Press Release

Mariah Carey, Rema, Lola Brooke, and Sunday Scaries Make Waves on TikTok

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11.9.2022

TikTok Treats, Week of November 7th

Mariah Carey Defrosts Ahead of Christmas, Lil Uzi Vert Wants To Rock, Lola Brooke Warns Creators Not to Play with It, and More From Music on TikTok

The News:

Each week, the TikTok Treats newsletter gives a snapshot of the state of music on TikTok, touching on trending hits, emerging artists, superstar moves, ascendant memes, and much more. Check out this week’s trends below:

With another lively Halloween in the books, the TikTok community is already preparing for a winter wonderland and getting in the Christmas spirit. Joyous creations from icon and Christmas empress Mariah Carey recently sparked the resurgence of “All I Want For Christmas” (10.8M+ creations) on the platform. A few days before Halloween, she sang an acapella rendition of the song before a comical skit of her being overtaken by people in spooky costumes. As soon as November arrived, she traded in her Halloween costume for a Christmas-themed outfit as the song soundtracks her posing atop a reindeer in a snowy paradise. The song also soundtracks a host of other creations, including ones in which creators joke about Mariah Carey “defrosting” for Christmas festivities and already decorating for the holiday.
From Ice Spice to Maiya The Don, TikTok continues to be a hub for rising female rappers to thrive. Lola Brooke is the newest example of this, as her song “Don’t Play With It” featuring Billy B is soaring on the platform with over 157K creations. While some creators coordinate the timing of the Freeze Frame Photo effect with the song’s bold ad libs, others use the repetition of the line “Don’t play with it” as a comedic reaction to various situations in their lives. Latto and Cardi B even tapped into the catchy ad libs of the track. Lola Brooke joins in on the Freeze Frame Photo fun on her own account, acting out the viral ad libs from her hotel room to Times Square.
Jersey and Philly club music continues to grow on TikTok, with artists like Cookiee Kawaii and 2RARE sparking trends across the platform. Drawing inspiration from his hometown, Lil Uzi Vert has creators in the mood for Philly club beats with his single, “Just Wanna Rock.” Boasting over 352K total creations, the energetic dance track finds creators putting their spin on a dance by @drewjeeezy, which incorporates the Philly-inspired “shake that” dance. The song garnered support from celebrities such as Steve Lacy, Coi Leray, JELEEL!, and Stranger Things star Caleb McLaughlin. Lil Uzi Vert also keeps the sound trending on his page, posting videos of himself dancing to the track in the studio and sharing behind the scenes footage from the official music video. Thanks to a boost from TikTok, “Just Wanna Rock” earned spots on Spotify’s Global and US Viral 50 charts.
The TikTok community is oftentimes in the mood for feel good music, finding fun ways to vibe out to upbeat tunes. Keeping the good vibes in the air, TikTok creators are showing off how good they can move using electronic duo Sunday Scaries and PiCKUPLiNES’ energetic collaboration, “Chill Like That.” Previewed in early September, the intoxicating house track has garnered 93.6K+ creations since its official release. Inspired by the emphatic intro, TikTok users put their own creative flair on a dance by creator @jaedengomezz. The song finds creators showing off their moves on the beach, in the airport, and outside of shopping centers. Sunday Scaries also interacted with the sound on their TikTok, sharing their reactions to hearing the song on the radio for the first time and behind the scenes clips of the official video. Receiving support from the TikTok community, “Chill Like That” scored a spot on Spotify’s Global Viral 50 chart.
Similar to Jersey and Philly club music, Afrobeats is another genre making waves with the TikTok community. Nigerian rapper Rema has creators up on their feet dancing to his snappy tune, “Calm Down.” Garnering 3.1M+ creations between the original and the Selena Gomez-assisted remix, the song finds creators ready to bust a move in any location. Inspired by dances made by creators @dennismik and @loicreyel, the TikTok community shows off their best moves in restaurants, on the street, and on a treadmill. Tia Mowry also hopped on the trend, sending her followers good vibes as she danced solo. Rema interacted with the sound on his page, sharing footage from his US tour and vibing out to the remix in a car. Selena Gomez also promoted the track on her TikTok, sharing behind the scenes clips from the official music video for the remix.
TikTok is a haven for all eras of music, even music composed centuries ago. This month, TikTok honors the sizable community of users that are passionate about Classical Music and notatable film scores. Last week, TikTok started promoting the #ClassicalMusic hashtag with the help of legendary composer and TikTok favorite Hans Zimmer. One year after he caused a splash on TikTok by asking fans to duet his video performing “Paul’s Dream” from the Dune soundtrack, Zimmer curated a playlist of classical and film score favorites on the TikTok music hub. Classical madness continued on Monday with a LIVE performance from renowned pianist Lang Lang. Stay tuned throughout the month as composers share their secrets and TikTok creators share their favorite classical works, using the hashtag #ClassicalMusic (2 billion views).

Read more about Classical Music on TikTok at the newsroom: https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-gb/classical-music-reaches-a-crescendo-on-tiktok-with-hans-zimmer

Breakout country star Walker Hayes is a proud member of #swifttok and he’s letting everyone know. Yesterday, during his visit to TikTok’s Los Angeles office, the “Fancy Like” hitmaker made the whole place shimmer as he turned the office into his personal runway and strutted his stuff to Taylor Swift’s track “Bejeweled” from her chart-topping new album Midnights.

Check TikTok’s newsroom for more noteworthy stories: newsroom.tiktok.com

For more info, please contact:
Michelle McDevitt, Annjie Houston, Destiny Riley, T’Keyah Hayes, Audible Treats
Leah Linder, TikTok

The Background:

TikTok is the leading destination for short-form mobile video. Their mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy.

TikTok has global offices including Los Angeles, New York, London, Paris, Berlin, Dubai, Mumbai, Singapore, Jakarta, Seoul, and Tokyo.

Links:

TikTok’s Newsroom: https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-us

END

Press Release

LUCKI Reinvents A Mafioso Classic In “GOODFELLAS” Video

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11.8.22

Video: LUCKI – “GOODFELLAS” (prod. by Cash Cobain)

The Chicago Native Puts His Own Spin on a Mafia Film Classic in the Latest Video from FLAWLESS LIKE ME

Critical Praise:

“Lucki Can Tell Nothing But His Truth…Lucki is shameless about his pain. Whether the 22-year-old Chicagoan—born Lucki Camel Jr.—is rapping about his bouts with depression and anxiety, his role in sabotaging his romantic relationships, or his prescription drug addiction, he refuses to hide his flaws. His candor about his life lows has made him a relatable antihero to a loyal cult following of fans who regularly take to social media with comments like, ‘Lucki changed my life’ or ‘Lucki gets me’ whenever he releases new music or opens up about his struggles publicly.” – Pitchfork

“Lucki has been applying the truths of this life to his music for the better part of a decade.” – Complex

“Lucki has been building his resume for years, crafting understated, infectious tracks that have shades of fellow Chicagoans like Chief Keef and Supa Bwe, but a swagger and sensibility that is all his own.” – Pigeons & Planes

“Lucki’s music can feel like you’re about to be submerged in a swamp or like you’re about to fall asleep behind the wheel of the Lamborghini from Suicide Squad“ – The FADER

‘On this blessed day, we also get Days B4 III, the new full-length from Lucki, the muttering young cult-rap icon whose self-destructive lyrics have the power to punch you in your soul.” – Stereogum

The Video:

With a devoted fanbase and cemented underground icon status, LUCKI is a singular talent that has been enjoying the most successful year in his nearly decade long career. After making his first top 15 debut on the Billboard 200 with FLAWLESS LIKE ME earlier this fall, LUCKI is back with a new video for “GOODFELLAS.” Featuring spaced out, low-key production from New York producer-rapper, Cash Cobain, the track finds LUCKI laying down moody bars in his trademark, laidback cadence, making for one of the more emotional cuts from the project as he croons about a past romance: “Called me out the blue, you seen the news, you said it’s dangerous / Waitin’ on your apology, know you ain’t gettin’ that out of me.”

Directed by frequent collaborator, Lonewolf, the video for “GOODFELLAS” pays homage to Martin Scorsese’s 1990 seminal mafia classic of the same name. We find LUCKI mingling amidst wise guys as they drive out to the sticks to dispose of the opposition and count their bills. “GOODFELLAS” is a highlight from LUCKI’s latest project, FLAWLESS LIKE ME, which landed #12 debut on the Billboard 200 with over 25k sales-equivalent units in its first week, making it his most successful full-length release to date.

The first-ever LUCKI project to welcome featured artists–Future and Babyface Ray make guest appearance–FLAWLESS LIKE ME continues a busy year for the 26-year-old underground hero, marked by sold out shows, festival performances, and 350 million on-demand streams in 2022 alone. The new album arrives in the wake of a string of successful singles, most notably “SUPER URUS,” which generated over 16 million Spotify streams and 3.7 million YouTube views to date, and triumphant fan favorite “Y NOT?” (3.5 million YouTube views), while he connected with Internet Money for the woozy banger “2K In The Soda.” Both “SUPER URUS” and “Y NOT?” appear on FLAWLESS LIKE ME as bonus tracks.

With his new album making a splash and a legion of devoted fans awaiting his every move, it’s only a matter of time before LUCKI takes over the game.

Watch “GOODFELLAS”: https://youtu.be/6uuL43i-JQY

Stream FLAWLESS LIKE ME: http://music.empi.re/flawlesslikeme

FLAWLESS LIKE ME tracklist:
01. MADE MY DAY
02. GEEKED N BLESSED
03. KAPITOL DENIM ft. Future
04. COINCIDENCE
05. BEEN A MINUTE
06. WHITE HOUSE ft. Babyface Ray
07. “13”
08. ARCHIVE CELINE
09. HOW TF?
10. DNA
11. GOODFELLAS
12. I GET IT, TWIN
13. VVS KEY
14. BRAZY WEEKEND
15. DROUGHTSKI
16. LIFE MOCKS ART
17. NOTICED YA
18. 10PM IN LNDN
19. OUT OF LOVE
20. ON POINT
21. FREE SEX!
22. MY WAY / CODEINE COWBOY
BONUS TRACKS
23. SUPER URUS
24. Y NOT?

Please contact Michelle or Kevin for more info.

The Background:

Cultivating an ever-growing following since he debuted in the rap game in 2013 at 17, LUCKI has earned glowing praise from both critics and industry figures, including shoutouts from Pharrell and Justin Timberlake. He’s collaborated in the past with the likes of A$AP Rocky, Chance The Rapper, Playboi Carti and many others. The rapper formerly known as Lucki Eck$ feeds his fans with a consistent output of boundary-pushing music that plumbs the depths of his soul.

LUCKI had a breakout year in 2019, during which Lucki collaborated with ChaseTheMoney and Earl Sweatshirt, released acclaimed projects Freewave 3 and Days B4 III, and earned praise from Pitchfork, who raved “Lucki’s music works so well in large part due to his ear for production, plodding hi-hats that make it feel like your brain is stuck in quicksand, and his eerie, doomsday melodies.” 2020 was another banner year for the young artist, featuring the release of his 12-track project Almost There, home to the fan favorite single “Faith.”

Links:

“GOODFELLAS”: https://youtu.be/6uuL43i-JQY

“LIFE MOCKS ART”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HElG0vrHb7I

“13”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yq_qdfajtNI

FLAWLESS LIKE ME: http://music.empi.re/flawlesslikeme

“GEEKED N BLESSED”: https://music.empi.re/geekednblessed

“COINCIDENCE”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzXH0bOSiHI

“Y NOT?”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugou23mYCmE

“SUPER URUS”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIrSkilUvHw

WAKE UP LUCKI: https://music.empi.re/wakeuplucki

END

Press Release

Rolling Loud Announces Presale for RL California 2023 in L.A.

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11.8.2022

Rolling Loud California 2023 Announces Presale

Rolling Loud Returns to L.A. with Rolling Loud California 2023 on March 3-5, 2023 at Hollywood Park, on the Grounds Adjacent to SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA

The World’s Premier Rap Festival’s First Major Event in 2023 is the First-Ever Music Festival Held at Hollywood Park

The Announcement:

Packed with thrilling performances and unforgettable moments across its global array of events, Rolling Loud is rap music’s biggest stage. Rolling Loud returns to the West Coast with Rolling Loud California on March 3-5, 2023. Presale tickets for the upcoming festival are available starting Friday, November 11th at 10am PT at https://www.rollingloud.com/cali2023.

Rolling Loud California 2023 is the first Rolling Loud in Los Angeles since 2019, and is the first-ever music festival at the 300-acre Hollywood Park, which will be hosted on the grounds adjacent to SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA. Fans can register HERE to be the first to receive updates about Cali 2023, and can purchase Inglewood-themed Rolling Loud merch at the Rolling Loud shop. Festival lineup and general ticket information to be announced soon.

“Rolling Loud is deeply honored to be the first-ever music festival to take place at the incredible Hollywood Park,” said Rolling Loud co-Founders and co-CEOs Matt Zingler & Tariq Cherif. “We’re pumped to return to L.A. and make our debut in Inglewood, such an important neighborhood in rap history. Rolling Loud California 2023 will be an event worthy of its historic location, celebrating the undeniable influence of the West Coast on hip-hop and featuring some of the hottest rappers in the game. Stay tuned for our biggest and best California festival yet!”

Following up 2021’s Rolling Loud California in San Bernardino, Rolling Loud California 2023 makes a triumphant return to South Central Los Angeles. One of rap music’s most historic neighborhoods, South Central L.A. helped define the sound of the genre, and developed an untold number of rap icons. Inglewood itself played a major role in hip-hop history, earning shout outs from Dr. Dre on “California Love” and “The Next Episode,” producing West Coast legends like Mack 10 and Shade Sheist, and contemporary stars like Omarion, D Smoke, SiR, and many others. Rolling Loud California aims to celebrate the rich history of West Coast hip-hop–paying tribute to its icons and highlighting its current and up-and-coming stars–while bringing some of the genre’s biggest names from all regions to shut it down at Hollywood Park.

2022 was a year of international expansion for the world’s biggest festival brand, bringing the the inaugural Rolling Loud Toronto with headliners Future, WizKid, and Dave, and hosted its first European festival in July, bringing headliners J. Cole, A$AP Rocky, and Future to the beaches of Portimão with Rolling Loud Portugal. The two international festivals, plus the Woo Hah x Rolling Loud Fest partnership in The Netherlands, combined with the flagship Rolling Loud Miami, one of the most exciting events of the year, featuring headlining performances from Kendrick Lamar, Kid Cudi, and Future, and the third annual Rolling Loud New York to crown a dominant year for Rolling Loud. The festival recently launched its presale for next July’s Rolling Loud Portugal 2023, and plans to expand even further with Rolling Loud Thailand 2023, its first festival in Asia.

Led by its founders Matt Zingler and Tariq Cherif, Rolling Loud is on a mission to lead the vanguard of live music experiences in hip-hop and beyond. Stay tuned for many more announcements.

Register here to receive early notice about Rolling Loud California 2023 tickets: https://www.rollingloud.com/cali2023

Access the Rolling Loud California 2023 press application HERE

Stay tuned for more info, and check out Rolling Loud on Instagram for all the latest updates.

Watch clips and full performances at Rolling Loud’s YouTube

Buy Rolling Loud Merch: shoprollingloud.com

Critical Praise:

“Rolling Loud has become the biggest hip-hop festival in the country” – Variety

“Built from scratch by lifelong music fans Matt Zingler and Tariq Cherif, Rolling Loud’s early strengths were its daring curation and booking, elevating a new generation of artists with exciting live shows and captivating energy. Today, the biggest performers headline the raucous Miami festival, coming from all over the world, often driven solely by their love and trust of Zingler and Cherif.” – Billboard

“From niche hip-hop festival to must-play event for some of the biggest stars in music.” – Pollstar

“Until Elon Musk involuntarily envelops society into a physical cloud universe, Rolling Loud will be the closest experience to actually living inside your streaming app.” – Complex

“Rolling Loud’s annual New York edition is always something special, but this year’s Halloween-weekend extravaganza (not to mention the first post-pandemic) brought seriously spectacular energy to Queens’ Citi Field.” – Highsnobiety

“Rolling Loud is a lifestyle brand. They are more than just the shows. They have built a community with their consumers and are building new channels to maintain continuity” – Forbes

“In four and a half years — beginning small in Miami, and now promoting Coachella-sized events around the country — Rolling Loud has established itself as a playground for the young…This time last year, many of the rappers now drawing crowds of several thousand were barely known.” – The New York Times

Please contact Michelle, Kerry, or Kevin for more info.

The Background:

About Rolling Loud
Founded by 5-time Billboard Hip-Hop Power Players Matt Zingler & Tariq Cherif as a one-day Miami show, Rolling Loud has grown into a global festival phenomenon, putting on shows on both coasts and in multiple countries. Rolling Loud is the premier festival brand in hip-hop, known for its expert curation of wide-ranging lineups that reflect the state of the genre.

Rolling Loud recently wrapped Miami 2022, its biggest event to date, headlined by Kid Cudi, Kendrick Lamar, and Future, and the inaugural Rolling Loud Portugal, which brought an international array of all-stars to the beaches of Portimåo, Portugal. The festival’s busy 2022 continued in September, with the first ever Rolling Loud Toronto, headlined by Future, WizKid, and Dave, and Rolling Loud New York, headlined by Nicki Minaj, A$AP Rocky & Future.

In 2023, Rolling Loud expands its empire further, returning to Los Angeles for Rolling Loud California 2023 and venturing to Pattaya for Rolling Loud Thailand, its first-ever festival on the continent of Asia.

About Hollywood Park
Spanning nearly 300 acres, Hollywood Park is the largest urban mixed-use development under construction in the Western United States. Anchored by an 890,000-square-foot retail area and surrounded by creative office space, Hollywood Park offers new sophisticated residences, public parks, a lake, and premier entertainment venues. The mixed-use development is all linked by walkable paseos and plazas and centered around the newly completed 3.1 million square-foot SoFi Stadium, one of Los Angeles’ most striking architectural structures. Stylish residences and a modern open-office campus will complement the entertainment and retail district, creating a world-class destination for both local and international guests. Located just six miles off the coast, a short drive from LAX and the City of Inglewood’s future Crenshaw/LAX Line, Hollywood Park is poised to become an iconic global destination for millions to enjoy. For more information, please visit www.hollywoodparklife.com.

Links:

website | facebook | twitter | instagram

For full information, head to
https://www.rollingloud.com

Check out Rolling Loud on Twitch: twitch.tv/rollingloud

END

Press Release

AFROPUNK Announces Partnership in Lincoln Center, Highlighting Black Women in the Fine Arts

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11.8.2022

AFROPUNK Announces Partnership with Lincoln Center, Celebrating Black Women in the Arts

With Talent To Be Announced, AFROPUNK’s “Black HERSTORY Live” Comes to Lincoln Center on February 24-25 2023

AFROPUNK’s Two Day Takeover Brings Icons of Audio, Visual, and Performance Media to Lincoln Center’s State-Of-The-Art David Geffen Hall

The Announcement:

AFROPUNK leads the vanguard of Black music and culture, curating one-of-a-kind events that shine a light on overlooked aspects of the Black experience. Bringing its singular aesthetic into the epicenter of U.S. artistic expression, AFROPUNK announces a new partnership with Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. This February, the two groundbreaking entities host AFROPUNK + Lincoln Center Black HERSTORY Live, a two day takeover at Lincoln Center’s state-of-the-art David Geffen Hall and Alice Tully Hall that highlights the incalculable contributions by Black women to all cultural artforms.

The event is an immersive multidisciplinary experience that includes music, visual art, poetry, dance, performance art, and much more, all featuring Black women and celebrating Black women throughout history. AFROPUNK x Lincoln Center Black HERSTORY Live takes over Lincoln Center on February 24-25, 2023.

The Pre-Sale for the event will take place from November 10th – November 15th, with premium passes for $285 (guaranteeing the best seats available) and regular passes for $160. Stay tuned for more announcements about Black HERSTORY Live, including the stunning list of performers and notable figures who will make AFROPUNK’s first-ever takeover of a performance hall astonishing.

As it continues to redefine the multicultural experience, AFROPUNK has expanded its reach and its mission to include a wide variety of events, partnerships, documentaries and programs that aim to uplift, educate and create space for marginalized communities. This latest partnership with the Lincoln Center is the epitome of the AFROPUNK ethos. Each activation will educate, entertain, and inspire.

AFROPUNK has also established a legacy as a safe space for Black alternative culture, offering a haven for attendees to show up as their most authentic selves. The end result of which is always a stunning community of people who respect, admire and care for one another; it’s an experience unlike any other. AFROPUNK creates an anchor for its growing audience of multicultural youth through its annual music festival and other events in Brooklyn, Miami, Minneapolis, Paris, London, Atlanta, Johannesburg, and more. Now, with the new partnership with Lincoln Center, the global brand seeks to remind New York why it’s one of the most vital and vibrant cultural institutions in the city and beyond.

Event Pre-Sale:

November 10th at 12pm ET – November 15th at 11:59am ET

Sign up for the Black HerStory Pre-Sale by joining AFROPUNK Newsletter at AFROPUNK.com or by texting “AFROPUNK” to 718-550-6268

View more information about Black HERSTORY Live on Lincoln Center’s website: http://lincolncenter.org/AfroPunk or contact Guest Experience at 212-875-5456 / guestexperience@lincolncenter.org.

AFROPUNK + Lincoln Center Black HERSTORY Live will be sponsored in part by Martell.

Please contact Michelle, Annjie, or Destiny for more info.

The Background:

About AFROPUNK:
AFROPUNK IS THE MICROPHONE OF THOUGHT AND A LENS OF PERSPECTIVE

AFROPUNK is an integrated media platform and global music festival platform giving voice to the unwritten, unwelcome and unseen. AFROPUNK is redefining the modern multicultural experience through its mission to unleash freedom of expression and to honor the power of individuality while strengthening our community. AFROPUNK creates an anchor for its growing audience of multicultural youth through its annual music festival and other events (in Brooklyn, Miami, Minneapolis, and Oakland) with past events in Paris, London, Atlanta, and Johannesburg), while continually enhancing engagement and promoting conversation through content, commerce, and community.

AFROPUNK is devoted to creating safe spaces for the expression of Black liberation and a Black Future where we love ourselves and each other without preconception. The AFROPUNK tenets serve as a North Star and remind people to check themselves, ego and each other when we enter the shared spaces.

AFROPUNK brought its unique vibe back to where it all started with AFROPUNK Brooklyn 2022, its massively successful return to Commodore Barry Park. Its first Brooklyn event since 2019, AFROPUNK Brooklyn brought astounding headlining sets from Burna Boy and The Roots, plus performances by stars like Lucky Daye, Tierra Whack, Earl Sweatshirt, Doechii, and many more. AFROPUNK is more than a festival, it’s a celebration of life, music, food, and culture in the Black community.

About Lincoln Center:

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts is the steward of the world’s leading performing arts center, an artistic and civic cornerstone for New York City comprised of eleven resident companies on a 16-acre campus. The nonprofit’s strategic priorities include: supporting the arts organizations that call Lincoln Center home to realize their missions and fostering opportunities for collaboration across campus; championing inclusion and increasing the accessibility and reach of Lincoln Center’s work; and reimagining and strengthening the performing arts for the 21st century and beyond, helping ensure their rightful place at the center of civic life.

Links:

official site | instagram | twitter | facebook | youtube

END

Press Release

Kenzo Balla Tests Dummies in “Krash Out” from 11/15 EP

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11.8.2022

Bronx Drill Breakout Kenzo Balla Announces Mr. Ready To Blitz EP, Shares New Video for “Krash Out”

Rising in NYC on the Back of Singles Like “Ready To Blitz” and “5th to Sev,” the 10k Projects Signee Prepares to Drop His New EP On 11/15

Critical Praise

“Kenzo Balla’s commanding voice makes the new [“Let Me Know”] single an immediate standout.” – Audiomack

The Video:

Hailing from the Bronx with a cucumber cool composure that sets him apart from the hectic scene he occupies, Kenzo Balla is determined to magnify the spotlight he’s earned. Preparing to flood the zone with his Bronx drill bangers, Kenzo announces Mr. Ready To Blitz, his next EP. Featuring appearances from his brother TG Crippy, plus other risers from his home borough’s ascendant scene, Mr. Ready To Blitz arrives on November 15th via 10K Projects.

With two hands on the wheel and a full tank of gas, the BX bruiser drops off his new video single, “Krash Out,” the first single from the EP. A subdued drill heater which owes its explosiveness to the agile flows Kenzo latches onto the track’s mellowed instrumental, “Krash Out” delivers the high-octane performance of an SRT with the muted celerity of a Tesla. It’s a tough balance to strike, but one that distinguishes Kenzo from the pack, and he knows it: “I’m a different n****, they can see that/And a bozo, I could never be that.”

Directed by CREA, who last linked with Kenzo for “Don’t Panic” in August, “Krash Out” follows Kenzo and his crew of black puffer-clad accomplices as they assert their presence on the block on a brisk Bronx night. Whether he’s blowing clouds in the air or busting moves on pavement, Kenzo’s comfortably undefeated on home turf.

A rising name in one of the nation’s busiest rap scenes, Kenzo Balla made his mark on the scene with his relentless rhymes and high-energy vocals. Known for collaborating with fellow Bronx heavyweights like his brother TG Crippy, Kenzo kicked off his career with a frenzy of fiery videos, including local hits like “5th To Sev” ft. TG Crippy & Pdot Sav (1.9 million video views), “OOTAZ,” and the “Love Nwantiti”-remixing “Let Me Know” (1.8 million views). This summer, the former AAU baller tore up the streets with “Dead Gzz,” a vicious, uptempo missive that racked up over 800k video views since its release in June.

Now signed to 10K Projects, Kenzo Balla is ready to emerge from his perch in the Bronx and blitz the rap game. Sit back and watch his rise.

Watch “Krash Out”: https://youtu.be/ZiVuC9pnQJk

Stream “Krash Out”: https://kenzoballa.lnk.to/krashout

Pre-Order Mr. Ready To Blitz EP: https://kenzoballa.lnk.to/mrreadytoblitz

Please contact Michelle or T’Keyah for more info.

The Background:

Kenzo Balla evokes both the ecstasy and the peril of New York street rap. The Bronx artist serves up chilly bars over hammering drill beats for stylish, yet raw anthems that are drawing the attention of the world by the day. Teaming with frequent collaborators TG Crippy (his brother) and Jay Da Chaser, he blends those elements on tracks like “OOTAZ,” which drips with adrenaline and confrontation. While the track and others like it evoke unsettling force, they’ve also become the soundtrack of functions across the East Coast, and Kenzo wouldn’t have it any other way. Growing up in the BX, everyone knew each other and attended the same parties, but as he became a teenager, the drama escalated. Kenzo realized he’d have to change his lifestyle to survive. He’d spent much of his early years freestyling with friends, so he decided to record his first songs in 2018. After catching attention with melodic tracks like “Backends,” each new release earned more streams than the last. In September 2021, he unloaded “5th to the Sev,” an anthem for his neighborhood that garnered 1 million YouTube views. By 2022, he’d signed a deal with 10K Projects, alongside Crippy. With a growing fan base and an evolving sound in the works for a new project, Kenzo recognizes the potential of the moment he’s having now. On a grander level, he wants to rep the neighborhood that raised him. “I’m making music for me, my brother, my block, for the Bronx, and the whole city,” he says. “The Bronx is just me”.

Links:

instagram | spotify | apple music | youtube | tiktok

“Krash Out”: https://kenzoballa.lnk.to/krashout / https://youtu.be/ZiVuC9pnQJk

“Don’t Panic” ft. Cito Blick & Pdot Sav: https://kenzoballa.lnk.to/dontpanic / https://youtu.be/eAKju7ALGPk

“Dead Gzz”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-i6u70lSpY

“Let Me Know”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sn0jGNT_QV8

“5th To Sav”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IY2tBWgA81U

END

Press Release

LUCKI Lives What He’s Rapping on “LIFE MOCKS ART”

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11.3.22

Video: LUCKI – “LIFE MOCKS ART“

Take a Raw Glimpse into a Day in the Life of a Rap Cult Hero on the Latest Video from FLAWLESS LIKE ME

Critical Praise:

“Lucki Can Tell Nothing But His Truth…Lucki is shameless about his pain. Whether the 22-year-old Chicagoan—born Lucki Camel Jr.—is rapping about his bouts with depression and anxiety, his role in sabotaging his romantic relationships, or his prescription drug addiction, he refuses to hide his flaws. His candor about his life lows has made him a relatable antihero to a loyal cult following of fans who regularly take to social media with comments like, ‘Lucki changed my life’ or ‘Lucki gets me’ whenever he releases new music or opens up about his struggles publicly.” – Pitchfork

“Lucki has been applying the truths of this life to his music for the better part of a decade.” – Complex

“Lucki has been building his resume for years, crafting understated, infectious tracks that have shades of fellow Chicagoans like Chief Keef and Supa Bwe, but a swagger and sensibility that is all his own.” – Pigeons & Planes

“Lucki’s music can feel like you’re about to be submerged in a swamp or like you’re about to fall asleep behind the wheel of the Lamborghini from Suicide Squad“ – The FADER

‘On this blessed day, we also get Days B4 III, the new full-length from Lucki, the muttering young cult-rap icon whose self-destructive lyrics have the power to punch you in your soul.” – Stereogum

The Video:

After making a #12 debut on the Billboard 200 with his latest project, FLAWLESS LIKE ME, with over 25k sales-equivalent units in its first week, LUCKI has no plans on slowing his mainstream takeover. Leading his flock of rabid fans into another semi-charmed psychedelic journey, LUCKI shares his new video for the project highlight, “LIFE MOCKS ART.” Backed by Yung Icey’s hauntingly ethereal production, the track takes listeners into a circus tour of clowns and hypocrites that fake the funk, guided by LUCKI’s true-to-life rhymes: “Make three hundred thousand off jackets/I send her back home with an accent/Make a Trackhawk almost backflip/I cut a ho off like magic.”

Directed by Lestyn Park, the video for “LIFE MOCKS ART” favors the authentic, as the camera follows LUCKI through a maze of studio sessions and kickbacks with the cinematic style of an MTV Cribs episode that evolves into a Paranormal Activity film. With a brief cameo from Babyface Ray, the video fits seamlessly into the drug-fueled journey of FLAWLESS BY ME, as LUCKI forges his path haunted by ghosts of tracks past.

The first-ever LUCKI project to welcome featured artists–Future and Babyface Ray make guest appearance–FLAWLESS LIKE ME continues a busy year for the 26-year-old underground hero, marked by sold out shows, festival performances, and 350 million on-demand streams in 2022 alone. The new album arrives in the wake of a string of successful singles, most notably “SUPER URUS,” which generated over 16 million Spotify streams and 3.7 million YouTube views to date, and triumphant fan favorite “Y NOT?” (3.4 million YouTube views), while he connected with Internet Money for the woozy banger “2K In The Soda.” Both “SUPER URUS” and “Y NOT?” appear on FLAWLESS LIKE ME as bonus tracks.

With his new album making a splash and a legion of devoted fans awaiting his every move, it’s only a matter of time before LUCKI takes over the game.

Watch “LIFE MOCKS ART”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HElG0vrHb7I

Stream FLAWLESS LIKE ME: http://music.empi.re/flawlesslikeme

FLAWLESS LIKE ME tracklist:
01. MADE MY DAY
02. GEEKED N BLESSED
03. KAPITOL DENIM ft. Future
04. COINCIDENCE
05. BEEN A MINUTE
06. WHITE HOUSE ft. Babyface Ray
07. “13”
08. ARCHIVE CELINE
09. HOW TF?
10. DNA
11. GOODFELLAS
12. I GET IT, TWIN
13. VVS KEY
14. BRAZY WEEKEND
15. DROUGHTSKI
16. LIFE MOCKS ART
17. NOTICED YA
18. 10PM IN LNDN
19. OUT OF LOVE
20. ON POINT
21. FREE SEX!
22. MY WAY / CODEINE COWBOY
BONUS TRACKS
23. SUPER URUS
24. Y NOT?

Please contact Michelle or Kevin for more info.

The Background:

Cultivating an ever-growing following since he debuted in the rap game in 2013 at 17, LUCKI has earned glowing praise from both critics and industry figures, including shoutouts from Pharrell and Justin Timberlake. He’s collaborated in the past with the likes of A$AP Rocky, Chance The Rapper, Playboi Carti and many others. The rapper formerly known as Lucki Eck$ feeds his fans with a consistent output of boundary-pushing music that plumbs the depths of his soul.

LUCKI had a breakout year in 2019, during which Lucki collaborated with ChaseTheMoney and Earl Sweatshirt, released acclaimed projects Freewave 3 and Days B4 III, and earned praise from Pitchfork, who raved “Lucki’s music works so well in large part due to his ear for production, plodding hi-hats that make it feel like your brain is stuck in quicksand, and his eerie, doomsday melodies.” 2020 was another banner year for the young artist, featuring the release of his 12-track project Almost There, home to the fan favorite single “Faith.”

Links:

“LIFE MOCKS ART”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HElG0vrHb7I

“13”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yq_qdfajtNI

FLAWLESS LIKE ME: http://music.empi.re/flawlesslikeme

“GEEKED N BLESSED”: https://music.empi.re/geekednblessed

“COINCIDENCE”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzXH0bOSiHI

“Y NOT?”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugou23mYCmE

“SUPER URUS”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIrSkilUvHw

WAKE UP LUCKI: https://music.empi.re/wakeuplucki

END

Press Release

Jay Fizzle Gets So Icy in “Gucci Mane” Video

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11.3.2022

Video: Jay Fizzle – “Gucci Mane“

The Paper Route Empire Artist Pays Homage to a Trap Trailblazer While Commandeering a Food Truck in New Video from DonaFizzo (Deluxe) Mixtape

Critical Praise:

“..the members of Paper Route Empire reach a level of sincerity and emotional reflection that’s still hard to come by.” – Pitchfork

“Choosing some of the more interesting production to rhyme over, Jay Fizzle’s frankness and the flows he has on tap keep him in the convo as the whole city takes off.” – XXL Mag

“10 Rappers You Should Know Right Now” – DJ Booth

“The tape serves as both a testament to Memphis’ current rap preeminence and Fizzle’s own dexterity. He saves perhaps the hardest for last on the tape, attacking a looped vocal sample and towering percussion with ferocity.” – DJ Booth

“Jay Fizzle is a master of the searing street rap that serves as the bass-booming heart of Memphis music.” – The Hype Magazine

The Deluxe:

With his colorful charisma, street-wise raps, and a drawly flow that melts like butter over every beat, Jay Fizzle is as Memphis as it gets. Returning after sharing his DonaFizzo (Deluxe) mixtape, Fizzle shares his new video for the tape’s lead track, “Gucci Mane.” Over hypnotic guitar licks and bouncy, booming bass, the track finds Fizzle feeling like its titular trap icon, shaking off his enemies to continue the paper chase, while taking stock of the spoils of war he’s stacked along the way: “I know they don’t like me/I’m juiced up like a Hi-C/My neck and wrist so icy/I feel like Gucci.”

The video for “Gucci Mane” plays out like Half Baked meets The Italian Job, as Fizzle and his duo of scantily clad accomplices plan to hit a lick as the video opens. Once they pick their target, a late night food truck, Fizzle’s co-conspirators jump into action, commandeering the mobile kitchen. Yet, it’s not the food or money on board the trio are interested in, as they set up shop and start packing foam food containers with a different kind of product.

The new deluxe edition of DonaFizzo is an embellishment of Fizzle’s most accomplished project to date. Backed by cavernous trap beats by the likes of Bandplay and Sosa 808, the tape reverberates with Fizzle’s desire to follow in Dolph’s footsteps and take over the Dirty South. From the arcade villain-esque “Nike Check,” to the Mission: Impossible-esque bounce of “50 Freaky B*tches” ft. 21 Lil Harold, to the furiously flex-heavy “Nothing Into Something,” DonaFizzo hits harder than a bo-staff from start to finish. The tape is home to singles like the Memphis posse cut “Dust Town Livin” ft. Big Scarr & Big Moochie Grape and “Standin On Top Of Sh*t,” a collaboration with Key Glock.

DonaFizzo (Deluxe) is the latest salvo in a busy year for Jay Fizzle and the rest of PRE. Fizzle kicked off the year with purpose, sharing “LLD,” a heartfelt tribute to his mentor Young Dolph. Adorned with lush harmonies and a star vocal turn from Ricco Barrino, “Long Live Dolph” finds Jay Fizzle baring his soul, the South Memphis native audibly emotional when he relays his gratitude to his mentor for teaching him everything he knows: “The way I talk, the way I walk, the way I act, the way I dress/The way I do my thing up in the booth, I learned it from the best.” With over 1.9 million views on YouTube, “LLD” is the opening track from Paper Route Empire Presents: Long Live Dolph, a compilation album from the independent label, which features appearances from nearly every artist on PRE, including Key Glock, Big Moochie Grape, Kenny Muney and more.

Watch “Gucci Mane”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bs5wdrUdqgk

Buy/Stream DonaFizzo (Deluxe): https://music.empi.re/donafizzodeluxe

DonaFizzo (Deluxe) tracklist:
# denotes new song for the Deluxe

Gucci Mane#
Major#
Tello N Bart ft. Key Glock#
Granny Happy#
King Sh*t#
Bounce ft. PaperRoute Woo#
Birdman
Fake Love#
Never Going Broke#
Hood Rich
Standin On Top Of Sh*t ft. Key Glock
Nike Check
Dust Town Livin ft. Big Scarr & Big Moochie Grape
Park The Benz
50 Freaky B*tches ft. 21 Lil Harold
Look Like Money ft. Jackboy & Joddy Badass
Choppas Like Choppas
Four Hoes
Murder ft. SNUPE BANDZ
Won’t Cost Sh*t
Nothing Into Something
Cautious
Atmosphere
Last Song

Please contact Michelle or Chris for more info.

Links:

instagram | twitter | youtube

“Gucci Mane”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bs5wdrUdqgk

DonaFizzo (Deluxe): https://music.empi.re/donafizzodeluxe

“Won’t Cost Sh*t”: https://youtu.be/8Ws-gD-TTJE

“Dust Town Livin” ft. Big Scarr & Big Moochie Grape: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsMCkMH65Ys

DonaFizzo: https://music.empi.re/donafizzo

“Atmosphere”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4h0abrTxOE

Jay Fizzle – “Standing On Top Of Sh*t” ft. Key Glock: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40_4__6mKYM

“Murder” ft. SNUPE BANDZ: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJ1aXw_0bCQ

Jay Fizzle – “Last Song”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-cmIIIxPh0

Jay Fizzle – “Paper Route Bidness”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPLAMBK7GfE

Jay Fizzle – “Zaba Freestyle”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCmRrNvJZOU

Jay Fizzle – “4 HOS” (Prod. by Bandplay): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCRoLxZJWwA

Jay Fizzle – “LLD” ft. Ricco Barrino: https://youtu.be/9KBrMfW8bcQ

Paper Route Empire Presents: Long Live Dolph: https://music.empi.re/longliveyoungdolph

PAPER ROUTE iLLUMINATi: https://music.empi.re/preilluminati

END

Press Release

DCG Brothers Make Massive Moves in “The Biggest”

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11.3.2022

Video: DCG Brothers – “The Biggest“

The Rising Chicago Native Duo Takes Their Shine from the Streets to Festival Stages in Latest Video Single

Critical Praise:

“Big things are happening on the West Side of Chicago…You can’t find [two] rappers having more fun right now.” – Pitchfork

“Chicago is and will be the home of drill forever. The DCG Brothers are among those carrying the torch into a new generation with their own pop-friendly twist. Each record, they continue to carve out their own lane in rap.” – HotNewHipHop

“Just when it seemed like the drill scene in Chicago was coming to a bit of a standstill, the DCG Brothers came in and made an insane splash with their modern take on a sound that put this city on the map in a huge way.” – Lyrical Lemonade

“DCG Brothers Make Pop Drill for a New Generation” – DJ Booth

“I could still get a taste of that old summertime feeling from the video for ‘Mmhmm,’ by teenage west-side rap duo DCG Brothers.” – Chicago Reader

The Video:

With magnetic personalities that few in the Chicago scene can match, the DCG Brothers, comprised of DCG Shun & DCG Bsavv, bring a refreshing dose of personality into the drill scene. Documenting their rise as it unfolds without shying away from the raw realities of the South Side streets that raised them, the DCG Brothers share their latest video single, “The Biggest.” Over ominous synths weaved into acoustic strings and spattering kick drums, producer BWolf201’s haunting instrumental provides a fitting canvas for the brothers’ hushed, villainesque flow as they deliver their cautionary flexes: “My opps thinking it’s playtime/I got some dice and I’m finna shake mine.”

The video for “The Biggest” gives testament to the strength of the brothers’ connection to the Windy City even as they continue to reach new heights with their music. Posted outside Chicago’s United Center with a fleet of black SUVs, the brothers keep their community close–including fellow Chitown riser PGF Nuk, who makes a cameo appearance. As the video cuts to footage of the duo bringing their infectious energy to the Summer Smash festival stage, they jump in the crowd to take videos with fans while performing and stop to capture a quick cameo from fellow Chicago native, Lil Zay Osama, showing their immutable love for the city

Earlier this year, the DCG Brothers shared Jungle Life, an accomplished, 14-track mixtape that established the duo as one of the most exciting acts in their hometown. Home to the hit single “Stomp,” featuring Chicago legend G Herbo (1.8 million YouTube views), Jungle Life takes a raw, unfiltered look at the group’s home neighborhood, while showcasing the percolating chemistry that helped them escape their circumstances. “Growing up in a real jungle around savage and seeing crazy things, basically meeting different types of people and associating them with animals,” say the DCG BROTHERS. “RATS, SNAKES, GORILLAS, & EVERYDAY IT’S A SURVIVAL IN THE JUNGLE.” Featuring additional appearances from BIG30, B-Lovee, and frequent collaborator Msavv, Jungle Life has earned nearly 15 million streams since its release and it is available everywhere via No More Heroes/Atlantic Records.

With much more music, and plenty more creative videos, and with the backing of No More Heroes and Atlantic Records, there’s no limit to the heights the DCG BROTHERS will reach.

Watch “The Biggest”: http://DCG.lnk.to/TheBiggestVideo

Stream “The Biggest”: http://dcg.lnk.to/thebiggest

Please contact Michelle or T’Keyah for more info.

The Background:

Though DCG Shun and DCG BSavv may seem like newcomers in the rap game, they’ve been perfecting their craft for years. Bsavv started rapping when he was 8-years-old–around the time of Chicago’s world-changing drill boom–inspiring his brother Shun to learn to spit and establishing a symbiotic artistic relationship that has lasted over a decade. Racking up YouTube videos by the million before Shun could legally drive, the duo became known around Chicago for their irrepressible personalities, drawing the attention of prolific music video collective No More Heroes, who paired their boisterous bars with eye-popping visuals to match. The duo earned acclaim from national media, including Pitchfork, with the hilarious “Mmhmm” ft. Msavv (3.4 million views), which deposited the three emcees on a golf course for eighteen holes of mayhem. DCG Brothers kept the momentum going in 2021 with “House Party,” produced by Internet Money, generating over 2.3 million views. Hot on the heels of their recent Jungle Life mixtape, the DCG Brothers are looking to elevate from Chicago heroes to national names. The brother duo have racked up over 20 million on-demand streams and 21 million YouTube views over the course of their career.

Links:

DCG BROTHERS – youtube | soundcloud | spotify
DCG Shun – instagram | twitter
DCG BSavv – instagram | twitter

“The Biggest”: http://dcg.lnk.to/thebiggest / http://DCG.lnk.to/TheBiggestVideo

“Rich Baby Daddy”: https://dcg.lnk.to/RichBabyDaddy / https://dcg.lnk.to/RichBabyDaddyVid

“WYO” ft. PGF Nuk: http://dcg.lnk.to/WYO / http://dcg.lnk.to/WYOVideo

“Get Money”: https://dcg.lnk.to/getmoneyvideo

“Buss It”: https://youtu.be/vvSp0KG_STY

“Jungle Life”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Or4swaUssKw

Jungle Life: http://DCG.lnk.to/junglelife

“Stomp” ft. G Herbo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ken91Zlh2G4

END

Press Release

Meet Lola Brooke, the Cardi-Cosigned Brooklyn Beauty with Bars

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11.3.22

Meet Lola Brooke, the Rising Bed-Stuy Native Who Unites the Old and New Sounds of NYC

Photo credit: @Shutterspeed

Critical Praise:

“A lyrically skilled and fully confident MC, Lola Brooke is one of the rising names in Brooklyn drill.” – XXL 10 Drill Rappers to Listen to Right Now

“Echoing a lyrical mixture of street-life realizations and braggadocious self-awareness, Brooke’s ability to command attention is cementing her name in the rap game.” – Essence

“Hailing from New York, the rising star arrives with her petite self, owning her aggressive bars with lots of range in her voice when she speaks. Beyond the music, her charisma and high energy does not go unnoticed, drawing listeners in with her bubbly personality any chance she can.” – Flaunt

“Standing at 4’9, Brooke is a force to be reckoned with.” – Lyrical Lemonade

About Lola Brooke:

Delivering diamond tough bars from a petite frame, Lola Brooke is turning heads in Brooklyn and beyond with her generation-spanning blend of NYC rap. Born in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Lola Brooke has worked hard her whole life to bolster the legacy of her hip-hop historic home neighborhood. Last year, the artist turned heads with her hit song “Don’t Play With It” ft. Billy B, a proudly confrontational banger that shined a spotlight on her authoritative vocals as she confronted a city full of broke boys with withering dismissals. She followed-up the local smash with “Dummy Ummy,” which mixed sultry come-ons and assured aggression into a signature mix of Lola’s own. Lola kept the momentum going this year with more high-quality releases, namely the lovelorn “On My Mind” and the fiery “Gator Season.“

Lola is a master of creating buzz, her raw skills drawing co-signs from some of the biggest rappers in the game. Just this month, Cardi B posted an Instagram story of herself rhyming along with “Don’t Play With It.” Cardi’s enthusiastic endorsement came shortly after a shout out from City Girls rapper JT. Lola’s authentic personality and athletic rhyming ability caught the attention of Meek Mill, no stranger to high-energy East Coast music himself. Most recently, “Don’t Play With It” became one of the Top Ten Trending Songs on TikTok during the week of October 24th. The rising star has built a sterling reputation for her freestyles and live performances, drawing attention for her From The Block, On The Radar freestyle, and her standout turn during On The Radar’s first-ever Ladies Cypher. The diminutive rapper showed off her massive stage presence in September at Rolling Loud New York 2022.

With much more music on the way and the ear of the game’s best and brightest, Lola Brooke has the juice to become NYC’s next breakout star. Stay tuned.

Photo Credit: @lifeinreverie

Please contact:

Michelle McDevitt, Audible Treats
Destiny Riley, Audible Treats
Paul Thom, The Thom Brand

The Background:

Lola Brooke is a rapper and a songwriter. A native of (Bed Stuy) Brooklyn, New York, Lola has been writing music since she was eight years old but started her career as an artist at 23. Lola dropped her first music video to a freestyle titled “2017 Flow” (released January, 2017) which brought light to the artist’s talent with the motto “Bars is back” felt throughout the freestyle as an anthem. With the help of her team at 80 Productions, Lola has been able to push her way into the music industry building a buzz around her name and gritty style, while also maintaining a growing fan base through consistency. Lola Brooke has performed at events such as Break The Internet Fest, HOT97’s “Who’s Up Next” and also opened up for Rich The Kid at PlayStation Theatre. She is inspired by artists such as Meek Mill, Lil Wayne, and Foxy Brown.

Links:

“Don’t Play With It” ft. Billy B: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quaQV3tHsi8

“Gator Season”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFodCexxIZw

“Dummy Ummy”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9vsOJdPwM4

END

Press Release

T-Swift, Shakira, Ice Spice, and Meghan Trainor Inspire TikTok Music Trends

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11.2.2022

TikTok Treats, Week of October 31st

Midnights Mayhem Continues Unabated, Meghan Trainor Makes Them Look, Ice Spice Scores a Second Hit, Plus More From a Star-Studded Week of Music on TikTok

The News:

Each week, the TikTok Treats newsletter gives a snapshot of the state of music on TikTok, touching on trending hits, emerging artists, superstar moves, ascendant memes, and much more. Check out this week’s trends below:

Taylor Swift revealed the tracklist for her smash hit album Midnights on TikTok in an exclusive series called “Midnights Mayhem With Me.” Now, with Midnights officially out and breaking records left and right, Taylor Swift’s TikTok takeover is nearly complete! #SwiftTok is celebrating Midnights by amplifying project highlights, most notably “Anti-Hero” (148.9K+ creations), “Karma” (43.4K+ creations), and “Vigilante Sh*t” (38.3K+ creations). Each song inspires creators in different ways, reflecting the mood of the song: they dance solo in their bedrooms to “Karma,” show off their sharp eyeliner looks using lyrics from “Vigilante Sh*t,” and act out Taylor’s “Anti-Hero” lyrics in hilariously awkward ways. Taylor Swift did her part to keep Midnights bubbling on the platform, sharing her own bejeweled eyeliner using “Vigilante Sh*t.” After weeks of anticipation fomented by #SwiftTok and Taylor herself, Midnights topped the Billboard 200 charts this week with the biggest album debut since 2013 and claimed the top ten spot on the Hot 100. With the TikTok-trending “Anti-Hero” leading the way at #1, Taylor is the first artist in history to occupy the entire Top Ten of the Billboard Hot 100.
Pop princess Meghan Trainor has another self-love hit on her hands with her new song “Made You Look”. Surging on the back of a dance choreographed by @brookieandjessie, the song is making its rounds on TikTok with over 345K creations. With lyrics emphasizing that everyone is beautiful and should feel confident no matter what, “Made You Look” inspires creators to feel gorgeous while doing chores around the house, trying on stylish outfits from their wardrobe, and running around in an adorable unicorn Halloween costume. Megan is excitedly engaging with the sound and her fans, crediting the choreographers as she participates in the dance trend and doing the popular TikTok trend of ranking her favorite lyrics of the song. The TikTok success of “Made You Look” helped the song score a #95 debut on the Billboard Hot 100 this week.
Latin music continues to grow in popularity on TikTok, with songs like Grupo Frontera’s “No Se Va” (49.6K+ creations) and ROSALÍA’s “BIZCOCHITO” (308.9K+ creations) making waves across the platform. Lately leading the Latin music wave, Ozuna and Shakira inspire TikTok creators to keep moving on the dance floor with their new collaboration, “Monotonía.” Garnering over 221K+ total creations, the mellow-yet-catchy song finds creators showing off their best moves. While babies get their groove on with the help of their parents, teachers dance solo in their empty classrooms. In other creations, “Monotonía” inspires the bachata and zumba instructors of the TikTok community to promote their services as they use the sound as part of their routines. Shakira teased a snippet of the song a week before its official release date in mid-October, and most recently used the song to highlight her favorite Shakira Halloween costumes that she’s spotted while using the app.
After finding success with viral hit “Munch (Feelin’ U)” (523.7K+ creations), New York riser Ice Spice poses a new question on her new song “Bikini Bottom” that has the TikTok community in a frenzy: “How can I lose if I’m already chose (like)?” Previewed on TikTok in mid-October, “Bikini Bottom” boasts over 39.2K+ creations. The song’s cartoonish beat inspired creators to pretend to be cartoon characters as they scurry through their houses. In other creations, the catchy banger soundtracks creators’ Spongebob Squarepants and Ice Spice-inspired Halloween costumes, outfit of the day videos, and jokes about wearing outfits that their parents hate. Artists such as Saucy Santana and Coi Leray showed love to Ice Spice by using the song on their own TikTok pages. Ice also promoted the track on TikTok, encouraging listeners to go stream. Thanks to its viral success, “Bikini Bottom” boasts over 1.1M Spotify streams and 2.4M YouTube views on the official video in less than a week.
One of the major trends that has taken over TikTok in 2022 is the rise of the sped up remix–users frequently double, or even triple the BPMs of their favorite songs to exhilarating effect. R&B star Summer Walker noticed her fans turning up to sped-up versions of her music, particularly her 2018 song “Karma” (63k creations on the sped up version), which resurged in popularity, generating over 250k streams per week after creator @whereisreese choreographed a trending dance. This week, Summer rewarded her fans with a sped-up version of her 2018 album Last Days Of Summer, available to stream on all platforms. The new Last Days Of Summer (Sped Up) is the first-ever sped-up full album to be released by an artist after their music trended on TikTok, and it is very unlikely to be the last.
Even though Halloween has passed, TIkTok is keeping the Spooky Season spirit alive by showcasing their creative costume and makeup skills. Whether the looks are funny, cute, or spooky, Ski Mask The Slump God’s “OOGA BOOGA!” (390K+ creations) is the soundtrack of choice. While some creators flaunt their intricate skeleton and evil pumpkin makeup looks to the lyrics “I’m the boogeyman, ooga booga,” others show off their hilarious Spy Kids-inspired thumb costume and a Babadook costume inspired by the cult classic horror film. Ski Mask is having fun with the sound as well, using it to soundtrack his mirror selfie process and reveal his friend’s scary clown Halloween costume. Originally teased as a snippet on TikTok in September, the song made major waves upon its official release, generating over 3.5 million streams on Spotify in its first week of release, reaching the Top 100 of the service’s streaming charts.
TikTok creators are using Cults’ 2017 track “Gilded Lily” to tell the story of emotionally taxing experiences with hope that others can relate. The repetition of the somber lyrics “Haven’t I given enough?” in the chorus deeply resonates with creators. Garnering over 56K creations, the sound is the home for creators who struggled with acne in middle school, can’t escape the pressures of going back to school, and always listen to their friends’ problems but have no one to listen to theirs. Inspired by the success of the song and the emotional weight of the trend, Cults recently joined the platform to express their gratitude for the support of the song and their happiness about the song resonating with so many people.

Check TikTok’s newsroom for more noteworthy stories: newsroom.tiktok.com

For more info, please contact:
Michelle McDevitt, Annjie Houston, Destiny Riley, T’Keyah Hayes, Audible Treats
Leah Linder, TikTok

The Background:

TikTok is the leading destination for short-form mobile video. Their mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy.

TikTok has global offices including Los Angeles, New York, London, Paris, Berlin, Dubai, Mumbai, Singapore, Jakarta, Seoul, and Tokyo.

Links:

TikTok’s Newsroom: https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-us

END

Press Release

Bronx Baddie Ice Spice Continues Her Rise with “Bikini Bottom”

Go to Post

10.28.2022

Ice Spice Shares New “Bikini Bottom” Single

Video Debuts on WorldstarHipHop at 12pm ET

Already Viral on TikTok and Instagram, the Whimsical Follow-Up to the Smash Single “Munch” Proves That the Bronx Born It Girl is Here to Stay

Critical Praise:

“In a frenzied genre, she’s a calm rapper, which is part of what makes this song so frosty — the beat is skittish and portentous, but Ice Spice sounds at peace. She’s rhyming quickly, but also calmly and slightly dismissively, probably because of the subject matter. That would be a man who might be useful in some ways, but is easily dismissed — someone who’s on call, but barely needed. He’s good at one thing, and when that’s done, not much else — he’s a munch. Get used to saying it.” – The New York Times

“Ice Spice’s ‘Munch (Feelin’ U)’ Is the New York Rap Song of the Summer We’ve Been Waiting For” – Pitchfork

“She knows exactly how and where to exhale her rhymes into drill music’s sleek architecture, offering a breathy human counterpoint to the alien bass lines, the glitchy hi-hats, the antiseptic synth melodies that tend to hide out in the corner.” – The Washington Post

The Release:

Taking over the game with her seductive charm and cache of undeniable bangers, Ice Spice has fans buzzing in NYC and beyond. Today Ice Spice drops the anticipated follow-up to her hit “Munch (Feelin U),” sharing her “Bikini Bottom” song and video.

LISTEN HERE.

“Bikini Bottom” showcases the Bronx native’s playful yet hard-hitting side. Previewed earlier this month, the song quickly drew attention with its whimsical RIOTUSA beat. Fans compared the melody to the soundtracks of Scooby Doo and SpongeBob SquarePants — whose undersea hometown gives the song its title – but with subsonic bass and rich 808s.

Ice Spice navigates the instrumental with her supernatural cool, dexterously delivering lyrics that her army of fans already know by heart: “How can I lose if I’m already chose?/ Like/ If she feelin’ hot then I make that bitch froze/ And I get a bitch tight every time that I post/ Damn.” “Bikini Bottom” arrives with a new video that captures the excitement of Ice Spice’s rise, with the Fordham native pulling up in Times Square after hopping on a party bus with more than 20 fellow baddies.

The video for “Bikini Bottom” debuts on WorldstarHipHop at 12pm ET.

“Bikini Bottom” follows in the footsteps of “Munch (Feelin U),” the runaway hit that helped turn Ice Spice into one of the hottest risers in hip-hop. Produced by her frequent collaborator RIOTUSA, the minimalist “Munch” and its signature opening line, “You thought I was feelin u?”, took over the city and the internet in a matter of weeks, generating 55 million global streams, 16 million+ YouTube views, and over 500k video creations on TikTok (where the hashtag #icespice has over 916 million views). “Munch” earned critical praise from The New York Times, Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, Spotify, The FADER, REVOLT, and many others. The song reached the Top 5 of Billboard’s Bubbling Under Hot 100 and the Top 40 of the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The song is quickly approaching the Urban Radio Top 20 and the Top 25 at Rhythmic. Just this week, Ice earned Hip-Hop Rookie Of The Month honors from Billboard.

Ice Spice’s road to stardom accelerated with “Munch,” but she’s been buzzing in NYC for a long time. She first gained attention with with “No Clarity,” a bite-sized banger that decries the lack of communication in a relationship, and the soul-sampling “Name Of Love,“ which Ebro featured as his “discovery of the day” on Apple Music Radio. The belle of the Bronx earned even more notoriety when she hopped on Power 105’s On The Radar, delivering a freestyle that earned praise from Lyrical Lemonade, Pitchfork, who later named her one of “Five Women Breathing Life Into New York Drill,” and Audiomack, who crowned her one of the “10 Rappers You Should Know Right Now” for June 2022.

In just a few short months, Ice Spice established herself as one of the most notable names in the rap game. With more music on the way, the effortlessly rising superstar is just getting started. Already viral on TikTok and Instagram, Ice’s follow-up to the smash single “Munch” proves that the Bronx born It Girl is here to stay.

Buy/Stream “Bikini Bottom”: https://icespice.lnk.to/bikinibottom

Watch “Munch (Feelin U)”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yF-NC3eRsqc

More Praise:

“Setting trails ablaze as a powerful female figure in a male-dominated subculture, Bronx-made artist Ice Spice hit the New York drill scene with buzzworthy cuts like ‘Bully Freestyle’ and ‘Euphoric.’ … the 22-year-old has become synonymous with razor-sharp bars, in-your-face delivery, and ominous beats.” – Pigeons & Planes

“Ice Spice knows how to create a mood” – Pitchfork – Meet five women breathing new life into New York drill

“Ice Spice simply has all the tools for success and knows how to use them…The 22-year-old pairs her appearance with the cleanest and catchiest production coming out of the Bronx, grabbing listeners’ attention before she even speaks” –DJ Booth

“Her presence is strong and steadfast without having to scream or degrade her way into making a point or getting people moving….abundantly clear that Ice Spice will be one of the next big names to pop from New York City” – Lyrical Lemonade

Please contact Michelle or T’Keyah for more info.

The Background:

“You thought I was feelin’ you?

It’s become the line heard all across social media, fueled by Bronx rapper/singer Ice Spice. The 22-year-old rising star first posed that question on her viral hit “Munch (Feelin’ U)” and it’s been up ever since. The song has since surfed the airwaves of streaming platforms and even TikTok, boosted by a cosign from Drake and armed with a video that adds colorful visuals to this Drill anthem. While Ice Spice is steadily soaring up the ranks as the First Lady of Bronx Drill, she has much more in store—transcending genres and moving from New York City onto the rest of the world.

Links:

instagram | twitter | soundcloud | youtube | spotify

“Bikini Bottom”: https://icespice.lnk.to/bikinibottom

“Munch (Feelin U)”: https://wsds.ffm.to/munchfeelinu / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yF-NC3eRsqc

“On The Radar Freestyle”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RavvEbb8uJs

“Name Of Love”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MGt2N-q_2Y

“No Clarity”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U77JyALAfk0

END

Press Release

BONES Tricks & Treats on 2MillionBlunt$ Album, ft. Rio Da Yung OG, Lil Gotit & More

Go to Post

11.1.2022

Album: BONES – 2MillionBlunt$

On the Sequel to the TeamSESH Chieftain’s Cult Favorite 2012 1MillionBlunts, the Underground Hero Recruits Rhymers From All Over the Map to Assist Him, Including Rio Da Yung OG, Lil Gotit & More

Critical Praise:

“The Michigan-born rapper was one of the earliest and most influential artists to rise through the SoundCloud ranks in the early 2010s thanks to a truly unique aesthetic, an aura of mystery and a sound that would go on to be mimicked by his genre for years to come.” – HYPEBEAST

‘Already one of the most influential artists in rap and the SoundCloud underground, Bones shows no signs of slowing down.” – HYPEBEAST

“O’Connor’s short tracks, creepy videos, and one-word tweets rack up millions of social media interactions from a cult following that helped him sell out shows in 25 cities on a recent tour. The hip-hop elite is taking notice.” – The FADER

“Elmo Kennedy O’Connor was in pre-school when he became obsessed with the Southern artists of No Limit and Cash Money. Later in life, he would adopt the rap moniker Bones and amass a significant cult following. His gothic lyrical style, allergy to songs longer than two and a half minutes, and lo-fi visual aesthetic have convinced a quarter million people to subscribe to the SoundCloud page of his rap collective, TeamSESH.” – HotNewHipHop

The Album:

Never one to let his fans go hungry, BONES‘s tireless grind helped him build a massive underground following. Today, on the macabre artist’s favorite holiday, BONES shares 2MillionBlunts, his fourth album of 2022. The sequel to his fan favorite 2012 album 1MillionBlunts, the new album finds the TeamSESH ringleader in hard-nosed rap mode, as he empties his bag of flows over atmospheric production. For the first time in years, BONES allows kindred spirits into his hermetic world, welcoming guest rappers on certain album highlights that suit their signature styles. 2MillionBlunts welcomes appearances from BONES’ fellow Michigan native Rio Da Yung OG, who rhymes over signature Michigan-style percussion on “MaliceAtThePalace,” Atlanta’s Lil Gotit, whose guest spot on “DeathRow” accentuates the song’s trap atmosphere, L.A. native MoneySign Suede adds some West Coast flavor to “HTML.” Featuring additional appearances from Detroit’s Smokecampchino and Houston’s Slim Guerilla, 2MillionBlunts is available everywhere via TeamSESH/EMPIRE.

The Halloween release of 2MillionBlunt$ continues a busy year for the underground hero. Just last month, BONES shared DreamCard, a long-awaited full-length collaboration with ghost/\/ghoul, one of the first members to join TeamSESH back in 2011. In July, BONES released AmericanSweetheart, which subsumes a variety of styles into BONES’s dark aesthetic, and packs in references to films like Planes, Trains & Automobiles, Pee Wee’s Big Adventure, Rocky IV, and more. BONES connected with Drew The Architect for the heart-wrenching “PackRippedOpen.” In April, the underground hero shared Withered, a full-length project. Created in collaboration with TeamSESH producer grayera, Withered finds BONES alternating between laid-back yet emotional anthems and commanding, verbally blunt bangers, including the emotionally charged lead single “TheOne.” Over the summer, BONES got an unexpected shout out from Justin Bieber, who shared a video featuring his 2019 song “AirplaneMode,” which now has over 285k video creations on TikTok.

Stay tuned for much more from the mysterious mastermind in the near future.

Stream 2MillionBlunts: http://sesh.link/2millionblunts

2MillionBlunt$ tracklist:
1. SittinOnChrome
2. MaliceAtThePalace ft. Rio Da Yung OG
3. GloveBox
4. BrownBagSlippin
5. LateNightCadillac
6. Passion ft. Slim Guerilla
7. TheWire
8. BlueSkies&AutomaticWeapons
9. DeathRow ft. Lil Gotit
10. TRL
11. BumpNGrind
12. Vogues
13. Downtown (Interlude)
14. HTML ft. MoneySign Suede
15. SweetAromatic
16. ForgetMeNots
17. Jodi
18. CoboHall ft. Smokecampchino
19. Jansport

Please contact Michelle or Kerry for more info.

The Background:

BONES has proven to be one of the most enduring, influential, and creative hip-hop artists to emerge in the early 2010s. The TeamSESH founder has recorded dozens of albums, racking up hundreds of millions of streams and feeding a fanbase that eagerly awaits his every move. Despite remaining fiercely independent and true to his underground roots, his music has permeated the mainstream–in 2015, A$AP Rocky sampled BONES’ song “Dirt” for “Canal St.” (124 million streams), and in recent years, BONES has performed in prime slots at festivals such as Rolling Loud as a member of Seshollowaterboyz (along with Xavier Wülf, Chris Travis, and Eddy Baker).

Links:

2MillionBlunt$: http://sesh.link/2millionblunts

DreamCard (w/ ghost/\/ghoul): http://SESH.LINK/DREAMCARD

AmericanSweetheart: https://music.empi.re/americansweetheart

“PackRippedOpen” (w/ Drew The Architect): https://music.empi.re/packrippedopen

Withered (w/ grayera): https://music.empi.re/withered

“Silverado” (w/ ghost/\/ghoul): https://sesh.team/bones/silverado/

“TheOne” (w/ grayera): https://music.empi.re/theone

Ricky A Go Go – “DeathTrain” ft. BONES: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyLuK1_QyGo

Scraps (w/ Lyson): https://music.empi.re/scraps

ForbiddenImage (w/ cat soup): https://sesh.team/bones/forbiddenimage/

“WhiteBoyRick”: https://youtu.be/I4jh4ojwSoM

“InLovingMemory”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4YcNb2cAI4

InLovingMemory: https://music.empi.re/inlovingmemory

PushingUpDaisies (w/ Deergod): https://music.empi.re/pushingupdaisies

“PopRocks” (w/ Deergod): http://sesh.link/poprocks / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsNZZmkcmPY

BURDEN: http://SESH.LINK/BURDEN

END

Press Release

Kenny Muney is Tony Montana for Halloween in “King Pin”

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10.31.2022

Video: Kenny Muney – “King Pin“

The Paper Route Empire Artist Introduces the Opps to his Little Friend in New Video Single

Critical Praise:

“5 under-the-radar rappers from Memphis you should know about…Kenny Muney stands as the city’s rap emissary.” – The FADER

“Laced with familiar southern swagger and street tales, the new project solidifies Kenny has a viable name to keep an eye on as the new year creeps up.” – HotNewHipHop

“The South Memphis native has become a master at bodying the braggadocious current Memphis trap sound, while still finding endless ways to make his personal wit and charm stand out on every track.”– Dirty Glove Bastard

The Video:

With his Memphis-bred hustler mentality and a flow that never fumbles, the world is Kenny Muney’s. Taking inspiration from Al Pacino’s iconic role as Tony Montana in Scarface, Kenny shares his new video single, “King Pin.” The track opens with Montana’s famous quote about the spoils of fame and fortune, before the track’s urgently booming production takes hold and Kenny kicks off his verse. Echoing the hard-learned lessons of the tragic hero he emulates, Kenny stresses the importance of diligence in this high-stakes lifestyle: “I watch how I move, I watch what I do, cause a lot of these n****s be singing.”

The video for “King Pin” arrives in the wake of recent clips from his Time Is Muney project, including the Dreezy-assisted “Nobody” and “No Days Off,” both of which will appear on the upcoming Time Is Muney (Deluxe). In “King Pin,” Kenny appears as Montana in his own version of the film’s iconic climax, as Tony loads up to make his last stand while hordes of enemies invade his home. Yet, the video closes with Kenny still fighting, knowing that his movie’s ending is still unwritten.

Released in February, Time Is Muney is a project suited for headphones–the better to be mesmerized by Kenny’s hypnotic flows. The tape is home to recent singles like “Backend Freestyle,” a flex heavy track that allowed Muney to reintroduce himself to fans, both new and old, and “Worthless,” which received a tequila-fueled music video. Featuring guest appearances from Kenny’s PRE associates Big Moochie Grape and Key Glock, Time Is Muney is available everywhere.

In the run up to Time Is Muney, the Paper Route Empire signee kept himself busy by releasing multiple singles, including “Lowkey,” “For Kenny,” “Long Time Coming,” and “Poppin It.” To kick off 2022, Kenny memorialized Dolph with “Role Model,” a touching tribute to Dolph which racked up over 1.9 million views on YouTube in its first two weeks, and appears on Time Is Muney, as well as the recent Paper Route Empire Presents: Long Live Dolph mixtape.

With Time Is Muney, Kenny Muney showed that he has the talent and determination to succeed in the Empire-building business. Stay tuned for more from Kenny Muney and Paper Route Empire.

Watch “King Pin”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhY13hHP-X8

Stream “King Pin”: https://music.empi.re/kingpin

Photo Credit: @ShotBySpencer

Please contact Michelle or Destiny for more info.

Background:

A native of South Memphis, Kenny Muney grew up idolizing rappers like Lil Wayne, Gucci Mane, and Boosie. He started rapping at age 15, developing his aggressive aesthetic and honing his deeply rhythmic flow. Kenny got his first brush with fame when he released “YTN Freestyle,” which racked up over 2.5 million YouTube views, made him a neighborhood hero, and earned airplay on local radio. He made noise in 2019 with Muney Talk, his first mixtape for PRE. In 2020, Kenny Muney connected with his mentor Young Dolph for “No Regrets,” a highlight track from Dolph’s Rich Slave (Deluxe) album. “I’m never satisfied,” says Kenny Muney. “It’s a gift and a curse. I’m always looking for the next step.”

Links:

instagram | twitter | spotify | youtube

“King Pin”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhY13hHP-X8

“Nobody” ft. Dreezy: https://youtu.be/0lair4loOYs

“No Days Off”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJSY4dlD8EU

“Cross Country”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JH3MXFf3JZ0

“Leeches” ft. Key Glock: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rFx5-M8t28

“Change Up”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_A9VYXP2Cw

“Rabbit”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjY3dLr997w

Time is Muney: https://music.empi.re/timeismuney

“Worthless”: https://youtu.be/RN_f3cSnino

“Petro”: https://youtu.be/h81CTNJdZMg

“Backend Freestyle”: https://music.empi.re/backendfreestyle / https://youtu.be/a-UsOFa-pQQ

“Poppin It” (Prod. by Bandplay): https://youtu.be/B0DciN50rRY

“Feeling Me”: https://youtu.be/hpYBrt3v_Iw

Muney Talk: https://empire.lnk.to/muneytalk

Bio, photos, and streams available here: https://audibletreats.com/kenny-muney/

END

Press Release

Brooklyn’s DUSTY LOCANE Shares New Project ‘NIGHTMARE ON DA FIFTH’

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10.31.2022

DUSTY LOCANE Shares

NIGHTMARE ON DA FIFTH Project, a Halloween Gift For His Fans

The Brooklyn-Born Bruiser Lets Loose With His Crew on “FLU GANG” Video

The Booming-Voiced Rising Star Creeps Through Canarsie On His New Project, With Guest Appearances from TaTa and Members of DUSTY’s 95MM Crew

Critical Praise:

“A rumbling voice that could be picked up on a seismograph” – Pitchfork

“He’s going to be a force to be reckoned with, and he knows it.” – Lyrical Lemonade

“…hard-hitting rhymes that will surely be heard blaring over car stereos in Brooklyn.” – HotNewHipHop

The Video:

Rapping with a gravelly bellow that gives a supernatural gravitas to every bar, DUSTY LOCANE haunts the dreams of haters and fakes in Brooklyn and beyond. Establishing himself as the Cryptkeeper of Canarsie, DUSTY shares NIGHTMARE ON DA FIFTH, a sinister new project. Backed by ominous, ethereal vocals that conjure a Halloween-ready atmosphere, DUSTY perfects his stick talk on the new tape, using his full-bodied vocals to body each beat. The new tape welcomes big names from the Brooklyn drill scene, including rising rapper TaTa, and showcases the talents of DUSTY’s 95MM crew, including 3Kizzy, Kajun Waters, SFIV5, Stelly Hundo, and OMB Jay Dee. Home to buzzing singles like “PRESSURE” and “ROLANDO 2 (Catch The Rain),” NIGHTMARE ON DA FIFTH is available everywhere via EMPIRE.

Along with the new project, DUSTY shares the video for “FLU GANG.” A ferocious, bite-sized posse cut, the song finds DUSTY and his associates 3Kizzy, Kajun Waters, and SFIV5 for 71 seconds of fury, each emcee taking a few bars to dismiss the opposition as if they were expendable extras in a horror film: “Burn ’em like Freddy, now they wear a mask/Feelin’ like Jason swinging with the axe,” intones DUSTY. In the video, the four BK bruisers squad up as slasher movie villains, instilling mortal dread into any unfortunate soul who dares step to them.

NIGHTMARE ON DA FIFTH continues a busy year for DUSTY LOCANE. He recently teamed up with his EMPIRE associates Rah Swish, OnPointLikeOP, and Ron Suno for the fierce SAY DAT EP, home to peerless posse cuts like “BUST DOWN” (1.2 million views) and “ANGELS & DEMONS” (1.1 million views). Earlier in the year, DUSTY dropped the ROLLIN N CONTROLLIN EP, which collected each installment of DUSTY, “ROLLIN N CONTROLLIN ” singles, including the recent “ROLLIN N CONTROLLIN Pt. 3 (BEEN ROLLIN),” it’s TikTok-viral predecessor, and the GOLD certified original. The EP also featured his second-ever single, “Rolando (Caught In The Rain),” which generated hundreds of millions of streams across platforms.

With his suvies at his back and much further to rise, DUSTY LOCANE is well on his way toward taking over the Brooklyn scene.

Stream NIGHTMARE ON DA FIFTH: https://music.empi.re/nightmareondafifth

Watch “FLU GANG”: https://youtu.be/eoO5Du6Oq_s

NIGHTMARE ON DA FIFTH tracklist:
1. FLU GANG (intro) ft. 3Kizzy, Kajun Waters & SFIV5
2. JIGSAW ft. 3Kizzy
3. 2ND AMENDMENT ft. 3Kizzy & SFIV5
4. PRESSURE
5. GLOCC-COMA ft. 3Kizzy
6. FLOSSGHANISTAN ft. SFIV5
7. ROLL DA DICE ft. Kajun Waters & SFIV5
8. WRAP EM UP ft. TaTa
9. CREMATE (RUN OUTTA LUCC) ft. 3Kizzy, Stelly Hundo & OMB Jay Dee
10. NO DISCUSSION by 3Kizzy
11. MISSING PERSONS by SFIV5
12. PUT ON
13. HOMICIDE (OUTRO)
14. ROLANDO 2 (Catch The Rain)
15. WAY BACC

Please contact Michelle or Kevin for more info.

Links:

instagram | twitter | youtube | spotify

NIGHTMARE ON DA FIFTH: https://music.empi.re/nightmareondafifth

“FLU GANG” w/ 3Kizzy, Kajun Waters & SFIV5: https://youtu.be/eoO5Du6Oq_s

“BUST DOWN” (w/ Rah Swish, OnPointLikeOP & Ron Suno): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZRsh_0Q08g

“ANGELS & DEMONS” (w/ Rah Swish, OnPointLikeOP & Ron Suno): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqf16TQPW4g

SAY DAT EP (w/ Rah Swish, OnPointLikeOP & Ron Suno): https://music.empi.re/saydat

“PRESSURE”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJGxxPyjA2s

ROLLIN N CONTROLLIN EP: https://music.empi.re/rollindusty

“SLIDE” ft. 3Kizzy: https://youtu.be/NHTtfivjBC0 / https://music.empi.re/slidedusty

“DEMISE” ft. 3Kizzy: https://music.empi.re/demise / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGsVcuaeozQ

“ROLLIN N CONTROLLIN Pt. 3 (BEEN ROLLIN)”: https://youtu.be/a-p5PlWasyc

UNTAMED: https://music.empi.re/untamed

END

Press Release

Trapland Pat is the Meanest Mafioso in “Z-Land”

Go to Post

10.31.2022

Video: Trapland Pat – “Z-Land“

The Bang Biz/Alamo-Signed South Florida Stunner Portrays a Ringleader of Masked Men in a Cinematic New Video Single

Photo Credit: @ShotByJolo

Critical Praise:

“He’s subtly melodic and catchy even outside of the hook. He does the beat justice by making what he grew up with into something new.” – Pitchfork

“”Big Business is the #18 Best Rap Song of 2021–If “Big Business” is any indication, Trapland Pat may well become South Florida’s next rap auteur. In less than two minutes, he deftly connects Broward County’s disparate styles, vibrating at his own zany frequency.” – Passion Of The Weiss

“10 New Miami Rappers To Watch…Trapland Pat is unlike any other act to come out of South Florida. Since 2019, Pat has consistently delivered grimy bars and smooth cadences over an array of trap beats. Over the past three years, the Deerfield Beach native has been feeding his growing fanbase with singles like “Emergency” and “Dealings,” along with four projects: Exit 41, Pak Man, Interstate Baby, and 2020 Vision. (The last two albums were released via Fredo Bang’s imprint Bang Biz Productions/Create Music Group.) In 2021, Trapland Pat dropped his latest project, Thru Da Door, via Bang Biz, featuring collaborations with Kuttem Reese and Members Only rapper Kid Trunks. He’s still pushing his latest single, ‘Boondocks,”‘which dropped last month. However, on Instagram, Pat celebrated the anniversary of his song ‘Big Business’ and teased a potential remix coming later this year.” – Miami New Times

“Over the course of the last few weeks perhaps no one else has hit the scene as hard as Pat…The Florida rapper raps with wide-eyed astonishment, seemingly at his own bars sometimes which become as animated as his facial expressions. To be honest, the sheer confidence Trapland Pat employs on the track here just makes you want to pay attention or risk missing out on something.” – ELEVATOR

“Trapland Pat makes pretty music.” – Stereogum

“South Florida has no shortage of crazy-eyed young rappers with wild hair situations and near-impenetrable drawls, but Trapland Pat still stands out from the rest. The rising star has an outsized charisma and a flair for theatrical imagery, and that would be enough to set him apart. More importantly, though, he knows how to put a song together. He’s not out to transcend trap music; he’s just here to do trap music about as well as it can be done, bringing a vivid and lively bounce that harkens back to the genre’s origins.” – Stereogum

The Video:

With his wide-eyed intensity and endless supply of tropical vibes, Trapland Pat’s star qualities are unmistakable. Inviting listeners into his cartoonish, trap-happy world, Pat shares his new video single, “Z-Land.” Earning its title from the Haitian-American slang term of endearment, “zoe,” which originates from Miami’s Little Haiti and its immigrant community’s fight against their oppressors, “Z-Land” paints a raw portrait of Pat’s native streets in vibrant hues. Over laid-back production bolstered by a groovy, G-Funk-esque bassline, Pat recounts his hustle with a buoyant flow.

Directed by Pat’s frequent collaborator ShotByJolo, the video for “Z-Land” captures the candid coolness with which Pat spins tales of the city’s crime underbelly, setting the scene with the song’s opening line: “Mafia ties, I got Z’s on demand.” Dressed in all black, Pat stylishly lives the life of a Don, riding around in a vintage Bentley with a mob of masked associates and cleaning up at the poker table.

“Z-Land” closely follows “Vibes” as Pat’s first new singles since he shared the acclaimed Trapnificent mixtape this past summer. Pat’s first release for Bang Biz and Alamo Records, the project boasts several standout singles, including the joyful “Trap Dance” and the sinister “D.O.A.” Pat taps frequent collaborator Pepper Jack Zoe, who produced his breakout hit “Big Business,” to handle the bulk of the production, his creeping piano-led beats providing grounding for Pat’s larger-than-life bars and hummable melodies. Trapnificent rolls out the red carpet for a tasteful selection of guests, including, Fredo Bang, who signed Pat to his imprint Bang Biz and appears twice on the tape, Sacramento street hero Mozzy, NYC Winners Circle maestro Eli Fross, and Memphis’ own BIG30. Trapnificent earned praise from Pitchfork, who called the project a “zippy distillation of his regional roots” and said that Pat’s music is “extremely regionally and culturally specific, like so much exciting and promising new rap music.”

Ready to bring his searing street raps to a larger audience, Trapland Pat has the goods to be Broward County’s next big star.

Watch “Z-Land”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7DAzti-cuA

Tap in with Trapland Pat: https://direct.me/traplandpat

Please contact Michelle or T’Keyah for more info.

Links:

“Z-Land”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7DAzti-cuA

“Vibes”: http://traplandpat.lnk.to/Vibes / http://traplandpat.lnk.to/VibesVideo

“Big Business (Remix)” ft. Rick Ross: https://traplandpat.lnk.to/bigbusinessremix

“Mad”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCHLvMwFS7k

Trapnificent: http://traplandpat.lnk.to/Trapnificent

“Astronaut Status” ft. Fredo Bang: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtCcMKvvqWg

“D.O.A.” ft. BIG30: https://youtu.be/iUINiLJTC_0

“Cappin” (Live): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBiyYztzMGw

“Losses”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Z0FmZ2Sfjk

“Trap Dance”: http://traplandpat.lnk.to/TrapDance / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lL2JCj6inD8

“Hellcat” ft. Eli Fross: https://traplandpat.lnk.to/Hellcat / https://youtu.be/R7zRRzOpIV8

“Motions”: http://lnk.to/traplandpat-motions

“Boondocks”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5moVllc-YN8

“Big Business”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7DyEwc3_iU

END

Press Release

CEO Trayle Slickly Stalks the Streets in ‘HH5’ Mixtape

Go to Post

10.31.2022

CEO Trayle Continues His Halloween Mixtape Series with the Immersive and Hard-Hitting HH5

Trayle Delivers a Villainous Message in the Video For Opening Track “Sincerely Yours“

Home to Recent Singles like “Chokehold” and “I Love You But…,” Featured on OVO Sound Radio, Plus Production From Heavy Hitters Like Dun Deal, OG Parker, Go Grizzly, Trauma Tone, and More, HH5 is Available Everywhere via Do What You Love/10K Projects

Critical Praise:

“The most unnerving villainous laugh you’ll hear this week won’t be in the new Batman movie—it’s in the opening seconds of CEO Trayle’s “Rendezvous.” The way Trayle uses his shapeshifting flow to rattle off threats brings to mind the more sinister side of Chief Keef.” – Pitchfork

“So many rappers stay in one gear for an entire song, but Trayle’s music constantly shifts the rhythm, keeping your ears perked so you don’t get lost as he speeds up. He goes from biting punched-in threats and making singsong taunts to an ominous, slithery flow that leaves you looking behind your shoulder to make sure he isn’t talking about kicking in your backdoor.” – Pitchfork

“The hunger in his rapping turns every song into a boxing ring to prove himself victorious.” – The FADER

“Atlanta’s CEO Trayle is going hard in 2022. The rapper’s earned quite the reputation in the rap game over the past few years. Projects like the Happy Halloween series have cemented him as the one to look out for. “ – HotNewHipHop

“On his recent single, “OK Cool,” Trayle takes a conversational approach, making it clear that—no matter what anyone else in his life is on—he’s still up.” – Audiomack

The Announcement:

Haunting the streets of Atlanta like a slasher movie villain, CEO Trayle excels at making bangers about things that go bump in the night. Returning with a batch of eerily atmospheric and silky smooth rap tunes, Trayle shares HH5, the latest in his signature series of Happy Halloween mixtapes. The new effort establishes Trayle as one of the slickest talkers in a stacked ATL scene, twirling his soft-spoken and erudite delivery like a cartoon villain twirls his mustache.

Creeping over instrumentals like Freddy Kreuger slips through subconsciouses, Trayle juxtaposes his sly wit with moments of pathos, toeing the line expertly on tape highlights like “We So Young” and “Took Some Time.” HH5 features some of Trayle’s most expansive production to date, with contributions from Dun Deal, OG Parker, Go Grizzly, Trauma Tone, and Trayle’s frequent collaborator Stribb, among many others. Home to standout singles like last week’s ultra-wavy “Chokehold” and the complicated relationship anthem “I Love You But…,” recently featured on Drake’s OVO Sound Radio, HH5 is available everywhere via Do What You Love/10K Projects.

Along with the tape, Trayle shares the new video for “Sincerely Yours,” the HH5 intro. Produced by Atlanta mainstay Yung Icey, “Sincerely Yours” rides a lumbering bassline, accented by unsettling woodwinds and ethereal synths that add to the horror movie atmosphere. The song is an ideal opener for the album, as Trayle eschews hooks in an unbroken verse, cutting a demonic figure as he asserts himself as the scariest of all things that go bump in the night: “Mop up blood and chop off legs and shins/Arms and fingers and hands,” Trayle rhymes with a macabre grin. In the video, Trayle follows in the footsteps of the titular anti-hero from Showtime serial killer drama Dexter, as he dons a plastic suit and gets to chopping. Directed by Decat, the new video is a perfect introduction to the macabre world of HH5.

HH5 is the crowning achievement in a busy year for CEO Trayle, arriving weeks after Vier, a four-track EP released in July alongside a Q&A with The FADER. Vier followed in the wake of Trayle’s 8-song mixtape The Collection, home to highlights like “Of Course,” the tape’s closing track. Trayle recently made a splash with his From The Block freestyle, where he performed his song “Song Cry,” which racked up over 300k views in less than one week.

CEO Trayle is following in the footsteps of his hero Gucci Mane, crafting street raps that are at once down-and-dirty and refined. The 28-year-old artist’s music found an audience, and earned praise among publications like Pitchfork, Audiomack, and many more, for his gritty bars and sinister steez. Trayle’s trajectory skyrocketed after he released “Ok Cool,” a viral hit that generated over 60 million streams and earned a remix from Gunna.

With HH5 in the books much further to rise, CEO Trayle is primed to take over the rap game.

Stream HH5: https://ceotrayle.lnk.to/HH5

Watch “Sincerely Yours”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adbU-O_D6UQ

HH5 tracklist:

Sincerely Yours
I Love You But…
Mathematician
We So Young
Nightmares & Dreams ft. FastMoney Ant
Tired Of Me
Chokehold
Spare Me
Alter Ego
Craxk Flow
Unusual
Closed Captioning
Pass It On
Chain Smoking
Swim
Red Rum
What You Know
Took Some Time

Please contact Michelle, Kevin, or Chris or more info.

The Background:

CEO Trayle has a rare sense of vision. The prolific Atlanta-based rapper and CEO/founder of 1080 Trademark Records sees the music industry the way a great point guard does a basketball court. He understands cause-and-effect, knowing how dropping one frosty, minimalist single will shape the perception around his next project. But occasionally he exceeds even his own expectations. His breakout single, “OK Cool,” a deadpan rebuke to an ex, earned more than 60 million streams, even though Trayle didn’t foresee it as a blockbuster when he made it. The momentum from that track, and its Gunna-assisted remix, paved the way for The Collection, a thrilling, visceral release that showcases the 28-year-old MC’s multi-genre fluency.

Links:

instagram | twitter | youtube | spotify

HH5: https://ceotrayle.lnk.to/HH5

“Sincerely Yours”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adbU-O_D6UQ

“I Love You But…”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kCYJMAB6nU

Vier EP: https://ceotrayle.lnk.to/vier

“Send My B*tch” ft. Enchanting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cE-FmuvYsc0

“DrillC4”: https://youtu.be/Xy6pg1z7vvw

“July The Fourth”: https://CEOtrayle.lnk.to/julythefourth

“Of Course”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZazHEsUmDc

The Collection: https://CEOtrayle.lnk.to/thecollection

END

Press Release

CEO Trayle Has the Game in a “Chokehold” as He Prepares for HH5

Go to Post

10.28.2022

Audio: CEO Trayle – “Chokehold“

The Rising Rapper Shares an Ode to Getting Faded From His Upcoming HH5 Mixtape

The Fifth Edition of the ATL Rap Villain’s Signature Happy Halloween Mixtape Series, HH5 Arrives on Monday October 31st via Do What You Love/10K Projects

Critical Praise:

“The most unnerving villainous laugh you’ll hear this week won’t be in the new Batman movie—it’s in the opening seconds of CEO Trayle’s “Rendezvous.” The way Trayle uses his shapeshifting flow to rattle off threats brings to mind the more sinister side of Chief Keef.” – Pitchfork

“So many rappers stay in one gear for an entire song, but Trayle’s music constantly shifts the rhythm, keeping your ears perked so you don’t get lost as he speeds up. He goes from biting punched-in threats and making singsong taunts to an ominous, slithery flow that leaves you looking behind your shoulder to make sure he isn’t talking about kicking in your backdoor.” – Pitchfork

“The hunger in his rapping turns every song into a boxing ring to prove himself victorious.” – The FADER

“Atlanta’s CEO Trayle is going hard in 2022. The rapper’s earned quite the reputation in the rap game over the past few years. Projects like the Happy Halloween series have cemented him as the one to look out for. “ – HotNewHipHop

“On his recent single, “OK Cool,” Trayle takes a conversational approach, making it clear that—no matter what anyone else in his life is on—he’s still up.” – Audiomack

The Announcement:

Never rushed but always on time, CEO Trayle navigates instrumentals with the patience of a cobra coiling to strike. Luxuriating in an altered state in the latest taste of his upcoming HH5 mixtape, CEO Trayle shares “Chokehold,“ a new single. Languid and atmospheric, the Sectionn8-produced “Chokehold”is an ode to the various ways Trayle enjoys getting faded. The subsonic bass, rippling piano chords (plus a creeping low-note bass line), and blasts of mournful saxophone perfectly suits Trayle’s slow-moving delivery, the Atlanta-based rapper taking his time as he drifts off into his own world: “I don’t think I’m from this universe/B*tch ask me why I do the percs/I said cause they’ll never leave/Dog in my pedigree.”

“Chokehold” is the final glimpse at HH5 before its release next week, following in the footsteps of the complicated “I Love You But…,” his latest video. The latest in Trayle’s Happy Halloween mixtape series, the upcoming HH5 features some of Trayle’s most expansive production to date, with contributions from Dun Deal, OG Parker, Go Grizzly, Trauma Tone, and Trayle’s frequent collaborator Stribb, among many others. On his fifth annual holiday mixtape, Trayle keeps the Halloween theme going on his songs, using his sly wit to present himself as a nightmarish figure to haters and opps across the globe. Featuring a guest appearance from FastMoney Ant, HH5 arrives on October 31st via Do What You Love, LLC / 10K Projects.

HH5 is the crowning achievement in a busy year for CEO Trayle, arriving weeks after Vier, a four-track EP released in July alongside a Q&A with The FADER. The title of the EP translates into the number four in German, a number with mythical and historical significance in Trayle’s life–beyond being the source for his explosive nickname C4. Nine years ago, on July 4th, Trayle suffered seven gunshot wounds as he successfully fought off an attempted home invasion. Trayle survived, but he suffered emotional scars that he still processes every day. The rapper explored his trauma and expressed gratitude for the little things on his recent single “July The Fourth,” the EP’s closing track. Vier followed in the wake of Trayle’s 8-song mixtape The Collection, home to highlights like “Of Course,” the tape’s closing track. Trayle recently made a splash with his From The Block freestyle, where he performed his song “Song Cry,” which racked up over 250k views in less than one week.

CEO Trayle is following in the footsteps of his hero Gucci Mane, crafting street raps that are at once down-and-dirty and refined. The 28-year-old artist’s music found an audience, and earned praise among publications like Pitchfork, Audiomack, and many more, for his gritty bars and sinister steez. Trayle’s trajectory skyrocketed after he released “Ok Cool,” a viral hit that generated over 60 million streams and earned a remix from Gunna.

With much more music on the way and much further to rise, CEO Trayle is primed to take over the rap game.

Stream “Chokehold”: https://CEOtrayle.lnk.to/chokehold

HH5 tracklist:

Sincerely Yours
I Love You But…
Mathematician
We So Young
Nightmares & Dreams ft. FastMoney Ant
Tired Of Me
Chokehold
Spare Me
Alter Ego
Craxk Flow
Unusual
Closed Captioning
Pass It On
Chain Smoking
Swim
Red Rum
What You Know
Took Some Time

Please contact Michelle, Kevin, or Chris or more info.

The Background:

CEO Trayle has a rare sense of vision. The prolific Atlanta-based rapper and CEO/founder of 1080 Trademark Records sees the music industry the way a great point guard does a basketball court. He understands cause-and-effect, knowing how dropping one frosty, minimalist single will shape the perception around his next project. But occasionally he exceeds even his own expectations. His breakout single, “OK Cool,” a deadpan rebuke to an ex, earned more than 60 million streams, even though Trayle didn’t foresee it as a blockbuster when he made it. The momentum from that track, and its Gunna-assisted remix, paved the way for The Collection, a thrilling, visceral release that showcases the 28-year-old MC’s multi-genre fluency.

Links:

instagram | twitter | youtube | spotify

“Chokehold”: https://CEOtrayle.lnk.to/chokehold

“I Love You But…”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kCYJMAB6nU

Vier EP: https://ceotrayle.lnk.to/vier

“Send My B*tch” ft. Enchanting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cE-FmuvYsc0

“DrillC4”: https://youtu.be/Xy6pg1z7vvw

“July The Fourth”: https://CEOtrayle.lnk.to/julythefourth

“Of Course”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZazHEsUmDc

The Collection: https://CEOtrayle.lnk.to/thecollection

END

Press Release

Lil Gnar Gets Buck in Balenciagas in “Triple S”

Go to Post

10.28.2022

Video: Lil Gnar – “Triple S“

43B’s Premier Signee Jumps Off a Jet and Onto Festival Stages to Flex Over Chief Keef & Young Malcolm Production in New Video Single

Critical Praise:

“Gnar is a master of brand-building, and in less than a year, he’s become one of the fastest rising new rappers, boasting collaborations with Lil Skies, Germ, MadeinTYO, Night Lovell, and Joji..” – Pigeons & Planes

“Loaded with hard beats and casual boasts, Gnar Lif3 is a full-size serving of the ascendant Gnar, who holds down each track with charisma and natural mic presence.” – XXL

The Video:

Atlanta multi-hyphenate Lil Gnar has proven himself a worthy herald to bring the takeover of Chief Keef’s recently-launched 43B record label to fruition. Enlisting his mentor’s production talent in collaboration with Young Malcolm, Gnar shares his latest eruptive single “Triple S.” Earning its title from Gnar’s favorite brand of Balenciaga sneakers, “Triple S” finds Gnar launching a barrage of fashion-forward flexes, as bell tolls highlight the end of each bar like its keeping score. The opposition never comes close: “Rick, Rick, Rick, all black on some goth sh*t/Neck and wrist done caught the Holy Ghost, I’m like a prophet.”

Directed by Lil Gnar himself, alongside Sam McGrath, the video for “Triple S” portrays the ceaseless grind it takes to shine so brilliantly, despite how effortless the 43B flagbearer makes it look. A private jet flight might be a once-in-a-lifetime luxury to most, but for Gnar, it’s no more than a commute. He jumps off the jet onto the Rolling Loud New York stage to light up his set before popping out to support Sosa’s, with a colorful cameo from Lil Uzi Vert.

The release of “Triple S” follows the recent Chief Keef-featured “Almighty Gnar” single, and arrives in the wake of DIE BOUT IT, Gnar’s latest album, which arrived in May. Home to the hit singles “Missiles” ft. Trippie Redd, “Diamond Choker” ft. Lil Uzi Vert, and “New Bugatti” ft. Ski Mask The Slump God, Chief Keef & DJ Scheme, DIE BOUT IT confirmed Gnar’s status as one of the hottest independent rappers in the game today.

In June, Chief Keef founded his new label 43B, launched in partnership with BMG, and announced Lil Gnar as the label’s first signee. Short for “Forget Everybody,” 43B offers multi-tiered label and distribution for artists and producers, emphasizing artistic expression and independence and autonomy. Lil Gnar is the kind of self-sufficient, business-minded artist who represents the label’s ideals. Along with his career as a rapper, Gnar is an accomplished businessman and the founder of his own streetwear brand Gnarcotic. Gnarcotic has been modeled by A-List stars including Future–whose FreeBandz label released a collab with Gnarcotic–Juice WRLD, Young Thug, and many more, and sold his first skateboarding sneaker collection earlier this year to the tune of $500k first weekend sales. He released DIE ABOUT IT under his own Gnarcotic Records label, before joining up with Chief Keef to start the next chapter of his career.

“What makes him stand out? His style, sh*t,” says Chief Keef about his 43B signee. “He ain’t tryna be like nobody else.”

Stay tuned for much more from Gnar and 43B.

Watch “Triple S”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G90yTMp1GlY

Stream “Triple S”: https://43b.lnk.to/TripleS

Please contact Michelle or Annjie for more info.

The Background:

Born Caleb Sheppard, Lil Gnar is based out of Atlanta, GA. In October of 2020 Gnar launched Gnarcotic Records and gained serious traction with his single, “Diamond Choker” f. Lil Uzi Vert it passed 5 million streams within a week of being released. He followed up with “Missiles” f. Trippie Redd, “New Bugatti” f. Ski Mask The Slump God & Chief Keef, “No Reason” f. Lil Keed & Yak Gotti. In May of 2022 he released his first mixtape under his label titled “Die Bout It” that led to a record deal with Chief Keef’s newly founded 43B label. Lil Gnar runs a streetwear brand called Gnarcotic. In 2021 he released a clothing collaboration with Future’s FreeBandz. In 2022 he released his first Gnarcotic skateboarding sneaker collection which generated $500k throughout the first weekend. Gnarcotic has been modeled by the likes of Chief Keef, Future, Chris Brown, Juice Wrld, Young Thug, Gunna, Trippie Redd & many more. The rapper remains illustrious and elusive as he keeps the world on edge for his next venture.

Links:

instagram | spotify | twitter | youtube | tiktok

“Triple S”: https://43b.lnk.to/TripleS / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G90yTMp1GlY

“Almighty Gnar” ft. Chief Keef: https://lnk.to/almightygnar / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYSTAuVePqg

DIE BOUT IT: https://createmusic.fm/dieboutit

“Diamond Choker” ft. Lil Uzi Vert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpA5N9SvphE

“New Bugatti” ft. Ski Mask The Slump God, Chief Keef & DJ Scheme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IJIvVGLois

“Missiles” ft. Trippie Redd: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g41Ddg8blUg

END

Press Release

Newark’s Prophet The Artist Releases 3-Pack Single “3 Major,” Shares Video with Icewear Vezzo

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10.28.2022

Newark’s Prophet The Artist Shares 3 Major, a Three-Pack of New Songs

Prophet Teams Up With Icewear Vezzo for “On My Sh*t” Video

The Rostrum Records Artist Continues His Rise with a Video That Connects the Busy Rap Scenes in Brick City and Motown

The Video:

Putting on for an often overlooked city, Newark’s own Prophet The Artist is a hard-nosed dark horse ready to take the game by storm. Exhibiting his ability to master any style he tries his hand at, the Rostrum Records signee drops off his new 3-part single, 3 Major. The trio of tracks demonstrates Prophet’s undeniable versatility. On “Where 6 At,” Prophet flexes and flows like an open floodgate over a vintage Southern trap instrumental, while “Never Gon Stop” combines melodic chops with lyrical introspection on an acoustic guitar beat. Though the Icewear Vezzo-assisted “On My Sh*t” leans into its guest’s style of creeping Detroit street anthems, the collaboration bursts with the hustler mentality that unites the artists’ hectic hometowns: “Let’s kick the door down, you know we ain’t need no keys,” intones Prophet.”

Reconnecting with B.Sergeant, who directed Prophet’s recent clip for “Moving Tact,” the video for “On My Sh*t” underlines the similarities between Prophet and Vezzo that drive their chemistry. Both artists appear with ten toes in the streets before quick jump cuts bounce them back and forth from the studio to dark alleyways, locked in at every step. Whether they find themselves in the streets of Newark, Detroit, or Timbuktu makes no difference: if there’s a bag to be had, Vezzo and Prophet are right at home.

Born in Mount Vernon, NY, before coming of age in Newark, NJ, Prophet draws inspiration from his musical family, North Jersey community, and the Haitian heritage he reps proudly. First venturing into making music as a teenager, the 23-year old rapper burst onto the scene in 2019 with his feverish breakout hit, “Irregular.” With 3 minutes of explosive verse and no hook, the track racked up nearly 2 million YouTube views and 3.6 million Spotify streams to date. Prophet discovered his knack for writing by drafting poems for his brother’s Arts High School classes which inspired him to apply his pen to raps, and he’s been steadily releasing music ever since. Earlier this year, Prophet turned heads with his song “Rock With Proph,” which racked up nearly 800k streams across platforms in just a few months.

Stay tuned for much more from the Essex County up-and-comer as he puts Brick City back on the map!

Stream 3 Major: https://prophettheartist.lnk.to/3Major

Watch “On My Sh*t” ft. Icewear Vezzo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8a9B-OlBk8

3 Major Tracklist:

Where 6 At
On My Sh*t ft. Icewear Vezzo
Never Gon Stop

Please contact Michelle or Destiny for more info.

Links:

instagram | spotify | youtube | soundcloud | twitter

3 Major: https://prophettheartist.lnk.to/3Major

“On My Sh*t” ft. Icewear Vezzo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8a9B-OlBk8

“Moving Tact”: http://lnk.to/MovingTact / https://youtu.be/TN3_d5N3YMA

“Irregular”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apu97QMluj4

END

Press Release

Jay Fizzle Bosses Up With DonaFizzo (Deluxe) ft. Key Glock & More

Go to Post

10.28.2022

Album: Jay Fizzle – DonaFizzo (Deluxe)

The Paper Route Empire Rapper Adds Nine New Bangers to His Latest Project, Featuring Guest Spots from Key Glock and PaperRoute Woo, Plus Hard-Hitting Production from Ayoza and Others

Critical Praise:

“..the members of Paper Route Empire reach a level of sincerity and emotional reflection that’s still hard to come by.” – Pitchfork

“Choosing some of the more interesting production to rhyme over, Jay Fizzle’s frankness and the flows he has on tap keep him in the convo as the whole city takes off.” – XXL Mag

“10 Rappers You Should Know Right Now” – DJ Booth

“The tape serves as both a testament to Memphis’ current rap preeminence and Fizzle’s own dexterity. He saves perhaps the hardest for last on the tape, attacking a looped vocal sample and towering percussion with ferocity.” – DJ Booth

“Jay Fizzle is a master of the searing street rap that serves as the bass-booming heart of Memphis music.” – The Hype Magazine

The Deluxe:

Dropping gems of street wisdom with a drawly flow, Jay Fizzle is Memphis to the core. Expanding upon his recent project DonaFizzo, the Paper Route Empire artist shares DonaFizzo (Deluxe), adding 9 songs to the trap-happy album. Fizzle excels at finding unique pockets in each instrumental, stacking outlandish flexes in a torrent of tumbling syllables. Among the new songs on DonaFizzo (Deluxe) are “Major,” which combines a sample from his late mentor Young Dolph with the classic instrumental from Gucci Mane’s “Bricks,” and “Tello N Bart,” a collaboration with fellow PRE lifer Key Glock that plays upon each of their cartoon altar egos (the Ninja Turtle for Fizzle and the Simpson for Glock). Featuring towering instrumentals from the likes of Memphis mainstays like Ayoza, plus a standout guest spot from PaperRoute Woo, DonaFizzo (Deluxe) is available everywhere via Paper Route Empire.

The new deluxe edition of DonaFizzo is an embellishment of Fizzle’s most accomplished project to date. Backed by cavernous trap beats by the likes of Bandplay and Sosa 808, the tape reverberates with Fizzle’s desire to follow in Dolph’s footsteps and take over the Dirty South. From the arcade villain-esque “Nike Check,” to the Mission: Impossible-esque bounce of “50 Freaky B*tches” ft. 21 Lil Harold, to the furiously flex-heavy “Nothing Into Something,” DonaFizzo hits harder than a bo-staff from start to finish. The tape is home to singles like the Memphis posse cut “Dust Town Livin” ft. Big Scarr & Big Moochie Grape and “Standin On Top Of Sh*t,” a collaboration with Key Glock.

DonaFizzo (Deluxe) is the latest salvo in a busy year for Jay Fizzle and the rest of PRE. Fizzle kicked off the year with purpose, sharing “LLD,” a heartfelt tribute to his mentor Young Dolph. Adorned with lush harmonies and a star vocal turn from Ricco Barrino, “Long Live Dolph” finds Jay Fizzle baring his soul, the South Memphis native audibly emotional when he relays his gratitude to his mentor for teaching him everything he knows: “The way I talk, the way I walk, the way I act, the way I dress/The way I do my thing up in the booth, I learned it from the best.” With over 1.8 million views on YouTube, “LLD” is the opening track from Paper Route Empire Presents: Long Live Dolph, a compilation album from the independent label, which features appearances from nearly every artist on PRE, including Key Glock, Big Moochie Grape, Kenny Muney and more.

Buy/Stream DonaFizzo (Deluxe): https://music.empi.re/donafizzodeluxe

DonaFizzo (Deluxe) tracklist:
# denotes new song for the Deluxe

Gucci Mane#
Major#
Tello N Bart ft. Key Glock#
Granny Happy#
King Sh*t#
Bounce ft. PaperRoute Woo#
Birdman
Fake Love#
Never Going Broke#
Hood Rich
Standin On Top Of Sh*t ft. Key Glock
Nike Check
Dust Town Livin ft. Big Scarr & Big Moochie Grape
Park The Benz
50 Freaky B*tches ft. 21 Lil Harold
Look Like Money ft. Jackboy & Joddy Badass
Choppas Like Choppas
Four Hoes
Murder ft. SNUPE BANDZ
Won’t Cost Sh*t
Nothing Into Something
Cautious
Atmosphere
Last Song

Please contact Michelle or Chris for more info.

Links:

instagram | twitter | youtube

DonaFizzo (Deluxe): https://music.empi.re/donafizzodeluxe

“Won’t Cost Sh*t”: https://youtu.be/8Ws-gD-TTJE

“Dust Town Livin” ft. Big Scarr & Big Moochie Grape: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsMCkMH65Ys

DonaFizzo: https://music.empi.re/donafizzo

“Atmosphere”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4h0abrTxOE

Jay Fizzle – “Standing On Top Of Sh*t” ft. Key Glock: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40_4__6mKYM

“Murder” ft. SNUPE BANDZ: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJ1aXw_0bCQ

Jay Fizzle – “Last Song”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-cmIIIxPh0

Jay Fizzle – “Paper Route Bidness”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPLAMBK7GfE

Jay Fizzle – “Zaba Freestyle”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCmRrNvJZOU

Jay Fizzle – “4 HOS” (Prod. by Bandplay): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCRoLxZJWwA

Jay Fizzle – “LLD” ft. Ricco Barrino: https://youtu.be/9KBrMfW8bcQ

Paper Route Empire Presents: Long Live Dolph: https://music.empi.re/longliveyoungdolph

PAPER ROUTE iLLUMINATi: https://music.empi.re/preilluminati

END

Press Release

Rolling Loud Announces Presale for Rolling Loud Portugal 2023

Go to Post

10.28.2022

Rolling Loud Announces Rolling Loud Portugal 2023

The World’s Premier Rap Festival Returns to the Beaches of Portimao on July 5th-7th, 2023

Presale Tickets Are Available Now

Rolling Loud’s Latest European Excursion Follows-Up a Successful First Year Which Brought an International Array of A-Listers to the Algarve Coast of Southern Portugal

The Announcement:

Hosting star-studded festivals on multiple continents in 2022, Rolling Loud continues to set the gold standard for live rap music. This week, the festival announces its return to Europe with Rolling Loud Portugal 2023, hitting the beaches of the country’s Algarve region next summer. Like its inaugural event in 2022, Rolling Loud Portugal 2023 promises the finest rap music from the U.S., UK, and Europe, hosted in a picturesque seaside setting. Rolling Loud Portugal 2023 touches down on the beaches of Portimão on July 5th-7th, 2023. Presale tickets are available now at Portugal.RollingLoud.com

Rolling Loud’s first full-fledged European festival, Rolling Loud Portugal 2022 was was a massive success, bringing headliners J. Cole, A$AP Rocky, and Future to top a bill packed with an international array of A-listers. The three-day fest featured memorable performances from UK rappers like Central Cee, Skepta, and D-Block Europe, plus local artists from the buzzing Portuguese rap scene. Rolling Loud Portugal 2023 promises a similarly eclectic lineup, as the best of the U.S. and Europe take the stage on the beach.

Rolling Loud had a massive 2022, hosting five festivals in four countries this year alone. In September, Rolling Loud threw its first-ever Canadian festival, Rolling Loud Toronto, headlined by Future, WizKid, and Dave. Rolling Loud hosted its flagship Rolling Loud Miami festival in July, gathering the culture for one of the most exciting events of the year, featuring headlining performances from Kendrick Lamar, Kid Cudi, and Future.

Earlier in the summer, Rolling Loud made its European debut, hosting Rolling Loud Portugal and Rolling Loud x Woo Hah Fest, the brand’s first camping festival, in The Netherlands. Rolling Loud’s world tour continued in with Rolling Loud New York in September, headlined by Nicki Minaj, A$AP Rocky, and Future. Rolling Loud keeps the momentum going in 2023 with Rolling Loud California at Hollywood Park in Los Angeles in March, and Rolling Loud Thailand, its first festival in Asia, in April 2023. Presale tickets for Rolling Loud Thailand are also available now.

Led by its founders Matt Zingler and Tariq Cherif, Rolling Loud is the most powerful hip-hop festival in history. Stay tuned for many more announcements.

Buy presale tickets for Rolling Loud Portugal 2023: portugal.rollingloud.com

Stay tuned for more info, and check out Rolling Loud Portugal on Instagram for all the latest updates.

Watch clips and full performances at Rolling Loud’s YouTube

Buy Rolling Loud Merch: shoprollingloud.com

The crowd at Rolling Loud Portugal 2022 (credit: Rolling Loud / srodriguez92)

Critical Praise:

“Rolling Loud has become the biggest hip-hop festival in the country” – Variety

“Built from scratch by lifelong music fans Matt Zingler and Tariq Cherif, Rolling Loud’s early strengths were its daring curation and booking, elevating a new generation of artists with exciting live shows and captivating energy. Today, the biggest performers headline the raucous Miami festival, coming from all over the world, often driven solely by their love and trust of Zingler and Cherif.” – Billboard

“From niche hip-hop festival to must-play event for some of the biggest stars in music.” – Pollstar

“Until Elon Musk involuntarily envelops society into a physical cloud universe, Rolling Loud will be the closest experience to actually living inside your streaming app.” – Complex

“Rolling Loud’s annual New York edition is always something special, but this year’s Halloween-weekend extravaganza (not to mention the first post-pandemic) brought seriously spectacular energy to Queens’ Citi Field.” – Highsnobiety

“Rolling Loud is a lifestyle brand. They are more than just the shows. They have built a community with their consumers and are building new channels to maintain continuity” – Forbes

“In four and a half years — beginning small in Miami, and now promoting Coachella-sized events around the country — Rolling Loud has established itself as a playground for the young…This time last year, many of the rappers now drawing crowds of several thousand were barely known.” – The New York Times

Please contact Michelle, Kerry, or Kevin for more info.

The Background:

About Rolling Loud
Founded by 5-time Billboard Hip-Hop Power Players Matt Zingler & Tariq Cherif as a one-day Miami show, Rolling Loud has grown into a global festival phenomenon, putting on shows on both coasts and in multiple countries. Rolling Loud is the premier festival brand in hip-hop, known for its expert curation of wide-ranging lineups that reflect the state of the genre.

Rolling Loud recently wrapped Miami 2022, its biggest event to date, headlined by Kid Cudi, Kendrick Lamar, and Future, and the inaugural Rolling Loud Portugal, which brought an international array of all-stars to the beaches of Portimåo, Portugal. The festival’s busy 2022 continued in September, with the first ever Rolling Loud Toronto, headlined by Future, WizKid, and Dave, and Rolling Loud New York, headlined by Nicki Minaj, A$AP Rocky & Future.

In 2023, Rolling Loud expands its empire further, returning to Los Angeles for Rolling Loud California 2023 and venturing to Pattaya for Rolling Loud Thailand, its first-ever festival on the continent of Asia.

Links:

website | facebook | twitter | instagram

For full information, head to
https://www.rollingloud.com

Check out Rolling Loud on Twitch: twitch.tv/rollingloud

END

Press Release

Ice Spice Shares Video for “Bikini Bottom”

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10.28.2022

Ice Spice Shares Video For “Bikini Bottom”

Watch HERE

Critical Praise:

“In a frenzied genre, she’s a calm rapper, which is part of what makes this song so frosty — the beat is skittish and portentous, but Ice Spice sounds at peace. She’s rhyming quickly, but also calmly and slightly dismissively, probably because of the subject matter. That would be a man who might be useful in some ways, but is easily dismissed — someone who’s on call, but barely needed. He’s good at one thing, and when that’s done, not much else — he’s a munch. Get used to saying it.” – The New York Times

“Ice Spice’s ‘Munch (Feelin’ U)’ Is the New York Rap Song of the Summer We’ve Been Waiting For” – Pitchfork

“She knows exactly how and where to exhale her rhymes into drill music’s sleek architecture, offering a breathy human counterpoint to the alien bass lines, the glitchy hi-hats, the antiseptic synth melodies that tend to hide out in the corner.” – The Washington Post

The Video:

Taking over the game with her seductive charm and cache of undeniable bangers, Ice Spice has fans buzzing in NYC and beyond. Today, Ice Spice drops the anticipated follow-up to her hit “Munch (Feelin U),” sharing her “Bikini Bottom” song and video, live now on WorldstarHipHop.

LISTEN HERE. WATCH HERE

Check HERE for more information about the song and video

More Praise:

“Setting trails ablaze as a powerful female figure in a male-dominated subculture, Bronx-made artist Ice Spice hit the New York drill scene with buzzworthy cuts like ‘Bully Freestyle’ and ‘Euphoric.’ … the 22-year-old has become synonymous with razor-sharp bars, in-your-face delivery, and ominous beats.” – Pigeons & Planes

“Ice Spice knows how to create a mood” – Pitchfork – Meet five women breathing new life into New York drill

“Ice Spice simply has all the tools for success and knows how to use them…The 22-year-old pairs her appearance with the cleanest and catchiest production coming out of the Bronx, grabbing listeners’ attention before she even speaks” –DJ Booth

“Her presence is strong and steadfast without having to scream or degrade her way into making a point or getting people moving….abundantly clear that Ice Spice will be one of the next big names to pop from New York City” – Lyrical Lemonade

Please contact Michelle or T’Keyah for more info.

The Background:

“You thought I was feelin’ you?

It’s become the line heard all across social media, fueled by Bronx rapper/singer Ice Spice. The 22-year-old rising star first posed that question on her viral hit “Munch (Feelin’ U)” and it’s been up ever since. The song has since surfed the airwaves of streaming platforms and even TikTok, boosted by a cosign from Drake and armed with a video that adds colorful visuals to this Drill anthem. While Ice Spice is steadily soaring up the ranks as the First Lady of Bronx Drill, she has much more in store—transcending genres and moving from New York City onto the rest of the world.

Links:

instagram | twitter | soundcloud | youtube | spotify

“Bikini Bottom”: https://icespice.lnk.to/bikinibottom / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8bHLBqnOMQ

“Munch (Feelin U)”: https://wsds.ffm.to/munchfeelinu / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yF-NC3eRsqc

“On The Radar Freestyle”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RavvEbb8uJs

“Name Of Love”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MGt2N-q_2Y

“No Clarity”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U77JyALAfk0

END

Press Release

Making a “Best Of 2022” Albums List? Consider These Projects From AT Clients

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From the Sound of the Underground to the Top of the Billboard Charts, Audible Treats Clients Made Waves in 2022

Please Consider These Excellent Albums For Your Year-End Lists

It’s been an all-too-common refrain over the past few years: we’re living in unprecedented times. One of the more benign, but still challenging, things that is unprecedented in our modern life is the vast ocean of music that is available at our fingertips.

Hundreds, if not thousands, of albums, mixtapes, and other assorted releases flood the digital airwaves each week–it’s hard out there for any artist, indie or major, to cut through the noise and create a body of work that draws attention. Spotify reported that an average of 100,000 songs are uploaded to the platform every day.

Even among the vast competition, Audible Treats clients managed to stand out, building strong fanbases not by pandering to the masses, but by staying true to themselves and making the art that authentically reflects their points-of-view and lived experiences. These projects take us to the heart of Chicago’s South Side, the streets of Castalia Heights in Memphis, the bleak landscape of Detroit’s 6 Mile, and the vacant flats of Shepherd’s Bush in London. Others are less grounded, beaming in from a universe of the artist’s own creation.

Some have recently argued that hip-hop’s dominance is waning, but this selection of albums speaks to the genre’s strength. They’ve racked up hundreds of millions of streams, climbed Billboard charts, and continued to build a roadmap for these artists and their families to escape the circumstances of their birth. As the late Young Dolph understood, the main objective of the rap game is to build a legacy that lasts forever.

Check below to read about eleven albums that made a mark this year–please consider them for your Best Albums of 2022 lists, and don’t forget to scroll down to the bottom to find a couple albums that will make a big impact on the year’s final months.

Play these albums loud. Preferably in a residential area.

Happy listening from the Audible Treats team,
Michelle, Gavin, Dan, Kerry, Kevin, Annjie, Destiny, T’Keyah, Chris, Frank, Alexandra & Julio

THE ALBUMS:

$NOT – Ethereal
(300 Ent.)
press release | link

With wide-ranging tastes and talent to match, $NOT occupies a sonic universe that is entirely his own. The 14 tracks on his 2022 album Ethereal paint a portrait of an artist growing into his potential, making experimentation feel as natural as breathing. Aided by creative direction from A$AP Rocky’s AWGE, $NOT indulges in his most adventurous artistic ideas on this album, trying his hand at every style under the sun. He recruits Joey Bada$$ for “How U Feel,” a traditionalist boom-bap workout, just minutes after teaming with Trippie Redd for the synth-heavy rager “ALONE” and trading verses with Juicy J in the lounge-accented Tennessee trap of “Halle Berry.” The follow-up to 2020’s Beautiful Havoc, the otherworldly Ethereal is $NOT’s most successful project to date, with hundreds of millions of streams across platforms and a #66 peak on the Billboard 200.

King Von – What It Means To Be King
(Only The Family/EMPIRE)
press release | link

Though his life was tragically short, King Von left a towering legacy, establishing himself as one of rap music’s most vital and talented storytellers. A labor of love that compiles unheard music from the artist’s oeuvre, What It Means To Be King is packed with the ferocious bars and gripping narratives that earned him a huge fanbase, but also hints at some of the directions he might have taken if he had more time. The album features contributions from many of the people who knew Von best, including regular producer and collaborator Chopsquad DJ, his “twin” Lil Durk, and fellow O’Block natives like Boss Top and DqFrmDaO, along with street rap heroes like like 21 Savage, Moneybagg Yo, G Herbo, and more, making plain the level of respect Von commanded in the rap game at large. Putting an exclamation point on Von’s legacy and establishing him as a generational talent, What It Means To Be King debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 with over 64k sold in its first week.

Central Cee – 23
(self-released)
press release | link

Streaking through the UK rap scene like a comet through the night sky, Central Cee is the UK’s most promising rap star. His February mixtape 23 was the latest indication that the lad from Shepherd’s Bush has worldwide mass appeal. Home to hit singles like the slinky “Retail Therapy,” the inspirational “Khabib,” and head-nodding “Straight Back To It,” all of which charted in the UK Top 25, and the worldwide smash “Obsessed With You” (#4 in the UK), 23 is a steely, confident, and fun-loving salvo from a young artist who knows this is just the beginning. Among the tape highlights: “Eurovision,” a border-crossing posse cut which brought together 8 rappers from four countries and fiery verses in French, English, Spanish, and Italian. 23 debuted at #1 on the UK Official Charts, fending off stalwarts like Tears For Fears, and kept selling, landing on the Official Charts’ list of Biggest Albums of 2022 So Far in the UK.

Icewear Vezzo – Rich Off Pints 3
(Iced Up Records)
press release | link

A shrewd slick-talker and an accomplished businessman, Icewear Vezzo is one of the key figures in the red hot Detroit rap scene. Filled with sinister, piano-led production, his mixtape Rich Off Pints 3 acts as a hustler’s handbook, bursting at the seams with handy street lessons for aspiring executives, sneering missives that take aim at fakes, and heartfelt reflections on the hard work it takes to achieve a better life. Continuing the story started by 2021’s Rich Off Pints and Rich Off Pints 2, ROP3 highlights Vezzo’s strength as a songwriter, bringing rock-solid concepts and crisp turns-of-phrase that leave a lasting impression. Welcoming guests like Key Glock, G Herbo, and fellow Detroiter Baby Money, plus 2021 hits “Up The Scoe” ft. Lil Durk and “Know The Difference” ft. Lil Baby, the strength of Rich Off Pints 3 helped Vezzo earn a new record deal with Quality Control Music.

Lupe Fiasco – Drill Music In Zion
(1st & 15th/Thirty Tigers)
press release | link

Stylish and substantive, with a supernatural sense of metaphor and a massive vocabulary, Lupe Fiasco is one of his generation’s finest rhymers. Released 16 years into his career, DRILL MUSIC IN ZION is a standout album in his illustrious discography, a focused statement that reflects on the past and paves a way forward, preaching strength through mindfulness and self-sustaining community. The product of a burst of thoughtful spontaneity, Lupe created the new album over a short period, diving into a folder of beats sent by Soundtrakk and emerging with a fully-realized album in just three days (“Sometimes deadlines are lifelines,” says Lupe). The title juxtaposes the street music of his hometown of Chicago–music that emerged as a way of dealing with hellish living conditions–with the biblical promised land, positing that art created out of pain might not be worth the pain itself.

Though it was created quickly, Lupe’s eighth studio album is packed with the twisty narratives and layered meanings that have become Lupe’s trademark, spliced with incisive social commentary and winking observations about the way we live today. Highlights include “NAOMI,” in which Lupe fuses playful political analysis with poignant emotional resonance, and “MS. MURAL,” a textured and deeply felt story-song that continues a series that started on 2014’s Tetsuo & Youth (“Mural”) and continued with his last album, 2017’s DROGAS WAVE (“Mural Jr.”). As usual, Lupe stuns with his verbosity, but one of the album’s most powerful moments occurs when he decides to hold back: on album closer, “ON FAUX NEM,” Lupe spits: “Rappers die too much. That’s it, that’s the verse.”

LUCKI – FLAWLESS LIKE ME
(EMPIRE)
press release | link

After steadily building a rabid fanbase over the course of nearly a decade, Chicago rapper LUCKI finally found overdue mainstream recognition in 2022. The vehicle for this recognition was FLAWLESS LIKE ME, the rapper’s most ambitious and expansive full-length to date. Accompanied by carnivalesque, blissful synth melodies that provide a counterpoint to LUCKI’s purr, the fast-rising rapper paints a surreal portrait of his semi-charmed life–LUCKI swerves in his souped-up foreign in one bar, before bemoaning a lost love or wistfully recounting his struggles with drug addiction. For the first time in his career, LUCKI rolls out the red carpet for guest rappers–on “KAPITOL DENIM” ft. Future, LUCKI goes toe-to-toe with Pluto himself, and he trades twisting verses with Babyface Ray in the woozy and hard-hitting “WHITE HOUSE.” The album includes bonus tracks “SUPER URUS” and “Y NOT?,” two fan favorites that fit the expansive vibe of the project.

FLAWLESS LIKE ME was the culmination of a long rise from the underground for the 26-year-old artist. The album debuted at #12 on the Billboard 200 chart, with over 25k sales-equivalent units in its first week.

Pi’erre Bourne – Good Movie
(SossHouse/Interscope Records)
press release | link

Pi’erre Bourne has established himself as one of the best producers in the game, but he’ll be the first to tell you that he’s just formidable on the mic as behind the boards. His 2022 album Good Movie is an expansive showcase for his skills with melody, mixing his immersive beats with languid auto-tune and insistently infectious hooks.

On album standout “Psane,” Bourne and Don Toliver conjure up a frenetic banger with bright video game synths and layered vocals that set the stage for Bourne’s joyous verses. Highlights like “What I Gotta Do” and “Where You Going” incorporate elements of Jersey/Philly club music into his atmospheric world, while kinetic songs like “Moving Too Fast” ft. Young Nudy and “SossHouse Party” are natural next steps for his candy-coated signature sound. Simple and emphatic, words spill out of the rapper effortlessly: on “Kingdom Hall,” he stacks outlandish metaphor after outlandish metaphor, intoning “Shakes-pi’erre, Romeo & Juliet/She may die for the kid.”

With multiple albums in the books in 2022, including the Juicy J collab Space Age Pimpin’, Pi’erre Bourne is in the midst of a creative renaissance. Pi’erre’s hero’s journey reached a climax with Good Movie, proving that he could conquer all comers with peerless instrumentals and inventive vocals.

Paper Route Empire – Long Live Dolph
(Paper Route Empire)
press release | link

When Young Dolph tragically passed last year, he left a hole too big for one person to fill. Luckily, Dolph spent a decade fostering a creative community of folks determined to follow in his footsteps: Paper Route Empire, a thriving independent record label and video production company with a talented and hungry group of artists eager and equipped to fulfill their mentor’s vast vision.

Paper Route Empire Presents: Long Live Dolph is tribute to the man and a toast to the future, showcasing the talents of the label’s formidable roster. Spanning 8 tracks, the project features contributions from almost every artist on Paper Route Empire. Jay Fizzle, PRE’s longest-tenured signee, leads the tape with the Ricco Barrino-assisted, gospel-inflected “LLD,” a tribute to the man who he credits with helping his 16 year-old self escape the streets. Kenny Muney offers a plaintive remembrance of his mentor using one of Dolph’s signature phrases on “Role Model,” and Big Moochie Grape defiantly claims his intention to take Paper Route Empire to new heights on “In Dolph We Trust.” On album highlight “Proud,” Key Glock honors his mentor and declares his intentions to keep the mission going: “F*** that humble s***, let’s go, you know I’m spazzin’ out ‘bout mine.”

Long Live Dolph is reflective, but it is also triumphant; 2022 was a banner year for the PRE label, as artists like Key Glock, Kenny Muney, and Big Moochie Grape released accomplished albums of their own. Possessed with an undying fervor that can’t be quenched, PRE won’t stop til their empire stretches from coast to coast.
#LongLiveFlippa #PRE5LIFE

BONES – AmericanSweetheart
(TeamSESH/EMPIRE)
press release | link

Releasing three full-lengths in what could be considered a relatively light year for the underground stalwart, BONES is beloved by his fans for his consistent excellence, a quality not diluted by his prolific output. Embracing his folk hero status, his AmericanSweetheart album establishes BONES as a blue-collar rock star for the internet era. The versatile artist subsumes a variety of styles into his dark aesthetic, but his lyricism is playful, packing in references to films like Planes, Trains & Automobiles, Pee Wee’s Big Adventure, Rocky IV, and more.

Songs like “Juno” and “7thGenerationBlunts” bear the influences of Memphis trap, but other highlights absorb sounds from hip-hop history: “Playback” is a haunted slice of East Coast boom bap, “Panic Button” finds BONES ripping fast raps atop the “Amen” break, “CoolHandLuke” kicks off with a Pharrell-esque four count, and other songs sneak in references to artists like the St. Lunatics and Pretty Ricky. The album’s more emotional tracks show off BONES’ skill with melody and ability to pack deep feelings into crisp turns of phrase: “I hate that I made you put up with me/Disgrace fits me so comfortably,” he intones on “CutYouLoose.”

With influential fans like A$AP Rocky and Justin Bieber, BONES is well on his way to making the jump from underground king to radio darling. AmericanSweetheart is the proof that he might not need to change his style in the process.

Dro Kenji – ANYWHERE BUT HERE
(MiraTouch/Internet Money Records/10K Projects)
press release | link

Dro Kenji uses his supernatural sense of melody and precocious pen game to craft emotionally charged bangers. The third and most ambitious of the full-lengths Kenji released in 2022, ANYWHERE BUT HERE is a showcase for the 20-year-old artist’s expressive singing, as he delivers arresting arias that are alternately heartfelt and flex-heavy. The album features appearances from Kenji’s fellow Gen Z rap stars, including Midwxst, NoCap, Ka$hdami, and Mike Dimes on the hard-hitting breakout hit “STEP BACK.” With some of the best pipes in the underground and Internet Money with his back, Kenji looks primed to reach even greater heights in the near future.

Trapland Pat – Trapnificent
(Bang Biz Ent. / Alamo)
press release | link

A charismatic riser with a million watt smile, Trapland Pat wins acclaim with his verbal dexterity and unique musicality. His first album for Alamo Records and Bang Biz Ent, the imprint founded by Fredo Bang, Trapnificent is a refined example of the South Florida sound, incorporating elements of Pat’s love for rappers like Lil Wayne and Rick Ross, and Kompa music that he absorbed through his Haitian heritage. Pat taps frequent collaborator PepperJack Zoe, who produced his breakout hit “Big Business,” to handle the bulk of the production, his creeping piano-led beats providing grounding for Pat’s larger-than-life bars and hummable melodies. The album features two featured verses from his label boss Fredo Bang, and rolls out the red carpet for a tasteful collection of guests including Mozzy, BIG30, and Eli Fross.

Trapnificent earned praise from Pitchfork, who called the project a “zippy distillation of his regional roots” and said that Pat’s music is “extremely regionally and culturally specific, like so much exciting and promising new rap music.” The Deerfield Beach native followed up the project by inviting the Boss himself, Rick Ross, to hop on the remix to his breakout hit “Big Business.”

COMING SOON:

Chief Keef – Almighty So 2
(43B)
announcement press release | pre-save link

Chief Keef’s remarkable rise in 2012 changed the face of rap music forever, igniting a drill movement that has spread worldwide over the past decade. In the immediate aftermath of that fateful year, Sosa retreated inward, sharing the experimental and mind-bending Almighty So mixtape in 2013. Home to fan-favorites like “Blew My High” and “Ape Sh*t,” Almighty So developed a cult following, becoming a go-to pick for discerning fans of the rapper’s massive discography.

Now, riding a new creative high and making money moves as the founder of his own imprint 43B, Keef returns to the recesses of his mind with Almighty So 2, his next mixtape. Home to recent singles like “Racks Stuffed Inna Couch” and the TikTok-viral “Tony Montana Flow,” the upcoming project promises new flows, bombastic instrumentals, and clever phrases that only Sosa could turn. Stay tuned for more updates.

03 Greedo – Free 03
(Alamo)
announcement press release | pre-save link

Before 03 Greedo went to jail in the Summer of 2018, he went to work, recording thousands of songs in a burst of inspired creativity, ensuring that he’d be able to feed the streets during his sentence. Coming soon, the defiant Free 03 reiterates Greedo’s position as one of the most innovative rappers in the game today. Created in collaboration with L.A. hitmaker Mike Free, Free 03 brings a widescreen, high-definition version of Greedo’s creeping West Coast sh*t. Greedo continues to unfurl his taffy-like melodies and stream-of-consciousness flows, as demonstrated on the recent single “Drop Down” ft. KenTheMan. The latest in a line of producer collaborations by Greedo that includes Netflix & Deal with Kenny Beats and Still Summer In The Projects with Mustard, Free 03 is coming soon.

Links:

Audible Treats: official site | instagram | twitter

END

Press Release

Rauw Alejandro, Memes, and Metalcore Make Waves on TikTok

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10.27.2022

TikTok Treats, Week of October 24th

Oliver Tree Trends Once Again, Rauw Alejandro Inspires New Moves, Rising Rock Artists like Bad Omens and Ryan Oakes Take Their Turn in the Spotlight, Plus More From Music on TikTok

The News:

Each week, the TikTok Treats newsletter gives a snapshot of the state of music on TikTok, touching on trending hits, emerging artists, superstar moves, ascendant memes, and much more. Check out this week’s trends below:

Sam Smith and Kim Petras made a splash on TikTok when they shared a snippet of their song “Unholy” on TikTok in August. The snippet generated hundreds of thousands of video creations before the song’s release last month, and all that TikTok activity helped the song debut at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. Three weeks later, after 1 million more creations on the official audio, “Unholy” climbed to #1 on the Hot 100, marking the first #1 hit on that chart for either artist.
Masterfully bending and blurring genres, Oliver Tree and all his eccentric energy has made him a favorite of the TikTok community. Previously making waves on TikTok with “Life Goes On,” Oliver is taking over the platform again with his upbeat dance track “Miss You” with Robin Schulz. The song, which is a remix to his 2020 track “Jerk,” has garnered over 478K total creations and soundtracks creations from those who want to show off their shuffle dance skills, skateboard fitness tricks, and astrology analysis. Oliver Tree has engaged with the sound in his own whimsical way, revealing his professional basketball dreams, satirizing AirPods in a comedy skit, and speeding down the street on a scooter.
The new song by Latin superstars Rauw Alejandro and Baby Rasta, “PUNTO 40” (897K+ creations), is the latest track to be embraced on TikTok for a fun dance challenge. Lighthearted and simple enough for amateurs to learn, the dance challenge has become a hit with creators already decked out in their Halloween costumes, glow in the dark daddy-daughter duos, and even Latin music giant and TikTok favorite Bad Bunny, who did the dance with his crew. Rauw enjoys interacting with the sound on his own account:he and his dancers put their moves to the test as they hit the dance challenge backstage and recently, hitting the moves on stage, much to the excitement of his fans.
Country music has grown in popularity on TikTok, as artists like David Morris and Honey County have developed massive audiences using the platform. The TikTok community keeps their appreciation for country music going with alt-country singer Tyler Childers’ song, “All Your’n.” Boasting over 193.6K creations between the original and sped-up version, the guitar-heavy song finds creators using the song to share wholesome moments with their children, document their cozy fall dates, and show off their stylish Halloween costumes. In other recent videos, “All Your’n” soundtracks creators’ shopping hauls, life advice, and hilarious photo montages of themselves.
TikTok creators are experts at using irony to slyly and humorously invert the meaning of a song. Inspired by Nickelback’s lead singer Chad Kroeger’s 2002 song, “Hero” ft. Josie Scott, famously used in the original Spider-Man film, TikTok creators participate in a hilarious trend of offering unhelpful advice to others’ problems. Garnering 13.5K creations to date, the bubbling trend finds creators’ solving their wives’ anxiety by telling them not to worry, reenacting school districts offering snacks to overwhelmed teachers, and troubleshooting their parents’ issues with electronics.
With songs like Metallica’s “Master of Puppets” and Ghost’s “Mary On A Cross” trending in recent months, TikTok has proven to be a hospitable home for heavy music. Rising metalcore band Bad Omens found an audience on the platform with their crushing new single “Just Pretend” (6k video creations). The song is rising as the band’s fans defiantly shoot down stereotypes associated with people who listen to metalcore and other heavy genres. Metalcore fans are not “try hard” or “hateful and aggressive,” nor is the music “just screaming”–fans relate to the sad lyrics and crushing emotion that the genre can express at its best. Buoyed by its TikTok success, “Just Pretend” is currently climbing Spotify’s Viral 50 and converting fans of different genres to Bad Omens’ punishing, yet melodic sound.
Ryan Oakes is the latest independent artist to use SoundOn to further his career. The artist makes a fresh combination of pop-punk and hip-hop, and he’s built an audience of nearly 1 million monthly Spotify listeners by being active on TikTok. The Los Angeles native uses the platform to keep his 121k followers abreast of his new music, including recent songs like “NUMB,” show off his live performance chops, and create new songs with the duet feature. Recently, Ryan has been trending on TikTok with his song “All Alone,” soundtracking a trend where creators slowly discover that they’d rather not be by themselves. The song soundtracks the irresistible urge to procrastinate, indulge in a love for baked goods and the Gilmore Girls, and to buy a new plant to add to your overflowing garden.

Check TikTok’s newsroom for more noteworthy stories: newsroom.tiktok.com

For more info, please contact:
Michelle McDevitt, Annjie Houston, Destiny Riley, T’Keyah Hayes, Audible Treats
Leah Linder, TikTok

The Background:

TikTok is the leading destination for short-form mobile video. Their mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy.

TikTok has global offices including Los Angeles, New York, London, Paris, Berlin, Dubai, Mumbai, Singapore, Jakarta, Seoul, and Tokyo.

Links:

TikTok’s Newsroom: https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-us

END

Press Release

Dro Kenji Craves Clarity on “HOW U FEEL?”

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10.27.2022

Video: Dro Kenji – “HOW U FEEL?”

The South Carolina Star Paces and Pleads with a Precarious Partner in New Video Ahead of his “ANYWHERE BUT HERE Tour,” Kicking Off On October 30th; Including Co-Headlining Dates with Midwxst

Critical Praise:

“His future is bright” – XXL

“South Carolina rock-infused rapper Dro Kenji has been on a tear since last August when he received a call from the Internet Money team. Releasing project after project, Kenji has been showcasing his impressive vocals and emotion-filled lyrics. With his newest project, “F*CK YOUR FEELINGS”, we see Kenji’s most confident and cohesive work.” – Earmilk

“Once he selects a beat, the melodies and lyrics flood over him like an epiphany. The result is raw and heart-sinking music, meant to be a guiding light to fans.” – Audiomack

The Video:

Filtering raw emotion through his expressive vocal tenor, Dro Kenji’s rich melodies have propelled him on an unwavering path to stardom. A candid illustration of the ills that plague him, Kenji shares a new clip for “HOW U FEEL?” the latest visual thriller from his recent project ANYWHERE BUT HERE. The track’s macabre production, courtesy of Census, Taz Taylor, CD.mp3, and DxnnyFxntom, fuses delicate piano with sharp percussion, evoking the defenseless shiver of a cold breeze without a warm blanket, as Kenji makes his plea: “Tell me how you feel ’cause I’ve been under a spell/Tell me how you feel ’bout all the pain you’ve dealt.”

Directed by Keaton Jones of Dorm Room Entertainment, the video for “HOW U FEEL?” animates the chilling exposure emanating throughout the track. The clip jumps between cuts of a restless Kenji pacing around the snow-white interior of his home with the thin protection of a black turtleneck, and a fatigued Kenji moving through a seemingly infinite hallway bathed in lavender hues, as its cinder-block walls create a sense of claustrophobic pressure. Even when he stops for a smoke in the purple-lit corridor, or lounges on the spotless white sheets of his comfortable bed, his heartbreak affords him no respite.

Home to the buzzing Mike Dimes-featured track “STEP BACK,” and featuring appearances from fellow rising stars like Midwxst, Ka$hdami, and NoCap, the 13-track ANYWHERE BUT HERE captures the breadth of Kenji’s ever-improving artistry. On “SO WHAT” ft. DC The Don, Kenji injects his melodies with monstrous energy, while “CIGAR” captures a fatigued ferocity as Kenji howls his heartache at the moon. When presented with cinematic instrumentals from Internet Money producers like Census and his MiraTouch label head Nick Mira, Kenji rises to the occasion, belting lovelorn relationship tales and diabolical flexes through his full-bodied tenor.

Just 20-years-old, Dro Kenji has amassed a sizable discography. Determined to hustle his way to new heights, the young rapper is improving with every release–ANYWHERE BUT HERE arrived as Kenji’s third of 2022, following WITH OR WITHOUT YOU and the recent LOST IN HERE EP, which arrived on DSPs earlier this month. The South Carolina native is following up a breakout 2021, during which he released two albums and the hit single “KILL CUPID” ft. $NOT (23+ million Spotify streams).

Sit back and stay tuned as Dro Kenji continues his ascent to the highest echelons of the rap game and prepares for his upcoming nationwide “ANYWHERE BUT HERE Tour.”

Buy tickets for the “ANYWHERE BUT HERE Tour”: https://shopdrokenji.com/

Watch “HOW U FEEL?”: https://youtu.be/nHr4YXrdZA8

Buy/Stream ANYWHERE BUT HERE: http://drokenji.lnk.to/ABH

“ANYWHERE BUT HERE Tour” Dates:
**co-headline with Midwxst

10/30 – Seattle, WA (Barboza)
11/1 – San Francisco, CA (Cafe Du Nord)
11/3 – Phoenix, AZ (Rebel Lounge)
11/7 – Houston, TX (White Oak Upstairs)
11/17 – Washington, DC (Songbyrd)**
11/18 – Carborro, NC (Cat’s Cradle Back Room)**
11/20 – Nashville, TN (The End)**
11/22 – Philadelphia, PA (The Foundry)
11/25 – Chicago, IL (Reggie’s)**
11/26 – Lakewood, OH (The Foundry)**
11/27 – Toronto, ON (Adelaide Hall)**
11/29 – New York, NY (Mercury Lounge)

Please contact Michelle or Kevin for more info.

The Background:

Dro Kenji’s rise is a testament to the power of the internet. Last year, the 19-year-old artist was a senior in high school in South Carolina, releasing a string of captivating singles and mixtapes on his SoundCloud. Now, he’s preparing to release his debut album on Mira Touch/ Internet Money Records/ 10K Projects, collaborating closely with the label’s team of platinum-certified producers, and hoping to earn some plaques of his own. A true child of the digital age, raised on video games and the lo-fi sounds of rap’s online underground, he has a remarkable ability to capture both the apathy and aspiration of his generation in his songs and a spellbinding voice with which to tell these stories.

View his full bio at audibletreats.com/dro-kenji

Links:

“HOW U FEEL?”: https://youtu.be/nHr4YXrdZA8

Buy “ANYWHERE BUT HERE Tour” tickets: https://shopdrokenji.com/

“OH WOW”: https://youtu.be/bhiOb59mwgU

“SHALLOW”: https://youtu.be/qoxGFTJ_97U

“KILL EM FOR ME” ft. Ka$hdami: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyzkTl8wrwc

ANYWHERE BUT HERE: http://drokenji.lnk.to/ABH

“STEP BACK” ft. Mike Dimes: https://youtu.be/pEih6ZpBcKo

“SO WHAT” ft. DC The Don: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGB0nbCVyCY

LOST IN HERE EP: https://soundcloud.com/drokenji/sets/lost-in-here-ep

“THEY DON’T KNOW”: https://youtu.be/srwjFEK-O_0

“PUSH2START”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cts3CjhLQS4

“USED2KNOW”: https://youtu.be/Ih7DEc82myw

“FINDERS KEEPERS” ft. Internet Money & Scorey: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQ3aMQGPE4k / https://drokenji.lnk.to/FINDERSKEEPERS

WITH OR WITHOUT YOU: https://DroKenji.lnk.to/WITHORWITHOUTYOU

“VANISH”: https://drokenji.lnk.to/vanish

“I’M RICH NOW B**CH”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLBJEkiRci8

“KILL CUPID” ft. $NOT: https://youtu.be/mm2CcEC895U

F*CK YOUR FEELINGS: https://DroKenji.lnk.to/fyf

END

Press Release

SNUPE BANDZ and Paper Route Woo Are Memphis-Proud on “Mold Me”

Go to Post

10.26.2022

SNUPE BANDZ & PaperRoute Woo – “Mold Me”

Paper Route Empire’s Hottest Duo Show How Their City Shaped Them In The Latest Video From Their BOYZ N THE HOOD Mixtape

The Video:

Standing out with their percolating chemistry and boastful bars, SNUPE BANDZ and PaperRoute Woo are one of the hottest duos emerging from the South. They stay true to their Memphis roots on “Mold Me,” the newest music video from their joint mixtape Boyz N The Hood. Going bar for bar over a haunting yet atmospheric piano instrumental, SNUPE and Woo tell their out-the-mud origin stories. Woo makes it clear that no one can change his hustling ways, rapping, “Young n**** from the gutta/F**k college I’m a hustla/Real n**** you a sucka/Never changin’ on my brotha,” while SNUPE honors the memory of Young Dolph and his Memphis heritage, affirming, “I’m from Castalia, n***a Dolph land/South Memphis baby runnin’ with the clan/Out the trap I been playin’ with them rubber bands.” In the video, the duo make a pilgrimage to Castalia Heights, the neighborhood in Memphis that Young Dolph called home. While they perform their song, they flash back to memories of turnt up performances, sage advice from Dolph, and liaisons with their crew outside Memphis’ Castalia SuperMarket.

Showcasing their complimentary styles, with SNUPE as the effortlessly high-flying stunner and Woo as the domineering hard-nosed tactician, Boyz N The Hood is a potent introduction to the duo, who’ve been standouts in the Memphis scene for years. With high-energy features from Arkansas’ own Bankroll Freddie and the crunkstar himself, Duke Deuce, Boyz N The Hood is available everywhere now via Paper Route Empire.

SNUPE BANDZ and PaperRoute Woo have a long history of collaborations, dating back to 2020’s “In My Bag” and continuing through last year’s “Pop Out,” which drew 1.8 million YouTube views. Both SNUPE and Woo joined their mentor Young Dolph on “Nothing To Me,” a standout single from last year’s PAPER ROUTE iLLUMINATi mixtape, generating over 8.9 million views, and they later took the stage in remembrance of their role model during a tribute set at Rolling Loud California 2021. The two Memphis natives made memorable appearances on Paper Route Empire Presents: Long Live Dolph, the recent PRE compilation tape: SNUPE shined on his solo showcase “I Know Why,” and connected with Joddy Badass for the sensual “I Like,” while Woo flashed his mastery of flow in “Fully Equipt.”

Watch “Mold Me”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQGD5wjp7oE

Buy/Stream BOYZ N THE HOOD: https://music.empi.re/boyznthehoodpre

Please contact Michelle or Destiny for more info.

Links:

SNUPE BANDZ: instagram | youtube | spotify
PaperRoute Woo: instagram | youtube | spotify

SNUPE BANDZ & PaperRoute Woo – “Mold Me”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQGD5wjp7oE

SNUPE BANDZ & PaperRoute Woo – BOYZ N THE HOOD: https://music.empi.re/boyznthehoodpre

SNUPE BANDZ & PaperRoute Woo – “Loyal”: https://youtu.be/1DeO4roCyBo

SNUPE BANDZ & PaperRoute Woo – “Straight Like That”: https://youtu.be/esl5UFsIbxc

SNUPE BANDZ & PaperRoute Woo – “Dam Fool”: https://youtu.be/1hUrR2NW9Vk

SNUPE BANDZ – “Barnacle Boy”: https://youtu.be/NF3u3sA7p8E

PaperRoute Woo – “Made It Happen”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXpU4-3tzek

PaperRoute Woo – “Fully Equipt”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYAZ6KN28GM

SNUPE BANDZ – “I Know Why”: https://youtu.be/ttxs9nPIh-4

Joddy Badass ft. SNUPE BANDZ – “I Like”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMZrwPCr7R4

Paper Route Empire Presents: Long Live Dolph: https://music.empi.re/longliveyoungdolph

PAPER ROUTE iLLUMINATi: https://music.empi.re/preilluminati

END

Press Release

StemDrop Officially Launches on TikTok with Max Martin-Penned Song “Red Lights”

Go to Post

10.26.2022

StemDrop Officially Launches On TikTok with Max Martin-Penned Single “Red Lights”

Presented by TikTok, Syco, Universal Music Group, Republic Records and Samsung

The News:

View StemDrop press pack HERE

Today, StemDrop officially launches on TikTok in collaboration with Syco Entertainment, Universal Music Group, Republic Records, Samsung and one of the greatest songwriting teams in history, led by 5x Grammy Award winner, Max Martin.

“Red Lights,“ the brand new track written by Max Martin, Savan Kotecha and Ali Payami exclusively for StemDrop, is now available to the TikTok community who will be able to use the stems as a starting point to create their own unique tracks and kickstart their careers.

As announced last Wednesday, StemDrop is a groundbreaking new evolution in global music collaboration and discovery that will give artists and creators a platform to showcase their talent to the world and collaborate with some of the best songwriters of all time. Find more information about StemDrop on TikTok’s newsroom here and find further assets here.

StemDrop’s global ambassadors, TikTok music curator Ari Elkins, singer-songwriter Astrid S, and Your Boy Moyo are posting daily content on the @StemDrop channel and will be reacting to the best and most exciting StemDrops on TikTok, make sure you’re following.

So whether you’re an aspiring musician, established artist or bedroom singer, you can take part in StemDrop and create your own unique version of “Red Lights.”

StemDrop FAQs:

What is Red Lights about and who wrote it?

Red Lights was written by Max Martin, multiple Grammy-Award winning songwriter, Savan Kotecha, who is behind massive hits for One Direction, Ariane Grande and Katy Perry and Ali Payami, who has produced and co-written with Taylor Swift and The Weeknd.

As described by Savan Kotecha:“‘Red Lights’ is a song about the kind of love and connection that won’t go away no matter how many people tell you it’s wrong or how bad things get. Once you’ve been with that person, nothing else feels right. “Running Red Lights” is a metaphor for the kind of love that will always be able to pull you back no matter where you are. Something we’ve all been through before.”

How can creators get involved?

The stems (the individual components of the song) of a 60-second version of “Red Lights” by Max Martin, Savan Kotecha & Ali Payami is now available on TikTok

The stems can be accessed by the TikTok community in two ways:
- StemDrop Mixer: Designed by Samsung, this is a special in-app branded effect where creators of all levels can experiment with the stems, including individual effects, harmonies and melodies. For best results, don’t use headphones.
- StemDrop Official Website: For tech savvy artists & producers, who can download the official stems via a website hosted by Universal Music Group to create on the software of your choice here.

Creators can use either of these tools to create, record and share their creations using the hashtag #StemDrop001 on TikTok.

Here is an example from artist Ben Cipolla (@bencipolla).

What next?

Follow the official StemDrop channel (@stemdrop), which will provide the community with a window into the StemDrop process. The channel will surface new artistic talent and shine a slight on new versions of the track being created around the world.

We’ll be sharing regular updates for press with the StemDrop tracks and artists that are taking off on TikTok.

Read the release on TikTok’s newsroom: https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-gb/stemdrop-launches-on-tiktok

For more info, please contact:
For TikTok:
Michelle McDevitt, Annjie Houston, Destiny Riley or T’Keyah Hayes, Audible Treats
Leah Linder, TikTok

For Simon Cowell:
AnnMarie Samson, Arion Strategies

For Universal Music Group:
James Murtagh-Hopkins, Universal

The Background:

About TikTok
TikTok is the leading destination for short-form mobile video. Our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy. TikTok has global offices including Los Angeles, New York, London, Paris, Berlin, Dubai, Singapore, Jakarta, Seoul, and Tokyo.

About Simon Cowell and Syco Entertainment
Simon Cowell is a television and film producer, record executive and a global entertainment visionary. Renowned for his eye for talent Simon has completely transformed popular culture through his showbusiness enterprise.

His company, Syco Entertainment, is an independent entertainment company which created and owns TV formats such as “Got Talent” and “The X Factor”. Got Talent is officially the world’s most successful reality TV format; America’s Got Talent has remained the No1 summer series in the US for the past 16 years; The X Factor is the most successful music TV format in history delivering more global chart stars than any other show in the world. These two shows are currently on air in more than 180 countries and are watched by more than a billion people each year.

Through his TV formats, Simon has launched more superstar careers than any other in history including One Direction, Fifth Harmony, Leona Lewis, Little Mix, James Arthur, Grace VanderWaal and Susan Boyle.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies. The company is redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, digital appliances, network systems, and memory, system LSI, foundry and LED solutions. For the latest news, please visit the Samsung Newsroom at news.samsung.com.

About Universal Music Group
At Universal Music Group, we exist to shape culture through the power of artistry. UMG is the world leader in music-based entertainment, with a broad array of businesses engaged in recorded music, music publishing, merchandising and audiovisual content. Featuring the most comprehensive catalogue of recordings and songs across every musical genre, UMG identifies and develops artists and produces and distributes the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful music in the world. Committed to artistry, innovation and entrepreneurship, UMG fosters the development of services, platforms, and business models in order to broaden artistic and commercial opportunities for our artists and create new experiences for fans. For more information, visit www.universalmusic.com.

About Republic Records
A division of Universal Music Group, the world’s leading music company, Republic Records is home to an all-star roster of multi-platinum, award-winning legends and superstar artists such as Ariana Grande, Bastille, Billy Porter, Bo Burnham, Clairo, Conan Gray, Daddy Yankee, Drake, Eddie Vedder, G Herbo, Glass Animals, Florence + the Machine, Greta Van Fleet, Hailee Steinfeld, Jack Johnson, James Blake, James Bay, Jessie J, Jimmy Fallon, John Legend, John Mellencamp, Jonas Brothers, Julia Michaels, Kid Cudi, Kim Petras, Lil Wayne, Lorde, Metro Boomin, NAV, Nicki Minaj, Of Monsters and Men, Pearl Jam, Post Malone, Seth MacFarlane, Stevie Wonder, Swedish House Mafia, Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, TXT, Twice and more. Founded by brothers and chief executives Monte and Avery Lipman, it is also comprised of innovative business ventures, including American Recordings, Boominati Worldwide, Brushfire, Casablanca Records, Cash Money, HYBE, Imperial, JYP, Lava Records, Universal Arabic Music, Victor Victor, XO, Young Money, among others. In addition, Republic is home to high-profile soundtracks for Universal Pictures (Sing and Sing 2), Sony Pictures (Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse), Apple TV+ (Coda), Netflix (Don’t Look Up), MGM/UAR (Licorice Pizza), NBC TV’s (The Voice) as well as other notable film and television franchises. Expanding further into content, Republic has launched Federal Films which produces films, television series, podcasts and documentaries. With projects that align with Republic’s artists and brand, Federal Films is building a diverse slate that will bring compelling stories to audiences around the world. Initial documentary releases include Ariana Grande: Excuse Me, I Love You, Jonas Brothers’ Chasing Happiness, and Todd Haynes’ highly acclaimed, The Velvet Underground.

Links:

TikTok’s Newsroom: https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-us

END

our work

clients

press releases

our team

Young Dolph’s Estate and Paper Route Empire to Host Memphis ‘Dolph Day of Service’ Next Thursday 11/17

CEO Trayle and FastMoney Ant Cross Police Lines in “Nightmares & Dreams” Video

Brooklyn’s DUSTY LOCANE Keeps His Enemies Close In “ROLANDO 2 (Catch The Rain)” Video

The Background:

Links:

Mariah Carey, Rema, Lola Brooke, and Sunday Scaries Make Waves on TikTok

LUCKI Reinvents A Mafioso Classic In “GOODFELLAS” Video

Rolling Loud Announces Presale for RL California 2023 in L.A.

AFROPUNK Announces Partnership in Lincoln Center, Highlighting Black Women in the Fine Arts

Kenzo Balla Tests Dummies in “Krash Out” from 11/15 EP

LUCKI Lives What He’s Rapping on “LIFE MOCKS ART”

Jay Fizzle Gets So Icy in “Gucci Mane” Video

DCG Brothers Make Massive Moves in “The Biggest”

Meet Lola Brooke, the Cardi-Cosigned Brooklyn Beauty with Bars

T-Swift, Shakira, Ice Spice, and Meghan Trainor Inspire TikTok Music Trends

Bronx Baddie Ice Spice Continues Her Rise with “Bikini Bottom”

BONES Tricks & Treats on 2MillionBlunt$ Album, ft. Rio Da Yung OG, Lil Gotit & More

Kenny Muney is Tony Montana for Halloween in “King Pin”

Brooklyn’s DUSTY LOCANE Shares New Project ‘NIGHTMARE ON DA FIFTH’

Trapland Pat is the Meanest Mafioso in “Z-Land”

CEO Trayle Slickly Stalks the Streets in ‘HH5’ Mixtape

CEO Trayle Has the Game in a “Chokehold” as He Prepares for HH5

Lil Gnar Gets Buck in Balenciagas in “Triple S”

Newark’s Prophet The Artist Releases 3-Pack Single “3 Major,” Shares Video with Icewear Vezzo

Jay Fizzle Bosses Up With DonaFizzo (Deluxe) ft. Key Glock & More

Rolling Loud Announces Presale for Rolling Loud Portugal 2023

Ice Spice Shares Video for “Bikini Bottom”

Making a “Best Of 2022” Albums List? Consider These Projects From AT Clients

COMING SOON:

Links:

The Background:

Links:

Rauw Alejandro, Memes, and Metalcore Make Waves on TikTok

Dro Kenji Craves Clarity on “HOW U FEEL?”

SNUPE BANDZ and Paper Route Woo Are Memphis-Proud on “Mold Me”

StemDrop Officially Launches on TikTok with Max Martin-Penned Song “Red Lights”

our work

clients

press releases

our team

Young Dolph’s Estate and Paper Route Empire to Host Memphis ‘Dolph Day of Service’ Next Thursday 11/17

11.15.2022

IdaMae Foundation Honors Adolph “Young Dolph” Thornton Jr. Day of Service with Nationwide Activations on November 17th, 2022

Dolph Day of Service Includes Free Meals, Free Winter Kits, and Free Haircuts and Mental Health Resources Provided in Barbershops Across the Country by The Confess Project of America

Everyone is Encouraged to Post a Photo Doing an Act of Service on November 17th Using the Hashtags #DolphDay & #DolphServiceDay

The Announcement:

The Background:

CEO Trayle and FastMoney Ant Cross Police Lines in “Nightmares & Dreams” Video

11.10.2022

Video: CEO Trayle – “Nightmares & Dreams” ft. FastMoney Ant

ATL’s Hottest Rap Villain Teams Up With A Chicago Riser On The Latest Video From HH5

Critical Praise:

The Video:

The Background:

Links:

Brooklyn’s DUSTY LOCANE Keeps His Enemies Close In “ROLANDO 2 (Catch The Rain)” Video

11.10.2022

Video: DUSTY LOCANE – “ROLANDO 2 (Catch The Rain)“

The Canarsie Capo Shares a Video for a Highlight Off His Recently-Released NIGHTMARE ON DA FIFTH Project

Critical Praise:

The Video:

Links:

The Background:

Links:

Mariah Carey, Rema, Lola Brooke, and Sunday Scaries Make Waves on TikTok

11.9.2022

TikTok Treats, Week of November 7th

Mariah Carey Defrosts Ahead of Christmas, Lil Uzi Vert Wants To Rock, Lola Brooke Warns Creators Not to Play with It, and More From Music on TikTok

The News:

The Background:

Links:

LUCKI Reinvents A Mafioso Classic In “GOODFELLAS” Video

11.8.22

Video: LUCKI – “GOODFELLAS” (prod. by Cash Cobain)

The Chicago Native Puts His Own Spin on a Mafia Film Classic in the Latest Video from FLAWLESS LIKE ME

Critical Praise:

The Video:

The Background:

Links:

Rolling Loud Announces Presale for RL California 2023 in L.A.

11.8.2022

Rolling Loud California 2023 Announces Presale

Rolling Loud Returns to L.A. with Rolling Loud California 2023 on March 3-5, 2023 at Hollywood Park, on the Grounds Adjacent to SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA

The World’s Premier Rap Festival’s First Major Event in 2023 is the First-Ever Music Festival Held at Hollywood Park

The Announcement:

Critical Praise:

The Background:

Links:

AFROPUNK Announces Partnership in Lincoln Center, Highlighting Black Women in the Fine Arts

11.8.2022

AFROPUNK Announces Partnership with Lincoln Center, Celebrating Black Women in the Arts

With Talent To Be Announced, AFROPUNK’s “Black HERSTORY Live” Comes to Lincoln Center on February 24-25 2023

AFROPUNK’s Two Day Takeover Brings Icons of Audio, Visual, and Performance Media to Lincoln Center’s State-Of-The-Art David Geffen Hall

The Announcement:

The Background:

Links:

Kenzo Balla Tests Dummies in “Krash Out” from 11/15 EP

11.8.2022

Bronx Drill Breakout Kenzo Balla Announces Mr. Ready To Blitz EP, Shares New Video for “Krash Out”

Rising in NYC on the Back of Singles Like “Ready To Blitz” and “5th to Sev,” the 10k Projects Signee Prepares to Drop His New EP On 11/15

Critical Praise

The Video:

The Background:

Links:

LUCKI Lives What He’s Rapping on “LIFE MOCKS ART”

11.3.22

Video: LUCKI – “LIFE MOCKS ART“

Take a Raw Glimpse into a Day in the Life of a Rap Cult Hero on the Latest Video from FLAWLESS LIKE ME

Critical Praise:

The Video:

The Background:

Links:

Jay Fizzle Gets So Icy in “Gucci Mane” Video

11.3.2022

Video: Jay Fizzle – “Gucci Mane“

The Paper Route Empire Artist Pays Homage to a Trap Trailblazer While Commandeering a Food Truck in New Video from DonaFizzo (Deluxe) Mixtape