We are now less than a month away from 2019, and yet the quality tunes from the Hoosier State just keep on coming. None of my November picks are really new discoveries, although I would classify a couple of them as proper “first looks”… er, listens. In addition to that steady monthly dose of Hoosier hip-hop, last month also features a worship song for the first time, along with an R&B group who has been making a name for themselves for a few years now but were not on my radar until just recently.

Leo Flores – “You Never Left Me”: In spite of my faith, I’m not one for listening to contemporary worship music on the regular—too much of it to me feels forced or trite. There’s just something about Leo Flores and his music, though, that feels completely genuine, particularly in the powerful message he conveys on “You Never Left Me.” The song’s lyrics, undeniably rooted in his faith, are so transparent that they seem capable of resonating with even the most unchurched of folk. Musically, it’s phenomenal as well, with layered instrumentation throughout which constantly builds, finally culminating on the song’s bridge and final chorus before a slow, lengthy fadeout.

Durand Jones & The Indications – “Don’t You Know” (featuring Aaron Frazer): Bloomington’s own is back with their sophomore album, American Love Call, which is slated for release on March 1^st, and “Don’t You Know” gives us a nice first taste of what we might be in for, with as much soul as it has swagger. The R&B group is far from a purebred though; on this lead single in particular you can hear bits and pieces of both blues and 70s rock.

O.D.D.I.T.Y – “Grindin’”: O.D.D.I.T.Y continues his 2018 domination with this latest single, the fun yet meaningful banger. While the party-like sound of “Grindin’” is one everyone will likely want to “turn up,” a deeper listen into the song’s lyrics will reveal that O.D.D.I.T.Y is less concerned about others’ opinions of his music and more concerned about what he feels like he was put here on this earth to do. And with another single planned before the year is up and two more releases planned for next year, he’s only poised for an even bigger year in 2019.

DJ Get Bizzy – “Wildin”: Speaking of “fun, party-like bangers,” DJ Get Bizzy delivered with just that on his November single, where a nasty backbeat and bizarre phone sounds both help Bizzy’s triplet-centered delivery really stand out, making “Wildin” his best track since February’s “Pull Up.”

Fox’dlegnd – “Holla at Me”: Though his EP, Don’t Get It Twisted, released at the end of October and not in November, up until a couple of weeks ago I had not given Fox’dlegnd’s music a fair chance. I realized my blunder as soon as I heard this single and as a result decided to include it as an added “bonus,” not entirely unlike what I did back for May. Between his gruff-but-precise flow and the hard-hitting, head-bobbing trap beat, there’s a feeling of remorse when “Holla at Me” ends far too soon, less than two and a half minutes in.

You can find all of my Hoosier picks in one place, whether you use SoundCloud or Spotify (the latter of which is embedded below), each with its own set of exclusives.