Colors YouTube channel have welcomed GoldLink back with open arms for a second performance on the platform.
GoldLink graces the stage for a performance with a golden-brown back drop. Standing comfortably, GoldLink tells the audience it ‘feels good to be home’ before commencing with his effortlessly melodic performance.
With the song being a tribute to his friends, the DC-born rapper makes references to Mac Miller in saying “Mac died, and I couldn’t talk, couldn’t bear the thought”.
An emotional, yet smooth performance of the track allows us to take a step into the mind of the rapper, who is as honest as he could ever be with this song.
The honesty creates a sense of relatability when listening to this, I can’t help admitting that this performance got me right in the feels when I read the lyrics while listening.
GoldLink comes with emotion, while simultaneously not taking himself too seriously. The only thing that is wrong with this song and performance is that it didn’t last longer.
A two-minute track of this caliber frustrates me, but it is only making myself play it more.
This is truly one of the front runners of all the Colors performances, and it’s left us all itching to see what the next album from GoldLink has to offer.
Manchester’s music scene has always been a part of the culture that makes Manchester, Manchester. But as 2019 steps closer, it’s clear that the North is more than just parkas, cagoules and long side burns.
There’s no doubt about it that Bugzy Malone put Manchester on the map. With a new album, tour and a load of new collabs being available in JD, Bugzy really has set the standard for all the new MC’s coming out of the North-West.
But as well as the story telling, boxing obsessed and business minded MC that is Bugzy Malone, a number of new, fresh, up and coming MC’s are starting to make a real name for themselves.
Culps has been around for a few months now, and is building up a very quickly growing fan base around the North-West.
Coming with a new, different energy, with hard 808’s complimented with rugged, yet smooth harmonies on the hooks. Culps writes well too, barring as strongly as anyone else in the new gen.
Visuals are becoming more and more important as its becoming so much easier to build up more views than ever before. Culps comes with energy and a very cool look, which he carries well in all his music videos.
The videos are only surpassing 150k on Link Up TV, which is not bad going but considering what shite has topped a million views on numerous different platforms – it’s easy to say that Culps is being slept on.
But, on Instagram, Culps was seen with Remtrex, suggesting there could be Manchester and Birmingham link up coming soon.
Tunde is next up on the list, this MC really does just use the Manchester accent to the best of it’s ability. Spitting clear, real rap is what Tunde stands for – and he does it so well.
The Manchester MC links up with American rappers, Joe Blow and Lil AJ on his most viewed track, Mob City. Showing that the connection between the UK and our transatlantic cousins may be closer than what we all think.
Each Tunde track seems to over very hard, bass-ridden beats, which I love. But lyrically, this MC really does spit truth, and really emphasises on the darker sides to the Manchester hood.
Aitch really is the new kid on the block, and he really is starting to represent Manchester on a very big scale.
The rapper’s first official video “Straight Rhymez” is sitting on 5 million views, and it really was a track that has shown off the extremely clever wordplay, combined with some Mancunian cheekiness.
Bugzy himself has reached out to this lad, where they were seen linking up at Parklife. So it really does seem that Aitch is the next thing in the Manchester scene.
Aitch has a Kenny Allstar Radio 1Xtra freestyle, and has just dropped his new track “Trust Me” which is currently on just over half a million views in 3 days.
It’s no doubt that Metro Boomin is one of, if not the best producer of this generation, if not ever. With Metro involved it’s bound to be certified. But which project is the best which he is involved in?
Metro Boomin has produced songs such as Migos’ Bad and Boujiee, Drake’s Jumpman and Future’s Mask Off. But as well as producing incredible singles, the producer from St. Louis has helped create some timeless Hip-Hop albums with some of the most respected artists in today’s American culture.
Metro Boomin – 19 & Boomin (2014)
Metro Boomin first came onto the scene when he dropped his first ever project ’19 & Boomin’. This mixtape has features such as Gucci Mane and Future. Metro also had helping hand from world-renown producer Sonny Digital.
This was just the start for Metro Boomin in his journey to the top of Hip-Hop producers. This project shows the raw talent and ear for a record which he has. Which definitely helped catapult him to the top of the game.
21 Savage & Metro Boomin – Savage Mode (2016)
This is one of my favourite Metro Boomin projects. This time he teamed up with Slaughter Gang Commander in Chief, 21 Savage. This was the first move which really blew 21 Savage’s career.
Metro and 21 really go hand in hand in the world of American Rap. A really mellow, yet Gangster Rap album which was created between the two of them really blew the door open for today’s ‘Mumble Rap’.
‘No Heart’ and ‘X’ feat. Future are the two biggest songs on this album, the two songs that really catapulted 21 Savage and Metro Boomin to the level of stardom that they occupy today. This is such a sick album that I still listen to regularly.
Nav & Metro Boomin – Perfect Timing (2017)
Shortly after Savage Mode dropped, Metro then teamed up with Nav. The autotune king works well with Metro Boomin on this, to create a darker, more emotional album – with a much more emotional artist in comparison to 21 Savage.
It seems that whenever Metro Boomin works with a new up and coming artist, that they are guaranteed to blow. Nav previously released a couple of projects before he teamed up with the St. Louis man. But in my opinion this is the best Nav project that he has released, and I’m putting that down to the producer.
21 Savage, Offset & Metro Boomin – Without Warning (2017)
For Halloween 2017, Metro teamed up with his former teammate, 21 Savage and one third of Migos, Offset. This is such a good project, which has features such as Travis Scott and Quavo.
Again, 21 Savage and Metro Boomin compliment each other nicely from start to finish, while Offset adds a different element which seems to fit in perfectly.
‘Ric Flair Drip’ is the biggest track off this album, the beat is simple yet it adds so many different vibes for so many different moods. And the track is currently sitting on 187 million views. One hundred and eighty seven million. Not bad going.
Big Sean & Metro Boomin – Double or Nothing (2017)
2017 was Metro’s biggest year of his career so far in terms of the amount of music he dropped, and he ended the year dropping one of the best Hip-Hop albums of 2017.
Collaborating with Big Sean was a massive move, and the pair of them created a playlist within an album, with relentless couplets and trap production coexisting in perfect harmony throughout.
Big Sean delivered lyrical perfection from start to finish over a variety of different beats, which were perfectly executed to compliment Big Sean’s style and flow.
This album represents what Hip-Hop should stand for in today’s culture. I have noting against Mumble Rap, but you just cant compete with clever word play and the switching of flows in the way that Big Sean does throughout this project.
Metro Boomin – Not All Heroes Wear Capes (2018)
Metro has just dropped his latest album, ‘Not All Heroes Wear Capes’. The new project has features such as Travis Scott, Swae Lee and obviously, 21 Savage.
After a while out of the game, Boomin has dropped this album, which in my opinion sounds like it was recorded a couple of years ago. Travis sounds like old Travis, not the Travis Scott we all loved on Astroworld.
Nevertheless, this is another very strong album produced by Metro Boomin, and he definitely still has his place cemented at the top of the pile of the Hip-Hop producers in today’s game.
I am interested to see what comes next from Metro Boomin, does he stick with the classic dark Hip-Hop beats or does he change his sound slightly as the sound coming from America continuously evolves. I’d be lying if I said I wouldn’t be a pathetic fanboy over a Metro Boomin and Skepta collaboration. But that’s the kind of stuff dreams are made of.
But, there is no doubt about it that Metro Boomin is one of the best producers the Hip-Hop game has ever seen. He represents the sound of today, and will continue to produce banger after banger as one of the GOATs of the American Hip-Hop scene.
Jack Lynch 