Over the last several years, David Lopez had become one of the most integral parts of the underground Milwaukee Hip Hop movement. Through his company, Passion Park Ent., he has really helped cultivate the Milwaukee music scene. Passion Park Ent. consistently hosts concerts and open mics in Milwaukee, helping local artists get their names out there. Not only is David Lopez a Milwaukee music curator, but he also makes very good music in his own right. In fact, David Lopez has really grinded with making his music over the years. Not only has he been prolific in his output, but that output has been of quality. We have covered multiple David Lopez projects here at Eastside Vibes, and have enjoyed talking about them wholly. In 2024, he dropped two projects that we dug a lot, Cafecito and Witness 2. He released several singles throughout the year in 2025, multiple of which were very cool collaborations with other Milwaukee artists. Towards the end of the year, he dropped a new EP titled 90 Miles: I94. Below, I will talk about my favorite tracks, as well as give some overall thoughts. Let me know in the comments what you think of David Lopez and I94!

PENNY FOR MY THOUGHTS

David Lopez gets this project going on a very calm and introspective note with the song ‘Penny For My Thoughts.’ This is a cool opener for the record, as it sonically and lyrically really draws me in as a listener. I really enjoy the literal intro for this track. The sound of the wind and the trees and the police sirens is so reminiscent of a cold night in Milwaukee. The melody for this track is very jazzy and ethereal. The basis of the melody comes from a somber saxophone riff, and it is complemented by some synths that sound like chimes. The beat on this track is soft and subdued, matching the true Jazzy feeling of the melody. David Lopez raps with a slow and methodical cadence on this one, which goes very well with the energy of the instrumental. His flow has a storytelling feeling that is calming. On Penny For My Thoughts,’ David Lopez contemplates his life and career. He is trying to find the motivation to keep trying and creating, fighting the notion of wanting to quit because he feels like he is not accomplishing what he wants. 

ROLE MODEL

‘Role Model’ has a feeling that is pretty similar to the opening track of the record. This one has a laid-back, inward-looking feeling that is soothing in a way. Like the opener, the melody for this track has a pretty Jazzy feeling to it. This melody is mainly provided by a piano riff that has a melancholy and groovy tone to it. The beat on this one is a little more pronounced. It is still pretty steady and slow, but the drums hit harder. I like the bits of rewind sounds, as they provide a bit of texture to the track. David Lopez’s rap performance on this one is very intricate. He switches up his flow multiple times throughout the track, which provides so much texture to the vocals. ‘Role Models’ is a bit of a more braggadocious track. On ‘Role Models,’ David Lopez asserts his self-worth and acknowledges that he knows his peers are noticing his hard work and talent. 

CIRCLES 2 (FEAT. NEZZIE)

‘Circles 2’ is definitely the most ambitious and rowdy song on this project. In fact, as someone who has consumed a good amount of David Lopez’s music, I do not think I have ever heard him make a song like this. ‘Circles 2’ is a song  that definitely feels adjacent to the Slap music scene that is huge in Milwaukee right now. This one does not have much of a melody. Instead, the track is driven by a ratchet, fast-paced beat that is constantly switching up. As great as the instrumental is, the vocals(especially the ones from Nezzie) are what really make this track. I love the energy that we get from Nezzie on this one, as it makes the song so fun. David Lopez’s flow is fast, soft, and crisp which contrasts Nezzie’s nicely and gives the song vibrance. Circles 2’ is a hyped up club track that can get anyone dancing. The basis of this track is that it is fun and will inject any room with energy.

TONIGHT (FEAT. KEAV, NEZZIE, AND HEYZEUS)

‘Tonight’ is another song that really stands out for how individual it is compared to the rest of the EP. There is something about this one that feels so retro to me. The instrumental for ‘Tonight’s just feels so reminiscent of Melodic SoundCloud Trap music. The melody for this song is very sweet and floaty. It is driven by uplifting and bright synths and complemented by some female vocals which give the song a softer element. The beat has that sort of classic Trap feeling to it. This one somehow feels energetic and tranquil at the same time. Every vocalist on this track is really good, and they all contribute to the song in a distinct way. David Lopez and Heyzeus demonstrate their chemistry once again, playing off of each other and giving solid rap performances on this track. The little verse from Nezzie gives the song a hyped up feeling I dig a lot. And those vocals that come in from Keav add a lighter and warmer feeling that is very nice as well. ‘Tonight’ is a song about putting away your struggles and just focusing on the moment and turning up with your friends. 

David Lopez’s dedication to his craft and willingness to always improve is something I have admired since I came across him. It feels like he is always trying to expand his sound and become a more diverse artist, which is something I appreciate. 90 Miles: I94 is a project that shows this. This project has some of the familiar sounds that he may be known for, but also dives into some sounds that I have not heard from him to this point. Also one would expect that when listening to David Lopez, this project has some Jazzy, serene tracks where the focus is on mental health and believing in yourself. Songs like ‘Penny For My Thoughts,’ Tax,’ and ‘Role Models’ portray this feeling. They tap into that introspective and calm energy that we all need to hear once in a while. Several songs on this project go against the grain of what David Lopez typically does, though. ‘Circles 2’ is the one that stands out the most, as this song has a brash and fun feeling that is bound to get any function jumping. Overall, this 90 Miles: i94 taps into David Lopez’s roots while also showing that he is still growing. I love it when artists decide to take a left turn and try something new, and we got a little bit of that on this EP. Lyrically, like always, David Lopez kills it on 90 Miles: I94. He has such a nice way of getting his thoughts across and letting the listener into his mind. 90 Miles: I94 is yet another super quality effort from David Lopez. Time and time again he proves why he is a staple in the Milwaukee underground Hip Hop scene, and it is always rewarding to cover his music.