This edition of Hip Hop Bops cuts through raw emotion, cinematic edge and cross-continental vision. From Afro-fusion introspection to Detroit grit and comic-book catharsis, today’s picks highlight three artists shaping hip hop with personality, purpose and fire.
Switch The MC – Smoke & Sex
Switch The MC blends sensuality, introspection and Afro-rap finesse, creating a sound that moves between vulnerability and power with effortless style.
Paris-based rapper Switch The MC returns with Smoke & Sex, the second chapter of his Comme Moi trilogy. It is an EP built on intimate tension, exploring romance, tenderness and confrontation across bilingual flows and Afrobeat-driven production. Raised between Benin, France and the UK, Switch folds together the sharp precision of British grime with the melodic punchlines of French rap, forming a sound that is globally minded and deeply personal.
Produced with Nigerian and Beninese beatmakers, the project embraces organic percussion, warm textures and danceable rhythms. Yet beneath the groove sits emotional honesty, marking this EP as a turning point in the trilogy’s journey from rage to reflection. Smoke & Sex shows an artist expanding his scope while holding tight to cultural heritage and lyrical depth.
A bold and human body of work, it cements Switch The MC as a visionary voice in a widening rap landscape.
Mike Chek – The Ghostface Tape 3
Mike Chek channels horror, hunger and determination into a cinematic project that turns fear into fuel.
Detroit rapper Mike Chek unleashes The Ghostface Tape 3, the latest instalment of his Halloween-themed series. Built on eerie beats, sharp lyricism and a relentless drive, the EP dives into themes of survival, identity and ambition. Tracks like It Ain’t Safe and What Iz You Sayin’ showcase Chek’s signature mix of dark atmosphere and forceful delivery, fusing grit with storytelling.
Recorded, mixed and mastered independently, the project embodies Detroit’s underground spirit. Chek continues to grow his presence across playlists, radio and college stations, staking out a lane defined by intensity and self-made momentum. His quote, “facing your demons and coming out stronger”, sits at the heart of the tape, capturing its blend of aggression and empowerment.
The Ghostface Tape 3 stands as a defining chapter in Mike Chek’s catalogue, asserting resilience as both theme and weapon.
Trav B Ryan – Red Stars
Trav B Ryan turns comic-book mythology into something deeply human, emotional and fiercely personal.
Brooklyn artist Trav B Ryan delivers Red Stars, a powerful video-driven release inspired by his connection to the DC character Red Hood. Recorded at Jambox Studios in New York, the track folds childhood memories, anger and vulnerability into sharp storytelling. His bond with the character, shaped by experiences with his father, fuels the emotional weight behind every line.
The recording process itself became a moment of transformation, even converting the sound engineer into a comic fan. Trav’s partnership with the Inshot video app also positions him uniquely in the hip hop space, making his music accessible for creators royalty-free.
Red Stars shines because it bridges personal pain with universal themes, offering a narrative that resonates far beyond comic culture.
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