Ian Ureta

A tenured media critic known working as a ghost writer, freelance critic for publications in the US and former lead writer of Atop The Treehouse. Reviews music, film and TV shows for media aggregators.

Disaster on Neptune by Mang is not just a debut; it’s an unfiltered signal broadcast directly from someone’s inner collapse

Disaster on Neptune is what happens when someone locks themselves in a room with a synthesizer, a few unresolved emotions, and absolutely no intention of making “party music.” This is Mang’s solo debut, and it’s not here to hold your hand. Rather, it’s here to hold a mirror up to your face, dim the lights,

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John D. Contradiction is versatile, self-assured, and cut from a different cloth

There’s something refreshing about hearing an album that doesn’t sound like it was built in a playlist lab. No chasing trends. No streamlined-for-Spotify formula. Just bars, beats, and a vision that doesn’t care if you’re ready for it. 37, the latest project from John D. Contradiction, isn’t trying to go viral; it’s trying to outlive

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Soul Reflections by Sista Soul just exists; in all its moody, spiritual, sometimes-painful glory

On her sophomore release Soul Reflections, Sista Soul dives deep into a personal and emotional journey, crafting a soundscape that’s as smooth as it is stirring. Blending rich elements of soul, R&B, and jazz, the album moves with rhythmic grace, weaving through themes of joy, pain, hope, and inspiration. It’s a record that doesn’t just

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Under the Influence Vol 4.2.0 Side A by Khern$ is here to rewrite the rulebook, dazzle your eardrums, and raise the bar so high you’ll need a telescope to see it

Under the Influence Vol 4.2.0 Side A is the latest installment in Khern$‘s annual tradition, dropping every April 20th like clockwork. It’s an artistic ritual that’s as much about personal reflection as it is about celebrating the hustle. But don’t let the 4/20 release date fool you; this mixtape isn’t about to drop a bunch

Under the Influence Vol 4.2.0 Side A by Khern$ is here to rewrite the rulebook, dazzle your eardrums, and raise the bar so high you’ll need a telescope to see it Read More »

NONXM isn’t interested in being king, they’re too busy enjoying the real world

There’s a rare and deeply underappreciated serenity that settles in when you start a rap album and realize that it has absolutely no interest in being a TikTok trend. No trap-snare tantrums engineered for 15-second dopamine loops. No wink-wink challenges for teenagers in LED-lit bedrooms. No frantic metaphors desperately auditioning for a slot on a

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Lonely Boy makes you dance and question your life choices at the same time.

Lonely Boy by Joveth isn’t just your typical “sad guy with a synthesizer” project. This EP isn’t here to quietly sob in the corner. It’s here to grab you by the collar, slap you across the face with a wall of synths, and scream at you to feel emotions or something. And honestly? Respect. Joveth

Lonely Boy makes you dance and question your life choices at the same time. Read More »

Marcus: the Apex Predator! has come back sharper, heavier, and somehow even more urgent than before

Seven years. That’s how long it’s been since The Fury of Almost exploded onto the scene like a flaming dumpster rolling downhill, fueled by Detroit street grime and pure, unfiltered spite. Seven years of silence. Seven years of waiting, wondering was Marcus: the Apex Predator! just another underground rock ghost story? Another cautionary tale of

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NOSTALGIA makes it very clear that UraelB isn’t just here to rap, he’s here to drop you headfirst into his world

Every so often, an EP comes along that just “becomes” a story. Not in the lazy, “let’s throw in some skits and call it a concept album” way, but in the way that grips you by the collar and drags you headfirst into a fully realized world. NOSTALGIA does exactly that. It doesn’t just evoke

NOSTALGIA makes it very clear that UraelB isn’t just here to rap, he’s here to drop you headfirst into his world Read More »