22 June 23-28, 2023 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com New Times b e s T o f m i a m i ® 2 0 2 3 B E S T R & B AC T Ginga Soul soundcloud.com/gingasoul It’s been a couple of years since Ginga Soul dropped her EP On My Mind. For anyone con- cerned that the Miami-based artist might’ve lost her way, the release of her new single “Karmic” this past spring put all doubts to rest. In a collab- oration with rapper A’Sean, the song pairs Ginga Soul’s sultry vocals with laidback beats reminis- cent of the neo-soul of Erykah Badu with a tinge of Janet Jackson’s coffee shop R&B. Just like the six-song EP that preceded it, “Karmic” show- cases a new and emerging voice that continues to hit all the right notes. B E S T H I P - H O P AC T Trapland Pat @traplandpat (Instagram) Trapland Pat was raised in Deerfield Beach but he embodies his Haitian descent, neighborhood, and upbringing with sprouting bonks, flashing diamond grills, and an animated persona. He en- tered the scene full-time in 2018 after a drug charge led the loss of his football scholarship at a small Indiana college where he’d played wide re- ceiver. Since then, he has released a handful of mixtapes and singles, including his 2020 break- out banger, “Big Business,” which was remixed by Rick Ross. On his latest mixtape, Trapnificent, Trapland Pat joined forces with fellow Broward County producer Pepperjack Zoe and Baton Rouge rapper Fredo Bang. The results are versa- tile tracks that bridge regional sounds with pi- ano-heavy trap beats and introspective verses on money, street life, and women. The catchy, me- lodic tracks are vaguely reminiscent of Kodak Black but his breezy cadence and straightfor- ward delivery are all his own. B E S T R O C K B A N D Palomino Blond palominoblond.com Local venues where rock bands can play might come and go (sadly, it has been mostly the lat- ter), but the highly adaptable Palomino Blond have continued to find places to play their dreamy feedback-laden rock since 2018. Com- prising singers and guitarists Carli Acosta and Kyle Fink, drummer Mikey Arevalo, and bassist Peter Allen, this Kendall shoegaze outfit has meshed the quiet with the loud reminiscent of a next-gen Smashing Pumpkins or My Bloody Valentine. In 2021, Palomino Blond’s debut al- bum, ontheinside, captured the band’s grungy blissful aesthetic in seven songs that left you longing for an eighth. Don’t worry — the band never goes more than a couple of months with- out announcing a new local show. B E S T M U S I C A L AC T Jah Steve & the Counteract Crew jahsteve.com Formed in 2015, Jah Steve & the Counteract Crew crisscross the Sunshine State for their bread-and-butter shows, including regular gigs at the Original Fat Cats in Fort Lauder- dale and Ginger Bay Cafe in Hollywood. But touring with legend Lee “Scratch” Perry so- lidified this South Florida band’s bona fides as a top-tier roots reggae ensemble. The band’s vibes are reminiscent of Bob Marley, Augustus Pablo, Peter Tosh, Tenor Saw, and other reggae icons. Frontman and bassist Steve McGowan leads the five-member group that also includes brothers Doron and Jadon Clarence, guitarist Bennie Jackson, and drummer Basil “Benbow” Creary, who has appeared on more than 50 studio albums for artists such as Yabby You, Dennis Brown, and The Skatalites. Arts & Entertainment
