G Herbo's 'Swervin' Through Stress' Attains Nonprofit Status
G Herbo's organization, Swervin' Through Stress, achieves nonprofit status as it tackles mental health concerns in the Black community. We discuss it here!
G Herbo (Paras Griffin / Getty Images)
By: Adonis Armstrong
G Herbo revealed on May 17th that his organization, Swervin' Through Stress, dedicated to addressing mental health concerns in the Black community, has obtained official nonprofit status as a 501(c)(3). Alongside destigmatizing mental wellness, the initiative has been actively offering essential resources and organizing events for individuals of color.
Herbo elaborated on his intentions in a statement given to Billboard. “Our community doesn’t talk about mental health enough,” he stated. “With Swervin’ Through Stress, I really wanted to create a space where it’s okay for us to talk about what we’re going through. A lot of us can relate to each other’s struggles.”
On May 20th, Swervin' Through Stress, in collaboration with Chance The Rapper's SocialWorks and Black JoyRide, will join forces to host the My State Of Mind Community Bike Ride and Wellness Block Party at the Harold Washington Cultural Center in Chicago. Then on May 21st, the movement will continue with a private pampering event organized by the Free Root Operation, a dedicated organization supporting women impacted by gun violence.
The announcement of Swervin' Through Stress achieving 501c3 status coexist with the release of G Herbo's highly anticipated mixtape, Strictly 4 My Fans 2, showcasing some hot features with GloRilla, Mello Buckzz, and Drench, among other emerging artists. This amazing achievement aligns perfectly with the mixtape's captivating soundscape, crafted by renowned producers including Southside, DJ Victoriouz, Oz On The Track, Luca Vialli, and more, reminiscent memories of Lil Herb's raw drill beats.
Rapper G Herbo talks Swervin' Through Stress, community initiatives
G Herbo, keep doing what you’re doing and continue to help the Black community in areas we are afraid to discuss, especially in terms of mental health.
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New Music: 5 Hip Hop Albums To Look Out For This July
July is set to be a great month with some dope hip hop releases on the way! Here are 5 albums dropping this month you should be looking out for!
Snoh Aalegra and G Herbo With New July Albums Dropping
By: Cory Utsey
June was an amazing month for music. From albums alone, we got an amazing amount of range from Tyler, the Creator’s “CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST”, H.E.R’s “Back Of My Mind”, Doja Cat’s “Planet Her” and even Justine Skye’s “Space & Time”. In regards to singles, Megan Thee Stallion’s “Thot Sh*t” and Jazmine Sullivan’s “Tragic” allowed us to go from screaming “We Outside!” to reflecting on time that needs to be reclaimed.
With all of this in mind, June’s releases have quite the competition. However, July started off with “Wasting Time”, a collaboration between Brent Faiyaz and Drake that was produced by The Neptunes, so it already seems as though this month will have some great contenders.
Here are five album releases to look out for this July.
G Herbo, “25” - July 2
Kicking off the first “New Music Friday” of the month is G Herbo with the release of his LP “25”. Herbo told Complex that the project, pronounced as “Two Five”, celebrates both his age and the significance of the resultant of “2+5”; he states that seven signifies “the guardian”. “25” also pays homage to the people in his life who did not make it to 25, such as his brother and a close friend. The 19-track project, which features artists such as Gunna, 21 Savage and Polo G, comes over a year after “PTSD”.
Amorphous, “Things Take Shape” - July 7
Amorphous, a DJ and producer known on social media for creating amazing mash-ups, will be releasing his debut EP on July 7 called “Things Take Shape”. He first went viral for his mash-up of Rihanna’s “Kiss It Better” and Luther Vandross’s “Never Too Much” in late 2020. The accolades from this mix landed him a call from Fat Joe, who vied to use the mix for a song. The song, called “Sunshine” came out in January and features DJ Khaled. Although the EP is not slated to come out until the seventh, two tracks (“Back Together” featuring Kehlani and “Finally (Cannot Hide It) with Kelly Rowland and Cece Piston) are already out.
Snoh Aalegra, “TEMPORARY HIGHS IN THE VIOLET SKIES” - July 9
Smooth and soulful singer Snoh Aalegra announced on June 7 via Instagram that she would be releasing a new album, “TEMPORARY HIGHS IN THE VIOLET SKIES”. On June 16, she released one track from the album, called “LOST YOU”. This album comes a year after the release of the single “DYING 4 YOUR LOVE” (which will be featured on this upcoming album), and three years after her second studio album, “Ugh, Those Feels Again”.
WILLOW, “lately I feel EVERYTHING” - July 16
Willow Smith constantly gives Black alternative-music lovers something to rock to, and it seems as though lovers of that genre will be getting more of the sort on July 16. She released two singles already: “t r a n s p a r e n t s o u l” featuring Travis Barker in April and “Lipstick” in June, Known for her creative, experimental style, this album comes a little over a year after the release of “THE ANXIETY”, a collaborative project with Tyler Cole and THE ANXIETY.
Pop Smoke, “Pop Smoke” - July 16
Gracing the world with another posthumous album, Pop Smoke’s team announced they would be releasing the self-titled album on July 16. This is the second posthumous album to be released on his behalf, with the first one (“Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon”) having been released in July 2020 with much critical acclaim. The Woo’s fans are hopeful that this will be an amazing project.
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Quavo and Saweetie's Altercation Opens Up Necessary Discussions About Domestic Violence
Quavo and Saweetie's physical altercation opens up necessary discussions about domestic violence in relationships. We discuss it here!
By: Alexis Oatman
It seems that issues between Quavo and Saweetie have gone beyond allegations of cheating after footage leaked from a physical altercation in 2020 between the pair before they split up.
From Ike and Tina, Will and Jada, G Herbo and Ari, and now Sawetiee and Quavo, another "couple goal" fantasy has been broken.
TMZ released the elevator surveillance footage on Monday, leading many to wonder how long the couple has been experiencing problems. The duo was popular on social media and even dubbed "couple goals" by many, the pair dated two years before Saweetie called it quits alluding that Quavo had cheated on her.
The video starts with both of them standing outside an open elevator, and it appears that Saweetie took a swing and missed at Quavo. He dodges the hit, dropping an orange Call of Duty case in the process that Saweetie tries to pick up.
In the tussle for the case, Quavo ultimately swings her into the back elevator wall, and then they both go down. The video ends with Quavo using the case to hold the elevator door open while Saweetie picks herself up and limps off.
The incident went down in 2020 at an apartment building where Saweetie was renting, according to TMZ.
Many have already come out in support of Quavo, including rappers like Boosie Badazz and Trouble. They took to social media boiling the physical altercation down to a simple argument that just got out of hand.
On the other hand, many fans have called out the Migos rapper for his behavior, alleging the footage captures an example of domestic violence.
Why women gotta be knocked out cold for y’all to consider it abuse?
— IJS (@1anjohn) March 30, 2021
i'll never forget this day... where women got on the internet and said having physical altercations w your partner is normal, what happened between Saweetie & Quavo is normal or okay.. i want more for y'all & I'm praying for your safety bc this shit is not okay.
— spicebae. (@spicebae_) March 31, 2021
Nearly 40% of Black women will experience violence from an intimate partner during their lifetime, according to a report from Institute for Women's Policy Research.
White women, Latinas, and Asian/Pacific Islander women all reported report lower rates.
The report also shows that Black women have a significantly higher rate of experiencing psychological abuse, including humiliation, insults, name-calling, and coercive control.
Frequently, Black women are at the bottom of the social dating hierarchy, so seeing a Black woman loved out loud can be somewhat inspiring.
It's nothing like seeing a successful Black couple basking in their love, but as we can see, often, these relationship goals we aspire to aren't real. A few photos and cute posts don't show the full weight of any relationship.
While this "tussle" may not be a big deal to some, it's a huge red flag and one of the biggest signs of a toxic relationship. Women shouldn't have to be knocked out cold for it to be considered "abuse." Domestic abuse ranges beyond physical harm. It can verbal, emotional, and mental.
I'm glad Saweetie decided to step away and send Quavo back to the streets, but unfortunately, there is no right side or wrong side in this. Both parties should have walked away long before things escalated to this point. Hopefully, they both can put this moment past them and move on.
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15 Must Listen To Songs For The Black And Conscious
Music about Black excellence, social injustices or simply the overall Black experience are necessary for Hip Hop culture. Here are 15 must listen to songs for the Black and conscious!
By: Tomiwa Moro
Revolutionary activist, James Baldwin was once asked what being Black in America is and he said:
“To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a state of rage almost all of the time — and in one's work. And part of the rage is this: It isn't only what is happening to you, but it's what's happening all around you...”
It’s one thing to be Black, it’s another to be conscious. James Baldwin’s definition sums up what it means to be Black and conscious. Being Black and conscious is to be mentally, physically, emotionally, and socially aware of how you, your brothers, and your sisters are being treated as Black people. It’s caring about how Black men, women and children are treated in a world that favors all other races to the Black race.
Many music lovers use relatable songs as tools for connecting with their emotions. For the Black and conscious, songs about racism, Black excellence, injustice or simply being Black evokes strong emotions that might differ according to listeners and their personal experiences.
Below are 15 songs for the Black and Conscious:
1. Common - U, Black Maybe
Common - U, Black Maybe(Featuring Bilal)(Music Video)
In this song, Common — who is a very conscious rapper — raps about the Black experience. He begins in his first verse by saying, “I heard a white man’s yes is a Black maybe”. He continues by describing life in African American communities and how poverty, drugs and other issues influence the fate of the Black men, women, and children.
Quotable lyrics:
“When we talk about black maybe/ We talk about situations of people of color/
and because you are that color/
You endure obstacles and opposition”
2. Nas - Ultra Black
Nas - Ultra Black (Official Music Video)
In 2020, Nas released this anthem for all Black people titled, “Ultra Black”. The Hit-boy produced song is a celebration of Black Culture.
Quotable Lyrics: “To Africa, you say, ‘Go back’ / I stay pro-black, my Amex black/
Black like cornrows, afros/ Black like Kaep' blackballed from the Superbowls”
3. Janelle Monae - Django Jane
Janelle Monáe – Django Jane [Official Music Video]
“Django Jane” is an empowering song — especially for black women. Through her lyrics, she describes her rise to fame and success as a Black woman.
Quotable Lyrics:
“Black girl magic, y'all can't stand it/ Y'all can't ban it, made out like a bandit/ They been tryin' hard just to make us all vanish
4. Mick Jenkins - Padded Locks
Mick Jenkins - Padded Locks & Barcelona (Official Music Video)
There’s a lot to unpack on this song. In addition to Mick Jenkins’ rhythm and Ghostface’s aggressive bars, there are conscious lyrics sprinkled in many parts of the verses.
Quotable Lyrics: “Fuck the rulers, Donald Trump is a piece of shit”
5. Royce da 5’9 - Black Savage
Royce 5'9 - Black Savage ft. Sy Ari Da Kid, White Gold, CyHi The Prynce & T.I. (Official Video)
Royce is a bold artist who says whatever he wants to say. He doesn’t hold back on this one and let’s his lyrics about Blackness spray like bullets from an AK. He also pays homage to some legendary Black people in the entertainment industry.
Quotable Lyrics: “How much more do you want?/ You wanna send us back to where we came from 'Cause we just savages/ Well here's my ass to kiss”
6. Big Sean - Guard Your Heart
Big Sean - Guard Your Heart (Audio) ft. Anderson .Paak, Earlly Mac, Wale
“Guard Your Heart” is like fuel for the mind. Big Sean encourages listeners to keep their head up and stay grinding while Wale directs his lyrics at racist white people.
Quotable Lyrics: “Got tired of white silence, so the riots started/ And the robbers robbed, you wylin' 'cause yo' product gone?/ We mad that Eric Garner, Breonna, Gianna father gone”
7. J Cole - Before I’m Gone
J. Cole - Before I'm Gone
J Cole has a lot of deep and conscious songs in his discography. This one is one of the really good ones.
Quotable Lyrics:
“We tired of only having just a piece/ And fuck policing, they killing niggas what's the reason/ His daughter starving and she fucking freezing/ So no wonder why he fucking squeezing”
8. J Hus - Helicopter
J Hus - Helicopter (Official Audio) ft. iceè tgm
British rapper, J Hus can best be described as a conscious rebel who makes great music.
Quotable Lyrics:
“No man can ever put my life on pause/
They enslaved my ancestor, no remorse/ I bring knowledge to Europe, just like the Moors”
9. Black Milk - Could it Be
Black Milk - Could It Be (Official Video)
“Could It Be” is one of the best songs in Black Milk’s collection. This is a record for the Black dreamer. It’s a reminder of where we come from and where we want to be. Despite the obstacles thrown at us, we still have big dreams. Like Black Milk says in the song, “that American pie he just want a portion.”
Quotable Lyrics: “Black kid with dreams by any means/ to see himself foldin' keys to a black Porsche and/ That american pie he just want a portion”
10. G Herbo - All Black
G Herbo – All Black (From Judas And the Black Messiah: The Inspired Album)
A song that appeared on the soundtrack for Judas and the Black Messiah — an historical drama about the betrayal of Fred Hampton. Like the entire soundtrack, “All Black” is one for the culture.
11. Rakim - Black Messiah
Rakim – Black Messiah (Official Audio) [From Judas And the Black Messiah: The Inspired Album]
On “Black Messiah” Rakim pays tribute to Fred Hampton, the Black messiah.
Quotable Lyrics: “Like the barrel of a gun, crucified, he was only 21/ Look at all the things he did in a short time/ Imagine all the things that he could've done”
12. Sault - Foot on Necks
Sault - Foot on Necks
In 2020, British group, Sault outdid themselves. They released two albums that can only be described as protest anthems for Black people around the world. Although “Foot on Necks” appeared on their 2019 album, ‘5’ it makes the list because of the strong emotions it evokes.
Quotable Lyrics:
“You don't feel, what we feel, and it's evident/ That you shoot to kill, 'cause you know, you'll get away with it”
13. Pharrell ft Jay Z - Entrepreneur
Pharrell Williams - Entrepreneur (Official Video) ft. JAY-Z
Another song about Black excellence. One of the ways Black people can progress and fight oppression is by striving to be great by any means. Although the system doesn’t favor us, we can build something solid from the scratch by being entrepreneurs.
Quotable Lyrics:
“The brainwashed become hype boys/ Third eye dilate/ You ain't supposed to make it off Section 8/ Robbin' Peter just to pay Paul”
14. Jay Z and Kanye West - Murder to Excellence
Kanye West and Jay Z - Murder to Excellence
“Murder to Excellence” is consciousness at its peak. The sample amplifies the deep lyrics about the society and its relationship with black people.
Quotable Lyrics: “In the past if you picture events like a black tie/ What’s the last thing you expect to see? Black guys/ What's the life expectancy for black guys?/ The system's working effectively, that's why!”
15. G Herbo - Intuition
G Herbo - Intuition ft Sonta & 2Pretty (Official Audio)
The last song on this list, and the best way to end this piece is a quote from G Herbo’s Intuition.
Quotable Lyrics: “You can't separate or compare freedom from peace/
Because no one can be at peace unless they have freedom/ And we not even born free, at least that's where I'm from/ Everything I seen growing up was poverty strucken/ Shit was damaged, taken from us or taken advantage of already/
And this is what we exposed to all day, that's what damage does/ And if you don't understand what I'm talking about, you never been through it/ I guess you one of the people I'm saying this to and not for”
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A Look Into Hip Hop's Most Anticipated Artists And Projects In 2021
2021 is gearing up to be another dope year for Hip Hop releases. We take a look at some of Hip Hop’s most anticipated artists and projects for 2021!
By: James Teague
As we’re gearing up for an amazing new year (and yes it’s still going to be a great year regardless of everything covid-19 related), more new music is on the horizon for this new year to continue serving as our life soundtrack for the year. Even though there were some great gems that dropped last year, music 2020 was said to not really have a lot of impact due to the world getting altered because of COVID-19.
With everything going on whether it was with COVID, the presidential election, or the protests/riots that were all going on in America, I found lots of music lovers were not necessarily keeping up with all the latest new music that released each and every week. Hence why some of the albums released that I thought were going to do well actually didn't due to COVID-19. Luckily this year is a fresh start and we’re starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel with this entire living situation. Here are some of my most anticipated artists that I'm looking forward to releasing new music this year.
TDE
The current Best Rap Label Top Dawg Entertainment has had a very quiet 2020 for the most part but it appears since SZA dropped her singles, the label is getting up for another busy year. It wouldn't feel right for me if i did each artist alone so i decided to do the entire roster in its entirety in this section.
KENDRICK LAMAR - Between the numerous rumors surrounding his upcoming album, him moving in silence for the entire year and only popping out to the public on several occasions, there is no telling of what's going to happen with this next Kendrick album. What we can all say is that a lot has gone on since his last album DAMN, which was released in 2017, and everybody is wondering what he has to say for this next go round. This is one of the reasons why I'm going to always be excited for a new Kendrick release.
SZA - Just like Kendrick, SZA has also been under radar since her debut album CTRL and pops out seldomly. Her two brand new singles “Hit Different” and “Good Day” have me ready and anxious for SZA’s upcoming album. The people have been very very anxious for SZA to release new music and were to the point of frustration where they were taking things out on Punch through Twitter. Between that and watching SZA through her social media living and experiencing life, I expect the new album to be as amazing as her debut.
JAY ROCK - The OG member of the label Jay Rock has been quietly working since his last album Redemption dropped in Summer of 2018. Since the pandemic, he’s grown his hair out and looks like he’s been in the zone with making music and living life. I'm interested in hearing what he has to say this time around whenever it's time to release his new album.
SCHOOLBOY Q - Coming off his last album Crash Talk, Schoolboy Q has always been staying busy on the feature tip. It’s either the features or social media whenever we see him, whether it's playing the daddy role with his daughter or if he’s out playing golf. Even though I thoroughly enjoyed Crash Talk as an album from front to back, I can also understand why some of the fans felt like they were let down by this album. Q has said sometime after the album dropped that he was already back to work on his next album. From what I’ve heard through the grapevine, I'm hearing that Groovy Q is back on his Blankface/Habits and Contradictions vibes for the next album.
ISAIAH RASHAD - I don't have a clue as to why Zaywop is taking forever with releasing his album but he is the only member on TDE right next to Ab Soul who hasn't released a brand new album since 2016 with The Sun’s Tirade. He’s been previewing brand new music here & there on his instagram live. Whether he drops an album this year or not, I'm looking forward to hearing from Zaywop musically soon. He has been away for far too long.
DRAKE
The anticipation for his new album Certified Lover Boy is at an all time high right now. Since last year between all of the Drake leaks and his last project Dark Lane Demo Tapes, Drake has really been in his bag on the music tip. It felt like since his last interview with Elliot Wilson on rap radar, it feels like he’s been more focused than ever making sure the new album is quality material. All of the leaks and his last project have shown me that we haven't seen anything yet for Certified Lover Boy. It’s supposed to be coming out sometime this month but we shall see and find out.
PARTYNEXTDOOR
It felt good hearing back from Party after releasing his album PartyMobile, after being on a hiatus from releasing new music. Now that we’ve had time to properly digest the new album, I think it’s time for Party to work on a brand new album and the reason that I say that is because since he was away for so long prior to Partymobile, it feels more appropriate that new music should start dropping.
G-HERBO
I've always been a fan of G-Herbo’s music since the beginning of his career back when he was calling himself Lil Herb. But ever since hearing his new song “Statement”, it’s become my 2021 song for the year. It makes no sense how many times I’ve had this song on repeat. Between the Dipset “I Really Mean It” sample and Herbo rapping forreal, the aura of that entire song sounds so refreshing and focused. I'm looking forward to 25 The Album , the title of his upcoming album. I don't know what's going to happen this coming album, but if he has more song quality sounding like “Statement”, then I'm very excited for this brand new album coming.
K-CAMP
After releasing Kiss 5, one of the better albums of 2020, K Camp made it clear that in 2021 he was coming for the number one spot. Every year, K Camp drops a new project and every year he always has a hit record kept in the tuck. I expect this year to be no different.
RODDY RICCH
I'm very interested to see where Roddy Ricch is going to go with his Sophomore Album. Coming off having such an incredible year in 2020 with his debut album, Please Excuse Me for Being Anti-Social, Roddy has kept himself busy with doing his features while also staying out of the way during this global pandemic. Roddy said earlier that he was in no rush to put out a brand new album and that he likes to take his time with creating his next album. He was able to win a lot of people over with the music that he was making but I'm interested to see what level is going to be able to take when it comes to the sophomore. He strikes me as a young man who is about his business and wants to make sure that he shows up each day as his best self. I'm looking forward to seeing what lemons that life will give to Roddy in order for him to tell his story on the album.
FUTURE
Instagram pictures surfaced of DJ Esco , Metro Boomin, and 808 Mafia all being back in the studio working together which prompted the rumors of Monster 2 possibly being in the works. Now as far as I know, I cannot say if that’s really going to be true. However, I did see that Future deleted all the pictures off of his Instagram page and whenever you see an artist do something of that magnitude, then that means get in formation because it looks like there’s going to be a new album due to us at any given day/moment.
YOUNG THUG
Even though Thugger is always active on featured guest tracks abd collaboration projects, it almost feels like forever since we've heard a solo album from him. So Much Fun exceeded my expectations and has been in my album rotation for a while still to this very day. It appears Thugger is getting ready for Slime Language 2 with the lead single Take it to Trial Featuring Gunna and Yak Gotti. This looks like this going to be a Young thug and friends album but i'm glad to hear that Thug will be releasing brand new music this year.
LIL BABY
Cheers to another rapper who had the best 2020 yet in regards to hip-hop music. Lil Baby has done enough hits, songs, features, all for the year to help him get to where he's supposed to be. Having said that, for some reason it feels like some people are still not giving Baby the respect he truly deserves. From the awards show not properly nominating him as one of the better artists whether the nomination is for the album or him as an artist. He’s already closed off on the features and is back in the lab cooking up brand new music from what i'm hearing. Even with all of the success coming to him, Lil Baby is still hungry to show and prove to the real ones that he’s here to stay.
NIPSEY HUSSLE
Word has got out through J Stone, one of Nipsey’s close friends and collaborators, confirmed that there will be a brand new Nipsey Hussle album that’s going to be released soon. J Stone had revealed on the The Bootleg Kev podcast that there’s so many verses Nip has done where he thought that he's heard everything. For me personally, as long as Nipsey’s team is involved in the process of making this album, then I'm all for this release. It was messed up knowing that he was in work already with his next album and the collaboration project with Meek only for him to pass away unexpectedly.
PUSHA-T
Daytona came out back in 2018 and yet it feels like it's been out for almost half a decade. There’s been rumors of a Pusha/Madlib project for a while now that haven't been confirmed yet. However in another interview, Pusha had confirmed his upcoming album so far is produced by Pharrell and Kanye West. He also said that it should be almost done very soon. We’ve only heard about Pusha’s music ever so often lately. The last time we heard from Pusha was about his drake diss verse on Pop Smoke’s Posthumous deluxe album, Shoot for the Star, Aim for the Moon. I'm already expecting the music to be very superior but I'm just ready for a brand new album coming very soon.
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G Herbo Reflects On Mental Health And Childhood Trauma On "PTSD" Album
On his recent album, PTSD, we follow G-Herbo’s memoir reflecting on his past and present day traumas, including remembering and honoring all of his childhood friends who’ve passed away due to violence or other traumatic activities.
By: James Teague
For several years now, many people have become more open towards vulnerability and expressiveness in regards to the subject of mental health. As humans, we all have experienced different types of trauma that may have short term or long term effects on us. If you’re someone like rapper G-Herbo, whose lived a compelling lifestyle that has left long term effects of trauma growing up on the Eastside of Chicago, then your POV on viewing life can be real different.
On his new album, PTSD, we follow Herbo’s memoir detailing his life as a 24 year old rapper from Chicago, reflecting on his past and present day traumas, including remembering and honoring all of his childhood friends who’ve passed away due to violence or other traumatic activities. Herbo has been teetering in between the Hip-Hop & Mainstream world, whether it’s from his musical release or a continued storyline of his past relationship with his baby’s mother Ari Fletcher, who also is IG-Famous as well.
Despite many distractions and opinions, Herbo refuses to let the distractions get to him as he focuses on using the music that he’s grown up with to help spread awareness on neighborhood kids potentially having PTSD, which can be just as severe as someone who's served in the army. Herbo shows the maturity in his music as he raps effortlessly on his Intro track, which is produced by Don Cannon & happens to use a sample of Jay-Z’s classic Dynasty intro.
Throughout the album, such records as “Gangstas Cry” with BJ the Chicago Kid, “Party in Heaven” with Lil Durk, and the title track “PTSD” with Juice Wrld, Chance the Rapper, & Lil Uzi Vert are shown to be the high points on his album. On “Feelings”, which is led by a sampling of Jadakiss song, “Still Feel Me,” Herbo begins to rap and open up about his estranged relationship with Ari Fletcher. He raps his true feelings saying,
“Talked to my kid mom today, that was kinda hard
Sick of all the drama in my life, we ain't gotta start
How the fuck we still holding grudges, you ain't got a heart?
Either way a nigga life a movie and you got a part”
One of the things that I love about this album is Herbo showing love to the OG’s that helped pave the way for him to be in the current position that he’s in. His work is being noticed by such rap influences like Jadakiss. Some footage appeared on IG not too long ago of the two rappers linking up embracing and showing love for paying homage on Feelings.
Jadakiss - Still Feel Me
One of the most underrated records for me off PTSD was “High Speed”. On this record, we hear Herbo rapping about his last high speed chase he was involved in, detailing all of the thoughts that were going on through his head. One can debate that in the past, the drama between Ari and himself could have almost overshadowed his music career. But the release and impact of PTSD shows otherwise. No matter the situations that may have come up, G-Herbo shows that he can and will prevail amongst all distractions
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Who's Hot? 7 New Artists You Need To Know
We're giving you a list of 7 of the hottest new artists that may be flying under your radar! These are artists who are ready to change the landscape of hip hop and let their talents fly! Check them out here!
We're giving you a list of 7 of the hottest new artists that may be flying under your radar! These are artists who are ready to change the landscape of hip hop and let their talents fly! Check them out here!
1. Sonta Me'Shay
“What motivates me is God, my Mom, my Family, My Team, those who believe in me & those who don’t. I define success as true peace, inside and out.”
Sonta Me'Shay is a versatile hip hop artist from Chicago who can sing and put together an edgy rap verse! This rising artist is apart of Machine Group Entertainment which features artists such as G Herbo, Tink and many others! Sonta has had great success on youtube with some of her songs You Ain't Shit, Final Goodbye, Friends, AndWord To My Ex, all gathering millions of views! Sonta is definitely an artist to keep your eye on in 2018!
Check out her music below!
Sonta - “ Who is She” Official Music Video
2. Lona
“I just let the music speak for itself. I’m a man of few words by choice and I consider myself versatile when it comes to music so I just make whatever I feel at the time. My new project is definitely for driving, late nights, thinking, friends and relationships though. It’s a time piece of where I’m at right now, something people can live to.”
This is definitely a name you need to keep your eye on. At just 21, he has a dope collection of music but he is best known for his songs "Have U", "Let U Tell It", and "Real Luv". This is a talented hip hop artist who brings relatable music as well as a sense of realness to his lyrics. Lona gives off Kid Cudi vibes as he's able to switch between a relaxing melody tone and real rap! Expect to be hearing his name more in the near future!
Check out his music below!
Lona - “Real Luv” Music Video
3. Antoine Banks
“I use the word “relatable” a lot. I enjoy telling stories, I enjoy when people listen to my music and feel like I’m speaking about their personal life experiences or even their life in general.”
Antoine Banks is one of those rappers who you're going to want to say, "I knew about him before the hype!" With a lot of rappers resorting to commercial rap and mumble rap, this dude stays true to the game! This artist out of Odessa, Texas brings a real feel to his music which is truly relatable to our generation. His flow and lyrics is what makes him stand out from the crowd to deliver true authentic hip hop!
Check out his music below!
Antoine Banks - “Visions of Forever” Music Video
4. Lijah Turner
“This is real feel hip hop! Honestly that trap music, autotune mumble rap bullshit don’t come out my mouth.”
There aren't many rappers out there that make music that stays true to themselves and retain their own creativity throughout their music, but this is one of those artists who keeps it real in every song! Real rap is still alive, and this west coast artist is making sure that people understand what that is! Lijah Turner is severely underrated but his talents won't be hidden for long. Turner brings raw content to his lyrics and makes music for fans who can truly appreciate his authenticity.
Check out his music below!
5. WAASIKeso
“I would describe our music as real and relatable because we are vulnerable with things such as relationships, depression, our personality and what we think. One song might feel like a nighttime ride by yourself, the next might feel like a summer day drive to the get some food with the homies. We try to capture different with every song.”
WAASIKeso is the modern day Eric B and Rakim. This duo out of Florida is exactly what hip hop needs. The duo of WAASIShade and WAASIKeso compliment each other perfectly and they will not be a secret for too much longer. Running through their playlist, it's hard to find a song that makes you want to press skip. Real hip hop, real lyrics, and real authenticity is what this duo brings to the table and the flow in which they deliver their content is unmatched.
Check out their music below!
Waasikeso - “Soul Food” Music Video
6. Laolu
“I just love creating and being around others who have genuine love for the art of music, nothing beats being around musicians and just seeing the enjoyment on their faces. The love of music motivates me and overcoming depression and making music again.”
The U.K. has bevy of talented artists, and this singer out of London is another product of a growing hip hop presence in England! Laolu puts her truths in her music, and brings realness to each song. This artist has a voice that will have you sit down and play all of her music on repeat. Laolu has openly talked about battling through depression and her own personal battle has sparked creativity in her music, and this is definitely music that many people can relate to.
Check out her music below!
Laolu - “How to Feel” Music Video
7. Nomi Sutton
“Knowing that I can do everything through Christ gives me a faith that constantly motivates me to keep pushing towards my passion. My mom is also someone who told me from the beginning to pursue my passion for singing. I also want her to have everything she wants so if it takes me there that would be such a blessing to have the opportunity to bless her and others.”
Nomi Sutton brings her own original sound to her music, matched with a voice that can make ou close your eyes and create your own visual. Nomi is a fairly new artist of Texas and is still growing her music catalogue but the music she has put out will make you want to keep an eye out for her next releases. Nomi's music is laid back and relaxing, music that is perfect for summer vibes!
Meet Adonis Armstrong, Co-Founder & President of 247 Live Culture!
Email: Adonis@247LiveCulture.com