Fresh from securing the Wildcard spot in our Acclaim All Stars awards, Eco$ystem continues to solidify his strongman season of 2020 with ‘Litty’. The title of the track tells you everything you need to know, as Eco delivers hunger-heavy bars like he’s waiting in line at the buffet. The beat (courtesy of YoungNato) layers ominous synths over a framework of drill, creating a dose of audio alchemy that’s bound to get you out of your seat. What else can we really say? It’s litty. — Henry O.

— Julie F.

West Sydney-based rapper Gibrillah links up with Brooklyn expat Danté Knows for this satisfyingly loud new joint. The abrasive instrumental centers around a chopped up R&B sample, and is amplified by in-your-face 808s and a moshpit-ready energy. Gibrillah and Dante’s bars switch seamlessly through stern bars rich with focus, and autotuned melodies bound to catch ears. This is one of many home runs stemming from the Bodega Collective this year, as they continue to solidify themselves as a hotspot for talent in the Australian scene. — Henry O.

Sydney-based songwriter Jeida Woods just dropped his debut EP HIVE, and an instant standout is ‘SKIN’. The production from Willstah and Chunkyluv stacks synths on top of each other to create a broad, euphoric soundscape, providing the perfect backdrop for Jedia’s minimalist, soulful vocals. The song encapsulates the feeling of a mountain range, with the summits of each peak growing larger with the production’s layers. Jedia is like a messenger bird gliding over the top, delivering the lyrics of a love ballad in a sincere, soaring manner. — Henry O.

Never one to worry about naysayers, Melbourne’s Nigerian born, New Zealand-raised Sophiegrophy drops her new single and video ‘Drehpehs’ today. Shot in Melbourne’s heritage listed, Palais Theatre, ‘Drehpehs’ is an additional offering to her 2020 debut EP Bold, which she released in May. On track, she paints a picture of flipping an inheritance into a future designed by her; serving as a notice to fake culture warriors and those that would undermine the confidence in her own unique creative vision.  — Aleyna M.

South Londoner Flohio has oft been described as confessional in her output which was seen to be true on her 2016 debut EP Nowhere Near, and perhaps truer on her most recent follow-up mixtape No Panic, No Pain. Treading brazenly through weighty themes of death, love and questions of personal growth, Flohio punches her way through the 10-track release, somewhere in the centre running into ‘Roundtown’, a track reminiscent of J Cole’s ‘G.O.M.D’. With a catchy hook painting the words ‘Tryna get my balance right’, the track is an ode to Flohio’s presence on the scene, spitting the importance of loyalties and dismissing anyone questioning her time, rapping, ‘I’ve been around town/ for a second going ham now’.— Julie F.

SAINt JHN, the American-Guyanese rapper, singer, songwriter and producer dropped his third studio album While the World Was Burning last week and enlisted some of the greatest names in hip hop to feature on it. Today came an extra track called ‘Smack DVD’ which features none other than the man himself, Kanye West. The song stays true to SAINt JHN’s love for gripping trap beats. ‘Smack DVD’ is very in-your-face with the two artists boasting confidence. Switching from head-bopping bars to somewhat vigorous raps,‘Smack DVD’ is the collaboration we didn’t know we needed. — Breanna T.

Produced by Sydney based DJ Young Franco, Fallin’ Apart was released this week, right on time for summer in the Southern Hemisphere. Using playful synths, the track was made with love for electronic, up-beat 80s vibes; donned with two solid verses from Flordia’s Denzel Curry and Pell – an American rapper who adds some funk to the festival-style banger. Young Franco brings years of experience DJing at Australian festivals like Splendour in the Grass and Falls Festival into this tune. — Aleyna M.

Grammy nominated rapper, activist, and boo to the legendary Naomi Osaka, Cordae continues to make significant strides as a powerful voice for his generation. The young artist has returned today with a new track called ‘The Parables’, over a beat by US producer Cardiak. Cordae seizes the opportunity to flex his lyrical prowess and brings a certain bravado we haven’t seen from him until now. In an age where ‘conscious’ rap has become relatively stale or old-school, 23-year-old Cordae reinvigorates the idea of storytelling and wordplay in hip-hop without taking it to preachy territory, in fact, he leaves us desperately wanting more. — Cass N.