I know I’m not the only person who misses mellow rap; that chill, Skizzy Mars, “Foreplay - Jalen Santoy,” era of SoundCloud bops that used to chase my blues away. I’m sure you had a playlist for it, just like mine. Over the past few years since, Hip Hop has transitioned into several new forms, as the rise of Yeat, Dro Kenji, and Remble has allowed for numerous unique sub-genres to come to power, and sounds to be experimented with (sounds that often don’t resonate as well with the OG’s). Luckily, LOCS has proven, with his new single “Settle Down”, that this chill rap genre is still alive, and if anything, is making a major return. With cadences that remind me of Joyner Lucas and Token, but an RnB beat that takes me back to production much further before their time, LOCS knocked this single out of the park. It makes sense, then, why Spotify was quick to add it to their “Mellow Bars” editorial playlist immediately upon its release.

So, who is LOCS? Based in Atlanta, grown in Columbus, OH, LOCS is a spitfire rapper who can spar with the best. His bars, although quick delivered, are meaningful and insightful, and leave you wanting more and more. Having also previously received support from Spotify’s Fresh Finds category, it’s clear that LOCS is an act you’ll want to keep an eye on.

The future is bright for LOCS; with a great team, network, and vault of unreleased, he’s sure to continue rapidly breaching into the mainstream as more publications and playlists push him, the way he deserves to be pushed. While you’re here and reading this, make sure to also check out his 2020 Freestyle, which has recently surpassed 900,000 streams. It’s further proof that LOCS is up to something noteworthy, and building a sound that is here to stay.