Showing posts with label hip hop. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hip hop. Show all posts


At last, one of Tennessee's brightest and quickly rising artists, DaTBoYZ3L unveils the Kray Films visual treatment for his most current body of work, "Danger".

Produced by Z3L's go-to producer, LetThatBoyCook, the single is bursting with thick instrumental layers accompanied by DaTBoYs 'well balanced serving of raps and harmonies. The video begins by paying homage to those lost over the past few years and immediately rolls into the chorus portion. DaTBoYZ3L addresses a whole list of dangerous criteria ranging from police brutality, human trafficking, crime, survival and above all, staying strong and hopeful.

 With the aid of Kray Films, the duo are able to capture the battle between dark and light, evil and good. Z3L explains to keep God close while being able to express his emotions in hopes of reaching those going thru these current events and experiences. "Danger" also utilizes symbolism to further expand on this. Catch background dances masked up representing ancestry and Z3L wearing blue and the tail end of the video, which represents healing. "Danger" is one of Z3L's best works to date and can be viewed below on YouTube.



Izzy Strange returns to the forefront with his second power packed single "Things Changed" featuring Rhymesayers very own, Nikki Jean.

Lifted from off his forthcoming EP, "I"m From Where You're From", Izzy and frequent collaborator Nate Fox construct a fell good anthem that speaks about reflection. That reflection is looking at just how things change whether it's your mindset or hometown. Change is inevitable in life but ultimately, you have the choice to grow on your own terms or be forced into it. Nate provides the playful production as Izzy and Nikki trade real life tales that will surely have you traveling down memory lane.

 "Things Change" follows Izzy Strange's first single, "What You Tryna Do?", which features an incredible feature from Feddie Gibbs and was picked up by sites such as All Hip Hop and Hip Hop Since 1987. Nikki Jean adds an incredible vibe to the single by not only contributing a verse but also provides the hook. She's been hard at work since signing onto the Rhymesayers imprint and released her latest album, "Beautiful Prison".

"Things Change" is yet another solid release crafted by the Pennsylvanian emcee who now calls Las Vegas home. Listen to "Things Change" below and stay tuned for more music and "I'm From Where You're From" to arrive very soon.




Living in the times we do these days, you just never know what can come your way. Violence and hate is at an all time high while the common folk struggle to survive. "Danger" lurks around nearly every corner, especially in the streets of Jackson, Tennessee where DaTBoYZ3L calls home. The new single is Z3L's lead single to his forthcoming sophomore album, "DaTseason".

The young artist paints a chilling picture of the turmoil he's endured while offering eye opening advice on how to maneuver thru life's strenuous obstacles. Z3L explains that it honestly doesn't matter what your social status, race or gender is, we are all able to fall victim to experiencing dangerous situations. It's up to you to play the game smart and always be aware of your surroundings, never let your guard down.

DaTBoY contracts Letthatboycook once again for the stunning production number that is bursting with soulful energy and bone chilling vocal structures that play like a musical revival. Word also has it that there's a lyrical video soon to follow and even a possible official video later this year. Z3L's not only a talented songwriter and artist, he's also a bonified hustler.

Continuing to build momentum behind his clothing apparel line, #DaTGEAR, he shows no signs of slowing his momentum anytime soon. Tune in to "Danger" on Spotify and Apple Music while keeping a close eye on DaTBoYZ3L in the coming months.




Infectious golden-era sounds infused with a soulful groove is the framework for the latest track from Long Island Hip Hop artist Blazin entitled "Departure". His lyrical style combines intellectual lucidity and a versatile flow that weaves fluidly through this heavy instrumental from visionary producer, BigBob. Calculated cuts and scratches from esteemed DJ Tray complete this fresh boom-bap single now streaming on Audiomack.

 

Pennsylvanian emcee Izzy Strange lets lose his first official project of 2018, the 11 track "Izzy Duz It" mixtape.



Thus far, we'd seen two singles birthed prior to the mixtape. The first single, titled "Just Me", found Izzy alongside 2009 XXL Freshman Blu trading lyrics speaking on self-dependence and the need to continue pushing forward no matter what. Sara Fox also contributed to the track with a powerful burst of soul and the chorus. The second release placed Strange on a haunting Nate Fox production named "Halfway Crooks". Mick Jenkins joined Izzy to speak out against half-assing it through life. 

Production comes from a wide assortment of producers that Izzy came across via YouTube but he does however give us a song each from his go-to beatsmiths, Nate and Casa Nada. Also guest starring on the mixtape are Nacho Picasso and Tedy Andres, who appear on the latter half of the presentation. 

"Izzy Duz It" provides a close look at the multifaceted talent of the artist as he goes from storytelling tales to spitting bars and even playing the singer role on "Something I Said" with supporting vocals from Sara. Along with that angle, Izzy's potent poetical penmanship shines brightly on the mixtape. Top highlights of this statement can be found on tracks like "Even A Broken Clock", "The World Can Wait" and "Robert Johnson".

Since his first single from his sophomore album, "A Good Day 2 B The Bad Guy", Strange has made it a point to provide conceptually fueled content that's plays easy on the ear. Though a Hip Hop artist, the east coaster pulls in heavy influence from genres such as blues and jazz. If you were looking for some type of label to attach to "Izzy Duz It" you could call it "thinking man's music". He's not afraid to expose his faults and it's thru that type of fearlessness that makes the mixtape such an incredible project to digest time and time again.

"Izzy Duz It" is now streaming on Soundcloud and YouTube.




Izzy Strange Online
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Jamel Deon - The Breather @Jamel_Deon


“The Breather” is a single by rapper Jamel Deon. On the Moshuun-produced track, Jamel Deon goes on a lyrical rampage as he unleashes his grit with every bar on the record. He showcases a glimpse of how Las Vegas rappers get down with the bars. He touches on various subjects such as bouncing back from bad situations, cutting toxic people out of his life, keeping a hustler’s mentality, and staying consistent. Jamel Deon strives to get people to turn up and let loose on this song as he flows effortlessly and passionately on this instrumental. Aside from soundcloud, the song is available to purchase and stream on all platforms.


Jamel Deon Williams, better known as Jamel Deon or The Pen Prodigy is a rapper and spoken word artist from Las Vegas, NV. He is also a member of Las Vegas hip hop duo, Kinfolk Kollab. Although always having a passion for music since the age of 4, Jamel Deon didn't start taking rap seriously until the age of 14.

He would proceed to release his debut mixtape The Pen Prodigy: The Missing Pages in 2014. In the following years, he would go on to release The Pen Prodigy 2: Writings On The Wall, No Hook, and Kinfolk Kollab: The Mixtape. During his senior year of high school, Jamel Deon made his debut with his first single, “Scared”, a remix to Drake's “Fear”, in 2014.

He graduated from Legacy High School and would soon relocate to Phoenix, Arizona to attend Grand Canyon University. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a minor in Entrepreneurship in 2017. During high school and college, he would alternate spending time in Las Vegas and Phoenix. When not in the classroom, he used those times as opportunities to write and record music, work part-time jobs, and perform at both school events and local events.

 Jamel Deon would describe his style as “nostalgic and lyrical with a storytelling flow and delivery.” He strives to have his music center around the growing pains, triumph, and typical life experiences many people come up against in life (whether good, bad, or fun), including himself. He cites Nas, Lloyd Banks, Jeezy, Scarface, and Jay Z as some of his musical influences. With four projects under his belt, Jamel Deon is nothing short of determined to make a name for himself and make his mark in hip hop.


The Milwaukee marauder, Taiyamo Denku, continues powering forward campaigning his recently released LP, "No Industry Standard". Side by side with fellow producer cohort Dcypha, the pair continue delivering nothing but high quality Hip Hop. Enter the third single from said album, "Still Waiting", featuring highly compelling jewels shared by Griselda Records own, Benny The Butcher. 




The song begins with a sick piano melody that gets split by soulful horn and vocal samples. Denku sets up the record's concept with a short introduction that rides into the chorus that states, "no matter how things get, they still waiting for change / stages of life, sleep half of the days". After the intital hook, Taiyamo and Benny begin assaulting the mic with brolic bars of knowledge, hoping to wake up the unknowing. "Still Waiting" is a stand out cut from "No Industry Standard" and is the second feature from the Griselda camp. The album's lead single, "Be Who You Are", was another super soulful clapper and featured Conway The Machine.


"No Industry Standard" has quite a few hits on it's hands. The two aforementioned singles, "Fabulous Life" with Lil Kim, it's title track and much more. Benny is still pumping his "A Friend Of Ours" project. A fan favorite of 2018, the project carries guest appearances by 38 Spesh, El Camino, Dark Lo, Skyzoo and others. Both albums are available to preview / purchase on Bandcamp, nice additions to add to your Hip Hop collection.
Taiyamo Denku - No Industry Standard @TaiyamoDenku @dcypha



The seasoned Milwaukee beat bruiser, Taiyamo Denku, makes his triumphant return to your headphones with the full length album, "No Industry Standard". Consisting of 16 tracks in total, Denku and Dcypha once again combine their musical powers to put forth an all around quality Hip Hop extravaganza. The pair continue to go against the grain of so called industry standards, funding the project out of their own pockets and completely independent. Keeping the entire album process in house allowed the duo to orchestrate some heavy features.

Fans of the Cypha Den Music imprint know very well that you can expect some impressive guests on their releases. We can find the lyricist bashing mics alongside the likes of Conway The Machine, Saukrates, Lil Kim, Chino XL, Royal Flush, J Hood, KRS One, and Benny the Butcher.

The names alone are enough reasoning for checking the album out. Don't think for a minute that Denku is the type of artist that bases his career off of features. The Wisco wordsmith has proven his skills time and time again, whether it be inside of a cypher or performing on a vast amount of stages. He sets up all his own tours and has taken his act all across the Midwest and East Coast. As with his skills, Taiyamo has an extensive back catalog both as a solo artist and holding his own among Hip Hop's most predominant acts.

"No Industry Standard" has seen 2 singles and 1 video released so far. The lead single, "Be Who You Are", finds Conway and Taiyamo candidly speaking about faking the funk from two different points of view. "Fabulous Life" features the R&B styling of The Genius with the Midwesterner and Lil Kim speaking about what a "Fabulous Life" consists off. "Stand Back" was produced by Psycho Les of The Beatnuts, this release received a salt and peppered visual from Wes Tank. More singles will be released from the album in the coming months along with a video for "Mr. Sunshine", featuring Saukrates.

Make sure to stay tuned for that but in the meantime, preview and purchase "No Industry Standard" on Bandcamp.


Twee-Ze - BNB | @tweezedoitez


North Carolina's Twee-Ze resurfaces with a brand new video dedicated to cigars and marijuana, the hypnotically fueled, "BNB"



Shot in a dimly lit chill spot, the rapper and his clique can be found zoning out to the single with numerous blunts in steady rotation. Twee-Ze melodically pieces words together in a catchy rhyming pattern that rides the Fly Melodies beat smoothly. Bass fiends will love the deep octave vibrations as the song does not lack in the low end frequency.

Although the lyrical content is of a higher level, Twee-Ze made sure to keep this release extremely smoker friendly. The southern spitter continues adding great content to his discography alongside the "Who Cares" and "Parallel Universes" EPs. Word has it that his next release will be for a single titled "Shine" with a possible late summer drop date.

When it comes to speaking about life, we all have our own personal views of what success truly means. Some would say it's all about vast amounts of money while others would describe health, happiness and family. Whatever the case may be one thing is for sure, we all strive to lead a "Fabulous Life". Milwaukee based emcee Taiyamo Denku digs deep into this topic alongside Boston R&B vocalist The Genius and the notorious Queen Bee herself, Lil Kim.


Produced by Australian beatsmith, Dcypha, the Miami Vice sounding keys and crisp drums perfectly match the trio's verbal approach. Kim Jones delivers a verse that would make a young Lil Kim extremely proud. She even makes a reference to the revealing outfit she wore back in 1999 at the MTV VMAs. The Brooklyn femcee is still living fabulously with high end designer threads and her promiscuous word play.

Taiyamo approaches the track in two different ways. In his first verse, he rhymes about how money doesn't truly determine your social status. Denku is a hard working artist with hundreds of songs in the vault, some of which carry features from some of Hip Hop's biggest legends. He tours relentlessly and handles alot of his own promo. He lightly mentions these things in the song but it's his responsibilities as a father and as a true emcee of the culture that he values the most. His next verse finds Taiyamo in a reminiscent state of mind as he looks back at his accolades and finds true happiness in knowing he's had a long lived music career, albeit the vast amount of dollars.

"Fabulous Life" is the last single to be released from Denku's forthcoming album, "No Industry Standard". Previous singles included the lead off single featuring Conway The Machine titled "Be Who You Are" and the Psycho Lez produced "Stand Back". The album will also feature Chino XL, KRS One, Benny The Butcher and more. The album is currently available for pre-order on Bandcamp.

 
Taiyamo Denku - "Stand Back" (@TaiyamoDenku)



Taiyamo Denku continues setting fire to the microphone in preparation of his forthcoming album, "No Industry Standard". This time, he blazes a Psycho Les produced record, instructing bystanders to "Stand Back" while burning down everything in his pathway. The Milwaukee wordsmith transforms into the Hip Hop version of Fantastic 4's Johnny Blaze. He wastes no time whatsoever Compacting a blitzkrieg of rhymes into each bar, sometimes surpassing the margin lines. A seasoned emcee, Taiyamo spits lines like "been rhyming since before Tim Allen was Santa Clause".

To match the rhyming and production caliber of Denku and Psycho Les, video director Wes Tank takes the single to all new heights. Wes vividly captures the Cypha Den Music henchman's mindset, spinning cyphers and sparring sessions into a captivating silhouetted style presentation. Repping his hometown fully, Taiyamo rocks a Milwaukee shirt while shooting the video in undisclosed locations on the northside of the city. 0 to 100 MMA Gym and others add the finishing touches on this classically served Hip Hop release.

"Stand Back" as well as the Conway The Machine featured "Be Who You Are" will be found on the "No Industry Standard" album. Along with that, expect to hear amazing guest features from Lil Kim, Chino XL, KRS One and more. The album is set to release this upcoming June.


Taiyamo Denku Ft Conway The Machine - Be Who You Are @TaiyamoDenku @dcypha


Cypha Den Music and Griselda Records team together for the wake up record, "Be Who You Are", produced by Dcypha 

In an industry designed on a smoke and mirrors approach, Taiyamo Denku and Conway The Machine fan out the air pollution and smash the looking glass with this riveting single from Denku's forthcoming album, "No Industry Standard". Dcypha constructs the instrumental with blues guitars, subtle organs and horn snippets. Denku and Conway hit the track with revealing lyrics that simply state, no matter what, "Be Who You Are". Complete with a clever audio clip from Barney Fife of "The Andy Griffith Show", the record is an ideal wake up call for listeners to stop being untrue to themselves. Listen to the song below.

 

Taiyamo Denku Ft L Majestic - Prove Your Worth @TaiyamoDenku @majestic_l

In an era where lyricism and substance are becoming an endangered species, Milwaukee native Taiyamo Denku and Australian beatsmith Dcypha take a blunt stance on the matter. Alongside east coast emcee L Majestic, the trio call out unfit artists on "Prove Your Worth", forcing them to validate their position on the mic.

Denku, who is extremely proactive when it comes to voicing his views on the genre, kicks the song off by explaining the outcome of fraudulent rappers in the streets of Milwaukee. On the hook he spits, "prove this / prove that / prove that you're worth something, no money attached". This is a play on the notion that emceeing should be based on skills and credibility, not plays and finances.

L Majestic takes this notion one step further and beyond by taking us into the matrix of the music business. He keeps it all the way one hundred with lines like, "I stay doing this music because I'm dedicated / I refuse to be a washed up rapper who never made it / cause deep in my heart, I know I truly flow / but it's not about how nice you are, it's who you know".

All egos aside, Denku, Majestic and Dcypha simple want to see the art form they hold so near and dear to their hearts alive and well for many generations to come. With that said, it's your turn to step up to the Hip Hop counsel and "Prove Your Worth".

 


With an encyclopedic knowledge of all forms of hip-hop and rap, Parrish Tha Great is able to draw on all corners of the genre when it comes time to write his music. Everything he writes comes from the heart, and he hopes his music can connect with people through what he calls “the purest kind of energy.” 

Parrish Tha Great’s latest musical effort is “Get Rich”. The video begins with him rolling up in a sexy sports car; dressed to the nines, he steps out and leads his lady inside. He heads in to a conference room for a meeting where things get heated. From there it’s on to an all-out party, where the drinks keep flowing and the dance moves keep on coming as he celebrates feeling “rich.”


From the music he makes to the logos he uses and merchandise printed, everything Parrish Tha Great creates is a part of him. It comes as no surprise, then, that along with the “Get Rich” music video, he’s designed four t-shirts with the slogan “I Am Rich”, which are seen in the video. The shirts take influence from Versace, Gucci, Run DMC, and MasterCard graphics, and with all designs available on both black and white shirts, there’s something for everyone.

Young Blu has quietly been one of the Midwest's most consistent artists. His following has continued to grow right along with his discography. His latest project Melly World 2 is officially on sale now and his lead single, "By Myself" gets the visual treatment from Eye Like Cinema. Sometimes it's better when you do it all on your own. 



Wisconsin native Paperstacks recently hit the stage in Springfield, IL as part of "The New Class 4". Before taking the stage the Midwest Connectz caught up with Stacks for an interview. Check it out!


Rapper and activist, Johnny Music has a few things to say about presidential candidate Donald Trump's, well... dick. Taking a shot at the Mickey Avalon single 'My Dick", Johnny goes on a nearly 3 minute diss session of one of the most talked about men in America.



Cody Tyler Releases Title Track from EP, "LightKidEra"

 

Cody Tyler is on a roll. In the past couple months he released the hit single "Pulp Fiction" and followed that up with a Au Glass-directed music video to rave reviews. He now is back with the title track from his upcoming EP, "LightKidEra". The Florida-raised, now LA-based MC has been putting in the hard work ever since touching down in the City of Angels and is showing no signs of stopping anytime soon. After inking a deal with LA-based music management and promotions firm, On The Grind Management, things are quickly on the rise and industry is taking notice.



This latest release "LightKidEra" is a party anthem and simply out there for everyone to have fun. It's the end of summer, but that doesn't mean the party has to stop now. As Cody states, "LightKidEra came from a vision I had one day when writing. I took a break, had a drink and took a shower while listening to the beat. I immediately got the vision of a group of people very happy and just leading a stampede of people living for a purpose, loving life and having fun. A group who welcomes all and everyone who wants to bring light to the world". Take a listen to the song below and you can catch Cody on a stage near you this Winter in LA, including in January at Busby's East. We appreciate your support and more coming from Cody soon!

#CodyTyler #LightKidEra #Purpleandstars #OTG


JAY Z TAKES US BACK TO CHURCH WITH SIR THE BAPTIST PREMIERE OF "WAKE UP"

I guess there is church in the wild. Sir the Baptist, a Chicago-born recording artist, just premiered his latest artistic demonstration entitled "Wake Up" through Jay Z's entertainment streaming service - Tidal. Sir is an emerging pop/hip hop artist with gospel roots whose sound is reminiscent of "Jesus Walks" or a modern Reverend Run. He is currently highly coveted by some of the most prestigious record labels in the music industry. Universal Music Group states, "Amen! One of the chosen ones has arrived. Save music!"

"Wake Up" is an anti-violence anthem, coming from a Chicagoan who has marched in the streets for this cause, to bring people together and call for change. As we've seen, Chicagoans and artists alike have been blunt on their disapproval of Spike Lee's 'Chiraq'. Although there is outrage surrounding the comedic and sometimes sexist plot on such a sensitive subject, especially to those who have lost someone to the violence, Spike may be hitting a nerve in the city. However, a preachers kid from Louis Armstrong's neighborhood in Chicago decided to act by partnering with Jay Z's tidal streaming service to achieve awareness in a more serious, yet peaceful tone. 

These "Wake Up" demonstrations weren't just another music video. They were a protest on Chicago's Magnificat Mile, a march in low income areas of the city and an event to take back the parks of Chicago by mentoring and feeding the youth in the city.




"Wake Up" was written by Sir many months ago, but happens to share the same title as Pope Francis's upcoming album. Similar to the Pope, Sir has ignited controversy surrounding issues in faith-based communities. Both revolutionaries believe in fighting for the poor, seek to change long-standing problems within their communities, cure injustices that have existed for far too long and build a culture around human dignity for a common good. Not since Reverend Run has the church culture been this embedded in mainstream music.

Catch Sir the Baptist live on December 23rd at Reggies Rock Club in Chicago as part of a Toy & Food Drive Charity Concert. He will also be hosting numerous anti-violence events, turkey donation drives, free concerts for Chicago Public School students and town hall meetings in the months ahead. 



Chicago-based King$ is "So Dope" on New Single

Chicago-based MC King$ continues to reinvent the Chicago hip hop sound and is bringing some fresh energy into the well-respected music scene. As he describes himself, "the best way I can describe my style is a cross between Chicago Drill and 1980's punk rock. It's like if The Misfits had a baby with Chief Keef". The onslaught continues in his newest single, "So Dope". After recently inking a new management deal and performing in-front of a packed room at Chicago's Double Door on 10/18, King$ is one to watch and clearly a rising artist in Chicago.

"When writing "So Dope", I wanted to create a song like an action movie for the listener to escape the typical braggadocio rap record and listen to something more exciting for a change. It contains all the core foundation of a typical trap party record, but I threw in some punk rock influence to it with the violent lyrics and aggressive delivery. I was sweating in the studio while recording it. To me, it's a record that someone could play when they want to uplift their spirit, get in that morning workout or something to listen to while having the wildest night of their life". Take a listen to the anthem below and be sure to catch King$ live at a skate shop near you (dates coming soon) or on December 23rd at Reggies Rock Club Chicago as a part of On The Grind Management's Toy & Food Charity Event. We appreciate your support!!

#King$ #SoDope #OTG