Australian rapper Nick de la Hoyde is proving that Iggy Azalea is the exception and not the rule when it comes to dope hip-hop from “The Down Under.” The 20-year-old MC is on the steady come up as his single “By My Side” succeeds 50,000 views on YouTube.
With airy soundscapes, de la Hoyde can switch from backpack rhymer with his heart on his sleeve to a smooth crooner (all while hints of his Australian accent peeks through). He also throws influences of pop and soul into his music. His latest effort, Passion, dropped in June.
Nick de la Hoyde starting rhyming after moving to Italy from Australia at the age of 15. And what began as an “outlet” became “a burning passion,” reads a press release about the up-and-comer.
While the new stereotypical modern hip-hop and R&B song deals with going after a “new flame” or speaking on disloyalty, it’s refreshing to hear about a guy who’s just simply in love with a girl — or music. “By My Side” does just that and proves to be an easy favorite off the 6-track LP. In the song, the de la Hoyde raps on making it and his love for creating music. “I can’t move on ’til I have it all, I want to hear the crowd roar on a major tour,” he rhymes.
He also has other stand-alone solid and quote-worthy lines about his dreams of making it in hip-hop. “Music is the only drug for the mad addicts,” he rhymes. But it’s all good since he’s “gotta way I can make you mine.”
The chorus is pretty swoon-worthy as well: “And it’s you that makes me feel alright / and it’s you that’s always by my side / and it’s you I can’t just leave you far away.”
It’s a lighthearted love song that could easily be a daily track to jam to. Watch the visual above and listen to the entire LP below.
Listen to Nick de la Hoyde’s Passion
