Video: ForteBowie – “Neva Been” (Prod. by Slade Da Monsta)

The Think It’s a Game Artist Delivers a Minor-Key Rap-n-B Banger, Premiered by Mass Appeal

9.18.2017

Critical Praise:

“ForteBowie brings the wavy vibes on his long-anticipated Vice Haus 2 EP. Over 13 tracks, the gifted songwriter/producer/singer leans on his suave vocals for heady songs perfect for getting in a sensual mood, kicking back, or turning up.” – The FADER

The Video:

A key figure in the bustling ATL hip-hop scene, ForteBowie makes his mark with excellent rhyming, pure singing, and crafty songwriting. Riding a snaking piano melody with a triplet-heavy cadence, ForteBowie shows off his skills on “Neva Been.” Alternating between rhythmic bars, sung ad-libs, and self-harmonizing vocals, “Neva Been” asserts Forte’s musical supremacy with his lyrics and his performance: “All these n*ggas and I still feel estrogen/Oh, I’m everything you neva been/Can’t think of anything that you better than/Boy, I’m that n*gga that you neva been.” In the video, the Think It’s a Game artist flexes in a mall parking lot, accompanied only by producer Slade Da Monsta stunting on his all-white upright, intercut with clips of Forte in the bedroom and on the block. Premiered by Mass Appeal, “Neva Been” follows “Saturday Love,” a beautifully sung re-interpretation of “The Weekend,” by SZA. Premiered by VIBE, “Saturday Love” proved why ladies fall in love with him and his emotive tenor.

A jack-of-all-trades and an influential figure in his hometown of Atlanta, ForteBowie is a formidable force behind the mic and behind the scenes. As a child, ForteBowie collected VHS tapes of episodes of Showtime at the Apollo, imitating the best contestants and becoming an expert performer and songwriter. In 2011, Forte released his first two mixtapes, earning him some traction in the streets, but when Trinidad Jame$ featured him on his single “Southside,” his career started to take off. Forte followed up “Southside” by accompanying Trinidad on a national tour, which built momentum for Vice Haus, a well-received mixtape. Behind the scenes, ForteBowie helped develop the career of Jacquees, the Cash Money-signed R&B heartthrob, and he penned the Billboard Hot 100-charting hit “B.E.D.,” which Jacquees turned into a Top 10 hit on Urban Radio. Most recently in late 2016, Forte shared Vice Haus 2, which earned critical praise from The FADER. Look for more music from ForteBowie later in 2017.

Watch “Neva Been”: https://youtu.be/DABrWSmeLBw

Check out the Mass Appeal premiere: https://massappeal.com/fortebowie-neva-been-video-premiere/

ForteBowie Background

ForteBowie is a renaissance man (singer/rapper/producer/songwriter/DJ) with years of exposure in Atlanta’s underground scene. Born in Atlanta to Cameroonian parents, Forte found a liking to music of all genres at a very early age. His childhood toys became Showtime at the Apollo-filled VHS tapes, CDs and cassettes collected by his father. In 2011, Forte released two mixtape online, along with a number of leaks. The following year saw the rise of Trinidad James, with Forte being featured on the single “Southside”, which he also produced. He later went on to tour with James in 2013. February of the same year saw the release of Vice Haus, a 7 song EP that was very well received and a deluxe edition was released later that summer. Around this exciting time, Forte began working closely on developing a sound for R&B singer Jacquees. Fast forward to 2017, Forte has released Vice Haus 2 and has penned a Top 10 radio hit for Jacquees, B.E.D. The many talents and ideas behind the man ForteBowie will soon be received by the world. ForteBowie is signed to Think It’s a Game Records alongside YFN Lucci.

Please contact Michelle or Isabel if interested in talking with ForteBowie.