Kazi Magazine
Music news, reviews, and digital covers across hip-hop, rock, pop, and electro. Independent journalism and artist spotlights from Kazi Magazine.
- That Mexican OT CUCUY Review: A Halloween Album Built on a Tejano Boogeyman
That Mexican OT CUCUY review: 17 songs in 44 minutes, named for the boogeyman of Tejano folklore. One engineer and a tight circle of producers give it a clear spine. The horror idea mostly stays on the poster.
- Maliibu Miitch Sailor Goon Tracklist: 10 Songs With Rich The Kid, Lady London and Ms Hustle
Maliibu Miitch's debut album Sailor Goon is out now with 10 songs and three guest spots: P.C. on "BBM," Rich The Kid on "Do A Trick" and Lady London and Ms Hustle on the closer "Been Wavy." Here is the full tracklist, the singles that led to it and what she says about the title.
- Who Produced Sampa the Great's Nu Zamrock? Cadenza, Solomon Moyo and Sampa Herself
Sampa the Great's Nu Zamrock was executive produced by Sampa and Cadenza, per Apple Music's song credits. Here's every producer and feature on all 16 tracks, plus the WITCH family story behind the album.
- Doechii's "LOCK JAW" Swamp Session: The Credits Behind All Three So Far
Doechii's "LOCK JAW" is the third Swamp Session in 18 days, after "BOMBS" and "CATWOMAN." The YouTube credits name Kal Banx as a producer on both. "LOCK JAW" lists no music producer. Here's the series so far and what she's said about the album.
- Jessie Reyez Releases "SOFTER," Sets A LITTLE VENGEANCE Deluxe With Samara Cyn for Nov. 6
Jessie Reyez's "SOFTER" is out now. It leads into the November 6 deluxe of A LITTLE VENGEANCE, which adds eight bonus tracks including "FOR SIXXX IN THE MORNIN" with rapper Samara Cyn, ahead of a tour that starts November 3.
- cieratherapper's "Rhinestones and Camo" Brings Grit and Glamour Out of Kentucky
cieratherapper's new single "Rhinestones and Camo" is out now, an ode to her Kentucky roots per RCA's release. Where the Morehead rapper's Trappalachia sound comes from, and the hick-hop history it walks into.
- Melly Mike TIME4WAR Review: The Credits Tell the Real Story
Melly Mike TIME4WAR review: eight songs in under 18 minutes, five of them new, built around the 2024 song that made him. The credits show two different records sharing one sleeve, and the new one has yet to match the old one.
- Boldy James and Real Bad Man's Strobelight: Tracklist, Guests and the Producer Story
Boldy James and Real Bad Man's Strobelight is out on Bandcamp: 12 tracks, all produced by Real Bad Man, with Wiki, El Cousteau, Grip and Taj. Here's the tracklist, every guest, and how the LA producer and clothing brand built it from leftover trilogy songs.
- Erick the Architect Sets AFTERBURNER for Jan. 22, Shares "YERR" With Ghostface Killah
Erick the Architect's second solo album, AFTERBURNER, is due Jan. 22, 2027, on Mass Appeal. The new single is "YERR," a three-borough New York link-up with Ghostface Killah and Fergie Baby. Date, label and tracklist details, checked on Apple Music.
- Megan Thee Stallion's "Thin Ice" Is Climbing, and Billboard Has the Numbers
Megan Thee Stallion's Limp Bizkit-sampling "Thin Ice" went wide on Oct. 24. Billboard reports it grew from 98,000 streams that Saturday to 247,000 on Monday, "a 152% gain in all." The sample, the Tina Snow roots and what comes next.
- The Standard: 10 Hip-Hop Artists Shaping Culture Right Now (November 2026)
The Standard, selected by Odessa Vance: 10 hip-hop artists shaping culture right now, from Westside Gunn and Doechii to BunnaB and Yakiyn. An editor's choice, not a score, each with a dated moment from the last 60 days. Nobody pays to be included, and no label, sponsor or partner has a say.
- New Music Friday: BKTHERULA, Kaliii, Nettspend and BigXthaPlug Lead October 30
New Music Friday, October 30: BKTHERULA's N5ON on Warner leads the week, with Kaliii's Wit 3 iii's, evilgiane and Slimesito's EVILSLIME 2, Curren$y, Rome Streetz and Harry Fraud's "The Telethon," Nettspend's Virginia Creeper and BigXthaPlug's guest list.
- Young Nudy 'Just Doin Me' Tracklist: 16 Songs With 21 Savage, JID and Fatt Smaxk
Young Nudy's Just Doin Me is out: 16 songs in 54 minutes, with 21 Savage, JID and Fatt Smaxk the only guests. Here's the full tracklist, why Apple Music counts 19, and the writers who show up most in the credits.
- Certified: October 2026's RIAA Gold, Platinum and Diamond Plaques in Hip-Hop and R&B
Cole Ashby's monthly Certified column: all 60 hip-hop and R&B plaques RIAA dated October 1 through 23, 2026, from Drake's Diamond run on October 23 to a Nas Gold plaque nearly 24 years after release, with every entry linked to RIAA.
- Cole's Pick: Chance the Rapper's Two "Blessings" Plaques Close Out Coloring Book's Tenth Year
On October 7, 2026, RIAA certified both versions of "Blessings" from Chance the Rapper's independent Coloring Book, one Platinum and one Gold, four days before his tenth-anniversary tour ended. Cole Ashby on why they are the Certified pick of the month.
- NYC Rappers to Watch: The KAZI Heat Chart, Updated Mondays
KAZI Heat ranks the 10 New York hip-hop artists moving fastest right now, scored on official video views, Spotify listener trends, press and new releases. Updated every Monday, with each edition's window dated on the page.
- Dominic Fike 'HOW TO QUIT SMOKING' Tracklist: All 15 Songs and Every Feature
Dominic Fike's HOW TO QUIT SMOKING is out Friday, October 30, on Columbia. Here's the full 15-song tracklist from Spotify's pre-release page, with every feature: Danny Brown, Grace Ives, Tay-K, Emma Ogier and four more. Producer credits haven't been posted yet.
- Wiz Khalifa 'Cool' Album: Release Date, 'The Calm' and His 10K Projects Deal
Wiz Khalifa's album Cool is due November 13, his first since signing with 10K Projects. Here's the release date, what's on the tracklist so far, who wrote and produced "The Calm," and why the copyright line still reads Taylor Gang.
- Meshuggah Tour 2027: Dates, Texas Shows and Friday On-Sale for 'The Forty-Year Anomaly'
Meshuggah's Forty-Year Anomaly tour with Testament and Blood Incantation runs Feb. 12 to May 14, 2027, with Houston, San Antonio and Irving stops. General on-sale is Friday, Oct. 30, at 10 a.m. local. Every date, plus the presale times.
- KAZI's 2027 Artists to Watch
KAZI's own picks for 2027: ten artists across major labels and independents, led by Arlington's Yakiyn and the Third Coast, then out to Mumbai, Calgary, East LA, Dublin and Antioch. The label, the release and why we rate each one.
- GiGi FM Announces Debut Album 'Ventus in Anima' and Shares "Ascenda"
GiGi FM, the Berlin-based French-Italian DJ and producer, releases her debut album Ventus in Anima on January 29, 2027 via her label Sea~rène. She wrote, produced and performed every track. Here's who she is, the full credits and the first single, "Ascenda."
- evilgiane and Slimesito Set EVILSLIME 2 for Friday With "Georgia State"
EVILSLIME 2, the new evilgiane and Slimesito project, is out Friday, October 30. Lead single "Georgia State" was produced by evilgiane and EERA. Here are the credits so far, the video, and a quick look back at the 2024 original.
- Ayra Starr's 'Ms. Paper' Video Puts Theodora in the Spotlight
Ayra Starr's official video for 'Ms. Paper' featuring Theodora went up today, October 28, on AyraStarrVEVO. The song is from the album Starrgirl, out August 14 on Mavin and Republic Records. Here is who Theodora is, from Neptune to 'KONGOLESE SOUS BBL', and why her name is the one to remember.
- JAY-Z Will Headline the Apple Music Super Bowl LXI Halftime Show
JAY-Z will headline the Apple Music Super Bowl LXI Halftime Show on February 14, 2027 at SoFi Stadium, with Roc Nation producing. Here's how to watch, who's behind the show and what Roger Goodell said about the request he made when Roc Nation took the job.
- The Flaming Lips Announce 'The Teardrop Throbs' and Two-Night Album Shows for 2027
Tickets for The Flaming Lips' 2027 two-night album shows go on sale Friday, October 30 at 10 AM local. Here are the dates, the presale windows, the two-night format and the full tracklist for 'The Teardrop Throbs,' out January 22 on Third Man Records.
- Gabe P Turned a Borrowed Room Into Rap's Discovery Engine
In 2018 Gabe P started out in a small, borrowed room with one interview a week. On the Radar now has a Hot 100 entry, a self-distributed label, a Forbes 30 Under 30 nod and crews filming from Brooklyn to Brazil. How a radio kid from Long Island built a rap discovery pipeline.
- Laci Kaye Booth Love Letters to Texas Tour: Houston Date and Presale
Laci Kaye Booth's Love Letters to Texas tour plays Dallas, Houston, The Woodlands and Austin from February 10 to 13, with Houston's Bronze Peacock on the 11th. Artist presale opened today at 10 AM local, and general on-sale for most dates is Friday. Austin is already on sale.
- DIIV's 'ZIRP!' Was Produced by A. G. Cook. Here's What the Credits Say So Far
A. G. Cook produced ZIRP!, DIIV's fifth album, out October 30 on Fantasy Records. Here's every credit confirmed so far, what Cook and Zachary Cole Smith have said about the sessions, and the three singles you can hear now. The full credits arrive with the album.
- brakence 'marroW' Tour 2027: Every Date, Houston Included, and Wednesday's Presale
brakence takes marroW on the road in 2027: 31 North American dates from San Diego on March 4 to Los Angeles on April 21, including Austin, Dallas and Houston, then 14 in the UK and Europe. Artist presale opens Wednesday, October 28, at 10 AM local, with general on-sale Friday.
- Eric Prydz Brings His Fall Tour to Houston, Dallas and Austin This November
Eric Prydz plays Ductwork in Houston on November 7, a 21+ night that starts at 9 PM. SILO Dallas comes the night before, and Austin's Concourse Project follows on November 21. Here are the Texas dates, the opener and the new Pryda music he's teasing.