As the Milwaukee music scene continues to expand, new artists are popping off online daily. This scene is growing exponentially, and it is receiving exposure nationally like it never has before. It seems like every week, a new Milwaukee musician is going viral on some social media platform and gaining traction online. Apps like Instagram and TikTok have done wonders for the Milwaukee music scene, as they are helping expand the music being made in this city to horizons that did not seem possible even a few years ago. One artist that has been starting to make major waves online in the last couple of months is EricWithTheGlockInHisSock. 2023 has been a big year for Eric, as he has had multiple songs start to hit big online, garnering him more and more national exposure every day. EricWithTheGlockInHisSock has not been putting music on streaming sites for long, but he sure has made an impact in a short amount of time. He started uploading his new music on Spotify back in 2020, having released 5 singles in that year. After releasing three more singles in 2021, he took 2022 off and worked on honing his craft. He did not drop anything new until March of 2023 when he released his track “2K23 (Freestyle).” This is one of the tracks that has spent much of the year trending on various social media sites, putting him on the map as one of the most exciting artists to watch in Milwaukee. EricWithTheGlockInHisSock has stayed prolific with his output throughout the rest of the year, having released four more singles this year since “2K23 (Freestyle)” came out. Below, I wanted to highlight the aforementioned “2k23(Freestyle)” and “Hit The Flo’,” as they are two songs that have really done numbers recently; these tracks have helped put EricWithTheGlockInHisSock on the map as someone to watch this year. Please let me know in the comments below how you feel about EricWithTheGlockInHisSock and his new music, and also comment the names of some other up-and-coming artists that I should check out next!

As I said in the introduction, “2k23 (Freestyle)” was EricWithTheGlockInHisSock’s first single of 2023, having come out back in March. This song has been helping Eric attract a lot of attention to his music, having done well on social media sites and having been featured on various radio stations throughout the city of Milwaukee. It seems like the city has latched on to this track, and it is easy to see why. Although “2k23 (Freestyle)” is only 1:26, it still packs a punch for how short it is. It is a dark, Melodic Trap banger with such a viscous energy to it. The melody for this track is provided by a gloomy piano riff that is complemented by fat, harsh synths. This melody is put on a slow, bass-heavy Trap beat that will get anyone’s blood pumping when it comes on. I love how much the beat pounds on this track, as it absolutely pumps me up when it comes on. EricWithTheGlockInHisSock’s vocal performance on this track is pretty soft and subdued, which contrasts the menacing quality of the instrumental. The fact that his vocal performance is so laid-back and low-key makes the song feel even more gritty, as these vocals enhance the beat and help it become even more intimidating. The vocals are delivered in a way that gives them a sing-a-long quality, making it easy to see why so many people are attracted to this song. “2K23 (Freestyle)” would be a perfect workout or pre-game playlist kind of song because of how much energy it can give to the listener when it comes on due to how tough of a sound it has. “Hit the Flo’,” which was released at the end of May, is another song from EricWithTheGlockInHisSock that has been doing the rounds online and within the city of Milwaukee this summer. Like “2k23 (Freestyle),”, this track has become a staple on local radio stations over the last couple of months. This track has a lot brighter and lighter a sound and feeling than “2K23 (Freestyle).” This is a highly saturated and high-energy upbeat Trap banger that feels perfect for any dance floor. “Hit The Flo’” is driven by a melody with a colorful, twinkling element provided by various synths that have a video-game quality. I could see this melody being a part of the start menu for some Play Station game that came out back in the 1990s. This intense and shimmering melody is put on a fast, bass-heavy Trap beat that matches the chaotic energy of the melody. I enjoy EricWithTheGlockInHisSock’s vocal performance on this track. His floaty, high-pitched vocals sit on the melody nicely and make the song so fun and free. It is easy to see why ‘Hit The Flo’” has been getting clubs all around Milwaukee jumping this summer, because this is the kind of song that will provide so much positive energy to any setting it is played in. Both “2K23 (Freestyle)” and “Hit The Flo’” are awesome songs that show the diversity and intricacy in EricWithTheGlockInHisSock’s artistry. I can not wait to see what EricWithTheGlockInHisSock does next because he is a super-talented artist with the potential to be the next big Hip Hop artist to come out of Milwaukee.