As I have stated so many times before on this blog recently, although Milwaukee Hip Hop is mainly known for a certain brand of Slap/Street music, the scene here goes way beyond that, There are a ton of Hip Hop artists in Milwaukee who go against that grain and style of Hip Hop; they show their individuality within the Milwaukee Hip Hop scene and the whole Hip Hop scene in general, and this deserves a to be recognized. Emmitt James is a Milwaukee rapper with his own sound and style that makes him shine and stand out. He is the embodiment of a modern DIY Hip Hop aficionado. His music has been compared to artists like Anderson .Paak and The Internet; his unique Jazzy R&B-infused Hip Hop brand is so fresh and interesting. Emmitt James has been creating music and art for many years, but he has really started to gain traction in the last 5 years or so. After being invited to perform at the Pharcyde Festival in 2018, Emmitt James has been steadily on the rise. Over the years, he has gotten the opportunity to open for artists such as Yasiin Bey(also known as Mos Def) and The Pharcyde, which helped propel his career and get him in front of Hip Hop fans who would appreciate his special style of music. Over the years, Emmitt James has been prolific in his output, always working on his craft. Since 2020, Emmitt James has released 7 EPs and 3 albums. In addition to these projects, he has released a plethora of singles and has done quite a few collaborations, always showing his variance and major talent as an artist. Emmitt James has been hard at work in 2024, having done a couple of very good collaborations this year and having released three new singles in anticipation of his new album It’s Giving Healed Black Man, which is out soon(I am looking forward to reviewing this one when it comes out). In addition to this, Emmitt James is releasing a video game in conjunction with his new single ‘Leveled Up’ out on August 30, which you can actually buy right now! Below, I wanted to briefly highlight Emmitt James’ three recent singles, packaged under the title Mo’ Buttah Still Brown. They are called ‘Real Love’ with LENA. and Domino, ‘Regular’ with KELCH,’ and ‘Teleport’ with Genesis Renji. Please let me know in the comments below how you feel about Mo’ Buttah Still Brown, and also comment the names of any other Milwaukee-based artists or independent artists you think I should check out!

‘Real Love’ is a laid-back track that will make anyone feel good when it comes on. This song has the kind of ethereal and sultry sound that makes me feel like I am levitating when I hear it. This instrumental is pretty simple, but so effective. The melody for this one is driven by a sweet melody with a twinkling sound element that is so all-encompassing. This melody is put on top of a deliberate beat with a bit of a punchy element that makes it stand out. As nice as the instrumental is, the vocals on ‘Real Love’ are what makes it so engaging. All of the vocals on this song are great. Emmitt James delivers a poignant, easy-going verse that makes this song such an earworm. His flow is so engaging and his delivery is so clear, making his verses really pop. Domino’s verse is a bit more pushy and high-key, contrasting the calmer delivery we get from Emmitt James, which makes it stand out. Lena’s delicate vocals give this song a softer quality that contrasts the slightly harsh vocals from Emmitt and Domino nicely. In ‘Real Love,’ Emmitt James and Domino describe the kind of loving relationship they are trying to get into in a variety of captivating ways. ‘Real Love’ is a super cool, atmospheric track with a charming element I appreciate a ton. ‘Regular’ has a song that is definitely as laid-back as the song that precedes it, but not quite as sultry. This melody is still very gratifying, though; it is very bright and jazzy and has elements that feel super psychedelic. This melody has an old-school Funk quality to it that sort of makes me think of the R&B and Soul music of the 1970s. I could see artists like Marvin Gaye or Al Green on this melody, to be honest. The beat for ‘Regular’ is not as punchy as the one on ‘Real Love.’ This beat is super relaxed and pretty faint, and it fits the energy of the melody so nicely. Like ‘Real Love,’ the vocals on ‘Regular’ are great. Emmitt James’ flow and tone are so engaging on this track. I love the way he fluctuates his delivery, as it gives the song so much texture. As great as Emmitt James is on this track, ‘KELCH’ may be even better. Her flow is so smooth and draws me in as a listener immediately; I also love how her tone contrasts Emmitt James, as this gives the song an element of vitality it benefits from so much. On ‘Regular,’ Emmitt James and KELCH are referring to how special the relationships they partake in are, and how they know that their partners are way better than most. ‘Regular’ is a velvety and Groovy track that is just so cool and polished sounding. ‘Teleport’ is a track with a bit more energy than the last couple of tracks. Whereas the last two are slower and more Jazzy, this one is faster and more poppy. The melody on this one is somehow more atmospheric than the ones on the first two tracks. The distortion and filters on the synths that drive this one are so floaty. This melody is super silky and warm; it makes me want to party on a hot summer day at the beach. The beat for this one is so fun and will make anyone want to get up and move when it comes on. This is the kind of song to put on when you need a pick-me-up because its infectious energy will surely get you dancing. Emmitt James’ delivery on ‘Teleport’ is a bit more low-key, and that is totally okay. His more even-keeled delivery makes the quirky delivery we get from Genesis Renji pop even more. Both artists contribute to the sheeny and entertaining qualities of this track nicely. On ‘Teleport,’ Emmitt James and Genesis Renji are rapping about how their new partner has been enthralling and how their connection with this person on the dance floor is leading to bigger things between them. Overall, Mo’ Buttah Still Brown is an awesome release that shows how unique and talented Emmitt James is. I am pumped to listen to his new single ‘Leveled Up’ next week, and I am also looking forward to hearing It’s Giving Healed Black Man when it comes out soon!