By Richard Zeller | LivenRich PR | May 16, 2025
This week’s New Music Friday spotlight features rising voices and buzzing records from across the map — from New Jersey to Nigeria, Bronx drill to emotional R&B. With fresh drops from Slickk Lando, Ki Storii, Rixh Prez, OddSouLL, and more, the lineup blends raw lyricism, genre fusion, viral potential, and regional heat. Whether you’re here for soul-baring storytelling or energy-packed anthems, these are the songs making real noise right now.
Discover what’s next — and who’s already in motion.
Rixh Prez – “Bae”
📍 Detroit, MI | Genre: Hip Hop
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Rixh Prez started writing poems during childhood as a way to cope — now, that pen has evolved into a voice for purpose. On “Bae,” the Detroit native blends real-life emotion with motivational swagger, capturing what he calls “hustle music with morals.”
Grounded in loyalty, loss, and prayer, Rixh isn’t just trying to entertain — he’s here to lead. “My music teaches people how to be him, not them,” he says. It’s about moving with intention, staying true, and turning pain into drive. “Bae” is more than a record — it’s a mindset.
Slickk Lando – “DEEP END”
📍 New Jersey | Genre: Melodic Rap / R&B
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Blending vulnerability and melodic power, Slickk Lando makes a big statement with “DEEP END.” With over 56,000 views and a co-sign from Hot 97’s DJ Drewski, this track balances heartbreak with hope. Inspired by anime, soul, and club beats, Lando’s music lives between worlds — personal and universal, turnt and therapeutic.
Giovon – “Friday Night”
📍 Genre: R&B
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Brooklyn-born artist Giovon taps into real-life emotion on his latest single, “Friday Night.” A natural storyteller raised in the birthplace of hip-hop, Giovon has been making music since the age of 9 — but this track marks a new chapter in his evolution.
Inspired by an actual moment from his life, “Friday Night” is the first time Giovon fully leans into vulnerability, weaving honesty and heartbreak into smooth R&B melodies. His vocals glide over the beat with a quiet confidence, delivering lyrics that feel both personal and universally relatable.
This isn’t just a vibe — it’s a diary entry turned into a song. And it’s the beginning of a sound that feels both classic and new.
Ralocc – “Ain’t The Same Thang”
📍 Allentown, PA | Genre: Hip Hop / R&B
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📲 Follow: @ralocctv
Allentown’s own Ralocc puts emotion and melody front and center with his latest single, “Ain’t The Same Thang.” Drawing influence from artists like Tory Lanez and Drake, Ralocc blends smooth vocals with a confident delivery as he reflects on love, loyalty, and personal evolution.
The track stems from a real moment — a clash between two people who aren’t seeing eye to eye. But instead of losing his cool, Ralocc leans into maturity, letting the lyrics do the talking.
Backed by a strong team and four years of focused grind, Ralocc is paving his way to the top — and “Ain’t The Same Thang” is another step in the right direction.
Imkazual – “Talk To GOD By The Ocean”
📍 Jersey City, NJ | Genre: Hip Hop
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📲 Follow: WHOZ.Kaz
Jersey City’s Imkazual blurs the lines between trap and soul with “Talk To GOD By The Ocean,” a spiritual confessional shaped by real-life weight. Describing his sound as “trap spirituals,” Imkazual uses this track to channel pain into purpose, reflecting on deep family issues and the healing that came from walking Far Rockaway Beach alone — letting the ocean speak when no one else could.
The track is raw, reflective, and grounding — like prayer over 808s. It’s a prelude to his upcoming G2 EP, and a reminder that sometimes clarity doesn’t come from a mic, but from moments of silence by the sea.
ATLCRASHOUT – “NO SEATBELT”
📍 Waco, TX | Genre: Hip Hop
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Waco, Texas’ ATLCRASHOUT isn’t here to play it safe — and his latest record “NO SEATBELT” proves it. This is full-speed, no-chill, straight mosh pit energy. From the trenches to the stage, ATLCRASHOUT lives up to his name with a sound built for wild crowds, broken stages, and pure mayhem.
“NO SEATBELT” isn’t just a song — it’s a warning. Unfiltered, reckless, and ready for the rage, this one’s for the ones who live fast and crash harder. If you can’t handle the heat, don’t step into the pit.
Mel Drugz – “MANIFEST”
📍 Newark, NJ | Genre: Hip Hop
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At just 18, Mel Drugz is rapping with the kind of soul that can’t be faked. His latest single “MANIFEST” is more than a song — it’s a statement. Fueled by real-life pain and purpose, Mel turns his lived experience into lyrical fuel, delivering bars that are hungry, honest, and healing.
Straight out of Newark, he’s not chasing trends — he’s building legacy. “All of my music is from and for the soul,” he says — and you can hear it in every word. This is passion with direction. This is Mel Drugz.
OddSouLL – “Letter To My Ex”
📍Roselle, NJ/ Los Angelos, CA | Genre: R&B
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OddSouLL taps into raw emotion on “Letter To My Ex,” a confessional R&B cut with smooth vocals and sharp honesty. The Roselle, NJ native—now based in LA—held onto this song for a year after writing it just months post-breakup. Why the delay? In his words: “I never told my ex that I got my lick back from all the times I was cheated on—but I confessed in the second verse, so that may change now if heard.”
Crafted during a wild chapter of his life—living with over 20 artists in a packed creative house—OddSouLL’s music reflects both the chaos and clarity of that journey. With influences like Musiq Soulchild, Jhene Aiko, and 90s R&B legends, he blends soul and storytelling into something personal yet universally felt. “Letter To My Ex” might just be closure you can sing along to.
Ki Storii – “HTBU 2” (feat. Sunnitharapper)
📍The Bronx, NY | Genre: Hip Hop
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Bronx rapper Ki Storii is turning the volume (and confidence) all the way up with “HTBU 2,” a high-energy remix featuring rising star Sunnitharapper. Blending drill, rock, and New Orleans bounce, it’s a genre-bending baddie anthem built for pre-games, playlists, and moments that demand attention.
Fresh off viral traction with her GloRilla “Let Her Cook” freestyle (100K+ views) and a standout SXSW performance, Ki is continuing to carve her lane as one of NYC’s most dynamic emerging voices. With BET Jams premieres and six-figure Spotify streams under her belt, “HTBU 2” feels like a momentum shift.
Known for her witty pen, disarming personality, and signature rap tone, Ki Storii moves between grit and grace with ease. And when she’s not bodying a verse? She’s on the bass guitar — ready to flip the switch and bring full rockstar energy onstage. It’s that versatility that makes her unforgettable.
Crash – “Do The Rachet Freestyle”
📍Florida | Genre: Hip Hop
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Florida’s own Crash brings a raw, nostalgic energy to “Do The Rachet Freestyle,” a personal homage to Boosie’s iconic freestyle from over a decade ago. Crash flips the original with modern-day punchlines and his own emotional grit, offering a bold reinterpretation rooted in reverence and street energy.
Influenced by Southern rap heavyweights like Lil Wayne, T.I., Young Thug, and Chief Keef, Crash isn’t new to the grind. He’s performed for Disney, rocked private shows, and landed features on rising Florida platforms like 954 Fast Pitch — even catching the attention of Rod Wave’s former DJ.
This track isn’t just about bars — it’s about influence, evolution, and paying respect while making your own mark. Crash’s version of “Do The Rachet” hits with personality and purpose, making it clear he’s carving out a lane that blends authenticity with ambition.
Lil Dude – “In My Feelings”
📍Riverdale, Maryland | Genre: Hip Hop
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DMV standout Lil Dude returns with new visuals for his single “In My Feelings”, directed by @CobbShotem. Blending cinematic storytelling with melodic flow, the video captures the emotional weight of personal struggle, resilience, and introspection. With haunting beats and a focused delivery, the record adds to his growing catalog of raw, atmospheric anthems.
Lil Dude is also slated to appear on On The Radar, a major co-sign moment that’s set to bring his lyricism to the forefront for a wider audience. Between the video drop and the upcoming freestyle, momentum is clearly on his side.
Jerry – Love N Losses (EP)
📍PG County, Maryland | Genre: Hip Hop
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PG County’s own Jerry digs deep on his new five-track EP Love N Losses — a reflective, melodic ride through heartbreak, hustle, and healing. With smooth production and honest lyrics, Jerry turns personal journal entries into versatile bangers that explore everything from betrayal to breakthrough.
The vulnerability on this project is what makes it hit. Tracks like “Luxury Habits” show his taste for elevation, while “Ain’t Lackin” brings the grit and lessons learned. Across all five songs, Jerry’s pen stays true, and his voice continues to stand out as one of the DMV’s most authentic new sounds.
This project isn’t just a drop — it’s a reset. A reminder that growth doesn’t always look pretty, but it’s always worth it.
Swayvo Twain – “Sho’ll Is”
📍Atlanta | Genre: Hip Hop/R&B
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Swayvo Twain, son of soul legends Angie Stone and D’Angelo, steps into his own spotlight with “Sho’ll Is” — a bold blend of Southern soul, hip-hop edge, and melodic storytelling. Backed by co-signs from Revolt TV, Sheen Magazine, and DJ Small Eyez, the Atlanta-based artist proves he’s not just carrying legacy — he’s reshaping it.
The track is emotionally rich yet unfiltered, full of swagger and purpose. With past releases like “Where The Hoes At?” showcasing his range, “Sho’ll Is” confirms Swayvo’s lane is entirely his own: grown, grounded, and genre-fluid.
With a European tour and brand partnerships on the way, Swayvo Twain isn’t just making music — he’s building a movement.
From coast-to-coast energy to international voices, this week’s New Music Friday highlights how today’s most compelling songs are being built outside the traditional industry system. Whether it’s the emotion of a breakup, the adrenaline of a freestyle, or the hunger behind a debut — these artists are making records that move culture forward.
If you’re an artist with a story to tell, submit your next release and be considered for our next spotlight.
You can check out all the songs on this list on our Spotify Playlist below:
