The way this music has been crafted makes for a really strong soundscape that works on a musical level as well as drawing relevant focus to the leading artist and the stories put forward. From a hip-hop perspective the music takes inspiration from a more classic ambiance in my view, though the beat does veer off in a slightly more modern direction – both of these elements together make it stand out pretty well. The opening track from this project, which is ‘Back to Back’, introduces the collection well.

Performance wise the presentation is high energy and fairly intense, particularly on top of what is a slightly haunting or dark yet notably memorably leading synth riff. The best parts of classic hip-hop have inspired the musical side of things, then that modern touch comes through in the beat and in the consistency and chorus or group effect of certain vocal moments. Looking at the production as well, this is what ties everything together effectively – the finish is tight, everything can be heard and yet it all works as one hard-hitting and easy to get hyped to sort of vibe.

Despite the inherent darkness in the music, the attitude and confidence in the lyrics and the performances has an energising or motivational sort of effect. That word hyped is a big part of it, this is the kind of go-to track fans of the genre can rely on to get them feeling ready to take on anything. It’s important to note that there’s a creative touch throughout this though which showcases a sense of songwriting as opposed to just raw energy and a desire to perform. Thought went into it, and the result works well. The leading artist’s voice has a recognisable quality.

By Rebecca Cullen

Rebecca is a Musician and writer from Manchester, UK, with an MA in Song Writing

Exclusive Interview: 

Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?

I was born in Dallas, Texas. I moved to Detroit a couple years later and was raised there. If you in Detroit, 9x outta 10 you gone try to rap that’s what everybody do, but I wanted to do this music shit forreal when I got in the studio wit LV Jon and seen him going crazy with it. Once I seen people fucking with me I just kept going crazy to feed em with new shit.

Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?

If you looking to get gigs I would say hit up the promoters early like a few weeks before the event, if you hit em up last minute they most likely gone say no cause they got the event already planned out.

Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?

I forgot the words to my songs a couple times but I just keep it rolling like it never happened.

Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?

I’m not on tour yet but I go to different cities in Michigan to perform. This host kicked us off the tables in the middle of my show in Romulus we was bouta break that bitch jumping on it.

Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?

I have a engineer to mix and master my songs

Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?

I fuck with snapchat the most, I put all my fans hip on the snap and promote my music through performances and word of mouth. I try to get plugged in with a lot of music blogs too.

Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?

I would perform oversea wit Rae Sremmurd, they be T’d up like HRG

Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?

I got a solo mixtape on the way and the whole HRG recording a collab tape now.

Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?

I would be working for my self doing something in the business world. And smoking weed

Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in the next year or so?

A lot new visuals and bangers I been saving for over a year.

Exposed Vocals: Any Shout-outs?

Shout out to the Whole HRG and the fans that bang our music daily. Shout out to the Mall Of Detroit too go to they website and shop #HRG.