Chito Rana$ puts the pedal to metal and releases a solo track that has surpassed 500,000 views on YouTube within a week. His approach to music ever since his freedom from incarceration, has been making a huge impact especially to those whom have a similar story. Rana$ is the most influential when it comes to Chicano rap because of his Spanish usage in his songs dating over 5 years ago. The culture remains to stand behind him and his authenticity, creating a sort of Chito-Mania since his release from jail. Chito’s unique versatility allows him to flawlessly transition from English to Spanish, and vice versa, talking bout the seriousness of his reality in Sacramento.

On this track “All The Smoke” Chito is at his most brash, starting the song by saying “I want all the smoke come and kill me bitch”, then goes into a lyrical onslaught about his opposition. The video shows him in the studio flexing chains and showing his electric energy.

San Antonio’s prolific rapper, HOODLUM has just shared a new video for “PRESSURE” / “CASH $”, off of his new album, Southside Story. After breaking out on the national stage with his 2019 single, “OJ” (3M Views), HOODLUM and his music quickly took off online due to his anxious yet punchy flow, and unique croaky cadence. He subsequently landed on the soundtrack for the horror film, Random Acts of Violence later that year. In June 2021, visual artist Colton Valentine painted a mural of the rapper adjacent to a memorial of Nipsey Hussle, solidifying HOODLUM’s spot as a San Antonio Star. Fellow Texas rapper Maxo Kream caught onto HOODLUM’s wave in 2021, jumping on “OUTSIDE”. His laidback flow, off-kilter cadence, and an ear for deep and bass-heavy beats has set HOODLUM apart as an emcee with a sound that’s uniquely his own. In the words of Pitchfork, “No rapper in Texas right now has a better beat selection than San Antonio’s HOODLUM. The South Side rapper can lay his croaky delivery over any type of instrumental: a soul sample, trendy minimalist Texas production, or a Bay Area funky flip.” On his new project, Southside Story, which boasts features from Maxo Kream, Paul Wall, Valee & Doeman, HOODLUM expands on his distinctly dynamic sound, as he details his complete life story and brings his signature low-key Texan flair to new heights over an impressive array of beats ranging from G-Funk to hard-hitting Southern Trap to Boom-Bap.

In his new video for the standout track “PRESSURE”, HOODLUM proudly flexes his outlandish personality and work ethic. Over the thumping drums and eerie piano loop, he showcases his authoritative presence as a distinctively Southern emcee with his syrupy flow and expressive lyricism. In the second half of the video, as the visuals get dark when it switches to nighttime, HOODLUM performs the ambitious “CASH $” while riding around in his whip – “You know who we are / I’m a southside baby, see the star from the car”, he raps in his low-key, whispery tone. The contrast between the two videos and their songs is a testament to HOODLUM‘s undeniable ability to tackle an array of production choices. With his hometown of San Antonio on his back, HOODLUM is determined to take his sound to new levels. In the words of Passion of the Weiss, “the next big Texas rapper isn’t from Houston”.

Arkansas rapper Young Quez has just shared his new video single “Chemist”. Young Quez has been grinding since 2018, releasing three full-length projects, as well as several impressive singles along the way, including a monstrous collaboration with Chicago rapper G Herbo last year. In the process, he’s carved out his own lane and become a stand-out addition to the quickly-blooming Arkansas Hip-Hop scene. Throughout 2023 thus far, Young Quez has been steadily working to continue his fiery momentum through a steady release of singles riddled with street tales matched with his vitalizing lyrics and flows. Only two hours away from the raucous Memphis scene, Quez continues to pull influence from their double-time flows and emphasis on punchlines to create a sound that is uniquely his own. Already serving as his fifth release of the year, “Chemist” finds Young Quez expanding upon this dynamic sound that’s come to be synonymous with his quickly-growing name.

Young Quez‘s infectious energy and candid bars are at the forefront of his new single “Chemist”. Over a bass-heavy beat complete with the welcomed unison of a knocking drumline and a bright piano loop, Young Quez cements his unwavering authority through his signature commanding delivery and continues his knack for creating memorable hooks – “Had to leave the trap, I probably coulda got us rich in it / Microwave or stove, I’ll drop a whole brick in it”, he raps in the chorus. Quez’s infectious energy and menacing bars continue to highlight the independent rapper’s skillset as an undeniably promising star blooming out of Arkansas. Poised to continue his momentum emphasized by last year’s grand collaboration with G Herbo on “Big Brother”, “Chemist” directly follows up boastful bangers “Rockstar”, “Run It Up” & “Real Rap”, as well as the defiant “My City” to kick off his 2023. With “Chemist” as just the latest example, Young Quez is aiming to put his state on the map and simultaneously continuing to feed the streets with his signature sound full of street sermons and soulful reflections.