Sound Selects: July/August
By April Izzard (@april.izzxrd)
1. Pressure - Finn Foxell
Release date - 17th July
Finn Foxell, a West London rapper who hails from Shepherd’s Bush released his latest single Pressure on 17th July. The signature jazz-inflected low-fi hip-hop sounds that we are used to were traded in for a deeper, trappy sound on this release.
Pressure is a song formed from a darker mood and Finn’s bars fire off shot-after-shot throughout. His songwriting talent is malleable and adapts to whichever mood he feels like switching on. Yet, Finn’s flow and style still maintains a vivid storytelling quality to it. Pressure is a song that reveals more hidden tricks with each listen, which makes it an easy song to return back to and have on repeat.
2. UK Shit - Lord Apex (prod. by V Don)
Release date - 31st July
Lord Apex just released the first single UK Shit from his upcoming album Supply & Demand on 31st July. This is very much a grimy ode to London that creates a murky almost cinematic atmosphere. Apex's usual flow picks up the pace with slick wordplay and a catchy hook revolving around V Don's production of an entrancing string sample. The song is very contemplative in its tone, and Apex proudly reflects on his artistic journey and the vibe that he is on at the moment.
Lord Apex is really a rapper's rapper, he receives a lot of praise in the underground scene for his rhymes and sick sound selections. He has already been active this year with a collaboration project he released with Bushi Vibes entitled Darkskies back in January. So, it'll be interesting to see what he brings to the table with his next solo album because UK Shit is definitely a vibe.
3. Cookie Chips - Rejjie Snow feat. MF DOOM and Cam O’bi
RELEASE DATE - 31st July
After what feels like a long hiatus since his last project, Dear Annie (2018), Rejjie Snow is back to grace our ears with Cookie Chips featuring the mighty MF DOOM and long-time collaborator Cam O’bi.
Rejjie never fails to create a dreamy atmosphere with a lot of his songs, and this collaboration feels like a perfect return. Cookie Chips is such a blissful, nostalgic summer tune, which has me dreaming of warm breezes and those summer romances full of reminiscent conversations. Personally, I've always been a fan of the tracks that Rejjie brings Cam O'bi into because he sings hooks with a pretty effortlessness, and I always wind up feeling sentimental and soppy when I'm listening to them both. I have had this song on repeat since it released back in mid-July, and I now impatiently wait and wonder what else Rejjie has in his vault ready to release.