Chris Patrick is 24-year-old New Jersey rapper making big moves on social media. His new single, “3AM” has garnered fresh attention for his career, following up on his song “Swish” making the NBA 2K21 soundtrack. We sat down with the busy artist to get the inside perspective on how he is able to work so successfully while balancing artistry with a full-time job.
Why We Like It: Jennifair’s “Living the Life” (Ft. Drum Mage)
“Living the Life” Ft. Drum Mage is a breezy listen. An R&B singer with a knack for spitting verses, Jennifair finds her pocket in the gentle wind. She raps about excelling in the moment, looking neither back on struggles overcame or ahead to treasures not yet received.
Why We Like It: Lo-Ke’s “Henny Nights”
“Henny Nights” by Lo-Ke is a song about escapism. Get lost in the upbeat rhythm and sing about drinking the blues away, but when the bottles run out you’ll still have to face your problems. Or you could just ignore them and keep dancing to this great single.
Chris Patrick: It’s About Progression, Not Competition
Landing his song “Swish” on the NBA 2K21 soundtrack is only another step that marks the rise of New Jersey rapper Chris Patrick. His sound a unique blend of J Cole, J.I.D and Saba, Patrick has sharpened his craft with limited time and funding. He measures his success by the progression of his career, and not by the competition of his peers.
Why We Like It: Jaylon Musa’s “Silent Tears”
Music has the incredible ability to pull from nothing and create something of substance. On “Silent Tears,” Jaylon Musa pulls from the pain of losing a close friend to suicide. The weight of his pen with the resonance of the instrumental touches the heart and soul.
Why We Like It: Jay Wood’s “HEADHUNTER”
On “HEADHUNTER,” Jay Wood coldly crawls through the bars with a chip on his shoulder. He finds the perfect pocket for the production’s climbing scales and ominous tone as he looks back on the failures of a relationship with rose colored glasses.
Why We Like It: Broughton’s “Role Model”
“Role Model” excels at creating an environment for the listener to stew in. Broughton raps with intention over lightly pressed keys and gently plucked strings. There’s no sense of urgency in his flow, only the inevitability of his words hanging on wax
Why We Like It: Dayon Green’s “Free”
On his new single, “Free,” Dayon Greene raps about the internal freedom of expression that he feels within, while recognizing all of the ways that he sees freedom around him that he wants to gain. The upbeat instrumentation is inspiring and energetic.
Why We Like It: Dirtsa’s “UNDERDOG”
The underdog story is a relatable one, but stories are often too easily romanticized. In glorifying the struggle for justice we can overlook the battle scars of the soldier. On “UNDERDOG” Dirtsa raps about the inner turmoil of fighting black oppression around the word.
Why We Like It: Jaywop’s “Bill Bellamy”
Named after the comedian of the same name, “Bill Bellamy” is just as fun as the actor’s classic films. Jaywop isn’t just a talented rapper. He builds a song overflowing with character from the dynamic production to his clever bars.
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