LVHH record for the period from December 2021 to December 2022
- 3PK artis – “STONE”
- 3PK artis – “Rage Breaker”
- AFK – “In the middle of the stream”
- Amanito – “5th dimension”
- Arturs Skutelis – “Yes”
- chuks – “Fantastic inventions a’ bišk jift'”
- EV – “Smoke and Mirrors”
- E6 – “RWD”
- Edavārdi, Čižiks, Dubra – “Krata”
- Eiksho, Unstable Music – “Process”
- Finķis, “PRAGAII” – “Such laziness”
- Flov – “Mystic of Flov”
- G-Frank – “The Diary of Frankenstein”
- indigo – “false impression”
- Ivans Baigais – “Journey to the District”
- Yam – “Frozen Verse”
- Kaiser – “On the Line”
- Kjuumanis – “Still in Emerald”
- Klawdy – “The Traveller”
- Creative – “Boo”
- Lyric Keepers and 3PK – “Parubijies Pur4ikā”
- M.Sencis, Grandmaster Neons – “honorary name four”
- Marco and Hotte – “Pope and Hotheads”
- Mausoleum Music – “Demon Days 2”
- Mazirba – “Pakis solisi”
- Nettle – “Size”
- Mosquito – “Don’t Tell Mommy”
- Ozols – “Interseasonal Love Ballads”
- Pioneer – “I wish we won the battles we don’t talk about”
- prxmvc and Reggae – “room”.
- Reinis Ragga – “Sunday Rapper”
- Rencis x Amanito – “Food for thought”
- roland če – “all-terrain vehicle”
- Sh. ft. To4ka – “Two Latvians”
- “Singapore Satin” – “Luxus Stonk”
- Steps – “Slikc Sunc”
- Heart of Silver – “Big Bad”
- Thomas Haze – “Verses of Sin”
- Trench Mafia Locco – “Country boy”
- Dark Red Magic – “Other”
- Wiesulis, sangvn – “Fianchetto”
- Zelgis – “PARALLELS”
One of Latvia’s most popular rappers ansis regularly promotes various music discussions on the social website ‘Twitter’. Including question update:
Is hip hop culture pop culture or is it still an independent entity?
An unequivocal answer will be superficial, but the question made me think. In my opinion, it is through hip-hop that the current musical trends in world pop music enter the Latvian folk culture according to local specifics. Later they were absorbed by other domestic styles of music. On the other hand, when you get to know hip-hop culture, music also takes on a different meaning. In 2022 I got to know Latvian hip-hop in its fullness, attending events and listening to records.
Rappers are imaginative and witty, packing vast stories behind slogans. It is the documentation of the reality of the moment, which has so often remained problematically unchanged for 30 years, as well as the artistic manifesto of the rapper himself. Feedback, communication with the audience is also important, so in the context of hip-hop, we also have to talk about the party in general and rappers as showmen. By inventing a new element of the show each time (such as video projections, a different musical program, and special guests), hip-hop concerts were also entertaining for the general public, not just hip-hop culture aficionados.
The fact that more than 40 albums close to the hip-hop genre were released during the year shows the competitiveness of the genre and contributes to its overall growth.
It is true, however, that only 16 albums were submitted for evaluation of the annual Zelta mikrofons’23 music recording award. Perhaps it indicates self-criticism or an alternative and independent attitude.
I started the year with an extensive article review “Which albums are the cornerstones of Latvian hip-hop?”, which received a great response. I ended the year with a compact review, asking rappers and those close to the stage for their most vivid memories of what they heard and saw in 2022, both on the hip-hop scene Latvian and global.
Rap singer Arthur Skutelis emphasizes: “This year, different trends can be observed in Latvian hip-hop. First of all, new records and big concerts were created by different veterans – both those who have been active for ten years and more, and those who were remained silent for a long time (for example, only this year their debut album finally released by Pionieris from “Kreisā krasta”, Gustavo’s big concert “Arena Rīga” took place). “, “Straume” and others ). The year 2022 passed under the sign of the war started by Russia, but at the same time it turned out to be one of the brightest in the history of Latvian hip-hop; there was a similar flash around 2008/2009 when Latvia was hit hard by the global financial crisis. I don’t know if it can be explained simply as “the bigger the problem in the external world, the more the artist focuses on internal processes”, in the case of a musician – on music. However, some correlation in these processes is definitely there.
For me, one of the brightest hip-hop events of 2022 is definitely the charity concert in support of Ukraine where more than 50 Latvian rap artists took to the stage together.
And I should mention mine too solo album “Yes” and its presentation in the concert hall “Palladium Rīga” and also in major music festivals.”
Arstarulsmirus underlines the most important events of the past year: “In the context of Latvian hip-hop, the year 2022 will definitely remain in my memory with the rich range of concerts of representatives of the genre.
Among them, the beginning of a new Latvian hip-hop festival “Straume” was experienced, which created a very special atmosphere that many of its visitors will want to return to.
Even the big festivals were full of strong hip-hop performances this year. The charity concert “Latvian rap against the war in Ukraine” at the end of March will remain in memory. Not to mention the record number of hip-hop releases and of course the relaunch of Gustavo’s project e great concert “Finally!” Arena Riga.”
roland is if is pleased with the emergence of new rappers: “This year, the massive participation of rappers at large music festivals gave an additional foretaste of the number of quality recordings, thus giving the hip-hop scene the role of a major player in the Latvian scene music industry.
This year there is a more pronounced influx of young rappers, who demonstrate with their albums that the hip-hop community is here to stay.”
Oak highlights the most important albums: “The year 2022 in Latvian hip-hop was full of events and new albums. rolanda če “all-terrain vehicle”, Stepa “Slikc Sunc”, “Yes” by Artura Skutelas, Ode “Don’t Tell Mom”. From songs – Prusax with “W”. A$AP Rocky’s visit to “Positivus” festival, Ansha’s concert in Anderjosta district and Gustavo’s comeback concert in “Arena Riga”, as well as my event in Grobina will be memorable.
Globally, the hip-hop commune has experienced a lot of bad news, mourning news. It’s a shame that Migos member Take Off died in the sun this November. It should also be said that Kanye West’s strong reflections on one thing or another have provoked a lot of criticism.
But I will choose Pusha T’s “It’s Almost Dry” from the albums.
Editor-in-Chief of Hiphops.lv Ines Greenberg points out:
“What happened on March 26 in the floating laboratory “Noass” is the biggest and most important event of the Latvian hip-hop commune! Arturs Skutelis united rappers like never before for a common goal – to support the Ukrainian people in the war.
It is not only an anti-war and pro-freedom union, but also an invaluable investment in the future of Latvian hip-hop! “Summer of rappers” will also be recorded in the pages of the history of Latvian hip-hop with ansi in the head. Hip-hop artists also headlined major festivals this summer. It should also be said that a new hip-hop festival “Straume” was born.
Many young rap listeners also experienced this season as an “all-terrain” season, not only welcoming an excellent outing from Roland Che, but also attending a historically record number of rap concerts. This impressive year brought new bands like Wiesulis, Ods/M.Sencis, Grandmasters Neons and Zeļgis to a huge audience. Several seasoned rappers have released their debut solo albums, including Pionieris, Kaizers, Finķis. At the height of the “year of rap”, we received the great concert of Gustavo “Beidzot!”, which united generations of rap listeners. The year as a circular composition, significantly concluding with Arturas Skutelis’ solo concert in the Wagon Hall in mid-December. But you see, we’ll also be welcoming the New Year with an impressive national hip-hop offering. There’s a “Year of Rap 2″ coming, that’s the question!”
I photograph Ritvar Stankevics concludes: “Just as we are ‘unexpectedly’ surprised by snow every winter, this summer everyone was ‘unexpectedly’ surprised by the popularity of Latvian hip-hop events (with good exceptions, of course). In 2022, there was no locomotive, each surprise with its own: both roller (Rolandče) with “off-road” and M. Sencis with Grandmaster Neon.
In my opinion, the album blockbusters “goda vards cetri” should be ranked among the best sounding pop music songs of recent years, although still hip-hop at soul.
Solo albums by Finkas, Skuteļas and also Oda should definitely be highlighted. The project “KRATA” (Chižiks, Eds, DJ Dubra) mixes genres very well. The song of the year in Latvian hip-hop is definitely “Skudra” by Xantique. This mingling of genres has also worked well on a global scale: we hear a mixture of electronic music on Beyonce’s and Drake’s solo albums. Calvin Harris’ latest album “Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 2″ features rappers. This means that hip-hop both in the world and in Latvia is leading the game and pushing it almost everywhere, and that just makes me happy.”
Edward Cook, Latvian poet, singer and hip-hop critic, also literary editor of Hiphops.lv, says about what happened last year: “A special event in world hip-hop this year is the return of several artists from the collective “Top Dawg Entertainment” (“TDE”).In May, the long-awaited Kendrick Lamar reached the public (Kendrick Lamar) double album “Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers”, continuing from “Section. 80” began a theme: by solving internal problems within himself, Kendrick finds again the mirror of society. In the fall, however, the listeners were finally joined by the R&B singer SZA’s album “SOS” and the album “Herbert” by rapper Ab-Soul between the albums of all three artists lasted at least five years, which perhaps allowed listeners to get to know them again.
