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...

It looks like the issue of love is something that comes naturally to Knii Lante. It strikes me how the love theme runs through almost all his songs. Talk of “Baby Take Good Care”, “Baby be Mine”, “You”, “When You Love Someone” and “Humanity” which pays homage to frontline health workers. All his songs ooze with love. Then comes the latest one “I Just Want...