Happy July! I hope your summer is off to a great start! This is particularly my favorite time of year. Aside from it being my birthday last week, summer is where all the good vibes transpire; and of course, good music! Though we don’t have a song of the summer just yet, here are some records in the running below!

Alejandro Blanco – Calm Before The Storm

Earlier this year, Alejandro Blanco dropped his sixth studio project, Like Last Time. The 7-track effort served as a follow-up to his August 2021 project, A3, in which he recently provided visual treatment to the album cut, “Change Me” featuring Nappy Jones. As we are now halfway through 2022, Blanco returns with his latest offering, Calm Before The Storm.

The 5-track EP contains a lone feature from Enemy Of the Fake and is easily my favorite project to come out this year.

Vasjan – ‘Gangsta’ ft. Wave Capone

Though he’s known as a promoter around the state, Vasjan has been coming into his own as a rapper. After performing his “Whap Whap” freestyle on CTNT TV, the Boston native returns with Wave Capone on his latest offering, “Gangsta.” Sampling Kehlani‘s “Gangsta,” Vasjan reminds us just how dripped out he is while Wave lets us know why they call him a Gangsta.

Watch below.

Illy Dee – All Night

As his team prepares for the release of his Bully & The Beast mixtape, Illy Dee releases his brand new single, “All Night.” Serving as a follow-up to his March release, “Last Day In,” his latest effort switches things up, as Illy Dee is trying to catch a vibe and make the most of what seems to be a long night.

The new single comes after fellow HSM members 7981 Kal, G Fredo and Hamma Thang pleaded guilty to RICO conspiracy. According to the Department of Justice, Dee was previously charged with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. However, it has not been revealed where he stands.

Stream “All Night” below.

Back in June 2020, 31 members of the alleged street gang, NOB ( an abbreviation for Norton, Olney and Barry streets in Dorchester, MA.), were arrested on numerous charges, including racketeering conspiracy (RICO), violent crimes in aid of racketeering, drug trafficking, firearms charges and more.

Among the 31 arrested were HSM rappers: 7981 Kal, G Fredo, and Hamma Thang.

According to the U.S. District Attorney Office via the Department of Justice, 7981 Kal, born Kelvin Barros, and G Fredo, born Michael Brandao, were charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, while Hamma Thang, born Samael Mathieu, was charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.

On Thursday, June 30, 2022, all three artists were convicted on their aforementioned charges. According to NBC Boston, ten of the 31 members of NOB that were arrested “all pleaded guilty to various offenses in recent weeks, with the final two defendants pleading guilty last week.”

The defendants are scheduled to be sentenced between September and November of 2022.

According to the Department of Justice, “the charges of RICO conspiracy and committing violent crimes in aid of racketeering each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000; charges of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $1 million.”

Last month, 7981 Kal’s team released the video to his single, “G-Code.”

Boston’s very own — Chelley Marie (500 degrees), is back with another single! Make sure your bass is fully boosted because she’s here to remind you that she’s the hot girl dripped in all things ‘Ice‘ cold. With some chains you could see shining from afar, you already know there’s always a pair of wandering eyes on her.

‘Long hair ass fat, they want to hit this
bad b-tch on they wish list like it’s Christmas
you ain’t talking bout no f-cking money gotta dismiss
chain glistening, they see the ice from a distance’

She’s definitely one to be invested in but treads lightly: the thin lines between admiration and jealousy are not that hard for her to detect! Chelley issues a warning out to those who’ve been a little heavy-handed with her name. In short, whatever you think is tea, you can bet that she’ll bring back something scorching hot.

‘Acting shady but I made you hoes confident
Hating on me is just boosting my confidence‘

You really can’t outdo the do-er!

This appears to be Chelley’s first track of the year following her 2021 releases called ‘Myself‘ and ‘Phone Tag.’ Check out the music video for ‘Myself’ below:

Hopefully, she has some more tricks up her sleeve!

Stream ‘Ice’ below!