The Precocious Virginia Rap Group Drops an Exuberant New Track, Premiered by The Hundreds
11.18.2016
Critical Praise for Breezepark:
“PLAY, CMRNPRKR, Ty Safari, and Rye have made a name for themselves in their hometown of Suffolk, Virginia, with a new generation of rap fans embracing their unique sound.” – NYLON
The Song:
Roaring out of Suffolk, Virginia, rap group BreezePark, with pop and electronic influences, is a leader in the Hip-Hop New School. A bouncy, melodic anthem for anyone with the courage and convictions to follow their dreams premiered today by The Hundreds, “Paradise“ bounds with youthful energy, as the group’s four emcees breathlessly trade optimistic verses. Featuring a guest appearance from 18-year-old rapper Zara Bash, “Paradise” is the purest distillation yet of the group’s appeal, bursting with hard rhymes and youthful charisma.
A group of four kindred souls from very different backgrounds, the quartet of PLAY,CMRNPRKR, Ty Safari, and Rye met at a skate park in Suffolk, Virginia. The group, whose members are all between the ages of 19 and 21, is a massive sensation in their hometown, selling out shows with little to no promotion. In 2015, the group released Strangers, which won them a sizable Soundcloud following and earned them coverage in NYLON and HotNewHipHop. BreezePark is currently hard at work at their debut album, getting ready to bring whats taken over Suffolk to the rest of the world.
Please contact Michelle or Isabel if interested in talking with Breezepark.
Breezepark Background:
Dynamic and diverse are perhaps the best words to define the Suffolk, Virginia based hip-hop group, Breezepark. Since meeting through rival high schools, the group has been striving to build their platform as a dominant name in the music community while reinforcing the importance of positivity, self empowerment, determination, and truth through their art.
D-Boy Diaries Goes Deep into E-40 & His Patnas’ Pasts, Growing Up in the Crack Era ’80’s in Vallejo, California
11.18.2016
Critical Praise for E-40
“Whoever you are, and whatever your low-grade malaise, E-40 is here to banish it. The Bay Area rap forefather is a human exclamation point, a superhero whose power is remaining helplessly in love with his work. E-40 works harder and more joyfully at making great rap music than you or I have ever worked on anything” – Pitchfork
“The Bay Area’s ambassador E-40 is one of those rare veterans in hip-hop that gets better with time.” – Complex
The Album:
A legend in the rap game, E-40 remains relevant and sought after for spitting the hardest bars of his career every time he steps up to the mic. Fresh off the momentum of two RIAA certified Gold records in 2016 (“Choices” and “Function”), today, 40 Water drops The D-Boy Diary Books 1 & 2, a 44-track double album packed with eccentric rhymes, acrobatic flows, and countless new entries into the slang lexicon. With features from Gucci Mane, Lil B, G-Eazy, Nef The Pharaoh, Droop-E, Jay Rock, Kid Ink, B-Legit, Mistah F.A.B., Mozzy, K Camp, Ezale, Jay 305, Kent Jones, Eric Bellinger, Casey Veggies, AD, Husalah, Turf Talk, Ricco Barrino, Joe Moses, and more, thismomentous body of work is a testament to his deep Rolodex and his knowledge of the rap landscape, both marquee and underground.
Explains E-40, “These are my 26th and 27th solo albums and I feel real good. I played my position, I laced the unlaced, I’m telling my stories and other people’s stories all in one, about being brought up how I was brought up. It’s a blessing to be a rapper and talk about things that I’ve been through or my partnas or family been through and how we’ve conquered it. I’m very grateful about how my career has turned out. If I were to give advice to young rappers trying to make a career, I would say to take this music seriously and really put your all into it. Surround yourself with positive people who will tell you if you’re right or wrong. If you have a bunch of Yes Sirs, everything ain’t gon’ fall into place. Don’t depend on the CEO and the record label; help the CEO out by helping yourself out.”
Earlier this week, 40 dropped the video for “Savage,” a rider’s anthem with a hook from Jazze Pha and a verse from B-Legit (and over 110,000 views since its release on Tuesday). “Savage” followed the GQ-premiere of club banger “On One,” featuring L.A. barker AD, which has racked up over 400,000 views on the official YouTube audio. Earlier this year, 40 released bass-heavy banger “Slappin’,” featuring Nef The Pharaoh and D.R.A.M., which earned over 1.1 million views on the official YouTube video, and graced the airwaves with “Petty,” featuring Kamaiyah, one of the Bay Area’s brightest rising stars. In addition to killing the rap game, E-40 is a respected entrepreneur in the adult beverage industry, highlighted by his Earl Stevens Selections brand of wine, his eponymous line of 40 oz. beers, and especially Sluricane, a premium pre-mixed cocktail that routinely ranks among Bev Mo‘s highest selling beverages. The D-BoyDiary Books 1 & 2 is currently available to stream and purchase on the DSP of your choice.
One of the most celebrated rappers of all time, E-40 has attained legendary status in hip-hop. Since making his debut with The Click almost 30 years ago and becoming one of the first West Coast rap artists to sign to a major label, his name has become synonymous with the independent music movement. E-40 has released 24 solo albums, become a platinum recording artist and collaborated with artists including Tupac, UGK, and Snoop Dogg. At age 48, E-40 is an anomaly in hip-hop, maintaining his relevance over a career that spans three decades. In the past few years alone, he’s been featured on several Billboard charts (“Choices,” Big Sean’s “IDFWU”, Ty Dolla $ign’s “Saved”), he’s earned an RIAA-certified Gold plaque (“Choices”) and starred and had his 2006 smash hit “Tell Me When to Go” featured in a Beats By Dre commercial. Says E-40, “What’s happening at this point in my career defies logic. Name another 48-year-old rapper with one Gold record, let alone three in the same year. My fans stretch much further than the Bay Area, further than just the West Coast. I brought so much shit to hip-hop. I’ve been relevant in each generation and each decade and I’ve done it as an independent artist.”
E-40’s success extends beyond the music industry, most notably through his entrepreneurship in the adult beverages industry. His wine business, Earl Stevens Selections, distributes high-quality wine to stores across the country, including BevMo, Safeway, and local liquor stores. He has made inroads into the pre-mixed cocktail business with Sluricane, a signature bottled-mix named after his 1995 hit “Hurricane,” with The Click, which was the top-selling beverage at BevMo when it was first released. In 2015, E-40 released an eponymous brand of 40-oz. malt liquor. E-40 is continuing his unprecedented longevity and success as an independent artist with his next album, scheduled for late 2016.
Acclaimed Florida Emcee Eric Biddines Announces The Local Cafe, An Eclectic, Introspective Effort Releasing January 23rd
The FADER Premieres “Whole Trunk,” the Thumping, Southern Fried First Single from the Project
11.17.2016
Critical Praise for Eric Biddines:
“His delivery is unique, featuring high-pitched vocals and a Southern twang that is unmistakable.” – Complex
“[Eric Biddines] sounds like a cross-breed of Andre 3000 and Devin the Dude.” – 2Dopeboyz
“His music demonstrates a Dungeon Family-like propensity for interweaving harmonious refrains into complex flows to create a sound that sandwiches pure hip hop with layerings of funk and R&B. It’s a sound that doesn’t come by accident.” – BET
The Project:
With a pronounced drawl and a deep musical and intellectual curiosity, Florida rapper Eric Biddines makes soulful and reflective Southern rap. Today, Biddines announces the release date of his next project, The Local Cafe, hitting stores on January 27th. His first album since 2013’s planetcoffeebean 2, Eric Biddines’ The Local Cafe is an in-depth exploration of life for an African-American in Palm Beach Country, rich with minute details and lived-in experiences illustrated by Eric’s precise wordplay and intricate songwriting. Featuring appearances from Blaine and Kendra Williams, along with jazzy, atmospheric production mostly from Eric Biddines, himself, The Local Cafe positions the teetotaling Eric Biddines as a unique, sober voice in modern Hip-Hop.
Born and raised in Palm Beach County in a strict household, Eric Biddines developed a passion for music at a young age. Growing up, he listened to Motown and Classic Soul, but his life changed when he discovered Hip-Hop. At the age of 13, Biddines first heard his hero Andre 3000 rap “No drugs or alcohol so I can get the signal clear,” which convinced the young rapper to swear away from drugs and alcohol. Inspired by his love for Southern Rap, Biddines began his own rap career in 2009, building a loyal following and garnering critical acclaim for his music and his message. Though he has not released a full-length since 2013, he released a deluxe version of his planetcoffebean 2 album via Juggernaut Sound/ EMPIRE, in a partnership with music industry veteran, Richie Abbott, and teamed up with producer Paul White to form The Golden Rules, who released their debut Golden Ticket in 2016.
Today, Eric Biddines releases the video for “Whole Trunk,” the first single from The Local Cafe. A swampy, bass-heavy anthem with stilting snares and twanging guitars, “Whole Trunk” is an ode to listening to music at full volume in your car: “It don’t bang if the whole trunk don’t knock.” In the video for the self-produced track, Eric tools around in his boxframe Chevy, visiting various neighborhood haunts and basking in the Florida sun. Premiered today by The FADER, “Whole Trunk” is a worthy tribute to Eric’s Dungeon Family heroes and a potent glimpse into The Local Cafe.
The Counselor Drops the First Video From His Highly Anticipated Albums The D-Boy Diary Book 1 & The D-Boy Diary Book 2
11.18.2016
Critical Praise for E-40
“Whoever you are, and whatever your low-grade malaise, E-40 is here to banish it. The Bay Area rap forefather is a human exclamation point, a superhero whose power is remaining helplessly in love with his work. E-40 works harder and more joyfully at making great rap music than you or I have ever worked on anything” – Pitchfork
“The Bay Area’s ambassador E-40 is one of those rare veterans in hip-hop that gets better with time.” – Complex
The Video:
Rap icon E-40 wastes no time in releasing a fresh new video “Savage” featuring producer/singer Jazze Pha, who produced Ludacris’ “Area Codes” and Ciara’s 1, 2 Step,” and prolific Bay Area veteran and E-40’s cousin B-Legit. The new visual features the dynamic trio toasting it up to the good life with assorted eye candy, plush whips and an array of Sluricane. The new video single is a glimpse into the highly anticipated 42-track effort, The D-Boy Diary Book 1 & The D-Boy Diary Book 2, slated to drop on Nov. 18, 2016. With features from Gucci Mane, Lil B, G-Eazy, Nef The Pharaoh, Droop-E, Jay Rock, Kid Ink, Mistah F.A.B., Eric Bellinger, Casey Veggies, AD, Joe Moses and more, this iconic project will mark E-40’s 26th and 27th solo releases.
Says E-40: “The first time the word ‘Savage’ was ever said in the way we are saying it now that I recall, was 1989 in my song called ‘Mr. Flamboyant.’ I said, Become a SAVAGE/ get swole boat ones / 20-inch arms establish one-hitter quitters/ the whole get down/ now run up on me now. I keep it original and relevant mane.”
Says B-Legit: “E-40’s sound is always versatile but when we team up it’s a greenlight go … Savage has an uptempo dance floor beat if you ask me. The way Jazze Pha works the hook makes it catchy as a matter of fact, I sing it in my head all the time.”
Explains Jazze Pha, “I was inspired by the young homies that were in the studio the night when I heard the Savage beat… I pulled my verses from that savage idgaf lifestyle when a youngin got a pocket fulla cash, smoking good & drinking good and he feels like he can have it all! Makes me feel like I’m kinda reliving my past life on this song.”
While maintaining an internationally acclaimed sound nearly four decades, the Bay Area Ambassador continues to defy the odds in today’s millennial age with two recent Gold Plaques for hit singles “Function” and “Choices!” “Savage” follows up E-40’s earlier releases including the recent “On One” featuring AD, and “Slappin” featuring Nef the Pharaoah and D.R.A.M., and the radio hit “Petty” featuring Kamaiyah. In addition to his distinguished music career, E-40 enjoys success with his collection of premium beverages: pre-mixed rum cocktail Sluricane, wine brand Earl Stevens Selections and E-40-brand 40 oz. beer.
Stack it to the Ceiling
Straight To The Point (ft. Ezale and G-Eazy)
Savage (ft. Jazze Pha and B-Legit)
Puttin’ in Work
Mr. Arm and Hammer (ft. Stresmatic)
Hunedz (ft. Rick Rock)
Fired Up (ft. Cousin Fik)
Bag On Me (ft. K.D. Stunts)
Say So (ft. iStevie)
Stay Away (ft. Eric Bellinger)
Somebody (ft. Ricco Barrino)
All Day (ft. Gucci Mane)
The Grit Don’t Quit (ft. Nef The Pharaoh)
Fake Lit (ft. June Onna Beat)
Goon Music (ft. Stresmatic)
Gangsta Song (ft. Kent Jones)
Blessed By The Game
We Flip (ft. Cousin Fik, Choose Up Cheese and Stresmatic)
I Had It In a Drought (ft. Stresmatic)
Check (ft. Willy Will)
Made It Out (ft. Young Chu)
Book 2
Bring Back The Sideshow (ft. Mistah F.A.B. and Nef The Pharaoh)
Money (ft. Mozzy and Jay Rock)
This Goin’ Up (ft. Husalah and Turf Talk)
On One (ft. AD)
Get Money or Get Lost
Highway (ft. B-Legit and TreSolid)
Sick Out Here (ft. Droop-E)
Thank U (ft. Willy Will)
Military Time (ft. Salsalino and Baby Treeze)
Uh Huh (ft. YV)
2 Seater (ft. Kid Ink)
What It’s Gone Be (ft. D-Day and Tamoya Bell)
How Do U Like That
I Know a Guy
All I Know (ft. K Camp and Casey Veggies)
Waitin’ On a Play (ft. Nicamari)
Tycoon
Broke Bitches (ft. Joe Moses and Jay 305)
Flash On These Bitches (ft. Lil B)
Too Many
Paid Off (ft. Stresmatic)
One of the most celebrated rappers of all time, E-40 has attained legendary status in hip-hop. Since making his debut with The Click almost 30 years ago and becoming one of the first West Coast rap artists to sign to a major label, his name has become synonymous with the independent music movement. E-40 has released 24 solo albums, become a platinum recording artist and collaborated with artists including Tupac, UGK, and Snoop Dogg. At age 48, E-40 is an anomaly in hip-hop, maintaining his relevance over a career that spans three decades. In the past few years alone, he’s been featured on several Billboard charts (“Choices,” Big Sean’s “IDFWU”, Ty Dolla $ign’s “Saved”), he’s earned an RIAA-certified Gold plaque (“Choices”) and starred and had his 2006 smash hit “Tell Me When to Go” featured in a Beats By Dre commercial. Says E-40, “What’s happening at this point in my career defies logic. Name another 48-year-old rapper with one Gold record, let alone three in the same year. My fans stretch much further than the Bay Area, further than just the West Coast. I brought so much shit to hip-hop. I’ve been relevant in each generation and each decade and I’ve done it as an independent artist.”
E-40’s success extends beyond the music industry, most notably through his entrepreneurship in the adult beverages industry. His wine business, Earl Stevens Selections, distributes high-quality wine to stores across the country, including BevMo, Safeway, and local liquor stores. He has made inroads into the pre-mixed cocktail business with Sluricane, a signature bottled-mix named after his 1995 hit “Hurricane,” with The Click, which was the top-selling beverage at BevMo when it was first released. In 2015, E-40 released an eponymous brand of 40-oz. malt liquor. E-40 is continuing his unprecedented longevity and success as an independent artist with his next album, scheduled for late 2016.
The FADER Premieres the Aggressive, Sipho The Gift-Produced Track, The Latest from The Way I’m Living Makes My Mom Nervous to Get the Visual Treatment
11.16.2016
Critical praise for Well$:
“The album finds the 19-year-old straddling the line between trunk-rattling southern bounce and the witty 16s of any Freshman spitter.” – The Fader
“A charismatic live performer…the hometown hero is ready to shine whenever the national look is imminent. – Pitchfork
“Well$ uses inspiration from his own heritage as well as popular American culture to develop a sound that is distinctly his own, drawing on southern influences as well as his own African culture.” – Complex
“Charlotte, N.C., may not be the first city to come to mind when thinking of hip hop hotbeds, but thanks to a rising echelon of talent, that’s about to change. Leading that charge is 19-year-old Leroy Shingu, who goes by the name of Well$.” – Huffington Post
“Catching the frenetic electronic beat effortlessly, Well$ proved that he has talent that deserves to go well beyond a local stage.” – Noisey
The Video:
Charlotte’s rising rapper Well$is a fiercely energetic performer, with a powerful rasp that belies his age. On “XXX,” premiered today by The FADER, the 2016 XXL Freshman Nominee demonstrates a kinetic flow on his two impassioned verses, attacking the bass-driven beat with verve. The video finds Well$ mobbing with his crew in a dark room, the greyscale color scheme eliminating much of the light that attempts to sneak through, except for an intermittent flash of white illuminating the rapper’s silhouette. Produced by fellow Immaculate Taste producer Sipho The Gift, whose buzzing low synths and scratching percussion lend the track a foreboding atmosphere, “XXX” is a highlight from the 21-year-old artist’s recent mixtapeThe Way I’m Living Makes My Mom Nervous.
Explains Well$, “Sipho really knows what sounds good with my style. When I heard the beat, I could already feel the party atmosphere that it conveyed. There is a great vibe on this track but, ironically, ‘XXX’ is intended to paint the image of my psyche and inner turmoil. I felt down on my luck at the time and my dreams were beyond my reach. It felt liberating to have such a vision but, at the same time, the burden of uncertainty was overwhelming.”
The follow-up to 2014’s MTSYD: Revenge of the African Booty Scratcher, The Way I’m Living Makes My Mom Nervous is a more mature effort from Well$, as well as an impressive showcase of the North Carolina scene. With appearances from North Carolina artists such as Sylvan Esso,Deniro Ferrar, Angelo Mota, JK The Ripper, Doms, Alec Lomami, and Sipho the Gift, along with varied production from Metro Boomin, Angelo Mota, Sipho the Gift, Jimmy Kelso and others, TWILMMMN proves that there is no style that Well$ can’t tackle. The musical diversity of these tracks is matched by Well$’ vocal and lyrical prowess, applying his trademark growl and clever wordplay to each song. “With MTSYD: The Revenge of the African Booty Scratcher, I was speaking from the perspective of an African kid living as an American,” explains Well$. “Now, with The Way I’m Living Makes My Mom Nervous, I’m speaking about how my American upbringing clashes with my African values. The way it makes my mom nervous because I chose the opposite path that they had wanted for me.” The Way I’m Living Makes My Mom Nervous is now available to purchase on iTunes and stream on Spotify.
Like most kids in his native town of Charlotte, North Carolina, Leroy Shingu had a head filled with hip-hop dreams growing up, even trying his hand at freestyling when he was all of nine years old. But a trying background starkly different from the blissful suburban reality of his peers would compel the rapper better known as Well$ to turn that childhood fantasy into a promising career as a rapper. Quietly released in 2012, $ay La V, Well$’ debut EP rose steadily on the Bandcamp charts to peak at number 5 and eventually become the most downloaded album in the Charlotte area. This remarkable ascent as well as the video for the song “State of Ecstasy The Interlude Part 1″hauled Well$ out of virtual anonymity, and shoved him onto high profile stage performances with artists such as G Eazy, Chris Webby, Johnny Polygon, and one of his idols, Pac Div. His most recent project, MTSYD: Revenge of the African Booty Scratcherwas well-received by fans and critics alike. Well$ is gearing up for a busy 2016, starting with his The Way I’m Living Makes My Mom Nervous EP.
Over a Walking Bassline Fit for a G-Funk Revival, The Two MCs Wish Their Women Would Recognize How Good They Have It
11.16.16
The Mixtape:
Dizzy Wright and Demrick, both successful rappers and prodigious stoners, give their women the good life, supplying them with good weed, good conversation, and financing their expensive tastes. In their new video for “Got It Good,” they just want their women to recognize. Rapping over the walking bassline driven beat, Dizzy puts up with a woman playing childish pranks and asking him for money constantly. Demrick adds his verse, trying to relax while he gets nagged by a woman who he has to remind that he isn’t a captain. “Got It Good” is a standout track off of Dizzy Wright and Demrick free, collaborative mixtape, Blaze With Us!Featuringappearances from B-Real,Berner, and Audio Push the 15-track tape is packed with stoner anthems, offering both slow burning jams and hard hitting bangers.
“Got It Good” follows up two already released visuals from the album. In “Hundreds of Thousands” Demrick and Dizzy cruise in red Jeep, coping with the stresses of eviction and running a business with weed, women, and wings and waffles. The psychedelic video for “Roll My Weed” finds Dizzy and Demrick under police surveillance, hotboxing a Mercedes and sending smoke signals. The two MC’s just embarked on the second half of their national Still Movin Tour, covering the Midwest and East Coast.They are joined by DJ Hoppa, Audio Push, Mark Battles, and T Dubz.
The nephew of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony‘s Layzie Bone, Dizzy Wright began rapping at just 8 years old. Dizzy Wright released SmokeOut Conversations in April 2012, peaking at #2 on the iTunes Hip-Hop charts. He followed it up with a free mixtape, Free SmokeOut Conversations,which propelled Dizzy Wright to his own national 30-city tour. As the “People’s Choice” member of the XXL Freshman Class of 2013, Dizzy Wright also released his The Golden Age mixtape followed by multiple projects which received wide acclaim, including 2015’s The Growing Process which landed him HotNewHipHop‘s digital cover story. Earlier in 2016, Dizzy Wright released the Wisdom and Good Vibes EP, featuring singles such as “Work a Lil Harder”and “Plotting.” This year, Dizzy also opened for Logic on his sold out The Incredible World Tour. Most recently, Dizzy released the 702 EP.
Born in Spokane to a single mother on welfare, the biracial Demrick found peace in hip-hop. After linking with West Coast legend Kuruptas “Young De,” Demrick found his way into the studio with B-Real of Cypress Hill, earning several features on B-Real’s Smoke ‘N Mirrors. In 2013, Demrick teamed up with B-Real and Xzibit to form the Serial Killers, releasing two projects and gracing the stages of Rock The Bells and Lollapalooza. In 2015, Demrick released his first solo album, Losing Focus, on Madchild’s Battle Axe Records, boasting contributions from Logic, Dizzy Wright, and others.After years of learning the rap game from the likes of Xzibit and B Real, Demricksteps into the spotlight with Collect Call. Featuring soulful, bouncy production from the likes of Scoop Deville, Lavi$h, DJ Hoppa and more, Collect Call is available now on iTunes and Spotify.
Still Movin Tour Dates:
11/16 – Buffalo, NY
11/17 – New York, NY
11/18 – Boston, MA
11/20 – Philadelphia, PA
11/21 – Washington, DC
11/23 New Haven, CT
Blaze With Us! Tracklist:
1. How Do You Want It (prod. by Scoop Deville)
2. Roll My Weed (prod. by DJ Hoppa)
3. Got It Good (prod. by MLB)
4. Hundreds Of Thousands (prod. by MLB)
5. No Chill ft. Audio Push (prod. MLB)
6. Cookies Or Better ft. Berner (prod. by Scoop Deville)
7. Skit
8. Outside (prod. by MLB)
9. Roll Up (prod. by MLB)
10. New Hippies ft. B Real (prod. by Nizzy)
11. Getting High (DJ Hoppa)
12. Gotta Build (Black Fist)
13. All She Do (prod. by MLB)
14. Daily Basis (Roc N Mayne)
15. Blaze With Us (DJ Hoppa)
Please contact Michelle or Dharmic if interested in talking with Dizzy Wright.
Dizzy Wright Background:
Las Vegas, Nevada, Rapper Dizzy Wright began rapping at just 8 years old in the group “DaFuture” with his brother and very close friend; his mother wrote his raps at the time. Dizzy broke through when he was discovered at the Sheikh Music “Rip the Mic” competition in 2010 and signed onto Funk Volume a few months later. In April 2012, Dizzy released his first Funk Volume album, SmokeOut Conversations, peaking at #2 on the iTunes Hip-Hop charts which he followed up with a free mixtape, Free SmokeOut Conversations, which has been downloaded over 200,000 times, and helped propel Dizzy to his own national 30-city tour. In December 2012, Dizzy went on to release the first of four EPs, The First Agreement, which reached as high as #2 on the iTunes Hip-Hop chart. In March of 2013, Dizzy gathered enough votes to be selected as the “People’s Choice” member of the XXL Freshman Class of 2013. Also in 2013, Dizzy released The Golden Age mixtapeand followed it up with The Golden Age Tour. In 2014, Dizzy released theState of Mind EP and toured the US with support from Scion AV. Following the momentum, in 2015 he hit the road in support of his sophomore album The Growing Process, which peaked at #3 on iTunes. When 2016 hit, Funk Volume disbanded. No signs of slowing down, Dizzy dropped his Wisdom and Good Vibes EP and opened for Logic’s sold out The Incredible World Tour, while prepping his second release this year, the 702 EP.
Demrick Background:
Rapper Demrick has been closely mentored by three iconic acts in Cypress Hill, Kurupt, and Xzibit. Like that platinum trio of household names, the versatile, independent MC builds his music to last. 2016’s Collect Call rings to make a connection, in showcasing a new level of album-making from an artist with a story, conviction, and a palpable passion to his art.
The Hard-Working Atlanta Emcee Shares a Contemplative Visual for the Daily Bread Opening Track
11.16.2016
Critical Praise for Scotty ATL:
“Scotty ATL has been consistently dropping solid music for quite some time now, and it doesn’t look like he’s planning to stop anytime soon.” – Complex
“Scotty ATL is the ultimate blue-collar rapper that you don’t have to try and relate to—it just comes natural.” – Mass Appeal
The Video:
A rise-and-grind emcee with a easygoing drawl and a devoted fanbase, Scotty ATL is effortlessly relatable. Premiered by XXL, Scotty returns with the video for “Stupid Rich,“ a ruminative, Southern-fried, guitar and organ-driven thumper. Though the song’s title suggests a boast, “Stupid Rich” is less materialistic and more sorrowful: “If I had a dime/for every single time/all you n*ggas lied/I’d be stupid rich.” In the half-black-and-white video, directed by Sonny Bonoho and Ife Adeniji, the Cool ClubCEO travels to Eugene, Oregon to reflect on his hardships, intercut with confessional, full-color close-ups of Scotty in a dark room. Produced by Cory Mo, “Stupid Rich” is the opening track to Scotty’s recent Daily Bread, an album rooted in tragedy and triumph, focusing on Scotty’s personal growth and lessons learned.
Explains Scotty ATL: “This video is simple but powerful. Represents the pain & joy I’ve been through this year. This song and video shows that no matter what you can make it to the top, that’s why I’m solo in it, thru all the lies and bullshit mfs feed you, press through and shine on they ass. At the end of the video you see I shed a few tears… We shot it in Oregon and when we shot that scene by the river, I couldn’t do nothing but reflect on my homies that I lost this year that I talk about in the first verse (‘long live Bank’). Sometimes I’m working so much to keep my mind off stuff like that, but when I had a chance to really be still and listen to what I was saying I couldn’t stop the tears from flowing. We had to actually stop shooting cause it was so powerful the whole camera staff was crying.”
Scotty also explained why he choose the song for the video: “The vibe of “Stupid Rich” sets the tone for the whole project. It has a gritty ATL sound to it–it reminds me off Ghetto Mafia. It was hard, straight to the point, still clever. A lot of people can relate to that. It’s produced by Cory Mo (UGK), and he can fuse the ATL sound and the UGK sound. Cory was like Pimp C’s little brother, and now I’m like Cory Mo’s little homie. It’s like the game from Pimp C is being passed down to me through him. We like family, for real. This is one of the best tracks we’ve made together so far. The black-and-white of the video shows raw emotion. There’s not a lot of theatrics in the video but you can connect with the song and person. You know what I’m saying is true.”
“Stupid Rich” is the fourth visual to emerge from Daily Bread, following this month’s live performance centric “”Tha Ruler,” October’s candy-colored, Karen Civil-premiered “So High”, and September’s Kissie Lee-featuring highlight “Kno That U Will.” Prior to the album’s release, The FADER premiered the sorrowful, Ty Dolla $ign-assisted “Bye Bye,” in which Scotty mourns fallen friends, including four that he lost in a period of four weeks in March 2016 while he was on tour with B.o.B. Informed by grief and great loss, including a stretch in March when Scotty lost four close friends in four weeks, Daily Bread follows in a noble tradition of rap classics like UGK’s Ridin Dirty and songs like Pete Rock & CL Smooth’s “T.R.O.Y.” or 2Pac’s “Keep Ya Head Up,” exploring the excesses and the consequences of a rapper’s life. Daily Bread is the result of a career’s worth of grinding, and it stands as one of the rapper’s most accomplished efforts.
Scotty also has three concerts coming up this weekend. On Friday, he will hosting a single release party for “So High” at Tease in Atlanta. Saturday he will be performing at the 3rd annual All Black Affair at Northside Hall in Radcliff, KY with Sir Wiz, BRXTN, and Bread Boy Entertainment. He finishes the weekend back in Atlanta, performing at Bonfire, a popular independent concert series.
Daily Bread Tracklist:
Stupid Rich (Prod by Cory Mo)
Tha Ruler (Prod by CAL – i)
Destined
Cant be Life (Prod by JayeLL)
M.Y.O.B (Prod by KE On the Track)
So HIGH Feat. Jay Dot Rain (Prod by KE On the Track)
Please email Michelle or Dharmic if interested in speaking with Scotty ATL.
Scotty ATL Background:
Everything about Scotty ATL is definitively southern. From the way he positions his ‘A’ hat atop his head down to the flip-flop and socks on his feet, he’s an authentic offspring of the culture that has raised him. Hailing from the city’s eastside, Scotty ATL is the funk and soul of Outkast mixed with the political and social-consciousness of Goodie Mob, but from a perspective all his own. An utterly independent spirit with a distinct drawl and vernacular, his name embodies his persona. Scotty ATL is all things Atlanta, yet his movement is worldwide, which is neither by coincidence nor chance.
A hustler since the womb, Scotty ATL formed his own label Cool Club, an ode to his style and attitude upon entering the business of entertainment. The street-smart rapper then began effectively building his brick-by-brick campaign putting in countless hours and money to expand his presence. As a result, he released a succession of popular mixtapes starting with the debut of 2011’s Summer Dreams hosted by DJ Burn One, which ignited a cult-like following. He released other successful projects such as In The Meantime, The Jiffy Cornbread Experience, F.A.I.T.H (Forever Atlanta In The Heart), In The Meantime 2 and SPAGHETTI Junction, all of which spawned notable singles. In 2014, he joined forces with Grammy-nominated artist B.o.B’sNo Genre imprint and embarked on a nation-wide tour billed the Cool Club Tour. The following year he was featured on the remix to Curren$y’s “Cloud IX” and followed that up with the instant classic The Cooligan, a 16-track composition hosted by DJ Scream and DJ Mike Mars. The pivotal mixtape featured collaborations with Curren$y, CyHi The Prynce, 8Ball, Devin The Dude, and B.O.B, with production credits going to KE On The Track, DJ Burn One, and Drumma Boy.
Video: J. Stalin – “Cindafella” ft. Young Doe (Prod. by The Mekanix)
Stalin Will Love You, But Leave Before Midnight in This Not-Safe-For-Disney Video from On Behalf of the Streets 2
11.14.2016
Critical Praise:
“As the owner of Livewire Records, West Oakland rapper J Stalin provides a place for the growth of incredibly creative, meat-and-potatoes Bay Area hip-hop. The label hosts gritty rubbery street music that navigates crack dealing devastation and grounded partying tracks with equal aplomb, with artists that range from Stalin himself to MCs like Shady Nate and Philthy Rich among others.” – SPIN
“J Stalin pushes the envelope by vividly reiterating his Mob Bay Area persona and turmoil of his harsh upbringing.” – XXL
“This is what Stalin does: he takes things–sounds, human beings, grocery stores–and warps them into something extraterrestrial. It’s eerie, but you’re dancing anyway.” – Passion of the Weiss
The Video:
It’s the classic fairy tale: Cinderella transforms for an evening from a beleaguered servant into an elegant princess in order to win her Prince Charming. However, as Bay Area rapper J. Stalin proves, there is a fair amount of deception that goes unmentioned in that ages old story. The latest video single from On Behalf of the Streets 2, “Cindafella” inverts the famous tale, with Stalin playing the titular character over a lush instrumental courtesy of The Mekanix with twinkling keys, rubbery bass, and angelic vocal samples. Featuring an appearance from Denver’s Young Doe, the video finds Stalin in a tropical resort with video vixen September Reign, basking under palm trees and relaxing in a hammock. Though it might seem as if Stalin is the perfect gentleman, the West Oakland veteran has other intentions in mind. Explains J. Stalin, “she thinks she’s spending the night with Prince Charming, but I turn into a dirtbag at midnight.”
Repping his West Oakland neighborhood and providing his own take on hyphy and mob music with his slick wordplay, J. Stalin is one of the Bay Area’s most respected emcees. Released ten years after his debut album On Behalf of the Streets, Stalin returned in October with On Behalf of the Streets 2,premiered by HipHopDX. Produced entirely by Bay Area duo The Mekanix, and featuring appearances from IAMSU!, K Camp, Nef The Pharaoh, Lil Blood, G-Eazy, Philthy Rich, Slim 400, Rayven Justice, Celly Ru, 4Rax of the Mekanix, Young Doe, G-Stack, Erk Da Jerk and a posthumous appearance from The Jacka, among others, OBOTS 2 is a worthy sequel to the original, illustrating Stalin’s transformation from a young upstart to an established veteran. Released via Livewire Records, On Behalf of the Streets 2 is currently available to buy on iTunes and stream on Spotify.
“Tasha is powerful, and sounds even moreso over these absurdly big, grimy, hectic, infectious beats” – Respect Mag
The EP:
Over the past half-decade, thanks to the popularity of artists such as Drake and PartyNextDoor, Toronto Hip-Hop developed a reputation for a woozy, sensitive mixture of Rap and RnB, but the sounds of the city stretch far beyond that generalization. Coming out of the 6 with a fierce flow and beats hard enough to make Death Grips blush is Tasha The Amazon, a talented rapper/producer and the antidote to her city’s reputation for softness. Today, Tasha releases Die Every Day, her latest EP, packed with thumping beats, ferocious verses, and anarchic lyrics. Produced entirely by Tasha and production partner Danthrax(together, they are Bass & Bakery), Die Every Day is relentless, keeping up a high level of intensity throughout its eight tracks and hardly leaving the listener room to breathe.
Notorious in Toronto for her energetic stage performances and her warehouse parties, Tasha began to grow a following in the U.S. with her debut solo project, FiDiYootDem, prior to gaining acclaim over the past year from Billboard, FADER, and Hypetrak, who wrote, “she’s got next.” Tasha recently signed a deal with the Windish Agency, a premiere booking agency, and on Novemeber 29th she will be performing with YG at The Wiltern in Los Angeles as part of Redbull’s30 Days In LA 2016. Featuring previously released tracks including “Picasso Leaning“ and the Pigeons & Planes-premiered “Prayer,” Die Every Day is available to purchase and stream on all services worldwide.
Please contact Michelle or Dharmic if interested in talking with Tasha The Amazon.
Tasha The Amazon Background:
A bomb in a china shop, Toronto’s Tasha the Amazon is an artist, producer, and bad gyal. Notorious for rude stage antics and warehouse parties shut down by police raids, her unconventional lyrics deal as much with partying and hood mischief as they do with anarchy and civil disobedience. After cutting her teeth in collabs and collectives, the German-Jamaican powerhouse released her debut solo project, FiDiYootDem, to critical acclaim in late 2013. Hundreds of thousands of video views and streams later, Tasha is preparing to release her forthcoming EP, Die Every Day, in the fall of 2016.
Remix: Philthy Rich – “Same N*gga” (Remix) ft. Young Greatness & Magnolia Chop
The East Oakland Kingpin and New Orleans Rappers Pledge Allegiance to the Blocks That Birthed Them
11.14.2016
Critical Praise for Philthy Rich
“With a decade-long career, ties to his region’s old guard, and a clever affection for delivery surrounded by repetitive earworm hooks, Philthy’s grown from a Mac Dre-affiliate into a venerable heavyweight of the Yay Area revival sound.” – Mass Appeal
“A veteran in the Bay Area rap scene, Philthy Rich built a reputation as the Bay Area’s Gucci Mane because of his drug-fueled, yet down-to-earth, rhymes, his prolific output, and his relationships with the best street rappers and producers.” – HipHopDX
“The Oakland native has been working hard lately and been dropping some fire music.” – XXL
The Video:
Even though Philthy Rich hustled his way into a good living, he’s never abandoned Seminary, the neighborhood in East Oakland he calls home. Welcoming New Orleans rappers Young Greatness and Magnolia Chop to the corner of 62nd and Hayes, Philthy brings out his block and his most expensive cars for “Same N*gga” (Remix) his latest video. Showing off his Rolls, his Benz, his Maybach, and a bright red boxframe Cadillac, Philthy stunts in a solid gold track jacket with 20 of his best friends. “Same N*gga” (Remix) originally appeared on the February release of Real N*ggas Back in $tyle, and serves as an ideal appetizer forHood Rich 4, Philthy’s third solo full-length of 2016, coming out this Friday, November 18th.
Hood Rich 4 is the culmination of a very busy 2016 for Philthy Rich. Philthy already released two solo full-lengths this year: February’s Real N*ggas Back in $tyle and June’s SemCity MoneyMan, two full-length collaborative albums, American Greedwith Maybach Music signee Yowda and Political Ties with fellow Bay Area street icon Mozzy. Last week, Philthy teamed up with Jim Jones, Ball Greezy, and Icewear Vezzo forgrinder’s anthem “Straight Drop.” Earlier this month, Philthy shared the Dirty Glove Bastard-premiered video for hustler’s anthem “Bounce Back”. In October, Philthy shared “Money In The Trap,” the Mass Appeal-premiered single with verses from Los Angeles’ Casey Veggies, Chicago’s Rockie Fresh, and D.C.’s Fat Trel. Earlier, The FADER shared the video for “Fuck I Look Like,” which features Detroit rapper Kash Doll. Featuring additional appearances from Soulja Boy, Birdman, B.o.B, G. Herbo, Shy Glizzy, Young Dolph, Young Greatness, Doughboyz Cashout, Skeme, Sauce Walka, and Sosamann, as well as production from Zaytoven, Spiffy, RJ Lamont and Cassius Jay,Hood Rich 4 is currently available for pre-order and hits stores November 18th.
Philthy Rich, born and raised in East Oakland’s notorious Seminary neighborhood, has earned his place as “The Bay Area’s Gucci Mane” from his raw and honest lyricism, having a great ear for new talent, untiring work ethic and wide network of collaborators. Releasing well over 40 solo and collaborative mixtapes and albums over the past 8 years, Philthy’s grizzly street tales have strengthened his influence in The Bay Area and beyond, and with over 2 million SoundCloud streams, a spot at #5 on Billboard’s Heatseekers chart, and collaborations with artists such as Rick Ross, Kevin Gates, Gucci Mane, 2 Chainz and many more his incredible track record only continues to grow.
The TGOD Consigliere Drops a New Mixtape in Advance of His Debut Full-Length Album
11.11.2016
Critical Praise for Chevy Woods:
“Chevy flies high and gives the world an in depth look into his life as a Taylor Gang aviator.” – XXL Mag
“The TGOD rapper hasn’t stopped grinding…” – HotNewHipHop
“He’s proven that you can make money without selling out to a label, gaining more than 300,000 followers on Twitter and 67,000 downloads of his mixtape, Gangland 3.” – Pittsburgh City Paper
The Mixtape:
An experienced rapper with a tireless work ethic, fans can always expect new treats from Chevy Woods. Today, the Taylor Gang emcee releases Gang Shit Only, his latest mixtape. Featuring appearances from Wiz Khalifa, Rich the Kid, Hardo, and others Gang Shit Only is packed with tight verses and memorable melodies, showcasing Chevy’s facility for songwriting and demonstrating his versatility. Hosted by Trap-A-Holics, Gang Shit Only is Chevy’s second free release this year, following …And The Story Goes, a four-part video EP released in March. Prior to Gang Shit Only, Chevy appeared on several tracks on TGOD Vol. 1, a compilation mixtape showing off the talents of Taylor Gang signees.
Gang Shit Only is an appropriate appetizer for Taylor’d, Chevy’s upcoming debut full-length. His first retail release since last year’s The 48 Hunnid Project, Taylor’d paints a vivid picture of Chevy Woods, evenly stacked with party bangers, songs for the smokers, and more personal introspective tracks. Featuring appearances from [guest artists], Taylor’d will include previously released tracks such as the XXL-premiered weekend celebration anthem “History,” and “Bank of America,” the club-ready Rich The Kidcollab. After years of grinding in the mixtape game, Taylor’d is Chevy Woods’ first official full-length album, a standout effort building upon years of hip-hop experience and hard work. Beyond music, Woods has recently been in the spotlight for his culinary skills, which have been featured by Edible InkandFirst We Feast, and he recently partnered with Ethika to release a signature line of men’s briefs.
Gang Shit Only is available to download via Datpiff.
Please contact Michelle or Dharmic if interested in talking with Chevy Woods.
Chevy Woods Background:
An experienced rapper with a tireless work ethic, Chevy Woods represents for Pittsburgh with every release. First gaining notoriety as an associate of Wiz Khalifa, Chevy has gained a devoted fanbase through a decade’s worth of mixtapes and a busy touring schedule. In 2015, Chevy released The 48 Hunnid Project, his first retail release via Taylor Gang Ent. Named after the block he was raised on in the Hazelwood area of Pittsburgh, The 48 Hunnid Project is a legacy-defining EP that finds Woods taking listeners on a journey from the hard times and harsh realities that came in his early years leading into the lavish lifestyle that’s come more recently with world tours and fame. Chevy Woods followed up The 48 Hunnid Project,with a busy 2016, featuring numerous loose singles, freestyles over popular industry beats like Fat Joe and Remy Ma’s “All The Way Up” and Bryson Tiller’s “Don’t,” and highlighted by February’s And the Story Goes…, a4-part video EP that finds Pittsburgh rapper reflecting on his adolescence and contemplating career paths. Beyond music, Woods has recently been in the spotlight for his culinary skills, which have been featured by Edible InkandFirst We Feast. Chevy also made headlines when he partnered with California-based clothing brand Ethika for a line of signature men’s briefs. Chevy Woods will make more noise this year with his upcoming full-length album, Taylor’d, which features singles such as “History,” ft. Devin Cruise, and “Bank of America,” featuring Rich The Kid, releases in the fall of 2016.
The Marijuana Magnate and the Cypress Hill Veteran Make the Case For Legalization on Their Third Joint Album in Three Years
11.11.2016
Critical praise for Berner:
“[Berner’s flow] now rolls off his tongue in a more effortless legato. His lyrics have also deepened in both his attraction to arresting imagery (“I can see my stones glowing in the limousine tint”) to an emotional potency that seems The Jacka-inspired in its multiplicity of meaning” – Pitchfork
The Album:
Prolific Bay Area rapper and successful entrepreneur Berner has long been a advocate for the legalization of marijuana across all 50 states. Connecting with respected Cypress Hill veteran and famed marijuana enthusiast B-Real, the duo drops Prohibition Part 3a week early to react to the decisions made by our country on November 8th. Prohibition 3 is an ideal listen for a late-night smoke session or for a windows-down drive down the California coast, but it also passionately advocates for marijuana legalization across all 50 states. On Tuesday, the nation took baby steps in the direction of legalization, as Nevada, California, Maine, and Massachusetts voted to legalize recreational use of marijuana, while Arkansas, North Dakota, and Florida voted to legalize medicinal use. Last week, Berner and B-Real shared “Vibes,” a lush, laid-back highlight from the project, produced by Cozmo & A-One and featuring an appearance from Dizzy Wright.
Explains Berner: “The Prohibition series represents the marijuana culture. The growers, breeders, shop owners & smokers who have been affected by a law we all know makes no sense. We are the voice for the community. We provide a vibe that people could use right now. This is the sound most artists today run from or just ignore. Looking at all the press on marijuana legalization in California, Massachusetts & Nevada as well as the States that went medical, we felt like releasing it early was not only the right thing to do but very necessary.”
Berner also just announced his partnership with the Jungle Boys & release of their new brand/company, Exotikz, essentially the “NIKE” of the marijuana industry, providing a home for the biggest marijuana strains and a legit platform for production & distribution. “Our goal is to keep designer weed on the market.” Exotikz has strains such as Cookies, Wiz Khalifa’s KK, Wedding Cake, Zkittlez, Lemonade, Sundae Driver, and many more, as well as nationwide roll out in the works.
With over 22 solo and collaborative albums under his belt, Berner is one of rap music’s most productive stoners. Prohibition 3 follows up the lush and expansive Hempire, which debuted at #4 on the Billboard Hip-Hop Album Charts in March. The San Francisco serial entrepreneur has built a marijuana empire, creating popular cannabis strain Girl Scout Cookies, launching a new brand of organic herbal beverages called Hemp2O, and founding apparel company Cookies SF. Berner takes fans behinds the scenes of his marijuana empire in his Marijuana Mania video series, in which Berner demonstrates his deep knowledge of cannabis horticulture and shares his business knowledge about what’s quickly becoming the country’s next cash crop.
For almost 10 years, Berner has been hip-hop’s most trusted source. His track record not only in producing marijuana mood music, but also steering the most discerning of smokers to the latest new strains and products in the marijuana industry is unimpeachable. The founder/co-owner of popular apparel company Cookies SF, Berner has used his green power to strengthen his music ties, and he’s dropped a whopping 14 albums to date. During high school, the budding entrepreneur born Gilbert Anthony Mano had begun playing around and battle-rapping for fun. In 2006, he dropped his first mixtapeDirty Sneakers. His first solo album, Weekend at Bernie’s, arrived in 2009, along with four other albums. He’s worked with numerous legends in the game, from Cypress Hill’s B-Real, Project Pat and Tha Jacka to Ty Dolla $ign, DJ Mustard and Chris Brown. This year alone, he will release another three projects: Contraband with Cam’ron, Drought Season 3 with the recently deceased Bay Area legend Tha Jacka and his solo album, Hempire. He boasts 417,000 Instagram followers, who turned out in droves for his sold-out Under the Influence of Music Tour alongside Khalifa, A$AP Rocky, Trinidad Jame$ and Joey Bada$$–and his 4/20 shows in the Bay are one of the highlights of the year.
Bed-Stuy’s Siya Announces the SIYAvsSIYA, Her Debut Album Hitting Stores December 9th
Mass Appeal Premieres the Gritty Video for the Oxygen Reality Star’s “My Sons”
11.09.2016
Critical Praise for Siya
“her pen game is sharp enough to hang with the big dogs.” – Vibe
“Has a unique sound that mixes hardcore street raps with dance-floor ready beats.” – Complex
The Announcement:
A Bed-Stuy bruiser with an aggressive, yet conversational flow, Siya is a charismatic rising star. Today, the Brooklyn native and Sisterhood of Hip Hop star announces her upcoming debut album SIYAvsSIYA, a versatile 16-track effort releasing December 9th. Rhyming over styles ranging from Brooklyn-style noir-ish boom-bap on “Body” and “OMD” to dreamlike electronics on “Only You,” Siya proves that she can go toe-to-toe with the best rappers in New York City. Signed to RnB Money, run by R&B icon Tank, and distributed through EMPIRE, Siya is the latest in a line of successful Bedford-Stuyvesant rappers, following such luminaries as The Notorious B.I.G., Lil Kim, and Mos Def. Though Siya is not yet on that level, SIYAvsSIYA demonstrates her boundless potential and magnetic personality.
Born in California to a drug-addicted mother, Siya re-located to Brooklyn with her father when she was seven. Soon after moving, her father was arrested and sentenced to life in prison. Raised by her grandmother who fought in vain to keep her off the streets, Siya encountered legal trouble that landed her in prison, where she discovered her passion for rapping. After her release, Siya moved to Atlanta, where she caught the attention of Tank, who immediately took her under his wing. In 2012, Siya and Tank released the collaborative D.Y.K.E., its title track receiving over 50,000 downloads on iTunes. In 2014, Siya became the breakout star of Oxygen‘s T.I.-produced The Sisterhood of Hip-Hop reality show starring five female rappers who navigate their way through the male-dominated music industry. Behind the scenes clips of the making of SIYAvsSIYA appeared on the most recent season of Sisterhood. Her most recent single, “New York,” premiered on Billboard in July.
Today, Siya whets our appetite with a loose video single for “My Sons,” a sinister and boastful track dedicated to Siya’s squad. Premiered today by Mass Appeal, the video finds Siya roaming the Roosevelt Housing Projects in Bed-Stuy with a massive crew, bringing the whole neighborhood out to represent. Available to purchase on iTunes, “My Sons” is a celebratory track with dark undertones, highlighting Siya’s love for her city without ingoring the harsh realities many of her neighbors face in their everyday lives.
Michele Sherman (born March 23, 1987), better known by her stage name Siya, is an American rapper signed to R&B singer and songwriter Tank. She currently stars in the Oxygen reality TV series Sisterhood of Hip Hop. She is famed for being an openly gay female rapper. She is an upcoming actress. Siya released a mixtape entitled Better Late Than Never in February 2015. She released her single the “Real MVP” and One Hunnid in September 2014. She has released other singles such as “D.Y.K.E.,” “Heaven,” “I Put Niggas On” and “I’m Gone.” Siya has collaborated with artists such as Chris Brown, Tank, and Sage the Gemini. Siya has performed alongside artists such as Wyclef Jean at the world famous B.B. Kings as well as opened up for Fat Joe and Fabolous during a concert at Nassau Coliseum in Long Island, New York. Currently, she’s working on her album SiyavsSiya, which will be out soon. It’s progress is also documented on Sisterhood of Hip Hop.
Premiered by The Hundreds, Jalen Santoy Drops The Second Single From Upcoming Charlie Eastern EP Produced by Daniel Worthy
11.08.2016
The Song:
A streaming sensation from North Carolina, rapper Jalen Santoy has burst on the scene in the past year. He continues to build on that momentum with “Off The Glass,” premiered today by The Hundreds. The Daniel Worthy (Drake)-produced second single off Jalen’s upcoming Charlie Eastern EP, “Off The Glass” is a strong sample of the talents Jalen possesses. Over a murky bassline and a droning siren, Jalen flexes his mic skills, reminding us to be real with ourselves while he goes off “like Jordan off the glass.” “Off The Glass” follows up the viral hit “Foreplay,” produced by Jordeaux, which was premiered by the FADERlast month. Both songs appear on Charlie Eastern, which drops November 18th.
Explains Jalen, “Charlie Eastern represents birth, foundation, and the willingness to show transparency in difficult situations. I lost a close cousin of mine in the process of making this project due to police brutality, a similar story that’s known too well in our culture today. He was part of a rap group founded in Charleston called “Charlie Eastern” In this project I shed light on the different mindsets that innately come about when dealing with the unpredictable struggles of life.”
Boasting a flow as smooth as his singing voice, Jalen Santoy has a gift for making insightful, melodic Hip-Hop. Born in Charleston, South Carolina, Jalen started writing and rapping when he was 15-years-old, but did not release his first song until 2014, at the age of 21. It did not take long for “God” to gain some local traction, eventually catching the ear of North Carolina veteran and former Little Brother member Rapper Big Pooh who hopped on the remix. Following the success of “God,” Jalen appeared on Pooh’s Words Paint Pictures EP, lending a verse to “Kings.” His forthcoming EP, Charlie Eastern, is an ideal introduction to Jalen’s style, packed with sweet melodies and slick verses. Arriving via EMPIRE, Charlie Eastern hits stores November 18th.
Please contact Michelle or Dharmic if interested in talking with Jalen Santoy.
Jalen Santoy Background
Jalen Santoy Gathers (born August 24, 1993), known as Jalen Santoy, is a rapper, singer, and songwriter from Charlotte, NC. Originally from Charleston, SC, the enriching culture is heavily present in his music. Recording music since the age of 15, Santoy released his first record in 2014 knowing the time was right. His first song to the public, “God,” caught the attention of many bloggers and rappers alike, eventually securing Rapper Big Pooh for the “God” remix, released in December 2014. With Rapper Big Pooh’s presence, “God” gained significant attention and Santoy received widespread recognition. Following his success, Santoy collaborated again with Rapper Big Pooh on “Kings” from the Words Paint Pictures EP which led him to features in XXL, The Source, 2DopeBoyz, and Okayplayer as one of the top artists to watch. In March 2015, Santoy released his single “Foreplay”, which has earned 1.74 million plays on SoundCloud and has gained the support from Respect Mag, DJ Booth, Ashley Outrageous, ThisIs50, Boi-Ida and other various accounts. After the release of “Foreplay”, Santoy dropped his second single, “Off The Glass” in February 2016. The single was produced by Grammy nominated hip-hop producer Daniel Worthy, and the first from his work with the upcoming project, Charlie Eastern.
EMPIRE Background
EMPIRE was founded in 2010 as an artist-friendly, progressive digital distribution company. After early success, and identifying future icons such as Kendrick Lamar, Sage The Gemini, and Rich Homie Quan, EMPIRE was quickly regarded as a tastemaker in the industry and throughout the past five years evolved into a full-fledged record label, distributor and publisher for independent musicians. With the company and roster growing at a breakneck pace, EMPIRE has effectively disrupted a stale business model by bringing its energy, expertise, and acumen to its artists and labels. Given its reputation, EMPIRE works with today’s hottest talent from superstars such as T.I. and red-hot newcomers such as Anderson .Paak. While remaining 100% independent, EMPIRE has also partnered with Atlantic Records for a joint venture, home to breakout star D.R.A.M. and joined forces with Republic Records for the release of Sage The Gemini’s Remember Me album.
Featuring California Heavy Hitters YG, IAMSU!, and Problem, “Function” Kickstarted the Resurgence of West Coast Party Music
11.08.2016
Critical Praise for E-40
“Whoever you are, and whatever your low-grade malaise, E-40 is here to banish it. The Bay Area rap forefather is a human exclamation point, a superhero whose power is remaining helplessly in love with his work. E-40 works harder and more joyfully at making great rap music than you or I have ever worked on anything” – Pitchfork
“The Bay Area’s ambassador E-40 is one of those rare veterans in hip-hop that gets better with time.” – Complex
The Song:
Just as E-40 prepares for the release of his upcoming new double album The D-Boy Diary Books 1 & 2on November 18th, the RIAA has certified his 2012 hit “Function” Gold. The lead single from his 2012 album Block Brochure: Welcome To the Soil Vol. 2 , “Function” featured YG, IAMSU!, and Problemand a high-energy, bass-heavy beat supplied by League of Starz. An instant hit, the track captured national attention leading to the resurgence of West Coast party music. “Function” marks the second Gold plaque 40 has earned this year, with his smash hit “Choices” having been certified back in May.
E-40 explained why the song was so successful, stating, “‘Function’ changed the sound of the West Coast. The energy rejuvenated memories of 2006. I put myself, YG, Problem and IAMSU! all on one song with two of us representing Northern California and two of us representing Southern California. We went gold independently and sold over 500,000 singles, now that is an accomplishment!” Nationally syndicated radio host Big Boy agreed, explaining “[‘Function’ is] one of those records that gave the world what they needed from the West Coast. ‘Function’ is certified Gold with the RIAA, but it is Diamond on turf.”
Brian Shafton, CEO and Founder of RBC Records, a consultant for E-40 and Sick Wid It Records since 2004, put this achievement in perspective, explaining “Going Gold as an indie artist is a major feat. Not only does the artist have to deliver a hit record, but he also must market his material with an indie budget. It doesn’t happen often in this era. Some may even call such an accomplishment a fluke but when it happens to the same artist twice in a year, it is a major achievement. The industry is officially on notice with this tremendous movement.”
Never one to rest on his laurels, E-40 has stayed active since the release of “Function.” Later the same year he released History: Function and Mob Music, a joint double-album with fellow Bay Area legendToo $hort. He followed that up with volumes four through six of his Block Brochure: Welcome to Soilseries of albums and then a double album, Sharp On All Four Corners. Last year he released his morst recent project, the online-only Poverty and Prosperity EP. He is currently gearing up for the release of his upcoming double album The D-Boy Diary Books 1 & 2. Last month he released the lead single, “On One,” featuring fellow West Coast rapper AD. The new club banger, which was premiered by GQ, is just a taste of what’s to come on 40 Water’s 44-track album that will mark his 26th and 27th solo releases, slated to hit the streets on November 18th.
Stack it to the Ceiling
Straight To The Point (ft. Ezale and G-Eazy)
Savage (ft. Jazze Pha and B-Legit)
Puttin’ in Work
Mr. Arm and Hammer (ft. Stresmatic)
Hunedz (ft. Rick Rock)
Fired Up (ft. Cousin Fik)
Bag On Me (ft. K.D. Stunts)
Say So (ft. iStevie)
Stay Away (ft. Eric Bellinger)
Somebody (ft. Ricco Barrino)
All Day (ft. Gucci Mane)
The Grit Don’t Quit (ft. Nef The Pharaoh)
Fake Lit (ft. June Onna Beat)
Goon Music (ft. Stresmatic)
Gangsta Song (ft. Kent Jones)
Blessed By The Game
We Flip (ft. Cousin Fik, Choose Up Cheese and Stresmatic)
I Had It In a Drought (ft. Stresmatic)
Check (ft. Willy Will)
Made It Out (ft. Young Chu)
Book 2
Bring Back The Sideshow (ft. Mistah F.A.B. and Nef The Pharaoh)
Money (ft. Mozzy and Jay Rock)
This Goin’ Up (ft. Husalah and Turf Talk)
On One (ft. AD)
Get Money or Get Lost
Highway (ft. B-Legit and TreSolid)
Sick Out Here (ft. Droop-E)
Thank U (ft. Willy Will)
Military Time (ft. Salsalino and Baby Treeze)
Uh Huh (ft. YV)
2 Seater (ft. Kid Ink)
What It’s Gone Be (ft. D-Day and Tamoya Bell)
How Do U Like That
I Know a Guy
All I Know (ft. K Camp and Casey Veggies)
Waitin’ On a Play (ft. Nicamari)
Tycoon
Broke Bitches (ft. Joe Moses and Jay 305)
Flash On These Bitches (ft. Lil B)
Too Many
Paid Off (ft. Stresmatic)
One of the most celebrated rappers of all time, E-40 has attained legendary status in hip-hop. Since making his debut with The Click almost 30 years ago and becoming one of the first West Coast rap artists to sign to a major label, his name has become synonymous with the independent music movement. E-40 has released 24 solo albums, become a platinum recording artist and collaborated with artists including Tupac, UGK, and Snoop Dogg. At age 48, E-40 is an anomaly in hip-hop, maintaining his relevance over a career that spans three decades. In the past few years alone, he’s been featured on several Billboard charts (“Choices,” Big Sean’s “IDFWU”, Ty Dolla $ign’s “Saved”), he’s earned an RIAA-certified Gold plaque (“Choices”) and starred and had his 2006 smash hit “Tell Me When to Go” featured in a Beats By Dre commercial. Says E-40, “What’s happening at this point in my career defies logic. Name another 48-year-old rapper with one Gold record, let alone three in the same year. My fans stretch much further than the Bay Area, further than just the West Coast. I brought so much shit to hip-hop. I’ve been relevant in each generation and each decade and I’ve done it as an independent artist.”
E-40’s success extends beyond the music industry, most notably through his entrepreneurship in the adult beverages industry. His wine business, Earl Stevens Selections, distributes high-quality wine to stores across the country, including BevMo, Safeway, and local liquor stores. He has made inroads into the pre-mixed cocktail business with Sluricane, a signature bottled-mix named after his 1995 hit “Hurricane,” with The Click, which was the top-selling beverage at BevMo when it was first released. In 2015, E-40 released an eponymous brand of 40-oz. malt liquor. E-40 is continuing his unprecedented longevity and success as an independent artist with his next album, scheduled for late 2016.
“Caleb has proven himself to a MC in the purest form, eschewing the flashy brag raps for a centered focus on precise wordplay and introspective storytelling paired with some of the best production that the Bay can offer.” – EARMILK
“Caleb comes across like someone who’s honest with himself and everyone around him” – Uproxx
“[Caleborate] displays the poise and wisdom of a rap veteran” – HipHopDX
“One of the Bay Area’s most promising upcomingartists” – Good Music All Day
The Video:
With puckish charm, precocious charisma, and witty lyricism, Caleborate is a rising star in the Bay Area scene. A highlight from his recent 1993, “Game Over” is a glorious slice of chipmunk soul, as Caleborate boasts about his rhyming ability and dismisses his troubles over the lush groove. For the video, premiered today by NYLON, Caleborate pulled out all the stops, casting a sea of local heroes and collaborators, including producers Mikos Da Gawd, Trollex, and Kuya Beats, and Bay cultural icons and radio hosts the Hyphy Hoochies,co-star in the video-game inspired video. Filmed in one take, the video imitates the user interface of an early ’90s arcade game, with a health bar in the upper-left corner. The hero of the game, Caleborate dodges bill collectors, his angry aunt, and police officers, all while collecting coins, stars, and extra lives, in pursuit of his goal of hanging back and watching TV. The visual is a fun extension of Caleborate’s fascination with early ’90s culture, which culminated in 1993, which combines nostalgia for the 23-year-old rapper’s childhood with reflections on modern life. Featuring appearances by Sylvan LaCue and Pell, as well as production from P-Lo, Mikos Da Gawd, HBK’s Kuya Beats, Cal-A,and Julia Lewis, 1993 explores Caleborate’s unique generational point-of-view through varied production and complex lyrical themes.
Explains Caleborate to NYLON: “The idea just came to me as I was listening to the song one day with my headphones in. It just looked so cool in my head and it translated well on screen. Each character in the visual represents a specific aspect or ‘stage’ in my life…. in my game of life, rather…”
Last month, Earmilk dropped the fun-loving video for Caleborate’s”Consequences,” which listeners can find on Spotify‘s Most Necessary playlist. The album’s lead single, “Options,” a soulful summer jam with guest spots from Pell and Sylvan LaCue, which has earned over 778,000 plays on Spotify. Born and raised in Sacramento, Caleborate built his considerable fanbase online, commenting on popular YouTube videos to draw fans to his music. In 2015, Caleborate collaborated with G-Eazy on “Want It All,” featured on his 2015 album Hella Good, which received critical praise from Pigeons & Planes, The Source, and SF Weekly, which named it the Best Hip-Hop Album of the Bay Area for 2015. Earning further acclaim for 1993, Caleborate proved himself to be anact that the fans and the blogs can agree on. 1993 is available for stream and download now.
Caleborate also kicks of his 1993 tour in LA on November 13th. Tickets are on sale now.
A Berkeley bred student of hip-hop and all around eclectic artist, Caleborate has been renowned as one of the games most promising emcee’s. With lyrics that represent the unique struggles of the average 20-something, and stanza’s about the day to day grind as a collegiate youth, he covers topics far and wide and is anything but shallow. After being awarded the “Best Hip Hop Album of The Bay Area” in 2015 by SF Weekly, Caleborate is poised to sit cross-legged atop the hip-hop genre someday.
Treating Them Like Royalty, the Two Rappers Show Love to the Ones Who Prove Their Loyalty
11.07.2016
Critical Praise:
“Young Dolph has cultivated that formula that makes the bando jump” – XXL
“What makes Dolph exemplary is his affinity for memorable hooks and catchy call-and-response punch lines” – Complex
“King of Memphis is worth myriad repeat listens: Dolph bridges the gap between his hometown and the Atlanta production that dominates rap’s mainstream.” – SPIN
Young Dolph may have finally found the girl of his dreams. In the C-Note-produced song “Foreva” from his recently released project Rick Crack Baby, the self-proclaimed King of Memphis recruits T.I. to open up about their feelings towards their special someone while still keeping it real. The two rappers turn a motel room into a pop-up trap house and pledge their loyalty to the women who hold them down.
Riding a year-long hot streak, Dolph has become one of the most popular and prolific independent rappers in the game today. “Foreva” follows up “What yo Life Like” ft. 2 Chainz; the fifth video released from Young Dolph’s latest mixtape, Rich Crack Baby, coming after the black-and-white video for “If,” the strip club-set “Trappa,” which has over a million views on YouTube, and the David Lynch-meets-the trap clip for the title track (over 1 million views). With features from T.I., Gucci Mane, Boosie Badazz, 21 Savage, Wale and 2 Chainz and production from Zaytoven, Drumma Boy, Honorable C-Note and others, Rich Crack Baby is a titanic effort from Young Dolph, affirming his status as one of street rap’s biggest names. His recent nomination for the BET Hip-Hop Awards’ “People’s Champ” Award makes it clear that the rest of rap world can’t deny it anymore either.
Rich Crack Baby is the third high-quality mixtape from Young Dolph’s busy 2016, following the release of Bo$$e$ and $hooter$ in May and King of Memphis in February. Noisey described King of Memphis, a 11-track dose of pure Dolph with no featured artists, as “a solid debut album from one of the most quietly popular artists in the South right now.” In addition to dropping an excellent mixtape every three months, the Memphis kingpin also frequently releases inventive visuals, including the hilarious “Get Paid,” and the absurd “Royalty,” which features cameo appearances from a capuchin monkey, a giraffe, and even a white tiger. In January, Forbes named Young Dolph one of The Hip-Hop Cash Princes of 2016, placing him alongside Fetty Wap, G-Eazy, and Metro Boomin, among others, and last month, Dolph successfully headlined the 21-date Royalty tour. The end of 2016 appears to be more of the same for Dolph, who started off his Autumn appearing on “Bling Blaww Burr,” the lead single on Gucci Mane‘s upcoming Woptober. Dolph also had a star guest turn on “Cut It” the hit by OT Genasis, his first foray onto the Billboard charts, peaking at number 35 on the Hot 100.
Please contact Michelle or Dharmic if interested in talking with Young Dolph.
Young Dolph Background
Born on the South Side of Chicago and raised in notoriously known Castalia Heights neighborhood in South Memphis, Young Dolph emerged in the urban music scene and amassed a large dedicated fan base. Dolph grew up in a hectic environment, surrounded by drugs and alcohol, but that never completely defined him. He always had a passion for music, but it wasn’t until his peers recognized his talent and suggested that he take rap seriously. Eventually, his hustle mentality and creativity led him to consistently dropping mixtape after mixtape. On the strength of releasing consistent quality mixtapes, Dolph became one of the only independent musicians to have multiple Top 20 records with “Preach” and “California” and Top 40 records with “Make the World Go Around” and “Pulled Up.” Yet to release an official album, the success Dolph has gained from his mixtapes have led to collaborations with some of the most influential artists in hip-hop including 2 Chainz, Juicy J, Young Jeezy, and Rick Ross. Dolph recently released Rich Crack Baby and completed his nation-wide Royalty tour.
EMPIRE Background
EMPIRE was founded in 2010 as an artist-friendly, progressive digital distribution company. After early success, and identifying future icons such as Kendrick Lamar, Sage The Gemini, and Rich Homie Quan, EMPIRE was quickly regarded as a tastemaker in the industry and throughout the past five years evolved into a full-fledged record label, distributor and publisher for independent musicians. With the company and roster growing at a breakneck pace, EMPIRE has effectively disrupted a stale business model by bringing its energy, expertise, and acumen to its artists and labels. Given its reputation, EMPIRE works with today’s hottest talent from superstars such as T.I. and red-hot newcomers such as Anderson .Paak. While remaining 100% independent, EMPIRE has also partnered with Atlantic Records for a joint venture, home to breakout star D.R.A.M. and joined forces with Republic Records for the release of Sage The Gemini’s Remember Me album.
T.I., Jeezy, YG, Trae Tha Truth and Others Make Appearances in The Visual for the Daily Bread Highlight
10.07.2016
Critical Praise for Scotty ATL:
“Scotty ATL has been consistently dropping solid music for quite some time now, and it doesn’t look like he’s planning to stop anytime soon.” – Complex
“Scotty ATL is the ultimate blue-collar rapper that you don’t have to try and relate to—it just comes natural.” – Mass Appeal
The Video:
A hard-working rapper and a mainstay on the Atlanta scene, Scotty ATL wears his emotions on his sleeve. 2016 was a tough year for Scotty. He lost four friends in a period of four weeks in March 2016, while he was on tour with B.o.B and unable to say goodbye. However, 2016 was also a year of artistic accomplishment for the Cool Club CEO, with the release of the deeply personal career highlight Daily Bread. The video for “Tha Ruler,” a minor-key banger with a snaking guitar line and “Tearz“-style organ, focuses on the triumphant moments from Scotty’s 2016, featuring footage from his performances at Atlanta’s A3C Festival and behind-the-scenes peeks at his studio and at radio interviews. With cameo appearances from T.I., Jeezy, Dave East, Ty Dolla $ign, YG, Trae Tha Truth and more, “Tha Ruler” shows how Scotty’s good and bad memories of the year intertwine into a life-affirming mix, before coaslescing into an anthemic countdown: “I cried so many tears this year/I’m glad my eyes ain’t wet now.”
Explains Scotty ATL: “‘The Ruler’ sums up my whole year. It made me remember some of the things I’ve been through, the places I’ve been, the relationships I’ve had. You see the raw emotions. I’ve been through a lot but you can see in the video, it hasn’t slowed me down. The good and bad memories are interwined. This is a video that displays triumph. It’s just my every day life, just running into these people. The thing I like about the video is that you can’t deny the stuff that is happening. This is not me flashing money on the screen, paying some girls to be in the video, this is my every day life. You can’t buy that.”
An album rooted in tragedy and triumph, Scotty ATL released Daily Bread in September. Informed by grief and great loss, including a stretch in March when Scotty lost four close friends in four weeks, Daily Bread follows in a noble tradition of rap classics like UGK’s Ridin Dirty and songs like Pete Rock & CL Smooth’s “T.R.O.Y.” or 2Pac’s “Keep Ya Head Up,” exploring the excesses and the consequences of a rapper’s life. “The Ruler” is the third visual from Daily Bread, following the Karen Civil-premiered “So High,” and September’s Kissie Lee-featuring video for “Kno That U Will.” The result of a career’s worth of hard work and grinding, Daily Bread is a highly accomplished effort from one of Atlanta’s most respected rappers.
Daily Bread Tracklist:
Stupid Rich (Prod by Cory Mo)
Tha Ruler (Prod by CAL – i)
Destined
Cant be Life (Prod by JayeLL)
M.Y.O.B (Prod by KE On the Track)
So HIGH Feat. Jay Dot Rain (Prod by KE On the Track)
Please email Michelle or Dharmic if interested in speaking with Scotty ATL.
Scotty ATL Background:
Everything about Scotty ATL is definitively southern. From the way he positions his ‘A’ hat atop his head down to the flip-flop and socks on his feet, he’s an authentic offspring of the culture that has raised him. Hailing from the city’s eastside, Scotty ATL is the funk and soul of Outkast mixed with the political and social-consciousness of Goodie Mob, but from a perspective all his own. An utterly independent spirit with a distinct drawl and vernacular, his name embodies his persona. Scotty ATL is all things Atlanta, yet his movement is worldwide, which is neither by coincidence nor chance.
A hustler since the womb, Scotty ATL formed his own label Cool Club, an ode to his style and attitude upon entering the business of entertainment. The street-smart rapper then began effectively building his brick-by-brick campaign putting in countless hours and money to expand his presence. As a result, he released a succession of popular mixtapes starting with the debut of 2011’s Summer Dreams hosted by DJ Burn One, which ignited a cult-like following. He released other successful projects such as In The Meantime, The Jiffy Cornbread Experience, F.A.I.T.H (Forever Atlanta In The Heart), In The Meantime 2 and SPAGHETTI Junction, all of which spawned notable singles. In 2014, he joined forces with Grammy-nominated artist B.o.B’sNo Genre imprint and embarked on a nation-wide tour billed the Cool Club Tour. The following year he was featured on the remix to Curren$y’s “Cloud IX” and followed that up with the instant classic The Cooligan, a 16-track composition hosted by DJ Scream and DJ Mike Mars. The pivotal mixtape featured collaborations with Curren$y, CyHi The Prynce, 8Ball, Devin The Dude, and B.O.B, with production credits going to KE On The Track, DJ Burn One, and Drumma Boy.
The NYU Drop-Out Drops Video For Standout Single from Surf The Web EP, Premiered by Pigeons and Planes
11.07.2016
Critical Praise for Daye Jack:
“Daye Jack has been slowly solidifying himself as one of the most unique young voices in hip-hop right now, thanks to a number of fantastic projects that show the true breadth of his impressive versatility.” – The Guardian
“Daye Jack carries a powerful message”. – Billboard
“If you don’t know Daye Jack (pronounced Die-aye Jack) yet, you will soon.” – Mass Appeal
“Meet the new wunderkind of celestial hip-hop pop” – Pigeons & Planes
“Daye Jack has no trouble standing out. His ability to combine complex song structures, vocal melodies, and soulful production gives his music a weight that so many of the artists making the club bangers of the month will never achieve.” – Complex
“Daye Jack is …extremely talented at a young age and swirling together the styles that previously had been so carefully separated, all with a big grin. Whether he’s rapping or doling out sweet melodies, it’s all working” – Huffington Post
The Announcement:
Daye Jack is in the middle of many things. Born in Nigeria, raised in Atlanta, and living in Los Angeles, the computer science major dropout turned musician is both a talented rapper and a songwriter with serious pop sensibility. His video for “Bullshit,” premiered today by Pigeons and Planes, is the latest demonstration of this fact. The David Gallardo-directed video focuses on the love/hate relationship that society has with new technology versus older vintage technology. Filmed in black in white, Daye raps over the infectious bassline and soothing synth chords, dropping in an earworm chorus, dancing around an empty room with a model interspersed with shots of cassette tapes, analog televisions, and film cameras. “Bullshit,” a standout track off of Daye’s second retail EP Surf The Web, follows“Deep End,” premiered earlier this month by Billboard.
The EP features seven tracks about living a human life in a digital world, including previously-released highlights “Deep End,” the accurately titled “Raw,” played more than 392,000 times on SoundCloud, which features snapping boom-bap drums and “Death of Auto-Tune”-style guitars, and the bassy electro pop-rap banger “Finish Line,” (130,000 plays on SoundCloud). Featuring a guest appearance from Dev09 and production from the likes of Mike Elizondo (50 Cent, Eminem), Klas Ahlund (Robyn, Katy Perry, Madonna), Stefan Graslund (Charli XCX), Kiko Merley (Allan Kingdom) and MAG (Flo Rida’s “My House), Surf the Web is an endlessly replayable, detail-rich effort from one of music’s bright young talents. With his music having appeared on the season finale of Atlanta, Monday Night Football and a recent episode of Empire and currently touring with Watsky, his third national tour this year, it is clear that Daye is on his way up.
Born in Nigeria, Daye Jack moved with his family to Atlanta at the age of six, splitting his time between soccer, computer programming, listening to Outkast, 50 Cent, and Eminem, and singing in choir. After high school, Daye earned a scholarship to NYU, majoring in Computer Science and furthering his musical development by absorbing the works of artists like Chance The Rapper, and deriving creative and collaborative inspiration from his talented classmates. In 2014, Daye released his breakthrough mixtape Hello World, which caught the attention of Max Martin, who signed him to his publishing imprint, and Warner Bros. Records exec and producer Mike Elizondo, who signed him to a record deal.Since releasing his Soul Glitch EPin 2015, Daye has earned praise from outlets such as Billboard, Pitchfork and Pigeons & Planes, collaborated with the likes of Killer Mike, Ariana Grande, and Tori Kelly, and toured packed venues with Lukas Graham and Pell. Surf The Web, the latest step on Daye Jack’s evolutionary ladder, is available for purchase on iTunes and stream on Spotify and Apple Music.
Daye Jack moved with his family from Nigeria to Atlanta at the age of six. In Atlanta, he split his time between playing soccer, slinging computer code, singing in choir, and listening to the likes of Eminem, OutKast, and 50 Cent. After high school, Daye earned a scholarship to NYU, majoring in Computer Science and furthering his musical development by absorbing the works of Chance The Rapper, Joey Bada$$, and Mac Miller and deriving creative inspiration from his talented classmates. In 2014, Daye released his breakthrough mixtape Hello World, which caught the attention of Max Martin, who signed him to his publishing imprint, and Warner Bros. Records exec and producer Mike Elizondo, who signed him to a record deal. Since releasing his Soul Glitch EPin 2015, Daye has earned praise from outlets such as Billboard, Pitchfork and Pigeons & Planes, collaborated with the likes of Killer Mike, Ariana Grande, and Tori Kelly, and toured packed venues with Lukas Graham and Pell. Surf The Web is the latest step on Daye Jack’s evolutionary ladder.
Video: Nef The Pharaoh – “Put You On” ft. Juvenile
Nef The Pharaoh Recruits Longtime Hero Juvenile For “Put You On” Video, Premiered Today by Billboard
11.07.2016
Critical Praise:
“Neffy Got Wings is the album of the week” – Stereogum
“…the best rapper from Vallejo since the last great rapper from Vallejo”– Jeff Weiss
“…as a rapper, [Nef the Pharaoh] lets the energy lead and the bars follow, boasting and flexing with the kinds of memorable banalities that make up some of hip-hop’s best yet least-celebrated moments.” – Pitchfork
“Nef The Pharaoh is the Bay Area’s next up.” – HotNewHipHop
“Nef the Pharaoh runs neck-and-neck with Kodak Black as the most promising up-and-coming rapper who can’t yet rent a car.” – SPIN
The Video:
Anybody who knows Nef the Pharaoh knows how much he, like most of his generation, reveres Cash Money Records. His biggest single to date, “Big Tymin,” with nearly 8M Spotify listens and nearly 9M YouTube views,is an homage the Big Tymers. In “Put You On,” a video premiered today by Billboard, Nef partners with one of his biggest inspirations, Juvenile. Filmed at the fifth annual Hiero Day festival in Oakland, California, thetwo trade raspy-voiced verses about staying loyal to your homies, while Nef brings the song together with a harmonic chorus. “Put You On” is the first single from Nef’s upcoming project.
Earlier this summer Nef released Fresh Outta Space 3, an albumas sonically diverse and funky as the Bay Area itself. “Everything Big,” the project’s P-Lo-produced and FADER-premiered first single and a spiritual successor to “Big Tymin’,” is a valedictory track about Nef’s ability to provide for himself and his family and live a life of luxury at the same time. Dumb Life, the second single, is a hyphy anthem, the Architekz-produced “Do Ya Thang” is an inspirational track inspired by 2Pac’s “Keep Ya Head Up,” while the Snoop Dogg-featuring “Smoke Suffa” is the ultimate song for the heads and “ATM” is a strip club anthem. Featuring a spoken-word introduction from Sway of Shade 45‘s Sway in the Morning and an emotional closing track dedicated to Nef’s infant son, Fresh Outta Space 3 suits all moods
Signed to E-40‘s Sick Wid It Records, Nef The Pharaoh delivered his debut retail release, a self-titled EP, in November 2015 to high critical praise and commercial success for its single “Big Tymin’.” Nef followed his breakthrough project by joining producer Cardo for Neffy Got Wings, a collaborative EP which released in January. In the ensuing months, Nef kept a high profile as a featured artist, appearing with D.R.A.M. on E-40’s “Slappin’“ which has nearly 600,000 views on YouTube, interpolating Shaggy’s immortal “It Wasn’t Me” on “H.B.I.C.” from Bay Area producer Juneonnabeat‘s solo album, joining fellow rising star Rexx Life Raj for “Moxie Java,” and teaming with Casey Veggiesfor the DJ Mustard-produced “Stupidly Crazy,” stealing the spotlight from Future on the highlight from DJ Esco‘s E.T.: The Esco-Terrestrial. With Fresh Outta Space 3, Nef cements a successful 2016 and paves the way for his debut official release, coming soon.
Praised by Jeff Weiss as “the best rapper from Vallejo since the last great rapper from Vallejo,” the legendMac Dre being his predecessor, 21 -year-old Nef The Pharaoh is one of the Bay Area’s most exciting young emcees. Signed to E-40‘s Sick Wid It Records, Nef The Pharaoh delivered his debut retail release, a self-titled EP, in November 2015 to high critical praise. Featuring the breakthrough radio hit “Big Tymin’,” which charted at #34 on San Francisco’s 106 KMEL‘s Top 106 Songs of 2015and earned more than 7.7 million views on YouTube, the Nef The Pharaoh EP firmly established the rapper on the national scene. Nef followed his breakthrough project by joining producer Cardo for Neffy Got Wings, a collaborative EP which released in January, and by accompanying G-Eazy, A$AP Ferg, and Marc E. Bassy on the national When It’s Dark Out Tour. Nef’s next project, Fresh Outta Space 3, releases September 1st.
Song: Philthy Rich – “Straight Drop” ft. Ball Greezy, Jim Jones & Icewear Vezzo
Premiered by Vibe, “Straight Drop” is the Latest Single From the Oakland Emcee’s Hood Rich 4, Out November 18th
11.7.2016
Critical Praise for Philthy Rich
“With a decade-long career, ties to his region’s old guard, and a clever affection for delivery surrounded by repetitive earworm hooks, Philthy’s grown from a Mac Dre-affiliate into a venerable heavyweight of the Yay Area revival sound.” – Mass Appeal
“A veteran in the Bay Area rap scene, Philthy Rich built a reputation as the Bay Area’s Gucci Mane because of his drug-fueled, yet down-to-earth, rhymes, his prolific output, and his relationships with the best street rappers and producers.” – HipHopDX
“The Oakland native has been working hard lately and been dropping some fire music.” – XXL
The Song:
A prolific grinder from East Oakland’s notorious Seminary neighborhood, Philthy Rich uses his conversational flow and knack for snappy wordplay to rap about the hustle. Premiered today by Vibe, “Straight Drop” finds Philthy recruits hustlers from all over the continent to rhyme about how they handle their business over a minor-key instrumental courtesy of Spiffy. Featuring Harlem’s Jim Jones, Detroit’s Icewear Vezzo, and South Florida’s Ball Greezy, who supplies the smooth, southern-fried hook, “Straight Drop” is the latest single to drop from Philthy’s upcoming Hood Rich 4. The Oakland rapper’s third solo full-length of 2016, Philthy Rich hits the internet on November 18th.
Hood Rich 4 is the apeothesis of a very busy 2016 for Philthy Rich. Philthy already released two solo full-lengths this year: February’s Real N*ggas Back in $tyle and June’s SemCity MoneyMan, two full-length collaborative albums, American Greedwith Maybach Music signee Yowda and Political Ties with fellow Bay Area street icon Mozzy. In addition, Philthy frequently treats fans to high quality remixes, loose tracks, and visuals. Last week, Philthy shared the Dirty Glove Bastard-premiered video for hustler’s anthem “Bounce Back”. In October, Philthy shared “Money In The Trap,” the Mass Appeal-premiered single with verses from Los Angeles’ Casey Veggies, Chicago’s Rockie Fresh, and D.C.’s Fat Trel. Earlier, The FADER shared the video for “Fuck I Look Like,” which features Detroit rapper Kash Doll. Featuring additional appearances from Soulja Boy, Birdman, B.o.B, G. Herbo, Shy Glizzy, Young Dolph, Young Greatness, Doughboyz Cashout, Skeme, Sauce Walka, and Sosamann, as well as production from Zaytoven, Spiffy, RJ Lamont and Cassius Jay,Hood Rich 4 is currently available for pre-order.
Philthy Rich will be in New York on Wednesday, November 9th and Thursday, November 10th for interviews.
Philthy Rich, born and raised in East Oakland’s notorious Seminary neighborhood, has earned his place as “The Bay Area’s Gucci Mane” from his raw and honest lyricism, having a great ear for new talent, untiring work ethic and wide network of collaborators. Releasing well over 40 solo and collaborative mixtapes and albums over the past 8 years, Philthy’s grizzly street tales have strengthened his influence in The Bay Area and beyond, and with over 2 million SoundCloud streams, a spot at #5 on Billboard’s Heatseekers chart, and collaborations with artists such as Rick Ross, Kevin Gates, Gucci Mane, 2 Chainz and many more his incredible track record only continues to grow.
The R&B Singer Transforms Drake’s Track With Only Vocals and an Acoustic Guitar
11.03.2016
Critical Praise for Eric Bellinger:
“Eric Bellinger is an up-and-coming R&B singer who has tons of talent and could make some waves very soon.” – Complex
“Eric Bellinger—the Los Angeles singer/songwriter whose single with Problem, “I Don’t Want Her,” made waves last year—fits somewhere between Ty Dolla $ign’s of-the-moment snap and Ne-Yo’s oh-so-earnest mid-’00s R&B.” – FADER
“If you’re single or trying to find signs of love in the world, Eric Bellinger will make you believe in love again.” – Singersroom
The Video:
A honey-voiced singer/songwriter who has won the respect of the entire industry, Eric Bellinger is a rising R&B phenom. Today, Eric treats his fans with a quickly turned-around video cover of “Fake Love,” the new song by Drake. Emerging from a cloud of blunt smoke in his tastefully decorated home studio, Eric shows off his silky smooth vocals and impressive flow over acoustic guitars gently plucked by Adam Hayman, making up the difference between Drake and Jeremih. Rocking a Colin Kaepernick jersey in front of an illuminated Pac-Man ghost and a background showing of James Cameron’s Avatar, Eric gives a behind the scenes glimpse into his studio life. With “Fake Love,” Eric demonstrates his insane talent and his ability to effortlessly straddle the worlds of Hip-Hop and R&B.
A rising young R&B talent with silky vocals and prodigious skills as an emcee, Eric Bellinger returned to the national forefront with his mixtape Eric B. For President: Term 1. Premiered in September by VIBE, the mixtape is a potent fusion of Hip-Hop and R&B, featuring sensuous bedroom jams like “Remind Her” alongside street rap bangers such as “Snappin’ and Trappin’.” An accomplished songwriter with a Grammy win and an endorsement from Barack Obama, the Compton-born artist named the mixtape as a salute to “Eric B. Is President,” the classic track from Eric B. & Rakim‘s iconic Paid in Full. Featuring appearances from RJ, 11:11, ARoc, and Phil Ade, who guests on the lavish Billboard-premiered album highlight “In My Prime“, Eric B. For President is a fully-realized artistic effort, showcasing Bellinger’s considerable talents with melody and providing an ideal soundtrack for this election season. Earning over 10 million views on YouTube over his career, Eric has established himself as a bonafide hitmaker as an artist and a songwriter, penning hits for Usher (“Lemme See”) and Justin Bieber (“Right Here), eventually earning a Grammy for working on Chris Brown‘s F.A.M.E., as well as recording solo hits such as “Valet” featuring 2 Chainz and Fetty Wap. Eric B. For President: Term 1 is currentlyavailable oniTunes and Spotify.
1. Snappin & Trappin (Prod. by Beazy Times)
2. My Check (Prod. by The Nominees)
3. G.O.A.T. Feat. ARoc (Prod. by Sleep Deez & Qorey Cail)
4. Sometimes (Prod. by Soufwest)
5. One Of Them Feat. 11:11 (Prod. by DZL)
6. Drive By (Prod. by Ayo)
7. Remind Her Feat. RJ (Prod. by Habib)
8. In My Prime Feat. Phil Ade (Prod. by DJ Money & Cleva Keys)
Please contact Michelle or Dharmic if interested in talking with Eric Bellinger.
Eric Bellinger Background:
Over the last 6 years, Eric Bellinger has become one of the music industry’s most sought after songwriters while also proving himself to be equally talented as a singer and a rapper. Seamlessly fusing smooth and retro R&B melodies with edgy hip-hop, Bellinger, the grandson of “Rockin Robin” songwriter Bobby Day, has earned the reputation as quick yet intuitive songwriter. Having collaborated with Grammy-winning songwriter/producers J.R. Rotem and Rodney Jerkins, the Compton, California native has quickly racked up more than 80 song placements just in the last two years alone, writing for Justin Bieber, Nicki Minaj, Chris Brown, Usher, Trey Songz, Jennifer Hudson, The Game, and Janelle Monae. He has scored hits with his songwriting for Justin Bieber (“Right Here,”) Usher (“Lemme See,”) and Chris Brown (“Fine China.”) His work with Brown, specifically his contributions to Brown’s album F.A.M.E., also earned him a Grammy award. Following 10 years of being in singing groups, the former church boy singer formally stepped out as a solo artist in 2013, steadily churning out a series of well-regarded mixtapes. Working with artists including 2 Chainz, Kid Ink, Mya, Ty Dolla $ign, and Sage the Gemini, Bellinger quickly found success as a solo artist, selling out his U.K. tour, getting his independent label YFS distributed by Lyor Cohen’s 300 Entertainment, and amassing over 10 million views on YouTube. Bellinger has come full circle as a triple-threat talent, simultaneously forging a burgeoning solo career while further cementing his reputation as one of R&B and pop music’s top go-to writers.
Video: Philthy Rich – “Bounce Back” (Prod. by Zaytoven)
Dirty Glove Bastard Premieres the Latest Visual From the East Oakland Emcee’s Hood Rich 4, Out November 18th
11.1.2016
Critical Praise for Philthy Rich
“With a decade-long career, ties to his region’s old guard, and a clever affection for delivery surrounded by repetitive earworm hooks, Philthy’s grown from a Mac Dre-affiliate into a venerable heavyweight of the Yay Area revival sound.” – Mass Appeal
“A veteran in the Bay Area rap scene, Philthy Rich built a reputation as the Bay Area’s Gucci Mane because of his drug-fueled, yet down-to-earth, rhymes, his prolific output, and his relationships with the best street rappers and producers.” – HipHopDX
“The Oakland native has been working hard lately and been dropping some fire music.” – XXL
The Video:
A Bay Area kingpin who spends his life on the grind, Philthy Rich is one of Oakland’s most respected artists. Adopting a percussive cadence over a slinking, key-driven trap beat courtesy of Zaytoven, Philthy Rich struts his stuff with some of his best bars on “BounceBack“: “I took a loss and I bounced back/Took an ounce and I bounced that/Hit the hood with them two-for-ones/I was on my last tryna stretch that.” Premiered today by Dirty Glove Bastard, the visual for “Bounce Back” finds Philthy and his FOD cohorts counting money in the crib, as he shows off his Rolexes and makes an all-bread sandwich. “Bounce Back” is the latest video from Hood Rich 4, the prolific emcee’s third solo full-length of 2016, which releases November 18th.
Hood Rich 4 is the culmination of a very busy 2016 for Philthy Rich. In 2016, Philthy released two solo full-lengths, February’s Real N*ggas Back in $tyle and June’s SemCity MoneyMan, two full-length collaborative albums, American Greedwith Maybach Music signee Yowda and Political Ties with fellow Bay Area street icon Mozzy, and treated fans to a stream of high-quality visuals. Last month, Philthy shared “Money In The Trap,” the Mass Appeal-premiered single with verses from Los Angeles’ Casey Veggies, Chicago’s Rockie Fresh, and D.C.’s Fat Trel. Earlier, The FADER premiered the video for “Fuck I Look Like,” which features Detroit rapper Kash Doll. Featuring additional appearances from Soulja Boy, Jim Jones, Birdman, B.o.B, G. Herbo, Shy Glizzy, Young Dolph, Sauce Walka, and Sosamann, Hood Rich 4 is currently available for pre-order.
Philthy Rich, born and raised in East Oakland’s notorious Seminary neighborhood, has earned his place as “The Bay Area’s Gucci Mane” from his raw and honest lyricism, having a great ear for new talent, untiring work ethic and wide network of collaborators. Releasing well over 40 solo and collaborative mixtapes and albums over the past 8 years, Philthy’s grizzly street tales have strengthened his influence in The Bay Area and beyond, and with over 2 million SoundCloud streams, a spot at #5 on Billboard’s Heatseekers chart, and collaborations with artists such as Rick Ross, Kevin Gates, Gucci Mane, 2 Chainz and many more his incredible track record only continues to grow.
The Two Emcees Roll Up A Collaborative EP Before Hitting the Second Half Of Dizzy’s Still Moving Tour
11.02.16
The Mixtape:
Sharing a love for both hip-hop and marijuana, Las Vegas’ Dizzy Wright and Los Angeles’ Demrick teamed up to release a free, collaborative mixtape, Blaze With Us!Featuringappearances from B-Real,Berner, and Audio Push the 15-track tape is packed with stoner anthems, offering both slow burning jams and hard hitting bangers. Both formidable rappers on their own, the two emcees were excited by the idea of working together. “When Demrick and I started this Blaze With Us project, we had the mindset of recreating the same type of chemistry Method Man and Redman had so we paid homage to their Blackout! album with our cover. We’re not trying to duplicate the music, rather, you’re going to feel the same kind of chemistry they had beween them with me and Demrick. We’re damn near going to sound like a group. Blaze With Us is for active stoners, those who wake and bake and then head to work or school. For those who like to smoke throughout the day to keep the engine running,” Dizzy explained.
Two of the tracks off the mixtape come with visuals. In “Hundreds of Thousands” Demrick and Dizzy cruise in red Jeep, coping with the stresses of eviction and running a business with weed, women, and wings and waffles. The psychedelic video for “Roll My Weed” finds Dizzy and Demrick under police surveillance, hotboxing a Mercedes and sending smoke signals. The two MC’s are about to embark on the second half of their national Still Movin Tour, covering the Midwest and East Coast.They are joined by DJ Hoppa, Audio Push, Mark Battles, and T Dubz.
The nephew of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony‘s Layzie Bone, Dizzy Wright began rapping at just 8 years old. Dizzy Wright released SmokeOut Conversations in April 2012, peaking at #2 on the iTunes Hip-Hop charts. He followed it up with a free mixtape, Free SmokeOut Conversations,which propelled Dizzy Wright to his own national 30-city tour. As the “People’s Choice” member of the XXL Freshman Class of 2013, Dizzy Wright also released his The Golden Age mixtape followed by multiple projects which received wide acclaim, including 2015’s The Growing Process which landed him HotNewHipHop‘s digital cover story. Earlier in 2016, Dizzy Wright released the Wisdom and Good Vibes EP, featuring singles such as “Work a Lil Harder”and “Plotting.” This year, Dizzy also opened for Logic on his sold out The Incredible World Tour. Most recently, Dizzy released the 702 EP.
Born in Spokane to a single mother on welfare, the biracial Demrick found peace in hip-hop. After linking with West Coast legend Kuruptas “Young De,” Demrick found his way into the studio with B-Real of Cypress Hill, earning several features on B-Real’s Smoke ‘N Mirrors. In 2013, Demrick teamed up with B-Real and Xzibit to form the Serial Killers, releasing two projects and gracing the stages of Rock The Bells and Lollapalooza. In 2015, Demrick released his first solo album, Losing Focus, on Madchild’s Battle Axe Records, boasting contributions from Logic, Dizzy Wright, and others.After years of learning the rap game from the likes of Xzibit and B Real, Demricksteps into the spotlight with Collect Call. Featuring soulful, bouncy production from the likes of Scoop Deville, Lavi$h, DJ Hoppa and more, Collect Call is available now on iTunes and Spotify.
Blaze With Us! Tracklist:
1. How Do You Want It (prod. by Scoop Deville)
2. Roll My Weed (prod. by DJ Hoppa)
3. Got It Good (prod. by MLB)
4. Hundreds Of Thousands (prod. by MLB)
5. No Chill ft. Audio Push (prod. MLB)
6. Cookies Or Better ft. Berner (prod. by Scoop Deville)
7. Skit
8. Outside (prod. by MLB)
9. Roll Up (prod. by MLB)
10. New Hippies ft. B Real (prod. by Nizzy)
11. Getting High (DJ Hoppa)
12. Gotta Build (Black Fist)
13. All She Do (prod. by MLB)
14. Daily Basis (Roc N Mayne)
15. Blaze With Us (DJ Hoppa)
Please contact Michelle or Dharmic if interested in talking with Dizzy Wright.
Dizzy Wright Background:
Las Vegas, Nevada, Rapper Dizzy Wright began rapping at just 8 years old in the group “DaFuture” with his brother and very close friend; his mother wrote his raps at the time. Dizzy broke through when he was discovered at the Sheikh Music “Rip the Mic” competition in 2010 and signed onto Funk Volume a few months later. In April 2012, Dizzy released his first Funk Volume album, SmokeOut Conversations, peaking at #2 on the iTunes Hip-Hop charts which he followed up with a free mixtape, Free SmokeOut Conversations, which has been downloaded over 200,000 times, and helped propel Dizzy to his own national 30-city tour. In December 2012, Dizzy went on to release the first of four EPs, The First Agreement, which reached as high as #2 on the iTunes Hip-Hop chart. In March of 2013, Dizzy gathered enough votes to be selected as the “People’s Choice” member of the XXL Freshman Class of 2013. Also in 2013, Dizzy released The Golden Age mixtapeand followed it up with The Golden Age Tour. In 2014, Dizzy released theState of Mind EP and toured the US with support from Scion AV. Following the momentum, in 2015 he hit the road in support of his sophomore album The Growing Process, which peaked at #3 on iTunes. When 2016 hit, Funk Volume disbanded. No signs of slowing down, Dizzy dropped his Wisdom and Good Vibes EP and opened for Logic’s sold out The Incredible World Tour, while prepping his second release this year, the 702 EP.
Demrick Background:
Rapper Demrick has been closely mentored by three iconic acts in Cypress Hill, Kurupt, and Xzibit. Like that platinum trio of household names, the versatile, independent MC builds his music to last. 2016’s Collect Call rings to make a connection, in showcasing a new level of album-making from an artist with a story, conviction, and a palpable passion to his art.
Marijuana Maven Berner Re-Teams With B-Real for Prohibition 3, Hitting Stores, DSPs, and Dispensaries on November 18th
The Taylor Gang Rapper and the Cypress Hill Veteran Live a Stoner’s Life on Their Third Joint Mixtape in Three Years
10.27.2016
Critical praise for Berner:
“[Berner’s flow] now rolls off his tongue in a more effortless legato. His lyrics have also deepened in both his attraction to arresting imagery (“I can see my stones glowing in the limousine tint”) to an emotional potency that seems The Jacka-inspired in its multiplicity of meaning” – Pitchfork
The Announcement:
An insanely prolific rapper and successful entrepreneur in the burgeoning marijuana industry, Berner is the Hip Hop world’s number one source. Teaming up for the third time with legendary Cypress Hill rapper and famed marijuana enthusiast B-Real, Berner will release Prohibition 3 on November 18th. Prohibition 3 is an ideal listen for a late-night smoke session or for a windows-down drive down the California coast. While most of the media coverage surrounding the 2016 election centers on the Presidential race, with Prohibition 3, Berner and B-Real draw attention to the question of marijuana legalization. Nine states will have ballot initiatives for marijuana legalization on election day, including California, Arizona, Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada, which will vote on legalizing recreational pot use, and Arkansas, Florida, North Dakota, and Montana, which will vote on the legality of medical marijuana.
With over 22 solo and collaborative albums under his belt, Berner is one of rap music’s most productive stoners. Prohibition 3 follows up Hempire, which debuted at #4 on the Billboard Hip-Hop Album Charts in March. Hempire is lush and expansive, with twinkling keys, syrupy bass, helium vocal samples, and wavy synths creating a stoner’s paradise for listeners and rappers alike. Berner brings the same level of quality to his music and his business endeavors. The San Francisco serial entrepreneur has built a marijuana empire, creating popular cannabis strain Girl Scout Cookies, launching a new brand of organic herbal beverages called Hemp2O, founding apparel company Cookies SF, and now he’s the partner of what is soon going to be the country’s largest grow house, Reef Industries, based in Las Vegas. Berner takes fans behinds the scenes of his marijuana empire in his Marijuana Mania video series, in which Berner demonstrates his deep knowledge of cannabis horticulture and shares his business knowledge about what’s quickly becoming the country’s next cash crop.
Today, Berner and B-Real share “Vibes,” a lush, laid-back highlight from Prohibition 3. Featuring a guest appearance from Dizzy Wright, “Vibes” finds the three emcees rhyming about their smoking habits, dropping clever couplets and demonstrating their kush expertise. Produced by Cozmo & A-One, “Vibes” is a quality appetizer for Prohibtion 3, demonstrating B-Real and Berner’s chemistry and providing a taste of the album’s expansive production.
For almost 10 years, Berner has been hip-hop’s most trusted source. His track record not only in producing marijuana mood music, but also steering the most discerning of smokers to the latest new strains and products in the marijuana industry is unimpeachable. The founder/co-owner of popular apparel company Cookies SF, Berner has used his green power to strengthen his music ties, and he’s dropped a whopping 14 albums to date. During high school, the budding entrepreneur born Gilbert Anthony Mano had begun playing around and battle-rapping for fun. In 2006, he dropped his first mixtapeDirty Sneakers. His first solo album, Weekend at Bernie’s, arrived in 2009, along with four other albums. He’s worked with numerous legends in the game, from Cypress Hill’s B-Real, Project Pat and Tha Jacka to Ty Dolla $ign, DJ Mustard and Chris Brown. This year alone, he will release another three projects: Contraband with Cam’ron, Drought Season 3 with the recently deceased Bay Area legend Tha Jacka and his solo album, Hempire. He boasts 417,000 Instagram followers, who turned out in droves for his sold-out Under the Influence of Music Tour alongside Khalifa, A$AP Rocky, Trinidad Jame$ and Joey Bada$$–and his 4/20 shows in the Bay are one of the highlights of the year.
The Bay Area Veteran Releases The Sequel to His Debut Album, Shares the Hyperlocal Video for “West Oakland N*gga”
10.31.2016
Critical Praise:
“As the owner of Livewire Records, West Oakland rapper J Stalin provides a place for the growth of incredibly creative, meat-and-potatoes Bay Area hip-hop. The label hosts gritty rubbery street music that navigates crack dealing devastation and grounded partying tracks with equal aplomb, with artists that range from Stalin himself to MCs like Shady Nate and Philthy Rich among others.” – SPIN
“J Stalin pushes the envelope by vividly reiterating his Mob Bay Area persona and turmoil of his harsh upbringing.” – XXL
“This is what Stalin does: he takes things–sounds, human beings, grocery stores–and warps them into something extraterrestrial. It’s eerie, but you’re dancing anyway.” – Passion of the Weiss
The Announcement:
Araspy-voiced hustler with slick wordplay and a refined ear for mutated hyphy beats, J. Stalin is one of the Bay Area’s most respected emcees. Ten years after releasing his debut album On Behalf of the Streets, Stalin returns with On Behalf of the Streets 2, premiered by HipHopDX. Produced entirely by Bay Area duo The Mekanix, OBOTS 2 is a worthy sequel to the original, illustrating Stalin’s transformation from a young upstart to an established veteran. Featuring appearances from IAMSU!, K Camp, Nef The Pharaoh, Lil Blood, G-Eazy, Philthy Rich, Slim 400, Rayven Justice, Celly Ru, 4Rax of the Mekanix, Young Doe, G-Stack, Erk Da Jerk and a posthumous appearance from The Jacka, among others, OBOTS 2 is an epic listening experience, effortlessly gliding from style-to-style, never growing stale or repetitive, and featuring some of Stalin’s best bars. Following up last year’s Tears of Joy, On Behalf of the Streets 2 is one of J. Stalin’s strongest full-length efforts yet.
Over the past month, the Livewire CEO treated fans to a variety of quality pre-release singles. Earlier this week, The FADER premiered the G-Eazy– and The Jacka-featuring “Party Jumpin 2,” a sequel to one of Stalin’s best loved songs, a track from the original On Behalf of the Streets. Prior to “Party Jumpin’ 2,” Stalin shared the visual for “Get Me Some,” featuring Nef The Pharaoh and Lil Blood, which drew praise from Passion of the Weiss, who praised the track as “what an alien might make if he tried to approximate a song of celebration.” Last month, Stalin dropped the K Camp-featuring “Could Be Worse” via a HotNewHipHop premiere.
To accompany the album’s release, Stalin shares the visual for “West Oakland N*gga,” which features J. Stalin boasting about his hometown bonafides over a bass-heavy instrumental with bright organ and twinkling keys. Filmed in West Oakland, the video finds Stalin showing off his neighborhood, posting up outside a Tenth Street store with a huge posse, including The Mekanix, grilling some meat, and driving around in a boxframe muscle car. “West Oakland N*gga” and its visual demonstrate many of the strengths of On Behalf of the Streets 2: the subtle inversion of classic Bay Area styles, the specificity of the local references, and Stalin’s eccentric, outsized persona. Released via Livewire Records, On Behalf of the Streets 2 is currently available to buy on iTunes and stream on Spotify.
Video: Jalen Santoy – “Foreplay” (Produced by Tim Stacks)
With His Charlie Eastern EP Arriving November 18th, the FADER Premieres the Visual for the North Carolina Artist’s Breakout Hit
This video has been taken off YouTube.
10.27.2016
The Video:
A breezy, minimalist summer jam with compelling verses, a beautifully harmonized chorus, and an unforgettable saxophone riff (borrowed from Bobby Hebb‘s 1966 smash “Sunny“), North Carolina rapper Jalen Santoy had a viral hit on his hands when he released “Foreplay,” produced byJordeaux, in March 2015. Over a year and nearly 6 million total streams later, Jalen treats us to the song’s colorful visual, which sketches the story of a good relationship gone bad. “The video is meant to be colorful showing that though, lyrically, there is clear discontent within the relationship, the contrast is what brings it to life,” explains Jalen Santoy. “There will always be conflict in any relationship but allowing people to get involved with your mindset will do nothing but taint the original picture.” Premiered today by the FADER, “Foreplay” is the lead single from Jalen’s upcoming Charlie Eastern EP, which releases on November 18th.
Explains Jalen, “Charlie Eastern represents birth, foundation, and the willingness to show transparency in difficult situations. I lost a close cousin of mine in the process of making this project due to police brutality, a similar story that’s known too well in our culture today. He was part of a rap group founded in Charleston called ‘Charlie Eastern’ In this project I shed light on the different mindsets that innately come about when dealing with the unpredictable struggles of life.”
Boasting a flow as smooth as his singing voice, Jalen Santoy has a gift for making insightful, melodic Hip-Hop. Born in Charleston, South Carolina, Jalen started writing and rapping when he was 15-years-old, but did not release his first song until 2014, at the age of 21. It did not take long for “God” to gain some local traction, eventually catching the ear of North Carolina veteran and former Little Brother member Rapper Big Pooh who hopped on the remix. Following the success of “God,” Jalen appeared on Pooh’s Words Paint Pictures EP, lending a verse to “Kings.” His forthcoming EP, Charlie Eastern, is an ideal introduction to Jalen’s style, packed with sweet melodies and slick verses. Arriving via EMPIRE, Charlie Eastern hits stores November 18th.
Please contact Michelle or Dharmic if interested in talking with Jalen Santoy.
Jalen Santoy Background
Jalen Santoy Gathers (born August 24, 1993), known as Jalen Santoy, is a rapper, singer, and songwriter from Charlotte, NC. Originally from Charleston, SC, the enriching culture is heavily present in his music. Recording music since the age of 15, Santoy released his first record in 2014 knowing the time was right. His first song to the public, “God,” caught the attention of many bloggers and rappers alike, eventually securing Rapper Big Pooh for the “God” remix, released in December 2014. With Rapper Big Pooh’s presence, “God” gained significant attention and Santoy received widespread recognition. Following his success, Santoy collaborated again with Rapper Big Pooh on “Kings” from the Words Paint Pictures EP which led him to features in XXL, The Source, 2DopeBoyz, and Okayplayer as one of the top artists to watch. In March 2015, Santoy released his single “Foreplay”, which has earned 1.74 million plays on SoundCloud and has gained the support from Respect Mag, DJ Booth, Ashley Outrageous, ThisIs50, Boi-Ida and other various accounts. After the release of “Foreplay”, Santoy dropped his second single, “Off The Glass” in February 2016. The single was produced by Grammy nominated hip-hop producer Daniel Worthy, and the first from his work with the upcoming project, Charlie Eastern.
EMPIRE Background
EMPIRE was founded in 2010 as an artist-friendly, progressive digital distribution company. After early success, and identifying future icons such as Kendrick Lamar, Sage The Gemini, and Rich Homie Quan, EMPIRE was quickly regarded as a tastemaker in the industry and throughout the past five years evolved into a full-fledged record label, distributor and publisher for independent musicians. With the company and roster growing at a breakneck pace, EMPIRE has effectively disrupted a stale business model by bringing its energy, expertise, and acumen to its artists and labels. Given its reputation, EMPIRE works with today’s hottest talent from superstars such as T.I. and red-hot newcomers such as Anderson .Paak. While remaining 100% independent, EMPIRE has also partnered with Atlantic Records for a joint venture, home to breakout star D.R.A.M. and joined forces with Republic Records for the release of Sage The Gemini’s Remember Me album.
Cypress Hill Celebrate Their 25th Anniversary With The Release of Their Own Emojis in Partnership With Emoji Fame
The Legendary California Trio Releases a Set of Over 100 Insane Emojis, Prepares For NYC Concert at Terminal 5
10.27.2016
The Emojis:
25 years ago, the SoCal trio of B-Real, Sen Dog, and DJ Muggs introduced the world to “That Funky Cypress Hill Shit,” releasing their critically acclaimed and hugely successful debut album Cypress Hill. Today, Cypress Hill continues to celebrate their 25th Anniversary with the release of their own set of emojis, created by custom emoji app Emoji Fame. With over 100 emojis to choose from, fans will be able to communicate with each other using the band’s faces, lighters, skulls, low riders, lyrics and more. “Cypress Hill are bonafide legends,” explains Emoji Fame co-founder Gavin Rhodes, “So when we were presented with the opportunity to do set of emojis for them in conjunction with their debut album’s 25th anniversary, we went insane in the membrane. The Emoji Fame team got extra creative with their set; it’s got lowriders, copious weed references, clever text blocks, and of course a huge selection of B-Real, Sen Dog, and DJ Muggs faces and bodies.” The set is now available in the iTunes app store for 99 cents.
Finishing up a year of successful touring, Cypress Hill will bring their “Haunted Hill” show to Terminal 5 in New York tomorrow, October 28th. In addition, the trio announced this summer that they will be releasing a limited-edition, ultra deluxe 25th Anniversary Skull reissue of their classic 1991 debut. The entire set is housed in a unique, hard resin black skull–a faithful, 3-D physical recreation of the group’s 1991 logo–and features a CD with remastered audio, as well as a 100-plus page hardcover book that includes extensive liner notes with input from the group.
Released in 1991 and buoyed by hits such as “How I Could Just Kill a Man” and “The Phuncky Feel One,” Cypress Hill’s self-titled debut sold over 2 million copies. They followed that with the release of Black Sunday, which debuted #1 on Billboard 200 in 1993 and set the record for the biggest sales week for a rap group. With their hit “Insane in the Brain” crossing-over to mainstream, the album sold 3.5 million copies, making Cypress Hill the first rap group to have 2 albums in the top 10 of the Billboard 200 charts at the same time. They went on to release six more albums, which have sold over 18 million copies worldwide.
Emoji Fame makes custom emojis from your favorite musicians, celebrities and brands. Emoji Fame has been featured in Complex, Billboard, Noisey, Guitar Player, The Houston Chronicle, SF Weekly, and Bill Simmon’s The Ringer. Unlike other apps, Emoji Fame’s are officially licensed by the artists, which means fans’ in-app purchases help them continue making the art that you love.
Emoji Fame is the ONLY officially licensed emoji app that allows fans to message friends with custom emojis, text, and iOS emojis in the same message. Their clever custom keyboard allows fans to communicate with custom emojis in the way that emojis were meant to be used- as part of their everyday texts and emails.
Mistah F.A.B. Connects with RapGrid & Dope Era Battles for No Mask Battle Competition At Venue Oakland on October 30th
The Oakland Emcee and Battle Rap Champion Joins Forces With Legendary Battler Drect For This Live and Pay-Per-View Event, With a Special Appearance From Marshawn Lynch
10.27.2016
Critical Praise for Mistah F.A.B.
“Mistah F.A.B. is a versatile Oakland MC with a wide-ranging capacity for tone and emotion—traits that have also made him a sharp songwriter for the likes of Too $hort, Snoop Dogg, B.o.B., and Tyga.” – Pitchfork
The Event:
LLong one of the Bay Area’s most respected emcees, Mistah F.A.B. often flexes his skills as a rap battler and a freestyler. On October 30th, F.A.B. will join forces with Dope Era Battles, internet video company Rap Grid, and famed battler Drect, to host No Mask, a heavyweight night of five rap battles, at Venue Oakland. Featuring a guest appearance from Oakland native and former Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch, No Mask boasts appearances from some of the best battle rappers in the Bay Area, including Charlie Clips, TSU Surf, T-Rex, John John Da Don, Daylyt, Arsonal, Serius Jones, B Magic, Cortez, and Mistah F.A.B. himself. Tickets for No Mask are available on Eventbrite, and No Mask will also be available to view via a pay-per-view stream on Rapgrid.com.
Inspired by the death of his mother and the birth of his daughter, and featuring singles such as “Still Feelin’ It,” which pays tribute to Mac Dre, “Survive,” featuring a guest appearance from Kendrick Lamar, Mistah F.A.B. calls his latest album, Son of a Pimp 2, his best work to date. Boasting an impressive guestlist including Kendrick Lamar, Boosie Badazz, Iamsu!, E-40, G-Eazy, Too $hort, Snoop Dogg, 2 Chainz,Jadakiss, Raekwon, Schoolboy Q, Bun B and countless more, Son of a Pimp 2is available to stream on Spotify and buy on iTunes. Throughout his career, Mistah F.A.B. has balanced his music with his role as a pillar in the Oakland community, as he sponsored and organized numerous charitable works. Mistah F.A.B.’s advocacy for human life compelled him to speak out against police brutality in the wake of the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philandro Castile with the incendiary “6 Shots,” which earned praise from The Atlantic and Pitchfork.
Mistah F.A.B.’s breakout album, 2005’s Son of a Pimp, established the North Oakland emcee as a rising star, and a major factor in a resurgent Bay Area rap scene which would demand national attention from hip-hop’s cultural gatekeepers. A decade later—older, wiser, and more resilient—FAB returns with Son of A Pimp 2, a no-holds-barred, 21-track extravaganza he considers the truest representation of his artistic talent to date. The list of features is sure to raise eyebrows, as is the fact that FAB more than holds his own against some of the rap world’s most celebrated artists from practically every region in the United States. Just as impressive as the tracks themselves is the fact that FAB assembled his all-star roster of talent from his friends list, leveraging the networking he’s been doing for years as a go-to guy for out of town artists visiting the Bay, as well as his solid rep within Oakland.
Faeva Afta Music
FAM (Faeva Afta Music) is an American record label founded by rapper Mistah F.A.B. in 2008. The label is based in Oakland, CA. FAM consists of Mistah F.A.B. and in-house producers Bizness Boi and Ekzakt, along with LT Beats. The label’s releases are currently distributed by EMPIRE.
EMPIRE Background
EMPIRE was founded in 2010 as an artist-friendly, progressive digital distribution company. After early success, and identifying future icons such as Kendrick Lamar, Sage The Gemini, and Rich Homie Quan, EMPIRE was quickly regarded as a tastemaker in the industry and throughout the past five years evolved into a full-fledged record label, distributor and publisher for independent musicians. With the company and roster growing at a breakneck pace, EMPIRE has effectively disrupted a stale business model by bringing its energy, expertise, and acumen to its artists and labels.
Remix: Well$ – “Us Vs. The World” ft. Angelo Mota & Bankroll Bird (Prod. By Squadron)
The Charlotte Emcee Recruits Fellow Immaculate Taste Artists For the Remix to the The Way I’m Living Makes My Mom Nervous Closer
10.26.2016
Critical praise for Well$:
“The album finds the 19-year-old straddling the line between trunk-rattling southern bounce and the witty 16s of any Freshman spitter.” – The Fader
“A charismatic live performer…the hometown hero is ready to shine whenever the national look is imminent. – Pitchfork
“Well$ uses inspiration from his own heritage as well as popular American culture to develop a sound that is distinctly his own, drawing on southern influences as well as his own African culture.” – Complex
“Charlotte, N.C., may not be the first city to come to mind when thinking of hip hop hotbeds, but thanks to a rising echelon of talent, that’s about to change. Leading that charge is 19-year-old Leroy Shingu, who goes by the name of Well$.” – Huffington Post
“Catching the frenetic electronic beat effortlessly, Well$ proved that he has talent that deserves to go well beyond a local stage.” – Noisey
The Remix:
With an aggressive bark, an excellent ear for beats, and complex lyricism, Well$ is one of North Carolina’s most promising young emcees. A child of Congolese immigrant parents, the struggle between his parents’ African values and Well$’ American lifestyle forms the backbone of his latest album, The Way I’m Living Makes My Mom Nervous, premiered last week by Pigeons & Planes. Today, as a thank you for the positive reception towards the new mixtape, Well$ gifts fans with a remix to TWILMMMN closer “Us vs. The World.” Featuring appearances from fellow Immaculate Taste artist Angelo Mota Charlotte up and comer Bankroll Bird, “Us vs. The World” is an aggressive piano-driven banger and a lyrical showcase for the three emcees, who share their best punchlines over the stuttering snares over the Squadronproduced beat. Premiered by Mass Appeal, “Us vs. The World” (Remix) is the ideal complement to TWILMMMN and a great introductory track for those unfamiliar with Well$ and the North Carolina scene.
“As a thank you to the fans for the response the album has been receiving, I wanted to thank them by dropping the remix of ‘Us vs the World’. ‘Us vs the World’ is exactly what it sounds like: I wanted to show people North Carolina and Immaculate Taste’s mentality. We’re really out here going Jimmy whether or not the world wants to recognize it. Adding Bankroll Bird was an easy choice as he is one of my favorite Charlotte artists. He heard the beat before and was down. I also added my Immaculate Taste teammate Angelo Mota who added that Jersey grit that rounded it out… so play this shit if niggas ain’t respectin’ yo pimpin pimpin.”
The follow-up to 2014’s MTSYD: Revenge of the African Booty Scratcher, The Way I’m Living Makes My Mom Nervous is a more mature effort from Well$, as well as an impressive showcase of the North Carolina scene. With appearances from North Carolina artists such as Sylvan Esso,Deniro Ferrar, Angelo Mota, JK The Ripper, Doms, Alec Lomami, and Sipho the Gift, along with varied production from Metro Boomin, Angelo Mota, Sipho the Gift, Jimmy Kelso and others, TWILMMMN proves that there is no style that Well$ can’t tackle. The musical diversity of these tracks is matched by Well$’ vocal and lyrical prowess, applying his trademark growl and clever wordplay to each song. “With MTSYD: The Revenge of the African Booty Scratcher, I was speaking from the perspective of an African kid living as an American,” explains Well$. “Now, with The Way I’m Living Makes My Mom Nervous, I’m speaking about how my American upbringing clashes with my African values. The way it makes my mom nervous because I chose the opposite path that they had wanted for me.” The Way I’m Living Makes My Mom Nervous is now available to purchase on iTunes and stream on Spotify.
Like most kids in his native town of Charlotte, North Carolina, Leroy Shingu had a head filled with hip-hop dreams growing up, even trying his hand at freestyling when he was all of nine years old. But a trying background starkly different from the blissful suburban reality of his peers would compel the rapper better known as Well$ to turn that childhood fantasy into a promising career as a rapper. Quietly released in 2012, $ay La V, Well$’ debut EP rose steadily on the Bandcamp charts to peak at number 5 and eventually become the most downloaded album in the Charlotte area. This remarkable ascent as well as the video for the song “State of Ecstasy The Interlude Part 1″hauled Well$ out of virtual anonymity, and shoved him onto high profile stage performances with artists such as G Eazy, Chris Webby, Johnny Polygon, and one of his idols, Pac Div. His 2014 project, MTSYD: Revenge of the African Booty Scratcherwas well-received by fans and critics alike. Well$ released his The Way I’m Living Makes My Mom Nervous project on October 21, 2016.
