In this edition of Waffle Radar, we’ve curated seven new tracks that capture the emotional breadth, genre-hopping creativity, and raw authenticity driving indie hip‑hop today. Expect alt‑trap confessionals, introspective cloud-hop jams, boom-bap with conscience, and mood-soaked sonic escapism. Each track tells a story—and together, they add up to a mosaic of where underground rap lives in mid-2025: resilient, unexpected, and deeply personal.

1. Young.Fendi – “Lost & Found” (Pop rap / Cloud‑emo)

Released July 24, Young.Fendi’s Lost & Found offers a reflective twist on emotional rap. Ethereal synth pads and sparse trap drums create a dreamy atmosphere, while the artist navigates themes of identity, loss, rediscovery, and doubt. His vocals often sit more in spoken-word cadence than melodic singing, providing raw immediacy to lines about navigating relationships and self-awareness. The production rides a gentle wave—subdued yet sharp enough to underscore the lyrics without distracting. For fans of Juice WRLD or mid‑tempo emo-hop, this track aligns with the underground wave of cloud-hop artists reimagining vulnerability as strength. With Young.Fendi’s history of thoughtful freestyles and consistent rollout pace, Lost & Found compounds his momentum, pointing toward a deeper artistic chapter in the coming months.

2. Big Trip – “Fits of Nostalgia” (Jazz-hop / Chill‑hop)

Big Trip delivered Fits of Nostalgia on June 21 via Filthy Animal Entertainment, melding chill-hop textures with emotive boom‑bap lyricism. It opens with laid-back piano jazzy chords, looping into softened vinyl crackle, setting a reflective mood. The bars from Big Trip feel memory-laced—examining hometown change, old friendships, and how the past lingers emotionally. He doesn’t leap to sentiment; instead he unfolds quietly, letting each bar land with clarity and regret. The song thrives between head and heart—scientific structure in the beat, poetic disorder in returns to memory. It’s intimate without self‑pity, soulful without indulgence. This release positions Big Trip among independent voices prioritizing storytelling and heartbeat beats, ideal for study playlists or late-night introspection.

3. I Sherry Halcomb – “Why You Hate On Me” (Alternative Hip‑Hop)

Sherry Halcomb’s March 17 release Why You Hate On Me challenges the listener with punchy attitude and lyrical restraint. The beat pairs minimal distorted loops with off‑beat percussion—music that feels both anxious and defiant. She uses the track to question critics, haters, and the noise of others. Her flow is tight, even clipped—less about fluid melody, more about precision and edge. The emotional weight doesn’t come from vocal crescendos or chorus hooks but from each deliberate syllable and punchline. On SoundCloud and Instagram, Sherry frames this song as part of an ongoing personal battle against doubt and dismissal. The track reads as a manifesto for those who’ve been overlooked or misjudged—an alternative hip-hop response to negativity that pulls no punches.

4. Rod Car – “Oh No” (Conscious / Gangsta Rap)

Florida’s Rod Car dropped Oh No on July 22 via M.A.T.T.I.X. Entertainment, bringing a fresh southern cadence packed with substance. The beat rides on slow southern boom-bap with a melodic bassline, and cinematic strings weaving through—it’s thoughtful yet gritty. Rod Car reflects on the hustle, tension, and irony of street life—wrapping his verses in reflections that confront doubt and internal conflict. Unlike straightforward trap deliveries, his cadence curves between calm confidence and struggle. Whether he’s referencing Tampa’s grind or broader themes of respect and survival, the track feels grounded in place and purpose. The production supports his narrative, never overpowering, instead lifting the spaces between lines. As an artist, Rod Car seems committed to storytelling over flash—every verse feels drawn from life, not hype.

5. Scoobert Doobert – “Alright” (Cloud-Hop / Emo Hip-Hop, Alternative)

Released July 10 by Beformer x indiemono, Alright marks another sunny chapter in the Scoobert Doobert journey. Known for breezy indie-pop-tinged hip-hop with global taste (he’s famously collaborated with Japanese band CHAI), here he slants toward ocean-breezy chill-hop. The track breathes with light guitar arpeggios, airy keys, and a rhythmic softness that feels like a sunset drive. Lyrics focus on acceptance and moving forward—Scoobert repeats “I’ll be alright” as both mantra and relief. There’s no fight here—just gentle resolution. This track fits neatly into indie playlists and ambient hip-hop rotations. While not heavy on content, it’s emotionally calibrated: laughter in the memories, but peace in the execution. Scoobert remains a master of low-stakes hope.

6. Burnside – “Another Night in the Burn City” (Jazz-Hop / Chill-Hop)

Burnside’s dual-member Melbourne outfit resurfaced with Another Night in the Burn City on July 24, capturing the tension of ambitions colliding with urban fatigue. With cloud-like jazz chords, sleepy sax samples, and a hypnotic lo-fi drum pattern, the track underscores its mantra-like hook: staying afloat despite exhaustion. The lyrics explore balancing ambition and burnout—chasing dreams in a city that wears you thin. This isn’t glamorized hustle; it’s the mentally sharp residue of daily grind. Their SoundCloud and Instagram promotion mentions the hook’s raw simplicity—“get by another night”—painting their city life in late-night colors. It feels cinematic: the dual vocals mirror two halves of the day—smooth, pensive, wearied. For fans of Ane’s or Kota the Friend’s nightly rhythms, Burnside offers a moody mirror for hopeful hustlers.

7. Freestyle G‑Shark feat. EB & Kojo – “Solar” (Trap / Pop Rap)

Dropping July 16, Ohio-based Freestyle G‑Shark’s Solar teams him with EB and Kojo to deliver atmospheric trap with introspective punch. The production drifts—spacey synths, soft echo, reverb-drenched drums—while the lyrics reflect personal growth, spiritual energy, and staying focused amid noise. Freestyle G‑Shark’s verses alternately flex ambition and acknowledge doubt, with collaborators adding melodic contrast. It’s future-minded, futuristic—but grounded in real struggle. The interplay between spacey atmosphere and grounded storytelling marks Solar as part of the emerging wave of trap-infused narrative rap. G‑Shark’s street-rooted origin story, combined with thoughtful releases, shows he’s building narrative weight behind each drop—Solar cementing him as an indie artist ready to evolve.

Bridging Beats with Being

What ties these seven songs together is a shared emotional intelligence: the tracks live at the intersections of introspection and expression. From Young.Fendi’s emotive search in Lost & Found to Burnside’s night-hustle reflections, they all speak to audiences doing the same dance—trying, coping, dreaming. Whether it’s the ethereal pain of Fits of Nostalgia or the fiery defiance of Why You Hate On Me, each track is a moment suspended between vulnerability and resistance. The production across the board—cloud-hop, jazz-hop, boom-bap, trap—serves intention, never overshadowing it. For Waffle Fam ears, this feature cements an understanding: underground rap isn’t just about bars—it’s about bearing life, bearing burdens, and bearing witness.