Appreciate NYC’s Hip-Hop Royalty
Get ahead of Spotify’s algorithm with Hummingbird’s Music Feeder, a bi-monthly dose of invigorating and soul-pleasing tunes
With this Feeder, we feature a trunk-knocking album from Young M.A., some words from Muwosi, and new releases from Tyler, the Creator and Deetranada. Make sure to subscribe, forward, or share if you’re enjoying the music!
Young M.A. — Off the Yak
This is your yearly reminder that Young M.A. is making some of the best drill and trap music these days. Off the Yak is a noisy collection of heavy-hitting beats and undeniable braggadocio.
“Hello Baby” sees the Queen of New York body Fivio Foreign, showing that the rightful heir to the throne that would’ve been Pop Smoke’s should belong to Young M.A. Due to the present misogyny in trap music and its fans, M.A. might not get the chance, but she’ll settle for consistent appreciation from fans and a steady flow of streams still coming in from 2017 megahit “OOOUUU.”
Young M.A. skates all over a ringing, bassy instrumental on “Maan (got me f’d up),” dedicating her time to talking shit about her personal philosophy; stick to the money and don’t worry about lames.
“Yak Thoughts” sees Young M.A. slow the tempo, a track that takes away some momentum from the album’s flow, but gives fans a more intimate look at the rapper’s inner workings. “It ain’t normal when you gotta bring your gun to bed / I can’t sleep without it / That’s a different type of paranoia.” No doubt she’s thinking about other Black royalty that had their lives taken.
While the album isn’t particularly innovative from a stylistic perspective, it’s important that a Black queer femme is able to stake her claim as the elite of such a large movement. In a music landscape run by a wealthy few with a vested interest in the status quo, Young M.A.’s commitment to herself and her no-bullshit attitude is refreshing and impressive.
Hear from Hummingbird’s Nest: Muwosi
Focusing on a strong yet gentle sense of self-assuredness, Muwosi’s recent EP, Of Compassion sees the young artist cultivate beautifully personal and airy lyrics and aesthetics.
Produced largely by LA jazz pianist Lionmilk, Of Compassion displays Muwosi at her core; an empathetic artist seeking to curate gentle and holistic music.
She says it’s relieving to finally release the EP, which was inspired by and started in Los Angeles, where Muwosi says she and Lionmilk really gelled as a duo. Beyond recorded music, they collaborated on a Sunset Vibrations series, where the two would jam together as the sun sets, giving their beautiful views a soundtrack.
Going forward, the two have plenty more to show the public. Muwosi mentioned she’s working on her upcoming album, for which Of Compassion serves as a small sample.
“It sounds very dreamy, like it literally sounds like a jazz, modern r&b alternative electronic dream,” she says. “It sounds like Of Compassion, but there's more depth to it. The lyrics are very inspiring [and] confident.”
The new album seems to be a reflection of personal growth she’s undergone in the past few years, as she spoke on changing her mindset since she first got to LA.
“Knowing who [I am] is something I have been on a journey of within the past two years,” she says. “That journey was not easy in the beginning, especially being that I'm not from Los Angeles.”
“That’s when I was very vulnerable because I was only comparing myself to all the other artists there; I was extremely insecure,” she says. “I didn't believe in myself, but then a light bulb went off in my head. And it was like hey, everyone is unique in their own way. We all each have a special purpose on this Earth.”
Part of her special purpose on this Earth is helping others find their light. On top of music, Muwosi hopes to enter the fashion industry as a creator and model. A quick look at her Instagram shows she’s already had success working with professional outlets.
On the surface, her music might appear to be about “Frozen Blueberries” or “Something to Eat.” But the personal philosophy that everyone has their own light to let shine is what guides Muwosi’s music. Gentle melodies, encouraging lyrics, and a complete lack of jagged edges portray the empathy and love she has to share: she always approaches with love, rather than hurt.
Many thanks to Muwosi for the interview! Make sure to stream Of Compassion today, and for the future, follow her on all social media to be the first to hear her upcoming album when it comes.
Tune In: Best Drops of the Past Few Weeks
Tyler, the Creator ~ CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST
Another Tyler album, another new sound for fans. CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST sees Tyler dive headfirst into bar-heavy rap, taking only a few melodic breaths throughout the album. While this album’s sonic landscape is less shocking than many of these others, it holds its weight just as well. Typical Tyler stylings are aplenty on here, making it an immediate album-of-the-year contender.
Deetranada ~ 22Bars
Her first single of 2021, “22Bars” is short and hard-hitting, a strong reminder about why DeeVsEverybody ranked so highly on fans’ album of the year lists in 2019.
cannabird
Hummingbird Mag is firmly pro-cannabis legalization and we’re hoping to encourage folks with this playlist. Light up and tune in to this playlist for all the smooth tracks you’re looking for in a smoke sesh.