New York Mayor Eric Adams is targeting drill music over violence in the city.
Mayor Eric Adams spoke out against drill music at a press conference on Friday (February 11). He called on social media companies to ban drill music videos from their platforms.
“I had no idea what drill rapping was,” Eric Adams said at the presser. “But I called my son, and he sent me some videos, and it is alarming. We are going to pull together the social media companies and sit down with them and state that you have a civic and corporate responsibility.”
He continued, “We pulled Trump off Twitter because of what he was spewing, yet we are allowing music, displaying of guns, violence, we are allowing it to stay on the site because look at the victims. We’re bringing [social media companies] in, we’re going to show exactly what is being displayed, and we are alarmed by it. We are alarmed by the use of social media to really over-proliferate this violence in our communities.”
Eric Adams condemned drill music on the heels of two drill rappers getting killed in Brooklyn. 18-year-old Chii WVTTz and 22-year-old Tdott Woo died in separate shootings earlier this month.
“We pulled Trump off Twitter … yet we are allowing music displaying of guns, violence.”
— NYC Mayor Eric Adams (D), after his son sent him drill rap videos, says he will try to get the videos banned from social media. pic.twitter.com/ATGmhpi4Bo
Starz has found a winning formula by working with 50 Cent.
Power Book IV: Force, which is executive produced by 50 Cent, had the biggest premiere in Starz history. The latest spin-off in the Power franchise secured 3.3 million cross-platform viewers for its debut episode.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the majority of the views for the 50 Cent-produced show came from digital platforms. Only 648,000 viewers watched the premiere’s broadcast on Sunday night (February 6), but the linear total was still a record-setting viewership for Starz.
“The Power universe continues to deliver worldwide hit series with incredible performance that compares favorably with many other high-profile streaming series,” Starz CEO and president Jeffrey Hirsch said in a press release. “We’re excited to see these strong early numbers for the premiere of Power Book IV: Force, which is poised to join our growing lineup of tentpole series at Starz that have global multiplatform season average views in the nine to ten million range.”
50 Cent celebrated the Starz record on Twitter. He boasted about predicting Power Book IV: Force’s success.
“GLG GreenLightGang bullseye I don’t miss,” he wrote. “I Told them FORCE was gonna be the BIGGEST show STARZ has ever seen now LOOK. South Side we don’t come to make friends we take over.”
50 Cent has served as an executive producer on every entry in the Power franchise. He’s also behind the Starz series BMF and will be bringing more shows to the premium network.
GLG🚦GreenLightGang 🎯bullseye I don’t miss. I Told them FORCE was gonna be the BIGGEST show STARZ has ever seen now 👀LOOK. South Side we don’t come to make friends we take over. #bransoncognac#lecheminduroipic.twitter.com/ag7WOjdkuC
Blanco Balling is a rising star you need to know. With his newest album KYNG BLANCO, the Nicaraguan-born, San Francisco-raised recording artist can rap in both English and Spanish, always putting on for his culture and heritage any chance he can.
His influences range from Mac Dre and San Quinn to Tupac and Lil Wayne, also the 17 Reasons album by Black-N-Brown Entertainment that showed him he could be a Latino rapper.
Describing himself as “diverse,” Blanco fondly remembers growing up in Elementary school with two best friends: one Chinese and the other one black. He states, “And I’m a Spanish kid, so just imagine,” with a laugh.
As the CEO of his own record label Northern Organized Recordz, Blanco recently unleashed his newest album titled KYNG BLANCO, a 15-track project spearheaded by lead single “Lil Vietnam” featuring Kap G.
The album was created and recorded in Mexico City and Nicaragua, inspired by his little brother’s death which fueled him to zone in and focus even more on perfecting his craft in the studio.
AllHipHop: You were born in Nicaragua right?
Blanco Balling: I was born in Nicaragua in Central America, but the country I was born in was at war. Pretty much my family had to move or otherwise we’d probably die. We went to the U.S., I lived in LA for a little bit, and moved out to Frisco when my little brother was born.
AllHipHop: How was it growing up in San Francisco?
Blanco Balling: It was great, I loved it. There’s no other place like San Francisco. It really taught me about the beauty in other people’s cultures and how much you can learn by being around people from all over the world. I really liked that about growing up in Frisco because it was a different experience than what the majority of Americans are used to. You usually have one subgroup that will take over and dominate a certain region, but in the Bay Area… I had a girlfriend one time, she was Arabic, Filipino, and Hawaiian.
AllHipHop: You listened to everyone from Mac Dre to Tupac to Biggie. What was it about these artists that resonate with you?
Blanco Balling: The first tape I ever owned ever was Tupac’s tape, Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. I was a young kid, I forgot exactly how I came across it but I ended up owning it. I remember listening to it over and over. I’d remember people’s reactions to how emotional they felt. If you were having a bad day, it can make you happy. If you’re having a good day, it can make you upset. It had an impact on how emotions could play a big role in music.
AllHipHop: How did the 17 Reasons album by Black-N-Brown Entertainment affect you as a Latino rapper?
Blanco Balling: It was someone kicking down the door. I was a kid when that album dropped. I was 14 or 15 years old, it made me realize that I could do it too. I could make music too and have an impact in my community in a positive way.
AllHipHop: What was the turning point in your music career that made you want to do music?
Blanco Balling: You know, a lot of us work hard. A lot of us go to school to learn a trade or study a vocation that can land us a good job. For a lot of us, just hustling in any manner possible can put some money in our pocket. Fast forward to me achieving that and putting money in my pocket, I still didn’t feel happy. I was missing something, I didn’t feel complete. I began making music just to hear my voice, to play my own music on my sound system in my car. It felt better and better every time I made a song. I felt so good.
It’s that reward. You know, knowing that you can make something. That you can make art. That you can share emotions with someone. People now hear my songs and they say, “Dude, this is what I took from it.” Wow, that’s really what I was trying to convey. Or I wasn’t trying to convey that, but it’s interesting that you picked up on that. That’s the reward that I get from it. I’m already happy as far as I’m into music, because of all the circumstances that I’ve overcome just to get here. I’m one of the ones that should be dead, should be in prison for life, or should be on the run under investigation, instead I’m out of that and doing music. So I’m grateful for where I am.
AllHipHop: You say betrayal made you rap. Can you elaborate on that?
Blanco Balling: That was more of a clickbait. You have the Betrayal Made Me Rap, then you have the chick there so people maybe think that it’s a girl rapping, but it’s not. It’s clickbait content because it wasn’t betrayal that made me rap. There are a lot of things that really have walked me down this road where I’m at now. It’s seeing the team that I’ve put together, I can’t fail them. I got marketing guys. I got guys that mix and master. I got guys that give me features. I got a whole team and they’re counting on me.
Me giving up, it makes me think: how are they going to feed their families? I’m pretty sure they’ll find a way but at the same time, I like that responsibility. I like taking on challenges. I’m saying this because that’s one of the main reasons why Ima keep going because I got people that believe in me. Letting them down is like betraying who I am. That’s why Betrayal Made Me Rap, I can’t betray who I am. I found what makes me feel good.
AllHipHop: Talk about your new album KYNG BLANCO out now. What’re you most excited for?
Blanco Balling: I’m excited to see people’s reactions. I’m excited to break down doors and barriers that have basically placed Latinos and artists such as myself in… I can rap in English as well as anyone. The industry’s not ready for that. They still look at it as this Ritchie Valens effect or the Selena effect. They want me to sound a certain way, or they maybe want me to throw on a mariachi suit. I’m not sure exactly what they expect from me but I can’t give them what I’m not, so I’ma give them who I am. KYNG BLANCO is a testament to that.
AllHipHop: You made this project after losing your little brother, right?
Blanco Balling: Yeah, my little brother passed away last year on the 28th of February. He was in a car accident. The road was messed up and the construction people should have placed warnings and they didn’t. In order for him to dodge the pothole, he came into oncoming traffic and was immediately impacted into another bigger vehicle.
AllHipHop: I’m so sorry to hear that.
Blanco Balling: My family could depend on me. Me breathing, I could make sure that my little girl’s got food, her school paid and everything they need already covered. I started thinking when my little brother died, how am I going to cover my family once I’m dead? If I do meet an early demise or if I do within the next 5 years or whatever amount of time happens to no longer be here, I want my music to keep feeding my family. That’s how I look at it. Okay I have life insurance, they’ll be cool. But put money in the hands of people that may not manage it properly, it disappears. If I leave a tangible asset which generates daily, monthly, weekly like music, I can make sure that they’re okay, even when I’m dead. My little brother’s death really got me started in thinking that way.
AllHipHop: How was it making the album in Mexico City?
Blanco Balling: Mexico City is crazy! I also did record in Nicaragua.The level of violence that we experience here is not your average U.S. violence. Out here, the cartel drug lords really try to take high-ranking politicians out. Just imagine the Secretary of State being run up with 30 guys with assault rifles. Imagine that happening in the United States somewhere in Washington. Those are the kinds of things that happen here. It raises the standard of street cred that a lot of people look for and who has survived in that. Being a rapper out here makes me a target as well. Oh, you’re a rapper. You got money. Doing videos with a bunch of jewelry on, eventually people see that.
That’s why I say, how am I going to take care of my family? I gotta think about that as well because it’s a part of life. You can’t walk around acting like you’re eternal or untouchable. Rest in peace Drakeo, he was putting out good music and no one expected for what happened to him to happen. Especially at a concert where he’s being paid for. It’s in the blink of an eye. So living in Mexico and recording in Mexico City raises your awareness up to a point where if you’re head ain’t on a swivel, you could be someone else’s come up or lick.
AllHipHop: One thing you want people to get from the project?
Blanco Balling: I want people to understand that you can get far being who you are, regardless of what other people expect from you. That’s what the album is. I know that I could do a lot more numbers if I just focused on the Spanish. I know that I could do a lot more numbers if I just focused on English. I can really target a certain demographic if I focus on English: “oh yeah, this is an artist coming up. This is who he is and this is his crowd.”
Or the same thing for Spanish, but I take on the challenge and do music that I like to do. If people vibe with it, whether it’s a Spanish person that doesn’t understand English or an English-speaking person that doesn’t understand Spanish. If I can break down a barrier, and people listen to the part of it that they like, they’ll realize that KYNG BLANCO is for everyone. It’s not just a certain demographic or a group segment, it’s for everyone that maybe has good-natured feelings about growing up around a diverse community, such as the one I do.
AllHipHop: Talk about linking with Kap G on “Lil Vietnam,” what did that mean?
Blanco Balling: Working with Kap G was a trip because I’ve been listening to Kap G’s music since 2012. I’ve been a fan, I’ve been watching his movement. Getting to meet the guy was very beneficial for me because I really didn’t think that he’d be as humble and as good of a person as who I met. It was rewarding, especially for him to like my song and say “Bro you got skills. Keep going!” It was rewarding in that sense, where you get validation from artists that you look up to. Musically I look at Kap G like you’re a genius. For him to say “man, you’re on point,” it was very rewarding for me. Working with him was positive on many levels.
AllHipHop: What was the best experience from the video shoot?
Blanco Balling: Just being in a historical place. The place where we recorded at, I forget the name of the place but before the Mexican Revolution took place, they used to hold meetings there. It was an underground house. Well not really a house because it’s a big hall, but it’s part of Mexican history. Recording there made me realize that maybe in the future people will say I made history there too as well.
AllHipHop: Talk about the contest you did with the Suzuki motorcycle.
Blanco Balling: Oh yeah! The 750 sports bike. A friend of mine needed to sell this motorcycle and he kept hitting me up about it. I don’t even know, I already got a motorcycle. I got a Harley Davidson. I got a chopper. He said “come on man, I need the help.” Eventually I said alright, I’ll buy it off you. I was going to ship it down to where I’m at and ride it.
Since I had this album coming out, I thought man, I’m pretty sure someone will make a lot better use of it. The only thing they have to do is pre-save and preorder my album and they’ll enter the raffle for a chance to win that bike. Today, we’re going to do the raffle. It’s going to be raffled out so somebody will be named the winner wherever they’re at. I got people in the Dominican Republic, Panama, Central America, Mexico, maybe even Europe too that entered the raffle. I’ma keep my word and wherever they’re, I’ma ship it out to them. I’ll cover the shipping so they can get the bike.
AllHipHop: 3 things you need in the studio at all times?
Blanco Balling: Some Zaza, some good ass weed, water and no distractions. Unfortunately when I go to the studio, my boys will message each other. Before I know it, there are 10 to 15 people in there and it won’t allow me to focus on my craft because everybody just wants to kick it. So peace of mind is what I need to where I could focus on the music and not care about if there’s any drinks for everybody or who’s hungry or anything like that. Some good weed, some water definitely because some good ass weed will have you choked up, and some tranquility.
AllHipHop: Any goals for yourself at this point in time?
Blanco Balling: I got hella goals! But the most prominent one for me is understanding more about cryptocurrency and why it’s better to invest in that instead of the current currency which is government-controlled. I trade crypto, I own some Monero. I own some Solano. I own Bitcoin and Ethereum, but I want to start looking into music as an NFT and possibly buy some real estate in the metaverse.
AllHipHop: Anything else you want to let the people know?
Blanco Balling: God exists within. That’s where you will find him or her.
These days, the lines are blurred across the industries that make up pop culture. Both considered forms of art, music and fashion often go hand-in-hand as many musical artists embrace fashion as a part of their image and brand. One up-and-coming Italian musical artist called Defiant Army has always been known for his larger-than-life on-stage presence and his rock and rap inspired pop music.
While it’s no secret that the pandemic hit Italy especially hard at the beginning of 2020, for Defiant Army, the pandemic was a time to explore new avenues of art. With newfound time to work on his music, the artist additionally took to fashion, beginning with designs that he would wear for his shows. Known for his edgy leather jackets that are embellished with punk rock artistry and his own sketches, the artist’s fashion designs have turned heads in the music community so much so that they’ve become highly requested. We recently sat down with Defiant Army to discuss his music career and how his newfound love and passion for fashion have been integrated into his music.
Q: How do you think fashion is related to music?
A: In recent years fashion has embraced music very well. I believe that a singer who is a rapper, trapper, pop, rock today identifies himself in the way of singing but also in the way of dressing and appearing. We all want to be original, we all want to stand out on other people and I believe that creating your own identity also by expressing yourself through your own outfit is important.
Q: Before you begin designing your jackets, did you ever see yourself getting into the fashion industry?
A: At first no, I’m an outsider! I did some private courses to learn to read, but basically, I already knew how to draw. Initially, I drew my ideas and left them closed in a drawer for years. I needed the lockdown, I pulled out my sketches and started creating designs for my first clothes for me to wear to my shows. Later, many artists liked them and I started creating my jackets and clothes for everyone.
Q: What are you looking forward to with your career in both music and in fashion?
A: With music, I hope to express my emotions in my songs. Now that I’m finally gaining more traction and engagement with fans, my music is listened to more thanks to my success today. I hope to get my music to as many people as possible and go back to big can antlers. Through fashion, I hope to dress great artists with my creations. I’m trying to move more and more on the American market I have various contacts but I don’t want to give away any spoilers yet
Q: What do you think makes you different from other artists?
A: I think I’m a good communicator and a stage animal. I give my best on stage! I make the audience sing, I get my fans on stage. I think it is important to create a bond with the fans! For 2022, I have some powerful hits ready. I have collaborated with some Italian producers and electronic music producers. I believe that mixing rap and electro is the right move.
Q: You started with music and have expanded into fashion. Do you see yourself branching out into other industries in the future?
A: Yes, I am working on my first NFT project, it will be a little angel, which is my mascot! The world of crypto and NFTs is new to me, but I think I will be able to fit into this universe very well.
Q: Where do you find inspiration?
A: When I make music I am very inspired by my idols from when I was little. I love Eminem and Dr. Dre very much in the rap world. Besides them, I love Sum 41 and Blink-182. I have followed them since I was little. I am very inspired by my personal taste. I believe that my strength is just not having points of reference. I am not suited to the world of fashion, I tend to look around a little and try to draw what goes into my head. I am very attached to rock/metal culture, but also like to use colors.
Q: What are some pieces of content that you want your fans and audience to recognize you for?
A: Fans often find themselves connected to the lyrics of my songs. I write about real life, with a pinch of irony and sometimes I talk about very difficult themes but I try to sing with a smile and don’t make the songs too sad. I want those who come to my shows to have fun and join. I want and love equality between people, in my songs. I often say this.
As a part of its Black History Month programming, Showtime is premiering a new show called “Everything’s Gonna Be All White,” a three-part docuseries that will explore stereotypes created in America about everyone who doesn’t have white skin.
The show is the brainchild of pioneer Hip-Hop journalist and now film director, Sacha Jenkins and breaks down issues like the true color of Jesus’ skin, Mt. Rushmore, General Custer, the racial disparities in second amendment gun rights, and Jan. 6, U.S. Capitol attack told entirely from the perspective of people of color.
Some of the featured commentators are rappers Roxanne Shante, Willie Dee (Geto Boys), Havoc, the CEO of AllHipHop.com, Chuck “Jigsaw” Creekmur, and actress/comedian Amanda Seales.
“What you are about to witness is the embodiment of the collected feelings of folks of color in America. An undistorted view of our collective truth,” says Jenkins, who serves as the director, executive producer, and co-writer. “This is how America has treated us. This is how we feel. Freedom of speech and all of that jazz, buddy! America is all about that.”
Other writers on the show are Gabe Alvarez (Flaco), Djali Brown-Cepeda, Cameron Dennis, and Jon Goodman.
She said to Parade.com, “There are people who are going to hate-watch it to see what us Negroes are talking about. Then there will be people who will watch to feel validated and seen. It can be a very lonely space to know what you know and be continuously gaslit by this country into thinking this is not the case.”
Seales was right.
Check out Ben Shapiro’s take on the special series.
As soon as news about it dropped, FOX News’ Laura Ingraham got her skirt in a bunch.
“Now, this is what Showtime thinks we all need after two years of suffering through COVID,” Ingraham bemoans. “More divisive racial hate-mongering. Its new docuseries called ‘Everything’s Gonna Be All White’ and features some of the biggest names in the racial industrial complex.”
“So the point, I think, is to remind everyone that even as we emerged from COVID, America has not emerged from her racist past,” she concludes.
Nope, America is not. But shows like this should help remind us that we still got work to do.
“Everything’s Gonna Be All White” debuts on Feb. 11.
Boston, MA-based musician RudyWade has been paving his own way in the music industry ever since he started chasing his dreams at 18-years-old.
The rising artist recently made his 2022 debut with a new pack of 2 singles titled ‘New Era’. The EP features 2 vibey singles RudyWade has stored in his vault for some time now.
The first track ‘Recognize’ features an upbeat guitar-based instrumental and a heavy-hitting, catchy drop for the chorus. The latter of the 2 tracks, titled “Day by Day” is a pop and hip-hop-infused banger with vocals from fellow MA-based artist Bri-C.
The men accused of killing Young Dolph have pleaded not guilty to murder.
According to the Associated Press, attorneys for Justin Johnson and Cornelius Smith entered pleas for their clients in a Memphis court on Friday (February 11). The two pleaded not guilty to multiple felony charges, including first-degree murder.
Johnson and Smith were indicted for first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, employment of a firearm during a dangerous felony and theft of property over $10,000 in January. A third man, Shundale Barnett, was charged with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder.
Attorney Juni Ganguli was appointed to represent Johnson. Smith is being represented by a lawyer named Michael Scholl.
In addition to the Young Dolph murder case, Johnson is facing a violation stemming from a 2015 rape conviction. He’s been charged with failure of a Tennessee sex offender to timely report or register.
Johnson and Smith remain in custody without bond. The next hearing in their case is scheduled for March 24.
Young Dolph was shot and killed at a Memphis bakery in November 2021. Prosecutor Paul Hagerman said authorities have determined a presumed motive for the shooting, but he wouldn’t reveal those details to reporters outside the courtroom on Friday.
Music is perceived differently by different people around the world. Some indulge in it as listeners, but others are dedicated and passionate about creating good music. To produce good quality music, you have to know your genre and be creative enough to stand out from the crowd.Kiwiuh is one of those driven, passionate, and hard-working artists.
Calvin Lewis, also known asKiwiuh, has been proudly contributing hit after hit to the music industry. He is in the process of dropping his second EP, KiwisCove Vol.2. However, getting here wasn’t easy at all. Along with the immense talent he possesses, a lot of hard work and effort went into this process. He has been working day and night to bring his dreams to life.
Along with that, Kiwiuh strongly believes that many factors come into play when it comes to success. This is why things sometimes naturally fall into place as if they were meant to be. He is famously known for his wise words that many relate to. His favorite quote is, “Without a plan, you plan to fail.” He has been able to stand out and prove his uniqueness with the music he has produced so far. His work ethic, passion, and drive to attain success are admirable.
Along with achieving his musical dreams, Kiwiuh wishes to give back to those who have assisted him in getting where he is in life today. Not many have the trait to give others the importance he aspires to. Due to his relatable and warm personality, Kiwiuh has been able to gain a tremendous following on various social media platforms.
Whether tweeting relatable tweets or creating creative TikTokvideos, Kiwiuh manages to do exceptionally well each time. His Instagram influence is highly applaudable as well. But in the end, it all comes down to his love for creating music. He might be a master of many talents, but his heart and soul are dedicated to creating better music each passing day.
While others might assume that social media has made it easier for young talented artists, it also has its own cons. Many disregard the immense hard work behind the music they create. But Kiwiuh continues to ignore this perspective and keeps moving on to do remarkably well as a musician. He has been producing exceptional music that helps him stand out from the crowd.
His contributions to the music industry should be recognized and celebrated. Kiwiuh is an inspiration for the upcoming generation of aspiring musicians, artists, and creators. He does set the bar extremely high, but that is what makes him exceptional. Understanding music and being able to deliver good quality tracks is not a task many are able to carry out despite the odds being in their favor. Kiwiuh continues to defy these rules on a daily basis.
Chasing your dreams is the best decision you could ever make in this life, which is why Kiwiuh’s journey is so inspirational for many. His much anticipated upcoming EP will be dropping soon to set the bar even higher.
B.moiselle is an American female R&B singer from Dallas, Texas whose voice has begun to capture audiences around the globe. Growing up in Texas, the young star was accustomed to country music and classic rock at a very young age but after joining the choir in the church found her true passion for singing. Soon after, she began to sing on the side and develop a true passion and gift for the craft.
Her inspiration, Lauryn Hill, was one of the main reasons she began to take vocals seriously and ultimately become determined to make a career of it in the music industry. Having a similar vocal tone to the legendary singer set the tone for B.moiselle to enter the R&B world and begin her soon-to-be successful career. Her first release, “Don’t Matter” features hip-hop phenom Cole.45, became an instant hit as it touched the airwaves. B.Moiselle’s legendary voice on the hook of the song has become a world-renowned classic and has launched her into stardom.
After gaining traction from the hit single, she then followed up the song with yet another passionate track called “On my Way” showing off her true versatility and vocal range. Hitting notes of unbelievable caliber, her fan base developed rapidly and stunned new listeners far and wide. Now, B.Moiselle is one of the underground’s leading vocalists and is a name on the rise you should focus on getting to know better. Get used to seeing this youthful, multi-talented star more often as she grows into one of R&B music’s legendary voices in the near future.
Omar Payton, aka Shah33d, is beginning to climb the ranks of the music industry. Shah33d started his music career upon arriving home from the military where he served as a medic. He’s always had a deep passion for music ever since he was a young man growing up in Detroit, Michigan. He grew up in a musical household which has helped him elevate his musical talent ever since his youth. He started creating music in 2003, but recently has begun gaining serious recognition for his talents. His latest EP “Layerz” which he dropped at the end of last year has put him on the radar of many top players in the industry. “Layerz” consists of 7 tracks, and Shah33d dives deep into his life for his fans to understand his journey better.
Being an independent artist, Shah33d puts crazy hours into improving upon his craft. Shah33d focuses on creating music that is fun, adventurous, and engaging. He intends for his listeners to emotionally connect with his music and be inspired by the message that he is relaying. Shah33d’s biggest inspiration for his career is his family, specifically his son. Shah33d wants to set a good example for his son and show him that anything is possible. When Shah33d is not in the booth creating hit records he is spending time with his family, exercising, or gaming. Be sure to check out Shah33d and follow his journey as he continues to reach new heights of his already illustrious career.
“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” – Thomas Edison
There are different definitions of success for different people. The one thing that all achievers will agree on is that success comes through perseverance despite several failures. Even the most successful people from various professional fields have had to travel dark roads to excel in their areas of expertise. Rising musician and rapper Romain Ferri has a similar story. Coming from a low-income family, Romain has been through several hardships in life to pursue his passion for music. The 23-year-old artist has now become a role model to many aspiring musicians who want to navigate the industry.
Romain was born and raised in a family of 4 kids. His father was the family’s breadwinner and worked at a small bakery. Things got difficult as he and his siblings started growing up. When Romain reached high school, his father could no longer pay for his education, so he quit school and started working. Romain worked as a bagger at a grocery store to support his family. In the evenings, he would visit a nearby music store where one of his friends worked as a salesman. This was when Romain developed a passion for music.
Gradually, Romain started spending more time at the store learning to play various instruments from his friend. What fascinated him was the sound of the acoustic guitar. Within a few months, Romain mastered the art of playing the guitar to become a professional guitarist at a local club. Seeing artists performing live and earning appreciation made him want to be in their shoes. With no formal music training, Romain started practicing on his own, writing songs and then singing them accompanied by his guitar.
At 21, Romain was desperately auditioning at various clubs across Los Angeles to launch his career as an artist. He also went to several music record labels to get signed but was rejected every time. Romain faced over 100 rejections in less than 6 months but never gave up on his dreams. He launched his YouTube channel called Ferri’s Acoustics and started recording his songs and uploading them. With no professional recording studio or photographer, Romain’s music videos were shot on his mobile phone, and his music only had the sound of the acoustic guitar in the background.
Romain continued releasing videos on YouTube even though he was not getting the expected response. It took him 8 months to find his audience and witness a positive change in the number of views and subscribers. Ferri’s Acoustics started scaling up as his music reached more and more ears. Romain’s unique take on rap with a subtle hint of pop made him a music sensation online. With his growing popularity, Romain landed several opportunities to perform live and collaborated with A-list artists.
Today, Romain is a popular face in the Los Angeles music scene and on digital platforms. The rapper has over 2 million subscribers on YouTube and 500K average monthly listeners on Spotify. He owns a record label, Ferri Records, that only signs fresh talent to provide them with a launchpad.
Romain wants his story to inspire millions of struggling artists in the industry to chase their dreams. He believes that if he can prove his skills after hundreds of repeated rejections, anyone can.
Toronto trailblazer D’NME is making waves with the Keenan TreVon assisted single “On The Way.” The independent rapper makes a banger oozing with confidence and a melodic hook from TreVon that is sure to be stuck in your head for weeks. There’s no shortage of lyricism either in his verses, penning buttery smooth bars that flex his accomplishments while coming off hungrier than ever. The Jon Bonus production balances atmospheric with chaos to create a chilled-out trap rap banger that D’NME effortlessly delivers. A veteran in the rap game, he is ready to make this year bigger than ever before!
I don’t know where to start. But could we be seeing the end of the hottest morning show, The Breakfast Club?
It appears, according to rumor, that the beloved trio Angela Yee, Charlamagne the God, and DJ Envy are going to move separate ways.
The website Gossip of the City released information to the Internet that suggests that iHeart media is working to relieve the three superstars of their positions on the morning show and replacing them with Remy Ma, and other hosts from various markets in their company.
Obviously, we know who Remy Ma is and she is doing a phenomenal job on The Wendy Williams Show as a replacement but is her star power strong enough to replace three incredible celebs from the New York City area? I know Charlamagne is not a native, but he’s adopted!
All of this stems from an individual that was allegedly terminated because of his or her refusal to be vaccinated. And there seems to be a mandate from the company for all employees to be vaccinated. I am not here to debate the topic of vaccination versus non-vaccination, but it does seem interesting that these rumors are starting from that space.
Also, the salaries are put in there as well. They seem a bit low, in my opinion. Also: I don’t pocket watch. So, this is going to be extremely interesting for me because I really liked the breakfast club‘s dynamic and also the hosts.
NOW: This is a rumor.
My people tell me that Angela Yee debunked it as a rumor just this morning. And yet that does not fully explain the paperwork, below. I do not think they will disband the winning team. I do think they are expensive!
Personally, I think they need to give Remy Ma an afternoon show or a night show or something that allows her to carve out her niche. If she’s stepping into the shoes of those three, it’s going to be difficult. We are all used to seeing them in that timeslot. And, it will be difficult to transition away from that.
For now, these documents don’t represent anything formal because nothing formal has been announced. If anything, this could be a ploy to create chatter in the rumors and gossip space around Remy and Fat Joe. They need a show together.
A salon in Brussels used an unauthorized image of Kim Kardashian rocking Fulani braids to promote “African Hair Style” at one of their events.
Despite this not being an official endorsement from the celebrity influencer, it fuels narratives of cultural appropriation that continue to follow her.
According to the New York Post, Diet Prada’s Instagram account posted the salon’s and drew attention to how people use the Armenian American as a means to “vanilla-ize” Black culture.
In the fastidious post, they captioned, “Live from Rue Brabant in Brussels,” followed by #BlackHistoryMonth hashtag. They also included her with other Black celebrities who have been blackfished or lightened in pop culture.
Diet Prada published screenshots of the advertisement, along with an article from Essence critiquing the celebration of the billionaire’s soon-to-be ex-wife of Kanye West. Also included was a statement from Vogue regarding the backlash they received about a recent editorial featuring Kendall Jenner, Kardashian’s half-sister.
Vogue states about the image of Jenner, who is 100% white, the following:
“The image is meant to be an update of the romantic Edwardian/Gibson Girl hair which suits the period feel of the Brock Collection, and also the big hair of the 60s and the early 70s, that puffed-out, teased-out look of those eras. We apologize if it came across differently than intended and did not mean to offend anyone by it.”
While the suggestion is that they did not mean to offend, Diet Prada calls bull. They rolled out a photo journal of how Kim Kardashian was styled for the February issue with Black women as the inspiration.
Rapper DaBaby is now banned from the bowling alley that he and his entourage jumped a man in early this week.
According to TMZ, The Corbin Bowl in Topanga, CA, will no longer welcome the North Carolinian rapper at their establishment. The vicious attack of Brandon Bill$ prompted the sporting business to ban the chart-topper.
The staff, an insider reported, reviewed surveillance video that identified the “RockStar” BET Award-winner as the aggressor.
The rapper and four people beat up Brandon Bill$ – as he was slipping and sliding on the lane.
The bowling alley allegedly had to spend $250 in special cleaning chemicals to clean up the mess DaBaby made after throwing a fruity drink into Brandon Bill$’ face before the fight.
The business had to re-oil the lanes impacted by the fight.
While it is clear that the Billion Dollar Baby Entertainment mogul started the physical fight, the bowling alley is unclear if Brandon Bill$ said something to instigate the beatdown. Witnesses allege that he may have.
According to some, Bill$ walked up to DaBaby and disagreed with how the rapper had treated his sister, DaniLeigh.
DaniLeigh and DaBaby are the parents of a child born in the fall of 2021.
“LAME AS HELL!!! RUNNING UP ON MY BROTHER ON SOME SLIPPERY ASS FLOORS WITH 5/6 OF YA BOYS WHILE HE’S BY HIMSELF AND NOT EVEN TOUCHING HIM,” she wrote. “LAME AND SO SAD!!!!”
“I PRAY THIS STOPS NOW !!! BC THIS IS MY FAMILY! AND I GOT A DAUGHTER TO RAISE. SAD,” she concluded, before hopping off social media after this incident.
Watch out now, a wifi-rumpus is a brewing. Recently, an exciting Moneybagg Yo stirs up Twitter into a tizzy. So now, the public is still issuing its replies!
Here is the back story. Seemingly, the amped up Memphis musician hops on Twitter and shares a suggestive and an emoji-filled tweet. After all, the Certified Speaker possesses the pulse of the streets. Immediately following, the alleged announcement, his day-one supporters begin assuming that he is expecting a child.
Of course, the expressive emojis Mr. Gave It uses include the following. In fact, the series boasts a melanin-enriched infant. Next, a baby bottle and a celebratory party hat appears. Then, a pair of elevated Hallelujah hands may work to signify his joy. So, finally, a bottle of bubbly sums up his symbolic statement.
Moreover, the good folks at The Shade Room are presenting even more receipts. Here, the jet-setting couple are seen ready to travel. Above all, Ari makes sure to refer to her partner as, Daddy. Now, isn’t that sweet. So, are congratulations in order for the expectant family?
Be that as it may, Big Bagg is setting boundaries and reinforcing them. Yesterday evening (Feb 10), “Stay out my business,” warns the “Time Today” lyricist. The world better listen. Simply put, that is it and that is all.
After, the curt commentary the Internet emphatically responds. From acknowledging toasts, to acrid echoes social media is not to be dismissed. Additionally, the note of condensation is discussed.
You changed !! What happened to the guy who was praying to Allah ? Money!!!
Newburgh, New York emcee Pardison Fontaine broke onto the music scene with tracks such as 2013’s “Oyyy” and 2015’s “Bobby Brown.” Pardi later scored a Platinum plaque from the RIAA in 2019 for his Top 40 hit “Backin’ It Up” featuring Cardi B.
The Grammy winner is back with a brand new single and music video for 2022. Pardison Fontaine’s “Hoop Earrings” hit DSPs today (February 11). AllHipHop is premiering the song’s visuals, directed by Sage English, which also serves as the vanguard for an upcoming project.
“I was going through my hard drive of records and when I played this, my team was like, ‘Wait – what was that?!’ This was a 3-4-year-old record that had the hook and it sounded like old me,” Pardison Fontaine tells AllHipHop.
Fontaine continues, “I used to yell on my records and would yell because I’m from Newburgh and everything’s far and I needed to yell for you to hear me. We also shot the video in Newburgh with one of my old friends, coming full circle.”
Cover art for Pardison Fontaine’s “Hoop Earrings”
In August 2015, Pardison Fontaine dropped his debut mixtape Not Supposed to Be Here. Four years later saw the arrival of Pardi’s debut studio LP Under8ed. That 2019 project came out via Atlantic Records. “Hoop Earrings” is released under the St. Lukes Section 8 label.
“We shot this video in my hometown Newburgh, NY. I’m the first artist to ever make it out of there so it’s important to me to get back to my roots,” explains Pardision Fontaine about his latest presentation. “I knew the shop owner who let us use the space and my friend plays the main cashier. Creating visuals is my favorite part of the process.”
The accomplished co-writer for Cardi B and Kanye West adds, “I made this record 3 or 4 years ago and I could already envision how the video would unfold. That’s how my brain works when I’m making new music – I need to see the story. The song splits when the beat drops, and at that part, I knew what needed to go there, but I hadn’t cut it yet so the day of the video shoot I recorded the final part because I needed to visualize that part of the track to find the right words.”
Three of Dr. Dre’s most successful protégés will join him for the Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show this Sunday. The Aftermath Entertainment founder drafted Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and Kendrick Lamar for the showcase.
Eminem spoke to SiriusXM’s Sway Calloway ahead of Super Bowl LVI. That conversation included Em talking about his fellow Aftermath labelmate Kendrick Lamar and his legacy as an emcee.
“Kendrick, to me, is the most electrifying vocalist of this generation. Would you agree with that?” asked Sway Calloway. Em responded, “I absolutely would agree. Kendrick is at the very top, top tier of lyricists. Not just of this generation, but of all time.”
When it comes to what fans can expect from the upcoming Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show, Eminem hinted that the production for the performance will be phenomenal. He even admitted to the experience being nerve-racking.
“To me, there’s nothing more final than live TV. So if you f### up, you’re f### up is there forever,” said Eminem. The Detroit-bred rapper has performed on live broadcasts, such as award shows, for the past three decades.
Queen of Hip Hop Soul Mary J. Blige will also join Dr. Dre, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, and Snoop Dogg at the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California for Super Bowl LVI. Jesse Collins, Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter, and Roc Nation are producing the Halftime Show.
Often, social media offers a certain confidence-boosting cloak of anonymity. However, one of the celebrated superpower’s of Kanye West is his outspoken nature. So, if Ye has words for Snoop Dogg, exactly what does he have to say?
Keep in mind, that recently the legendary Left Coast lyricist, unabashedly offers his opinion. During, a visit to DJ Whoo Kid’s, Whoolywood Shuffle podcast, the Doggfather speaks on some of Mr. West’s recent attire. It just so happens, to center on Mr. West’s signature Balenciaga x Crocs boots.
First off, DJ Whoo Kidd makes a joke about the Louis Vuitton Don’s waders. Moreover, he insists that for his Super Bowl performance, Snoopy should wear a pair of the avant-garde footwear. To which, the B.O.D.R. MC immediately retorts, “Ain’t no way in the world I can Crip walk in the mother f—king big ass space boots.”
Soon, he quickly quips, “Only way I’d wear them mother f—kers is if they got me jumping off the Empire State Building into a mother f—king lake full of gators or some s—t and I gotta walk on the gator like Pitfall to get out of there.”
Oh,no! Snoop’s far from finished roasting Junya’s boots. Finally, Snoop relents, “I can’t hate on it, but I tell you what: I’d never wear them … I’m glad it never snows in California.”
Recently, the controversy the “Praise God” lauder is experiencing seems to be everywhere. In spite of, any angst the imminent MC encounters, to Hip-Hop he stays connected. In fact, he even seems to be keeping tabs on Uncle Snoop.
So, yesterday (Feb. 10), Kanye West hops on his Instagram account and seemingly address Snoop. Above all, resounding actions speak louder than words. Additionally, the “Can’t Tell Me Nothing” lyricist then addresses his thoughts on Snoop’s moves.
Of course, Kanye has nothing but love for the iconic artist. He reposts one of Currensy’s tweets. There, the solid statement is full of praise. “Snoop acquiring Deathrow is back future month As F###,” reads the affirming message.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CZxohd1uQao/
Ultimately, with a hashtag Ye also contends Snoop’s accomplishment is Black Future Month. Again, congratulations go out to Snoop Dogg.
This weekend will see Hip Hop culture represented on one of the biggest stages in entertainment. Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, and Mary J. Blige will headline the Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show.
Queen of Hip Hop Soul Mary J. Blige recently spoke to Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1’s New Music Daily. Lowe asked the 9-time Grammy winner about getting the news of her upcoming performance inside California’s SoFi Stadium.
“The rehearsals, oh my God. Everyone wants to be a fan and everyone wants to come down off the stage and run and watch each other’s performance. It’s amazing. People are going to be losing their minds. It’s amazing,” said Mary J. Blige.
She added, “[Interscope Records/Beats Electronic co-founder] Jimmy [Iovine] called me… Yep. ‘I’m chilling, Jimmy.’ ‘Mary, got a surprise for you.’ And Dre jumps on the phone. ‘Yo Mary, what do you think about doing the Super Bowl?’ I was like, ‘What? Say less. I’m there.'”
In addition to preparing to entertain the live Super Bowl LVI crowd and television audience, Mary J. Blige released her fourteenth studio LP Good Morning Gorgeous. The album features Anderson .Paak, Dave East, DJ Khaled, Fivio Foreign, and Usher.
“Good morning gorgeous the affirmation came from being in a very, very dark, low place where I was never enough, I wasn’t good enough, I wasn’t this, I wasn’t pretty enough,” Mary J. Blige told Zane Lowe.
The native New Yorker continued, “Nothing would please this person and I had to speak something positive over my life in order to build my spirit back up so I can pull myself out of that negative space I was in. It’s just a positive word I had to speak over my life that has gotten me to this title of this album.”
