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...

Stephen H. Cumberbatch (also known professionally as C’batch) bridges the past and present on his latest instrumental release, "The Vault 1 (C’batch Smooth / Rough)". Operating out of White Plains, New York, where he runs the independent Stevette Music, Inc. with his wife Yvette, C'batch took a remarkably reflective approach here. By blowing the dust off unresolved concepts from his past *Unfinished Business* era,...