Mr. Benjamins

AYCE Opens A New Chapter With Opening 1 A Power Anthem For Rebirth And Resilience

Every now and then, a song drops that feels less like a track and more like a mission statement. AYCE, the rising Ireland-based artist, has done exactly that with “Opening 1”, released on August 8, 2025. Think of it as the opening credits to a new era—an unapologetic declaration of self-belief, fueled by sharp lyricism, alt-pop melodies, and that unapologetic “villain era” energy that Gen Z has practically trademarked.

The Vision Behind Opening 1

AYCE himself describes the track as “the start of my power-fantasy arc—an anthem about rebirth, resilience, and coming back swinging harder than ever.” And honestly, he’s not wrong. From the jump, the beat hits with fiery summer energy, making it the kind of soundtrack that could fuel a late-night drive, a high-intensity workout, or just that internal pep talk before taking on the world.

Thematically, it’s about burning away weaknesses and leveling up. It’s not just music—it’s motivation therapy disguised as a banger. You hear it once, and suddenly your to-do list doesn’t look so scary.

The Sound The Juice WRLD Effect Meets Hypnotic Energy

Listening to “Opening 1” instantly gave me strong Juice WRLD vibes—not in imitation, but in the way AYCE balances energy with emotion. The track feels both high-octane and hypnotizing, like being hyped up and calmed down at the same time. That’s not easy to pull off, but AYCE manages it effortlessly.

The bars hit with precision, while the melodic hooks wrap the track in a smooth, replay-worthy finish. His vocal delivery carries passion and raw emotion, making the lyrics about self-belief and inner strength feel that much more real. There’s nothing cookie-cutter about this—AYCE is carving his lane.

Why It Resonates

Hip hop and pop have always thrived on stories of resilience—think 50 Cent’s Get Rich or Die Tryin’, Kanye’s Stronger, or more recently, Latto’s unapologetic come-up narratives. AYCE taps into that same spirit but with a fresh, modern twist that merges rap, alt-pop, and R&B sensibilities.

The chorus and harmonies make it stick in your head, while the verses give it enough grit to keep it grounded. This isn’t just playlist filler—this is the kind of song that fans will quote in captions, blast in gyms, and scream at festivals.

The Reception

On first listen, I gave this one a solid 10/10. No hesitation. It’s engaging, inspiring, and polished without losing its raw edge. AYCE clearly put thought into making “Opening 1” not just a song, but a statement of intent.

As I wrote in my Groover feedback:

“Your vocal delivery is a standout. The passion and emotion in your voice give the track real depth, making the message hit harder. The harmonies are beautifully done, wrapping the track in a smooth, polished feel that makes it replay-worthy. For me, this is a solid 10 out of 10—no debate.”

The Bigger Picture

AYCE hails from Ireland, but his sound is universal. He blends hip-hop, pop, and R&B with a cinematic flair, making his music accessible across cultures. In a global scene where artists like Rema, Benson, and Juice WRLD have blurred genre lines, AYCE is stepping into that same crossover potential.

And let’s be real: the world needs more tracks like this. In 2025, with everything feeling like chaos, a motivational anthem that makes you feel alive again is worth more than gold.

Final Word

If “Opening 1” is just the beginning, then AYCE’s arc is about to get very interesting. This track isn’t just music—it’s a manifesto for resilience and self-belief, wrapped in infectious summer energy.

To my readers: stream this joint, add it to your gym playlist, blast it in your car, and when life tries to knock you down—remember AYCE already gave you the soundtrack to swing back harder.

👉 Check out AYCE on Spotify, SoundCloud, and Instagram.
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👉 Artists, submit your music for coverage via Groover.

And don’t be selfish—share this article with your crew. Somebody you know needs this energy right now.

🔥 Mr. Benjamins
for This Is Hip Hop HQ

Mr. Benjamins

Seimo Bridges Kinshasa and Paris With Hypnotic Afropop Anthem Tokokoma

When music feels like both a sigh of lamentation and a toast to life’s resilience, you know you’ve got something rare. That’s exactly what Paris-based, Kinshasa-born artist Seimo has delivered in his latest single “Tokokoma”, released July 18, 2025.

The title itself, which translates to “we will arrive” or “we will get there” in Lingala, sets the tone: no matter the difficulties, the journey continues, and the destination remains in sight. It’s a mantra disguised as melody.

A Sound Between Two Worlds

Seimo isn’t just making Afropop—he’s building bridges. Drawing inspiration from legends and contemporaries like Burna Boy, Rema, Diamond Platnumz, Tiwa Savage, and Master KG, he carves out a sound that’s unmistakably global while deeply rooted in African rhythm.

The hypnotic groove of “Tokokoma” carries a duality: relaxing enough to lull your stress away, yet pulsating enough to drag you straight onto the dance floor. It’s the sound of Kinshasa and Paris in conversation, a cultural dialogue wrapped in vibrant percussion and smooth vocals.

Review from This Is Hip Hop HQ

In a review for This Is Hip Hop HQ, curator and writer Mr. Benjamins captured the essence of the single:

“This track carries a beautifully relaxing, laid-back, and hypnotic vibe, yet it’s still engaging enough to pull people straight onto the dance floor. It feels like a lamentation wrapped in celebration—the aura instantly reminded me of Diamond Platnumz, which is no small compliment. The simple chorus–verse structure works perfectly here—it’s clean, memorable, and doesn’t overcomplicate the listener’s experience. I’m giving this one a solid 10/10.”

That balance—pain and joy, simplicity and sophistication—is what makes “Tokokoma” such a compelling listen.

Seimo’s Artistic Vision

Born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and now rooted in France, Seimo writes, composes, and performs in his native Lingala. His project is more than music; it’s a cultural bridge, a refusal to let genre or geography define him. With every release, he expands Afropop’s borders, proving it can be both intimate and universal.

Why It Matters

Afropop has steadily climbed from regional pride to global dominance, and artists like Seimo are the reason why. “Tokokoma” isn’t just another single—it’s a statement of perseverance, unity, and creative freedom. For listeners navigating their own struggles, it’s both a soundtrack and a source of strength.

Final Word

Seimo has found the sweet spot between vibe and message, crafting a track that deserves space in your daily rotation. With “Tokokoma”, he’s not just reminding us that we’ll arrive—he’s making sure the journey sounds unforgettable.

🔗 Stream Tokokoma on Spotify.
📲 Follow Seimo on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.
👉 Stay connected with This Is Hip Hop HQ on Facebook for more global hip-hop and Afropop coverage.
🎤 Artists: Want your track reviewed? Submit via Groover.

Mr. Benjamins

One Who May Ascend Drops Hard-Hitting Anthem How To Survive

Hip-hop has always been about survival—turning pain into poetry, struggle into soundtracks, and chaos into clarity. Few underground artists embody that ethos as fiercely as One who May Ascend (OMA), the Texas-born lyricist whose latest single “How To Survive” (released April 26, 2024) is already catching fire among curators, tastemakers, and true-school fans alike.

This isn’t just another motivational rap track—it’s a survival manual over booming production. With hooks that burrow into your brain and verses sharp enough to cut glass, OMA transforms his personal trials into universal lessons. Think of it as therapy with bass, a sermon wrapped in snares.

A Survival Guide in 16 Bars

From the first drop, “How To Survive” grips you with its raw honesty. The record blends gritty realism with a relentless determination to rise above life’s daily wars. The delivery? Charismatic, passionate, and dripping with urgency. It’s the kind of track that doesn’t just make you nod your head—it makes you sit up straighter, rethinking your own hustle.

Critics have already drawn comparisons to Hopsin, citing OMA’s sharp wordplay and unapologetic tone. “Each time your track hits my speakers, it instantly gives me that Hopsin energy—sharp, thought-provoking, and unapologetically real,” wrote reviewer Mr. Benjamins for This Is Hip Hop HQ.

Beyond the performance, the production deserves a nod. Clean, punchy, and engineered with surgical precision, the mix makes every bar hit harder.

The Story Behind the Artist

OMA is no rookie. He’s been sharpening his blade in freestyle battles, showcases, and underground stages for years—performing everywhere from the Corpus Christi Music Walk to the Dallas Music Conference, even sharing stages with Kevin Abstract/BROCKHAMPTON, Travis Porter, and Gorilla Zoe. His catalog stretches from conscious bangers like “Talking To My Demons” to unapologetic heaters like “LITTY.”

But what sets him apart isn’t just longevity. It’s philosophy. Describing himself as a “cosmic entity and warrior-poet,” OMA approaches hip-hop as a tool for education, survival, and connection. His bio reads like scripture for the underground—perseverance, excellence, self-awareness, and turning hopelessness into hope.

Why This Song Matters Now

Let’s keep it real: the world feels heavier than ever. Bills stack up, headlines scream chaos, and too many people are stuck in survival mode instead of actually living. “How To Survive” doesn’t sugarcoat that reality—it speaks directly to it, offering both empathy and energy.

That’s what makes OMA’s single timely. It’s not a fantasy flex anthem. It’s for people trying to figure out how to pay rent, stay sane, and still dream big. Music like this doesn’t just entertain; it restores.

Final Word

“How To Survive” is a standout in the growing library of unsigned underground gems. It’s proof that hip-hop doesn’t need major-label polish to deliver impact. With his lyrical depth, commanding delivery, and refusal to dilute his message, One who May Ascend is climbing fast—and he’s bringing listeners with him.

If you’re building a playlist for motivation, resilience, or just to feel like someone else gets it, this track deserves a slot. Consider it fuel for the fight.

🔗 Stream How To Survive on Spotify.
📲 Follow One Who May Ascend on Instagram, YouTube, and SoundCloud.
👉 Stay locked with This Is Hip Hop HQ on Facebook for more underground heat.
🎤 Artists: Submit your music for reviews and promo via Groover.

Mr. Benjamins

One Who May Ascend Battles His Shadows with Talking To My Demons

Hip-hop has always been a confessional booth for the streets, a courtroom for the soul, and sometimes, a therapy session disguised as a banger. Enter One who May Ascend (OMA), the Texas-bred warrior-poet who isn’t afraid to lace up his gloves and swing against his own shadows. His latest offering, Talking To My Demons (released March 8, 2024), is less a track and more a sonic exorcism — raw, unflinching, and brutally honest.

From the jump, Talking To My Demons pulls you into an introspective odyssey. Every bar drips with the kind of truth you don’t usually hear outside late-night journal entries or court depositions where the stakes are life or death. The beat knocks, but it doesn’t just live in your speakers; it sets up camp in your chest. This isn’t party music. It’s survival music.

A Mirror and a Battle Cry

As I noted in my review for This Is Hip Hop HQ, the song scores a 10/10 — not because it plays safe, but because it dares to balance replay value with depth. OMA’s pen game is sharp, his cadence carries echoes of Hopsin’s fearless charisma, and the song structure even evokes shades of Eminem’s The Monster featuring Rihanna. The chorus lingers long after the track ends, making the whole thing feel like both a mirror for your inner battles and a battle cry to keep swinging.

The Man Behind the Music

For those just catching up: OMA isn’t your run-of-the-mill underground rapper spamming SoundCloud links. His résumé is heavier than most signed artists’ portfolios. He’s rocked stages at Texas A&M Corpus Christi’s Apollo showcase, the Corpus Christi Music Walk, Dallas Music Conference, RAW Austin, and even opened for names like Kevin Abstract, BROCKHAMPTON, Travis Porter, Gorilla Zoe, and Dub-O of EST 19XX. His accolades include the Scholastic Silver Key award for poetry and placements at Austin’s iconic MLK Block Party.

But what separates him from the noise is his purpose. He calls himself a cosmic entity and warrior-poet, someone locked in an “eternal campaign against ignorance” while chasing self-mastery. That’s not branding fluff — you can hear it in every word he spits.

Why This Track Matters

Hip-hop right now is flooded with microwave singles — catchy for a week, disposable by Friday. Talking To My Demons isn’t built for the algorithm. It’s built for the soul. It’s for anyone who’s ever had that 3 a.m. stare-down with their own mind and decided to turn pain into fuel.

This is therapy you can nod your head to. And honestly, the culture needs more of it.

The Verdict

With Talking To My Demons, OMA proves he’s not just rapping for streams — he’s building a legacy brick by brick, scar by scar. Expect more heat from him soon; if his catalog (How You Really Feel, Clarity, See the Light, LITTY) is any indication, this is just another level in his climb.

OMA is unsigned, unfiltered, and unstoppable. For artists reading this: take notes. For fans? Add this track to your playlist before you miss the wave.

👉 Stream Talking To My Demons on Spotify now.
👉 Follow This Is Hip Hop HQ on Facebook and share this piece with friends.
👉 Artists, if you’re ready to get your music heard, submit via Groover.

Mr. Benjamins

One Who May Ascend Strikes Back with How You Really Feel

Hip-hop was never meant to be polite. It was born as a mirror, a megaphone, and at times, a weapon. One Who May Ascend (OMA) has taken that ethos and sharpened it into a blade with his track How You Really Feel, a raw and relentless anthem that cuts straight through the smoke and mirrors of fake love and quiet betrayal.

Released back on June 16, 2020, the song didn’t come into the world with the push of a major label machine, but with the force of an artist who refuses to water down his truth. Four years later, the track is still making waves—reminding listeners that honesty in rap doesn’t expire, it echoes.

Raw Energy with Purpose

From the opening bars, How You Really Feel is unapologetic. It’s laced with grit and built for listeners who crave sharp lyricism over microwaved clichés. The flow recalls the high-voltage delivery of artists like Hopsin—unafraid to stare you dead in the eye while speaking truths most avoid. But unlike tracks that lean only on shock value, OMA’s pen goes deeper, pressing the listener to confront their own masks.

The beat itself has a groovy, gangster-party vibe, the kind of instrumental that pulls you into a head nod while the bars challenge you to pause mid-turn-up and self-reflect. It’s that duality—club-ready but conscious—that makes this record special.

A Critic’s Lens

As I noted in my official review for This Is Hip Hop HQ, this isn’t just another underground drop. The execution is clean, the charisma is undeniable, and the replay value is heavy. DJs can spin this in rotation, and lyric heads can sit down and dissect it bar-for-bar. For that reason, I stamped How You Really Feel with a solid 10/10—rare company in an era where even mainstream projects sound disposable.

OMA doesn’t just rap. He confronts. He asks the questions that expose the fakes smiling in your face while plotting behind screens. He drags betrayal out into the light. That’s not just hip-hop—that’s therapy with a snarl.

The Man Behind the Mic

One Who May Ascend isn’t some random SoundCloud upload lost in the shuffle. His résumé runs deep:

  • Performances at Texas A&M’s “APOLLO,” the Corpus Christi Art Walk, Dallas Music Conference, and even showcases tied to SXSW.
  • Opened for acts like Kevin Abstract/BROCKHAMPTON, Travis Porter, Gorilla Zoe, and EST 19XX’s Dub-O.
  • Won national recognition with the Scholastic Silver Key Award for poetry.

He’s a warrior-poet by design, blending lived struggle with cosmic ambition. His music is equal parts personal therapy and cultural commentary, bound together with the hope of pushing the human community toward a better tomorrow.

In his own words, OMA’s mission is a campaign against ignorance in all forms—a battle to ascend not only for himself, but to lift others with him.

Why This Track Still Matters

In 2025, How You Really Feel resonates more than ever. Social media facades are louder, betrayal wears filters, and “support” often comes with an asterisk. OMA saw this years ago and put it into rhyme. Now, the track serves as a reminder: energy doesn’t lie, and masks eventually crack.

For hip-hop purists and fans of fearless lyricism, this record belongs in your rotation. For DJs curating playlists that balance vibes with substance, it’s a must-add. And for anyone who’s ever felt the sting of fake support, this track is the soundtrack to your unfiltered thoughts.

🔥 Stream How You Really Feel on [Spotify] once the album link is live.
📩 Artists who want to push their music like OMA can submit via Groover.
📢 Don’t keep this to yourself—share with your people and follow This Is Hip Hop HQ for more real music coverage.

Mr. Benjamins

June Arc’s Hackysack A Queer Anthem That Rewrites Hip Hop’s Rules

June Arc flips the script with “HACKYSACK” a queer anthem that won’t be silenced

Hip hop has always been about speaking truth to power. Brooklyn’s June Arc is taking that ethos and cranking it past eleven on their bold new single HACKYSACK, released August 8, 2025. This isn’t just music—it’s a declaration. A queer anthem built to demand inclusion in a culture that too often sidelines voices outside the norm.

The Heart of HACKYSACK

“HACKYSACK” is unapologetically queer. It’s a bisexual anthem that refuses to conform to the safe, polished images so often forced on marginalized artists. June Arc doesn’t shy away—they attack the false narratives with affirming lyrics delivered in raw, unfiltered energy.

As June Arc says:

“Queerness in popular culture is often showcased very one dimensionally. This song gives a voice to the less represented queers whose gender, sexuality, and presentation doesn’t fit the standard often accepted ideal.”

What you get is both celebratory and confrontational—a song that’s joyful, yet rough around the edges. No sanitization. No compromise.

Rewriting Traditions

The track comes paired with an interlude bluntly titled “fuck you (katy perry) (interlude)”, a deliberate nod to hip hop’s sex-skit legacy. Historically, skits like these (think The Notorious B.I.G. on Ready to Die) often leaned into misogyny, homophobia, and caricatured intimacy. June Arc flips that tradition inside out.

Here, queer intimacy is spoken, shown, and felt on equal ground: honest, safe, vulnerable. June Arc calls it “the first of its kind on a rap record” where intimacy among queer folks isn’t exoticized—but normalized.

The Sound: Clash and Comfort

From the first beat, “HACKYSACK” hits with intensity. It’s fierce, charismatic—but also has moments of calm, softness, a pull-in. That tension between confrontation and solace keeps you in your seat.

Comparisons are inevitable—but June Arc holds their own: raw like Hopsin, narrative-rich like NF, yet entirely personal. The listener isn’t just watching a show—they’re invited in.

Who Is June Arc

Based in Brooklyn, June Arc is more than a rapper. Singer, songwriter, producer, percussionist—they wear all hats. Their work pulls in textures from many places, always aiming toward vulnerability and truth.

They also lead the future-pop band June Arc. Their debut album List of Things That Move dropped the same day as “HACKYSACK.” That dual release says something: music isn’t just about singles or albums—it’s about the total story.

Why This Moves Us

Hip hop’s boundaries are stretching. What once prized rigid codes of masculinity is being challenged with urgency. Artists like June Arc aren’t just dropping tracks—they’re expanding the map of what it means to be hip hop, queer, human.

“HACKYSACK” is more than identity work. It’s about honesty. Intimacy. Smashing the walls that box voices in. June Arc’s mission: for hip hop to grow, to be inclusive, expressive, fearless—and to keep changing the world.

📌 Listen to “HACKYSACK” here: Album Link

📌 Follow June Arc on Spotify | Instagram | Facebook

📌 Keep up with the culture: This Is Hip Hop HQ

📌 Submit your music for coverage via Groover (referral influencer link)

That’s the mission. That’s the movement. And HACKYSACK is its soundtrack.

📌 Listen to “HACKYSACK” here: Album Link
📌 Follow Brahm Masla on Spotify | Instagram | Facebook
📌 Keep up with the culture: This Is Hip Hop HQ
📌 Submit your music for coverage via Groover