Smooth lyrical flows and vintage vibes are just staples that the listener gets to hear whenever any track by Bloodlin3 goes into play. The independent hip-hop group, originating from El Paso, TX, and Paducah, KY, has been incorporating new and old styles since the musical beginning of the group. They take their influences from names such as Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Three 6 Mafia, Tech N9ne, Twista, Eminem, and Brotha Lynch Hung to create their target audience.
Still growing their following one listener at a time, Bloodlin3 has over 2k devoted followers on Instagram who continue to support their plight. One can see very easily why: the streams continue to rise as new and repeat fans vibe off this new boom-bap sound. Whether driving or needing a pick-me-up, Bloodlin3 is always on point with just the right classic hip-hop feel.
Their song “Situations” stands out this year; you can feel their talent in style blends reminiscent of their influences from the very outset. The hooks strategically position themselves to capture your attention. The verses go straight into a sharp flow, showing their range. The production keeps it dark yet upbeat throughout, with low synths paired with buoyant loops. The percussion moves it all along like clockwork.
It features Buk of Psychodrama in verse one and the hook, Reinman Quiji in verse two, Mallachi in verse three, and Stephen King in verse four. They got together to collaborate in El Paso and Paducah. The production is also courtesy of Buk of Psychodrama through his group, Psychodrama.
“Situations” addresses not taking today for granted and chasing your dreams by not giving up. The mix and master is well mastered , keeping the track anchored while letting the MCs shine through with their nifty wordplay and complicated rhythms. The flow is dizzying, managing to cram monumental words into small spaces without running out of steam. As the beat picks up toward the end, so does the energy and urgency, until a towering wall of sound blows one off.
I miss this kind of boomy, bass-heavy hip-hop, as it seems for quite a while now that the old-school sounds had been left in the wake of change. “Situations” from Bloodlin3 have been a breath of clean air; it’s just what I’ve been hoping to hear again. This vintage brand of hip-hop they bring feels nostalgic and innovative all at the same time.
This is one of the best old-school-style releases I have listened to in a long while. Be it from effortless bars to the beat knocking harder than any in recent memory, “Situations” instantly took me back to the golden era of hip-hop. At the same time, it feels clean and current for today.
If you’ve been yearning for that classic boom-bap sound as I have, I highly recommend throwing on Bloodlin3’s new single on streaming sites. This is hip-hop as it used to be and should be again—don’t miss out!