Who's Hot? 7 New Artists You Need To Know Vol. 2
We're giving you our 2nd edition 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!
By: Omar Cook
We're giving you our 2nd edition 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. DFlowetry
“The effort I put into a song reflects on how my supporters hears the music. I don’t half ass on a song, I put my all in one song to bring out whatever emotion there is. When you give it a 100 percent, the rest will take care of itself.”
West coast rapper DFlowetry who's real name is Damascus Fields, is a dope lyricist out of Las Vegas, Nevada and his flow is definitely something you need to be paying attention to! This is an artist that is on the rise in hip hop as he is a true artist that matches hot visuals to go with top notch lyrics! DFlowetry has an original flow that is being less and less seen in hip hop today.
CHECK OUT HIS MUSIC BELOW!
DFlowetry- "Nights Like This" (Official Video)
2. Joshua Sheeran
“Success, to me is changing lives of the people around you and yourself. Digging deeper than financial and helping people on a spiritual and mental level.”
East Coast artist Joshua Sheeran is an under the radar artist out of Charlotte, North Carolina who recently graduated from North Carolina Central University. Since his graduation, 22 year old Sheeran has been on the grind pushing his music out. Joshua is an artist of many arts and wants his career to eventually expand beyond just music. His aim is to spread vibes and positive messages throughout his music always and he also hopes to breakthrough and show people love is cool still! Sheeran is planning to release his first full project early 2019 but already has a collection of dope music! Do no sleep on this artist!
CHECK OUT HIS MUSIC BELOW!
Joshua Sheeran - I Love It, She Love It
3. Trey Forever
“I see myself as an artist that has made a way for himself, family, and other artists. Trey Forever stands for my music and how my music will be remembered for ever. I wanna be unforgettable.”
Midwest R&B artist Trey Forever is an up and coming singer from St Louis to be exact! Trey is a grinder and is always working on his music and when he's not putting his time into releasing dope music, he's just spending time hanging with his people. "Just like everyone else I just like to really be around good people, even if I don’t say much sometimes." For you R&B fans, this is a name you need to get acquainted with as this is an artist with some real talent and vocals!
CHECK OUT HIS MUSIC BELOW!
Trey Forever - Good Intentions
4. Lauryn Harris
“I want people to get to know me and who I am as an artist. With each song I hope listeners feel the emotions I put into a song and enjoy the overall experience.”
Lauryn Harris is an up and coming singer from from Houston, Texas and at 21, she is currently attending Texas State University and getting her degree in mass communication with a minor in music. Fashion and beauty is another avenue she want to pursue in her career along with music! Lauryn recently her first project called Inside My Head, but don’t sleep on this artist as this is someone you will want to keep an eye out for in the future!
CHECK OUT HER MUSIC BELOW!
5. TyShawn Dion
“My music is a whole vibe. I’m real versatile so it’s hard to put me in a box but I focus on painting vivid pictures for people that are listening.”
East Coast lyricist TyShawn Dion hails from Worcester, Massachusetts which is not too far outside of Boston. This hot new artist spent the last 4 years at the University of Connecticut where he was also a student athlete playing football for his first two and a half years there but certain events forced him to walk away. TyShawn Dion brings a fierce delivery that is second to none in today’s hip hop landscape and is definitely an artist that you should keep your eye on for the future! Take it from us, he’s next up.
CHECK OUT HIS MUSIC BELOW!
TyShawn Dion - Look Alive (Gawdly Mix)
6. Temani Hill
“The music I write is based on things i’ve experienced and am experiencing. Things are changing every day so I don’t think i’ll ever run out of things to write about. Each day i’m realizing more things about my past and how they’ve effected me & i’m coming to terms with who I am. I just want to share my story. ”
R&B singer Temani Cherise Hill, is a smooth artist from from Durham, North Carolina. Aside from music, Temani is also very passionate about film photography. At only 19, Temani is building a solid resume with her music and you can definitely hear the talent and realness in her music. Temani has an untitled EP dropping early 2019!
CHECK OUT HER MUSIC BELOW!
7. Jeh $inatra
“I always find ways to tie in my life into my music as much as possible. I find it to be more organic and truthful, versus just writing from an angle I haven’t really explored. I try to keep as much truth in my music as I can.”
East Coast lyricist Jeh $inatra, is an under the radar artist who hails from Syracuse, New York. At 32 years old, this artist is married with a 10 year old daughter and owns an independent record label by the name Broken Hearts Music Group. His label curently features 4 rappers including himself and their in-house producer. $inatra is passionate about all the arts, and as a creative he likes to show off his creativity in many different forms. His most recent album “B.LA.C.K.” can be found on all major streaming platforms (apple music, spotify, tidal) with a new album that is planned to be dropped in March 2019.
CHECK OUT HIS MUSIC BELOW!
Jeh $inatra ft. TZO- "ACT X/ FOE"
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Liron Dayo and TZO Talk "The Pink Room" EP Release
Texas rap duo Liron Dayo and TZO dropped a hot new EP titled The Pink Room! We talked with the duo in an exclusive interview, check it out here!
By: Omar Cook
Texas rap duo Liron Dayo and TZO dropped a hot new EP titled The Pink Room! The duo put together a smooth 6 track project that is a must listen! We talked with the duo in an exclusive interview, check it out below!
Question: What was your inspiration for the title of this project?
Liron Dayo: Honestly, its pretty basic. "The Pink Room" was inspired by "The Pink Room" lol. It was kind of a running joke. TZO had been seeing this girl who's room was actually pink. He sent a picture of the room to our group chat one day, and from then on, whenever he was slow to reply, we would joke that he was in the "pink room." The whole project is themed around random encounters with women. It's lighthearted, and a bit of an homage to that special place we're always trying to get to.
TZO: Yeah what Dayo said lol it was just a light joke and a light moment and it just hit us that the concept could be way bigger than an inside joke!
Question: What do you want people to know about your music and this project?
Liron Dayo: We really want people to know how fucking dope we are. Seriously. Bars for days, a ton of creativity, and talent. As for the project itself, its just fun. We want people to listen to it, and smile...maybe encourage a little recreational activity with a willing partner, lol.
TZO: I know for sure I want people to be able to vibe to the music and also learn something from it, DTx’s story telling us something I pride us on as a duo, we both know what to say and how to say it to make it fit. We make stories into dope songs.
Question: What do you feel is a song that people MUST listen to on this project?
Liron Dayo: I thought "Admission" would be THE song...but people seem to love "Beat." Honestly, whichever one they vibe with the most, I love all my babies.
TZO: I think if you play any track on there you need to listen to it all, it’s a beautiful coherent body of work that we put some elbow grease into lol so if you’re gonna listen to one, listen to them all!
Question: How did you generate ideas for the songs on this EP?
Liron Dayo: Life experience. My process is really simple, I hear a beat, and the hook comes to me. If not, then my cadence comes to me, and I figure out what I wanna talk about later.
TZO: Honestly Dayo took the lead on the beat selection on this project, of course I had a say but I also knew he was better at creating this type of vibe we were going for with this project. The topics were easy, we both know about pleasing women and all the situations that come with a happy/unhappy partner. Once the topics come the rest just flows!
Question: What is your ultimate goal with your music?
Liron Dayo: Ultimately, I want my music to lend me a platform to do big things. On a more basic level, I think we both simply want our music to make people feel good, and occasionally make them think a little too.
Question: What separates this project from your past projects?
Liron Dayo: Just the natural progression that comes with doing something over and over again. This is the 2nd mixtape we've done together, and you can hear the growth.
TZO: This project is full of vibes maybe not everyone knew we were capable of creating but I think we wanted to be bigger and better on this one and we’re gonna get bigger and better with every project we do from here on out. More DTx coming very soon.
Download the project here!
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The Quick Rise And Destruction Of Tekashi 6ix9ine: No One Is Untouchable
The energy you put out will eventually be returned to you. Tekashi 6ix9ine being indicted on federal charges should send us all message…no one is unotuchable.
By: Omar Cook
The last thing we want to see is somebody throw their entire life away, so when I heard that Tekashi 6ix9ine was indicted on 6 federal charges and facing up to life in prison, I was shocked but more so disappointed. Never been a fan of his music, because of the messages that he was sending and lifestyle that he was portraying, but to see someone with nothing but life ahead of them get the book thrown at them is sad. Tekashi 6ix9ine going down on federal charges is a story that will be told as a lesson for everyone following in his footsteps trying to rise up the ladder in the hip hop industry.
This is a dude that at only 22 years old and with just a year under his belt rapping, blew up to unprecedented heights. From selling out shows, to rising up music charts, he was really living the dream. As a big fan of hip hop, I couldn’t understand why people were gravitating towards his music, but I began to understand that people feed off negativity. 6ix9ine continuously portrayed gang culture as a lifestyle that was worth living. He trolled rappers and engaged in rap beef after rap beef, most notably with Chief Keef and Trippie Redd. He shot music videos brandishing automatic weapons and pushed a message of violence by associating with the Nine Trey Bloods gang in New York.
Recently we’ve seen a number of young rappers face some unfortunate consequences such as Tay K, Bobby Shmurda, and XXXTentacion. Unfortunately, they don’t find out until it’s too late that there’s consequences for their actions. What’s crazy about the 6ix9ine situation is that he was warned SEVERAL times to stop moving like he was moving and get it together, but all of us have to live our own lives and some of us only learn by hard consequences.
6ix9ine was also given a second chance by beating a recent case where he was involved in sexual misconduct with a minor which he was only given probation for. You would think after getting let off the hook for that, that you would make some changes, but the the rapper has had multiple run ins with the law and has several pending cases outside of this major one that he just got caught up with. Unfortunately, this case is looking like the one that may put him away for a long time as he was booked on charges for racketeering among other charges. Basically, he’s in too deep.
6ix9ine surrounded himself with gang members who ultimately did a whole lot of criminal activity, and is basically going down by association. How many times do people have to say watch the company you keep? The goal of getting a platform and becoming financially stable is not to do the same things you were doing in the hood. You have to know to move better and leave that lifestyle in the past. He went on multiple interviews saying that he was untouchable, but ultimately that cockiness came back full circle.
This is a case of when you put out a certain energy, the universe will return it back to you, and unfortunately he basically manifested himself into a situation that he wasn’t ready for. Facing life in prison, anyone’s worst nightmare, but when you want to be a gangster, you have to deal with what comes with it. What’s even more crazy is that after being picked up on these charges, his lawyer has said that he is really not a gang member, but an entertainer portraying the lifestyle. You did all this shit for entertainment? As if we didn’t know that already, but mannnn.
My only hope is that people will learn from the people that have fallen before them. You don’t have to push a negative image to be successful. You don’t have to be someone you’re not. At what point do we as fans stop giving these rappers with nothing really to say a platform? This is a dude with 15 million followers on instagram so instead of pushing negativity and violence to the masses, he could have easily directed his message for the better, but fame and money will buck your head up. I’m tired of seeing young people rise to the top just to throw it all away.
I wish prison on no one and will definitely be hoping for the best for him, but ultimately he allowed himself to get caught up in this situation. The major lesson here is that God will humble you and if you don’t use what you have for good, it can easily be stripped away from you. Up and coming artists need to stop believing that negativity is the only way to the top, because ultimately that can only last for so long.
Listen to 6ix9ine’s last interview on the breakfast club where he talks firing his associates and his latest legal issues.
Tekashi 6ix9ine Explains Why He Fired His Team, Recent Shooting & New Album
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Lona Talks '346' Album Release
We spoke with Houston rapper, Lona, about his new album release, 346! Read the full interview and stream the album here!
By: Omar Cook
Houston Rapper, Lona dropped a hot new album titled, 346! This rising artist continues to show his versatility with this 14 track project that is a must listen. Lona also has some other dope projects with Moment’s Notice EP, God Bless The Child, and YoungGiftedSoul.
We talked with Lona in an exclusive interview, check it out below!
Question: What was your inspiration for the title of this project?
Lona: Well 346 is the newest area code in Houston and when it came out a lot of people weren’t feeling it. So I flipped it as a metaphor for me as an artist, being the new Houston and how people haven’t really shown me a lot of love either. I was also seeing the number everywhere like I’d be up late writing these songs, look over at the clock, and it’d be 3:46 and I’m big believer in signs so it all felt right.
Question: What do you want people to gather from listening to your album?
Lona: I want people to really take away that it’s okay to feel and be vulnerable and also that you don’t have to fit in. In fact, if you don’t there’s probably something bigger in the works for you. But I’m really telling a story though, the album is built on a concept. The album starts with me getting into an argument with my girl and I go on a drive to clear my head and the songs are feelings and thoughts I have riding around. I don’t want to give it all away but I want people to listen with that in mind. I also tried to truly capture where I’ve been at in my life the past 2 years. It’s a lot of layers so I just want them to sit with and digest it.
Question: What do you feel is a song that people MUST listen to on this album?
Lona: 20/20 Hindsight. Just because of how musical it is, it’s an experience. Plus the message of the song is important for everyone to hear. I feel like in this fast-pace world we live in we’re always looking ahead or feel like we have all the answers and the song is admitting you don’t have them and that you miss out on things right in front of you everyday because we fail to live in the present.
Question: How did you generate ideas for the songs on this album?
Lona: They all just kind of came to me over time naturally. I watched a lot of 90’s black love movies, some classic noirs, sci-fi movies, black sitcoms. I listened to a lot of R&B music from the 90’s and early 2000’s. I also just watched how we live today through social media. Plus life was putting me through things that forced me to grow and look at stuff differently so I had a lot to say personally cause I’m an introvert. I was really isolated so it all came out on wax.
Question: Is there anything else you want people to know about your music and this project?
Lona: I want them to know I put a lot of time into this album and it’s a really honest body of work. I just hope they can relate to it and enjoy it. Maybe some of the game, or hidden gems help someone feel like they’re not alone but I just really hope it connects with people and that they come back for more.
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“There’s no rules in this.” - Just How Deep Is This Pusha T and Drake Beef Going?
The beef between Drake and Pusha T has everything from pillow talking to fake friends, but just how deep is it going? There’s lessons to be learned from this.
“Stay away from beef at all costs.”
By: Omar Cook
It’s the middle of October and this beef between Drake and Pusha T is STILL dragging out from the summer. I mean, it was pretty quiet for a minute, and all seemed well…until we heard the interview between Drake and Lebron on Lebron’s newest HBO show The Shop. In the interview, Drake discussed how he felt betrayed by Kanye West by blaming him for leaking the info on his child to Pusha T. He also discussed Pusha T’s role in the beef by saying he went too far by speaking on his friend, Noah "40" Shebib’s condition of multiple sclerosis.
“Rap purists and people who just love confrontation, they love to say, ‘Aye there’s no rules in this shit.’ But there are fucking rules in this shit. I knew something was gonna come up about my kid. They had to add the deadbeat thing to make it more appealing, which is fine. I understand that. Even that, I was like, OK. The mom and dad thing, whatever. You don’t even know my family. But I’mma tell you, wishing death on my friend that has MS… I study rap battles for a living. Now when you mention defenseless people who are sick in the hospital, that passed away, that really sent me to a place where I just believed then, and believe now, that there’s just a price that you have to pay for that.”
So of course upon hearing this interview, most of are thinking, damn Kanye, why you do Drake like that? And of course Kanye is the easy target because he’s a head case. So in hearing this interview, you would almost expect nothing less than a response from Pusha T himself. and that’s what we got. Pusha T revealed who the TRUE source of his information was in an interview on Joe Budden's podcast, and it wasn’t from who we expected.
"The information came from 40," the G.O.O.D. Music president said in reference to Drake implying that Kanye West was the source. "It didn’t come from Kanye, at all. 40 is sleeping with a woman, who begins to...he talks to her daily. Five, six hours a day...And ultimately speaks about how he's disgruntled about certain things, notoriety and things involving Drake and his career, and so on and so forth. With that also came the fact that Drake has a child. With that also came the trip that everybody took to go see the child, and bring him gifts, and all this information. She divulged this information. That's where it came from."
That’s right. Pusha T revealed that the information came from Drake’s friend,40, who was pillow talking about Drake’s situation to a woman he was sleeping with. This situation makes the lyrics to Drake’s song Light It Up even more relevant today, and just a little bit creepy as Drake and Jay-Z both spoke about a possible situation like this happening in that song. “And if you pillow talking with the women that are screwin' you/ Just know that she gon' tell another nigga when she through wit you” Drake said on the song. Drake, here is how they gon' come at you/ With silly raps for you tryin' to distract you/ In disguise, in the form of a favor/ The Barzini me, watch for the traitors” Jay Z said. That was 9 years ago and this shit really just played out. Crazy.
Pusha went on to also say "Only reason I'm here now, for real for real, is because [Drake] was so passionate about the MS thing," he said. "And they did the backlight and they put the spotlight on his face, 'When you said my friend,' but your friend is the reason why. That's how it came about. That narrative's gotta die. Listen, it needs to die. It's done. That narrative is done." I think it’s safe to say we solved the mystery of where the information came from.
In response to Drake talking about there being rules to rap beef, rapper Styles P chimed in on the issue in a recent interview with Hot 97 saying “You can’t expect in any type of warfare, any type, not just rap, ain’t no rules,” Styles P said. “You gotta go into it knowing anything could happen. That’s why your best bet is to not engage. Stay away from beef at all costs.”
Styles also said, “I don’t got nothing against Drake, but how does a guy say what’s the rules in a rap battle that had a ghostwriter before. That’s not fair dog. You gotta stay up there. You’re beautiful up there. We love you up there. But don’t come down here and change the rules. That’s wrong because it’s war.”
Truth is, when it comes to hip hop, Styles P is right, ain’t no rules to a rap beef and we’ve seen this throughout history with some of hip hop’s most notorious rap beefs. Pusha T baited Drake into a beef and Drake took the bait and didn’t have enough gas to finish the race. Bottomline. If he never wanted to worry about rap beef '“rules”, he should have never took the bait and responded. Not only that, but he engaged in the beef and threw in the white towel! Then claimed he had this career ending response that he cooked up but didn’t want to release it because it would “hurt too many people.”
I’m really not sure what else we’re going to hear from this situation but it’s starting to look like an old episode of Ricky Lake. The drama is finding it’s way to the light. We don’t expect Drake to be a battle rapper, we know that’s not your lane. But there’s lessons to be learned here. Lesson 1, is never engage in something that you know you can’t finish, especially if you have to stoop down to someone’s level to be involved in it. Lesson 2, is watch who your friends are and what you tell them because you never know what they’re saying behind your back.
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50 Cent Refuses To Let Ja Rule Off The Hook: ''Don't Nobody Want to See That Sh*t"
After nearly 20 years of beef, 50 Cent still takes every opportunity to take shots at Ja Rule with no signs of slowing up!
“Only 10 tickets sold don’t nobody want to see that shit”
By: Omar Cook
Rap beefs are inevitable in hip hop and have been going on since hip hop first started, but there are few that just keep going for years and years. 50 Cent and Ja Rule have been beefing for almost 20 years. 20 whole years. Some of ya'll were babies when 50 cent first released "Life's on the Line," from his debut studio album Power of the Dollar which was an outright diss to Ja Rule and the Murder Inc label. It’s 2018 and 50 Cent still refuses to stall Ja Rule out.
Ja Rule tweeted Friday that he had to cancel his show in Syracuse due to a delayed flight and 50 Cent took this as an opportunity to exhibit his professional pettiness. 50 Cent has never been hesitant to talk reckless via social media, and he certainly takes no precautions when it comes to his New York rival Ja Rule.
192.7k Likes, 21.6k Comments - 50 Cent (@50cent) on Instagram: "👀only 10 tickets sold don't nobody want to see that shit, you talking about wait we get a lot a..."
311.4k Likes, 17k Comments - 50 Cent (@50cent) on Instagram: "We lit 🔥3Arena in Dublin tonight 😆🤨get the strap"
Ja Rule posted a sincere apology to his fans but anytime something happens with Ja Rule, 50 takes it as his time to shine. 20 years of beefing from 2 of New York’s most famous rappers and it doesn’t to be cooling down anytime soon. Ja Rule responded to 50 via instagram comment.
4,534 Likes, 1,014 Comments - Baller Alert (@balleralert) on Instagram: "#jarule vs #50cent"
Things also get chippy earlier this year after 50 Cent took a few shots at Ja Rule during an interview in January and Ja Rule took to twitter to air out his issue with 50 continuing to talk bad about him.
As entertaining as it is to see how these dudes respond to each other, after nearly 2 decades, it might just be time to come to some kind of truce. Both of these artists have been on the opposite sides of success in recent years, but two successful black men nonetheless. No one’s benefiting from this beef at this point.
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Lil Wayne Talks About Childhood Suicide Attempt And Owning Young Money
Lil Wayne talks about owning Young Money and discusses a suicide attempt at 12 which he hopes will help people going through a similar situation get through it!
“Just being an adult, reaching a level of maturity and comfort where it’s like, ‘I want to talk about this because I know a lot of people out here might be going through that.’”
By: Omar Cook
Rapper Lil Wayne was only 12 years old when he shot himself in the chest with a handgun he got from his mother’s purse. He has always gone on record for saying it was an accident but in his recent interview with Billboard, he revealed that this was a suicide attempt. "In the past, he has called this an accident. But on the new verse he plays, Wayne admits this was a suicide attempt, undertaken after his mother told him he would no longer be allowed to rap," Billboard reports.
Young Money label president Mack Maine explained why Wayne came forward to speak about it after all this time. “He just told me one day that he was ready to address it now,” Maine said. “Just being an adult, reaching a level of maturity and comfort where it’s like, ‘I want to talk about this because I know a lot of people out here might be going through that.’”
On his album Free Weezy, he subliminally addressed the situation on the track “London Roads”: “Ms. Cita, I remember goin’ in your gun drawer/Puttin’ it to my chest and missin’ my heart by centimeters, oh Lord.” What’s crazy is that after he recovered from his injuries, his mother allowed him to join Cash Money with the agreement that he wouldn’t curse on his records. The result was his 1999 solo debut, Tha Block Is Hot which featured no curse words!
Wayne coming forward with this testimony speaks to the passion that he knew he had for rapping at an early age. It also tells us that people can hide hurtful truths about themselves and secretly go through things without anyone knowing. Wayne is one of the biggest artists in the world, and the world had no idea that it was a near death experience that propelled him into a rap career. His testimony also says that sometimes on the other side of pain, is glory and you just have to get through to receive what’s yours, no matter who’s in the way. Wayne’s maturity and growth on the situation should let people know that they too can get through what looks like the worst possible situation and come out on top.
Lil Wayne Opens Up About Childhood Suicide Attempt (CREDIT: Instagram.com/evanhernandez)
In the interview with Billboard, Wayne also addressed how he got through his long legal battles with Birdman and Cash Money Records saying, “Just the confidence in knowing that there’s always a tomorrow and I’m going to make sure that tomorrow is bright. Some people can’t go on [like] that, like, ‘OK, tomorrow will be better.’ They need it to be better right now. And thank God I didn’t, and I never did.”
Lil Wayne announced the production of his highly anticipated album, Tha Carter V, in late 2012 and was scheduled to release it on December 9, 2014. Just a few days before the scheduled release, Wayne took to twitter to express the issues he was dealing with regarding Birdman and Cash Money discussing how they refused to release the album. What followed was a $51 million lawsuit against Birdman and Cash Money, alleging breach of contract, failure to pay royalties and withholding advances, and requesting an audit of Cash Money’s books. Since then the album has been on halt.
The lawsuit has since been settled and Wayne has retained ownership of his label Young Money and recently announced that Tha Carter V would be released this fall. FINALLY. It’s about time because if you’re reading this i’m assuming you’re a Wayne fan and this is what we been waiting on. Since settling the lawsuit, Wayne and Birdman have repaired their relationship but he also revealed that it caused him to have some trust issues.
“Not even just with him, but my relationships with a lot of people have become different, just because of how different I work now,” he says. “I’m submerged in everything about myself, trying to be better at who I am. It’s something where you have to cut some things off.”
Sometimes you have to withstand a storm to receive the ultimate blessings. And sometimes you have to remove yourself from certain relationships to ultimately become who you need to be. Wayne opening up about his trials and tribulations should be a message to anyone going through something, that they can get through it and still come out on top.
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Drake and Meek Mill Squashing Their Beef Is What Hip Hop Needed
Drake and Meek Mill hit the stage together in Boston to squash a longtime beef! We discuss it here!
“We need more peace in the world, we need more love in the world. Meek Mill that’s my brother, that’s my nigga from day one”
By: Omar Cook
Faith Evans and Mary J. Blige fought at Diddy's house in the Hamptons. Cardi B and Nicki Minaj got physical during fashion week. Mac Miller was found dead in his home. In what has been a week full of unforeseen storylines in the hip hop world, add this one to the list. Drake and Meek Mill just ended their beef. Wild.
Drake and Meek Mill Squash Beef In Boston
Drake hit the stage in Boston for a stop on his Aubrey and the Three Migos tour Saturday night, and in the plot twists of all plot twists, Drake brought out Meek Mill to perform Dreams and Nightmares. "We need more peace in the world, we need more love in the world. Meek Mill that's my brother, that's my nigga from day one" Drake said on stage. This what hip hop needed!
Drake and Meek have been beefing since 2015 when Meek accused Drake of having ghostwriters to write his songs. Meek also had an issue with Drake not shouting out Meek’s Dreams Worth More Than Money album, Since then, the beef has been fueled with a bevy of diss tracks.
A surprising as this is, it's only fitting that this beef has come to end because Meek has been filled with a new energy since his release from prison. The rapper has been on a mission to fight for criminal justice reform since his release and holding onto a petty rap beef would just be a distraction to the cause. Drake really doesn't need anymore beef as he already went at it with Pusha T to kick off the summer.
Will this mean we will see some music between the two artists in the future? Time will tell, but or now we can just enjoy the black unity.
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J. Cole Posts Much Needed Message To The Music Industry In Light Of Mac Miller Death
J Cole Posts Much Needed Message To The Music Industry In Light Of Mac Miller Death
By: Omar Cook
We all heard the unfortunate news of the passing of talented rapper and producer, Mac Miller. Mac Miller passed away due to a drug overdose at the young age of 26. There were millions of tweets celebrating the rappers life, but one in particular stood out and that was from J Cole. His tweet and Miller's death brings attention to the ugly truths that some people deal with, and thats the overuse of drugs. Drug culture and using drugs to cope with certain things is a bigger issue than a lot of people realize.
Instead of dealing with issues head on, a lot of people turn to drugs rather than talking to friends or family about their problems. Drug use is over glorified in hip hop culture and honestly that needs to change. J. Cole touched on the subject on his recent album KOD with his song "Friends." Listen to it below.
J. Cole - “Friends” Music Video
Unfortunately, a lot of times we get so caught up in our own lives that we forget to check up on friends and family and don't realize they're going through something. Particularly, in the black community, mental health is an issue that often isn't taken seriously and people lack the courage to speak up and get help for their issues. Drug use is the easy way out, but unfortunately it doesn't always end up with the best results.
If you're battling with an issue, think about who you can talk to before turning to a hardcore drug that will do nothing more than suppress the feelings for a limited time. And if you know you haven't reached out to your loved ones the way you need to, you never know if they're needing someone to talk to and you can change that person's life.
Mac Miller will forever be remembered for the dope music that he gave us but his death will also serve a purpose that drug use is an issue that needs to dealt with. Thank you for the music and may you rest in peace.
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The Best Summer Anthems Of 2018 | 9 Songs That You Need in Your Playlist
We’re giving you a list of the some of the 9 best summer anthems of 2018! See if your favorite song the cut here!
By: James Teague
For some reason the vibes for Summer 2018 were different and I couldn’t put my finger on why. Maybe the current climate of our lives is playing a role. All that I can say is that the season is almost over and we don’t truly have an anthem to define our Summer this year. There’s usually a song that’s already been decided by the masses already. There's some songs you can say that fell into that Summer 18 category and after careful living and observation, I’ve picked out a couple of songs that can be nominated as the best summer anthems 2018. You can be the judge and decide which song is considered to be the anthem of Summer 18.
Ella Mai - Boo’d Up
This song was originally on Ella Mai’s Ready EP which was released last year. But somehow it resurfaced this year and created a life of its own. I appreciate the “Trust the process” story. Ella Mai is deserving of all this attention she’s getting. Everybody loves it especially the guys.
Ella Mai - “Boo’d Up” Music Video
Drake - Nice for What
It’s not Summer without Drake giving us an anthem to enjoy amongst the current time of our lives. From the song to the visual, you can tell this was dedicated more to the women out there working hard and looking good simultaneously. He made it clear for the women that this was the summer to start acting up and letting the men know what time it was.
Drake - “Nice For What” Music Video
YG - Big Bank
Everybody loves a rachet west coast style single from YG alongside DJ Mustard on the production boards. It felt good to hear Mustard & YG linking back up again for Stay Dangerous. You can't help but do your dance when “My b*tch drive an all white range/ Couldn't hit if you n*ggas had aim..” first comes on.
YG - Big Bank ft. 2 Chainz, Big Sean, Nicki Minaj (Official Music Video)
Jay Rock - WIN
This isn’t just a song, it’s a life mantra that the people strive to live for in life! This was the perfect song to officially kick off Jay Rock’s run with Redemption, which happens to be one of top rap albums so far in 2018. Once again the TDE brand remains strong.
Jay Rock - “Win” Music Video
Tory Lanez ft Rich The Kid - Talk to Me
I was having a tough time trying to choose between BID and Talk to Me but the chorus alone for Talk to Me is so catchy that it just rolls off of your tongue with ease. Tory is planning to drop a new project Love Me Now right after releasing his Sophomore Effort Memories Don’t Die.
Tory Lanez, Rich The Kid - “TAlk tO Me” Music Video
Drake - In My Feelings
When I first heard this record on the night Scorpion released, I already knew this was going to be a smash single! Between the New Orleans influence and Drake giving City Girls a huge look, it had all of the ingredients for a successful moment. And it all kicked off when IG comedian Shiggy started the “In My Feelings” challenge.
Drake - “In My Feelings” Music Video
Khalid ft Ty Dolla Sign & 6lack - On the Way
The visual and vibe of this song gave me 90s vibes with a twist. It’s always great to hear feel good R&B records that you just automatically know is going to stand the test of time especially when hearing great young R&B acts. Ty Dolla is currently on his run with some of the best guest features in 2018 so far! Meanwhile everyone is anticipating 6lack’s next album release at any moment.
Khalid - “OTW” featuring 6LACK, Ty Dolla $ign (Official Music Video)
Valee ft Jeremih - Womp Womp
The rising stardom of Chicago rapper Valee has been a trajectory to watch this year from his debut EP GOOD Job, You Found Me to watching other rappers try and imitate his rap flow. This is one of the records that helps highlight who Valee is as an up and coming artist. I'm looking forward to hearing his next project with Cardo Got Wangz to see where he’s going to go next with his music.
Valee featuring Jeremih - “Womp Womp” (Official Music Video)
Tyga ft Offset - Taste
With all of the constant slander and jokes that the masses have made towards rapper Tyga, we forget about his ability to keep a hit record under his belt. At first I wasn’t sure what to think about the reactions to the song, but after listening and living with this song, I was sold. Between that, his other record Swish, and his new LA Leakers Freestyle, I’m liking what he’s doing with his music and hope he continues this streak of great music.
Tyga - “Taste” featuring Offset (Official Music Video)
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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!
Check out her music below!
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The Legacy and Impact of Rapper XXXTentacion
XXXTentacion was an up and coming rapper who reached millions of people with his music and helped some with depression, but domestic violence accusations have many people refusing to look past his talents! We discuss his legacy and impact that XXXTentacion left behind!
By: Abina George
June 18, 2018, brought news of an unexpected and devastating event. Police pronounced XXXtentacion, a contemporary rapper, dead at 2:40 pm in Miami, Florida. The rapper was murdered during a robbery while he was shopping at area motorcycle dealers. His unexpected murder has brought forth a debate concerning violence and the absolution of violent crime upon death.
XXXtentacion was an up and coming Soundcloud rapper whose debut album, 17, was released last year. The album was an eclectic mixture of violent rap along with moving ballads that drew listeners to his unconventional, yet alluring musical style, uniting an otherwise diverse group of followers.
While critics praised his musical abilities and appealing music, his image was marred by reports of his violent behavior. XXXtentacion was accused of violently assaulting his then-pregnant girlfriend and causing her severe medical issues along with a miscarriage. The rapper was currently on trial for the crime during the time of his death.
Also, during his stay in prison for the above crimes, he assaulted his cellmate for simply staring at him during his prison stay. The rapper boasted of the incident on a radio show, claiming to assault his cellmate, who he believed was gay, as a way of showing dominance.
The headlines have been filled with news of XXXTentacion and tales of his alleged assault of pregnant ex- girlfriend and other violent encounters with other parties. He was accused of heinous violence and was amid a trial for these alleged offenses. He was also accused of other assaults, robberies, and other crimes.
News of his death rattled social media and many fans expressed their loss and condolences on his passing while others shared a suspected video of the rapper immediately after his death. His death also caused a strange transformation among his fans and the public in general. Although his death was untimely and he himself was a victim of violent crime, many seem to want to absolve him of the crimes he committed during his lifetime.
XXXtentacion Interviews with No Jumper Podcast
Many people flocked to social media to pay their respects to the late artist. Along with the statements of loss, many people took to defending the rapper's actions in life since he befell a tragic and untimely death. The most common phrases “He was young, he could have changed,” or “We all do dumb things while young,” attempts to lessen his actions as common and acceptable for youth.
Attacking others, regardless of age, is never acceptable for members of society. XXXtentacion killed his unborn child with the abuse of his ex-girlfriend, nearly killed her and his cellmate, and many want to forget about the abuse since he can no longer face legal judgment on the matter. Fans choose to gloss over his memory and only remember his music, not the all-encompassing content of his character. According to his actions, he was on a path of continued abuse. XXXtentacion’s mentality was that he had to violently beat those around him into a submissive position so that his ideal of masculinity was fulfilled. He laughed and joked about the harm he caused others and bathed in his supposed position of control and domination.
XXXtentacion’s death was tragic, and presumably not his fault. The trail bloodshed he created, on the other hand, was of his own doing. He gravitated towards criminal activities and relished in the pain of those around him.
XXXtentacion lived life as the perpetrator of many crimes and confident in his position of control. The abuse of his ex-girlfriend and others endured from the rapper’s rage cannot be forgotten because he himself became a victim. XXXtentacion held an aura of violence around him and ultimately violence became his very own downfall.