An icon headed straight to the top with the sheer level of rap mastery he has been displaying, Joe Kane incises the living hell off of smoking hip-hop beats with his sharp lyrical sword that cuts through with power and vivacity resulting in marvelous damage as far as bangers that come off of it are concerned! After giving us a hefty glimpse of the tracks, “Stuck in the sky”, “Mindz” and “IDGAF” off of his album “PO$$UM”, he is about to release the rest of them on come 18th of July this year. This will certainly be the mark of a rap genius with the whole of this album which was produced under Calikid records/universal music group showcasing the world what a rap general like Kane is capable of!
Joe Kanedid not come to play in this one and I can assure hip-hop lovers that they will absolutely feast to their full with the level of invention and flows all the tracks boats. The way they transition into one another is also a definitive exceptionality that will make you lose your mind literally. Without further due, welcome to the party!
“Hands Out” exemplifies a rap anthem and the near perfection in the lyrical masterclass will undeniably be appreciated by listeners across all factions. This powerful banger boasts quality and rhythm and his rap bars float with audacity and expertise over the affecting rap beats to design an ageless and anthemic rap staple that will feed rap enthusiasts’ souls in all the extravagant ways imaginable. This is one hell of a catchy rap tune!
“Knock You out That Picture” conjures mental images in your head and starts off with what forms the chorus section- an easily memorable, intriguing and perfectly flowing chorus that is delivered in his west-coast engineered sing-song to make an anthem off of it. The phased beats are relentless and keep on transcending and make their way uninhabited to a listener’s heart through the bare chest. You can feel the raw emotions in his voice as he shimmers with his intricate rap flows. This feels like a record straight off of “Cash Money Records!” back in the day!
“PO$$UM” the title track is befitting of that honor as it features dope beats that are cinematically blended to fit in with the rap style and delivery. The alluringly groovy beats go hard as hell whilst his rap flows feel heavenly leaving a listener in a state of a surprisingly astounding conundrum! The way he spits in his literal killer vibe is why we give him his flowers. The whole of the melodicism and lyricism takes a listener with it to another space. You might have given up on alcohol, but this banger will get you “high!”
“Born To Grab Mics” starts with those engrossing and indescribably affecting DJ scratches from the turntable that is in perfect sync with the cadence of the beats that follow and together they fashion a hypnotizing sound with Kane utilizing his moment to display why the mic is his friend; delivering faultlessly over the splendorous instrumentation, he never misses with his sniper lyrical ability that hits the target straight to the head! Joe Kane really doesn’t seem to cease to amaze with his lyrical ability!
“Back 2 Back” and “Slo Mo” are the grand tunes that complete this album and you will get astonished at his knife-edge lyricism and intricate wordplay without forgetting his ability to surprise with some versatile and improvised rhyme schemes and poetic ability here and there. This is his stamping ground and he does what he knows best. “Ain’t nothing new” as he lyrically flips flops over the deluxe beats going back to back with his fresh and invented flows from his pot of lyrical ocean that can never dry up!
This album is going to redefine authentic hip-hop in lyrical ways and I personally cannot wait for the 18th – feels like a decade when it’s only under a week! Mark the date for hip-hop music is about to change forever once this album drops!
Sometimes a song shows up like that friend who kicks open the door without knocking, grinning and saying, “get your shoes, we’re leaving.” “Tule Tule,” the new single from South Sudanese artist TR Craze featuring Jamaican-UK rapper Caine Marko, moves exactly like that. The track is bold and charged, carrying the weight of lived experience while stomping over a dark, menacing drill beat that feels built for the streets as much as the club.
TR Craze’s backstory reads like a movie script Hollywood studios would fight over. He was born in South Sudan, shaped by the trauma of civil war, and pushed into the harsh realities of refugee life. He literally survived the treacherous routes through Libya and across the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe. This man distills survival into rhythm. On “Tule Tule,” you can feel that heart, that urgency, and that fire in his delivery, channelled into a raw, assertive drill performance that cuts through even if you don’t understand a single word of the opening verse. At its core, “Tule Tule” is a raw, assertive drill track that isn’t afraid to bare its teeth.
The word “Tule” comes from Nuer. It refers to youth games and the electric thrill of chasing something, whether that’s victory, joy, or destiny. TR Craze uses that spirit like a drumbeat beneath his voice. The choruses hit with a communal, call-and-response warmth but here that playfulness is flipped into a gritty, chant-like hook – “Tule Tule” – that feels like the rallying cry of a crew on the move. Even without translating the lyrics, the tone tells you everything. This is about motion, pursuit, celebration, and refusing to stay stuck in the past, all wrapped in an unapologetic, high-adrenaline atmosphere. Lyrically, the track leans into street life, dominance and crew loyalty, matching the tension in the beat.
Behind them, producer Kyxxx builds a dark, tense soundscape, stitching drill drums with Brazilian bounce and Bhangra-flavoured rhythmic elements that keep the track constantly on edge. The result is a gritty, energetic and unapologetic atmosphere that pulls you straight into their world.
Then Caine Marko slides in for the second verse, and the whole energy pivots into a sharp, swagger-heavy bounce. His flow is clean but gritty, confident and confrontational, shifting between braggadocio and sly charm.
“She knows I’m a wolf and I run the pack,” he starts, classic alpha talk, but delivered with a laid-back grin. “She come first like running track,” he continues, flipping between affection and athletic metaphors like a man who’s too used to moving fast.
Then he opens up the verse more: “Doing dirt and getting with a bitty, I only pretty… then back to the city. Got me some liquor then it got me some weed.” It’s lifestyle rap, but the reckless, unapologetic kind. It’s the messy, outside-at-night, live-in-the-moment vibe that balances TR Craze’s more grounded narrative. When he ends with “you going to hang with the gang,” the energy snaps into a group-hyped finale, a reminder that music like this isn’t meant to be consumed alone, underlining the crew-first loyalty at the heart of the record.
“Tule Tule” works because it blends worlds without softening its raw, street-hardened edge. It merges East African emotion, Caribbean-UK swagger, drill and hip-hop grit, Brazilian and Bhangra textures in Kyxxx’s production, diaspora storytelling, and a spirit of joy that refuses to be dimmed by pain.
Let “Tule Tule” run while you’re walking, cooking, texting, or plotting big dreams – or getting ready to step out with your crew.
A complete artist isn’t born; they are shaped, layered, and refined by the places they’ve touched. Mannie Mims is practically a walking passport with a beat. Raised in Ghana, polished in Italy, and sharpened in the UK, he carries the Ashanti rhythm in his spirit while blending it with the swagger of global sonic cultures. His sound, drawing from Afrobeat to dancehall, grime to drill, has a genuine sense of travel.
With “Mene Woaa,” he taps directly into that Afrobeats heartspace. The first few seconds feel warm, bright, and intentional. Mannie said the inspiration behind the song is “Real Love,” and you can hear it immediately. This avoids the performative, Instagram filter kind of love. It’s a soft, grounded, “come sit closer” energy, all wrapped in a mid-tempo Afrobeats groove.
The production carries a mellow Ghanaian bounce with steady drums, soft percussive taps, and a breezy melody floating on top. Mannie rides it with a voice that feels like sunlight on skin. Smooth. Gentle. His delivery is playful enough to keep you smiling, but sincere enough to make your heart do that tiny backflip.
His lyrical approach is clean and direct. He pours affection into simple lines without complicated metaphors or over-polished tricks. The man basically sings like he’s talking to someone he actually cares about. There’s no pretense, no pressure, just pure, honest feeling. When he says “Mene Woaa,” it hits like a quiet promise, the kind that doesn’t need fireworks to feel real.
What stands out is how naturally everything fits together. The beat isn’t trying too hard. Mannie isn’t stretching his voice into unfamiliar shapes. It’s all effortless, like he found a pocket made exactly for him and just melted into it. That’s the secret sauce of “Mene Woaa.” The song is simple but not empty. It’s romantic without being cheesy, and catchy without being commercial fluff.
You can hear Ghana in the rhythm. You can hear Italy in the warmth. You can hear the UK in the polish. But more than anything, you can hear Mannie himself, confident, evolving, and intentional.
“Mene Woaa” feels like a new chapter. It’s a moment where he steps away from the rowdy swagger of his earlier tracks, like Licki Licki, and leans into something that feels grown. It’s grounded and emotionally mature. This is the kind of Afrobeats record you play on long evening walks, late-night calls, or those quiet moments when you’re scrolling through your gallery and accidentally land on someone’s selfie too long.
Martone isn’t one to tell his story quietly; he’d rather broadcast it until the walls shake. Known as “The Emperor of House Music,” the Detroit artist has built a career on putting himself on the line. For over a decade, Martone has been recognized as a dance-floor architect who is also a storyteller, a cultural activist, and a model of genuine authenticity. He has consistently pushed boundaries with tracks like “Chocolate” and his album The Evolution of Martone, blending club beats with emotional substance. His latest release with Intelligent Diva, “Too Bad, So Sad,” continues that work, proving a heartbreak anthem can be a weapon.
At its heart, “Too Bad, So Sad” is about a breakup, but it’s not the kind that hides in the shadows. Martone opens with lines that feel both personal and cinematic. “I gave my heart, you played it like a game. Thought we had forever, but you just brought the shame.” This is a blunt confession, the kind you make after the tears have dried, when all that’s left is the plain truth. The simplicity of his words makes them hit harder because they don’t rely on metaphor; they are the wound itself. The hook, “Too bad, so sad, it doesn’t mean that I didn’t love you,” feels like a sigh and a shrug at once. It honors the love that was real while firmly closing the door on someone who failed to value it. Martone finds strength in that raw clarity.
Then Intelligent Diva enters, and her verse is like a best friend storming into your room while you’re crying. Her flow is sharp and her tone is commanding, instantly changing the song’s direction. She raps, “Never let nobody treat you like a doormat. You’re a prize to be won, go boast, go brag.” Her words are a pep talk, delivered with the urgency of someone who won’t let you stay down. Martone voices the ache, and Intelligent Diva provides the antidote. Their collaboration creates a dynamic conversation, moving from grief to grit. Her verse transforms the track from a sad diary entry into a rallying cry.
What makes the song feel so immediate is its real-life backdrop. Martone released “Too Bad, So Sad” only days after his divorce was finalized. The timing wasn’t planned, but it feels poetic. You can hear the weight of lived experience in every note. This isn’t just a story crafted for a song; it’s a piece of a life pressed into rhythm and melody.
In a time when dance music can feel like pure escapism, Martone makes sure the beat carries something real. “Too Bad, So Sad” is fueled by emotional honesty, offering both catharsis and empowerment. It’s a reminder that even the deepest heartbreak can be the start of a rebirth. Intelligent Diva’s feature acts as a lifeline, a testament to the power of support when you feel alone.
If you’ve ever found yourself picking up the pieces, this song is for you. Put it on repeat, let it sting, let it heal, and let it remind you that heartbreak is temporary. Reclaiming your power is the real goal. So dance, cry, or scream along. Whatever you do, don’t skip this one.