D.T.S. (can’t tell you what his initials represent, alas) looks to be taking baby steps into hip-hop. Following up a collaborative single is the six-track Nothing Without You, wherein he nearly pulls the kind of autobiographical punch of Kanye West’s “Through The Wire” or The Notorious B.I.G.’s “Juicy.” Actually, his first track cops a kinship with Tupac’s “Dear Mama” in D.T.S.’s reflection of his own maternal parent’s nurturing, from which he goes into an homage to his misses. D (let’s call him that for short, shall we?) bears some vocal resemblance to Kanye as well, minus the ego. Considering his visual likeness to ex-Cross Movement spitter The Ambassador, too, he almost seems a laboratory experiment in creating a prototypical Godly rapper. NWY gets fiercer as it goes on as well, especially with a faux horrorcore (referencing the Biblical admonition to die daily, y’know) posse joint with VOP and Musselz, one of whom may grab the most killer line on the whole shebang in his willingness to rhyme funeral with unibrow. D’s producers allow judiciously generous crankin’ electric guitar amid the electronics, in keeping with ’70s possible Isley Brothers hearkening and the likely preferred instrument of most readers of this magazine. Only the preponderance of sung choruses of varying quality turns the EP into something of a formula presentation. Otherwise, the work is pretty promising.
Features

Droning On
The world came to a halt in 2020, but London-based Drones trudged on, giving a voice to the hurt that circulates with (or without) a pandemic: "You shouldn’t underestimate the power of writing things down or literally speaking them out loud, which I’m learning. I’m glad I made these songs, no matter how personal they are."
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The Space for Rebirth
On Age of the Abstract's new EP, 'Rebirth,' the duo explores what a new sound looks like apart from the day-job in Canidria. Here, contributing writer Andrew Voigt talks with Julio Arias about influence, vision, and how writing in the wake of his father's death propelled the band forward.
By Andrew Voigt
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Overflowing with Wrath
Dempsey Mills is the brains behind Vials of Wrath, an atmospheric solo project rooted in Nordic inspiration, historic genre, and a dichotomy of peace and tension that underlies the heaviness of the music. Just don't call it unblack.
By Andrew Voigt
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In a World of Hurt
...a kind word goes a long way. "When it comes to writing and music, these are the gifts God has given me and that’s what I want to use to further the Kingdom and return those things back to God."
By Andrew Voigt
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Vols. 6 and 7
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Influence
Everything in Slow MotionReview by Nao Lewandowski