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Charles Hamilton looks like he’s making a great comeback with his win in last week’s Boombox Battle. With over 85 percent of the fan vote, he easily beat Atlanta rapper Rich the Kid and his collaboration with Travis Barker, “Not Sorry.”
After walking away from the limelight and dealing with his own health issues in 2009, Harlem rapper Charles Hamilton is back with a new deal with Republic Records and a new song, “NY Raining.” Spitting over a piano-driven melody, Charles serenades a special lady. Rita Ora is the featured artist who tells him why the should give a romance a go.
Aside from the lovey dovey talk, he also addresses his growth as an artist. The song will appear in the season finale of Empire and on the first season’s soundtrack. “Miles from home / My style has grown / Sick of getting played like a xylophone / My instrument is mean with thousands of bones,” he raps on the first verse.
Hamilton’s competitor this week is Kid Cudi. Spending a lot of time on movie sets than in studio booths, the Cleveland native returned to the mic with his latest single “Love.” Sampling Ratatat’s “Sunblocks,” he laments about how he’s been feeling lonely in his music but sounds triumphant by the time he reaches the hook.
“Don’t be so down, come on young homie / You’ll be ok, you’ll find real love / All of the stories the hero gets lonely, now is the time to show all you’re made of,” he delivers his melodic rapping tone.
Who’ll win this week? Charles Hamilton, who’s showing self-awareness on his new track? Or the crooning Kid Cudi who just wants to remind us he’s still making music? It’s time for you to decide. Go vote for your favorite song in the poll below. Remember, you can vote once per hour until the poll closes on Tues., March 24, at 10AM ET.
Listen to Charles Hamilton’s “NY Raining” feat. Rita Ora
Listen to Kid Cudi’s “Love”
Rules of The Boombox Battle
Two artists and their respective songs compete against each other each week. The triumphant artist goes on to compete in the next The Boombox Battle. If an artist wins The Boombox Battle four times consecutively, their song will be honored in The Boombox Battle Hall of Fame.
