The fiercely independent, Idaho-raised rapper nick! channels a deeply overstimulated, restless frequency on his new EP, "GEEKED!". Born in 2006 and building a fervent following entirely without industry co-signs, he occupies an interesting lane in new-wave underground hip-hop. His music sounds precisely like the brain chemistry of an internet-raised creative processing the blinding speed of newfound success. He writes and produces melodic, hard-hitting rap...

With Twaang’s latest release, "Zone", we aren't so much listening to a collection of tracks as we are stepping inside a distinct architectural layout of the human psyche. This innovative solo project has constructed a psychological journey that feels suspiciously like the progression of a panic attack resolving into a state of zen-like lucidity a transition usually reserved for monks or people who have...