prod. MOTHERFVNKER) Featuring production by MOTHERFVNKER, Clveless’s latest single uses the swag Squirtle presents in the Pokemon anime as a form to display the artist’s levels of flow and confidence. “Rowdyruff Love” by Clveless ft. Celi (Prod. Yusei) Accompanied by Yusei's production and additional vocals by Celi, Clveless’s “Rowdyruff Love” is a change in sound for the young musician as he mixes his lo-fi boom bap sound with some exquisitely melodic guitar acoustics. “Sorry To Say” by Baby Bhang After taking a brief break from releasing music, Baby Bhang returns with a pop punk driven single that reminds listeners about their fast paced roots and youth influenced aesthetics. “A1002T” by Nando Gabriel x Pagani (Prod. Nebu OTB) Featuring dancehall influenced production by Nebu OTB, Nando Gabriel and Pagani’s “A1002DT” is a tune with potential to play across the summer as it has that energy to play well at the beach but also in the late night club scene. “Según Socrates” by La Estación Central ft. Domi Alianza A collaboration between the boom bap lyrical combo of La Estacion Central and the Latin American hip hop group Domi Alianza, “Según Socrates” is a display of lyricism and fantastic boom bap production throughout its six-minute entirety as the musicians reflect on their skills and themes currently affecting Latin America. “Marantas” by Juventud Crasa Serving as a return to the studio by the influential punk band, Juventud Crasa’s “Marantas” sees the group exploring a few different sounds as they continue to deliver introspective lyrics and a fast-paced energy. “Cuando” by Sebimor After being inactive for a while, Sebimor’s “Cuando” serves as a return for the band as they deliver with some fantastic psychedelic indie rock that is sure to make some dance and others travel across their imagination. “CON LA FI” by Yung Hannibal A blend of trap and lo-fi aesthetics, Yung Hannibal’s latest single is a track that will take listeners on psychedelic trips and hypnotize others to headbang for a while. “POR ULTIMA VEZ” by Zzzayas (Prod. Will) Featuring some R&B influenced trap production by Will, Zzzayas’s “POR ULTIMA VEZ” displays not only the artist’s singing and rapping abilities but also his potentially mainstream sound. “HÉRCULES” by HEVY Featuring some highly danceable trap production blent with what seems to be old school video game sounds, HEVY’s “HERCULES” is a highly contagious tune that will definitely have some moving their bodies in one way or another. “Tu No Ves” by YOUNG OMVR (Prod.JINN) Featuring JINN’s bass-heavy and danceable production, YOUNG OMVR’s “Tu No Ves” short-and-to-the-point single is a tune that will definitely have listeners dancing. However, some might be turned off by the crime-driven content in the lyrics. “CAVIAR” by JC (PROD. OMVR) Featuring some great production by OMVR, “CAVIAR” features JC showing his hypnotic singing and rapping abilities as he takes on an equally hypnotic sound that also serves as a perfect beat for the dance floor. “Subtítulos” by Sély Using samples to her advantage alongside some melodic piano keys and a lo-fi hip hop beat, west-based Sély continues to stretch her artistic self by exploring new fields and sustaining her own sound. “you am i” by Fire Letters Serving as the group’s return to the studio after providing music back in 2017, the diaspora based Fire Letters’ “you am i” features the group's dreamy and hypnotic synth sound which will definitely take listeners to abstract spiritual realms. As seen in previous months, the Puerto Rican indie music scene has had a big explosion of music and content in the Post-Maria era showing that despite the chaos and difficulties which may arise, the artists across the island and some in the diaspora are more than confident in putting themselves out there to demonstrate what they truly have to provide to not only the island’s culture, but also the rest of the world.
As the year slowly moves along, musicians in the Puerto Rican Independent Art Scene have been releasing new singles preparing listeners for new projects and keeping their presence alive across the internet. “R.I.P.” by Negro Gonzalez The first single for Negro Gonzalez’s upcoming sophomore album, RIMA, shows the rapper commenting on the state of hip hop as well as delivering some conscious and reflective raps on the current social, political and economic status of Puerto Rico. “Me Llama” by Bryan Lopez feat. La Perla An active member of the scene recently, Bryan Lopez’s latest collaboration with La Perla is an R&B and pop rap blend that displays a fair balance between singing and rapping while displaying storytelling skills over a very moving beat. “Mala Mia” by Yung 17 A new single that displays the young artist’s storytelling abilities, Yung 17’s latest trap tune continues to see him explore the genre alongside producer eMe. “東京ナイツ” and “ïdk” by Marlon Frank As one of the most active musicians in the scene right now, Marlon Frank delivered a few singles this month. The first is a trap beat influenced by the Teriyaki Boyz’s “Tokyo Drift” in the form of “東京ナイツ” which continues to show his growth as a musician. Meanwhile, “ïdk” is another relaxing single by the young producer and beatmaker that sees him blending soul and modern trap influenced R&B. “La Cherry” by Rampolla A nice boom bap hip hop tune mixed with reggae and G-Funk influences, the latest Rampolla single celebrates weed culture as a form of escaping the current crisis in Puerto Rico. “ELEVÉ” by Jan Merce Another young trap artist from the underground that shows mainstream appeal, Jan Merce’s “ELEVÉ” shows the musician’s lyrical skills and ability to present a banger with some assistance from producer Avila. “Pa' Fumal”,”✧...CRUISIN'... ✧” and “Hoy no dormí pensando en esta noche ●︿●” by Kampo As one of the most active beatmakers in the scene, Kampo has been one to deliver at least one single every month for the past few months. “Pa’ Fumal” continues to show him exploring the lo-fi genre along with psychedelia as he provides yet another relaxing and trip inducing production. Meanwhile, ”✧...CRUISIN'... ✧” is a psychedelic blend of lo-fi boom bap and trap vocals. Finally, “Hoy no dormí pensando en esta noche ●︿●” is a blend of electronic, ambient and psychedelia that continues to show the artist’s growth. “No hay flores pa' las tumbas ❀” by Kampo ft. Cosculluela A mix of Kampo’s lo-fi experimental sound with samples of Cosculluela’s music, “No hay flores pa’ las tumbas” is a very relaxing tune that will have listeners banging their heads or laying back. “FEKA” by PLANETA ZETA One of the new rap projects to come out of the scene, PLANETA ZETA recently delivered their debut EP, FEKA, which displays many of the project’s wild influences. The first tune is “Arranca,” a surreal boom bap tune heavily influenced by the sounds of Cypress Hill and elements of reggaeton that displays lyrical skills and conscious rap attributes. Meanwhile, the EP’s title track is a very funky, moveable and psychedelic song that features D+’s vocals as the musicians explore identity, love and trust while displaying some unique storytelling skills. “No sé si eres Tú (o soy yo)” by Krey An ethereal trap influenced R&B tune, Krey’s “No sé si eres Tú (o soy yo)” shows him providing a hypnotic beat as he displays his singing skills and explores the theme of love. “AMBICIÓN” by PHNTMFLEX (Feat. Jace & Zaya's // prod. Jace & OAKERDIDIT) Featuring a relaxing yet banging production by Jace and OAKERDIDIT and additional vocals by Jace and Kaya’s, PHNTMFLEX’s “AMBICIÓN” is a melodic auto-tune trap track that explores the theme in the song’s title alongside themes such as drugs, sex and the rockstar lifestyle. “MI DIA DE SUERTE (Calling My Spirit freestyle)” by Tommy Blanco A blend of trap production with what seems to be an acoustic guitar, Tommy Blanco’s latest single shows the young musician displaying his rapping and singing skills as he explores themes such as man’s defects, death, trust and lyrical prowess. “Dance Of A Nuclear Bomb (demo)” by The Mona Passage A demo version of the alternative and progressive rock tune, The Mona Passage’s latest single displays the band’s multi-layered instrumental talents and the passion they have for their Latin heritage through their poetic lyrics. “En Play” and “Suci” by Jib The Mist Another of the very active musicians in the underground, Jib The Mist has been another to deliver singles consistently. The first of the Savage Minds produced singles, “En Play,” shows the artist exploring the trap genre as he presents some rap and singing skills as he explores the field of gangsta rap. Meanwhile, “Suci” is a danceable sex-fueled afrobeat tune which will definitely have listeners moving their bodies in one way or another. “Quiero” by Miko Featuring trap production by Vanga Records, the latest single by Miko sees the young multi-talented artist displaying rap and melodic skills as she expresses her ambitions. “Muevelo (Spanish Remix)” by J REMERS ft. Jovan & Piotripz A danceable hip hop tune influenced by 2000s hip hop and today’s strip club anthems, the latest collaboration by J REMERS, Jovan and Piotripz will play well in the late night scene. “Mami Tienes Que ParaL” by Piotripz feat. Fonfi A trap tune somewhat influenced by electronic music, the latest collaboration between Piotripz and Fonfi is a sex-fueled track that might play well in dance floors all around. “Bitcoin Messiahs” by Yuca Brava A conscious and political rap tune, the latest single by Yuca Brava is a boom bap lyrical rap track that will definitely make heads bang and have hip hop heads pleased. “Ansi” by Ade-Line A pop punk tune at heart, the latest single by Ade-Line shows the group’s clear influence on their sleeves as they reflect on anxiety and the current state of mental health. “Con Nadie” by Sharif Rafael feat. MAXPR A blend of hip hop and R&B produced by Malu Music, the new collaboration by Sharif Rafael and MAXPR is a tune that shows the artists’ chemistry, ability to tell a story and seamless way of mixing the aforementioned genres. “Heaven (As seen through Angel eyes)” by syx13 An emotion driven techno tune, the latest single by syx13 shows the musician exploring with auto-tune vocals and storytelling as well as pop and R&B elements. “De Mi Fin” by Fenix Castro A boom bap tune influenced by bolero, the latest Fenix Castro single presents the rapper’s lyrical and poetic skills as well as his ability to deliver reflective, introspective and conscious raps. “Ferrari” by Los Dannis After delivering their first EP in 2017, Los Dannis come back with the first single to their follow-up project this time around changing their sound from punk and hardcore to a more math rock driven flow. “Numb Numb Juice [Freestyle]” by Blxxdshot As a very active member of the scene Blxxdshot is always delivering singles and freestyles every month. This time around he takes over the beat of the latest Schoolboy Q tune and displays his rapping skills while flexing over the competition. “Close My Eyes” by Blxxdshot ft. 13:00AM A trap single with potential to perform well in live events, the latest collaboration by Blxxdshot and 13:00AM is a blend of rapping and melodies that will have some dancing and others vibing across the night. “Intro (Autobiográfico Cartas y Buzones)” and “Contradictorio” by Cartagena Rosario Serving as the introduction to his upcoming year, “Intro” shows Cartagena Rosario presenting himself to the listener, putting everything out there as if he was reading a short version of his autobiography. Meanwhile, “Contradictorio” shows his rapping skills as he takes over a boom bap beat and touches on a variety of subjects through the route of conscious rap. “MIENTES” by Bryan Lopez A blend of reggaeton and sounds familiar to the Middle East, the latest single by Bryan Lopez shows the young artist experimenting with different soundscapes as he attempts to deliver a danceable track. “Brand New” by Envy As one of the most active members of the independent rap and R&B scene, Envy yet again delivers another single, this time in the form of “Brand New,” a track that displays his rap skills over a trap beat. “10 Blone’” by Fabian Gutierrez del Arroyo A psychedelia and reggae influenced tune, the latest single by Fabian Gutierrez del Arroyo continues to show the young musician’s different layers while demonstrating his lyrical skills. “Alana’s Track” by KEVS An R&B influenced boom bap rap tune, the latest single by KEVS is an emotional song that displays his rapping and producing skills while making sure to tear at some listeners’ heartstrings. “Cheapvakation” by Seint A mix of Frank Ocean’s “Nights” from the album Blonde and some bossa nova, the latest single by the New Orleans based Boricua is a relaxing tune that will surely have listeners chillaxing. “My head is everywhere (BOOTLEG DE LA SESION EN MDORKS)” by Los Mongos A lo-fi bootleg version of the group’s “My head is everywhere,” the tune still displays the band’s hardcore punk sound influenced by old school bands like The Misfits. “Cansao’” by Young Crowley Featuring production by Serge Crown and SAINTMIST, the latest single by Young Crowley is an emo rap tune that shows the artist struggling with his past, present and future. As found in previous months, the Puerto Rican Independent Art Scene has continued to stay alive in the Post-Maria era. While 2018 demonstrated a bunch of activity, 2019 has slowly displayed the movement’s continued growth and existence thanks to mediums across the internet.
As 2019 slowly kicks off, artists in the Puerto Rican independent music scene are slowly putting out a variety of singles thus letting the world know that the island has something to say. Hence, February became yet another month with quite a few songs to find and look out for. “HANG ON” by saintmist A trap tune influenced by the psychedelic hip hop by Kid Cudi, saintmist’s “HANG ON” is an introspective ethereal tune that presents the artist touching on themes of love, self and friendship. “SECRETOS” by TIAGO STA. CRUZ A psychedelic and surreal tune, TIAGO STA. CRUZ’s “SECRETOS” sees the musician exploring melodies in a track that will take listeners on a short trip. “Sharingan” by PHNTMFLEX A trap tune that features some aggressive bass, PHNTMFLEX’s “Sharingan” has the artist looking at the state of hip hop as he flexes on his skills and compares himself to greatness. “press play” by seint After not releasing for a few months, beatmaker Seint returns with a relaxing and laid back beat that definitely plays well on repeat. “Flow Cocolo” by Tongo A hip hop track that embraces salsa and psychedelia, Tongo’s “Flow Cocolo” is a fun and infectious song that will surely play well in parties. “Slipknot = Suicide” by BLACKCROW ft. Blackwill An emo trap tune mixed with horrorcore elements, BLACKCROW and Blackwill’s latest collaboration is a tune that will create mosh pits in live performances. “Quédate Sin Aire” and “El Anticristo” by Skeptic After celebrating his album Boca de Lobo for the entirety of 2018, Skeptic kicked off 2019 with the ethereal tune “Quédate Sin Aire,” a love story that features his spoken word style. In addition, the dark and alternative song “El Anticristo,” sees him practicing his spoken word rapping style while using the antichrist to reflect on the current state of the arts, culture and Puerto Rico. “Loverboy” by Mr. Kraken & the Wattz A tune that sees the diaspora-based musician exploring the field of electronic music in the form of synth pop, “Loverboy” is a love story that will surely make listeners dance. “Camino Sola” by Lizbeth Román A blend of various Latin genres that range from cumbia to merengue to bomba, Lizbeth Román’s “Camino Sola” is an empowering tune for women everywhere. “6TEEN” by KENDEVILL ft. BLACKCROW Influenced by emo and rock acoustics, the latest collaboration between KENDEVILL and BLACKCROW sees both musicians reflecting on their youth over a simple trap beat that captures the essence of their subject. “¿Cómo Pasó?” by Adames A blend of trap, R&B and pop, Adames's latest tune shows him growing as an artist as he experiments with different sounds and melodies. “Te Picheo” by Athan A trap beat mixed with melodies, Athan’s “Te Picheo” sees the young artist exploring themes such as love and communication as well as use drug. “DEONTAY” by Angel Wavy ft. Ura de Jezus Another addition to the trap sub-genre, Angel Wavy and Ura de Jezus’s “DEONTAY” features many of the sound’s staples such as flexing and nightlife themes over a danceable beat. “Suite HRTBRK” by Envy Rapper and singer Envy continues to be one of the most active members of the Puerto Rican independent scene by releasing yet another single this time in the form of “Suite HRTBRK,” a tune that will play well in the bedroom and yet another track which continues to display his growth in the field of trap influenced R&B and soul. “Kingky” by Émina Released earlier in the year, Émina’s “Kingky” is a laid back, relaxing and soulful jazz and R&B blend that celebrates the great experiences provided by love and the act of sex. “xxx-xx-sinhablar” by orteez ft. Los Rarxs After a very active 2018, Los Rarxs come back with the orteez headlined single “xxx-xx-sinhablar,” a reggaeton influenced R&B tune that will definitely play in the bedroom with its relaxing and smooth energy. “Hazmelo (Ride Slow Spanish Rmx)” by AcMetta A blend of R&B and trap, AC Metta’s “Hazmelo (Ride Slow Spanish Rmx)” is a tune that will definitely play well in late night playlists with its love and sex fueled content and smooth vibe. “Al Revés” by Los Wálters ft. Andrea Cruz Los Wálters continue to deliver singles on a monthly basis this time with the Andrea Cruz assisted “Al Revés,” a fun and highly danceable synthpop tune that continues to show the group’s mastery of their craft. “Andar” and “Prender” by Pheelin As one of the most active musicians in the scene recently, Pheelin gifted two new demo instrumentals on Valentine’s Day in the form of “Andar” and “Prender.” The first of these is a nice and relaxing blend of indie rock and bedroom pop that might have some listeners dancing a bit and others just laying back after a hard day of work. Meanwhile, “Prender” follows the same vibe set by the previous tune while also serving as a tune that might play well in coming-of-age cinema. “#S2S” by stz ft. erre & orteez Using a trap beat by orteez to display lyrical and melodic skills along with bilingual abilities, the new collaboration between stz and erre is a great tune that explores trust and secrecy. “Metas y Tatuajes” by Reyes ††† As one of the most active young rappers in the scene right now, Reyes ††† continues to explore lo-fi jazz raps in his latest single where he once again shows his lyrical skills and introspective rhymes. “Cocotero (Solo Remix)” by Siloe Andino A soulful, jazzy and banging boom bap tune, the recent remix to Siloe Andino’s “Cocotero” displays the artist’s lyricism in a track where addresses what it means to be a rapper. “Razones” by Tommy Blanco A banging trap tune that will surely do well when performed live, Tommy Blanco’s latest single explores the theme of trust in a variety of ways. “Melón” by Medianogrande The first single by the indie rock group Medianogrande displays the band’s mainstream appeal and danceable grooves mixed with story-driven lyrics. “No Key” by Envy and STZ A collaboration by two of the most active independent Puerto Rican musicians in trap and R&B right now, the latest collaboration by Envy and STZ displays rapping and melodic skills as well as flexing, storytelling and reflection on success. “Ya no hay vuelta atrás” by Joba Pérez An introspective and romantic tune, singer-songwriter Joba Pérez’s first single demonstrates the young artist’s pop and mainstream potential alongside his Latin rock and classical music influences. “Poema de una Rosa” by Yareh Influenced by bossa nova and Latin ballads, the latest single by young Caguas singer-songwriter Yareh is a romantic tune that shows him displaying his melodic skills and image-filled lyrics. “Le Meto” by Mike Rodz A homage to reggaetón and his grind, Mike Rodz’s latest single shows him rapping over reggaetón hip hop blend that sees him reflecting on his lyrical skills and work ethic. “¿Quién Carajo?” by El Guanín de Tu Tío A surreal beat with a bit of trap, El Guanín de Tu Tío’s latest track is a weird tune that will surely intrigue listeners all around. “WAKE N BEIKI” by YUNG BOI A short but to-the-point tune, YUNG BOI’s “WAKE N BEIKI” shows the young musician exploring lo-fi boom bap production while displaying his lyrical skills. “Si Vuelvo a Caer” and “La Ventana” by RE-ANIMADORES Serving as singles for the group’s upcoming album, “Si Vuelvo A Caer” and “La Ventana” demonstrate the band’s indie rock, garage rock and punk influences. “Dejection” by Yung Lecter An exploration of lo-fi emo hip hop, Yung Lecter’s latest track continues to show the artist exploring the aforementioned sub-genre alongside love and depression while displaying storytelling abilities. “LA QUE ME ENAMORA” by ED MRTNZ A blend of reggaetón and electronic music, the latest ED MRTNZ single is a love-driven track sung in autotune. “Perderme” by Fisicos The once known as Jorge y Los Físicos and now simply going as Físicos embrace February with a new single, “Perderme” attached to a music video co-produced by COMO IMÁGENES. The single features the group blending pop rock, blues and psychedelia as they continue to grow. “A ti llegar” by Andrea Beltran A fusion of Latin pop rock and ballads, Andrea Beltrán’s “A ti llegar” is a loveable, sweet and moving song. “SCALABRINI” by Kid WowZa Featuring a bouncy trap beat, Kid WowZa’s latest single is a fun homage to basketball as the young rapper displays lyrical skills and storytelling abilities. “Kiero Bailar” by Modafoca A hardcore punk tune that criticizes the current political status while presenting the celebration that would ensue if it was debunked, Modafoca’s latest single is headbang and mosh pit worthy tune that will definitely have listeners moving. “Véngole” by Andrea Cruz ft. Gaby Moreno Accompanied by singer Gaby Moreno as they explore the menstrual cycle, Andrea Cruz’s first led single after the release of her debut album Tejido de Laurel, “Véngole,” sees the young musician continuing to expand her indie folk driven sound while displaying her vocal skills. As these past few months have shown, the Puerto Rican independent art scene shows no signs of slowing down. February 2019 was yet another example of the ever growing and active movement coming out of the crisis filled island demonstrating that, despite the difficulties, artists have found a way to shown some light.
While 2018 was a very active year for the Puerto Rican independent music scene after the chaotic events in 2017 and the earlier parts of the year, 2019 seems to be one that will continue said fast-paced activity as artists of all genres are already delivering a wide array of singles in order the kick year off properly. “Ella Se Fué” by A1 NWG A1 NWG returns once again and delivers a love story accompanied by a blend of hip hop and Latin sounds that will sure make listeners dance and others digesting the lyricism in display. “Ya Te Extraño” and “Voz extraña” by Adames A reggaeton love story involving heartbreak, the first of Adames’s singles this month is a tune that will have some listeners dancing. Meanwhile, the young musician continues to explore the subject of love in the R&B-driven “Voz extraña,” a song that sees him experimenting with singing a little further. “Dead Walking” by Blackwill A hard hitting trap single influenced by the sounds of Florida’s underground, the latest Blackwill song is one that will surely create mosh pits and make people shake their bodies in every way possible. “La Espera (Tributo A Willy Rodriguez)” by Carly Musa A tribute to Willy Rodriguez, Carly Musa’s latest single is a hip hop interpretation of classic Cultura Profetica sound while the young musician provides a love story of his own. “Eastside” by Chasing Nomads A cover of the Khalid, Halsey and Benny Blanco single, Chasing Nomads’ latest track is a lovely expansion of the group’s musical capabilities. “100pre Sere” by C.J. A love-driven R&B-influenced trap tune, C.J.’s “100pre Sere” shows the artist’s singing abilities, songwriting skills and his way of balancing rapping and singing. “Reasons” and “Rotation” by Envy A pretty active member in the scene right now, Envy’s 2019 kicked off with two singles. The first of these, “Reasons,” features some really soothing indie rock influenced R&B that serves as a very relaxing intro to 2019. Meanwhile, “Rotation” is a hip hop tune featuring some fantastic production by NINETY8 where Envy does a little bit of flexing and display of his work discipline. “Savage Mode” by Homies Clan Featuring an interesting blend of electronic music and alternative hip hop in the beat, the latest single by Homies Clan is a display of lyrical abilities while keeping up the competitive spirit of hip hop alive. “ANIMAL” by Joe XO ft. ARM Featuring additional work by ARM, the latest single by Joe XO is a hype anthem that blends trap and electronic music to create a tune that will definitely play well in dance clubs and strip clubs. “PLO PLO PLO” and “PESOS” by OMVR x JC OMVR x JC continue to be the most active trap duo in the underground with their latest crime-driven “PLO PLO PLO,” a tune which shows a change of pace in terms of their beat selection while maintaining the group’s blend of aggressive and melodic raps. Meanwhile, “PESOS” is a crunk and snap rap influenced track that shows the duo displaying their usual chemistry over a highly danceable beat. “Sobredosis” by Prepucio Galáctico As one of the most experimental noise producers in Puerto Rico right now, Prepucio Galáctico’s latest single surprises nobody with its fast-paced hard hitting sounds and surreal imagery. “Summer Bummer” by The Blue Leaves Released a few months ago, The Blue Leaves’ “Summer Bummer” displays the band’s ability to make alternative rock ballads with lo-fi aesthetics. “Cosas Que Tenía En La Mente” by Reyes ††† Featuring very relaxing guitar work and a soothing beat, Reyes †††’s “Cosas Que Tenía En La Mente” shows the young rapper displaying his lyrical skills as he touches on love, being free and having peace of mind “Hora de Irse” by Mike Rodz Being one of the most active members of the scene recently, Mike Rodz’s latest single sees him taking advantage of acoustic instruments to tackle the wave of violence across Puerto Rico. “DESCONTROL” by Jero DLO A trap influenced R&B tune, Jero DLO’s “DESCONTROL” is a sex-fueled track that provides some explicit imagery accompanied by auto-tune and marijuana-driven lyrics “No Te Veo” by Uvejota Featuring production by MIKEPHANTOM, the first single by Uvejota is an auto-tune fueled R&B song that shows the young musician telling a love story and putting his emotional side out there “Me odias y me quieres” by Yabdiel A trap tune with strip club potential, Yabdiel’s “Me odias y me quieres” is an auto-tune driven track that displays the artist blending his lyrical abilities with some melodies. “PREFIERE” by YUNG HUSTLERS The first single by the newly formed group YUNG HUSTLERS, which is made up of young musicians Yung 17 and Steven Wantz, is an entry into the ever-growing field of emo trap/sadboi rap. “K I L O $ ;_;” by Kampo As one of the most active hip hop producers in the scene right now, Kampo has been releasing singles and EPs left and right. So it isn’t strange at all that he kicked off 2019 with “K I L O $ ;_;”, a tune that he sees him blend his lo-fi aesthetic within a trap beat that will surely have listeners bobbing their heads and dancing “RUNNIN” by 6ELA A blend of acoustics, chilled vibes, autotune and the bass of a trap banger, 6ELA’s “RUNNIN” is a song that’ll make listeners do a variety of actions making this a single with high replay valuable. “Hasta Mañana (Banana Spanish Version)” by Gaby Morales A tune that will have listeners shaking their bodies in a variety of ways, Gaby Morales’s remix to Jada Kingdom’s “Banana” is a fun dancehall tune for parties at the beach and weekend drives “Periodico de Ayer” and “MUEVELO” by MAX A blend of reggaeton and dancehall, MAX’s “Periodico de Ayer” is a love-driven tune that will have some dancing and others listening to its story. Meanwhile, “MUEVELO” shows the musician blending reggaeton with high trumpets and electronic elements to create an interesting and danceable tune. “Jeans de Cuero” by Los Walters A relaxing yet danceable tune, Los Walters knock it out of the park once again with “Jeans de Cuero” as they continue to expand their synth pop and electro sound while staying close to their essence. “Blueberry” by Eros ft. Angel A blend of trap and R&B, Eros and Angel’s “Blueberry” is a love and sex fueled tune that will play well in late-night playlists and parties. “LiGeRiTo” by PioTripz A drug fueled lo-fi party trap tune, PioTripz’s latest single is a slow-paced but to-the-point song that shows the young artist exploring different sounds. “No Me Conocen” by Ryan Blaze ft. Kombo The X Writer A blend of pop rap tune produced by Yizus Piccolo and Gaby Morales, the latest collaboration between Ryan Blaze and Kombo The X Writer shows both artists going against haters and discussing the difficulties of working as indie artists. “BENZ [RMX]” by 13:00am ft. Erre, Andre OT & Janmerce A fantastic remix produced by Avila and Arov, 13:00am’s “BENZ [RMX]” is a trap tune that mixes melodies and rapping which will surely play well in any form of party environment, especially at night and strip clubs. “La Verdad (Acoustic Version)” by Julio Angel A tune that shows Julio Angel continuing to explore his vocal talents, the acoustic version of “La Verdad” is an emotion filled tune that displays the young musician’s mainstream potential. “Si Yo Te Digo” by Bryan Lopez A blend of pop reggaeton and dancehall, the latest Bryan Lopez single is one that continues to demonstrate the young musician’s mainstream potential “Muévete Coño” by Canubis A rap single that features some interesting production, “Muévete Coño” shows Canubis’s lyrical abilities while encouraging listeners to start moving to achieve their goals. “No escondo na (Freestyle)” by Ryan Blaze Featuring production by Gaby Morales, the latest freestyle by Ryan Blaze shows the musician displaying his lyrical abilities while stating his point of view regarding fake rappers and keeping the competitive spirit of hip hop alive. “Entre Tragos” by Zekiyiii ft. Ryan Blaze Featuring production by Dexion, the latest collaboration by Zekiyiii and Ryan Blaze is a pop tune that shows the artists mixing rapping and autotune melodies to create a danceable and fun single with mainstream potential. “Yo Sé” by Eros A blend of pop and R&B, “Yo Sé” shows Eros expanding his mainstream appealing sound as he continues to display his melodic skills alongside a beat that will play well in the nightlife. “Amor en Vano” by Ade-Line Released in December 2018, the first single by Ade-Line displays the band’s pop punk influences as they introduce themselves to the world of streaming. “Guiso” by Tommy Blanco A trap beat that will surely play well in party playlists, Tommy Blanco’s first single provides a fun and hypnotic beat as the young musician displays his rapping skills and encourages a free Puerto Rico and “con drogas.” “6.40” by Marlon Frank As one of the most active members of the indie scene, Marlon Frank has been releasing singles left and right over the past few months. His most recent is a showcase of relaxing yet bass heavy instrumentation that will take listeners on psychedelic trips. “DE NEGRO” by JOXAN ft. YUNG BOI A bass heavy and mosh-pit worthy trap track, the latest collaboration between JOXAN and YUNG BOI is a gang anthem that will surely play well in live performances. “BRILLO [un freestyle pichando]” by YUNG BOI A trap tune that displays the artist’s rapping skills, “BRILLO” shows YUNG BOI flexing about material possessions and the nightlife over a hypnotic beat “Museo Personal” by Cologne As one of the promising bands to come out of the scene recently, west side-based Cologne kicked off 2019 with the dreamy indie rock tune “Museo Personal,” which continues to demonstrate the group’s potential as a successful ensemble. “La Movie” by Rafers ft. Míto As one of the most active members of the indie scene right now, Rafers comes back alongside Míto to deliver an auto-tone heavy trap tune that reflects on male chauvinism, gossip and obsession, amongst other things. “She Deserve It” by Blxxdshot A hypnotic blend of melodies and rapping, Blxxdshot’s latest single is a look at thot culture and everything it involves. “ITCHY” by WowZa After going for quite some time without releasing any music, Rincón-based rapper WowZa finally released his latest single “ITCHY,” a trap tune that displays his rapping skills while going into the surreal lyrical territory found in Florida’s underground. “NOTA SERIA” by TIAGO STA. CRUZ A surreal blend of dark trap and industrial rap, TIAGO STA. CRUZ’s “NOTA SERIA” is a psychedelic and nightmarish that will take listeners on headtrips. “Diosa” by Cometta A blend of melodies and raps to the sound of bomba fused with a trap beat, Cometta’s “Diosa” is a unique presentation that pays homage to Puerto Rico, love and the muses. “Incompetentes” by Clveless A lo-fi boom bap track, Clvueless’s latest single is a display of his lyrical skills as he reflects on subjects such as critique from others, staying focused and the status of hip hop. “Borracho y Loco” by Krey Another active member of the indie scene, Krey’s 2019 kicks off with the trap-influenced R&B tune “Borracho y Loco,” a love song that continues to show his ability to balance melodies and rapping “Gigantes” by Elefantes de Yaya Serving as a tribute to the many musicians and muses that inspire their sound, “Gigantes” by Elefantes de Yaya is a fun blend of funk, Latin rock and psychedelia that will have listeners dancing in a variety of ways. As seen throughout 2018, the Puerto Rican independent music scene has been extremely active in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. If January 2019 is an indication of anything is that the movement will continue going strong, delivering music left and right, thus demonstrating what the island’s up-and-coming musicians have in mind.
As 2018 finally closes, many in the Puerto Rican independent music scene released a variety of singles to close out the year in proper fashion. While hip hop and its sub-genres continue to dominate, many electronic and rock musicians showed up to the end-of-the-year party to showcase their work. “K-Ye” by Siete Nueve Featuring fantastic production by Vaga, Siete Nueve’s closing single for 2018 is a great introspective and conscious tune that displays the artist’s lyrical abilities, which serves as a warning to those who want to be part of the streets. “Agradecido” by Marlon Frank Another of the hardest working Puerto Rican producers in the scene, Marlon Frank blessed us in December with a lo-fi hip hop beat that will surely relax many ears as he tries to show gratitude to those who have supported his work this past year. “Temblor” by Furry Vowels ft. Los Walters A funky electro-disco collaboration, the latest track by Furry Vowels and Los Walters is one, which will definitely play well in many parties and dance floors. “feeling jazzzyyyy,” “A d e u s : (”, “m e n é a l o • ▲ ☀” and “l o f i - t ó n ★ ❀” by Kampo As one of the most active producers in the indie scene right now, Kampo’s December 2018 was filled with a ton of music. Among the many tunes released was “feeling jazzzyyyy,” a relaxing and laid back track that has a ton of replay value. Then he released “A d e u s : (”, a lo-fi instrumental that feels as if the producer is reflecting on the entire year and letting go of it in order to move forward. Then with “m e n é a l o • ▲ ☀”, the young artist sets a perfect vibe for the upcoming festivities to welcome the new year as he provides a danceable psychedelic tune. Finally, Kampo’s December 2018 was finished with “l o f i - t ó n ★ ❀”, an instrumental that embraces its lo-fi aesthetic while providing a solid blend of reggaeton and trap elements to close out the year properly. “Temple Of The Absurd” by Out of Hand Released in August, the first single for the upcoming Condemned to Fail EP shows Out of Hand displaying their crossover thrash and death metal influences as they reflect on the state of mankind. “Bubble Party!” by Back Seat Driver A track that mixes elements of pop punk, math rock and metalcore, the latest Back Seat Driver single continues to show the band’s potential as a young group of talented musicians. “Rompe el Fili (El Kush)” by Krey Featuring production between Krey, Big G and Boi-1da, the latest track by the singer and rapper celebrates marihuana use and love in a danceable and relaxing trap tune that will surely have listeners moving their bodies in one way or another. “Dizzy” by Siloe Andino Featuring production by Efecto, the latest single by Siloe Andino is a highly danceable song that will certainly have listeners shaking their hips, stomping their feet and clapping their hands to the heavily infectious rhythms. “Shawwwty” by 6ELA A simple, short and to the point trap tune, 6ELA’s latest single is a track, which shows his Spanglish in a song that will surely play well in live performances. “Valentina” by Elefantes de Yaya A love-driven funky rock tune with psychedelic elements, the latest Elefantes de Yaya song is one that will have listeners sensually moving their bodies in the bedroom, clubs and even the beach. “Móntate” by Jib The Mist A reggaeton tune that mixes elements of trap, Jib The Mist’s latest single shows his ability to make a danceable track with potential mainstream appeal “AMEN” by Gaby Chuleta Featuring production by Fly Twilightzone, Gaby Chuleta’s latest solo single provides an infectious beat and chorus that further demonstrates the young artist’s mainstream potential and the producer’s growth “TUPAI” by Gaby Chuleta ft. 13:00am, Watxon, Ferrori, Jose Yellow & Rvlph Doel A posse cut that will definitely create mosh pits in live performances, the latest collaboration by Gaby Chuleta, 13:00am, Waxton, Ferrori, Jose Yellow and Rvlph Doel shows all of the artists flexing on a variety of topics such as drug use, late night parties and ladies. “Lloripari Remix” by Rafers ft. Mr. HumA A remix of the young artist’s earlier single, “Lloripari Remix” features additional vocals by Mr. HumA as the two musicians continue to display their skills towards making danceable and potentially mainstream appealing pop-driven music. “Despelote” by Rafers A trap-influenced pop tune, Rafers’s last single for 2018 explores love while trying to provide an ethereal late night vibe as the young musician explores auto-tune driven melodies “Nos Invaden” by MarYola A highly danceable tune, the latest MarYola single sees the band explore dance rock, synths and elements of prog rock as the group continues to experiment while showcasing their adaptability “Se Les Ve” by A1NWG ft. Aaron P A short but to-the-point single to close out a successful year, A1NWG’s last 2018 single is an auto-tune-driven trap and reggaeton blend that shows the rapper’s lyricism while providing a bit of a psychedelic vibe. “Distancia & Tiempo” by Kombo the X Writer Featuring production by Huztle, Kombo the X Writer’s latest single features the musician exploring melodies and trap sounds in a heart-driven introspective tune which explores love, current life experiences and his mental state. “Desvestirte” by Kalixx Featuring production by Alers “La Pesadilla,” Kalixx’s first single is an ethereal R&B love driven tune that displays the singer’s singing skills and potential for mainstream appeal. “COUPE” by Chris Wav. & Blxxdshot Featuring production by Young Tago, the latest collaboration by Chris Wav. and Blxxdshot is a trap track, which will surely play well driving down the highway with the perfect chemistry shown by both artists. “LA MERCA” by OMVR X JC feat. Jose Yellow Produced by OMVR, the latest collaboration by the dark trap duo and Jose Yellow features the musicians’ styles in full display as they provide some mosh pit worthy music that could also play well in late night party playlists. “MOLDISCO” by Janmarcus Featuring reggaeton production by ONYX, the latest Janmarcus single features many of the genre’s traditional danceable sounds and themes as the young musician continues to explore familiar Latin soundscapes. “Ternura y Maldad RMX” by Axel Cupeles ft. J Cash Released a couple of months ago and featuring a trap-driven production, the remix to Axel Cupeles's “Ternura y Maldad” features additional vocals by J Cash as it keeps its love and sex-fueled themes. “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” by Gyanmarckus A cover of the classic Cyndi Lauper single, Gyanmarckus’s synth and disco influenced tune is a tribute to all the ladies looking to have a life where they can have fun without having to look over their shoulders for any form of danger in a time in Puerto Rico's history where there have been a vast amount of women killed through domestic violence. “New Opp” and “Rare” by Envy As one of the most active members in the scene recently, Envy had a very busy December releasing a variety of solo singles. The first of these is the trap tune “New Opp,” which shows the musician’s ambition and determination towards success. Afterwards, he delivered “Rare,” a bass-heavy tune produced by MB13 where the musician continues to explore trap-driven R&B. “Bag” by Envy & STZ Accompanied by production by J Patterns, the latest trap-driven R&B collaboration by Envy and STZ is a fantastic tune that will surely have listeners dancing and sharing the bedroom with their loved ones “MONEY CASH” by OMVR X JC Featuring production by Fly Twilightzone and Bravo, the latest single by the dark trap duo sees them experimenting with vocals while providing some of their trademark anger-fueled sound. “Fragancia” by Los Walters As one of the slowly approaching mainstream success synth pop groups of the indie scene, Los Walters had a successful 2018 with their project Caramelo and with “Fragancia” they closed the year in perfect fashion as they delivered another relaxing yet danceable track for fans and new listeners alike. “xx-xxx-mayacupey” by Orteez ft. Vento Alejandro and Fokin Froid The first single for the upcoming project Sonido Porno, the latest collaboration between Orteez, Vento Alejandro and Fokin Froid is a fantastic alternative R&B tune, which displays the artists’ strengths over a very sensual and relaxing beat. “Salty Dog” by saintmist Released a couple of months ago, saintmist’s TounyTrece produced “Salty Dog” features a Scarface sample as the young rapper continues to experiment with his rapping skills. “Baby Cripi” by Fuete Billete Released a few months ago, the latest single by the group that could be considered some of the originators of Puerto Rican trap shows them in top form as they display their mastery of the craft while flexing about drugs, material possessions, style and sex. “SANTA SAUCE” BY 13:00am Featuring production by AVILA and AROV, the latest 13:00am solo single served as a Christmas gift for his fans. The single presents an interesting and bass-heavy beat as the young musician continues to experiment with melodies. “TESLA” BY STZ Produced by francis, the latest solo single by STZ features synth driven trap production while the rapper flexes all over the beat. “British Bitch” by Chris Wav. Featuring different production for the trap genre by BUNK TRASH, Chris Wav.’s latest solo single features some storytelling elements while the young musician flexes in multiple forms through a short and to-the-point song. “No Sé” by Watxon ft. Rvlph Doel A traditional Latin trap tune, the latest collaboration between Watxon and Rvlph Doel is a love-driven track, which showcases a balance of melody and lyricism while providing a late night party vibe. “Vete Pal Carajo” by Espuelérico Released on Christmas, the latest Espuelérico single is a folk track that encourages listeners to embrace their identities and be themselves while touching on the domestic violence problem in Puerto Rico “Periódico De Noche Buena” by Rampolla A boom bap tune accompanied by an inescapable acoustic guitar, Rampolla’s latest track is conscious rap song with storytelling elements that wishes to make listeners reflect on the goods they have while being aware of the work which needs to be done in order to make Puerto Rico better. “Tu Chilla Favorita” by Las Bellaqueens After not releasing a single for around ten months, Las Bellaqueens returned to close 2018 with their dose of feminist-driven, explicit and sexual trap as they touch on the subject of being a mistress. “Me He Tardao’ (Remix)” by Mike Rodz ft. Carly Musa, Logan La Torre, Fico Rodz, Kombo the X Writer and Arliana Another posse cut, the remix to Mike Rodz’s “Me He Tardao’” features the infectious BluJarvis production with additional vocals by fellow independent musicians Carly Musa, Logan La Torre, Fico Rodz, Kombo the X Writer and Arliana as they all display their balance of melodies and lyricism while touching on the subject of ambition delivering a fantastic group effort. “Amigx (Dreambow Remix)” by Labajura A remix of his tune from his self-titled debut, Labajura’s latest single is an exploration of the slowly emerging dreambow genre, which fuses synth-pop and dembow into a unique mix of relaxing yet danceable music. As shown all throughout 2018, the Puerto Rican indie music scene is extremely active even in months where there’s little to any music being dropped, which goes to show the amount of ambition, determination, hunger and passion these artists have for their respective crafts
After the events of Hurricane María in 2017, the end of said year and the entirety of 2018 have proved to be some of the most active time for the independent music scene in Puerto Rico as each and every month has shown the release of EPs and albums, but most importantly a wide variety of singles, especially from the fields related to hip hop and electronic music. Last November 2018, was no different to the continuous and ever growing amount of singles coming out monthly out of the island’s passionate indie scene. “Sandy Wexler” and “Tan Candela” by Jib The Mist Featuring production by Savage Minds, the first collaboration between Jib The Mist and the producer this month is an infectious trap tune that presents the musicians exploring the nightlife, partying and drug culture. Meanwhile, “Tan Candela” is a highly tropical and danceable reggaeton tune that will have listeners shaking their bodies in one way or another. “Pienso En Ti”, “Esta Pa’ Mi” and “Desde el calentón (Freestyle)” by Krey As another of the most active musicians in the scene right now, Krey has released three singles in the past month. The first of these is the relaxing R&B influenced “Pienso En Ti,” a tune that is perfect for the late night playlists. Meanwhile, “Esta Pa’ Mi” is a very short display of the artist’s ability to balance singing and rapping on a danceable and infectious beat while making multiple references in his lyrical content. Finally, the last single, “Desde el calentón (Freestyle),” presents the artist showing his rapping abilities as he reflects on his career thus far and the state of hip hop right now. “M.I.A.” and “rain” by 6ELA As another of the most active members of the rap and trap scene, 6ELA has been constantly releasing singles in the past few months. In November, he released the hypnotic and bass heavy “M.I.A.,” a song which will surely play well in live performances. Then he released “rain,” another tune that sees the young artist exploring his emotional side through the melodic emo rap sound. “A Mi Manera” by Kombo the X Writer and Xantos After releasing “Pensando En Ti” last month, Kombo the X Writer joins forces with Xantos to display their lyrical abilities in this new single that shows them providing some commentary on the state of hip hop, criticizing weak lyrical rappers and how they have paved their own path in the scene. “Crecío” and “West Side” by Fico Rodz As one of the most active members of the hip hop community, Fico Rodz at the start of the month delivered a new single in the form of “Crecío,” a fun trap influenced track which shows the rapper touching on the subject of partying while giving it his unique voice that fuses elements of the skating culture as well as his personal experiences as a rapper. Meanwhile at the end of November, as part of the compilation Hip Hop Boricua Volumen 12, he released “West Side,” a boom bap rap tribute to Puerto Rico’s west side. “Asiento De Atrás” by Alvaro Diaz Featuring great production, the latest single by Alvaro Diaz is a highly danceable tune that continues to show his mainstream appeal as he sings about the ever present theme of lovemaking. “Voodoo Octave” by Mr. Kraken As one of the members of the indie scene who has recently become part of the diaspora, Mr. Kraken has slowly been delivering singles to keep audiences aware of his presence and “Voodoo Octave,” a tune influenced by garage, alternative and indie rock, serves as another reminder of the artist’s work. “Imaginate” by Julio Angel Released a little over a month ago, “Imaginate” presents Julio Angel displaying his ability to blend singing and rapping in a song that shows his mainstream appeal and growth as a young artist. “Rio Piedras” by Julio Angel X Mike Rodz Serving as the first collaboration from the two independent artists, “Rio Piedras” is a blend of hip hop and R&B that serves as a great homage to the San Juan area of the same name while telling a love story. “Cripta Común” by La Maquinaria de Tortura After the release of “CONTROL” in June, La Maquinaria de Tortura come back with a new single in the form of “Cripta Común,” a fast paced punk rock tune that will surely create mosh pits in live performances. “Agua E’ Coco Island EP” by Kampo A project that continues to show the artist’s lo-fi aesthetic, Kampo’s “Agua E’ Coco Island EP” is a two-song release that displays the musician delving into the sounds of house, experimental dance music, psychedelia, trap and ambient music to create a unique presentation. “Update” by Edgar Emilio After releasing his very successful poetry collection, Defectos de un Perfeccionista, Vol. 1, last year, Edgar Emilio starts his rollout for the second volume of the book with this three song EP where he explores the fields of trap and R&B. The first track of the project, “GAMES,” sees the young artist looking back at his new found fame alongside the subject of trust. Meanwhile, “VEN A VER” is an ethereal R&B love tune. The last song in the project, “32 HORAS,” continues to explore the subject of fame and trust while adding exploration of one’s role as an artist. “El Juego” by El Gran Almirante A display of indie rock, post-punk and shoegaze influences, the latest single by El Gran Almirante is a track that will surely have listeners dancing and headbanging. “BEELZEBUB” by Gaby Chuleta Being one of the most active artists with multiple performances, Gaby Chuleta provides yet another song in the form of the experimental trap tune “BEELZEBUB,” an infectious yet surreal track that shows the artist exploring darker more industrial and noise-based influences. “La Tengo” by 13:00am feat. Jose Yellow and Ferrori Featuring production by Avila and Arov, 13:00am joins forces with Jose Yellow once again and adds Ferrori to the mix to create another banger that will surely play very well when performed live possibly causing mosh pits. “Querido Gobe/Jam” by Concuerda feat. THELASTGEKKO A collaboration between Concuerda, KA and THELASTGEKKO, “Querido Gobe/Jam” is a lo-fi mix of groovy guitars, rap and spoken word that goes against the current Puerto Rican government. “cough” and “relación corta” by kombuchi Using music as a coping mechanism, the first two singles from the artist based out of San Juan are instrumental tunes that provide a brief glimpse into a person’s difficult times. “SOLO LO QUE SIENTO” by Pheelin feat. KÁ Featuring lo-fi production, the first single by Pheelin features some groovy guitar work by Pheelin and Jubal alongside indie and Latin rock influenced vocals mixed with a brief rap feature by KÁ. “thinking of u is such a chore” and “flowers” by Plants Salesmen The first two singles by the indie and alternative rock band based in San Juan, “thinking of u is such a chore” and “flowers” show the group’s lo-fi aesthetic, Scott Pilgrim influences and groovy guitar sounds. “Toska” by Wølves Another track that sees the young artist exploring his emotional side, Wølves’s “Toska” presents the artist finding ways to cope with his loneliness, depression and addictions. “Mundo Negro” by Bruze Wave Featuring some trap production, Bruze Wave’s “Mundo Negro” is a tune that shows the artist exploring dark subject matter as he demonstrates how one can fall into the underworld due to certain elements, among them being depression. “Ella Quiere” by Bruze Wave X Young Abel A tune that features some light and danceable production, the latest collaboration by Bruze Wave and Young Abel is a single which has some potential for high replay value in late night playlists and strip clubs. “ELEVANDO” by Yung 17 Featuring eMe’s lo-fi production influenced by 8-bit video games, the first single by Yung 17 is an emo rap tune that explores drug use through storytelling lyrics. “Ella Sabe” by Kyoshi Reyes Featuring some really upbeat trap production, the latest single by Kyoshi Reyes is a tune that shows the artist’s ability to make late night playlist bangers which will surely have listeners dancing. “Distancia” by VaRez Featuring some production influenced by mid 2000’s hip hop and today’s trap, the latest single by VaRez shows the artist exploring some melody while still displaying his rapping skills while he touches on the subject of criticism. “Día Tras Día” by Del Verbo A boom bap hip hop production, the latest single by lyrical rapper Del Verbo is a showing of his abilities as he raps about his struggles, work ethic and the state of Puerto Rican hip hop culture. “Razón de ser” by Del Verbo ft. MalaCara, Mr.Flow The Show, Siloé Andino A fantastic collaboration between all of the artists, the latest Del Verbo single from the upcoming album, Belleza Cruda, is a boom bap production that sees the main rapper alongside MalaCara, Mr. Flow The Show and Siloé Andino reflecting on their life experiences. “NO MAS" by TIME MACHINE SQUAD (Rex Jay, Multifacético, Lady Step) A collaboration between conscious rappers of multiple generations, TIME MACHINE SQUAD’s “NO MAS” asks listeners to reflect on their use of violence and potential violence, especially in the way gun fire has been directly connected to multiple deaths around Christmas and New Year’s time in Puerto Rico. “La Bella y La Bestia” by Mil Raices feat. AIZ 731 A blend of Latin rock, reggae and hip hop, the latest collaboration between Mil Raices and AIZ 731 takes the classic tale of “The Beauty and the Beast” and tells a modern version of the love story. “Lloripari”, “Carta Abierta”, “La Scene Queen” and “Neo” by Rafers As one of the most active newcomers, Rafers released a variety of singles this past month. To begin, in “Lloripari” he delivers a danceable track that shows glimpses of his mainstream potential as he presents a tune that might play well in party playlists. Meanwhile, “Carta Abierta” shows Rafers exploring indie rock and jangle pop sounds as he continues to demonstrate his mainstream appeal. Aterwards, “La Scene Queen” presents Rafers exploring more trap and R&B influenced sounds as he practices a blend of singing and some autotune-heavy melodic rap. Finally, “Neo” shows the artist’s mainstream appeal once more as he manages to deliver a song with a simple instrumental and an infectious chorus. “Pa’l After” by Galdo Vega A trap production prepared for the night life, Galdo Vega’s latest single is one that will surely make listeners dance and go wild when performed live. “Lo Malo Se Fue” by Young Faby feat. Juliani Featuring some trap influenced production, the latest collaboration by Young Faby and Juliani is a track that shows the musicians reflecting on their ambitions and how material possessions and money play a part in their lives. “Adicta” by Young Faby feat. Luis Lega A mix of trap and R&B, the latest collaboration by Young Faby and Luis Lega is a tune with potential to be added in late night playlists. “Hago Mi Rap” and “Lobo Gris” by Jaxi Reaper As one of the most active rappers this month, Jaxi Reaper released two singles this past November. The first of these, “Hago Mi Rap,” is a heavy boom bap production that presents the artist flexing his lyrical abilities while rapping about his craft and how he does it the way he wants. Meanwhile, “Lobo Gris” is a dark yet soulful boom bap production that highlight the artist’s beatmaking skills. “Existencia” by Negro Gonzalez After releasing his latest album, Anécdotas, earlier this year, Negro González released this single on November, which serves as an introspective look at his person in and outside of rap. “Mal Hablá” by Sély The first single by the young singer-songwriter, Sély’s “Mal Hablá” is a call for listeners to reflect on the amount of rape and domestic violence occurring around the island and what one can do to change said problem. “Oldest Colonia” by Siete Nueve Released as part of the promo material for the new clothing line by Pícalo, Siete Nueve’s “Oldest Colonia” is a boom bap lyrical production that begs listeners to reflect on Puerto Rico’s colonial status. “Vida No Vuelve” by Meca Uno Another entry into the latest Hip Hop Boricua compilation, Meca Uno’s “Vida No Vuelve” is a boom bap production that invokes listeners to enjoy life to the fullest as one never really knows if death is right around the door. “Slow Pace” by Basement Royalty The first single for their upcoming debut project, Basement Royalty show their pop punk and alternative rock influences all over “Slow Pace” while demonstrating their mainstream potential. “Maestría” by Miguel Apollo feat. FOKINFROID Influenced by reggaeton and dancehall sounds, the latest collaboration by Miguel Apollo and FOKINFROID is a story driven love song that will surely have listeners dancing. “Just Like That” by Blxxdshot Featuring production by Hon Ja, the latest single by Blxxdshot is a track that provides a dark and reclusive atmosphere demonstrating how it will play well in the narrow corners of the night. “Vuelve y Suma” by Tek Uno The latest chapter in the Tek Uno vs. Residente saga, Tek Uno’s “Vuelve y Suma” is a response to Residente’s “Uno Mas” as the rapper goes all out trying to defend himself while attempting to present the famous musician as a two-faced conniver. As mentioned previously, Puerto Rico’s indie scene shows no signs of slowing down as each and every month delivers a vast amount of singles, especially from the fields related to hip hop and electronic music. Hopefully, the upcoming months will show more activity coming from other genres. Nevertheless, the indie scene’s future seems extremely bright.
Listen to some of the singles in the following Soundcloud and Spotify playlists Puerto Rico’s independent music scene continues to grow daily and the month of October 2018 saw the release of various EPs, albums and singles by artists of a variety of genres. Thus, the following article continues to document the singles found on a monthly basis. “?od syek kcalb eht od tahw” by Clammy & the Hands Serving as a short compilation of outtakes and sketches from their EP released earlier this year, “what do the black keys do?,” this short project is a bit of a look into the creative process behind the creation of the aforementioned work. “Cintura Con Chapa” by Jib Da’ Mist An extremely danceable afrobeat influenced tune, the latest single by Jib Da’ Mist will surely have listeners moving their bodies in each and every way possible as he continues to show his mainstream potential. “Blue Garden / Kids are Astronauts / Drones” by Un.Real The latest release by the original Puerto Rican shoegaze band sees the group continuing to explore the genre they are most known for while blending elements of dream pop and ambient music providing a relaxing yet moving experience. “Pensando En Ti” by Kombo the X Writer Featuring great production by Huztle and Gaby Morales, Kombo the X Writer’s “Pensando En Ti” presents the rapper reflecting on how relationships are affected by one’s ambitions to the sound of an R&B influenced beat and a fantastic acoustic guitar. “Petty Wap (Spanish Version)” by Snow La Nieve The latest single by Snow La Nieve, A.K.A. El Biggie Boricua, sees the rapper take on the beat for Young M.A’s “Petty Wap” to flex about his lyrical abilities, the women in his life and other aspects of his life. “Struggles in Vice City” by Young Crowley Produced by chriskentt, the first single by the SADGVNG member is a blend of boom bap and psychedelic sampling that plays as an interesting introduction to the young artist and a creative entry into the emo rap sub-genre that is slowly developing in Puerto Rico. “Baby Doll” and “Mi Glock” by OMVR X JC Being some of the most active trap artists in the underground scene, it is natural for OMVR X JC to release more singles this month. Thus with “Baby Doll” the duo deliver a sex-fueled tune that features some of their trademark blend of aggressive and melodic vocals. Subsequently, with “Mi Glock” the duo boast about their work towards success and what they are willing to do to anybody who tries to stop them on a hypnotic beat produced by Yung Boi. “Comandando” by Eleperez Feat. Ura De Jezus x Croneylardo Accompanied by a fantastic bass-driven production by Manny Dreads, the latest collaboration by Eleperez, Ura de Jezus and Croneylardo is a tune that goes against all forms of haters as the three artists put themselves on the top of the underground rap game. “Déjate Llevar” by Lila Espiral A groovy blend of funk, rock n roll and electronic music, Lila Espiral’s “Déjate Llevar” is an interesting piece that will have listeners thinking of the future and/or outer space as she helps one escape reality for a while. “Millions” and “RICO!” by 6ELA Another of the very active trap artists on the scene right now, 6ELA delivered a few singles this month. The first of these is a highly danceable bass-driven trap tune in the form of “Millions,” a track which will definitely have listeners moving their bodies in one way or another be it through simple dancing, head banging and, perhaps, creating mosh pits. Meanwhile, “RICO!” is another bass-heavy tune that, like “Millions,” might have listeners head banging and probably moshing as 6ELA sings about his money and ambitions to get more. “PROTECT YO’ NECK” by Blxxdshot Featuring surrealistic heavy bass-driven production, the latest Blxxdshot single is a dark trap track perfect for Halloween and horror movie vibes as it sonically provides disturbing Lynchian imagery. “JUST VIBES” by Ralfy J A smooth and ethereal R&B, Ralfy J’s “JUST VIBES” will play perfectly in any form of late night playlists as it can help create a wide variety of images, especially those involving sex and nudity. “AGUA” and “Walgreens” by Gaby Chuleta Produced by Tek Banks, the first of Gaby Chuleta’s latest singles is a bass heavy trap track that will surely have people head banging, dancing and possibly creating mosh pits as the young musician touches on a variety of topics such as money, drug use and ambitions. Meanwhile, “Walgreens” is a banger which celebrates drug culture while touching on the subject of trust. “SANTINI” by Enyel C ft. Gaby Chuleta A relaxed trap tune influenced by sadboi rap and lo-fi aesthetics, the latest collaboration by Enyel C and Gaby Chuleta plays out like a scene from an indie coming of age film where the main characters, in this case the young musicians, drive off to a party. “EA$Y BLE$$ED BAR$” by Khalid Estrada Featuring a nice trap influenced beat, the latest Khalid Estrada single plays out like a lyrical freestyle where the musician looks to display his abilities while rapping about a variety of topics such as his ambitions, love for hip hop and greatness. “No More” by Anibal Velez Featuring some ethereal R&B production, Anibal Velez’s latest tune touches on the subject of love and heartbreak as the young rapper uses elements of storytelling to express himself regarding a loving relationship. “De Hoy Pa Hoy” and “Aquí Estaré” by Reyes ††† After releasing his debut album, Tazas de Amargura, a few months ago Rio Grande rapper Reyes ††† recently released the psychedelic lo-fi boom bap track “De Hoy Pa Hoy” to display his lyrical abilities and provide a glimpse into the latest aspects of his life. Meanwhile, with “Aquí Estaré,” the young rapper takes on a more acoustic guitar driven sound as he reflects on recent life experiences and personal problems. “Ya No Quiere” by Piotripz ft. Flow Montana An R&B influenced trap tune, the latest Piotripz and Flow Montana single is one that will surely play well in late night playlists of any form as one can easily visualize parties, strip clubs or sex scenes playing out in slow motion to the track’s vibe. “See Ya” by Stz ft. Joshua Torres Featuring fantastic production by FlyTwilightZone, the latest collaboration by Stz and Joshua Torres is a great track that sees the rappers reflection about their ambitions, their abilities to achieve them and how they try to stay true to themselves in the process. “Angelica” by Mr. Kraken Though he has relocated to the United Kingdom, young musician Mr. Kraken still manages to deliver solid work this time in the form of the lo-fi ballad “Angelica,” a blues influenced track that will definitely have listeners engaged with its imaginative storytelling and love-driven tale. “RIP” by Stz x 13am An highly energetic trap track, the latest collaboration by Stz and 13am is a tune that continues to display the young artists’ mainstream potential if given the proper opportunity. “Daño Colateral” by Espuelérico A short but to the point blues influenced folk tune, the latest single by young musician Espuelérico is a reflective work that takes a look at some of the many problems which currently surround Puerto Rico. “Tata La Batata” by Zurda A boom bap driven tune, the latest single by Zurda takes elements from classic hip hop to deliver a story-driven and heavily visual track that reflects on a variety of social issues. “No Me Gusta Hablar” by Cyborg AOS X Eleperez Featuring production by Magic On The Beat, the latest collaboration by Cyborg AOS and Eleperez is a fantastic display of the artists’ lyrical abilities as they deliver a variety of quotables in a tune about being forced to speak on haters and shutting them down with music. “Foreplay” by Cologne The first “official” single, according to the band, “Foreplay” is a sex-driven love song by the indie rock group from the west of Puerto Rico that continues to display a bit of their psychedelic and prog rock influences. “Pharaoh” by Wolves Released on Halloween, the latest single by Wolves features some dark, hypnotic and atmospheric production as the young musician raps about a variety of topics such as his greatness, ambitions and more. “Noche Entera” by Homies Clan A take on a more dancehall and afrobeat driven sound, Homies Clan’s latest single, “Noche Entera”, is one that should have listeners dancing and moving their feet to its upbeat vibe. “Como Si Na' (Official Remix)” BY A1 NWG feat. Ya Boy Majik, Da' Ghost and All Dirty Nights Featuring production by Aaron P, the remix to A1 NWG’s track from “The Sauz” is a great group collaboration that features all of the artists singing and rapping over a relaxing, but hypnotic vibe as they display their abilities touching on a variety of subjects such as criticism, ambition and love interests. “Tony Montana” by Young Faby feat. eMe Inspired by the character Tony Montana and the way he achieved his goals, Young Faby and eMe deliver a banging trap beat where they compare themselves and their ambitions to the Scarface character. “Mariah” by Avila feat. Arov A short yet highly danceable tune featuring some psychedelic and ethereal vibes alongside a great bass line, the latest collaboration between Avil and Arov will surely make listeners move their feet. “Vámonos” by Kampo Featuring lo-fi aesthetics, the latest single by Kampo is an interesting switch of pace that sees him heavily sampling acoustics and some different percussion instrumentation providing another beat so listeners can relax. “In My Subconscious” by Redneck Buddha Putting in display their garage rock, power pop and dance rock influences out there, the latest Redneck Buddha single provides a great balance between storytelling and some danceable energy. “El Esqueleto” by Z X Siempre After releasing “Ley Thelémica” in late December 2017, Z X Siempre come back with a new experimental and darkly atmospheric single that provides some of their surreal and psychedelic vibes alongside a video that serves as a perfect companion piece. “Vivieron Feliz” by PJ Sin Suela Released last week, the latest PJ Sin Suela solo single features some fantastic production as he raps and sings a story driven tune where he touches on subjects such as heartbreak, dealing with pain and death. “Calle C” by Tek-One Featuring production by Yallzee, the latest single by Tek-One is a ten minute diss track towards Residente as the Puerto Rican underground legend puts his lyrical prowess in display while trying to humiliate the musician’s abilities. As mentioned in previous articles, Puerto Rico’s music scene is constantly growing and developing a space for artists of all ages to express themselves. While trap continues to be the most explored sound, other genres still manage to get some love and experimentation.
The past few months for the Puerto Rican indie scene have been filled with a lot of singles coming from the fields of hip hop and electronic music. Luckily, this month more work has been found in the field of rock and other sub-genres providing a bit of a balance. Below are some of the singles I found across the month of September 2018, some of which were released previously and I just failed to listen to them before. “El Tiempo No Es La Cura” by LADRONES The three new singles by LADRONES, “Cancion de Stan,” “Tropimuerte” and “No Le Tengo Miedo a la Muerte,” which seem to be an EP or songs for a future project titled “El Tiempo No Es La Cura,” are a short but adrenaline fusion of punk and garage rock that will definitely have listeners head banging and creating mosh pits solo or with their friends. “2do Festival de los Beats” by Kampo A very short EP composed of two songs, “Problems” and “Sunday Night,” Kampo’s “2do Festival de los Beats” displays the artist’s ability to balance some lo-fi hip hop instrumentals while creating an ethereal and psychedelic atmosphere. “Traitors Arise” by Cold Times Featuring a slowly building intro, the latest track by the hardcore group Cold Times is a fantastic crossover thrash tune that explores subjects such as treachery, fake identities and trust while serving as the first single for their latest album Unfortunate Outcome. “Augurio: El Grito del Eclipse” by Cienega A relaxing piece of ambient music, this first single from Cienega’s debut full-length project, Isla Eterna, blends elements of smooth jazz and synth pop to create an atmosphere made perfect for anybody looking to study, chill or just vibe. “CONTROL” by La Maquinaria de Tortura A rock n roll track at heart with elements of hardcore punk, the latest tune by La Maquinaria de Tortura is a great song that will surely create mosh pits in live performances while serving as a great addition to everybody’s adrenaline fueled playlists. “Ven Conmigo” and “SEXXX” by Krey As he continues to explore different sounds, Krey isn’t afraid to delve into the field of dancehall and that’s what he does in the first of his September singles, “Ven Conmigo,” thereby providing a fun and groovy track which will have listeners wanting to go to the beach or simply dancing in their favorite bar or club. Meanwhile, with “SEXXX” he delivers a sexually driven electronic music influenced trap tune that serves as a good addition for a late night playlist. “Cocinando (Flip)”, “Piña Colada” and “Pasos” by Marlon Frank Being one of the most active members of the community this month, Marlon Frank delivered three singles. The first of these is a fantastic remix of the famous Ray Barreto tune in the form of “Cocinando (Flip),” which serves as a great example of how to take beautiful salsa music and blending it with a hip hop beat. Meanwhile, “Piña Colada” is a relaxing and experimental trap influenced R&B tune that might be a great addition to listeners’ late night playlist. Finally, “Pasos” is another smooth boom bap rap inspired beat that requires head bobbing for its entirety of two minutes. “Bandolero” by Charlie Boldman and True Astro This latest single by Charlie Boldman sees him collaborate with Spanish trap artist True Astro to deliver a short yet hypnotic and solid addition to anybody’s party playlist as the musicians sing about familiar lyrical themes found within the genre. “Supersaiyajin” by Gaby Chuleta Another addition to the songs in hip hop that use the Dragon Ball franchise as a metaphor for the amount of work the musician puts in for their art, this new Gaby Chuleta tune is a party track which will have some listeners dancing and others singing the lyrics. “Bodrogos (Version 2018)” by Labajura A new version of the song found in the musician’s self-titled debut project, the 2018 version of “Bodrogos” features new details added to the mix while keeping the fun and energetic vibe presented in the original tune. “In the Park” by WIKI feat. Gloss Gang The latest single by the New York-based Puerto Rican Irish rapper, WIKI, sees him collaborate with Gloss Gang as they display their lyrical abilities over a very interesting yet smooth beat produced by Tony Seltzer. “No Me Ronques” by OMVRxJC feat. KING TEA Featuring production by OMVR, the latest single by OMVRxJC features a relaxing beat while the duo, alongside KING TEA, warn everybody in the rap game to be truthful at all times. “The Amazing Day” by Bonafide Rojas & The Mona Passage A blend of spoken word and alternative rock, the latest single by Nuyorican poet Bonafide Rojas and his band The Mona Passage shows the writer presenting what would be the perfect and most ideal day. “Lepidoptera” by MOTHS The first single for their forthcoming EP, “Lepidoptera” shows MOTHS displaying their blend of stoner and progressive metal in a tune that will have listeners head banging, analyzing the tune’s musical techniques or both. “Fuckin T r i l l y s” and “Julia” by Yung Hannibal // Yung Lecter // Yung Lee One of the most active members of the community this month, Yung Hannibal AKA Yung Lecter AKA Yung Lee has released two singles. The first of these, “Fuckin T r i l l y s,” is a short and to the point diss against everybody in the genre pretending to have money and being gangster. Meanwhile, “Julia” is a much longer and layered love tune that blends elements of R&B and the slowly emerging emo rap sub-genre. “Encabronao (Im Upset Freestyle)” by Jib Da’ Mist Rapping over the beat to Drake’s famous single “I’m Upset,” Jib Da’ Mist’s “Encabronao” sees the musician singing about a variety of topics especially the sacrifices he has made to get where he is in the industry. “Pa’ La Playa” by Mike Rodz Featuring production by Charlie Trems, Mike Rodz’s latest single is a smooth and relaxing reggae influenced hip hop love track about enjoying a good time with one’s love interest at the beach. “BO$$ES” by Envy X Ralfy J X Kombo the X Writer The latest collaboration by Envy, Ralfy J and Kombo the X Writer sees the musicians performing over some fantastic production as they rap about their ambitions with music and how they handle their business. “Blanca Coca” by Joseph Alex A love song which uses the addiction cocaine can create as a metaphor for the musician’s interest for a female love interest, Joseph Alex’s “Blanca Coca” is a relaxing blend of an acoustic guitar with a boom bap rap beat that is certified to attract many listeners if given the proper promo. “G5” by OMVRXJC Another single from some of the most prolific trap musicians in the scene right now, OMVRXJC’s “G5” shows the artists continuing to rap about familiar subject matter while experimenting with a few differences to their sound. “Pali Amarilla” by Jose Yellow ft. Gaby Chuleta The latest collaboration between Jose Yellow and Gaby Chuleta is a fantastic banger that will have audiences dancing, head banging and possibly creating mosh pits despite the little growth in the artists’ lyrical content. “Zafiro” by Rey Varreino Featuring lo-fi boom bap production by Seint, the latest single by young rapper Rey Varreino is another display of his lyrical prowess as he touches on a variety of subjects such as love and how he is willing to take on anybody in the rap scene to prove his greatness. “OK” by Alvaro Diaz X Sousa The latest collaboration by Alvaro Diaz and Sousa is an infectious banger that will will have listeners reciting the words and having fun to the lyrics that make fun of people who pretend to be “gangsters” and “playboys.” “Mueve La Chola” by PJ Sin Suela Presented alongside with a powerful video, the latest PJ Sin Suela single is a fusion of conscious boom bap rap along with an aggressive electric guitar that sees the increasingly growing artist touching on a variety of themes among them being fake gangsters in the genre and violence against women. “Lava” by Los Walters Just a few months after releasing their EP “Caramelo,” the synthpop group return with another single in the form of “Lava,” yet another solid production that will content fans and have listeners of all lifestyles dancing and/or moving their bodies in a variety of ways. “DRVGXS” by Envy X Gaby Chuleta Featuring interesting and creative production by Sauros and Windxws, the latest collaboration between Envy and Gaby Chuleta is a hip hop track that sees the musicians exploring familiar territory as they rap about drug use within the party lifestyle. “Slave to Luxury” by Velcro ft. Mireya Ramos Featuring fantastic production and the vocal talents of Mireya Ramos, the latest single by rapper Velcro is a conscious hip hop track that presents the artist reflecting on the current relationship between Puerto Rico and the politicians who govern the island and the United States. “Noche Entera” by Homies Clan Featuring production by JBD, the new single by Homies Clan is a dancehall inspired tune that will have listeners shaking their hips and stomping their feet all across the night. “Call Me (Remix)” and “Corito Sano” by A1 Featuring production by Aaron P, the first single by A1 on Septemeber is a trap influenced and sexual storytelling driven R&B tune which will have listeners creating images very clearly. Meanwhile, his second, “Corito Sano”, is a short but to the point commentary against the fake tough guys found within the music industry. “Rapero Skater” by Fico Rodz Coming in late September, the latest single by the Mayagüez-based rapper and skateboarder is a homage to those two professions as he reflects on the state of rap and skateboarding in Puerto Rico while showing a bit of attitude against haters. “Necedades” by Mr. HumA Featuring production by MONKEYSTUDIO, the latest single by Mr. HumA is a bass-heavy trap tune that will definitely have listeners head banging from start to end as the rapper flows in an impeccable fashion through the beat. “Guerra” by CONCO The first video single by CONCO, the new project by Ian Cahill and Jorge Chafey, is an electronic music driven homage to the late Puerto Rican boxer Héctor “Macho” Camacho with a little bit of vaporwave influence. As seen in previous months and now in September, the independent music scene in Puerto Rico shows no signs of stopping its continuous growth and constant production, especially on the side of singles. As time goes on, one can only hope that the activity by the artists continues to go in such a way despite the problems which may arise.
Each month brings new music and while Puerto Rico’s independent music scene may be slow in delivering EPs, mixtapes or albums when compared to other movements, the amount of singles delivered each month sees no end. The following article seeks to compile songs released during August 2018 as well as those I had not had the chance to cover earlier in the year. As stated in previous texts, the field of hip hop and all its sub-genres is the most prevalent, but August also saw the release of a few rock tunes and a little bit of reggae. “Real?” by Krey After having a very active July, Krey started August with another trap banger in the form of “Real?”, a single that sees the rapper/singer touching on the subject of honesty and being real when one is slowly becoming famous. “I Might Need Security” and “Me He Tardao” by Mike Rodz Kicking off August on full blast was Cayey’s own Mike Rodz with a freestyle over Chance The Rapper’s “I Might Need Security”, which served as a precursor to his latest single original single “Me He Tardao”. With “I Might Need Security”, Rodz continues to make his mission in the music industry clear: be real and honest. Moreover, the song serves as a great exercise for the rapper to display his lyrical prowess. Meanwhile, in “Me He Tardao” serves as a formal come back for Rodz after a few months without a single where he served as the main musician. In the track, Rodz display a bit of singing and rapping over some great samba influenced production by bluJarvis. “Whirlpool” by Jib Da Mist Featuring production by Savage Minds, Jib Da Mist’s “Whirlpool” is a song that continues to see the artist exploring the field of trap in a single where the artist raps and about making money and how much he can make. While the subject matter may not be the most original, it is unquestionable that this track is banger with the great production by Savage Minds making this tune a good addition to anybody’s party playlists. “Small Step <3 :)” by Clveless Featuring nice lo-fi jazz rap production by randombrownkid, Clveless “Small Step <3 :)” is a short and to the point track that wishes to inspire those suffering from some form of depression to get up, face their problems and eventually achieve their dreams. “i know :(” and “Feeling Down” by 6ELATHEGOAT A fresh entry into the emo and R&B influenced trap slowly coming out of the island, 6ELATHEGOAT’s explores the topic of disappointment as the musician sings about how he knows he has failed those he loves and how he hates himself for doing so. On the other hand, “Feeling Down” is a single that sees the young rapper continue to explore the aforementioned sound while he raps about how one can sometimes fall into sadness when following a goal seems impossible to achieve. “Swank” by Young Chimi ft. Swank Featuring the talents of Swank, Young Chimi’s “Fade” is a track that goes hand-in-hand with the musician’s earlier “Bring It Back Freestyle” where he sung about being against all his haters and how he is willing to do anything to prove them wrong. “Quiere Mas” by Juanchi ft. JMayens With “Quiere Mas”, Juanchi and JMayens get together a track that serves as a great addition to anybody’s party and late night playlist as both musicians explore the subjects of sex, partying and the nightlife. It is definitely a Latin trap tune that shows promise from both artists. “Cool Down (Ice Cream Donut)” by International Dub Ambassadors A perfect way to cool down (pun intended) in the midst of a very hot summer, the self-proclaimed “intergalactic dub” group International Dub Ambassadors returned to the scene to provide this mellow yet psychedelic single that will have people relaxing and having fun in the sun. “Mascaras Negras”, “LO MIO” and “MONEY TALK” by OMVRXJC Featuring production by Flytwilightzone and OMVR, the trap duo from the north of Puerto Rico return with yet another single in the form of “Mascaras Negras” where they explore subject matter they have touched before such as trust, their journey for success, women and money while featuring their mixture of melodies and aggressive choruses. Meanwhile with “LO MIO”, the duo deliver a short and punk attitude influenced song where they present who they are and how they seek to achieve success despite those who stand in their way. On the other hand, the duo’s collaboration with producer Fly Twilightzone, “MONEY TALK,” serves as a reminder from the rappers to everybody out there that they rap to get money. “Aún” by Joseph Alex Featuring traditional boom bap hip hop production by Sombrrra along with some auto-tune fueled melodies, “Aún” by Ponce’s Joseph Alex seems to be a tune that explores that moment in life where one is about to leave (be it through breaking up a relationship or death) and one has a few last words to say and wishes to have a bit of time to express those comments. “¿Quién Soy Yo Para Decirte?” by Carly Musa With “¿Quién Soy Yo Para Decirte?”, Carly Musa manages to explore the subjects of wisdom and advice. By mixing melodies and rapping, alongside what seems to be a psychedelic rock influenced guitar, the young musician is able to provide light on topics not often explored in R&B making this tune unique and different. “Colonel Roach” by Fullminator The first single for the metal band’s upcoming album Crack Attack, “Colonel Roach” sees the at-times eccentric Fullminator mixing elements of thrash metal and hardcore to create a perfect preview for their new full length project. “Viremos El Tiempo” by Diversión Sonora Serving as a preview of their upcoming EP “Goodbye Homosapiens!”, Diversión Sonora’s “Viremos El Tiempo” is a pop rock song with relatable lyrics [going back in time to make things better] that many may connect with making it a potential radio friendly tune if given the chance. “Freestyle 1” and “Confession” by Yung Lee As an active member of the lo-fi hip hop community in Puerto Rico, Yung Lee has slowly delivered a few songs this past summer. With “Freestyle 1”, Lee freestyles over a hypnotic beat about disliking fake rappers and culture vultures. Meanwhile with “Confession”, the young musician puts himself out there as he sings over a guitar driven beat about being dishonest to a loved one and how sorry he is about it. “Ganas” by Yvng Killo and Yung Lee A lo-fi hip hop and R&B influenced track that fuses melodies and rapping, the Yvng Killo and Yung Lee single “Ganas” is a love song dedicated to the artists’ love interests they constantly praise said interests in every way possible. Though the tune may be a weird mix for some, it is actually an interesting combination that should be explored in the future making this single an experiment on a genre fusion that has yet to be thoroughly fleshed out. “Pedro Rosello” by Eleperez Named after the former governor of Puerto Rico, Eleperez’s latest single is a trap track that uses the politician and his son, the now governor Ricardo Rosello, as metaphors for the people who find their way to a position of power by way of lies making this one of the few tunes in the genre to balance its usual stories of crime with a political message. “To the Moon” by O$RODZ Another entry into the rapidly growing lo-fi hip hop subgenre coming out of Puerto Rico, O$RODZ’s first single is an introspective journey into the artist’s mind that serves as a good introduction for the young up-and-comer. “Κύβος” and “sleepwithme” by Marlon Frank A short EP made up of two songs, “Κύβος” sees musician Marlon Frank exploring a variety of sounds among them dance and house music with the first “Natalia” and then a bit of drum and bass influenced funk in “De a Poco” making this an interesting presentation. Meanwhile, “sleepwithme” is a more atmospheric lo-fi track that sees the musician continue to explore his artistic boundaries as he provides what seems to be the soundtrack to some sort of surreal horror film set in an urban or industrial landscape. “Acércate” by Jorge & Los Físicos After performing around the island for a while the rock trio Jorge & Los Fisicos came back to Spotify in late July with a new single in the form of “Acercate,” a short but to the point groovy blues influenced pop rock track that will have listeners dancing and shaking their hips. “Tropical” by Julio Angel A fusion of R&B and Caribbean sounds, the first single by West based Puerto Rican newcomer Julio Angel is a lovely pop song adequately released in early July for the summer season that displays the singer’s mainstream potential. “Si Que Si” by Meca Uno After not releasing a single since May’s “Asi Es Que Eh,” Bayamon-based Meca Uno came back this month with the hypnotic boom bap single “Si Que Si,” a presentation of his lyrical powers that makes multiple references to kung fu cinema, his identity as a rocker and rapper and his surroundings. “Ganga” by Gaby Chuleta Presented by Demoniacal Records and Swamp Gang, the latest single by Guayama-based musician Gaby Chuleta is a trap banger that will definitely have listeners dancing and possibly creating mosh pits in live performances. “LOVEMIST” by SaintMist feat. Clveless Produced by deadboi takumi, “LOVEMIST,” the latest collaboration between SaintMist and Clveless, is a lo-fi hip hop song dedicated to the rappers respective love interests. Though the single features simple flows from the artists, they play perfectly with the imaginative lyrics presented, which teleport listeners to those moments in life where one is so in love that you wish to travel across the clouds with that person you that makes you happy. “MBHP” by La Cotto After not releasing a single since March, the diaspora based rapper La Cotto recently delivered “MBHP,” a powerful and aggressive feminist anthem against all those men who abuse of women in any way. Though the track can get a bit repetitive, it’s message is one that must be heard. “DESCONTROL” by Jose Yellow feat. Janmarcus Produced by Fly Twilightzone and Javi Neris, the latest collaboration between Jose Yellow and Janmarcus is a laid back yet energetic trap banger that will have audiences relaxing or dancing showing that Yellow’s hot streak in 2018 sees no end in sight. “E-baby” by Korea Central Mayagüez’s Korea Central return after quite a while without putting out music with “E-baby,” a fun and danceable lo-fi jangle pop tune that displays their psychedelic and indie rock influences showing the amount of ground the band can cover in a single song. “Suerte y mentira” by Julio del Hoyo A traditional boom bap rap beat serves as the background for Julio del Hoyo’s latest lyrical delivery “Suerte y mentira,” an introspective track that among many subjects explores those like luck and trust. Featuring a hypnotic acoustic guitar and great female vocals, the tune is yet another fantastic presentation by the young rapper. “Pink Skies” by Wolves Coming out of Isabela, Wolves recently released the single “Pink Skies,” a trap fueled R&B tune that will have some thinking about teenage and young adult love. If you love musicians like Trippie Redd, Lil Uzi Vert and XXXTentacion’s R&B inspired music, you will definitely like this. “Dime Como Es” by Bryan Lopez Orlando-based Puerto Rican singer Bryan Lopez recently delivered “Dime Como Es,” a dancehall influenced R&B single that takes advantage of the sounds found in the United States while paying homage to his Caribbean roots. A highly danceable song in terms of its rhythm, the tune is also filled with a passionate love story at its heart. “El Mariachi” by eMe A trap fueled banger, eMe’s “El Mariachi” is a track that provides quite a bit of adrenaline for those looking for a fun night. However, the tune suffers from its extensive running time which makes it feel a bit repetitive. “FakeLove (MixedFeeling)” by Gabilan An trap influenced R&B single, Gabilan’s “FakeLove (MixedFeeling)” sees the young Isabela musician exploring his feelings in the aftermath of a break-up. Though the song explores familiar lyrical territory, it is the beat that provides a soothing relaxed energy for those looking to chill at night with their loved one or those in search of reflection. “Una Loquera” by Bruze Wave feat. Gabilan & eMe Another trap single with elements of R&B coming out of Puerto Rico’s northwest, “Una Loquera” sees Bruze Wave collaborate with eMe and Gabilan to provide a Migos influenced sex fueled party single for those looking to dance all night long. “Todo Esta Bien” by Ruben Torres A relaxing and soulful presentation, Ruben Torres’ latest single “Todo Esta Bien” is a powerful song about feeling dead inside and coming to terms with it. Although the subject matter may be a little difficult to handle, do not disregard this song as it will make you reflect about the beauty of life. “Rebulera” by Carly Musa feat. ARM A fusion of reggaeton and dancehall, the latest collaboration by Carly Musa and ARM is a summer influenced track that will have listeners dancing for a while before, while and after listening. “NO SOY EL MISMO” by Clveless feat. SaintMist Featuring production by Alfred Wars, the second collaboration by Clveless and SaintMist sees both artists flexing their rapping muscles on a lo-fi boom bap beat as they explain and reflect on their personal changes after experiencing difficult relationships with people they at one point trusted. “𝙗_𝙪𝙣𝙙” by seint After releasing his latest beat tape, “DORADA,” not so long ago, young producer seint comes back to close August with a tribute to Kanye West as he samples a few of the rapper’s vocals to a soothing original beat influenced by psychedelia, Caribbean music and vaporwave. “Alma” and “No Importa (No Me Compares Version)” by Gerald Released in late July, Gerald’s “Alma” is a dancehall tune that further proves his possible mainstream appeal as he delivers a track that will have listeners shaking their bodies all over the place. Meanwhile, the No Me Compares version of “No Importa” is a soulful acoustic guitar driven version of the love song that perfectly fits the Univision series. “Ravenous Dreams” by Blood Rapture Released in April, the latest single by Blood Rapture is an example of the type of death metal Puerto Rico’s underground scene can bring to the table. It also demonstrates that, although it mainly stays in the dark, the metal movement in the island is still very much alive. “Coral” by A1 The latest video single by A1 is for the reggaeton track “Coral” off of his EP “The Sauz,” a psychedelic influenced visual that sees the rapper paying homage to old school reggaeton music videos while bringing a bit of his own flavor into the mix. “Fecha de Expiración” by La Estacion Central The latest video single by La Estacion Central is a display of their trademark boom bap production and lyrical combination where they show that traditional hip hop can still pop and make you head bang when done with love, care and dedication. “No Fallamos” by Alvaro Diaz feat. Myke Towers Alvaro Diaz and Myke Towers close the month properly with “No Fallamos,” a fantastic collaboration that features the musicians rapping over a trap beat about the type of people they trust and the way they navigate through the industry. Every day Puerto Rico’s indie music scene continues to grow and more tunes get to see the light of day thanks to the artists’ fearless D.I.Y. mentality and the great amount of platforms provided across the internet that allow them to share said work. August 2018 was yet another example of the movement’s rapidly growing archive of music and the bravery of the island’s underground talent.
With the growth of the Puerto Rican independent music scene, there seems to be more music coming in every day and July 2018 was yet another example of the rapidly growing movement in the small island. Here are some of the tracks that I discovered or that were released during the month. “Jaquemate” and “FLOW CRIMINAL” by OMVRXJC With "Jaquemate", the trap duo based in the north of Puerto Rico deliver another trap track about the underground side of the genre by rapping about their gangster and crime personalities. However, what makes this tune different from others by the duo is its low-key approach. Usually, OMVRXJC deliver songs with banging beats and aggressive attitudes, but here the energy is toned down a bit proving that they can provide the gangster attitude with hype tracks and in more laid back style. Meanwhile, “FLOW CRIMINAL” is another trap song but, unlike many others in the group’s catalogue, this one presents the artists heavily focusing on melody rather than rapping. With this tune, OMVRXJC balance a laid back flow with an aggressive attitude displaying yet again that the duo is willing to get out of their comfort zone and explore different aspects of the genre. “BAMBINO” by OMVRXJC feat. ANGELINO Yet another single by OMVRXJC, this time featuring the talents of ANGELINO, “BAMBINO” is another laid back trap track that feels like one is living a gangster movie in slow motion as the three musicians rap and sing about the criminal underground on a smooth beat that flows between relaxed and hype vibes. “One Time” by bluJarvis feat. Mike Rodz and Abdel Green Featuring a fantastic reggae influenced psychedelic beat, bluJarvis’ “One Time” is a fantastic group collaboration that will have listeners dancing and head banging with its infectious atmosphere making it a great summer song. “FLVMVS” by stz Stz’s latest single, “FLVMVS”, is another display of the rapper’s lyrical abilities as he makes it his mission to show said techniques in another tune that sees him experimenting with a beat that mixes a bit of trap with what seems to be some sampling. In short, if you love trap beats and its vibes mixed with great lyricism, then this single may be right up your alley. “Mi Abuelita” by PioTripz feat. Robin A fun track that mixes Latin trap with a salsa sample, this collaboration by PioTripz and ROBIN is a celebration of grandmothers everywhere as the young musicians sing and rap about the greatness these loved ones can bring into our lives. “CUPIDO MINTIO” by ALEXER X ROBIN An alternative R&B influenced trap track, this collaboration by ALEXER and ROBIN is another entry into the emotional side of trap music as it features the young musicians rapping and singing about heartbreak by using the classic figure of Cupid as their main source of inspiration. “Whatsapp” by ROBIN One of the singles for ROBIN’s mixtape “De La Salsa al Rap”, “Whatsapp” presents the young artist exploring the field of pop reggaeton in a modern love song about how we use social media, more specifically WhatsApp, to communicate. “El Momento” by Barbosa X Sato Cancel A slow jamming alternative R&B influenced trap track, “El Momento” features musicians Barbosa and Sato Cancel touching a familiar topic in both genres: sex and love making. However, what makes this tune different from others is its especially slow jam aesthetic, making one think of the times when R. Kelly was topping the charts making this song a nice blend of modern day R&B and trap fused with nostalgic 1990s and 2000s R&B. “Texaco” by 13:00AM feat. Jose Yellow Featuring fantastic production by Avila, the latest collaboration by 13:00AM and Jose Yellow is a good pairing that features aggressive rapping by Jose Yellow on the chorus where he puts out there a bit of his musical background and the reason why he is in the music industry. Meanwhile, 13:00AM does a bit of singing, heavily influenced by atmospheric trap artists like Travis Scott, where he touches on his concentration to succeed in the music industry. “Se Acaba El Tiempo” by Gaby Morales feat. Loreley Produced by Naisgay and Huztle, this single by Gaby Morales and Loreley is a good mix of pop and dancehall that should have listeners dancing, especially if they are in the beach, which seems to be the appropriate setting for such a track. “THIS” by Blxxdshot Featuring bass heavy production by YungArabian, “THIS” by Blxxdshot is fantastic mix of hype trap and lyricism that should have all sorts of listeners head banging, jumping around or even mosh pitting with their friends. However, what seems to kill this song is its short running time. But one could argue that said length is due to its aggressive almost punk rock nature. Nevertheless, Blxxdshot’s “THIS” is a solid entry into the musicians growing catalogue. “Ocio” and “sleepwithme” by Marlon Frank A short and laidback example of instrumental boom bap hip hop, Marlon Frank’s “Ocio” is a great tune to keep in your playlist for studying or relaxing as it not only helps you chill out but also remember those days where you laugh out loud with your friends. On the other hand, with the experimental “sleepwithme” Frank seems to present the picture of what a dream can be and feel like as it teleports listeners on a surreal and almost otherworldly experience for a little over two minutes. If you love experimental hip hop, this tune is definitely for you. “AY JO” by frivolo Driven by frivolo’s aggressive lyricism and thought-provoking lyrics, “AY JO” is a track that touches on a variety of topics but mainly on the struggles Puerto Ricans went through in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, especially when dealing with two governments that provided little to no help, Trump’s and Ricardo Rosello’s. “La Receta” by Fran feat. Cartagena and Frivolo A fantastic collaboration by some of the best MCs in Puerto Rico right now, “La Receta” by Fran, Cartagena and Frivolo is a boom bap rap track that displays some great lyrical prowess fused with some beautiful jazz samples and a fantastic beat switch due to Manny Beats great production. In short, if these three rappers decide to collaborate with Manny on a future full length project, I wouldn’t mind one bit. “Merlot” by Delaggo Starting off with a smooth acoustic guitar that transitions into a laidback beat, Delaggo’s “Merlot” is a great display of lyrical and storytelling abilities by the rapper who touches on the subject of balancing time for everything there is to experience in life. “Calenton” by Jota Frivonacci and Laya Kalima A soulful and jazzy boom bap track, Jota Frivonacci and Laya Kalima’s “Calenton” is a fantastic love song that features great rapping by Frivonacci, singing by Kalima and production reminiscent of The Soulquarians. “2 Horas” by GIO An auto-tune featuring dancehall track, GIO’s “2 Horas” is a story driven danceable single about meeting a female love interest and spending the night with her after a night of partying, which features a nice trap beat progression near the end showing a bit of experimentation by the artist. “Proverbios 18:24” by IM_ROBBY A lyrical rap single that features a smooth boom bap beat, IM_ROBBY’s “Proverbio 18:24” is a five minute song that heavily touches on the subjects of trust and friendship and how these can be corrupted by money, time and success. “A NADIE LE ENVIDIO” by kxvin Another entry into the rapidly growing trap catalogue by Puerto Rico, kxvin’s “A NADIE LE ENVIDIO” is a single that sees the artist putting out there the many things he wants, i.e. money, clothes, success and traveling, and how much he wants to prove wrong everybody that has ever doubted him. “JUSTICIA POETICA” by KILLO A single that went a bit under my radar, KILLO’s “JUSTICIA POETICA” is a soulful boom bap track produced by Manny Dreads that features the rapper putting in full display his lyrical abilities while bragging about how good his technique is as well as the many aspects of his life. “EN LA MIA” by Jota Rosa An acoustic guitar driven alternative R&B trap single, Jota Rosa’s “EN LA MIA” is a love song that features the artist fusing trap with different sounds that have rarely been seen in the genre, most notably the acoustic guitar, making this a truly different tune than most found in the genre. “Pa’ Complacer” by Cache A nice boom bap track, Cache’s “Pa’ Complacer” is a nice story driven love song that gives out laid back vibes which are heavily influenced by Mac Miller. Moreover, the tune displays the young rapper’s ability to use Puerto Rican Spanglish with an upbeat production making this a fun single for listeners everywhere. “Frente Al Espejo” by John Blake An alternative R&B influenced trap track that balances singing and rapping, John Blake’s “Frente Al Espejo” is a love fused single that touches on the subject of trust and identity in a variety of settings. In short, the slow jamming track is definitely to be appreciated by those looking for a bit of introspection. “DE CUANDO ACA” by Marc Jonnz Another R&B influenced trap track, Marc Jonnz’s “DE CUANDO ACA” is love song set in the aftermath of a couple’s break-up where one of the members of said relationship is looking for the other in order to continue being together. Moreover, the slow jamming tune is definitely one that can be seen in the form of a music video or at least being added in listeners’ late night playlists. “Carta de Despedida (Lujuria)” by KARO Featuring production by Phiorick, KARO’s “Carta de Despedida (Lujuria)” is a song whose target could be interpreted in a variety of ways, but one thing’s for sure, it is a single fueled by love. By using Phiorick's fantastic production, this tune manages to display KARO’s storytelling and lyrical abilities making this song highly replayable. “Presente” by Pablo Johansen X Yambo Featuring some nice boom bap production Barrikada Records, this collaboration by Pablo Johansen and Yambo is a nice display of the artists’ lyrical abilities as they rap about a variety of topics, but the most prominent being how they seek their goals and how they use hip hop as a form of reflection and expression. “Carpe Noctem” by Ruben Torres Featuring a laid back yet dark, atmospheric and jazzy boom bap beat, Ruben Torres’ “Carpe Noctem” is a track that features the rapper’s lyrical abilities while touching on some dark subject matter such as facing life’s external struggles and internal conflicts like depression and suicidal tendencies making this a deep and introspective rap tune. “Changes (Blvck Vibes Version)” by Yovng Iverson A different take on the XXXTentacion of the same name, Yovng Iverson’s “Changes (Blvck Vibes Version)” is an R&B track that seems to be a reflection after heartbreak. Though the single seems to do very little to make changes to the original, it is good to see Yovng Iverson take on a beat already made famous and challenge himself as an artist. “Rotacion” by Yensanjuan feat. Daniyyel and Fntxy Originally released this past May, this trap collaboration by Yensajuan, Daniyyel and Fntxy is a great track to get parties started and to have everybody dancing making it a perfect addition to anybody’s hype playlist. “Las Yales Quieren Calle” by Los Bronson A fantastic instrumental surf rock track, Los Bronson’s “Las Yales Quieren Calle” is a song that seems to have been in Bandcamp since in 2016, but wasn’t in their Spotify until July 1st, 2018. Nevertheless, the single is a fantastic display by the band which shows their knowledge and control over the style they are continuing to make their own. “Isla Nueva” by Pielago Originally released in March 2018, Pielago’s latest single, “Isla Nueva”, is a great reggae track that sees the band reflecting on Puerto Rico’s past and present in order to provide a bright future for the those that come after us. “Sin ti” by seint A beat that perfectly encapsulates the feeling of emptiness, seint’s latest lo-fi hip hop instrumental perfectly captures what its title wishes to explore while providing some experimentation by the artist behind it. “Carmen San Diego Interlude Vol. 1”, “Dime”, “Negrita”, “Solo #freechulo”, “Pal West”, and “Coco” by Krey July was a very active month for singer/rapper Krey as the Mayaguez and San Juan based musician basically dropped an EP worth of singles (six in total) during the month. Kicking off with “Carmen San Diego Interlude Vol. 1”, the artist delivered an alternative R&B tune that, like many other songs in the genre, explored the field of troubled relationships. Then, Krey provided a more danceable and story driven love tune with “Dime”, a dancehall influenced single that perfectly fits with the summer vibes. Meanwhile, with “Negrita”, the artist went back to his R&B influences with a slow jamming single that will serve as a perfect addition to everybody’s late night playlist. Afterwards, the young musician delivered a trap track with “Solo (#freechule)”, a tune that explores a variety of topics, but most prominently trust. Then Krey dropped the alternative R&B influenced trap single “Pal West”, a story driven song about love and sex in the night life. Finally, to close the month properly, Krey delivered “Coco”, another dancehall influenced track that perfectly set the summer vibes back into the light. In short, July was a very active month for the young musician who, while delivering so much music, managed to put his lovely Mayaguez in the mind of listeners everywhere. “No Me Dueles” by Lara Project After leaving fans hungry for new music for over a year, Lara Project finally delivered this single in mid June 2018. A heavily auto-tuned alternative, electronic and atmospheric R&B single, “No Me Dueles” is a song that explores the aftermath of breaking up with one’s significant other. Moreover, the single serves as the promo for the musical project’s upcoming EP. “Lluvia de Mayo” by Jazz Bandana Serving as Jazz Bandana’s first foray into the field of reggaeton, “Lluvia de Mayo” was also the artist’s summer anthem as it featured a highly danceable beat that featured the standard dembow of the genre mixed with the new electronic pop sensibilities as well some more traditional acoustic and wind instruments to provide the summer and tropical vibes the musician was going for. “Prelude” and “Doing It Better” by Ralfy J I had never listened to Ralfy J before, but these two tracks served as great introductions. The first of these, “Prelude”, features a greatly produced beat that serves as the perfect atmosphere for the artist to display his lyrical abilities. Meanwhile, “Doing It Better” features a much more laid back beat that also serves as a perfect background for Ralfy J to put in display his techniques. Overall, with these two singles the young rapper demonstrates that he is an artist to keep an eye out for, especially if you like artists like those in Dreamville and Top Dawg Entertainment. “Let You Go” by Gabriel Ryan A display of introspective rap, Gabriel Ryan’s “Let You Go” is a lyrical presentation that explores the many sacrifices one has to do in order to achieve one’s goals while trying to motivate others. Moreover, the song shows a bit of Ryan’s influences in rappers like J Cole and Eminem. Thus, if you are looking for introspective raps, Ryan is definitely an artist to look out for. “Medicine” by Wolves Yet another entry into the realm of alternative R&B influenced trap, Wolves’ “Medicine” seems to be a love song about being addicted to a love interest despite both members of the relationship being bad for each other, a topic often explored in love and sex fueled trap. “A Veces” by ARM Featuring a nice piano in the background, ARM’s “A Veces” is a boom bap rap track that features the artist putting in full display his lyrical abilities while stating how much he wants the best for those he loves. Furthermore, ARM presents the suffering he and his loved ones have gone through. In the end, the track is one that many in today’s Puerto Rico can relate to and one that many need to listen. “Fyah” by OwL A bassline house track at heart, OwL’s “Fyah” is a banger that delivers almost five minutes worth of danceable music, which will surely have everybody in the club moving their feet, head banging, shaking their booties and flinging their arms around, hopefully taking into consideration those around them. In short, “Fyah” is great music for any form of physical activity, especially that which is heavily fueled by adrenaline. “MAKE IT (BITCH)” by 6ELA THE GOAT 6ELA THE GOAT came to July 2018 with one goal in mind, to make a banger and that is exactly what he accomplished with “MAKE IT (BITCH)”. Some might criticize it for being simplistic, however that does not take anything away from the track’s mission, to get people hyped up. Heavily influenced by the energy created by trap artists from Atlanta and Florida fused with the simplicity of punk rock, “MAKE IT (BITCH)” is a tune that will have people head banging, jumping around, dancing and probably mosh pitting in the crowd of live performances. With this single, 6ELA THE GOAT truly managed to deliver a banger. “NADIE SABE” and “TENEMOS EL WAVE” by PHNTOMFLEX Like a few artists in this list, I had not known of PHNTOMFLEX until I heard these two singles and I was interested with his approach towards the trap genre. With “NADIE SABE”, the musician manages to perfectly blend dark atmospheric lo-fi trap with a visually and story driven tale of love and lust. Meanwhile, with “TENEMOS EL WAVE”, he once again uses his lo-fi aesthetic but mixes it with the more hyped side of trap. Out of the many trap artists I’ve heard recently, PHNTOMFLEX seems to be one of the few to blend the very lo-fi aesthetic of early proto-punk with trap in such an interesting way. “Nonstop” by Exten Another entry into the field of electronic music, Exten’s latest house single, “Nonstop”, is a psychedelic dance song that will surely have listeners moving their bodies in all sorts of ways making this a great addition to everyone’s party playlist. “Bring It Back Freestyle (Spanish Remix)” by Young Chimi A freestyle using the beat of Rich the Kid's song of the same name, this new track by Young Chimi features the rapper basically dissing all of his haters. In sum, tt is the result of what a Latin trap artist would do if given the opportunity to freestyle on a trap beat and, though the result is interesting, it would have been even better for the musician to go direct and say the names of his targets. “Al sol de mis dias” by Jaxi Reaper Featuring some experimental boom bap production, Jaxi Reaper’s latest single is a politically driven lyrical assault against the Trump administration as the rapper takes into consideration the constant struggle his people go through and how others fail to realize said problems. “No Voy A Esperar” by Cyborg feat. Casals After not releasing new music for a few months, Arecibo rapper Cyborg AOS got together with singer Casals to explore the field of dancehall in a love song with “No Voy A Esperar”. Though it may seem like a big change for AOS fans looking for him to explode with his lyrical abilities, it is interesting and fresh to see him explore more Caribbean-based sounds especially in a time of year where people are looking to relax and dance a bit under the Sun. “Ojos Vendados” and “Razones” by Reyes ††† The two singles for his upcoming debut album Tazas de Armagura, “Ojos Vendados” and “Razones” are perfect displays of Reyes †††’s abilities as an artist. The first of these is an introspective boom bap track featuring beautiful production as the young rapper explores themes such as the current status of Puerto Rico and the people’s political awareness. Meanwhile, “Razones” is a jazzy and soulful lo-fi boom bap tune that sees the musician presenting his emotional side by exploring the subject of happiness and the willing to live in a variety of ways. “Sin Freno” by Jota Infinito and Tony Small Featuring fantastic production, this collaboration by Jota Infinito and Tony Small is a great display of the musicians’ lyrical prowess as they rap about their amazing techniques and how they are willing to take down any rapper who goes against them in a rap battle. “Una Vida Mas” by B One and Tony Small A collaboration between Costa Rican rapper B One and Puerto Rico’s own Tony Small, “Una Vida Mas” is a boom bap production that explores and goes against the loss of innocent lives at the hands of abusive officers and corrupt politicians. As mentioned in previous entries of these series of articles, Puerto Rico’s independent music scene is delivering a lot of music, especially in the genres closely associated with hip hop, these being traditional boom bap rap along with others like trap, reggaeton, R&B and dancehall. However, while these may be the genres that constantly appear across social media, every now and then one will find singles by rock, reggae and electronic music acts demonstrating that the island has a lot to offer musically.
To say that Puerto Rico’s electronic music scene is one of the fastest growing movements in the island would be an understatement. Every day more and more artists are exploring the field and finding interesting ways of self-expression. One of the many emerging musicians to be coming out of the scene is Mau Lynx who, alongside others like Labajura and Furry Vowels, is making sure to bring something new to the table while still making listeners dance and reflect, which he manages to successfully achieve with his new video single “F.E.D.” (still from the video) Featuring guest vocals by Caithlin De Marrais and direction by Amy Leonard, Mau Lynx’s latest video single takes into outer space to tell a story about what seems to be self-reflection and finding of one’s identity. However, this is not to be taken as the one and only interpretation. As the description of the video reads this is a “[s]neak preview into the new series, 'The Art of Dumping'.” Thus, while I might think this song is all about finding one’s place in the universe, others might think of it as a track inspired by heartbreak. (still from the video) In the end, Mau Lynx manages to deliver a great danceable and thought-provoking video single that will have audiences shaking their hips for a while and then thinking about the track’s story, which further enhances the impact electronic music can have on its listeners and brings something new to the ever-growing scene in Puerto Rico.
Watch “F.E.D.” on Vimeo As the summer continues to get hotter, so is the amount of music being released by independent Puerto Rican musicians, especially from those in the genres related to hip-hop and electronic music. Here are just a few of the singles released and/or found across the month of June from the Boricua indie scene. “Kodamas” by Furry Vowels feat. Mau Lynx Released earlier this year, rather than June, the latest collaboration by Furry Vowels and Mau Lynx is definitely a gem among the large amount of music being uploaded to the internet daily. “Kodamas” is a fantastically danceable synthpop number that will definitely have listeners dancing and imagining themselves as part of a neon-lighted future as they delve into a few surprises in the latter part of the track’s four-minute running time. “Mensaje de Texto” by Paradize feat. Joyce Santana & Brray A new addition to the new wave of dancehall and reggaeton, this collaboration by Paradize, Joyce Santana and Brray is a love and sex-fueled tune that will definitely have listeners dancing everywhere be it a house party, disco, bar or the streets. “Wish” by 6ELA feat. Envy Another addition to the ever growing catalogue of Puerto Rican trap, this one features 6ELA and Envy dipping themselves into the more melodic fueled as they present their Lil Uzi Vert, Trippie Redd and XXXTentacion influences. For those who love melodic trap, this is definitely a fine addition to their playlists. “SunKissss Mix” by Reyes††† Released at the end of the month, the latest single by the young rapper presents a new side to him. Though the track has no lyrics, the tune displays the artist’s willingness to explore with different genres, more specifically house, while maintaining his signature lo-fi aesthetic, which begs one to question what he would do if he produces a project made entirely out of electronic music. “Se Revelo” by JANMARCUS Produced by Young Cauty, Manny Dreads and Yizuscomosuena, the latest JANMARCUS single, "Se Revelo," is another sex-fueled reggaeton track that will have many dancing to the floor as neon-lights flash before them. “Compendio” by Vladi A mixture of classic boom-bap rap with lo-fi aesthetics, Vladi’s “Compendio” is another display of the rappers sharp lyricism as he mixes themes like the power of hip-hop to influence the community, his lyrical prowess and how he wants to help those close to him. “Despojo” Kombo the X Writer feat. Arliana Featuring art by Mike Rodz, production by Huztle and beautiful singing by Arliana, Kombo the X Writer’s “Despojo” is another beautiful jazz-rap track with mainstream appeal that explores a variety of topics, but one of these being the concept of legacy and what one does to succeed in creating a clean one. “Animal” by FOKINFROID A short yet vocally experimental trap track by FOKINFROID, “Animal” is a single that explores the glorification of excess that will have listeners headbanging. However, what might kill this song for audiences is its very short running time. Perhaps thirty more seconds might have made this tune better, but that’s just my opinion. “Jugo’e Piña” by Füete Billēte feat. Enuma Arguably the originators of trap in Puerto Rico, Fuete Billete alongside Enuma return once more with this sex-fueled trap banger that will have some dancing and others going to their bedrooms, or preferred spot for sexual activities, as they listen to this psychedelic and ethereal mix of R&B and trap. “Bájale” by Labajura After spending a lot of time performing in various locations across Puerto Rico and the United States, Labajura returned to the studio to prepare his new project. Afterwards, he decided to provide listeners with this sexy and Vento Alejandro guitar-driven electro-disco number that will definitely make listeners move their feet, shake their booties and head bang. If you have yet to add this to your nightlife playlist, don’t waste anymore time. “Reply” by Envy Produced by FRVRFRIDAY, the new Envy single is a nice entry into the ever growing catalogue of Puerto Rican alternative R&B. As usual with the genre, the track is a love song that explores the topic stated in the tune’s title through a variety of situations. While many songs in this genre lend themselves for bedroom playlists, I believe this one is better off as an exploration on the subject stated in the title rather than just a throwaway tune to put in the background. However, while kudos are given for the lyrical exploration, the song suffers from a short running time as said themes could have been further explored or developed. Regardless, “Reply” is a strong display of Envy’s potential mainstream appeal and star power. “In Tartarus” by Mr. Kraken Mr. Kraken returns with this latest lo-fi produced indie rock and stoner rock influenced single “In Tartarus.” Featuring some chilling guitars and the ever haunting vocals provided by Kraken, this new track continues to show the band’s growth and multiple influences. “Como nosotros” by Yamil Arany Produced by Bravo and Dani The Greatest, Yamil Arany’s “Como nosotros” is a single that explores similar musical and lyrical territory as many other members of the genre while heavily relying on the beat. “Me compre un full” by Luciano and Cokaine A track that lyrically and sonically follows the old school trap created by rappers like T.I., Jeezy and Gucci Mane, “Me compre un full” by Luciano and Cokaine explores the harsh lifestyle of the gangster underground and the tribulations one must undergo to escape it. “Cosa Nostra” by OMVR X JC feat. Gaby Chuleta Another hype trap track by the duo, “Cosa Nostra” displays OMVR X JC signature mixture of cloud/mumble-style lyrics paired alongside aggressively delivered flows as they continue to rap about their dominance in the underground and how they defy anyone who tries to stop them, a topic that is further enhanced by Gaby Chuleta’s featured performance. “SHABBA” by OMVR X JC A change of sound for the duo, “SHABBA” features OMVR X JC exploring sounds rooted in reggaeton and dancehall. While the lyrics may not touch on different themes, it is refreshing to see the duo experimenting with different music and not sticking to their usual dark trap roots. “Siempre Gucci” by Luciano Another trap song that glorifies the Gucci brand and uses it as a gateway to higher class status while admiring the luxuries of gaining money, “Siempre Gucci” is a banger accompanied by an explosive bass that will have some headbanger and others imagining gangster movies in slow-motion. “Dime Si Quieres” by Barbosa A trap influenced R&B track, Barbosa’s “Dime Si Quieres” is a love and sex-fueled song that creates a good atmosphere for headbanging and slow dancing. However, the tune suffers from some rough autotune at times. Regardless, this track gives us a glimpse at a new artist in formation, which is always interesting. “Game Over” by Lil YvDi What seems to be the last track of his first mixtape, “Game Over” is an interesting single by Lil YvDi as he uses the popular video game term as a way to tell the ending of a love story. While the subject matter may not be very different from other artists, it is the style and execution that make this tune so unique and different from the rest of the music being thrown into the spectrum of trap every day. “Agora” by Sebastian .Otero Produced by J’adore Flaneur, “Agora,” the new single by Sebastian .Otero, is a fantastic display of the artist’s ability to blend rapping and singing with a variety of soulful sounds as he touches on a variety of current social and political themes such as the economic crisis in Puerto Rico, the troubled situation with Playuela and the recent cuts to the University of Puerto Rico’s budget. In short, the tune serves as a reflection and call to action by the young artist who continues to show the array of sounds at his disposal. “Vidamuerte” by Elefantes de Yaya A blend of psychedelic and funky rhythms, the first single by the self-proclaimed Yaya Boyz, “Vidamuerte,” is a nice, smooth and melodic rock song that will have some dancing and others dreaming with its sexy blend of guitar solos and piano as they reflect on life and death. “Drena La Drenalina” and “OX TOUR LIFE” by Lee Gueroa As a very active musician this summer, Lee Gueroa a few singles this past June, two of these being “Drena La Adrenalina” and “OX TOUR LIFE.” The first of these is a dancehall and afrobeat bend that will have people dancing everywhere, but, as the cover art suggests, it is an anthem to be enjoyed especially in the beach. The second of these singles is a remix of Lil Uzi Vert’s “XO Tour Llif3” that explores themes of a troubled romantic and sexual relationship. “Se Acabo” by Krey feat. Lee Gueroa Another entry into Puerto Rico’s growing trap catalogue, “Se Acabo” is a love-fueled banger that features some great chemistry by Krey and Lee Gueroa as they blend some good rapping and singing with a chorus that many will be singing in nightclubs all around. “Henny Con Hypnotic” by Krey feat. Benny Benni Another trap track that blends the subject matters of sex, drugs and nightlife, “Henny Con Hypnotic” is a banger that will have many headbanging and some dancing as it perfectly blends aggressive rapping and smooth autotune singing with many pop culture references that listeners will understand immediately. “Samba mañanera” by Julio del Hoyo An interesting hip hop track that mixes fast and aggressive rapping with a samba sample, the new Julio del Hoyo is another tune that demonstrates his lyrical abilities. In addition, del Hoyo further shows he isn’t afraid to experiment as he also delves into singing for a while. In short, the song jumps off as an interesting experiment by the young rapper. “FTOS” and “R.I.P.” by Blxxdshot Another of the more active rappers this summer, Blxxdshot released two singles this past June with “FTOS” and “R.I.P.” The first of these features some production by Fly Twilightzone reminiscent of Maybach Music beats mixed with dark trap as Blxxdshot displays some of his lyrical abilities in a track about loyalty. Finally, the second of these is a dark trap banger influenced by the works of Pouya, SuicideBoys and XXXTentacion that will have many headbanging and probably creating mosh pits in shows. “SVDGVNG.exe” and “C A $ H I N” by Yung Lecter Yung Lecter has been another active member of the music scene this summer as he released two singles with “SVDGVNG.exe” and “C A $ H I N.” The first of these is a short track about depression and suicide accompanied by a lo-fi boom-bap instrumental. Lastly, “C A $ H I N” is a heavy bass and Nintendo sampling trap banger about wanting money and everything that comes with it. “No Creo En Fe” by saintmist With his latest single, “No Creo En Fe,” the Cayey-based artist saintmist presents a nice and soulful lo-fi beat that will have many relaxing and headbanging. However, while the song is good, it would have been great to see it last a bit longer. “BELIAL” by Charlie Boldman A bass heavy trap track, Charlie Boldman’s latest single is a dedication against all his haters as he first basically tells them to stop talking behind his back and then backs it up by mentioning all his material wealth. Unlike his last single, “NINTENDO,” this one takes a darker approach in the style of 21 Savage, Offset and Metro Boomin’s Without Warning. “Imaginate Eso” and “Freestyle” by Fico Rodz Another artist who has been very active this entire year has been Fico Rodz and in June he didn’t fail as he delivered two singles with “Imaginate Eso” and “Freestyle.” The first of these features a fast-paced beat as he seems to be reflecting on the struggles he lived through before becoming the man he is today. Meanwhile, “Freestyle” is a shorter and more atmospheric track about where he raps about a variety of topics including social and political troubles in Puerto Rico, the environment, his struggles to become who he is today, motivating others and his role in the hip hop community. As he has shown throughout the entire year, Fico Rodz shows no sign of stopping, which means that he’ll hopefully release an EP, mixtape or album very soon. “La Canción de Mia Parte 4” by Alvaro Diaz A fantastically produced blend of hip-hop and R&B, the new single by Alvaro Diaz tells a story about heartbreak through a large variety of pop culture references and some fine use of sampling. It is definitely another great tune that shows why Diaz is another artist at the forefront of Puerto Rico’s independent music scene. As previously mentioned, Puerto Rico’s independent music scene is in constant growth and artists continue to pump out new music every day, especially those in the fields of hip hop, trap, electronic music and reggaeton. However, there are still a few involved in other genres that, despite their efforts being more group based, manage to put out a single or two. Regardless, all of this progress shows that slowly, but surely, independent acts are connecting more with larger audiences in an easier and faster way thanks to the easy access to the internet. In short, it is a wonderful time to be an artist and all those seeking to express themselves in a medium should work hard and take full advantage of this great resource.
As Puerto Rico’s independent music scene continues to grow, more and more music is released as artists continue to take full advantage of the benefits of the internet. By releasing singles on almost a daily basis, musicians of all fields, especially hip-hop and electronic, continue to release their work putting themselves out there so that audiences all over the globe can listen to their music. Here are a few singles found in May 2018 that you should definitely listen to. “No tengas miedo” by Los Nervios A sweet love song about taking a chance with someone, the latest single by Los Nervios shows the indie band using electronic and synthpop influenced sounds making it a tender track that explores the awkward directions relationships can take. In the end, the tune demonstrates that the band’s forthcoming full-length project is one to keep an eye out. “Cuando Estes Sola” by Mora & Sousa An R&B influenced trap track, the latest collaboration by Mora and Sousa is a tune that explores the importance of communication in any type of love fueled relationship as it can perfect or ruin a relationship. Like many trap songs today, “Sola” is a melody heavy single that features little to no lyricism that manages to set a vibe while sharing thoughts on the universally appealing topic of love. “Rebelate” by Jib Da’ Mist A Savage Minds produced afro-beat influenced track, Jib Da’ Mist’s “Rebelate” is a highly danceable track that will inspire listeners everywhere to shake their bodies in each and every way possible. Though the song suffers from its short running time, the tune is still a great addition for anyone’s party and workout playlist while showing the musician’s growing musical repertoire. “Es Cierto (Musty Remix)” by Fuete Billete Influenced by the sounds made famous by rappers from the south of the United States in the late 2000s, this remix to Fuete Billete’s “Es Cierto” reaffirms the group’s position as some of the pioneers of Puerto Rican trap. Fuete Billete’s latest single is a great addition to anybody’s party playlist as it isn’t afraid to hit you in the face with a powerful and hard-hitting bass that continues until the end. “Puesto (Six Figures)” and “Me compre un Full (version #FicoRaw)” by Fico Rodz Fico Rodz’s boom-bap rap influenced “Puesto” is a track about his balancing of the most important aspects of his life: family, hip hop and skateboarding. However, at the end of each and every reflection it all boils down to “la familia primero” (family comes first), as Rodz simply states that before the money and everything else, he will stick to his family. “Puesto” is yet another entry into Fico’s introspective raps where he reflects on his life decisions, but what makes it different from the rest is his way of being very clear about the elements he tries to balance in the difficult journey life has for us. Meanwhile, “Me compre un Full (version #FicoRaw)” is a commentary on those artists who decide to sell out their morals and original goals in their craft by going into the underworld using drugs and weapons. Rodz attempts to tell a cautionary tale to all those upcoming musicians who have thought of risking a potential successful career just to a have a quick boom into the industry instead of working their way up the ranks. “Domingo” by Mike Rodz A soulful and jazzy boom-bap rap, Mike Rodz’s “Domingo” tells the story many have gone through, the “back and forth” process in love where neither side knows where the relationship is going. However, in Rodz’s tale the male knows that he wants to be with the girl thus the track serves as a kind of proposal in order to move forward. Like previous Mike Rodz songs, this one continues to display his ability as a storyteller and lyricist. “Atardecer”, “Ash” and “Save the day” by La Emperatriz A great entry into the growing electronic scene in the island, La Emperatriz’s “Atardecer” is a beautifully slow yet relaxing and ethereal track that will help listeners everywhere see themselves enjoying a good afternoon or late night be it alone or with friends. Meanwhile, with “Ash” and “Save the day”, La Emperatriz shows off her willingness to experiment with a variety of sounds in order to enhance on her ethereal vibes while also displaying her psychedelic and dark ambient influences. With these three singles, La Emperatriz definitely demonstrates she’s definitely an artist to keep an eye out. “Missin U (Voices On My Head)” by Yung Hannibal A new addition to the slowly growing sub-genre of emo-rap in Puerto Rico’s independent scene, Yung Hannibal’s “Missin U (Voices On My Head)” is a short and to-the-point lo-fi boom-bap ballad where the young artist, instead of rapping, takes a melodic approach in order to properly express his feelings through lyrics which explore grief and loss making it an interesting entry to the “sadboi” movement in the island. “Modo de Avion” by Lyanno and Darell An R&B influenced trap track, the latest collaboration by Lyanno and Darell is a sexually fueled ballad which instantly triggers erotic imagery in slow-motion. A good balance of the two genres that inspired the song, “Modo de Avion” is a good addition to anyone’s bedroom playlist. “何も” by Clammy & the Hands A lo-fi hard rock track, “何も” is a short and to-the-point single that, upon first listening, feels like a female anime character is on the vocals and perhaps this is on purpose given that the artwork features what seems to be exactly. If you wish to get a quick adrenaline fueled track that will wake you up, this track is definitely for you. However, if you like rock that isn’t a little raw on the edges then this is isn’t for you. “La Semana” by Clveless feat. Mike Rodz A lo-fi boom bap track that shows great chemistry between Clveless and Mike Rodz, “La Semana” feels like the two artists knew each other since they were kids and always wanted to rap together. The production, which feels like a mixture between hip-hop and music used to entertain little kids, enhances the atmosphere and the lyrics presented in “La Semana” as it puts in full display the passion Clveless and Rodz have for their art. The tune certainly feels like a fun and laid back track about people, not just musicians, enjoying life and the art they do. “BABALAO”, “BY MYSELF”, “MAMACITA” and “How Run It Freestyle” by OMVR X JC OMVR X JC continue to display their work ethic towards success with these recent singles. With “BABALAO”, the duo address their never ending workflow and how they are always looking over their shoulders for those who try to pretend to be the best trap rappers without doing anything. This message is enhanced in “BY MYSELF”, where they use Spanglish to explore the subject of trust and state how they only believe in each other in an industry where money is a very important factor. However, while the aforementioned tunes addressed individuality, “MAMACITA” attempts to be a love and sex song where the trap rappers practice their melodies. While the single sees both artists experimenting with a new element, the tune could’ve been better if it had a featured artist. Nevertheless, it is a nice attempt at new ground by the duo. Finally, “How Run It” is a banging freestyle that will have people head banging and, if performed live, probably moshing. These latest singles by OMVR X JC show how the duo continues to work hard to find the success they desire and how they are willing to experiment with different ways to approach music. “La Raver”, “Cortas Encima” and “El Callejon” by Fabiio An artist who has been on the scene for a year or so, the San Juan-based Fabiio released three singles this month the first of which was “La Raver”, a trap influenced R&B tune directed towards a love interest who is fond of using psychedelic drugs and partying. Meanwhile “Cortas Encima”, displays Fabiio’s gangster side as he raps about being a sort of kingpin who has all sorts of guns, drugs and women. Finally, “El Callejon” is another trap tune where the artist continues to explore the crime side of the genre as he takes on the gangster persona presented in “Cortas Encima”. In sum, Fabiio is still an artist finding his path in the trap scene who has a fantastic ear for beats. “Presidentes” and “No Puedes (feat. Majestic Boy and Marckeins)” by Requiem Another artist living in the west of Puerto Rico, Requiem released two singles this month with “Presidentes” and “No Puedes” alongside Majestic and Marckeins. The first of these is a mixture of trap and lyricism where the artist raps about his money and how he gets it. In this tune, the artist manages to balance his lyrical abilities with a trap beat, a style that is slowly being explored more. Meanwhile, with “No Puedes”, Requiem collaborates with Majestic and Marckeins to make a trap influenced R&B song where the artists balance singing, storytelling and rapping to address love interests and how they serve as their muse. In short, these two singles by the Aguadilla-based artist display how comfortable he is exploring three popular realms of hip-hop: lyricism, trap and the ever-growing connection between trap and R&B. “Up In That” by Blxxdshot feat. Stz A lyrical hip-hop track about determination and aspiring to be the greatest in the rap game, the latest collaboration by Blxxdshot and Stz is a song that explores familiar lyrical territory, but what makes it different from the rest is the nice balance between beat and raps. It isn’t a tune that relies on having to be too laid back or too hyped, there’s a nice equilibrium that makes it easy for you to imagine yourself driving to it down the street at night in slow motion. “Outta sight” by Stz A short yet bass heavy trap track, Stz’s “Outta sight” explores drug and alcohol use to explore every day as well as the glorification of money. Stz’s latest solo single is a tune that will perfectly blend with many other trap tunes or playlists built off this genre. “Pensando En Ti” by Carly Musa feat. Abby Perez Another great love song by Carly Musa where the artist manages to balance singing and rapping, “Pensando En Ti” is a boom bap rap track with roots in the late 1990s neo soul made famous by The Soulquarians. Though lyrically it explores familiar territory, the tune shows Musa’s path to success as the year moves along. Hopefully, by the end of the year he’ll release an EP or a mixtape. “Madrid” by DOGOS Their first single in quite some time, DOGOS’ “Madrid” is a nice dance-rock influenced indie track that will have some relaxing and listening to the story told in the lyrics, while others would spend the tune’s four-minute running time dancing. A song that could be interpreted in a variety of ways, one might say that it’s about disappointment, heartbreak and even depression. However, one thing’s for sure, this DOGOS’ tune is a great return to the studio by one of the quickly rising bands of the Puerto Rican independent arts scene. “Por si acaso” by Del Hoyo A soulful and jazz boom bap hip hop track, Del Hoyo’s “Por si acaso” is a short single where the rapper presents a bit about his hardships and how he wishes to remind listeners that there are many problems in around us and that we should address these instead of avoiding them. Though the tune has good intention, it would’ve been good to hear Del Hoyo expand a bit on his message. Nevertheless, the track is a nice song to sit back, relax and reflect on those internal and external conflicts that drag us down daily. “Sleepless (Raw Acoustic Version)” by Mr. Kraken A raw and acoustic version of his song “Sleepless”, Mr. Kraken’s latest single is a sweet sounding ballad about the positives and negatives found in any love-fueled relationship. Though the lo-fi quality adds to the power of the lyrics, it will be interesting to listen to the track in a high quality version that’s accompanied by other instruments just to see the differences between each one. Nevertheless, this is a great and simple lo-fi ballad that perfectly blends its recording quality to the yin-yang dynamic being told in the lyrics. “Cosas Que Tenia En La Mente Freestyle” by Reyes ††† A soulful, jazzy and lo-fi instrumental accompanies Reyes †††’s latest love-fueled freestyle where he lets everything out there. Though he doesn’t name drop the target audience of this tune, it is clear that the young rapper is in love with someone and he wishes to express this feeling. “Wolf Cup 98” by Dan Siego One of the most moving songs by Dan Siego, their recent single “Wolf Cub 98” is also one of the longest in their repertoire and one of the few to contain lyrics. This track perfectly captures the atmosphere the band sets up in their shows with a little bit of noise, punk, dance rock and space rock influences. Overall, the tune truly demonstrates that the duo’s upcoming Bloodpuncher’s Greatest Hits is one of the projects to look out for this year. “El Ultimo Baile” by Cologne A prog-rock influenced indie rock track, the first single by Cologne shows a bit of the young band’s influences. From heavy metal groups like Ghost to the Australian stoner rock ensemble Wolfmother and Puerto Rico’s own Draco, “El Ultimo Baile” demonstrates that the west-based band is one to look out for this summer as they debut their sound live around different locations of Puerto Rico. “NINTENDO” by Charlie Boldman In this trap track named after the famous video game company, Charlie Boldman compares his drug use, sexual relationships and workflow to that of a video game. By using this similitude, the young trap rapper manages to capture one’s imagination. However, while the tune is certainly a banger, one can feel a bit disappointed as a few more references to the video game company could have been used to expand on the message. Nevertheless, the song is one that will have everybody dancing and moving their bodies. “Cerbero” by Cartagena ft. Frivolo and Eleperez A hard-hitting boom bap rap track, the latest single by Cartagena alongside Frivolo and Eleperez features the rappers in a full-blown lyrical attack where they present themselves as the best in the lyricism spectrum of hip-hop. As the tune’s name states, the artists feel like the three-headed hound of Greek myth as they assault the current state of the rap game. Overall, the single is a great song that shows potential for a possible group project between the three rappers which would be a great addition to the rap scene in Puerto Rico. “Crecio” by Rey Varreino The first song by the young lyrical rapper in over a year, “Crecio” is the first single of the upcoming full-length project CHAMACO. Varreino’s new track is yet another example of the artist’s lyrical abilities and proves that his forthcoming venture is certainly one to look out for this year. “Calma” by Los Walters The latest single by the synthpop group Los Walters is a relaxing and dance-able track that asks listeners to be patient and calm. In times of chaos, this is the type of the song we need to escape the moment for a few minutes as it puts one at peace, while also reminding us that in order to look at the situation in a clear perspective we must be at peace and focused. In sum, “Calma” is definitely a perfect way to end the month of May and welcome June in all its glorious summer shine. After the disastrous events of Hurricane Maria and the chaotic state of the island's economy, Puerto Rico's independent arts scene has shown its continuous hunger to evolve and the ever-growing amount of singles released on monthly is a perfect example of this. While it is obvious that hip hop and R&B are the genres getting more output, other forms of music have also seen a bit of light such as noise rock in Dan Siego's "Wolf Cub 98", indie rock in "El Ultimo Baile" by Cologne and synthpop with "Calma" by Los Walters. Hopefully, the scene will continue to grow despite the problems that may arise.
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AuthorFernando E. E. Correa González is the author behind over 30 self-published poetry books. He has been published by literary magazines & journals [Id]entidad, El Vicio del Tintero, Sábanas Magazine, Smaeralit, The Occulum, Tonguas and Hound Magazine. Other than writing, Correa is also the host of FENCast, a podcast dedicated to documenting the Puerto Rican independent art scene. Aside from this, he experiments with filmmaking, photography, drawing, painting, multimedia and transmedia. He currently lives in his native Puerto Rico. Archives
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