As Milwaukee’s Hip Hop scene continues to blow up, I think it is important to highlight some of the artists from this city who have been grinding and holding it down for a long time. So many people are starting to become exposed to the great Hip Hop that is coming out of Milwaukee right now; if you have been here and paying attention, you would know there are great Hip Hop artists in Milwaukee who have been in the game for several years. One of the best Milwaukee artists who fits into that mold is Lady Sabo. She has been a prominent member of the underground Hip Hop scene in Milwaukee for a while and has helped shape it into what it is today. Lady Sabo has been making music for several years, but she has really particularly come into her own over the last couple of years or so. She has released some of the most interesting and unique Hip Hop projects to come out of Milwaukee recently. In 2024, Lady Sabo has been on a hell of a run. This year, she has released two joint projects with Milwaukee producer iBn Farmacia titled IBNSABO and ibnsabo2. Both of these projects showcase the sonic variance and overall talent of Lady Sabo, as well as highlight how riveting a producer iBn Farmacia is. Lady Sabo also released a joint project with HeyZeus called 9 which is not only among my top projects from Milwaukee artists this year but also among my top projects of the year as a whole. This is a dark and gritty album full of emotion and power that was birthed out of the turmoil both artists were going through at the time; the strife they were experiencing is evident through the music, which is super cool to see. Lady Sabo seems to never stop grinding, as since these projects she has dropped an EP called the heART Project(which I plan on coming back to and writing about soon) as well as some other one-off singles. Below, I wanted to talk about Lady Sabo’s two newest singles, ‘ALRIGHT’ and ‘Love Me Knot.’ Please let me know in the comments what you think of these new tracks from Lady Sabo, and also comment the names of any other Milwaukee-based or independent artists you think I should check out!

‘Alright,’ which came out July 1, has a slightly different sound than what I have become accustomed to hearing Lady Sabo. She has been willing to try different kinds of instrumentals and styles of Hip Hop, but this one may be one of the quirkier songs I have heard from her(in the best way). ‘Alright’ has a super dystopian and atmospheric sound that feels like it came straight out of the future. This instrumental transports me to a different dimension or makes me feel like I am floating toward the mothership. The melody for ‘Alright’ is light and yet foreboding. There is a sweet and delicate element to the synths that drive this melody, but the mix on the synths is so ethereal. The bells that complement this melody give the song a looming element that makes it seem like something dark may be on the horizon. The beat for ‘Alright’ is off-kilter and off-center. It has a kind of intricate, anxious Trap sound that sort of reminds me of the new type of Drill music being made popular right now by artists like Cash Cobain(and by extension Ice Spice). Lady Sabo’s low and raspy tone and deliberate flow sit on this melody beat so nicely. Her vocal performance is soothing, giving the song a welcoming element that makes it so nice to listen to. ‘Alright’ is a super cool and futuristic track that shows an additional side to Lady Sabo’s artistry and pushes boundaries within her music and Milwaukee Hip Hop in general. ‘Love Me Knot,’ which was dropped on July 11, has a bit more of a straightforward Party Trap music sound. The melody for this track is mean and melancholy. This melody is driven by a daunting piano riff that sounds a bit offkey, which makes it really scratch the brain. Some higher-pitched synths complement this piano riff, giving it a brighter element that makes it super inviting. ‘Love Me Knot’ has a fast-paced and hard-hitting Trap beat that is bound to get anyone moving when it comes on. This is the kind of track to play when you are trying to get the club jumping because it just bangs and will make people want to dance. Lady Sabo’s flow on this track is so silky and easy-going. The way she rides this beat makes ‘Love Me Knot’ so catchy and so fun to listen to. Her raspy and low tone on this track fits it perfectly and contributes to its harsh and in-your-face nature. ‘Love Me Knot’ is not the most adventurous song Lady Sabo has made, but it is great for what it is; ultimately, it’s just a fun and raucous banger. Lady Sabo has been on a run in 2024 that has been so awesome to watch; I am very excited to see what she does next and to see her momentum keep building.