Benjamin Benz – Work That Body
Benjamin Benz's 'Work That Body' is a groovy, sharp-tongued hip hop banger from Brooklyn, dance-tempo rap that hits hard and moves harder
Benjamin Benz opens with a bassline that won't quit. 'Work That Body' locks into a groove built for movement, a beat pulling from Florida's dance-tempo rap blueprint and planted firmly in New York soil. And that flow? It's commanding, quick-witted, threading clever wordplay through every bar without ever losing the pocket. The production stays lean, all bounce and low-end punch, giving Benz room to work. I love the synth work. and it's superb hip hop writing, infectious and razor-sharp.
Benjamin Benz is a Brooklyn rapper doing it entirely on his own terms. He records at JamBox Studios in Midtown Manhattan, the same spot where The Sugar Hill Gang cut hip hop's first gold record, and he finances, produces and promotes every release himself. 'Work That Body' dropped independently through DistroKid back in August. His whole approach is refreshingly grounded: talent and work ethic first, everything else second. A proper banger this one.
lyrisist16 and Serene – chasing dreams
lyrisist16 and Serene's 'chasing dreams' is a warm, faith-fuelled hip hop anthem from Newnan, remote collaboration that proves the right chorus can carry you through doubt
Lyrisist16 opens playful and nimble. 'City to city, kitty to kitty' sets the tone, balancing personal struggle against a chorus built for hands in the air. Serene's vocal lifts the whole thing, her hook landing with a warmth that makes you believe what you're hearing. The production stays clean, letting the verses breathe while the beat drives forward. And the message? Perseverance, faith, the weight of chasing something when doubt keeps knocking. There's a texture here that earns your attention, every element pulling toward that uplifting refrain urging listeners to seize the day. Heartfelt hip hop, soulful and built to move.
Lyrisist16 is based in Newnan, Georgia, recording from a bedroom studio. This collaboration with Serene was done entirely remotely, the two connecting over a shared desire to inspire. Ten albums deep, Lyrisist16 has built a catalogue rooted in authenticity: struggle, healing, resilience. Live spots like the Redlight in Atlanta and Pe'pes Bar and Grill in Gary, Indiana have earned a reputation for music that connects. We're glad to have them on the blog, this one's a real highlight.
Choppa Chulo – SPIN
Choppa Chulo's 'SPIN' is a raw, unfiltered trap banger from Gifford, Florida, off-the-top delivery meeting heavy 808s in a track that hits hard
Choppa Chulo recorded 'SPIN' without a single written lyric. The track lands with that energy, every bar carrying the urgency of something said once and meant completely. BubbaUnoBeatz builds a foundation of chest-rattling 808s and a bounce that refuses to let up, while the vocal sits somewhere between laid-back and dangerous. There's pain in the beat, aggression in the delivery, and the tension between the two creates something you can't ignore. The structure feels deliberate in its chaos, a misfit anthem that knows exactly what it's doing. And that bounce? It stays with you long after the track ends. Superb trap, raw and fully realised.
Choppa Chulo is a fully independent artist and self-taught engineer out of Gifford, Florida, running everything from a hand-built home booth. He mixes, masters and performs every release himself, no outside hands. His approach is instinctive, capturing what he sees and lives through in sessions that stay unscripted. 'SPIN' is out now, and there's more on the way. One to watch this October, for sure.
Alexander Loftus – Audio Crack
Alexander Loftus's 'Audio Crack' is a fierce, fully-realised UK rap debut from Newport, gritty lyricism and sharp production that marks the arrival of a new voice in British hip-hop
Alexander Loftus opens 'as the world turns' with intent. It kinda locks into a Skepta-influenced beat, all crisp as fuck percussion and UK grime weight, but Loftus's delivery is entirely his own. There's a touch of the political in here, bars that land with the directness of someone who means what he's saying. A heady mix of enough raw aggression with a generous amount of poise that's required to deliver this. This one's excellent UK rap, raw and completely realised.
Loftus is based in Newport, Isle of Wight, recording at Tree Life Company headquarters. It's part of his TREE LIFE philosophy: music rooted in honesty, pushing back against the synthetic direction hip-hop has drifted. He recently turned down festival slots to protect his health and sharpen the craft, with touring plans alongside Benny Holiday on the horizon. It's a proper statement, I'm a fan and we'll be keeping an eye on this guy.