Releases from folashonor, Reggie Becton, and Kay L.A. featuring Mullyman and Lor Xay Xay.
folashonor – “obsession”
Opening a song with the lyrics “I’ve got some things to release” is one way to grab a listener’s attention, and that is exactly what folashonor did with “obsession.”
Fresh off the October release of the project “REINCARNATED” with the help of producer dsembr, folashonor repurposes a single set of chords throughout a sonically cinematic seven-song work of art.
Although the project is designed to be digested as a complete unfolding body of work, the single “obsession” stands alone. By delivering hypnotic leads layered over reversed background vocals and relatable lyrics, folashonor pulls you into her world:
light became my dark, and my dark became my light/ I need some silence, I’m pretty sure I’m right
The vocal arrangements and overall energy instantly connects listeners to folashonor’s deeply meditative ancestral ties, chants and affirmations. This “obsession” feels more like a spiritual exchange than just a listening experience.
In a musical universe where songs have become shorter and shorter, ending at just over three minutes, “obsession” will leave you lost in thought and revisiting the love that could have been. folashonor and dsembr accentuate how simplicity and intention can create permanent art in a temporary world.
Stream “obsession” on Apple Music, YouTube and Boomplay Music.
Reggie Becton – “If I?”
Maryland native Reggie Becton is at it again. “IF I?” will be played on replay while you listen to his album, “The Last Great American Summer.”
Sounding like it could easily score any heartwarming or tear-jerking montage in your favorite Netflix original, lines like “tonight don’t grab your gun, just grab your lady/ ‘cause we’re not making war, we’re making babies” reflect the ever-growing desire for love in a world filled with chaos and despair.
Becton’s honey-smooth vocals perfectly complement the track’s dancy bassline and consistent kick pattern. The song’s final line, “Morning I might wake up with a stranger,/ and throw up all I did when I was faded,” perfectly garnishes the song and the feeling summer’s end.
Stream “IF I?” on all platforms.
Kay L.A. featuring Mullyman and Lor Xay Xay – “Right Now”
Kay L.A.’s newest single, “Right Now,” features Baltimore rap legend Mullyman and social media sensation Lor Xay Xay, crossing multiple eras of Baltimore music simultaneously.
The song boasts: “Got a dream? You should start right now/ Got a dream? You should start right now.,” Arguably, these are lyrics that are important to hear at any age, but especially when the target audience is fans as young as those of 11-year-old Lor Xay Xay.
Kay L.A. owns her opening verse with, “Time to stop druggin’ and make ‘em feel somethin/ time to stop all that mumblin, make ‘em hear somethin” before passing it to Mullyman, who ends his section with a classic battle rap cadence spittin,’ “My question every day I wake up, what did they learn from me?/ Making magical moments that echo for eternity.”
Not to be left out, Lor Xay Xay flexes his lyrical ability with lines like “I’m authentically me/ that’s the beauty of my essence.”
All of this is done over a smartly repurposed Faith Evans sample you’re sure to recognize, crafted by DJ and producer daveology.
Correction: In print, this story incorrectly referred to Lor Xay Xay as “she.” It’s been corrected to reflect the proper pronouns.
Stream “Right Now” on all platforms.