If you are someone who is in tune with the Milwaukee Hip Hop scene, you probably know how eclectic it is. Although most people around the country associated Milwaukee with a certain type of Drill music, I would say that the Milwaukee Hip Hop scene is as diverse as anywhere. There are very talented artists making music for all kinds of Hip Hop fans in this city; all you have to do is dive in and pay attention a little bit to see that there is so much interesting Hip Hop music to love being made here. An artist that I came across recently who totally stands out because of the uniqueness of their sound is Richie Buz. He makes Rap music that feels classic and current at the same time. There are elements of Richie Buz’s music that can appeal to people who are fans of old school Hip Hop but can also appeal to the younger generation as well. Richie Buz has been honing his craft for almost 15 years. He first got inspired to start rapping by watching the BET Cyphers of the early 2010s, and he has been growing as an artist ever since. Richie Buz first started to pop off a bit in 2022 when his single ‘98 Jordan’ started doing numbers online. Richie Buz followed up this success with a mini single EP called Enigma in 2023, which contains three very good tracks that prove Richie Buz was not a flash in the pan and is one of Milwaukee’s many gifted Hip Hop artists on the rise. Richie Buz started 2024 strong with two new singles, ‘Nigerian Winter’ and ‘9:30,’ both of which were released back in January. Below I wanted to talk about these new singles from Richie Buz and explain why he is an artist you should be checking out if you have not yet. Please let me know in the comments below what you think of Richie Buz and his new singles, and also comment the names of any other rising artists you think I should check out!

‘Nigerian Winter’ was released right at the turn of the year, back on January 5th. This song has a feeling that is retro and modern simultaneously. It is the perfect embodiment of what I mentioned about Richie Buz in the intro; this song is nostalgic and contemporary, making it appealing to a wide range of Hip Hop listeners. It almost feels like a fresh take on 1990s West Coast and Boom Bap music. The melody has a hazy and summery feeling that is so soothing and laid back. It sort of reminds me of ‘Miami’ by Will Smith in the fact that its sound makes me think of a hot day in July(which is ironic and fun because it came out in the dead of winter). The beat for this one is definitely Trap-adjacent, but it does have an off-kilter tempo and drum pattern that is reminiscent of the Boom-Bap music made popular by artists like Wu-Tang Clan. Richie Buz’s low, gruff tone and even-keeled flow are perfect for this instrumental. His rap performance on this song is so smooth and makes the song feel all-encompassing. ‘Nigerian Winter’ is full of witty bars that show Richie Buz’s lyrical prowess. If you are into intricate lyricism, this is a song for you. ‘Nigerian Winter’ is a riveting track that has something to love for mature and youthful fans of Hip Hop. ‘9:30’ was released a couple of weeks after ‘Nigerian Winter,’ having come out on January 26. This song is a lot harsher and darker than the one that precedes it. This one also feels a lot more modern. There is still an element to the melody that makes the song feel a bit old school, but I would still say overall ‘9:30’ sounds very topical. The melody for ‘9:30’ is super soulful. This melody is driven by a melancholy piano riff complemented by a mournful vocal sample with a Neo-R&B tint to it. The vocal sample and piano riff that provide this melody are reminiscent of artists like Jill Scott or Erykah Badu. The beat for ‘9:30’ has a Trap sound that fits squarely into the Hip Hop landscape of today. I really like how the melody sits on this punchy Trap beat, as it makes the song feel so heavy and impactful. Richie Buz’s rap performance on this song may be better than the one on the one that precedes it, which is saying a lot. His forceful and deliberate flow when paired with his gritty vocal tone makes this song hit so hard and feel so tough. Like ‘Nigerian Winter,’ ‘9:30’ contains awesome lyricism. Richie Buz addresses a lot of the problems he sees around him in the city of Milwaukee and debates whether he should take the high road he has been taking or switch things up. ‘9:30’ may not be as light and fun as ‘Nigerian Winter,’ but it is just as(if not more) powerful. These two tracks show off the large amount of talent that Richie Buz has, and it makes me pumped to keep following him and see what he has coming up the pipeline for the rest of 2024.