The thesis behind Abhi The Nomad's new single "Stay" is right there in the intro: this is a program about flow. 

Over the course of "Stay," his first release 2020 and featuring , the indie Austin rapper delivers a slick and crisp flow over an unwaveringly digestible beat; from Nintendo 64 references to relationship foundations, Abhi and austin hip-hop artist love-sadKID cover ground over the course of a two-and-a-half minute single. 

With the latest release, Abhi The Nomad distances himself a bit from the indie pop-adjacent ear worm stratosphere he inhabited on 2019's Modern Trash and centers more towards the dressings of 70s soul with a 90s flow a lá 2015's Where Are My Friends. 

Abhi The Nomad's greatest work often puts his off-center hip-hop feel and sound at the forefront ("Soul Safety Administration" comes to mind). With "Stay," Abhi appears to be fully aware of this too, as he leans into being an indie hip-hop mainstay, rather than reaching for something lighter and more accommodating to commercial success. 

-Ben Wiese 

1. Abhi The Nomad

Well-traveled and rhymes on point, Abhi is one of the brighter lights emerging from the underrated Austin hip-hop scene. His lyrical flows are stimulating while his mellow vibes keep his addictive music on a palatable frequency.

2. Magna Carda

Megz Kelli and Dougie Do have been on a mission in Austin to drop invigorating tracks that continue to evolve and progress. Ingenious beats with enviable flows, Magna Carda needs to be witnessed live.

3. Riders Against the Storm

This wife and husband hip-hop duo continue to fuse funk, hip-hop and R&B into inventive and catchy tracks. Politics, race, and activism is on the menu as these two continue to tap into higher consciousness with earworm beats and hook-filled flows.

4. Blackillac

Zeale, Phranchyze, and Gary Clark Jr have created a super group that is straight out of Austin and no gimmicks. The all-star lineup doesn't disappoint with rapid fire bars and hard-hitting beats.

https://www.facebook.com/blackillac/

5. Blastfamous USA

Austin's own response to Run The Jewels,Blastfamous USA is a collaboration between Zeale and the production duo NGHT HCKLRS. While they might not be an official SXSW artist, they more than deserve your audience since their aggressive rhymes and beats are bound to turn heads in 2018.