Finally Some Good News: Club Music is Slowly Taking Over the World - A Look at the Hottest Music Craze of 2022
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Oh man, here we go! I really hope y'all brought like 3 pairs of headphones, a canteen of water, a sleeping bag, and about 30 dollars to pay the high electric bill I'm about to cause you, because today, we're about to take a deep dive into one of hottest music scenes of 2022: CLUB MUSIC
Whether you're calling it Jersey Club, Philly Club, Bmore club, or whatever the hell else, it's hard to deny how crazily popular club music has become on a national, and even international, stage. There's been many factors that have led to the boom of this young dance music genre, however, I think that the most vital catalysts of club music have been its undeniable presence on TikTok and the promising wave of club rap that is spreading rapidly throughout the US and beyond.
First, if you don't have TikTok, I wouldn't call you a technological dinosaur, but I would say you are missing out on how a lot of music is getting popular nowadays. Club music on TikTok is a damn menace - It's literally everywhere. With songs like KiaBHN's "Jersey Anniversary" or Retro J's "Drive You 2," the once regional sound is now an obsession of practically the entire country (That Jersey Anniversary song is all over the internet, man - I can't escape it). For a social media platform that relies so much on dancing, it was only a matter of time for club music to be such a driving force on TikTok. This isn't the first time club music benefitted from a short-form video app though, as Vine in the early-to-mid 2010s benefited the unique culture greatly, however, I feel like the magnitude of TikTok's influence has been astronomically larger than it was on Vine or even Musical.ly. You now have everyday people across the world just making videos to IShowSpeed rapping over McVertt or random club remixes of 2010s indie darlings; it's kind of insane how widespread club music has become, despite it starting in such localized and specific areas. While it's all over the planet, the essence of Jersey, Baltimore, and Philly is still shone through and through, even if it's just Uncle Chester over in Des Moines, Iowa trying to shake that shi' at the local grocery store for some likes.
One of the many reasons behind that is the emergence of CLUB RAP.
One thing about the rise of club rap that has intrigued me from the start is the question "Where did this all begin?" Seriously, the origin of club rap and trying to consider what is the "Genesis" moment of this branch of club music are things that keep me up at night. Would you consider Baltimore as the blueprint with stuff from club legends like K-Swift's "Rider Girl" (REST IN POWER!!!) and Rod Lee's "Dance My Pain Away?" Is Bandmanrill right in saying that he started the club rap wave? To an extent, yes, in terms of it gaining traction, but there have been earlier modern instances predating "Heartbroken" like the ever-legendary "BabyShark" from Philly legends D4M $loan and Skiano (REST IN FUCKING POWER!!) and an even earlier release, 2019's "T2Rchallenge" from Philly's T2R. So yeah, Philly might have been ahead here, but still, I don't know. It's a blurry subject that I really want to delve into another day. If anybody who reads this and would know other early instances of club rap, please send it my way, because this stuff crosses my mind daily!
Enough talk about potential conflicts, let's see how club rap has grown
so far this year. First, in Newark, no one is blowing up more than Bandmanrill. Since he put out "Heartbroken" and "Jack n Drill" in early 2021, Bandman has seriously grown into one of the most promising young rappers in the country today. While his catalogue isn't huge at the moment, it's the consistency of his releases that make Bandman so compelling to keep up with. Even the limited amount of unreleased shit he has is damn good. With help from fan-favorite club producer McVertt, the duo has put Newark on the map with hits like "I Am Newark" and more recently, "BANDTHOVEN." Bandmanrill's grittily confident delivery coupled with Vertt's breakneck, playfully unhinged style makes them seriously one of the best rapper/producer combos in hip hop right now. With summer coming around the corner, I'm sure Bandman has something in the works soon. A tape? More singles? Either way, it's going to be special. Some other Jersey rappers to check out that use club beats are AceMula, a frequent Bandmanrill collaborator and self-proclaimed "CREATOR AND PIONEER OF JERSEY DRILL MUSIC," as he's really one of the first artists to really meld those two sounds in the area and Elizabeth's MBMFRANKO, someone who's another proveyor of that "Jersey Drill" style. With how things are shaping up in Jersey this year, I'm sure that we'll see new artists emerge as this club rap wave is growing fast. It's only up from here!
Now let's look at Philly:
For starters, I really don't know what the fuck is in the water over there in Philly. There's this unstable positive energy that radiates from a lot of these guys' music that I really can't get enough of, and due to that, the popularity of many of these young artists is rising by the day. Honestly, I feel like Philly is popping off with club rap more than than anywhere else right now. You got more experienced Philly artists like D4M $loan, Zahsosaa and 2Rare taking the reigns and making hit upon hit upon hit, but you are also seeing the rise of younger artists and groups that show much FUN Philly is having with this club shit. First, let's talk about D4M $loan: Given the circumstances of the last few years, it has been so damn good to see him come back and continue to grow as an artist. $loan's gravily growling voice that sounds like a car revving up at times is seriously an absurdly good compliment to the club sound - It's a perfect fit. He has such an unique energy that is just so infectious and charismatic; only someone from Philly would be able to do what he does. One track of his that you need to keep your eye on this summer is "Drive Who Crazy," where he just demolishes that iconic Retro J beat in only a way that $loan himself could do (Also don't be trying to watch some of these music videos around your Grandma - She's gonna beat your ass with the belt if she catches you watching this shit). Hope to see more music from him soon.
If your sound preference is more in a melodic-sense, then Zahsosaa and 2Rare are perfect for you. These young and established Philly artists have really pushed the club rap sound this year, as they both have been releasing astronomical hits that have been flooding the airwaves of both the city and the internet. First, Zahsosaa's hit "Stripper Anthem" feels like you've stumbled into the club at like 3 in the morning and everything in there is just smokey, where you know damn well you're going to forget everything from the night. The way he just casually croons over that sultry McVertt beat sampling Giveon is just so irresistibly damn good and makes it one of the best songs of the year so far. Now 2Rare got one of the biggest hits of the year as well with "Cupid Remix." Like this shit has BLOWN UP. Utilizing this DJ Smallz 732 beat, 2Rare sings his heart out while you got fucking Tom and Jerry tangin and shaking their hips in the music video????? Philly is another world sometimes. But seriously, 2Rare has a lot of sincerity and soul in his voice, and he's such a joy to listen to. More recently, his last single "Oochie Coochie" has so much potential to be a song of the summer, where you got him belting over this euphorically energetic beat from Jersey's Retro J. I seriously can't get "Oochie Coochie actin' Bougie" out of my damn head, and I'm pretty sure it just signed a 20 year lease to stay in there. All in all, these 2 really have the potential to hit mainstream waves in the future, as their already-established success seems to be totally just the beginning. Another Philly song to check out is the TTN-produced heater "Bring It Back" from Dulu (another good song from him) that really fits that same lovey and sincere vibe as 2Rare and Zahsosaa. Philly really is different, man.
However, I think out of everyone in Philly currently, the Philly Goats are probably the most intriguing and interesting artists to keep up with right now. These guys are a group of just eternally-energetic teenagers who have been slowly becoming stars on the internet for both their presence in the club rap scene AND the hold that these dudes have on TikTok. Like seriously, go onto one of their TikTok accounts, and you'll know what I'm talking about. Here, you got members like D Sturdy, Spence, Brill, and Suu who, with the help of folks like 1xbrock (the best tastemaker in club music right now), 2Rare and Zahsosaa, are pushing the club music agenda on TikTok like crazy. The ridiculous amount of dancing and hip shaking that they do, the gratuitous amount of Under Armor they wear, and the almost boy-band-like appeal that they have are things that make them some of TikTok's best personalities - They're kinda inescapable on there. Maybe I'll touch more on that side another day, because there's so much going on over there, however Tiktok aside, it's their recent venture into music that is making them blow up immensely.
If you know what I'm talking about, you are already probably thinking of one of the hottest songs of the year so far, "Shake That," an anthemic cut off of the really good and varied DJ Crazy album LETS GO CRAZY THE ALBUM. Like my god, this song man.... You are seriously lying to me and yourself if you got through this song without trying to do some of those crazy ass dance moves! There's just something so infectiously fun and positive about their music (and honestly most of this club rap shit) that reminds me of early 2010s Chicago bop music; the whole point is to turn up and have fun, and you can see that in almost all of their music videos. Like DJ Crazy losing his absolute shit in the "ME & THE GANG" video describes that feeling perfectly. You for real don't have a soul if you don't find any of this shit fun! If I had just 2 minutes to try to explain to you the appeal of these guys and just club rap in general, I'd just send you the link to the 2Rare/Philly Goat collab "Sri Lanka," as the music video is just an overwhelming sensory overload of energetic partying and friends having fun. It's all you really want in life! The Retro J beat (he for real needs to be in the same conversation as McVertt when it comes to club rap beats - same with DJ Crazy) just adds to the chaos, as it's constantly knocking the shit out of your ears like a speed bag. It's relentless and addicting, as it feels like it was made in a test tube, designed to be the "Song of the Summer." These kids are the future, I swear. All in all, I hope you can now see how big Philly is becoming with club rap, as its potential is absurdly promising.
Wait......................there's more???????
DUH! Of course there's more club rap out there in other areas! Like I said earlier, this shit is BLOWING UP. Outside of Jersey and Philly, there are two additional places of interest where club rap is slowly starting to gain traction in a huge way. First, it was only a matter of time until New York joined in on the fun. Currently, you got sample drill dominating the numerous boroughs in the city, so it was a no-brainer that rappers would start to cling onto club beats, as there's been an influx of artists hopping on the new trend. With folks like Cash Cobain, Bouba Savage, Mori Briscoe, and even Sha Ek, New York is just getting started with this shit. Yeah, the style here is pretty derivative to many of these artists' obvious drill origins, however, it's a nice change of pace to an already booming rap wave. Just like they do in drill, they're already running some of these beats to the ground, like this one that samples this Autumn song, as everyone and their mama are hopping on this. Regardless, with summer rolling around, keep your eye on NYC, as it's almost a gimme that club rap is going to thrive there.
Now the next place took me by surprise at first, but made total sense the more I listened to it. France's drill scene is something that I used to keep up with pretty well, with stuff like Freeze Corleone and GAZO, but I never realized how big it has gotten since then. YES THE FRENCH ARE ON THIS SHIT TOO AND IT'S GOOD AS HELL. While there aren't too many songs out right now over there that utilize club beats, there's enough to realize that something's brewing overseas. With artists like Lille's Sto or someone super popular like Paris's Gambi (the Yeat sample my god), the French are finding that sweet spot between drill and club music, as they're also making their voices heard in this wave of rap too. The one French artist that is taking this club shit and running with it like prime Michael Johnson is Paris's Kerchak, an animated figure whose frantic flow adds to the similar barrage of sounds coming from club beats. Whether he's demolishing McVertt-type beats in "Tantor" or also hopping on the Yeat club wave with "Jane," Kerchak is absolutely making a name for himself in such an already stacked rap scene. At the end of the day, it's really insane to see such a niche genre of music gain so much traction both in the states and overseas. Who could be the next region to give their take: London? The South? Ancient Greece????? (Just throwing out places now). Wherever it is, it's a testament to both Jersey and Philly with how trendsetting a lot of these young artists are. They've started a global obsession that has an infinite amount of potential. All we have to do is wait and see...
Now for the best part: THE PRODUCERS
Yeah, club rap is nice and all, but there wouldn't be any club rap if there weren't for club producers. These are the folks that are making this genre grow, as club music is currently being pushed to its absolute limit, reaching heights no one has ever seen before. Whether its something that sounds like it's 2 decades ahead of its time or something that hypnotizes an entire universe to dance to it, there's just an incredible amount of producers that fit into those categories. It could be club mainstays adding to their already legendary status like LilC4, SteezTheProducer, and McVertt or emerging young talents that show that club music is in good hands like HBK PURR, qua, and LilSnatched. Either way, the club producer stratosphere is like the most fucked up audible buffet ever created - You're just sitting there on SoundCloud rubbing your hands like Birdman. While I want to focus more in-depth on some emerging producers another day (I've already written an encyclopedia here), I still want to showcase the pure ridiculousness of a lot of these producers and their music, so that's what I'm about to do, so y'all get ready! Do some stretches or something to prepare yourselves, because we're going full speed into this!
First, I don't think many people realize how many albums/EPs are being put out by producers nowadays. So far this year, there's been a staggering amount of releases, which is always a good thing! Of course, I didn't want to leave out mentioning a few must-listen ones, so here are a few that you totally need to check out!
1. SteezTheProducer - '22 Album
Favorite Song: "Work" (This honestly changes weekly lmao)
2. qua - Hasbulla ep
Favorite Song(s): "Def Jam 2" ft. Haze and Burto and "love galore 2." ft Haze
3. Da.waune - '22 Celebration
Favorite Song(s): "BandGeeks" ft JayTheMixer and "Rocko" ft Purr
4. MG Burto - 2022 Album
Favorite Song: "Rey Mysterio" ft SteezTheProducer
5. Retro J - Shallow
Favorite Song: "Hate"
6. LEAKTHEDJ - XCVII
Favorite Song(s): "ENJOY THE PARTY" and "ASYLUM"
7. HBK PURR - Sounds of Purr
Favorite Song(s): "MALL COP" ft Haze and "BOOM FINALE" ft HBK FINATIC
8. Dre Cannon - Isolated
Favorite Song(s): "Coney Island" and "EllaBandz" ft Letsgoyani
9. JayTheMixer - 17
Favorite Song(s): "BLACKSTAR" and "MIXER X ODB"
10. totallysadical - spring cleaning: out with the old
Favorite Song(s): "Romance Is Dead" (metalcore club music lmao) and "Returnofthepimp"
Okay, One Last Thing....
Now lastly, I listen to a lot of damn club music, as you can see. It's a bit concerning, but regardless, here is the pièce de résistance of this almanacs-worth of information I've written here. The constant stream of tunes coming from producers is massively overwhelming. Hence, I couldn't just narrow it down to just 10 tracks like just some plain old website - there's too much you would miss there. So, I thought it was best to cover 30 (yes, THIRTY) tracks from the year so far that define the greatness club music has achieved in the year so far. You are straight up lying if you don't find at least one good track on here, so get ready for some of the best music on the planet...
30. @Mg_Burto - 5 Dolla *Lilsnatched_ Anthem*
29. LilSnatched x HBK Mark x DamnBandz - GLR MEGA LAB
Tiktok and club music go perfect together like Twitter and people yelling at each other, and there's honestly no one who is running club music on Tiktok right now better than Miami's Lil Snatched. Her music and iconically echoey "It's Lil Snatched" tag is all over that damn app. Speaking of TikTok, that Go Little Rockstar song (apparently that's not what they say and I honestly don't give a fuck) is probably one of the worst things I've heard on there. Horrible. Hate it. However, the thing about club music is that these folks will literally take anything, like this stupid ass song, and make it the best shit on earth. That's exactly what Snatched, HBK MARK, and DamnBandz do here. Can't get enough of it.
28. Chad_TP x Burto - Choppy Diss
First off: Chad_TP is a hell of a producer! Go check out his birthday EP from a few weeks ago - there's lots of crazy shit on there. However, Burto decided to be the star here and demolishes the 2nd half of this tune. He creates some of the most insane chops I have ever heard and then just culminates it all with one of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard in any genre of music ever made. I want all of you to get that same surprise, so I won't do a full reveal here, but go get y'all's powdered wigs ready.... I swear to god, club music is most absurd thing on earth.
27. GavinTheProducer x JayIsFed - East X
I still think East is a legitimately good song - That loop is so hypnotizing. Also, the jokes about it are so dumb. While Earl responds to that loop with that mystifyingly lazy flow of his, Jersey's GavinTheProducer and JayIsFed are the complete opposite with their collaborated take on that sample. It's so bouncy and gives that somberish sample a lot more playfulness. That slowdown Jay does towards the end is absolutely nasty! People from Jersey will literally sample anything and everything - Nothing is safe.
26. Bumpin - Talking Ben
Baltimore's Bumpin is someone very underrated in my opinion. There's this bounce to his music that feels very unique - very pointy/staccato-y but incredibly smooth at the same time. If it wasn't for that crazy ass kid IShowSpeed, this Talking Ben bullshit would have never came back and I wouldn't have folks talking to me like that damn dog, but the way Bumpin takes those voice clips and throws them on top of this obnoxious R&B club banger synth line is just surreal. God help us all.
25. LEAKTHEDJ - ARCH DAT KITTY
There's just something about Rahway native LEAKTHEDJ's music, man. The energy exuded in all of his songs is so majestically powerful - it's chill-inducing. Out of everyone in club music, I feel like Leak's sound feels the most tailored for actual clubs. In my head, his sound easily coincides with darkly lit dancefloors, gilded with beams of fluorescent lights and hordes of dancing maniacs - Leak is a tactician in getting everybody to move. Nothing describes that better than the closer to his Valentine's day EP XXX 2 "ARCH DAT KITTY." The way that talkbox whines throughout feels like you've been turned into a zombie and instead of brains, all you want is for that damn DJ to turn that shit up. Yeah, Leak isn't making some avant garde club shit compared to other producers, but, what makes Leak one of the best club producers in the world right now is his ability to take that more traditional club sound and elevate it to heights no one has seen before. 1 of 1.
24. Retro J - Switch
Like I said earlier, Jersey's RetroJ is someone that you really need to keep your eye on this year. When he's not contributing to the club rap boom going on in Philly, he's continuing to show folks that he's one of the best and most unique club producers around. It's hard to explain in words, but there's this one-of-a-kind, precisely barebones feel to Retro's sound that I can't get enough of. Look at "Switch," a cut off his EP Shallow: The way he takes that Summer Walker sample, makes it sound some type of fleeting apparition, and clashes it with Young Buck going "Watch, I get the club crunk" while malfunctioning throughout is mind-boggling. It feels like it's coming from some chamber - it's so intoxicating.
23. Bumpin x Chillz - Show Me Love
Bumpin and New York's Chillz are honestly one of the most underrated duos in club music right now. Every time they collab, there's always some magic coming out of those speakers of mine. The Robin S sample was always going to get a positive reaction out of me, but the way they take that iconic song and turn it into something so fresh is so damn good. That middle section with Chillz is absurd.
22. @2NAPPS - GTA 2
I still refuse to believe that Jersey's @2NAPPS/BXNGZ is from this planet. I always say that his music feels like he just came back from the future and wants to stunt on everyone around him. Here, he takes the GTA III intro and turns it into this harmoniously overblown cacophony of sound waves. Despite it sounding so abrasive at times, there's this unique flow Bxngz has that feels so clean. His sound is incredibly ahead-of-the-curve compared to most club producers right now - One of the best.
21. JayIsFed - Baby Come Through
It actually pissed me off when I saw that JayIsFed only had like 500 followers on SoundCloud. They are seriously one of the best producers right now, pushing that new wave of the club sound. Nothing defines early 2010s Jersey Club more than the iconic "Babyy comee throughhhh you deserve rounds tonigghhttt" Vine that sparked one of the first "viral internet" club songs back in 2014. Jay's interpretation of those famous 6 seconds shows how far club music has come in the last 8 years. Compared to that irresistibly good old school sound from 2014, Jay's surreal interpretation feels like light glistening and bouncing off of a chandelier - It feels frozen in time and the dude sounds like some force ghost from the very distant past. Just go follow that man right now - one of the most underappreciated producers right now.
20. SuperiorJay - GOOD N PLENTY
Jersey native DJ SuperiorJay's early 2022 album R E F R E S H E D honestly feels like something that a big budget label would put out - each track has this feel that is pristine and at a high standard. There's loads of good moments on there, but the opener "GOOD N PLENTY" is what still stands out to me here. The Alex Isley/Masego sample here is transformed and given this mellow uplifting energy, where you feel like you're just slowly falling through the clouds. SuperiorJay really does invoke that feeling a lot - I highly recommend checking out another track of his, "TOUCH ME." Seriously one of the best doing it today. (Also the Pt2 of this that just came out is so damn good too!)
19. HBK MARK - EMO LOVE (@1xBROCK ANTHEM)
Listen, any YB club remix will get me to lose my shit.. The way HBK MARK speeds "Emo Love" up and gives the somber song this new energized facelift is astounding. This remix is fucking insane. My only complaint about it is it being so short! It just keeps you wanting more.....
18. HBK PURR x BURTO - BOUT TO BEAT MY
Okay, I bet some of y'all are looking at this one and are probably like, "What the fuck is wrong with you?" And to that, I say shut up and go listen to 2 of the most insane people on Earth do things you have never ever heard before. The sample is fucking ridiculous, Burto starting off and breaking my speakers is fucking ridiculous, Purr acting like some inter-dimensional being coming in like no one I have ever heard before is fucking ridiculous. All 109 seconds of this is fucking ridiculous. None of this should even be humanly possible, man... 😂
17. Bptheproducer - Dumebi
Jersey's Bptheproducer has made one of the most dreamily addicting songs so far this year with his remix of the Rema song of the same name. The way that the instrumental is slowed down and met with this barrage of these varied and subdued vocal samples gives it such a cozily rainy nighttime energy that I can't get enough of. Absolutely insane.
16. JayTheMixer201 - GLEESH WALK
"Let's Get This Party Started..." is seriously my favorite producer tag right now. It introduces you to the world of Jersey City's JayTheMixer201, someone who is just different, compared to his contemporaries. He's just so confident in his sound and style, and that confidence pays off, as he has one of the craziest work ethics in club music, consistently putting out some of the best tunes around. This Gleesh sample has been used so much this year, but the way Jay connects the "....POSTMAN" from Rocky at the beginning by using A$AP Ferg's Work is just perfect. That stretch towards the end where Jay takes that constant "Gleesh Walk Walk Walk" and clashes it with Ferg going "Work Work Work" has such an irresistible groove. Also the Manny Rivera cover art kills me lmao. Jay is seriously someone who deserves a lot more love!
15. AyooLyve x SuperiorJay - Gleesh Walk
See what I mean about the Gleesh sample? Here we got Majin Krew's CEO AyooLyve teaming up with DJ SuperiorJay to conjure up a much more energetic interpretation of Gleesh Walk. With that chromatically falling line of those deep strings, the melody feels like you are intoxicatingly falling down a really big slide; however, with Lyve's signature forcefully pulsating style, it feels like he's smacking you in the head while you're tumbling down. I love how punchy all of Lyve's songs are - his sound is really distinct and one of my favorites. Don't think I forgot about SuperiorJay, though.. The way he adds in those Def Jam Elephant Man voice samples and matches that same aggressive energy as Lyve makes this one of my favorite club tunes this year.
14. rrodney - just dance
One of the most popular figures in club music currently, Jersey's rrodney has had a relatively quiet 2022 so far, however, any time he uploads, you stop whatever the fuck you're doing and run to the loudest piece of audio equipment in your vicinity. There's a reason why rrodney is consistently in many folks' (myself included) top 3 - he's just so damn good and is incapable of missing. Look at his take of the Lady Gaga classic - there's this inescapable bounce to most of rrodney's tunes that could wake up an ancient being underground and make them jump out the dirt and shake that shit. It's so insane how he can take some familiar song and transform it into this monolith of vibrant energy, grabbing you by the neck with a barbershop quartet cane and hurling you towards the nearest dance floor. A one of a kind talent. Totally unrelated, but I'm totally gonna pretend I'm on the phone in public one day and scare a person by yelling at them and saying "SHUT UP I'M ON THE PHONE WITH RODNEY" just to see how they react 🤣
13. LilC4 - 70s
Elizabeth's LilC4 is easily one of the most important club producers of this last decade. He's been at the top of his game since 2015, constantly putting out some of the best tunes in this genre's history. I still think "V4MP" is one of the greatest club tunes ever created. Even many years later, after millions of plays, LilC4 still hasn't slowed down a bit, and that can be easily seen by his January album POPULAR LONER, something that sounds strangely nostalgic throughout. Nothing describes that feeling better than the Tiktok hit, "70s." There's something so warm and fuzzy about this - it feels like it's coming from this some old timey radio and the world around you is in sepia-tone (no shit you dumbass, it's called "70s" for a reason). Honestly, if "groove" had a picture in the dictionary, it would just be LilC4 hitting the running man, because he's a master at this shit.
12. qua x HaZeTheProducer - elephant man.
Oh man, now we're REALLY getting into the crazy stuff.... Jersey's qua is honestly up in the running for the "Most Improved Producer" award this year, on some NBA shit, as his growth and output since December has been one of the most insane developments of this whole scene lately. They just sound so damn futuristic, and every single second of their music just has you questioning reality itself. However, there's no one in Jersey who's better at blowing your mind than HaZeTheProducer. I've said it time and time again, but there's seriously no one like this dude.... at all. Take these 2 magicians and give them those Elephant Man Def Jam quotes from earlier, and what you're going to get is music made for TikTok in 2067. That droning melody from qua feels like a giant spaceship floating across dark nothingness - it's massively overwhelming and suffocating, but you seriously don't want it to stop. Take that and add some of the craziest sampling on Earth, and you have another instance of why club music is the most compelling shit right now. Wait til you hit around the 2 minute mark of this though.. Haze does some of the most deranged shit I have ever heard in my life, demolishing the Spongebob intro. Seeing people in the comments going "u good?" still makes me laugh lol.
11. $icko Music - Stutter cypher (@STEEZTHEPRODUCER anthem)
The sudden emergence of Jersey's $icko Music has been so cool to witness. It seriously feels like this dude was kept in a cryogenic chamber for years, before being let out for the world to face their wrath. The way that they just started putting out club tunes at such a high quality is insane, and it is a testament to this self-taught producer, who put in the work to be like this. My favorite tune of his so far has been "Stutter cypher," a song that isn't false advertising, as the obvious stuttery nature here make this feel like a machine that's short circuiting. He keeps throwing in new ideas each bar and each one got you stank facing in your room. This also goes to show that you don't need to have your shit at 250bpm to be a good club song. If you have that flow and groove down, a song could be at 25bpm and you could still find a way to dance to it (Please don't be making 25bpm club songs y'all; I actually love fast shit lmao)
10. @2NAPPS - GOING HARD
More 2NAPPS, and my god dude, it's really like he has a time machine in his house, going hop into the future to do some errands. While he's taking advantage of Fruity Loops version 759.5 over there, he's making stuff like "GOING HARD," which boasts one of the most insane melodies I have heard this year - it really does sound like a time machine, beeping and booping, while feeling like something alien, so you're just staring at it in bewilderment. Taking those strange-asteroid-coming-from-the-sky-like sounds and then adding in these metallically-altered versions of Soulja Boy, the weirdos in Coney Island, and I think H.E.R at one point(????) makes this feel like surrealist art at times. This shit is just fucking crazy, and it shows why 2NAAPS should be considered one of the best doing it right now.
9. LilSnatched x HBK MARK x Camfrm732 - My Everything
Man, this Mary J flip is absolutely insane (even though I think this idea came from the B-Lovee song), as Anthem Gxdz members LilSnatched, HBK MARK, and Camfrm732 make a tune that's like a pogo stick the entire time - the bounce here is insane. The "jump like" sample that's used throughout here is a big driving force to that irresistible bounce; it's almost mind-controlling. This tune has benefited greatly from Tiktok, as I've seen this song so many times on there - there were even kids dancing to it in VR games for christ's sake. What a world we live in lmao.
8. JayTheMixer201 - BERNIE MAC (@kaotic4k anthem)
"Boy, just be yourself" That describes JayTheMixer perfectly, as he's, as what I said earlier, one of the most unique sounding producers in club music. Here, he takes a scene by the iconic legend Bernie Mac from House Party III of all movies and makes something that is so uplifting and frantic at the same time. That choir loop being energized by those playful gun clicks and Bernie Mac going haywire sounds like nothing I've ever heard before. That last part where it picks up a little more and you got Bernie going "FUCK EM" just gets me so fucking hyped. Absolutely addicting.
7. OmgAddy x Lil Canada x LilSnatched x DamnBandz x Dre Cannon x Fasa973 x TangTheProducer x Chillz - Get Back (6GvDz Mega Lab)
Mega Labs might honestly be God's greatest gift to our existence. Get as many crazy producers as possible to get on a track, give them a sample, and you get 5+ minutes of some of the most insane music on Earth. This time, we got the 6GvDz getting their 7 player all-star team ready to go ahead and try to do the craziest shit to this Pop Smoke vocal. What do you get here? Almost 6 minutes of just relentlessly high-energy club music - this shit just don't stop! The standouts here are easily Lil Canada chaotically coming in with those loudly thick-sounding synths and throwing in that damn whistle, Dre Cannon making me lose my mind with that "Coochie Drive You Crazy" sample, and TangTheProducer just smacking you upside the head with the most in-your-face part of the lab here, where he fits so much crazy ideas in just around 35 seconds. Mind boggling. S/o 6GvDz, who's easily a top 3 producer crew in club music right now!
6. theminecraftwolf - we found more love.
I will say it again and again: Wolfie is seriously the one of the most underrated club producers right now....my lord! Don't let this Minecraft aesthetic fool you. This teenager from Georgia is so damn good, and from the looks of it, it seems like they haven't even reached their full potential yet. I really do think this kid will be a force to be reckoned with very soon. Take this euphoric Rihanna flip "we found more love"...... GOOD GOD. There's just something about Wolfie's music, man. It has a certain "airiness" that makes a lot of their tunes feel so open and uplifting - almost like you're surfing on some clouds. Like seriously, this tune here makes me feel I've grown wings or something and I can just freely fly through the sky. Just the way he manipulates Rihanna here to sound like this otherworldly angelic being is enough as it is; the kid seriously never lets up. Absolutely bonkers shit.
5. SteezTheProducer x McVertt - All Around The World (lalala)
Oh man. Sometimes I just see a track and I'm like "Man, we don't deserve this shit." This heater is one of those times. I saw this on my feed for the first time and started doing a damn spinaroonie before I could even press play. Two of the best producers in this whole shit going ahead and getting together again to demolish that old ass "Lalala lala" song is insane enough on paper, but when you finally hit play on this track, that bullshit piece of paper is immediately vaporized, as both Steez and McVertt destroy all expectations by making a jackhammer of a club tune. Steez has these crazily suffocating synths that come in like a swarm a bees that describes his madness perfectly, while Vertt contrasts with his signature playful sound, giving you about 75 pounds of gun clicks that just constantly play in my head now. I just love this so much. Like I said, we don't deserve this shit ðŸ˜
4. DJ Darknite - Back Stabbers (Darknite Remix)
Honestly, this one feels like it sticks out like a sore thumb, but it's in my top 5 for reason! I've been here mostly talking my head off about how futuristic and ahead of the game Jersey is right now with their sound (and rightfully so!), but sometimes, it's always good to go back and appreciate the old school and see what got us here. I don't think there's anything that's been released this year more old-school than Jersey City native DJ Darknite's remix of "Back Stabber" by The O'Jays, something that TikTok has eternally etched into my brain. Seriously though, the first time I heard this song, my jaw fucking dropped. Not even joking - this is one of the craziest flips I have ever heard (like in ALL types of music, not just Jersey). Bringing in vocals from "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" and the easily recognizable bleep bloops from Cybotron's "Clear" only adds to this insane experience. Like oh my GOD, I really can't stop listening to this one. It feels like some alternate universe version of the 70s/80s where modern club music existed and your parents were dancing to this shit - 10/10 song. I also highly recommend his album from this year Sounds of a Menace - lots of really good remixes in this similar vein.
3. SteezTheProducer - "Taz" Cypher (@ayoo_lyve Anthem)
I can't even explain how hard it was to not put like 10 Steez tracks on this list. Now trying to narrow all of them down to just one? Y'all might be shit outta luck here 😂 Luckily, I did finally decide on one that describes Steez perfectly: just overblown, face-meltingly chaotic genius. Sampling Taz the Tasmanian Devil should not work at all, but Jersey's SteezTheProducer effortlessly adds in the maniacal babblings of the Looney Tunes character and accompanies it with a hellacious hurricane of noises, riddled with mayhem and destruction, because good fucking lord. The way Lil Jon sounds like a siren ready to alert the world of the apocalypse and Khia appears like they're in another dimension is just absurd. Bring in mammothly smothering melodies that just put your ears in a guillotine choke, squeezing the life out of them, and bass that probably caused an earthquake on the moon, and you got another reason why Steez is one of a kind, no Rob Van Dam. It really does feel like an overwhelming mess, but it's a fucking beautiful mess. Also that part with the beeps?? GOD DAMN! I dare you to find anything on Earth like this shit(Spoiler Alert: You can't). Seriously, no one does club music better than this young legend, and more people need to recognize that!
2. B Goodie - Beg For It/Shiz.
The smoothest producer in all of Jersey is easily B Goodie, who's up there as one of the big pillars of modern club music. He's inspired a lot of current producers and is honestly one of the best who does it. My only complaint about him is that HE DELETES TOO MUCH OF HIS DAMN MUSIC! I respect that though, however, it's crazy how good his catalogue is, deleted material or not. I couldn't decide on one here, so I'm just gonna cheat just put two high-energy tracks from him. First, "Beg For It." I dare y'all to sit down and listen to this without moving. I bet y'all will start doing that Philly hip dance shit in less than 10 seconds! Seriously though, the highly frantic tempo and lively sample loop is just irresistible, man. Now "Shiz?" First off, that fucking bassline. It's the same situation like the other song: I dare you to sit down, listen to this, and sit there in silence like a crazy person. It really is an impossible task! Having Missy Elliot go "This the kinda beat that go" and "RaTa RaTa" like some type of futuristic club robot just adds to that inescapable groove. Also, them damn beeps again! (Seriously, my favorite all-time old school club sound). All in all, both of these tracks are just absolutely insane. Go give Goodie the love he deserves!
1. AyooLyve x SteezTheProducer x Burto x SuperiorJay x HaZe x Qua x LilSnatched x LeakTheDJ - South Park 2 Mega Lab
I still refuse to believe that this track is real. During these 6 minutes and 21 seconds, reality does not exist; it's like you've been teleported to this purgatory-like void where you're just floating and all you can see is the characters from South Park - There has seriously been no other song this year, from ANY GENRE OF MUSIC, that has broken my brain more than the Majin Krew/TTN Music Elimination Chamber match of a Mega Lab "South Park 2." They really put 8 whole ass producers on a single song - good god. I need a 30-person Royal Rumble Mega Lab by the end of the year - I don't care if the shit is 40 minutes long; give it to me now. I did write most of my thoughts about this in my last roundup, so I really don't want to repeat myself, so all I will say is that there's nothing like club music right now, and it's because of shit like this. There's just a constant barrage of unfathomable ideas from these folks, and it just exponentially gets crazier as the song goes on. The HaZe part still concerns me with how absurd it is; Snatched still has the best part (WHEEZY OUTTA HERE); I could talk about everybody's parts in here for hours, but you're probably on hour 5 of reading this thing, so go listen to this shit! You'll thank me later. I'll continuously be over here shouting to the mountaintops that club music is the best thing on earth.
Ok, so it took me a good bit of time to make this list, so unfortunately, I did miss out on a few more recent tracks while I was writing this. I'm not gonna talk about them, but I'm just linking a few here that you NEED to check out, because I really didn't want to leave them out! I promise I'll leave you alone after this!!! 😂
@lilcanada_ x @jayisfed - Wire (@therealjaythemixer_201 anthem) (Oh man this one....)
SteezTheProducer x HaZeTheProducer - "Scarface" Cypher (Good god almighty...)
DJ Shawny - Bombs Away (Throwback Cypher)
@deskrat x @raverobber x @pinkmouse - "let's brawl" (3 newcomers to the scene that you need to get acquainted with real fast!)
Lilsnatched x zgtheproducer x kaotic4k x Da.waune - Sensual seduction (😵😵😵)
BIGC x BURTO x CHAD x PURR.XD - SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS (If you ever wanted to feel like the pirate from the Spongebob intro where he's all like "I can't hearrrrr youuuuu," then this is the song for you. God help us all.)
Vivid The Producer - Elephant Man(Def Jam) (Vivid is seriously one of the best producers club music has and this just further proves it)
DamnBandz x PURR.XD x Qua - BITCH CASE (Purr legit scared the fucking shit out of me when he came in; 3 of club music's best rising stars linking up here)
BIGC x CHAD - cashapp (shysosmoove anthem) (I mean it's a Louie Ray remix - What more do you want?)
hasan - UNITY STATION (I've never seen someone use the chorus effect so much ever in my life, but there is literally no other producer that sounds like this kid. What the fuck.)
Tired now?
Well, I sure hope you got something out of this! If you're still not a fan of club music, that might be a you problem, as what is there not to like here? It's one of the hottest music trends on the planet currently, and it's only continuing to grow, as these artists are getting better by the day. Like we've barely reached summer, so there's still so much more club music can offer to the world this year, so I hope I was able to make you become a fan of one of the best cultures America can offer. Go annoy your neighbor by dancing outside to this shit or go make a crater in your local parking lot while playing this in your car - either way, you're doing the planet a service as you're slowing allowing club music to take over the world. I wouldn't want it any other way....
Till next time...