Swerve God

“Hip-hop is not for fakes tryna imitate for fame. It’s about MCs with a gift to get an audience to listen to what he or she has to say!”
— Aspect Unsigned

“I have to admit I am a hip-hop junkie,” says VA rapper Aspect Unsigned, “ever since I was a lil kid I always dedicated my time and life to music.” Indeed, his combination of wisdom and flow has been missing from the game for a while. He’s more concerned about fans listening to his words than buying his cd or mixtape. Ultimately, he wants to change the world into a better place for his daughter. “It’s time we destroy this pop era,” he exclaims, “let’s bring back the soul of Hip-Hop.”

He stays true to his vision on his latest mixtape, Reborn, a 15-song effort full on sensible flips and original compositions. On Machiavelli, for example, he borrows composition from “The Message,” off of Nas’ sophmore It Was Written. He Also flows over Bilal’s “Fastlane” on the vibes out “G-Funk,” and rips a Toto sample on the head nodding “Oceanfront Cruisin’.” The project on a whole has a range of themes that range from braggadocious, to introspective. He sparkles lyrically on “Beauty In The Pain,” a song for his better half [that touches on issues of depression amongst other things]. He also kills the slow-flow electric guitar sample on “Bloodline On Fire,” where he proclaims, “I earned my stripes, tiger; my style stays varied like a New York City diner…my squad rolls deep like a block up in Rikers.”

Other must-listens on the mixtape are “Bars Like Verizon,” and the Biggie Smalls flip, “Dangerous MC.”

Aspect Unsigned delivers a solid effort with Reborn; the project is more than worth a spot on your playlist list this week. Want to get to know the artist a little better? Check out the quick Q&A below. - Above Average Hip Hop

As a rapper, Aspect Unsigned & Jah are approaching the point of being dependably great lyricists who enjoy using his adeptness at wordplay to uniquely make a point. When they showcase their growth in being able to link their classic skill-sets with modern content, the mixtape “The Wet Tapes” unequivocally succeeds. On the mixtape, Aspect Unsigned audaciously attempted to create poignant sexual commentary via combining his takes on his existence with those of Jah doing the same.

Aspect Unsigned & Jah watch trends closely and then creates their own. Catchy melodies are sprinkled throughout, making it easier to shrug off the feeling of familiarity. “H20” slides into “Slow Convo” with a clear mission statement: “The Wet Tapes is like a tease between her thighs.”

The left-field “Yeah,” turns out to be an undeniable highlight complete with a trip-hop vibe and a classic bass-heavy bounce over which the rappers impart explicit insight and bedroom tales. But beside the overtly sexual innuendo, the mixtape feature some strong tracks, reminders of the promise Aspect Unsigned & Jah holds.

The soul-driven, sax-infected beat on “Virginia Legendary Squad” is nothing short of phenomenal, and truly infectious. “Psych” is a sublime, convergence of multiple voices over sonic minimalism, while “Laz3r Tag” has a sound that provides a charismatic contrast to it’s almost anhedonic pursuit of pleasure.

Aspect Unsigned & Jah are seductive and encouraging over the ultraviolet slap of “Lov3 This Life Admit It”.  Song after song, “The Wet Tapes” is successful at what it does not because it takes a fresh approach or carries an important message, but rather because it so effortlessly epitomizes the modern hip-hop genre as it currently exists, without any pretense or delusion of importance. It’s just a classically good mixtape.

Both Aspect Unsigned & Jah may not be the most original voices in contemporary hip-hop, but they both have undisputed talent. The lush arrangements central to “The Wet Tapes”  aesthetic and Aspect Unsigned & Jah’s uniquely balanced blend of both trashy and charming sexual innuendo is combined into a more than satisfying sound.

The mixtape is likely to impress and inspire even the savvy listener who has been attuned to this style for years, because it is consistently good enough to regard itself as one of the stand-out explicit bedroom mixtapes this year.

Aspect Unsigned & Jah have a personal flourish on full display on “The Wet Tapes” as they explores all the familiar themes of sensuality and pleasure, but they do it with sly charisma, self-awareness and wit, starting with odes to oral sex to the bracingly more frivolous and more serious erotic territory.

It’s difficult to make music that’s both commercially and artistically valuable, but Aspect Unsigned & Jah have compiled a set that seems to do just that. “The Wet Tapes” is flashy, hard, and groovy, but it’s also easy to listen to because, despite its length, it doesn’t take itself too seriously.

The best albums or mixtapes of this type are the ones that are as much fun as they are sexy, and most of the songs in this collection achieve a devious, subtle humor that any of the genre’s mainstays should be envious of.

Along with the bright and clean production, replete with snapping snare drums, thumping basslines and floating synth pads that don’t overwhelm the addictive hooks, “The Wet Tapes” become an endlessly accessible collection of bangers and slowburners alike. - Jampshere

Aspect Unsigned and Jah have dropped the 20 track mixtape “Virginia Legend Squad Vol.1”. Their styles take from both classic old school and ultra-modern flavors. This Virginia-based collective have raised the stakes of the rap game, not only in terms of pure, gritty excess, but also in rhyme-style, cadence and delivery. They’re not content to just shoot at that next emcee or punk in their neighborhood; they’ll harmonize rhyme about it too, mixing graphic imagery with classic street-corner crooning.

Essentially, this is a record, complete with heavy-looped bass lines, electronic shots, warped-out club sounds, cinematic soundscapes and a fast-paced rhyming style mixed with swagger and grit. No change in subject matter: just shoot-’em braggadocio, laced with ominous synth samples. This is the kind of mixtape that starts out good and gets better with repeated listening–as the dark, subliminal references clear up. Easily one of the most worthwhile rap downloads of the year so far.

Aspect Unsigned and Jah enter the game on a mission; to rule the world! From the sounds of booming bass thunder, and the dark, gritty, and cold soundscapes, they take you on a lyrical and musical journey. That is what the classics do. Less obvious to the average listener, classic albums take you on a visual journey just the same, if not more.

If you’re feeling the music, you’re visualizing how it coincides with a certain moment of scenario in your brain. Classic music is as much a psychological experience as it is emotional. The beauty in “Virginia Legend Squad Vol.1” is its simplicity, weaved into its simultaneous intricacy.

Aspect Unsigned and Jah concurrently construct a mixtape for the hip-hop mainstream with a niche market to follow. Due to the interpolation of gangster rap, gritty and spiritual production, and of course, bud-smoking music; “Virginia Legend Squad Vol.1” stands alone as a great masterpiece.

Hip-hop is rooted in tradition, but also thrives on innovation, and these dudes offer both. So, what I suggest is you grab your best headphones and take “Virginia Legend Squad Vol.1” for a spin this week. Especially the standout tracks: “Paid Young”, “Matt Damon”, “VLS Cartel”, “Tippy Toes”, Rebel Yell”, “Show Em”, “Wait On Me”, “Pin Her Up”, and “Adios”.

If you’ve never heard these guys before, this mixtape will help transport you to a portion of the industry unfamiliar on your radar and completely open up a new perspective. With their triple cadence lyricism, harmonic flows, and twists, they could easily develop a small cult following in the urban areas.

I don’t know why, but for some reason I didn’t expect this to be that great. But I must say I was completely wrong. “Virginia Legend Squad Vol.1” actually turned out to be a really amazing mixtape. To be honest, I won’t be surprised, if I end up playing this too much. - Rick Jamm

Born in Virginia Beach, VA, Swerve God has been working in the music industry for about 14 years. Currently serving in the United States Army, Swerve’s has been the opening act for many artists, such as MGK, Super Duper Kyle, ASAP Ferg, Aaron Carter and Ashanti.

Now Swerve God is back on the scene with a new release, his third single titled “10 Cents”, a hip-hop number in which he mixes his unique lyrical flow with R&B vibrations and trap sounds.

From the punch of the beats, to the softness of Swerve God‘s vocal performance, contrasted with the wide use of vocoder, in “10 Cents” this artist exhibits the most mature version of his creativity, in which the gleanings, the flow of melodies and the oversaturation of the kick concur in unison to highlight the personal vision inherent in the style of Swerve God.

Find out more about Swerve God: listen now to his latest single “10 Cents”, already available on Spotify [ here ] and follow him on Instagram [ here ]. - Nova Music Group