Rapper Fat Trel hopes a consortium of celebrity can help him get out of prison.
The rapper, who is presently incarcerated, requested that Donald J. Trump, Meek Mill, Kim Kardashian, and others like Jay Z‘s Reform Organization to help him in his plight.
The rapper wrote an open letter in an effort to highlight the issue he is facing and tagged the various celebs and some media outlets as well. Last month, he was arrested for Revocation of Suspended Sentence and Probation, which was connected to an arrest in 2018. He subsequently was sentenced to a year and a half year in prison. The D.C. rapper wrote about his battle, one that is reminiscenet of Meek Mill’s bout in Pennsylvania.
“It is with heaviness in my heart that I must inform my fans and supporters that the justice system has failed in being objective in my case,” he said in a social media post.
The rapper charges he spent three years in prison after being convicted of DWI and marijuana possession from 2016, and then he got probation. Last month, he had a probation hearing in Arlington County jail and was then sentenced to another year and a half incarceration by a judge.
Trel wrote, “3 years in federal prison was more than enough time for me to conform my mindset and the way I move. I’m being punished a second time around; without regard of the years I’ve already served.”
He also brought up that the laws around recreational marijuana have changed in Virginia since his origin case.
The IG post has gotten over 12,000 with a number of celebrities supporting his release.
Tsu Surf and Aye Verb have ignited a discussion regarding homophobia and transphobia in battle rap.
The conversation began after a woman called Holly was “exposed” as transgender and mocked by some of the battle rap community when she engaged in Twitter Spaces conversation. Once it was revealed that Tsu Surf followed Holly on Twitter, the dialogue exploded.
Media outlet OTFMZ posted a clip from a subsequent Twitter Space hosted by Ave Verb centered around Tsu Surf. He mentions a video he describes as “something about Surf getting down with transgenders.” He watched the video and was not surprised by its content, rather he questioned, “why is this not expected?” The implication being Tsu Surf is attracted to transgender women.
Verb Mocks Surf On Twitter
He refers to a Tweet he wrote after watching the video. “Surf you gotta control these urges bro.. u in the middle of a war …”
Verb responded, “How is it a rumor .. and he follows that page … He has a choice .. since he follows it .. all the c### shows are popping up in his timeline what r u talking bout ???? He got y’all WARPED.”
How is it a rumor .. and he follows that page … He has a choice .. since he follows it .. all the c### shows are popping up in his timeline what r u talking bout ???? He got y’all WARPED https://t.co/Y0LhTFwyWQpic.twitter.com/5FJKIriMgp
Aye Verb continues in the clip, “It’s just Surf following a c### show,” he said. He then said the battle rap community treats him differently to Surf. “If Verb was following this page, it would be TMZ,” he said. Furthermore, Verb says the reason for the disparity is that he doesn’t “get down.”
He also compared the discussion surrounding the false narrative created in battle rap that his mother is gay, versus Tsu Surf actually having a gay mother.
He goes further and implies Tsu Surf is gay because, “Men don’t act like that,” Verb said. “A man would never say ‘if y’all book Verb I’m done, I’m going to the other side.’ Men don’t say that; hoodrats say s### like that, freaks, hoes…they say s### like that. That’s not a man’s characteristic.”
He continued, “Everything making way too much sense now. He’s a smooth looking n####. I have never seen this n#### keep a b####. Never.”
Tsu Surf also responded via Twitter Spaces, hosting a conversation that included Holly. He began saying Holly’s presence in the community is helpful to other trans individuals. “N##### really be cheese balls, real cornballs,” he said. “Until you wake up one day and your daughter or your son has to make the decision of their life, and you don’t know how to handle it because you have no knowledge of. Or you don’t understand because for the last 40 years, you’ve been 40 years old and f###### stupid.”
Tsunami then recalled finding out his mother is gay at 11 years old when he found her strap-on d####. “I’m sorry that some people aint have to go through that and you other m############ don’t know that there’s different walks of life.”
Geechi Gotti also spoke on the topic. He said to Holly, “We do apologize that m############ was tagging you and making it feel like it was a whole community of battle rappers or battle rap bloggers.”
When Holly attempted to apologize for “coming in the space all rowdy,” Surf said she had nothing to be sorry for. He told Holly not to let anyone get her out of character and blamed the “hateful” comments on the insecurities of those making them. He concluded with, “We apologize. It’s all love Holly, from the battle rap community.”
Meanwhile, as Surf celebrated his birthday, Aye Verb uploaded a video on his YouTube channel “exposing” the New Jersey native for following other transgender women on social media. He also accused Surf of being a hypocrite after he mocked a battle rapper for twerking in a video. The video is titled “SECRET SHOPPER TSU SURF PT 1,” suggesting Verb has more to say. He also hosted a second Twitter Space on the subject before moving on to more positive topics, promoting his role in the Tubi movie, “Super Turnt.”
The battle rap community has work to do when it comes to tackling hate towards the LGBTQ+ community but is making inroads. Queen of the Ring has long been a safe haven for its significant LGBTQ+ fanbase and gay battle rappers like J2 and leagues like Sara Kana’s Prism Battle League continue to take a stand against hate.
The music industry has gifted the world many gems who have entertained not only audiences but also touched millions of hearts. All these musicians and artists have an unusual story to stardom that will inspire millions to follow their dreams.Alex Chen is one of them. The rising pop star and music producer has overcome a series of challenges in his life to achieve the position he’s in today. His story will motivate anyone to chase their goals, irrespective of their socio-economic background.
Alex’s story begins during his childhood in Atlanta, where he grew up in a lower-middle-class family with three other siblings. His father was a factory worker who lost his job when Alex was only 10. Since then, his family has lived a life of poverty. His family shifted to a relative’s garage, where Alex stayed for most of his childhood. Alex used to sing in the local church choir, but that did nothing to help his family’s financial situation. At 15, Alex realized the many faults in the education system and dropped out of school to support his family.
Alex started working several odd jobs to make ends meet. When he was 19, Alex saw one of his friends starting a business selling toys. With no further thought, he rented a shop and spent all his savings to start a toy store. The business failed miserably as Alex was only able to sell less than 30 products in the first three months. The failure was a huge setback in his career but came to him as a great lesson. Alex realized that his lack of knowledge, experience, and passion led him to failure. This motivated him to pursue a career in the music industry, something he has always been passionate about.
While working as a pizza delivery boy during the day and as a janitor in the evening, Alex tried his best to support his passion. Besides earning a living, Alex managed to enroll in music school. His passion flamed his love for his studies, making him one of the fastest learners in the class. Within six months, Alex was able to play multiple musical instruments and also discovered his unique voice and pop style. To distinguish himself in the industry, Alex decided to differ from traditional genres and included subtle notes of EDM in his creations.
Alex’s debut single, “I Have Been there,” was released in March 2020 on YouTube and was a huge hit. The song earned over 5 million views in the first three months, making Alex an overnight music sensation on social media. Through this song, Alex talked about real-life struggles, which resonated with many people and the circumstances the world was going through due to the outbreak of the pandemic. The success of his debut single was a great boost for Alex to scale up his career in the music industry.
With his next release, “Ruined Not Broken,” in January 2021, Alex officially marked his entry into the industry. The song became a trending track on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, and Instagram. Alex started getting offers to perform live at popular shows and festivals across the country.
Alex is currently focused on his upcoming debut album that he believes will connect with his fans on a deeper level. He wants to continue his journey in the music industry as an artist with a purpose. Alex feels that his songs have a message that touches people and soothes their aching hearts. This is where he feels accomplished as an artist.
In an interview with Hollywood Unlocked, Kanye West proclaimed nothing can keep him away from his children. The comments appeared to be directed at his estranged wife Kim Kardashian.
“There’s nothing with my career, with this rap, with this media, with none of that, that’s gonna keep me from my children,” the outspoken rapper said. “And that’s what I want everybody to know.”
Kanye West continued, “Don’t play with me. Don’t play with my children. And ain’t no security gonna get in between me and my children. And you ain’t finna gaslight me, and you ain’t gonna run this narrative on me.”
During the conversation, Kanye West also defended his decision to buy a house across the street from Kim Kardashian. He mentioned how he wouldn’t be like his father, who stayed in Atlanta when ‘Ye moved with his mother to Chicago as a child.
“My solace comes from seeing my kids and getting a solid schedule,” he said. “That’s why I even got the house. [The media] flipped it like there was something wrong with me getting a house next to my kids.”
According to TMZ, sources close to Kim Kardashian say she’s never denied Kanye West time with their kids. They claim all she’s asked is for him to call before he comes to her house to see them.
Some people become musicians because of their love for their favorite artists and the type of music they create. Others go into it because they appreciate music as its own thing and love the art and the craft of creating good songs that resonate with people. Then, some wander into music because they have something to say, and they think that music is the best medium to do it.
For Austin Godsey, it was the combination of the three that brought him the idea to start writing and recording music. He admired musicians and he admired the art, but he also loved people and their stories, and he wanted to turn them into his songs.
Somewhere in the process, he stumbled upon one of the most coveted assets artists can have in this day and age: authenticity. It’s a hot commodity because it almost guarantees an artist will be able to command attention from an audience. Maybe not a big audience, or maybe not for long, but it will be there; that’s the power of authenticity.
As someone who creates music as a form of self-expression, authenticity might come easy to Austin Godsey. He’s had enough life experiences in the time he’s been around, and they formed him into a kind of person who has that special kind of lens with which to bend and reflect reality. For him, and for much of his generation of artists and creators, authenticity comes easily because they all draw from within to create awesome music.
When it comes to the way the authenticity falls on his audience, the comments he’s been getting online seem to be telling it all. Even the bad messages that come his way never tell Godsey he’s a fake, a manufactured artist, a plant, or a sellout. When people use their music to express their authentic selves, others will recognize that. They may not like what they hear, as is their right, but they will never be able to deny that what they hear is real. That counts for an awful lot.
To stay up to date on everything related to Austin Godsey, follow him on Instagram.
Observers of society contend that the ones who spot good talent are to be admired as much as the talents themselves. Music A&Rs are a special breed of people who seem to have magical tentacles that reach far and wide to bring to the limelight the skills and talents that deserve our attention. These talent-scouts go to great lengths to bring the stars to their shine. Countless artists and celebrities owe their success and fame to them.
But how do these A&Rs manage to find such talents and make them shine? William Lee has been in the trade of talent scouting for several years, and as per him, the answer lies in networking. “Networking is to the music A&R what the compass is to the navigator,” he says. Here, William Lee shares three reasons why A&R managers must invest their resources in networking.
Networking is proof of life.
Networking is the best way to keep yourself at the top of the minds of potential producers or budding talents. “In a vast business like talent scouting, it is easy to get lost. But by building a strong network, music A&Rs can secure their business and thereby attract more talents,” says William Lee.
Your network is your identity.
The people with whom you choose to network says a lot about you. “If we do not consciously build a network for ourselves, we might get caught in a dead-end with no contacts, no prospects, no invitation to events, and no reason to get out of bed in the morning,” says William Lee.
You either build your network, or you perish.
“To succeed in a competitive industry, you must eliminate the word alone from your dictionary,” says William Lee. Being a busy talent scout, Bydaway hardly ever gets enough time for himself. He is constantly attending parties, visiting festival venues, and meeting new people. “The best way to build and expand your contacts is through these venues,” he says. But how does William Lee get to attend these fancy, high-profile parties? “Through networking,” he answers. “Without the right kind of network, one can miss out on a lot of potential opportunities.”
Therefore, it is evident that to succeed in the highly competitive ecosystem that is the music industry, it is imperative to build a strong network. However, if this fact had not presented itself to you earlier for some reason, we hope William Lee’s insights have opened your eyes regarding the necessity of networking.
An all-in-one as they say it, Lorenzo Ruzza, who is aspiring to be a master songwriter, composer, and singer, is second to none. Unlike few musicians, who discover their passion and take up music as a career much later in life, for Lee, a love for music was something he was perhaps born with. He started composing and singing songs at a young age and was a popular name in high school as the boy with the most melodious and never-heard-before voice.
He was an active contributor to the school band and earned name and fame from peers and friends. Though he grasped the knowledge of creating rap and pop from his school-going days, he started producing music for commercial purposes in 2014 and embarked on a full-fledged solo-singer musical journey.
Turns and twists
Lorenzo Ruzza began producing digital music with a preference for Hip Hop, and alternative music genres. Since starting his career as a musician, Lorenzo Ruzza stepped into a muse-like lifestyle performing in music bars, stage appearances, and live radio performances across Asia, Europe, the Americas, and other parts of the world for cover songs. He has also auditioned and performed in non-musical gigs, undertook professional advertisement modeling assignments, social media influencing modeling, and made appearances as an online platform guest. His work as a model is appreciated by industry experts just as his music is popular among pub-goers.
What lies now and later
At present, Lorenzo Ruzza is focusing on singing and modeling as the two career options. Music has been his love from his childhood whereas modeling clicked by accident, perhaps by his magnetic looks and smart attitude that goes well on ad designs and social media platforms. He is a computer engineer by education and graduated from De Anza College, San Jose. Lorenzo Ruzza’s fans and friends have high hopes for him and expect that he will be a world-renowned musician very soon. His edgy compositions resonate well with Gen X and Y and are his key image lifters.
Mo takes inspiration from Drake and the way he doesn’t shy away from controversy when writing some of his most memorable work. For this year, Certified Lover Boy made headlines for its controversial cover art, its self-awareness in insofar as the toxic masculinity message, and that R. Kelly credit.
While staying away from the politics that Drake has inevitably entangled himself onto, Mo hopes to create more music that isn’t in any way afraid of talking about things that are taboo, or things no one else wants to address.
The Weeknd
The Weeknd spent most of this year committed to a character, which Mo Baig absolutely admires. Every time he showed up at an event or red carpet somewhere, The Weeknd sported fake injuries that seemed to get worse over time. After getting over the initial shock, fans realized that it’s all a part of the artist’s creative vision to reference his recent music.
Though Mo has yet to come up with a separate persona for his music, he is taking notes on how to build a believable character through his music and how to stick with it.
Post Malone
Just like Mo Baig himself, Post Malone refuses to box his music into a single genre. In fact, his discography is often described as “landing somewhere between rap and pop.”
But that’s not where the similarities end. Post Malone is known for using hate remarks as material for his best hits, like “Congratulations.” As Mo continues to rise to the ranks of the music world, this is exactly the kind of attitude he wants to take on when it comes to dealing with haters.
Khalid
This year, Khalid didn’t shy away from addressing his personal experience of languishing amid the pandemic. Mo Baig wants to channel the same kind of honesty and transparency in his music, especially now that he’s being considered a musical icon for the entire Generation Z.
“I don’t want to be the kind of artist that pretends that I’m crushing it every day,” says Mo. “I want to be able to sing my truth, and the truth is there are days when I’m not okay.”
Lin-Manuel Miranda
Mo Baig withholds his fifth most-streamed artist on Spotify to give tribute to his biggest music influence, Lin-Manuel Miranda, who just doesn’t have that many hits on Spotify to make it to his list.
In any case, Mo wants to emulate Miranda’s storytelling prowess, and how he is able to take some of the most complicated events in history and make them interesting.
To remain updated on whereMo Baig’s music inspirations will take him in the coming year, connect with him on social media.
“BROCKHAMPTON’s upcoming shows at the O2 Academy Brixton in London and at Coachella will be our final performances as a group,” the band wrote. “All other tour dates are canceled, effective immediately. Refunds for all tickets are VIP packages will be available at the point of purchase.”
They continued, “Following these four performances, we will be taking an indefinite hiatus as a group. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for being on this journey with us. We would not be here without our fans. We hope we’ve been able to inspire you as much as you have us these past eight years. We are bonded and grateful to you for life.”
Brockhampton’s lineup has changed over the years, but its core members have remained throughout the group’s run. Kevin Abstract, Dom McLennon, Matt Champion, Merlyn Wood, Joba and Bearface have handled vocals since their debut mixtape All-American Trash, which was released in 2016.
Prior to the hiatus announcement, Brockhampton was planning to drop a final album in 2022. Their last LP, Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine, was released on RCA Records in 2021.
Brockhampton will perform at the O2 Academy Brixton in London on February 7 and 8. Their sets at Coachella are scheduled for April 16 and 23.
“For Me” starts with a prolifically full-sounding orchestral melody that is quickly met with bouncy drums. This has become a staple for Bread Boi’s songs and is later brought together by incredible energy from Bread Boi himself. Bread Boi is a Detroit independent artist that has done nothing but put in work this past year. On his latest track “For Me” the entire song is beautifully put together from wire to wire.
As 2022 starts, Bread Boi continues to grow and release absolute hits. Especially when songs like “For Me” are part of the conversation, Bread Boi has become a part of everyone’s new year’s playlist. Being released just in time for the changing year, Bread Boi really finished off this monumental year with his best song yet. Overall, “For Me” was shockingly good and will quickly become a staple in Bread Boi’s lineup.
This latest single is the best way to finish off 2021 and to begin 2022, Bread Boi continues to deliver time and time again. If you haven’t given “For Me” a listen, be sure to check it out and play it to ring in the new year. We can’t wait to see what’s to come next for Bread Boi as an artist. You can give “For Me” and all of his other amazing releases on his Spotify artist page here. As well as keep up with Bread Boi on his Instagram here, his personal Twitter here, and his Facebook page here.
Nowadays in the music industry, things are changing and it seems nothing is ever predictable. Trve from Atlanta has been an example of this with his song “Can’t Go A Day”, resurfacing and hitting 1 million streams. The 2020 release found a pocket of internet attention and has since taken Trve’s music career to new heights. The viral song “Can’t Go A Day” starts out with a popular hi-hat pattern that brings high energy straight out of the gate.
Trve then raps about living a crazy lifestyle about popping pills and partying hard. This rockstar life has attracted thousands of new fans that want to party and live a fast lifestyle. Besides Trve’s audio, Trve also released a music video – which also contributed to the song going viral. Check out Trve’s million stream song below on Spotify and follow the rapper on Instagram.
San Diego’s very own rising star, Itslitobbs is starting to buzz in his city, and he gives some of that credit to the incredible team he’s put together. On his last few singles, which amassed hundreds of thousands of streams on Spotify, he’s worked with Producers such as Rae, Bananana, and Bier Music. He said, “They always send me anything they got as soon as they produce it.” He goes on to say the quality is so dope that “I never have to worry about stuff sounding off.” On the gram – Itslitobbs has some visually captivating content. For this – he collaborates with long-time friend and creative director Tariq Johnson. Tariq is known for his work with Kendrick Lamar and many other legends. Itslitobbs said, “Tariq is truly a creative genius and very supportive friend in my journey”. Itslitobbs also credits his success to his community and rougher upbringing.
He said, “My upbringing is the reason I can’t be fooled or played. I grew up in a place where you have to look out for yourself and be able to read people’s intentions”. Finally, his Fiancé is his rock. She helped him see beyond the day-to-day hustle to a bigger vision for himself, his friends, and his family. With such a strong foundation – We are excited to see what Itslitobbs does next and how far he goes on his journey. Check Itslitobbs on Spotify x Socials: Bangers with the Boys:
Pooh Shiesty will remain behind bars until he’s sentenced for a firearms conspiracy charge.
According to The Commercial Appeal, the Memphis native’s request to be released on bond was denied on Thursday (January 13). He has been locked up in Florida since July 2021.
Pooh Shiesty, whose real name is Lontrell Williams, sought to get out on bond after agreeing to a plea deal in his firearms case. The 22-year-old rapper’s attorneys suggested a $1 million bond, but Magistrate Judge Lauren Fleischer Louis denied the motion.
“Defendant is not entitled to a renewed bond determination now that he entered a guilty plea to Count One of the Superseding Indictment,” the court ruled. “Even under the statute invoked by Defendant, the Motion has advanced no evidence, much less clear and convincing evidence, that he is not likely to flee or pose a danger to the community.”
Pooh Shiesty pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess a firearm in furtherance of violent and drug-trafficking crimes earlier this month.
As part of a plea deal, federal prosecutors dropped three other charges against Pooh Shiesty. The Gucci Mane protégé was facing charges of conspiring to commit a Hobbs Act robbery, committing a Hobbs Act robbery and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
No date has been set for Pooh Shiesty’s sentencing. Judge Louis and prosecutors have recommended a 97-month prison sentence.
As the music sector gears up for confident growth in 2022, the billion-dollar industry is keen on empowering skillful artists, singers, and songwriters through competent and accomplished recording labels that are sure to do infinite wonders to their budding careers. Equipped with passion, perseverance, determination, and a whole lot of flair, aspiring and established musicians have signed with one of the industry’s well-known recording labels, Ruby Recordings.
Ruby Recordings was launched in 2015 and has since been unrelenting when producing remarkable talents such as FriO Isa Blaque, AB Tazz, and so much more. In May 2020, they signed JT5K, a Canadian rapper from Edmonton, Alberta, who went viral for his exceptional skills and was dubbed one of hip-hop’s hidden musical gems. His debut single “Came From Nothing,” featuring John Cardiff and Trizzy, was released on June 12, 2020, and instantly catapulted Ruby Recordings into the industry’s most prominent names.
In 2021, JT5K was able to amass over 2.2 million streams on Spotify alone, an impressive feat considering that the rapper has only just begun his career. Since then, JT5K has gained immeasurable support from major Spotify playlists like New Music Friday and Northern Bars.
Kicking off his career at only twenty-one years old, JT5K elevated his social media accounts and platforms to his benefit by posting entertaining content such as music and freestyling videos for his loyal fanbase. JT5K created a buzz with his audience by creating everlasting music for their playlists based on catchy beats, harmonic melodies, and memorable hooks. Despite his newfound success, the rapper intends to tell everyone that he isn’t just the typical rapper. He prides himself on being passionate about his music, evident through his track of dropping five projects despite being new to the game.
From 2018 to 2021, JT5K has proven its worth by surpassing over 3 million streams on Spotify. His ability to tell personal stories from his rough childhood, as his lyrics continues to captivate and amass audiences from all over the world, including over 100 countries. His constant success from his songs like “Came From Nothing,” “Resisting,” and “Bubble Gum Kisses” has landed him a solidified position in Ruby Recordings.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic halting major productions for many, the rising musician continues to persevere and work on his numerous projects in his very own home studio, producing hit after hit to be able to create an entire album through his determination.
Through Ruby Recordings’ outstanding and inherent perception of managing its musical talents, it has proven to be more than just an emerging authority in the ever-evolving industry. As the label continues to instill passion in its aspiring experts, Ruby Recordings’ objective prevails by maximizing its talent’s capabilities and shaping them into what they truly hope to be.
Check out their Instagram pages for updates on JT5K and Ruby Recordings. You can also head to their official website to learn more about Ruby Recordings and its other talents.
It looks like Kanye West is not over the fact that he has lost Kim Kardashian to comedian Pete Davidson.
We’ve known for quite some time that he wants to stay with Kim Kardashian, even though he is dating another person. The fact that she is now dating this white guy, seems to be under his skin more than anything.
So, we have seen Kanye in the studio with The Game. And Hit-Boy. Right now and in most of those videos, there were intentional efforts to mute the audio. But there was one clip that emerge triumphantly and gave us a clue as to what Kanye West is talking about in this newest collaboration.
“God saved me from that crash/ just so I can beat Pete Davidson’s ass.”
Kanye West literally wraps this line in the new song “My Life Was Never Eazy,” incriminating himself if something does happen in the future.
By the way, this comes on the heels of Kanye being accused of assaulting a fan. I felt like that fan was out of line! But, the energy and the timing are very bad for Kanye West at this point!
“Uncut Gems” star Julia Fox is actually a hottie. I am not sure why he cannot move on past Kim Kardashian and Pete – maybe it’s just his ego!
Or maybe he’s just hurting! Either way, he has lost his wife to Pete Davidson. I do not think that he is getting Kim jealous by dating this foxy babe.
Young Roddy’s upcoming album is slated for release on February 18th; he’s been building up the hype for the project since November when he dropped his single “Out The Hood” with Conway The Machine.
With a strong finish to 2021, Roddy carries plenty of momentum into this year, and rightfully so: his last two singles have featured appearances from Killer Mike and Conway The Machine. He’s given listeners a taste of what is to come on his upcoming album and the New Orleans-native continues to do so with the release of his latest single, “Weed & P####.”
Produced by Wes King, who has worked with Roddy in the past, most notably on “Don’t F### Around” featuring Kevin Gates and Cozz, the track sees Roddy tap into his smooth, soulful flows. The production puts Roddy in his element, as he lets listeners know exactly what’s on his mind, which is all but crystal clear from the song’s title.
Across his career and within his music, Roddy has always maintained a level of authenticity that is refreshing and genuine, and it’s no different on “Weed & P####.” With Roddy’s album “Never Question God” releasing on February 18th, he shows his audience that he’s still got the same penchant for irresistible flows and uncanny ability to create anthem-like hooks.
Babygrande is an American independent record label and creative collective comprised of musicians, filmmakers, photographers, painters and writers. Founded in 2001 by Chuck Wilson, former Director of A&R at Priority Records/EMI, Babygrande has emerged as one of the premier independent labels operating today.
Babygrande has a catalog of over 3000 albums, music videos, and online content that includes Hip-Hop, EDM, indie rock, and everything in between. Babygrande has helped launch the careers of new artists and has nurtured the careers of seasoned veterans. As it heads towards its 25th Anniversary, Babygrande continues to focus on quality music and working with artists whose work ethic, craftsmanship, talent, and sounds are superior.
Two music legends, Morris Day of The Time and Big Daddy Kane, have linked up for a new single titled “Grown Man.”
After releasing the track in November, Morris Day and Big Daddy Kane recently shot a music video for their anthem. The duo filmed the visuals at former Van Halen singer Sammy Hagar’s nightclub Cabo Wabo in Las Vegas.
Morris Day and Big Daddy Kane’s “Grown Man” video was directed by Detroit’s own Champtown and the Notorious D.O.P Matthias Saunders, who also served as the cinematographer.
“Grown Man” was produced by The Whole 9 production team. Freckles The Writer co-wrote the single with Morris Day and Big Daddy Kane.
Morris Day and Big Daddy Kane previously worked together on the former’s 1992 album Guaranteed. The influential artists collaborated on a song called “Angel Don’t.”
Decades later, Day and Kane reunited for “Grown Man.” The two are now billing themselves as The Mack Pack, which hopefully means they’ve got more collaborative singles in the works.
Any new music from Day or Kane is a welcomed sight since both men haven’t dropped albums in years. Day’s last solo album It’s About Time was released in 2004 while BDK hasn’t put out a project since 1998’s Veteranz Day LP.
Take a look at some behind the scenes footage of Morris Day and Big Daddy Kane’s upcoming video for “Grown Man.”
Several of the insurrectionists that stormed the nation’s Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021, made rap songs and videos about their participation in the riot. One is sentenced to house arrest, but the other two are awaiting their fates.
The Feds have charged rapper Billy Knutson aka Playboy The Beast with a criminal complaint that included disorderly conduct in a Capitol building and entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds after he dropped the song, “Patriots: Message To The World” about his participation that day on his YouTube channel.
The video, which shows scenes from the riot, has gained over 60,000 views. But that’s not how the FBI got wind of it. One of his family members snitched and ratted him out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSO_wsEgFeQ
Playboy The Beast spits, “We been fighting for y’all, and this how you treat us? Calling us traitors and claim we not peaceful?” But his wonky rhyme flow is not why he has been charged.
According to Yahoo News, the Proud Boys sympathizer was captured on surveillance video entering the Capitol through a broken window near the doors of the Senate wing. He is further seen taping pictures and recording inside of the building. Through their investigation, the FBI determined he left after a few minutes. The cellphone number he used for an application submitted in North Carolina registered as one mobile device located at the riot.
The FBI proved through tech, but tipped off by his flagrant rap video, that he was there.
He went before a federal magistrate judge on Wednesday, Jan. 12 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and was released.
He is one of 700 people who have been charged with federal crimes connected to the Jan. 6 insurrection. He is not the only one to make a rap song.
Felipe Marquez, who has been sentenced to three months of home confinement, put out a remix of Shaggy’s “It Wasn’t Me.” The Florida native’s spin on the chart-topping song featured lyrics like “We even fist-bumped police,” and “We were taking selfies.”
Antionne Brodnax aka Bugzie the Don released the cover art to his rap album called, “The Capital.” On it, he is sitting on the hood of a police truck during the riot. He was charged and pleaded guilty to riot-related offenses in October. He will be sentenced in two weeks, on Jan. 27 for his participation in the insurrection.
Their rap songs didn’t get them to the top of the charts, but first in line for treasonous convictions.
Issa Rae’s Raedio company has announced a new partnership with Google. The collaborative effort is being used to increase the representation of women of color in the music industry.
Google and Raedio will select two composers and two female artists to receive funding and resources. The recipients will reportedly maintain full ownership of the music that they create within the program.
“This partnership is perfectly aligned with my mission in helping open doors and provide opportunities for women to succeed and flourish in their craft,” saysInsecure star/co-creator Issa Rae. “I can’t wait to see the impact this program and partnership has on the selectees and the music that is created as a result.”
According to a press release, the funding for the two female artists will cover recording fees, producer costs, and marketing expenses for a 3-5 song EP. The chosen recipients will also receive consultation from the Raedio team.
“We are proud to partner with Google to support women in music,” states Raedio president Benoni Tagoe. “As an audio everywhere company, Raedio places artists’ work in as many places where music is consumed as possible, increasing their visibility among fans and consumers, in turn increasing their earning potential.”
Benoni Tagoe adds, “Raedio Creator Program Supported by Google is another way for us to do this by providing a platform, tangible resources, mentorship, and amplification for aspiring talent. We look forward to selecting the final artists and composers and supporting them in their musical journeys.”
The music created through the Raedio Creators Program will be available across all DSPs. Plus, all songs from the forthcoming EP will be added to the Raedio library for pitching and sync opportunities. Google is also financing the production and development of one music video for each artist.
The two selected composers will receive funding to cover their recording and artist collaboration costs for a series of collections dedicated to television, film, and brand syncs. Raedio’s music supervision team is pledging to look for opportunities to place the composers’ original tracks in music supervision projects.
“We are proud to create these four grants in partnership with Raedio with a goal of underscoring the importance in providing access and opportunity for women of color pursuing audio careers within the entertainment industry,” said Elle Roth-Brunet, Google’s Entertainment Partnerships Lead.
Elle Roth-Brunet continues, “This program is an extension of Google’s dedication to championing diversity within the entertainment industry and we look forward to hearing the artistic contributions of all who participate.”
Submissions for the Raedio Creators Program Supported by Google open in early February 2022. The chosen artists and composers will be announced in March 2022.
Popular Sesame Street character Elmo has been a meme machine in recent weeks. A video of the friendly television monster’s visible frustration with his friend Zoe’s pet rock, Rocco, went viral.
In addition to that internet craze, the Sesame Street world and the Hip Hop world recently came together. Elmo, along with Cookie Monster, connected with rapper/singer Anderson .Paak for a segment on the HBO Max show.
Anderson .Paak, Elmo, and Cookie Monster united to help inform the young viewers of Sesame Street about different holidays. The Silk Sonic member and the colored puppets presented the “What is a Holiday?” song.
Elmo’s rivalry with Rocco took over the internet as social media users weighed in on the celebrity feud of the year so far. A clip showing Elmo and Zoe’s dispute over an oatmeal raisin cookie spread across TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram.
The situation led to Elmo releasing an official statement. He tweeted, “Don’t worry everybody! Elmo and Zoe practiced sharing and are still best buds forever! Elmo loves you Zoe! Ha ha ha! Elmo doesn’t want to talk about Rocco.”
Even Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson responded to another one of Elmo’s tweets where the three-and-a-half-year-old Elmo’s World star asked if anyone has ever seen a rock eat a cookie. Johnson responded, “Yes, my friend. This Rock devours cookies. All kinds of cookies.”
Yes, my friend. This Rock devours cookies. All kinds of cookies 😈🍪 I’ll introduce you to #CheatMeals and it’ll change your life. Tell Cookie Monster to move it over, cuz I’m coming to Sesame Street to kick ass and eat cookies. And I’m almost all outta cookies. ~ Rock 🐂 https://t.co/BjlZciRqxU
