Roga Raph – Nostalgiks [Album Stream]

“I’m always doing me. That’s the whole objective. Everybody has their own perspective and that’s what I’ve always loved about hip-hop.”—Roga Raph on his new album ‘Nostalgiks’ is the culmination of several years of hard work, introspection, and most importantly growth from New York emcee/producer, Roga Raph. His throwback-meets-modern aesthetic is one that will inspire and intrigue listeners no matter their familiarity with the genre, and his latest project is the perfect showcase of his always-evolving skill set. Those who heard his 2015 debut, ‘Visionary Shift,’ were introduced to an artist who was doing a lot of soul searching and trying to find his place. While Raph is still looking for something new on ‘Nostalgiks,’ he’s also substantiated his spot in the underground rap scene as an artist worth checking for. You can hear this on standout singles like “Stand Up” and “Won’t Stop,” which are anchored by slick, sample-flipping production, crazy-intricate rhymes, and sing-along choruses. As the title implies, there’s an undeniable old-school vibe on ‘Nostalgiks, ‘and Raph knows that some listeners will try to put him in a box. “I anticipate that people will try to categorize me for having ’90s influenced music, but the fact of the matter is I love all types of styles,” he says. “I like to consider myself an ‘experimentalist,’ always trying to enhance the feel whether it be through beats or flow.” That desire to experiment and “enhance the feel” is what makes the album so compelling from the jump. Raph sets

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Roga Raph – Stand Up [Video]

New York artist Roga Raph pays homage to one of the greatest rap videos of all time and also flexes his directorial muscles in his new visuals for the excellent “Stand Up,” the latest we’re hearing from his highly anticipated ‘Nostalgiks’ album. If the crew of friends moving in reverse reminds you of anything, chances are that you, like Roga, are a fan of the Pharcyde’s groundbreaking “Drop” video. There’s an air of celebrating that famous clip throughout “Stand Up,” though it also addresses a very real and contemporary issues faced by so many Americans: poverty. At first, “Stand Up” appears to portray a fun day spent at Coney Island, where Roga and his friends hit up the rides and arcades on the boardwalk before grabbing some lunch. The thing is, as the video plays on and you listen to his rhymes, you realize there’s something darker here. It turns out that the emcee is facing eviction, a scene that plays out while a sample of a news recording from the Green Party’s own Jill Stein plays and drives home the song’s message. It’s one of not letting the rich and powerful in this country dictate the lives of others—it’s time to stand up. Check out the visuals, and be sure to redeem an au-gratis download of the .mp3 via HYPEDDIT. Nostalgiks is now available for pre-order via iTunes, Amazon and Google Play, and is due out April 28th through Raph’s 2inphinity imprint, through all major digital retailers and streaming

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Roga Raph – Won’t Stop [Video]

To say that New York rapper Roga Raph has been on an absolute tear these past few weeks would be an understatement. And that becomes all the more obvious when you watch his haunting, what-just-happened new video for “Won’t Stop.” The team behind the video includes director Ameer Kazmi, cinematographer Sachi Bahra, editor Godfred Sedano, and steadicam operator Arthur Woo. With “Won’t Stop” as their soundtrack, they crafted a mysterious viewing experience that’ll leave you scratching your head once the credits roll. We can’t really divulge any spoilers, so you’ll have to figure that one out on your own. What we can tell you is that Raph’s hustle has been beyond-impressive as of late. The multi-talented artist—he also produces all of his own music—only seems to be getting better with each track he releases, and “Won’t Stop” is definitely one of his best yet. His new project, “Nostalgiks”, is about to be a serious problem (in the best way possible). Check out the visuals, and be sure to pre-order the April 28th release of “Nostalgiks”, via iTunes, Amazon and Google Play, through Raph’s 2inphinity imprint.

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Roga Raph – Intervention [Audio x Download]

Following the recent release of his visuals for, “The Preface”, rising New York rapper Roga Raph delivers even more heat with his menacing new single, “The Intervention”. As the official debut single off Raph’s upcoming “Nostalgiks” album, is a well-aimed shot at every rapper and producer—yes, he wears both hats—putting out that weak sh*t. But it’s not on some holier-than-thou or dated tip. Rather, Raph creates vintage Boom bap that sounds modern and, well, laden with nostalgic vibes all at once. And he owns it, putting doubters and contemporaries on notice that their time is up. And just like “The Preface” before it, “The Intervention” is another strong step forward for the burgeoning rapper/producer. He has truly found, and honed in on his voice since the release of his convincing debut project, “Visionary Shift”, in 2015. Be sure to peep that if you’ve been sleeping on dude, because “Nostalgiks” will be here before you know it. “Intervention” can now be streamed through all major streaming outlets, and is available for download as the first instant grat track off the iTunes pre-order for “Nostalgiks”, which drops April 28th through all major digital retailers via 2inphinity.

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Roga Raph – Visionary Shift [Free LP]

Packed with dusty piano riffs and buttery soul samples, Roga Raph’s debut release, “Visionary Shift” gives off that old school feeling without coming across as either formulaic, or dated. The free release allows the Mt. Kisco emcee/producer to tell his story, without taking this tale too seriously. The album’s strengths is its sonic diversity. Whether it’s the chilled out, “Signz”, the debut, “Fck Whut They Say”, or the uptempo “In The Now” with its prominent Eckhart Tolle samples, Raph proves that he can ride with the best of them.

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