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09.20.2022
PRE’s Snupe Bandz and PaperRoute Woo Prepare for ‘Boyz In The Hood’ With “Dam Fool” Video

Press Release

PRE’s Snupe Bandz and PaperRoute Woo Prepare for ‘Boyz In The Hood’ With “Dam Fool” Video

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9.14.2022

Video: SNUPE BANDZ & PaperRoute Woo – “Dam Fool“

The Paper Route Empire Rhymers Travel From Memphis to Los Angeles in the New Video From Their Joint Project Boyz In The Hood, Coming Very Soon

The Video:

With their tight chemistry and their shared passion for flashin’, SNUPE BANDZ and PaperRoute Woo are the next Paper Route Empire duo to take over the game. The two Memphis natives take a trip to Los Angeles’s Chinatown in “Dam Fool,” their new music video. Tag-teaming a beat from King Ceeo, who delivers a simmering and atmospheric instrumental, SNUPE and Woo deliver verses packed with pugilistic punchlines and head-turning turns-of-phrase. Woo impresses with an extended football metaphor (“I’m the quarterback, I call all the shots b*tch I’m the GOAT/I was raised up in the field, mane, you other n****s were coached/I’ll burn you and your patna early morning like some toast), while SNUPE BANDZ makes very clear that he doesn’t follow trends: “My pockets stuffed full of blue, my body iced out with jewels/You a broke boy go and get a job, stop tryna be cool.” In the video, SNUPE and Woo show out in L.A.’s Chinatown, posing by statues of lions and stunting under lantern light.

“Dam Fool” is a highlight cut from Boyz In The Hood, the upcoming joint mixtape from the two PRE upstarts. Boyz In The Hood gets a lift from the two rappers’ percolating chemistry: Woo stacks flows and boastful bars with a booming and authoritative delivery, while SNUPE is effortlessly laid back, drawling rhymes about his luck with ladies and money-getting prowess. The latest salvo in an eventful year for Paper Route Empireas they honor the memory of Young Dolph, expect Boyz In The Hood to hit the streets in the very near future.

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 1.7 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 7.8 million views, and later took the stage in remembrance of their role model during a tribute set at Rolling Loud California. 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.”

Stay tuned for Boyz In The Hood, coming very soon.

Watch “Dam Fool”: https://youtu.be/1hUrR2NW9Vk

Buy/Stream “Damn Fool”: https://music.empi.re/damfool

Please contact Michelle or Destiny for more info.

LUCKI Gets “GEEKED N BLESSED” in Latest Drop from 9/23 ‘FLAWLESS LIKE ME’ Album

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9.19.22

Audio: LUCKI – “GEEKED N BLESSED“

The Chicago Rapper Prepares to Release Flawless Like Me, Out September 23rd via EMPIRE

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 Audio:

LUCKI immerses listeners into his insular world with hypnotic flows and a taste for room-enveloping sonics. Coming through with the latest missive from his September 23 project FLAWLESS LIKE ME, LUCKI shares “GEEKED N BLESSED.” Marked by wistful, yet triumphant production from producers Bhristo, Mingo, Venexxi, Mixed Matches, and Davyn, who combine horn fanfares with melancholy whistle-synth melodies to convey LUCKI’s conflicted mindset: “I’m prolly higher than I ever been/And so how the f*ck I land on my feet?” The new song is the follow-up to “COINCIDENCE,” a single with a creative video directed by COLE BENNETT, which racked up over 3 million views in its first month of release.

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 loose singles, most notably “SUPER URUS,” which generated over 12 million Spotify streams and 3 million YouTube views to date. In August, LUCKI connected with Internet Money for “2K In The Soda,” a woozy new banger from their new EP. LUCKI embarked on a fast-selling tour in the spring, and shut it down this summer with performances at festivals like Rolling Loud, Lyrical Lemonade’s Summer Smash, So What!, and Rolling Loud Portugal. The upcoming FLAWLESS LIKE ME follows up WAKE UP LUCKI, the artist’s late-2021 project, a full collaboration with Working On Dying producer F1LTHY.

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

Stay tuned for FLAWLESS LIKE ME, out on September 23rd via EMPIRE.

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

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

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.”

Rot Ken & Anti Da Menace Throw ‘Bows on “Moshpit”

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9.16.2022

Video: Rot Ken – “Moshpit” ft. Anti Da Menace

The Internet Money/BoyMeetSpace Artist Enlists Fellow Georgia Riser Anti Da Menace to Let the Demons Out on New Video Single

Critical Praise:

“His most recent offering “007” is definitely going to have you bobbing your head and realizing why he’s beginning to gain some much-deserved traction with his music.” – Lyrical Lemonade

“Touting hard-hitting 808s and iridescent ad-libs, Ken’s passionate vocals are the star of the show, coming through with waves of self-reflective depth and power to overcome the adversity he faces.” – Our Generation Music

The Video:

When Rot Ken steps behind the mic, there’s no telling what direction he’ll strike from. Throw fellow Georgia native Anti Da Menace into the mix, and you’re just a crowd away from a “Moshpit.” Produced by JetsonMade and Xjay, Ken’s latest single captures the fresh energy and raw appeal of the new wave of Atlanta, in all its raged out digital glory.

With sinister piano licks setting the tone, “Moshpit” leans into each artist’s strengths. Anti haunts the mic with menacing vocals that cut through each bar like the bladed glove of Freddie Kruger, while Ken flaunts his superhuman instinct for locking onto instrumental pockets to attack like Jason Vorhees: “I don’t like n****s/Chopper gon’ fight with ‘em/Ballin’ like Mike Williams/Callin’, I can’t vibe with her.”

Shot by Wolf and edited by Natey, the video for “Moshpit” re-asserts those horror villain qualities, as the two mob up outside an abandoned house, eager for any sucker foolish enough to come knocking. At the height of each of their verses, the camera zooms to show the flaming skulls veiled by their visage like Ghost Rider, showing that neither will hesitate to pull up and exact their ill will.

Though Ken has been away for much of 2022, his presence was still heavily felt. In May, the Internet Money/BoyMeetSpace artist shared Free Me, a 17-track project that showed his range, and demonstrated his singular ability to cut through immersive production with effervescent flows. The Augusta native’s project featured underground hits like “Baby Choppa” (1.6 million Spotify streams), “Heartbreak Kid” (1.7 million Spotify streams), and “Beautiful,” a collaboration with SoFaygo that racked up over 3.5 million Spotify streams. With additional appearances from Kalan.FrFr, Hunxho, and 21 Lil Harold, the 17-track Free Me project is available everywhere now.

Watch “Moshpit” ft. Anti Da Menace: https://youtu.be/0c3oK4zP_pg

Please contact Michelle or Kevin for more info.

Lupe Fiasco Releases Two Tracks from the 1st & 15th Vault

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9.16.2022

Lupe Fiasco Releases “The Pen and the Needlz” and “Ohh Oh” from the 1st & 15th Vault, as Part of Chill’s Spotlight 3 EP

Both Songs Hail From 2005 and Originally Appeared on Lupe’s Fahrenheit 1/15 Mixtape

The Announcement:

Weaving dense webs of wordplay, Lupe Fiasco has been blowing minds with his incisive pen for the better part of two decades. Today, the proud Chicago native shares “The Pen & The Needlz” and “Ohhhh,” two new songs from his vast archive. Officially released on streaming as part of the new EP Chill Spotlight 3, the two unearthed tracks hail from Lupe’s 2005 mixtape Fahrenheit 1/15.

Produced by Needlz, who later found pop success producer for artists like Bruno Mars, Drake, and Cardi B, “The Pen & The Needlz” is a showcase for Lupe’s twisty turns of phrase, the product of a then 23-year-old rapper strutting his stuff and proving that he could spit with the best in the game: “Pivot my fitted, then begin to rivet, with a change of lyric/In other words, I reposition how I sit it/Then make you feel it like I mispronounced ‘filet’/On second thought, I can’t make you fill it/Like you digging your own grave, unless you can Kill Bill it.” The second song, “Ohh,” is another lyrical exercise, as Lupe unfurls a torrent of no hook bars as he navigates a soulful vocal sample with skillful internal rhymes and wry humor: “What’s in your pockets my profits/Foxes pick me up like chop sticks, this hotness/They wanna put me in boxes like chocolates/That’s nonsense.” The two newly-released singles follow in the footsteps of “Hustlaz,” a never-before-heard circa-2005 gem that dropped earlier this year.

Lupe turned heads this summer with his new album DRILL MUSIC IN ZION. The product of a burst of thoughtful spontaneity, Lupe created DRILL MUSIC IN ZION 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 album is home to highlights like “NAOMI,” in which Lupe fuses playful political analysis with poignant emotional resonance, and “MS. MURAL,” which continues a series of songs that started on 2014’s Tetsuo & Youth (“Mural”) and continued with his last album DROGAS WAVE (“Mural Jr.”), and the jazz-inflected title track, which slyly comments on how art created amidst strife becomes commodified entertainment for the masses. The ten-song album earned praise from NPR, Complex, The FADER, and many others, including Vinyl Me Please, who wrote “At their best, Lupe’s bars are as visually and phonetically pleasing as popped bubble wrap.”

The Chicago native is currently on tour on a series of shows celebrating the 15th anniversary of Lupe Fiasco’s The Cool, recently certified Platinum by the RIAA. Beyond music, Lupe recently launched his “LFT” program, a new NFT program that allows fans to get closer than ever to Lupe. Unlike many NFTs, which solely exist in the digital space, the “LFT” program offers token-holders an array of online and offline benefits. The benefits start with a generative art profile pic–each LFT holder gets a unique digital artwork inspired by Lupe Fiasco’s The Cool, which celebrates its 15th birthday this year. Beyond music, Lupe continues to focus on the community organizations he founded, including We Are M.U.R.A.L, The Neighborhood Start-Up Fund, Society of Spoken Art, and his cross-cultural content venture, Studio SV.

With DRILL MUSIC IN ZION, Lupe starts another chapter in his illustrious career, but he’s not done growing.

“Your whole life you’re physically growing, and as an artist, I feel like I’m taller now,” says Lupe. “Not that I’m at a higher place of morality, it’s that my vantage point and perspective is higher. I can see further.”

DRILL MUSIC IN ZION is available everywhere via 1st & 15th/Thirty Tigers.

Buy/Stream Chill Spotlight 3, home to “The Pen & The Needlz” and “Ohh”:

Buy/Stream DRILL MUSIC IN ZION: https://orcd.co/dmiz

Check out full details about “LFT” at Henka.io: http://henka.io/aboutlupe

DRILL MUSIC IN ZION tracklist:

The Lion’s Deen ft. Ayesha Jaco
GHOTI
AUTOBOTO ft. Nayirah
PRECIOUS THINGS ft. Nayirah
KIOSK
MS. MURAL
NAOMI
DRILL MUSIC IN ZION
SEATTLE ft. Nayirah
ON FAUX NEM

Credit: Jessica Hatter Weaver

Please contact Michelle or Kevin for more info.

The Background:

Wasalu Muhammad Jaco, better known by his stage name Lupe Fiasco, is a Chicago-born, Grammy award-winning American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and community advocate. Rising to fame in 2006, following the success of his debut album, Food & Liquor, Lupe has released more than four acclaimed studio albums; his latest being Drogas Wave released fall 2018. His efforts to propagate conscious material helped solidify him as GQ’s Man of the Year in 2006, and garnered recognition as a Henry Crown Fellow. While musical genius and ingenuity are at the forefront of Lupe’s achievements, the artist extends his innovation to projects that aim to foster creative discourse and opportunities in underprivileged and impoverished communities.

Rich Amiri Keeps a Clean Conscience on “Dirty Money”

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9.16.2022

Video: Rich Amiri – “Dirty Money“

The Buzzing Teenage Rager Tightens His Circle as He Broadens His Pockets on Smooth New Video Single

Critical Praise:

“For someone who has only been rapping for two years, Rich continues to deliver nothing but perfection track after track.” – Lyrical Lemonade

The Song:

A teenage talent with the vocal range to match any vibe he aims to set, Rich Amiri is poised for a very promising career. Keeping his priorities in check amidst newfound fame, Amiri keeps his eyes on the prize in his new single, “Dirty Money.” With an instrumental backdrop reverberating with a sense of controlled chaos, Amiri takes the reins as he sorts through the plastic personalities emerging in the wake of his fame: “I don’t know your first name, baby I don’t know you/Can’t even trust my old friends cause they finna change too, too/It ain’t nothing new, new.” The song arrives with a Tycho Burwell-directed video, in which Rich escapes from jail and takes his dirty money with him.

“Dirty Money” is the latest missive from the busy, Boston-born 18-year-old. Earlier this month, Amiri shared the video for the chest-thumping, Cxdy & Taz Taylor-produced single “Can’t Die,” and served up a double-dose of rage with the release of singles “ruthless” and “trouble.” In June, the rapper shared For The Better, his debut project. Featuring appearances from SSGKobe, Summrs, and others, the 8-song effort showcased Amiri’s beyond-his-years maturity and sharp songwriting, while Internet Money helped craft a soundscape that suited his inimitable voice.

Since he started uploading songs to his SoundCloud in 2020, Rich Amiri has established himself as a fixture in rap’s burgeoning melodic underground. He first earned recognition with his 2021 song “Never Fail,” which surpassed 2.8 million plays on SoundCloud, and he struck again late last year with his bubbling hit “Walk In.” Most recently, the young artist shared the video for his For The Better highlight “Bounty.”

With the respect of his peers and a fast-growing fanbase, Rich Amiri is on the path to stardom. Stay tuned for much more from the rising rapper in the near future.

Watch “Dirty Money”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0tefEn2nWE

Stream “Dirty Money”: https://richamiri.lnk.to/dirtymoney

Photo credit: Lain Becker

Please contact Michelle or Kevin for more info.

The Background:

Hypnotic and honeyed, Rich Amiri’s voice is like little else in rap. Having only recently started taking music seriously, his syrupy melodies have already helped him stand out from his peers in plugg&B–a slurry blend of soul and cloud rap that’s been taking over the internet. Amiri’s humble and nonchalant about his gifts but that hasn’t stopped him from becoming one of his scene’s most free-associative songwriters. He switches lanes with grace, as evidenced by some of the highlights from his recent EP Chase. Tracks like “J10” are low-key and sensitive, while “Never Fail” allows him room to rage, showing off his many sides in quick succession. Though the 18-year-old hails from Boston, he’s a child of the internet who’s been uploading bedroom recordings to SoundCloud since 2020. Like many Gen Z stars, Amiri is something of a one-man army. He says even before he made music, he was on TikTok “from sunup to sundown,” meaning he knew exactly how to get “Never Fail” to go viral—and it’s now inching toward 2 million SoundCloud streams. He’s aligned with the proudly independent 10K Projects, but he has no interest in messing with a successful formula. Amiri’s just getting started, but he’s already starting to accomplish his goals, reaching fans and sharing his innermost feelings. And yet, he’s quickly learned not to force anything. He’s made it this far by trusting his gut, after all. “If it’s a good beat, it’ll speak to me,” he says. “Then I make it speak to other people, too. “

BONES Teams with ghost/\/ghoul for Atmospheric and Hard-Hitting ‘DreamCard’ Album

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9.16.2022

Album: BONES & ghost/\/ghoul – DreamCard

The Underground Hero Connects With a Renowned TeamSESH Producer for Their Long-Awaited Full-Length

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:

Always working and never disappointing, BONES is beloved by fans and respected by his peers for his consistently excellent and uncountably prolific output. The TeamSESH chieftain delivers once again with DreamCard, his new album and his third full-length of 2022. DreamCard is produced in full by ghost/\/ghoul, one of the first members to join TeamSESH back in 2011. Unlike most producers on the label, ghost/\/ghoul isn’t a frequent collaborator with BONES–most of the music from ghost/\/ghoul’s extensive discography is purely instrumental, captivating enough to thrill without vocals or rapped verses. In over 10 years in the TeamSESH collective, the two have only collaborated three, on “WhiteZombie”(2012), “LastOneThereIsARottenEgg” (2019), and DreamCard opening track “Silverado,” released as a single earlier this year.

DreamCard proves that the the two TeamSESH artists have impeccable chemistry–BONES mostly eschews singing in favor of hard-nosed raps, as he weaves between ghost/\/ghoul’s glitchy synth melodies and subsonic percussion. Highlights from the album include the creepily atmospheric “BananaPeels,” the spritely “Timbaland,” which contains a lyrical reference to the titular artist’s verse on “Are You That Somebody?,” and the pugilistic, low-talking “LowLife.” On the tape’s final track, “PanoramicRoof,“ BONES delivers the heartfelt singing absent throughout the rest of the tape, ghost/\/ghoul’s soaring synths adding pathos to BONES’ plaintive melodies. Spanning 17 tracks, including a few immersive instrumental tracks from ghost/\/ghoul, DreamCard is available everywhere via TeamSESH/EMPIRE.

DreamCard continues a busy year for the Michigan-born BONES, marked by exciting collaborations and unexpected co-signs. In July, the underground hero 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. 2021 was a remarkably busy year for BONES, marked by five full-length albums including Scraps w/ Lyson, ForbiddenImage w/ cat soup, InLovingMemory (BONES recently shared the video for highlight track “RainCloudsFollowMe“), PushingUpDaisies w/ Deergod, and BURDEN, and capped off by “DeathWish,” an ’80s pop-influenced banger by BONES’ alter ego Ricky A Go Go.

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

Buy/Stream DreamCard: http://SESH.LINK/DREAMCARD

DreamCard tracklist:

Silverado
TheCavernsOfTime
GetAJob
Eclipse
Timbaland
WestChandlerBlvd
HollowPatterns
SpeedRun
4am (Interlude)
BananaPeels
NothinReally
LowLife
JusHangin
KiaShine
XpBoost
ElephantShoes
PanoramicRoof

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).

Jay Fizzle, Big Scarr & Big Moochie Grape Join Forces for “Dust Town Livin”

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9.15.2022

Video: Jay Fizzle – “Dust Town Livin” ft. Big Scarr & Big Moochie Grape

The Paper Route Empire Artist Enlists Big Scarr & Big Moochie Grape for New Video from DonaFizzo Mixtape

The Video:

With a knack for invention embodied in every flow he creates, it’s not hard to see why Jay Fizzle identifies so closely with his favorite purple Ninja Turtle, Donatello. Enlisting Big Scarr and fellow Paper Route Empire artist Big Moochie Grape as his fellow Memphis Mutants, Fizzle shares the new video for “Dust Town Livin” from his recent mixtape, DonaFizzo. The track finds Fizzle laying the groundwork for the trio’s pursuit of the paper, casting Scarr and Moochie as his Leonardo and Rafael with each artist’s unique talents combining to heighten the strength of the team.

A 2 Brothers Film, the video for “Dust Town Livin” finds each featured artist in their element, but none more so than Fizzle. He keeps his hands full with stacks of green to his left and a cheesy pizza to his right as he soaks up the turtle power of the comic book pages plastered on every inch of the walls surrounding him. Next, XXL Freshman Big Scarr pulls up and the scene shifts to a parking lot barbecue as Scarr eats up his verse with an appetite that can’t be contained. Soon, Big Moochie Grape enters the fight as he steps out from a vintage Airstream camper, spitting money-hungry flex after flex, ready to bring the smoke on the road at a moment’s notice.

Released last month, DonaFizzo finds Jay fitting his flow into unexpected pockets on each stellar instrumental–including beats from heavy-hitters like Bandplay, Ayoza, and Sosa 808–with mutant-like machismo. With a style inspired by his own Master Splinter, Young Dolph, Fizzle’s desire to ascend from the gutter can be felt in every track. 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.

Along with the mixtape, Fizzle shares new video for the Sosa 808-produced standout, “Atmosphere.” The Brothers Film-directed clip finds Fizzle bringing more smoke than a Memphis rib spot as the video opens on a trio of black-clad masked menaces tagging up a squad car before soaking it with gasoline. No matches required, the car erupts in flames at the drop of the beat as Fizzle stokes the inferno with explosive flows.

DonaFizzo 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.

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

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

DonaFizzo tracklist:

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 Destiny for more info.

Central Cee Earns BET Hip-Hop Award Nomination for Best International Flow

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9.15.2022

Central Cee Earns BET Hip-Hop Award Nomination for “Best International Flow”

The U.K. Star is Having a Breakout 2022, Marked by Highlights Like His #1-Charting 23 Mixtape, Smash Hit Single “Doja,” and a Viral L.A. Leakers Freestyle

With Over 150 Million Worldwide Streams and 48 Million Video Views, “Doja” Debuted at #2 On the UK Charts and Currently Sits in Spotify’s Global Top 25

Critical Praise:

“23 displays just how good Central Cee is in the business of making records.” – The Guardian

“A fast rising voice” – Rolling Stone

“The UK’s new rap superstar” – The Face

A suave demeanor” – Pitchfork

“London’s rapper of the moment” – Evening Standard

“Essential within the scene” – Crack

“Forever-buzzing” – Noisey

“Who is bigger than Central Cee right now?” – NME

“Central Cee deserves his seat at the table.” – Trench

The Announcement:

Central Cee is the biggest breakout rap star in the UK, and he’s making impressive inroads into the U.S. market. This week, Central Cee earned his first career nomination at BET Hip-Hop Awards. The Shepherd’s Bush, West London native earned recognition in the Best International Flow category. Hosted by Grammy®-nominated recording artist, actor, entrepreneur, and media personality Fat Joe, the BET Hip-Hop Awards 2022, will tape from the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta, GA, on Friday, September 30 and will premiere Tuesday, October 4, 2022, at 9 PM ET/PT on BET.

Central Cee’s BET Hip-Hop Awards nomination arrives amidst the ascent of his viral hit “Doja.” The track marked a huge moment, as Central Cee became the first ever UK artist to have a video directed by the iconic Cole Bennett, and hosted on Lyrical Lemonade. To date, “Doja” racked up over 150 million streams, and over 48 million views on its YouTube video. The song debuted at #2 on the UK’s Official Charts and it currently sits on the chart at #12. The song is a worldwide smash, marking his highest charting positions in Australia, Germany, Benelux, and more, and reaching Spotify’s Top 10 Daily Plays in 21 markets. The song reached Shazam’s Global Top 100 chart, peaked at #19 on Billboard’s Global 200 songs chart (it currently sits at #45), and tore up TikTok to the tune of over 750k video creations. Cench recently reached the trending charts again with his “LA Leakers Freestyle,” which discussed the differences between U.S. and UK slang.

The 24-year-old artist rides a cresting wave of momentum to his “Still Loading World Tour.” Kicking off in September, the “Still Loading World Tour” starts in the Australia, and continues in the United States, where Cench will perform his first-ever American headlining dates, before heading to Europe on October 31st. The tour culminates in London on November 22nd, as Cench headlines a special show at the historic Alexandra Palace. Several dates, including New York and London, are already sold out, and the rest are selling fast.

With an international appeal and high anticipation around his every move, Central Cee is the UK’s hottest and most followed rapper, with a social audience of over 8 million, and an awe-inspiring 2 Billion global artist streams. Transcending the UK rap scene, 65% of Central Cee’s fans are outside of the UK, with him regularly charting across the globe.

Earlier this year, the West London hailing rapper whipped up a frenzy with the release of his critically acclaimed 23 mixtape – a project that debuted at Number 1 in the UK official charts, and followed on from 2021’s Wild West, which was the highest selling British debut project of the year.

Stay tuned for much more from Central Cee.

“STILL LOADING WORLD TOUR” DATES:

September 23 – Melbourne, AU
September 24 – Sydney, AU

October 12 – Chicago, IL, Bottom Lounge
October 13 – Toronto, ON, The Phoenix Concert Theater
October 18 – New York, NY, Gramercy Theatre
October 19 – Boston, MA, Brighton Theatre
October 21 – San Francisco, CA, New Parish
October 23 – Los Angeles, CA, The Roxy Theatre

October 31 – Madrid, ES, Sala La Piqui
November 1 – Barcelona, ES, Razzmatazz 2
November 2 – Milan, IT, Fabrique
November 4 – Zurich, CH, Komplex 457
November 5 – Lyon, FR, Le Transbordeur
November 7 – Paris, FR, Le Trianon
November 8 – Esch Alzette, LU, Rockhal
November 10 – Amsterdam, NL, Melkweg
November 11 – Antwerp, BE, Trix
November 13 – Berlin, DE, Heimathafen Neukölln
November 14 – Copenhagen, DK, Vega Main Hall
November 16 – Oslo, NO, Rockefeller
November 17 – Stockholm, SE, Fållan
November 20 – Dublin, IE, 3Olympia Theatre
November 22 – London, UK, Alexandra Palace

Please contact Michelle or Kevin for more info.

The Background:

Central Cee has an undeniable magnetism. On Christmas Day 2021, in the wake of his enormous Pink Pantheress-sampling single “Obsessed With You,” he released a GRM Daily Duppy (a performance on one of the UK’s most popular street rap platforms), which went on to be the highest charting in history. This year, after a stellar position in 2022’s BBC Sound Poll, Central Cee consequently received an astounding three BRIT Award nominations, for Best New Artist, Best Song, and Best British Hip Hop, Rap, Grime act. Late last year, Central Cee won Best Male Artist and Breakthrough Artist of The Year at the GRM Awards, accolades which add to his already incredible position as Spotify’s Radar Artist and YouTube’s Artist On The Rise, not to mention his recent double gong win at the MOBO Awards for Best Newcomer and Best Drill Act. The young superstar is currently gracing the cover of The Face Magazine, where he reveals the motivations that drive his rapid rise to the top.

Astounding fans and critics alike, CC’s independently released debut mixtape Wild West was the highest selling independent project of 2021 and 2021’s only UK debut project to go Gold. The mixtape landed in the wake of the hugely successful singles “Loading” and “Commitment Issues”, breaking internationally and sending his name reverberating across the globe. Cench has a keen eye for fashion–on his debut tape campaign, Cench collaborated with UK Streetwear brands Corteiz, and Trapstar on merch lines, both of which sold out within 60 minutes. The 23 mixtape campaign follows on in this vein, with CC releasing his own 23 merch, creating a fan-art led physical edition of the tape, and collaborating with Trapstar on a merch line once again.

With co-signs from The Guardian, Pitchfork, NME, Clash, The Face, Complex, Crack, the late Virgil Abloh and other global music icons, Central Cee is taking over, and the 23 mixtape’s arrival is certain to propel him even further on his unparalleled journey.

Rolling Loud Announces Rolling Loud Thailand 2023, Its First Festival in Asia

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9.14.2022

Rolling Loud Expands to Asia, Announcing Rolling Loud Thailand 2023, Touching Down in Pattaya, Thailand Next April

The World’s Largest Hip-Hop Festival Introduces the Festival in a Star-Studded Press Conference and Concert at CentralWorld Live in Bangkok

Hosted by Piyawat Kempetch (PK), With Appearances From Thai Celebrities Like Nana, Daboyway, Twopee and More, Plus Performances From 30+ Artists Including South Korea’s B.I., Memphis Bleek, and Thai Artists Including Thaitanium, Young Ohm, 1mill, FIIXD and Many More

The Announcement:

Starting as a single-day Miami festival and evolving into a global enterprise with events on multiple continents, the rise of Rolling Loud has been truly inspirational. Continuing its expansion with its first Asian festival, Rolling Loud officially announces Rolling Loud Thailand, coming in 2023. Rolling Loud Thailand promises multiple days worth of the biggest names in hip-hop, alongside some of the most exciting regional and local artists, in a picturesque and vibrant location. Complete with some of the best music, food, and weather that the world has to offer, Rolling Loud Thailand makes its debut in April 2023.

Rolling Loud and top officials from Bangkok, including the Mayor of Pattaya, will be introducing the event with a lavish presentation at CentralWorld Live in Bangkok. The event starts with a press conference, in which representatives from Rolling Loud and Thailand’s government highlight Rolling Loud’s rich history and how the World’s Largest Hip-Hop Festival plans to bring its signature spectacle to The Land of Smiles. The press conference will be followed by performances by several notable personalities from Thailand’s music scene, including Thaitanium, Young Ohm, 1mill, FIIXD and many more, plus American rapper Memphis Bleek.

“We’re proud and honored to have Thailand host our first festival in Asia. Rolling Loud has been looking to expand to Asia for a while, and we’re confident that Thailand is the perfect setting,” say Rolling Loud co-Founders and co-CEOs Matt Zingler & Tariq Cherif. “Our local partners are pulling out all the stops to make Thailand one of our most exciting events on any continent. We can’t wait to bring the amazing energy of Rolling Loud to the people of Thailand, and as always, showcase the best of the local rap scene.”

Rolling Loud continued its transformation into a worldwide operation in 2022, hosting five festivals in four countries this year alone. Just last weekend, 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, plus special appearances from Ye and Travis Scott. 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 continues in Queens, NYC on September 23rd with Rolling Loud New York, headlined by Nicki Minaj, A$AP Rocky, and Future, and continues in 2023 with Rolling Loud California at Hollywood Park in Los Angeles.

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.

Stay tuned for more info, and check out Rolling Loud Thailand 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 continues 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.

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.

AFROPUNK Sunday Recap: Burna Boy Brings the Bangers and Much More

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9.13.2022

AFROPUNK Brooklyn 2022: Sunday Recap

Burna Boy and Lucky Daye Close Out AFROPUNK’s First Brooklyn Festival Since 2019; Day Two Brought More Highlight Sets from Earl Sweatshirt, Adekunle Gold, and More

Lucky Daye at AFROPUNK Brooklyn 2022 (AFROPUNK / Miguel Maldonado @doublemb_)

THE RECAP:

The rain came down on Sunday in New York City, but the artists and fans at AFROPUNK Brooklyn 2022 proved that they are fly in any weather. On the second and final day of the brand’s first Brooklyn festival since 2019, fans in ponchos and bare skin alike flocked to see superstars like Burna Boy and Lucky Daye close out the action on the Green Stage. The “African Giant” cut an impressive figure during his first headlining NY show since his history-making headlining show at MSG, while Lucky Daye showed the world why he’s one of R&B’s most talented rising stars. The festival’s second stage, the Red Stage, was just as active, bringing sets from masterful emcees Earl Sweatshirt and Mick Jenkins.

Though the rain dampened the grounds of the festival, nothing could dampen the spirits of the crowd, who showed up in their most creative fits to bask in the immaculate vibes. Whether they were dancing to DJs like Sydney Love and Kweku Sanderson, getting books signed by authors at AFROPUNK’s Rock ‘N Read, exploring the Ruffles x AFROPUNK “Own Your Ridges” maze, noshing at AFROPUNK’s Bites N Beats, or taking a breather at the Wellness Village, the Brooklyn community was ecstatic to have its favorite festival back. Fans who couldn’t make the festival in person tuned into the livestream on Twitch–the stream racked up nearly 2.4 million unique viewers, with over 23k concurrent viewers at its peak.

Check out highlight photos from Commodore Barry Park below and stay tuned for more information about forthcoming AFROPUNK events and initiatives.

Check out even more photos from the festival here. Please credit photos as such “(AFROPUNK / photographer)”: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1w30NM8bxa8sV7cU96Rf9sf4ZpPWYD7Mp

See even more highlights on AFROPUNK’s Instagram.

Visit AFROPUNK’s official website: https://afropunk.com/festival/brooklyn/

For all other inquiries, please contact Michelle, Annjie, or Destiny.

BURNA BOY

Burna Boy gets the crowd singing along to his hits, plus new songs from his album Love, Damini
(Photo credit: AFROPUNK / Brandon Todd @brandannart)

(Photo credit: AFROPUNK / Brandon Todd @brandannart)

LUCKY DAYE

The ascendant R&B superstar puts on a heart-stopping show on the main stage
(Photo credit: AFROPUNK / Miguel Maldonado @doublemb_)

(Photo credit: AFROPUNK / Nick Watkin @nickwnyc)

EARL SWEATSHIRT

Backed by Black Noi$e as his DJ, Earl Sweatshirt shuts down The Red Stage in style, spitting dope, cracking jokes, and bringing out special guest Zeelooperz
(Photo credit: AFROPUNK / Miguel Maldonado @doublemb_)

MICK JENKINS

Always well-hydrated, the Chicago native struts his stuff during a soulful set
(Photo credit: AFROPUNK / Nick Watkin @nickwnyc)

AMBRÉ

Roc Nation’s rising R&B sensation regales the crowd with her lovelorn ballads
(Photo credit: AFROPUNK / Brandon Todd @brandannart)

ADEKUNLE GOLD

G Baby! The Nigerian rising star brings his tuneful, R&B-flavored blend of Afrobeats to the Green Stage (Photo credit: AFROPUNK / Miguel Maldonado @doublemb_)

BARTEES STRANGE

With a style that can’t be penned into any genre, DC’s own Bartees Strange was one of the most thrilling performers of the weekend
(Photo credit: AFROPUNK / Mo Smith @phobymo)

FANA HUES

The compelling L.A.-born chanteuse and Tyler, The Creator collaborator puts a spell on the crowd
(Photo credit: AFROPUNK / Brandon Todd @brandannart)

IVY SOLE

The Philly-born #GardenGang ringleader performs her unique blend of rap music
(Photo credit: AFROPUNK / Brandon Todd @brandannart)

KALETA & SUPER YAMBA BAND

Brooklyn’s own Kaleta & Super Yamba Band performs on the Green Stage
(Photo credit: AFROPUNK / Brandon Todd @brandannart)

SCENES FROM THE FESTIVAL

(Photo credit: AFROPUNK / Brandon Todd @brandannart)

Throughout the weekend Black authors hosted book signings at AFROPUNK Rock ‘N Read, powered by All Ways Black (Photo credit: AFROPUNK / Brandon Todd @brandannart)

(Photo credit: AFROPUNK / Brandon Todd @brandannart)

(Photo credit: AFROPUNK / Brandon Todd @branndannart)

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.

Brooklyn Baby! AFROPUNK BK Day 1 Brings The Roots, Isaiah Rashad, and Much More

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9.11.2022

AFROPUNK Brooklyn 2022: Saturday Recap

AFROPUNK Returns To Brooklyn For the First Time Since 2019, Bringing Immaculate Vibes and Performances by The Roots, Isaiah Rashad, Freddie Gibbs, Tierra Whack, and Many More

Isaiah Rashad Performs
(Photo credit: AFROPUNK / Brandon Todd @branndannart)

THE RECAP:

A celebration of community, music, and Black culture, AFROPUNK creates an inviting and effortlessly cool atmosphere that’s unlike any other. This weekend, AFROPUNK makes its triumphant return to Commodore Barry Park in Brooklyn, hosting its first festival in its home borough since 2019. On Saturday, AFROPUNK Brooklyn picked up like it never left, offering an array of brilliant performances and activations that highlighted the local community.

Between sets by headliner The Roots, plus standout performers like Isaiah Rashad, Freddie Gibbs, Tierra Whack, Doechii, and many more, merchants sold handmade projects at the Spinthrift Market, local restaurants served hungry fans at AFROPUNK’s Bites ‘N Beats, Leyna Brown offered a Stand Up Against Street Harassment , and local fashion designers showed off their latest lines during AFROPUNK’s Style Noir fashion show. Local Brooklyn artists like Talia Goddess and Rodney Chrome made their presence felt onstage. On Friday, AFROPUNK hosted two Solutions Sessions, focusing on Black health and wellness, at The Gentlemen’s Factory in Fort Greene, sponsored by New Voices Foundation and the National Medical Association.

Check out highlight photos from Commodore Barry Park below, and stay tuned for another action-packed day of music (including headliner Burna Boy and R&B star Lucky Daye) and more.

Check out even more photos from the festival here. Please credit photos as such “(AFROPUNK / photographer)”: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1A80Z7VraBdzGA_YJOglepxUlSoJp8uBf

See even more highlights on AFROPUNK’s Instagram.

Watch the Day 2 Livestream on Twitch: twitch.tv/afropunk

Visit AFROPUNK’s official website: https://afropunk.com/festival/brooklyn/

For all other inquiries, please contact Michelle, Annjie, or Destiny.

THE ROOTS

The legendary Roots crew showed off their renowned live chops, bringing the house down with gems from their catalog, covers of R&B classics, and more
(Photo credit: AFROPUNK / Nick Watkin @nickwnyc )

Yes yes y’all
(Photo credit: AFROPUNK / Nick Watkin @nickwnyc)

?uestlove lays it down
(Photo credit: AFROPUNK / Mo Smith @phobymo)

ISAIAH RASHAD

The TDE rapper embraces an accepting new community during his hard-hitting and heartfelt set
(Photo credit: AFROPUNK / Brandon Todd @branndannart)

Isaiah Rashad with his TDE labelmate Doechii
(Photo credit: AFROPUNK / Brandon Todd @branndannart)

FREDDIE GIBBS

The Big Boss Rabbit performs new songs and old favorites with his signature panache
(Photo credit: AFROPUNK / Miguel Maldonado @doublemb_)

TIERRA WHACK

One of hip-hop’s most creative voices demonstrates her one-of-a-kind talent (and sense of style)
(Photo credit: AFROPUNK / Nick Watkin @nickwnyc)

DOECHII

TDE’s newest signee makes her AFROPUNK debut with an energetic and eclectic performance
(Photo credit: AFROPUNK / Brandon Todd @branndannart)

BBYMUTHA

Chattanooga’s BbyMutha brings bars and occult vibes to her midday set
(Photo credit: AFROPUNK / Nick Watkin @nickwnyc)

BUTCHER BROWN

The ultra-talented band combines jazz, funk, and hip-hop for a mesmerizing performance
(Photo credit: AFROPUNK / Miguel Maldonado @doublemb_)

LYRIC MICHELLE

The Houston native displays the potential that convinced Terrance “Punch” Henderson to sign her to his new venture, A Room Full Of Mirrors
(Photo credit: AFROPUNK / Migeul Maldonado @doublemb_)

SCENES FROM THE FESTIVAL

Actor/author Omar Epps showed up to sign copies of his new book Nubia The Awakening
(Photo credit: AFROPUNK / @alukewarmlife)

(Photo credit: AFROPUNK / @alukewarmlife)

(Photo credit: AFROPUNK / Sophie Ming @sophiemingphoto)

Models show out during AFROPUNK’s Style Noir fashion shows, held between sets on each stage
(Photo credit: AFROPUNK / Brandon Todd @brandannart)

FACES OF AFROPUNK

(Photo credit: AFROPUNK /Nick Watkin @nickwnyc)

(Photo credit: AFROPUNK / @isandres66)

(Photo credit: AFROPUNK / @alukewarmlife)

(Photo credit: AFROPUNK / Brandon Todd @brandannart)

THE BACKGROUND:

About AFROPUNK:

AFROPUNK IS THE MICROPHONE OF THOUGHT AND A LENS OF PERSPECTIVE

Rolling Loud Sunday Recap: Wizkid’s Afrobeats Perfection, NAV, $uicideboy$, Ski Mask The Slump God, And Much More

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9.12.2022

Rolling Loud Toronto 2022: Sunday Recap

Wizkid Lights Up the Big Stage, Plus Performances by NAV, Ski Mask the Slump God, $uicideboy$, AJ Tracey, Ice Spice & Many More

(Credit: Rolling Loud / @itchyeyephotos)

THE RECAP:

After 3 days of nonstop performances by the biggest names and hottest risers in rap, the first-ever Rolling Loud Toronto is in the books. The festival proved once again why it’s rap’s biggest stage, gathering the culture for an unpredictable and spectacular event that shows what hip-hop is all about. Toronto 2022 ended on a high note, thanks to an unprecedented performance from Wizkid, Rolling Loud’s first Afrobeats headlining act, who had the crowd moving to megahits like “Ojuelegba,” “Essence,” and many more.

Canada was definitely in the building Sunday night with Toronto favorites NAV, Killy, and Pengz wooing the crowd. Toronto OG DJ Charlie B brought out a bunch of artist for his set, which included the “Munch” songstress Ice Spice. Rolling Loud regulars like $uicideboy$ and Ski Mask The Slumpgod had the crowd in full effect, while rising artists like $NOT, AJ Tracey, and Dess Dior turned up their respective sets.

Check below for photos of some of the most memorable moments from the festival, view a full complement of photos at the Dropbox below, and be sure to follow Rolling Loud on Instagram for even more highlights.

View photos of Rolling Loud Toronto 2022 (please credit all photos to Rolling Loud / @photographer): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/o0gmg2q88a3t0tz2y0vdu/h?dl=0&rlkey=16r8blwf22w0o7e40er9fa94v

View full performance clips at https://www.youtube.com/c/rollingloud

See even more highlights on Rolling Loud Toronto’s Instagram.

Buy Rolling Loud merch: shoprollingloud.com

For all other inquiries, please contact Michelle, Kerry, or Kevin

WIZKID:

(Credit: Rolling Loud / @amrinprasad)

NAV:

(Credit: Rolling Loud / @itchyeyephotos)

SKI MASK THE SLUMP GOD:

(Credit: Rolling Loud / @amrinprasad)

$UICIDEBOY$:

(Credit: Rolling Loud / @jamesbaxter)

AJ TRACEY:

(Credit: Rolling Loud / @amrinprasad)

ICE SPICE:

(Credit: Rolling Loud / @curtishuynh)

$NOT:

(Credit: Rolling Loud / @jamesbaxter)

KILLY:

(Credit: Rolling Loud / @jordiedotcom)

DESS DIOR:

(Credit: Rolling Loud / @amrinprasad)

PENGZ:

(Credit: Rolling Loud / @HenryHwu)

SCENES FROM THE FESTIVAL:

K.Charles and Space Jam The Pilot kicking it with some RL faithful
(Credit: Rolling Loud / @itchyeyephotos)

(Credit: Rolling Loud / @nicoledekhors)

(Credit: Rolling Loud / @itchyeyephotos)

(Credit: Rolling Loud / @amrinprasad)

Critical Praise:

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

“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 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

The Background:

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.

The festival returned from a 18-month hiatus with the sold out Rolling Loud Miami 2021, bringing in over 85,000 fans per day to Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL. With headliners like Post Malone and A$AP Rocky, Rolling Loud Miami 2021 was a triumphant return for live rap music, and a coming out party for risers and new superstars eager to play in front of a festival crowd. Rolling Loud hosts its biggest event to date with Miami 2022 in July, headlined by Kid Cudi, Kendrick Lamar, and Future, before returning to NY and debuting in Toronto in September 2022.

Rolling Loud Saturday Recap: Super Future, Trippie Redd, Skepta, and More From a Tremendous Day in Toronto

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9.11.2022

Rolling Loud Toronto 2022: Saturday Recap

The Festival’s Second Day Raised the Bar Even Higher with Electric Performances from Future, Roddy Ricch, Trippie Redd, Don Toliver, Skepta, Jazz Cartier, and Many More.

(Credit: Rolling Loud / @amrinprasad)

THE RECAP:

Bringing the hottest talent from all corners of the rap universe to its first-ever Canadian stages, day two of Rolling Loud Toronto continued bringing vibes to the shores of Lake Ontario. On day two, the legend himself, Future, graced the mainstage pulling out hit after hit from his extensive bag of bangers. Throughout the day, plenty of RL favorites like Trippie Redd, Roddy Ricch, Don Toliver, Rubi Rose, and Mariah The Scientist had the crowd bumping. International stars lended their talent as well, with local Toronto favorites like Jazz Cartier, Pressa, and Smiley, and UK stunners Skepta, Aitch, and Lancey Foux.

The festival comes to a close tomorrow with Afrobeats icon Wizkid closing out the mainstage, plus additional performances from NAV, $uicideboy$, Ski Mask The Slump God, Polo G, and more. Be sure to follow Rolling Loud on Instagram for even more highlights from the weekend.

View photos of Rolling Loud Toronto 2022 (please credit all photos to Rolling Loud / @photographer): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/o0gmg2q88a3t0tz2y0vdu/h?dl=0&rlkey=16r8blwf22w0o7e40er9fa94v

View full performance clips at https://www.youtube.com/c/rollingloud

See even more highlights on Rolling Loud Toronto’s Instagram.

Buy Rolling Loud merch: shoprollingloud.com

For all other inquiries, please contact Michelle, Kerry, or Kevin

FUTURE:

(Credit: Rolling Loud / @chrisallmeid)

(Credit: Rolling Loud / @itchyeyephotos)

RODDY RICCH:

(Credit: Rolling Loud / @torontoontop)

SKEPTA:

(Credit: Rolling Loud / @torontoontop)

TRIPPIE REDD:

(Credit: Rolling Loud / @amrinprasad)

DON TOLIVER:

(Credit: Rolling Loud / @jordiedotcom)

PRESSA:

(Credit: Rolling Loud / @HenryHwu)

OLIVER TREE:

(Credit: Rolling Loud / @jordiedotcom)

AITCH:

(Credit: Rolling Loud / @jamesbaxter)

JAZZ CARTIER:

(Credit: Rolling Loud / @jxkson)

LANCEY FOUX:

(Credit: Rolling Loud / @itchyeyephotos)

RUBI ROSE:

(Credit: Rolling Loud / @Kinseykimathi)

MARIAH THE SCIENTIST:

(Credit: Rolling Loud / @jamesbaxter)(Credit: Rolling Loud / @photographer)

SCENES FROM THE FESTIVAL:

(Credit: Rolling Loud / @snap_ll)

(Credit: Rolling Loud / @amrinprasad)

(Credit: Rolling Loud / @moeshoots)

Critical Praise:

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

“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 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

The Background:

Rolling Loud Toronto Day One: Dave, Central Cee, A Boogie, BIA and more from RL’s Inaugural Canadian Festival

Go to Post

9.10.2022

Rolling Loud Toronto 2022: Friday Recap

Dave’s Headlining Set, Central Cee, A Boogie, BIA, Roy Wood$, And More Highlights From a Transatlantic, Action-Packed First Day on the Shores of Lake Ontario

(Credit: Rolling Loud / @nicoledekhors)

THE RECAP:

Bringing in hundreds of artists and tens of thousands of fans to events in cities around the globe, Rolling Loud is rap music’s most iconic stage. Rolling Loud Toronto is the brand’s newest event, but it already has a claim to being one of the most memorable. Day one included dozens of sets from some of the biggest names in rap on both sides of the Atlantic. The first day of their inaugural Canadian festival was closed out by a headlining set from South London’s own Dave, who shined on stage under the glow of the CN Tower.

Friday brought one of the most diverse arrays of talent in Rolling Loud history, rolling out the red carpet for UK stalwarts Central Cee, Bronx hero ABoogieWitDaHoodie, Afrobeats superstar Rema, and RL regulars Rae Sremmurd. Canadian rap heroes like Roy Wood$ and Night Lovell also blessed the stage, while BIA led a sizable contingent of rap’s leading ladies, including Tay Money and red hot risers Bktherula and Kaash Paige.

Located at Ontario Place, a picturesque venue nestled on the shores of Lake Ontario, Rolling Loud Toronto brought a vibe unlike any other event in the brand’s history. Stay tuned for much more over the next two days, as headliners Future and WizKid close out even more action-packed days.

View photos of Rolling Loud Toronto 2022 (please credit all photos to Rolling Loud / @photographer): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/o0gmg2q88a3t0tz2y0vdu/h?dl=0&rlkey=16r8blwf22w0o7e40er9fa94v

View full performance clips at https://www.youtube.com/c/rollingloud

See even more highlights on Rolling Loud Toronto’s Instagram.

Buy Rolling Loud merch: shoprollingloud.com

For all other inquiries, please contact Michelle, Kerry, or Kevin

DAVE:

Rolling Loud’s first UK-born headliner shut the stage down with a full band, rocking out on the guitar, and fomenting mayhem with hits like “Location”
(Credit: Rolling Loud / @photographer)

RAE SREMMURD:

(Credit: Rolling Loud / @amrinprasad)

A BOOGIE WIT DA HOODIE:

(Credit: Rolling Loud / @itchyeyephotos)

CENTRAL CEE:

(Credit: Rolling Loud / @curtishuynh)

ROY WOOD$:

(Photo credit: Rolling Loud / @srodriguez92)

BIA:

(Credit: Rolling Loud / @HenryHwu)

REMA:

(Credit: Rolling Loud / @snap_ll)

NIGHT LOVELL:

(Credit: Rolling Loud / @jamesbaxter)

UNKNOWN T:

(Credit: Rolling Loud / @jamesbaxter)

BKTHERULA:

(Credit: Rolling Loud / @ryanwillamcraven)

TAY MONEY:

(Credit: Rolling Loud / @gerardxjoseph)

DESTROY LONELY:

(Credit: Rolling Loud / @photographer)

FREDDIE DREDD:

(Credit: Rolling Loud / @ryanwilliamcraven)

SCENES FROM THE FESTIVAL:

Mississauga native AR Paisley snaps a selfie with his fans
(Credit: Rolling Loud / @jxkson)

Rolling Loud mainstay K.Charles leaps into the crowd
(Credit: Rolling Loud / @chrisallmeid)

(Credit: Rolling Loud / @itchyeyephotos)

Critical Praise:

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

“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 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

The Background:

PRE Rapper Bigg Unccc Shares “Gun Don’t Work” Video from ‘Young Rich Villain’

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9.12.2022

Video: Bigg Unccc – “Gun Don’t Work“

The Memphis Rhymer Presides Over Emergency Firearm Surgery In the Latest Video from His Debut Mixtape Young Rich Villain

The Video:

Bigg Unccc‘s hypnotic flow and villainous disposition helps him stand out in a bustling Memphis rap scene. Just days after sharing his debut mixtape Young Rich Villain, the Paper Route Empire rapper shares “Gun Don’t Work,” a new video for a project highlight. Blessed with a playful, piano-led instrumental, “Gun Don’t Work” is a showcase for Unccc’s overlapping bars, laid back croak, and offbeat sense of humor: “I hit the chop til my muthaf*ckin arm hurt/I don’t even think that my gun work.” In the video, Unccc performs in a dank, underground operating room, as a team of doctors attempt to revive him and perform emergency surgery on his broken firearm.

“Gun Don’t Work” follows in the wake of “Try Again” as the latest video from Young Rich Villain. Stepping atop an assortment of vivid and volatile instrumentals, with production from BandPlay and more, the new mixtape sees Bigg Unccc finding creative ways to lock his unmistakable flow onto each beat, snapping like Thanos with each flurry of flexes. The tape kicks off with “Old Me,” an origin story told over a violin instrumental so ghastly, it seems haunted by the silenced spirit of doubt. Home to recent singles like “Call of Duty” and “Free Roccout,” Young Rich Villain is available everywhere via Paper Route Empire.

Bigg Unccc is a standout artist on Paper Route Empire’s talented roster of Memphis risers. He first earned mainstream attention from his appearances on 2021’s PAPER ROUTE iLLUMINATi compilation mixtape, including “Beat It,” in which Unccc goes toe-to-toe with Young Dolph, and “Dead Body,” a collaboration with Dolph and PaperRoute Woo. Earlier this year, Unccc paid tribute to his mentor Dolph with his single “Letter to Flippa.”

With South Memphis on his back and a chip on his shoulder, look for Bigg Unccc’s profile to rise as he drops more music.

Watch “Gun Don’t Work”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFWVYj7Ld4A

Buy/Stream Young Rich Villain: https://music.empi.re/youngrichvillain

Young Rich Villain Tracklist:

Old Me
Try Again
Gun Don’t Work
Call of Duty
Skeleton
RSN
Going Wild
Free Kill
Shoes
Free Roccout
Wanna Bees

Bigg Unccc / Photo Credit: @IThinkEthan

Please contact Michelle or Destiny for more info.

wifisfuneral Shares “Ahhhhh” From Upcoming ‘4 Month Binge Before Revenge’ Project

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9.9.2022

wifisfuneral Returns to the Spotlight With Spritely New Single “Ahhhhh“

The Respected South Florida Rapper Prepares for 4 Month Binge Before Revenge, His Next Project, Coming This Fall via ONErpm

Produced by wifisfuneral Himself, the New Single Gives a Glimpse Into the Rapper’s Tangled State of Mind

Critical Praise:

XXL Freshman, Class of 2018

“[wifisfuneral] displays an impressive array of verbal acrobatics, showing off masterful breath control and a rapid fire flow.” – Pitchfork

“He’s synthesized the regionless, borderless world of the internet age from which he takes his name, while lacing it with a narcotically addictive flow and a distinct ear for melody that’s allowed him to develop while others stagnate.” – NOISEY

“The young rapper has a wide range of skills, from agile raps and bass-heavy tracks to dark and moody slow-burners, and his unpredictability is part of his appeal” – Pigeons & Planes

The Song:

A natural emcee with a cerebral rhyming style, wifisfuneral creates vibrant rap songs for dark nights of the soul. Returning from a months-long absence with a spring in his step, the Palm Beach County native shares “Ahhhhh,” a new single. Produced by wifi himself, who extends a warm greeting of “welcome back wifi” as his producer tag, “Ahhhhh” is a head-bumping lyrical exercise. The 25-year-old rapper navigates his own thumping 808s and percolating plinks of synth with panache, stacking quotable line after quotable line with his variety of flows. Despite his braggadocio, and the ease with which he tosses off high-powered flexes, wifi ends the song by turning inward: “Tryna get out of my head, my weakness, but sh*t what’s the problem?”

“Ahhhhh” is the latest single to emerge from 4 Month Binge Before Revenge, wifi’s upcoming project, coming later this year. The album receives its title from a recent spiral of depression, self-medication, and furious creativity, his vices fueling the music in his head. ” “I’m not able to be as vulnerable when I’m sober,” says wifisfuneral. “When I’m under the influence, it’s easier to let it flow, it’s raw, it gets right out of my head. Self-medicating. This is the only way I’m able to do it right now.”

Featuring production from wifi, along with collaborators Sega, Benda, and Hoku, the upcoming project oscillates from self-searching slow burners like “333” to demonic salvos like “Evil Weef” to fast-paced verbal workouts like “Tris.” Though wifi spent much of the past two years experimenting with melody, he’s back in his lyrical bag on this project, painting an appealingly grim and oddly inviting world full of frank confessions, slick turns-of-phrase, and the occasional wrestling reference. Home to recent singles “Euphoria” and “Deadwalk,” 4 Month Binge Before Revenge arrives later this fall via his new label living dead / ONErpm.

Emerging from South Florida’s fertile underground scene, wifisfuneral set himself apart with his soul-searching, dense, and lyrical songs. He built a loyal fanbase on SoundCloud and beyond, earning a place on 2018’s XXL Freshman list. Now, wifi returns with a book full of diaristic rhymes and a chip on his shoulder, ready to once again prove his mettle in the unforgiving rap game.

Buy/Stream “Ahhhhh”: http://onerpm.link/ahhhhhh

Pre-save 4 Month Binge Before Revenge: http://onerpm.link/4monthbinge

4 Month Binge B4 Revenge tracklist:
1. Hero 2 Zero / Zero 2 Hero*
2. Ahhhhh*
3. 333
4. Save Me From Myself*
5. Deadwalk
6. New Charger*
7. Euphoria
8. Im Mad lol
9. Tris*
10. Miami (produced by wifisfuneral & Benda)
11. In Too Deep*
12. Evil Weef (produced by wifisfuneral & Hoku)
* produced by wifisfuneral

Please contact Michelle for more info.

The Background:

About wifisfuneral
25-year-old South Florida rapper wifisfuneral has taken his dark sonics, mature-beyond-his-years lyrics, and trunk rattling bass from the streets of Palm Beach to the world, amassing over 1.7 million monthly listeners on Spotify and over 700,000 followers on various social media platforms. wifisfuneral’s growth has been organic and cult-like, with his fans spreading his music like wildfire with each and every release.

About ONErpm
ONErpm is a next-generation music company and leader in new revenue opportunities, operating one of the world’s largest music distribution platforms and YouTube Multi-Channel Networks. Offering a full suite of services that includes marketing support, supply chain tools, business intelligence, publishing, accounting, and global payment solutions, ONErpm provides the infrastructure needed to help creators and content owners succeed. As a trusted partner, ONErpm emphasizes transparency in everything it does, from executing a marketing campaign to making payments. ONErpm currently operates in 30 territories across the globe with a staff of over 450, making it one of the fastest-growing independent music companies in the world.

For more information, visit www.onerpm.com

PRE’s Bigg Unccc Turns Heel for ‘Young Rich Villain’ Mixtape

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9.9.2022

Mixtape: Bigg Unccc – Young Rich Villain

The South Memphis Stepper Hatches a Plot for the Paper Chase over 11 Unassisted Tracks on New Mixtape

The Mixtape:

Unspooling drawly triplet flows with the saccharine smoothness of maple syrup, Bigg Unccc is right at home on Paper Route Empire’s roster of originals. Trading in his diamond-studded smile for a sinister smirk, the South Memphis menace shares his new mixtape, Young Rich Villain. Home to recent singles like “Call of Duty” and “Free Roccout,” the 11-track tape includes no features as Unccc single-handedly carries out his evil plan to fill his pockets by emptying yours. The tape arrives alongside a video for the project highlight “Try Again.”

Stepping atop an assortment of vivid and volatile instrumentals, with production from BandPlay and more, Bigg Unccc finds creative ways to lock his unmistakable flow onto each beat, snapping like Thanos with each flurry of flexes. The tape kicks off with “Old Me,” an origin story told over a violin instrumental so ghastly, it seems haunted by the silenced spirit of doubt. As the tape progresses, the Young Rich Villain questions if a worthy opponent even exists on the chillingly tongue-in-cheek, “Gun Don’t Work,” before answering that question in the negative on the tape’s finale, “Wanna Bees.”

With South Memphis on his back and a chip on his shoulder, look for Bigg Unccc’s profile to rise as he drops more music.

Buy/Stream Young Rich Villain: https://music.empi.re/youngrichvillain

Watch “Try Again”: https://youtu.be/pklq51Y_f3w

Young Rich Villain Tracklist:

Old Me
Try Again
Gun Don’t Work
Call of Duty
Skeleton
RSN
Going Wild
Free Kill
Shoes
Free Roccout
Wanna Bees

Bigg Unccc / Photo Credit: @IThinkEthan

Please contact Michelle or Destiny for more info.

DUSTY LOCANE Steps with the Sinners in “PRESSURE”

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9.9.2022

Video: DUSTY LOCANE – “PRESSURE“

The Canarsie Shotcaller Repents but Never Relents in New Video from ROLLIN N CONTROLLIN EP

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:

With the ice cold poise of a Cosa Nostra capo and a basso voice that resonates with the unforgiving frequency of the Brooklyn streets, DUSTY LOCANE fears none but the Almighty. Steeped in shades of sin and sacrament, DUSTY shares his video for “PRESSURE” from his recent ROLLIN N CONTROLLIN EP. The opening track of the EP, “PRESSURE” provides instant momentum as DUSTY braggodociously barks over deep sliding surges of bass that sharpen with each bar: “Let me put you on/He had a trail and we picked ‘em off/We was just trying to up the score/Gotta keep it discrete, that’s the Art of War.”

A Secret Society Motion Picture, the church-set video for “PRESSURE” calls to mind the opening line from Martin Scorcese’s Mean Streets: “You don’t make up for your sins in church. You do it in the streets.” The clip potently conveys DUSTY’s commitment to the hustle as a near-religious vocation. Juxtaposing images of stained glass martyrs and stone-faced executioners, “PRESSURE” creates an atmosphere more aligned with a Good Friday than any Easter Sunday. Yet as he walks through the valley of the shadow of death, DUSTY fears no evil, freely confessing his sins to the only one that can judge him.

Released last week, ROLLIN N CONTROLLIN EP features each installment of DUSTY’s GOLD-certified debut single, “ROLLIN N CONTROLLIN FREESTYLE,” including the recent “ROLLIN N CONTROLLIN Pt. 3 (BEEN ROLLIN)” and it’s TikTok-viral predecessor, as well as his second-ever single, “Rolando (Caught In The Rain)” (92 million Spotify streams), which receives a brand new sequel on the project. The EP also delivered a pair of explosive new singles with the Kajun Waters-assisted “GAME,” in addition to “PRESSURE.” Whereas the rest of the project highlights the thunderous impact DUSTY’s made in his young career, the new additions pave the way for a new era of DUSTY’s dominance.

ROLLIN N CONTROLLIN arrives amidst a year of dominance for DUSTY in Brooklyn and beyond, most recently highlighted by the viral success of his collab with Lil Mabu on “No Snitching,” which is in the Top 10 of Spotify’s U.S. Viral 50 with over 10 million streams on the service. The new EP marks DUSTY’s first project since his debut album, UNTAMED, which capped off a massive 2021 for the 23-year-old artist. In December, DUSTY joined the exclusive ranks of artists like Olivia Rodrigo, Coi Leray, Pooh Shiesty, and many more, as a member of the #RIAAClassOf2021 after receiving his first GOLD certification that year with “ROLLIN N CONTROLLIN FREESTYLE,” which racked up over 200 million combined streams. Stay tuned for more from the Canarsie native as he continues to dominate his drill domain.

Watch “PRESSURE”: https://youtu.be/LJGxxPyjA2s

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

ROLLIN N CONTROLLIN Tracklist:

PRESSURE
GAME ft. Kajun Waters
ROLLIN N CONTROLLIN Pt. 3 (BEEN ROLLIN)
ROLLIN N CONTROLLIN Pt. 2 (PICTURE ME)
ROLLIN N CONTROLLIN FREESTYLE
ROLANDO (CAUGHT IN THE RAIN)
ROLANDO 2 (CATCH THE RAIN)

Please contact Michelle or Kevin for more info.

The Background:

“It was all in front of me; I just had to go get it,” DUSTY LOCANE says at the beginning of his viral drill heater, “Rolando (Caught In The Rain).” That’s an understatement: less than a year after he started rapping, the gruff-voiced, baby-faced Brooklyn spitter has experienced one of the most meteoric rises in recent rap history. He’s only released three songs, and he’s already a star: his breakout song “R60LLXN N CONTROLLIN” went viral instantly, and its follow-up “Rolando” garnered 1 million video plays and 1 million streams in its first week. The world is closely watching Dusty, and he’s ready to deliver.

Jay Critch & Rich The Kid Reunite For New Video “Lefty”

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9.9.2022

Video: Jay Critch – “Lefty” ft. Rich The Kid

The Brooklyn Born Spitter Reunites With His “Rich Forever” Mentor in a Flossy New Video;

The Talk Money/EMPIRE Artist Prepares a New Project To Release This Fall

Critical Praise:

“Jay Critch is the new New York”– The FADER

“Since last summer, he’s kept his foot on the pedal with a slew of new releases, and those efforts seemingly ramped up even more since the top of the year.” – HotNewHipHop

“Jay Critch is naturally gifted” – Rap Radar

The Video:

With a brusque Brooklyn brogue and an unflappable demeanor, Jay Critch commands a loyal following in his home borough and beyond. Connecting with his mentor and frequent collaborator Rich The Kid for only the second time since 2019, Critch shares “Lefty,” his new video single. An atmospheric banger that recalls the duo’s acclaimed work on the Rich Forever series of mixtapes, the Timothy On The Beat-produced track finds the two rappers ping-ponging back and forth, each trying to outdo the other’s flexes. While Rich touts his brand new Maybach and the half-a-mil watch on his left wrist, Critch quiets down his haters with money talk.

In the video, directed by Rich Porter, the two rappers flaunt their multitude of multi-colored foreigns as they pour up in a suburban mansion.”Lefty” continues a run of quality singles by the Clinton Hill native that have surfaced in recent weeks. In August, Critch shared the beat-shifting banger “Close To Me/Active,” combining two hard-hitting songs into one and proving why he remains Brooklyn’s big dog. Earlier this year, Critch connected with Harry Fraud for the airy, REVOLT-praised “Born With It.”

Since he burst onto the scene as a teenager with singles like “Ad Libs” and the beloved Hood Favorite mixtape, Jay Critch has been one of New York’s favorite sons. His collaborations with Rich The Kid and Famous Dex on the Rich Forever mixtape series remain the stuff of legend, but he hasn’t stopped switching up his style or releasing new heat for the streets. His 23-track 2021 effort Critch Tape found the now-24-year-old rapper expanding his sound to absorb drill and other prevailing street styles. The tape featured collaborations with fellow New Yorkers Fivio Foreign and Lil Tjay, as well as influential figures Skillibeng and Drakeo The Ruler. Critch recently expanded his CV to include modeling, as he modeled for the Kors x Ellesse campaign alongside Emily Ratajkowski earlier this year.

Currently hard at work on his follow-up to Critch Tape, the Clinton Hill colossus prepares to resume his Five Borough takeover. Stay tuned for much more.

Stream “Lefty” ft. Rich The Kid: https://music.empi.re/leftyjayrich

Watch “Lefty” ft. Rich The Kid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ayZp7teMaU

Please contact Michelle or Myles for more info.

The Background:

Jay Critch may very well be the answer to New York’s calls for representation in the rap game. As a young kid, Jay Critch was fascinated by his older brother’s music. Listening to his brother rap, Critch began to eventually do the same. Born in 1998 in Clinton Hill, Critch wrote raps at a young age, but wasn’t recording until he was of preteen age. Rappers such as Lil Wayne, Fabolous, and Max B dominated Critch’s listening habits and became major influences in his own music career.

Central Cee’s Viral LA Leakers Freestyle Hits DSPs

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9.9.2022

Central Cee Officially Releases Viral “LA Leakers Freestyle” On All Platforms

The Rising Hitmaker Bridges The Gap Between U.S. and U.K. Slang in His Impressive Verse

The U.K. Breakout’s Latest Viral Moment Arrives on the Heels of His UK #2 Hit “Doja” and Ahead of His “Still Loading” World Tour

With Over 142 Million Worldwide Streams and 44 Million Video Views, “Doja” Debuted at #2 On the UK Charts and Currently Sits in Spotify’s Global Top 25

Critical Praise:

“23 displays just how good Central Cee is in the business of making records.” – The Guardian

“A fast rising voice” – Rolling Stone

“The UK’s new rap superstar” – The Face

A suave demeanor” – Pitchfork

“London’s rapper of the moment” – Evening Standard

“Essential within the scene” – Crack

“Forever-buzzing” – Noisey

“Who is bigger than Central Cee right now?” – NME

“Central Cee deserves his seat at the table.” – Trench

The Announcement:

Taking over Britain with his fierce charisma and quotable slick talk, Central Cee aims to bridge the gap between the UK and U.S. rap scenes. Cleverly creating a cheat sheet for American fans interested in his home nation’s rap scene, Cench officially releases his “LA Leakers Freestyle” on all DSPs. Recorded earlier this week when Cench sat down with Power 106.1’s Justin Credible and DJ Sour Milk, the new freestyle provides a veritable dictionary for those who wish to know what separates the “trenches” from the “ends,” ultimately proving that the streets in both countries are not so different after all: “We say ‘Cash, Ps, Racks, Gs,’ we don’t really call them bands/In L.A, it’s Escaladess, in the ends, it’s Mercedes Vans/Watch my back, I’m paranoid/That’s what I mean when I say that I’m prang.” Earning praise from outlets like The FADER, REVOLT, HotNewHipHop, and many more, the video of the freestyle racked up over 700k views in its first two days and reached YouTube’s all-categories trending chart.

Stream the Freestyle HERE
Watch Central Cee perform the Freestyle on L.A. Leakers HERE

The new freestyle arrives hot on the heels of “Doja,” the rapper’s viral smash. The track marked a huge moment, as Central Cee became the first ever UK artist to have a video directed by the iconic Cole Bennett, and hosted on Lyrical Lemonade. To date, “Doja” racked up over 140 million streams, and over 44 million views on its YouTube video. The song debuted at #2 on the UK’s Official Charts and it currently sits on the chart at #12. The song is a worldwide smash, marking his highest charting positions in Australia, Germany, Benelux, and more, and reaching Spotify’s Top 10 Daily Plays in 21 markets. The song reached Shazam’s Global Top 100 chart, peaked at #19 on Billboard’s Global 200 songs chart (it currently sits at #45), and tore up TikTok to the tune of over 750k video creations.

The 23-year-old artist rides a cresting wave of momentum to his “Still Loading World Tour.” Kicking off in October, the “Still Loading World Tour” starts in the United States, where Cench will perform his first-ever American headlining dates, before heading to Europe on October 31st. The tour culminates in London on November 22nd, as Cench headlines a special show at the historic Alexandra Palace. Australian fans should stay tuned for the announcement of dates in Melbourne and Sydney. Several dates, including New York and London, are already sold out, and the rest are selling fast.

Accolades are numerous for this high-flying young artist. Following on from his chart-scaling single and platinum viral hit “Obsessed With You,” Cench released a GRM Daily Duppy, which went on to be the highest charting in history. Earning a stellar position in 2022’s BBC Sound Poll, Central Cee consequently received an astounding three Brit Award nominations – for Best New Artist, Best Song and Best British Hip Hop, Rap, Grime act. Not forgetting his feature on the platinum-certified “Overseas” with D-Block Europe, which was one of 2022’s highest selling UK Rap singles.

A keen fashion head, Cench has previously dropped a limited run of merch in collaboration with UK Streetwear brands Corteiz, and Trapstar, both of which sold out in minutes.

With co-signs from The Guardian, Pitchfork, NME, Clash, Complex, Crack, Lil Baby, Big Sean, Wizkid, Jacquemus, Louis Vuitton, Virgil Abloh and Drake, Central Cee is the biggest name of the moment and impossible to ignore.

“DOJA” OUT NOW: https://cench.lnk.to/Doja
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE: https://cench.lnk.to/Doja-vid

“STILL LOADING WORLD TOUR” DATES:

tba – Melbourne, AU
tba – Sydney, AU

Please contact Michelle or Kevin for more info.

The Background:

Doodie Lo Spites the Spineless on “Back Bone”

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9.9.2022

Video: Doodie Lo – “Back Bone“

The OTF Stepper Flexes the Strength of his Foundation in Raw New Video

The Video:

Doodie Lo is a charismatic character with the larger-than-life presence of an old school movie mobster. With his priorities in place and a menacing grin on his face, the Only The Family rapper shares his new video single, “Back Bone.” Produced by Chopsquad DJ, the track finds Doodie addressing those who use his name for clout, as he illustrates the difference between his empire, built from bricks, and their empire, built on sand: “All they try to do is get some views, that don’t last long / I don’t love no b****, I got my brothers, that’s my backbone.”

Directed by Shay Visuals and shot in Doodie’s hometown of Kankakee, IL, the video for “Back Bone” is a neighborhood function from start to finish. Whether he’s hanging out the backdoor of his SUV, posted on the porch with his cohort, or popping off fireworks at the park, one thing remains constant– wherever Doodie goes, his hood is always behind him.

“ISTG” is the latest salvo in a busy year for the OTF artist, following recent singles like “ISTG,” “FACE,” and the Icewear Vezzo-assisted “Melrose,” as the artist looks to make his mark with his street anthems. Last year, Doodie Lo made an impact with Big Doodie Lo, the artist’s debut full-length project. The mixtape is home to “Me & Doodie Lo,” an energetic collab between King Von and Doodie that originally appeared on OTF’s Loyal Bros compilation (and racked up over 13.8 million YouTube views), in which the legendary O-Block native gives Mr. Kankakee an enthusiastic co-sign. Over the past year, Doodie Lo has considerably grown his profile, gaining tens of thousands of YouTube subscribers and Spotify Monthly Listeners, and collaborating with heavy hitters like Moneybagg Yo, Pooh Shiesty, BIG30, and more.

With the full support of Lil Durk and a strong debut mixtape under his belt, Doodie Lo looks to establish himself as the next midwest street rapper to blow. Given all that he’s already overcome, it would not be wise to bet against him. Stay tuned for the fifth Only The Family compilation mixtape, coming later this year.

Watch “Back Bone”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kToQsZOv0v0

Stream “Back Bone”: https://music.empi.re/backbone

Please contact Michelle or T’Keyah if interested in seeing Doodie Lo on “The 7220 Deluxe Tour”

The Background:

OTF Background
Founded by Lil Durk, Only The Family is one of rap’s most respected labels and most impressive collections of talent. Originally based in Chicago, the label earned a reputation for cultivating some of the city’s most vital talents, with members like Booka600, Memo600, and the late great King Von. With a roster that reflects label boss Durk’s signature combination of raw lyricism and emotional songwriting, OTF has released three label compilation mixtapes, including the two volumes of Only The Family Involved in 2018 and Family Over Everything in 2019. Ready to make a statement after a 2020 marked by success and tragedy in equal measure, Only The Family is currently preparing Loyal Bros, their next compilation tape, coming in February 2021.

Rolling Loud Toronto Announces Set Times, Reveals Merch for This Weekend’s Inaugural Show

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9.8.2022

Rolling Loud Reveals Set Times and New Merch for Inaugural Rolling Loud Toronto Fest, Happening This Weekend (9/9-9/11) at Ontario Place in Downtown Toronto

Headlined by Future, WizKid, and Dave, Rolling Loud’s First-Ever Canadian Festival Promises an International Array of A-Listers

The Announcement:

Wherever Rolling Loud goes, whether Portugal, New York, L.A., or its hometown of Miami, fireworks follow. The world’s biggest hip-hop festival continues its world tour this weekend with Rolling Loud Toronto, the first Rolling Loud on Canadian soil. Today, the festival announces set times for the extravaganza, its eclectic and uniformly excellent lineup presenting fans with difficult choices throughout the event’s three days. With headliners Future, WizKid, and Dave closing out each night in spectacular fashion, Rolling Loud Toronto makes its debut September 9th-11th, 2022 at Ontario Place, a gorgeous space on the shores of Lake Ontario that overlooks the famous Toronto skyline.

Along with the set times, Rolling Loud Toronto reveals new merch for the festival, inspired by Toronto’s cultural diversity, bustling rap scene, and by the festival’s location near the CN Tower and Rogers Centre baseball stadium. Rolling Loud revealed a composite image of the merch, along with styles modeled by Pressa, on Instagram. Rolling Loud Toronto Merch is available on site at the festival and at Rolling Loud’s online merch store.

For its first Canadian festival, Rolling Loud curated its most diverse and wide-ranging North American bill to date. Beyond the headliners, Rolling Loud Toronto brings American rap stars and Rolling Loud regulars like Lil Uzi Vert, Migos, Roddy Ricch, Trippie Redd, Lil Yachty, and A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, alongside Canadian rap titans like NAV, Belly, and Pressa, and UK top men including Skepta, Central Cee, and AJ Tracey. Like all Rolling Loud festivals, the upcoming event prominently features some of the hottest rising names in rap, like Lil Tecca, BIA, Ski Mask The Slump God, and many more.

Rolling Loud Toronto continues a massive year for Rolling Loud. 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, plus special appearances from Ye and Travis Scott. Two weeks after hitting Toronto for the first time, Rolling Loud returns to hip-hop’s hometown with the third Rolling Loud New York, headlined by Nicki Minaj, A$AP Rocky, and Future. Earlier this summer, Rolling Loud hosted its first European festivals: Rolling Loud Portugal (July 6-8th, 2022) and WOO HAH! Fest in the Netherlands (July 1st-3rd).

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 about the brand’s various ventures.

Keep an eye on Rolling Loud’s Instagram for all the latest updates.

Check this Dropbox for photos from Rolling Loud Toronto, updated throughout the weekend (please credit photographers as “Rolling Loud/@photographer”)

Buy Rolling Loud Merch: shoprollingloud.com

Buy Rolling Loud Toronto Merch: https://shoprollingloud.com/collections/toronto

Critical Praise:

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

“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 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

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

The Background:

The festival returned from a 18-month hiatus with the sold out Rolling Loud Miami 2021, its biggest event yet, bringing in over 85,000 fans per day to Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL. With headliners like Post Malone and A$AP Rocky, Rolling Loud Miami 2021 was a triumphant return for live rap music, and a coming out party for risers and new superstars eager to play in front of a festival crowd. Rolling Loud Miami kicked off a massive year for the festival brand, arriving ahead of Rolling Loud New York 2021, and Rolling Loud California, headlined by J. Cole, Kid Cudi, and Future.

Links:

website | facebook | twitter | instagram

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

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

END

09.08.2022
DCG Brothers and PGF Nuk Stand Up for The Chi in “WYO” Video

Press Release

DCG Brothers and PGF Nuk Stand Up for The Chi in “WYO” Video

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9.8.2022

Video: DCG Brothers – “WYO” ft. PGF Nuk (Dir. by No More Heroes)

The Dynamic South Side Duo Mobs at Summer Smash with Fellow Chicago Natives PGF Nuk and Cole Bennett in Their Kinetic New Video

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:

Chicago rhymers DCG Brothers make fun and boisterous drill music that entertains even as it doesn’t shy away from the gritty realities of South Side living. Expanding from a duo to a trio with the addition of heatseeking Chitown rapper PGF Nuk, DCG Shun and DCG BSavv share “WYO,” a brand new single. The three rappers run roughshod over an ominously bouncy piano-led instrumental–Nuk shines on the hook with a snarling warning (and the most terrifying utterance of the word “buddy” in rap history), while Shun and BSavv deliver the playful boasts and assonant tough talk for which they’re known: “My opps be gangstas through a microphone,” intones BSavv.

Filmed at Lyrical Lemonade’s Summer Smash this summer and featuring a cameo from a very happy-looking Cole Bennett, the No More Heroes-directed clip for “WYO” is a triumphant celebration of the new generation of Chicago rappers–they’ll uncork an effortless 16 and then stomp an opp with a smiles on their faces. Releasing today at 5pm ET/4pm CT, “WYO” follows on the heels of “Get Money,” a collaboration with Los Angeles rapper MoneySign $uede.

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 (1.5 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 is available everywhere via No More Heroes/Atlantic Records.

Though 18-year-old DCG Shun and 19-year-old 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 (3.3 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 2.2 million views.

With much more music, and plenty more creative videos, on deck, and with the backing of No More Heroes and Atlantic Records, there’s no limit to how high DCG BROTHERS can rise.

Watch “WYO” ft. PGF Nuk (live at 5pm ET/4pm CT): http://DCG.lnk.to/WYOVideo

Stream “WYO” ft. PGF Nuk (audio out now!): http://dcg.lnk.to/WYO

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

Jungle Life tracklist:

Not Scared
Stomp ft. G Herbo
One Call
Buss It
Get Down
On Me
Jungle Life
In The Raq ft. B-Lovee
Adverbs
Mmhmm
Aye Wassup ft. Msavv
Dues
Hits Inna Daytime ft. BIG30
Old Opps

Please contact Michelle or T’Keyah for more info.

Links:

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

“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

World’s Smallest Violin.” The song by the three brothers recently sparked a trend using the song’s lyrics “So if I do not find somebody soon, I’ll blow up…” to chronicle times they made a post on social media and it unexpectedly blew up. With over 492K total creations, the TikTok community is reflecting on their posts of their daughter holding muffins, makeup tutorials on dads, and tie-dye blankets launching them to viral status. The three brothers of AJR are happily engaging with the sound, participating in the trend themselves to display the success of the song and encouraging fans to continue choreographing fun dances to it.
TikTok is the internet’s premiere destination for discovering, discussing, and making jokes about music. If a song captures the internet’s imagination, it will likely inspire a universe of content on the platform, and therefore a boost in on-demand streams. Such is the story with “Cbat,” a quirky 2011 electronic jam by Hudson Mohawke, which resurfaced after TikTok discovered a Reddit post that prominently featured the song. “Cbat” generated over 85k video creations, most of which in the past week, and rocketed to the top of the Spotify Viral 50 chart in recent days. What is the trend about? If you search, or look at one of the thousands of videos with the #Cbat tag (196 million views), you can find out. Just heed this warning: once you learn the meaning behind the trend, you can’t unlearn it.
Music can help TikTok creators tell a story with just a few camera movements and only the slightest changes in facial expression. Snoop Dogg’s 2007 song “Sensual Seduction,” a pastiche of the slow jams Snoop loved in his youth, is powering a trend in which zooms and eyebrow raises tell a full story. Creators use the atmospheric synths and fluttering flutes to cut between perspectives, each cut timed to one of the song’s playful woodwind flourishes. Once Snoop’s vocals come in, the creators break the tension with a sunglass-clad shimmy. The trend is perfect for illustrating silent conflicts between siblings, the quirks of married life, the inherent awkwardness of luggage shopping, afternoon fruit snacks, and much more. TikTok-beloved Brazilian singer Anitta hopped on the trend to document her dinnertime standoff with her adorable dog Plinio.
Through shared experiences and an ear for rising artists, TikTok is a platform where life can imitate art. Inspired by rising NY drill artist Ice Spice’s viral hit, “Munch (Feelin’ U)” (105.6K+ creations), TikTok creators share their most hilarious-yet-relatable experiences in the dating world. Using Ice Spice’s emphatic hook, “You thought I was feelin’ you,” creators reveal their toxic traits when dating, such as ghosting and drunk flirting. The song also inspired a funny trend of creators showing off their Nike Tech sweatsuits after repurposing a clip of Ice saying she likes men dressed in them. Artists such as Kehlani, DreamDoll, and Dess Dior showed their support of “Munch (Feelin’ U)” by using the sound over their videos. Ice also interacted with her song on the platform, revealing her toxic dating habits. Thanks in part to the momentous growth on TikTok, “Munch (Feelin’ U)” earned a top 3 spot on TikTok’s weekly US Top Tracks chart and over 2.2M streams on Spotify to date.
The TikTok community always finds a way to bring hilarious context to our favorite song lyrics. Similar to Ice Spice, Memphis, TN rapper Finesse2Tymes has creators in the mood for relatable content with his song, “Back End,” which has over 277K+ creations to date. Inspired by Finesse2Tymes’ lyrics, “It’s cool when they do it/It’s a problem when I do it,” TikTok users challenge the double standards they’ve experienced and the consequences behind them. To emphasize their point, creators use the Police Runner filter as they question why the Bachelorette can date more than one person at a time, wonder why they can’t flirt with their siblings’ best friends, and contemplate how their parents got away with their youthful shenanigans. Flo Milli and Fuller House star Isaak Presley also hopped on the trend with their own creative scenarios. Receiving a boost from TikTok, “Back End” earned a top 20 spot on Spotify’s US Viral 50 charts, and racked up over 1M streams on Spotify.
Weeks ater the viral Recess Therapy video that started it all, #CornTok still has the juice. The Gregory Brothers’ autotuned version of “Corn Kid” Tariq’s ode to his favorite food has over 665k video creations, and over 212 million views on the #CornTok hashtag. The 7-year-old Tariq is living his best life–he recently went to visit South Dakota’s Corn Palace, a landmark in Mitchell, SD that is the world’s only palace dedicated to that big lump with knobs. The state of South Dakota was ecstatic to have him: upon his visit, Tariq was named the official “Corn-bassador” of South Dakota by the state’s governor, and September 3rd was officially designated “Corn-Bassador Tariq Day.” If #CornTok keeps growing at such a rapid rate, soon enough every day will be “Corn-Bassador Tariq Day.”

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

Check out previous editions of TikTok Treats, a weekly newsletter about the most interesting music happenings on TikTok:

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09.08.2022

Britney & Elton, Snoop Dogg & Ice Spice Lead This Week’s TikTok Trends

09.08.2022

AFROPUNK Announces Set Times and Community-Facing Activations For This Weekend’s Festival

Press Release

AFROPUNK Announces Set Times and Community-Facing Activations For This Weekend’s Festival

Go to Post

9.7.2022

AFROPUNK Announces Set Times for AFROPUNK Brooklyn 2022

AFROPUNK Partners With New Voices Foundation and the National Medical Association to Host Solutions Sessions Streaming Live on AFROPUNK’s Instagram on September 9th

Headlined by Burna Boy and The Roots, AFROPUNK Returns to Commodore Barry Park For The First Time Since on September 10th-11th, 2022

AFROPUNK to Present Stand Up Against Street Harassment Training During This Weekend’s Festival, Presented by L’Oreal and Hosted by Leyna Bloom

The Announcement:

AFROPUNK‘s community-focused approach to hosting festivals aims to combine cultural celebration with crucial reflection and education. Today, AFROPUNK announces the set times for this weekend’s AFROPUNK Brooklyn 2022, its first Brooklyn festival since 2019. The two-day AFROPUNK Festival returns to Commodore Barry Park in Brooklyn this weekend, September 10-11, 2022.

Saturday satisfies hip-hop lovers with headliners The Roots, plus performances from Isaiah Rashad, Freddie Gibbs, Tierra Whack, Doechii, and many more, while making time for the game-changing jazz of Butcher Brown. The wide-ranging Sunday brings the heat as Burna Boy brings the house down, Lucky Daye performs his hits, and a diverse crew of the most unique artists in music today, including Earl Sweatshirt, Adekunle Gold, Bartees Strange, Fana Hues, and many more, take the stage.

Today, AFROPUNK announces a new partnership with L’Oreal Paris’s Stand Up Against Street Harassment initiative to offer a street harassment awareness training session on stage during each day of AFROPUNK Brooklyn 2022. Hosted by model/actress Leyna Bloom, the first trans, Asian, and Black woman to be on the cover of Sports Illustrated, the Stand Up Against Street Harassment Training happens on the Main Stage at 5:45pm on Saturday and 5pm on Sunday.

Before the festival kicks off, AFROPUNK partners with New Voices Foundation and the National Medical Association for a series of Solutions Sessions focusing on the intersection between activism, art, and Black health. On Friday September 9th, AFROPUNK will livestream two separate sessions on the AFROPUNK Instagram on September 9th.

The first session is entitled “Disrupting Health Innovation,” showcasing the innovative products and services of several Black-owned companies in the healthcare space. Six founders will demonstrate how their companies challenge institutional racism in health, and what will be needed to dismantle racism in the space of entrepreneurship for Black health and well-being. Hosted by Marie Clark at the New Voices Foundation, “Disrupting Health Innovation” airs from 2pm-4pm.

The second session, “Decolonize and Reimagine Health: A Discussion,” discusses concrete steps toward dismantling racism in health and reimagining something different, while positing what would be needed to actualize this new Wakandian vision for health and well-being for folks across the African diaspora. Hosted by Aletha Maybank, SVP/Chief Health Equity Officer from the American Medical Association. and facilitated by “TikTok Doc” Joel Bervell, along with five other leading and influencer Black and Brown physicians, this discussion runs from 4:30pm-6pm.

AFROPUNK is more than a festival, it’s a celebration of life, music, food, and culture in the Black community. After hosting events in Miami, Atlanta, Bahia, and Johannesburg in recent years, and an event in Minneapolis this weekend, AFROPUNK feels great to be home. With AFROPUNK 2022, the global brand seeks to remind New York and the wider world why it’s one of the most vital and vibrant cultural events on the calendar. Stay tuned to AFROPUNK on socials and text “AFROPUNK” to (718) 550-6268 to stay in the loop for more announcements.

Buy single-day and full festival tickets for AFROPUNK 2022:
http://afropunk.com/festival/brooklyn

Watch the AFROPUNK Brooklyn 2022 livestreams on AFROPUNK’s Twitch channel

Don’t miss the AFROPUNK x Brooklyn Museum ticket bundle, allow fans to access both the festival and “Virgil Abloh: “Figures Of Speech“ exhibit at a discounted cost not available anywhere else

Ticket Bundle Price
Weekend + Virgil Abloh Exhibit – $195 ($20 off)
Saturday Single Day + Virgil Abloh Exhibit – $130 ($10 off)
Sunday Single Day + Virgil Abloh Exhibit – $155 ($10 off)

AFROPUNK X Brooklyn Museum Ticket Bundle Link
https://wl.seetickets.us/event/AFROPUNK-BROOKLYN-2022/484382?afflky=Afropunk

ALREADY BOUGHT A TICKET? NO WORRIES
Receive 15% off weekday tickets by entering the code BrooklynBaby to purchase discounted tickets. The offer is valid through September 16th. You can buy that ticket here.

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

THE BACKGROUND:

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

About Stand Up Against Street Harassment:
L’Oréal Paris launched the Stand Up Against Street Harassment program on March 8th, 2020, in partnership with Right To Be (formerly Hollaback!); an international NGO dedicated to ending harassment in all its forms. Stand Up Against Street Harassment is focused on raising awareness about street harassment and training 1.5 million people in Right To Be’s 5Ds methodology by the end of 2022. To date, more than 800,000 people have been trained with Stand Up across 37 countries. For more information and to take the 10-minute digital training, please visit StandUP-US.com.

About Leyna Bloom:
Born in Chicago to a Filipina mother and an African American father, Bloom knew from a young age that she was a woman. Bloom faced a turbulent childhood and was raised by her father following hermother’s deportation. Fortunately, he supported her decision to transition.

A versatile dancer, Bloom is trained in ballet, lyrical, hip hop, jazz modern, tap, and vogue. She took her first dance classes in sixth grade and performed on the American Ballet Theater stage with Misty Copeland by the age of 14. She received a full dance scholarship to the Chicago Academy for the Arts as a teenager, however, in spite of this early promise and opportunity, she chose to give up on a traditional path to pursue her authentic self. After dropping out of the Academy because the men’s scholarship did
not allow her to dance as a woman, she left Chicago and moved to New York City, where she faced homelessness.

Bloom survived by working at a restaurant during the daytime. At night she earned cash prizes in the underground ballroom scene, voguing and serving face on the floors of vacant Harlem theaters and dance halls. In this world, she found acceptance and a safe space to be herself while competing with other queer youth. Her talent and beauty earner her status and recognition among her peers. Meanwhile her modeling career took off as transgender figures gained acceptance in the media. In October 2017, Bloom became the first openly trans woman of color to appear in Vogue India. She then
went on to break more boundaries by becoming the first trans woman of color to be the lead of a feature film at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival with her movie Port Authority, direct by Danielle Lessovitz.

In 2021 she made history again by becoming the first trans, Asian, and Black woman to be on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Her recent credits include the feature film Asking For It with Kiersey Clemons and Vanessa Hudgens that premiered at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival, and the critically acclaimed series Pose.

From homelessness to the cover of Sports Illustrated, Leyna Bloom continues to embody the American dream through her hard work and resilience.

Links:

official site | instagram | twitter | facebook | youtube

Buy tickets for AFROPUNK Brooklyn: https://afropunk.com/festival/brooklyn/

END

09.06.2022

Lil Gnar & Chief Keef Plot 43B’s Takeover in “Almighty Gnar” Video

Press Release

Lil Gnar & Chief Keef Plot 43B’s Takeover in “Almighty Gnar” Video

Go to Post

9.2.2022

Video: Lil Gnar – “Almighty Gnar” ft. Chief Keef

43B’s Premier Signee Teams with Founder Chief Keef to Unleash Mayhem in New Video

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:

In the months since he was announced as first signee to Chief Keef’s new label 43B, Atlanta multi-hyphenate Lil Gnar has proven himself a big stepper worthy of the shoes he fills. After making his label debut alongside Sosa with the recent single, “Almighty Gnar,” the enigmatic pair returns with the new video for their bombastic track.

Ignited by a “bang bang” courtesy of Sosa himself, the track finds each of the artists in an explosive world of their own, with Keef’s irreplicable flow pouring over the blare of battle-ready horns before Gnar blitzes onto the track with a flurry of furious synth like a back-to-back boss battle there’s no hope of emerging from. In the video for “Almighty Gnar,” the duo lets their diamonds do the dancing and the Rolls do the talking. Directed by Sam McGrath, the clip features kinetic. comic book-style interjections that befit the song’s superhero team-up.

The release of “Almighty Gnar” quickly follows Keef’s “Chief So” 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 43B.

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

Buy/Stream “Almighty Gnar” ft. Chief Keef: https://lnk.to/almightygnar

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

“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

09.06.2022

Dro Kenji Keeps His Head Above “SHALLOW” Waters

Press Release

Dro Kenji Keeps His Head Above “SHALLOW” Waters

Go to Post

9.6.2022

Video: Dro Kenji – “SHALLOW“

The 20 Year Old Riser Navigates the Dark Corridors of His Mind in New Video from ANYWHERE BUT HERE

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:

With ever-improving vocal chops, Dro Kenji is guided by an otherworldly vision for the atmosphere his music creates. Embarking on another voyage into that cerebral realm, the South Carolinian shares “SHALLOW,” the latest visual thriller from his recent project ANYWHERE BUT HERE. Underlined by the ethereal urgency where piano and percussion intersect, “SHALLOW” presents Kenji as he struggles to reconcile that a glass half-empty is still enough to drown in: “I get high to calm the storm/Lie to me like I ain’t live it/Tell me what you cry for/How the f*ck is this the limit?”

Shot by frequent collaborator Declan Kyle, a key architect of the Dro Kenji cinematic universe in his own right, “SHALLOW” takes a dive into the darker recesses of Kenji’s psyche. As he trudges through the paint-peeled corridors of stonewall structures, glimmers of daylight cut through the darkness as clear openings to the outside world reveal themselves. Yet, Kenji remains in this eerie edifice as though he’s bound himself to its gloom.

Home to the buzzing Mike Dimes-featured track “STEP BACK,” currently charting in Spotify’s U.S. Viral 50, 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 is racking up over 3 million streams per week on his sizable discography. Determined to hustle his way to new heights, the young rapper is improving with every release–ANYWHERE BUT HERE arrives 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 (21+ million Spotify streams). He was a standout performer at this year’s SXSW, performing at multiple showcases including Rolling Loud x RapTV‘s extravaganza at Stubb’s, and catching up with Variance Magazine.

Sit back and stay tuned as Dro Kenji continues his ascent to the highest echelons of the rap game.

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

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

ANYWHERE BUT HERE Tracklist:

OH WOW
THEY DON’T KNOW
SO WHAT ft. DC The Don
STEP BACK ft. Mike Dimes
FEELS LIKE A DREAM
SHALLOW
MONSTER ft. NoCap
CIGAR
ARCADE
HOW YOU FEEL
KILL EM FOR ME ft. Ka$hdami
ALONE ft. Midwxst
DROWN

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:

“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

09.06.2022

DUSTY LOCANE Applies Pressure with ‘ROLLIN N CONTROLLIN’ EP

Press Release

DUSTY LOCANE Applies Pressure with ‘ROLLIN N CONTROLLIN’ EP

Go to Post

9.2.2022

EP: DUSTY LOCANE – ROLLIN N CONTROLLIN

The Canarsie Capo Celebrates his Dominance with EP Dedicated to the Song That Sparked It All, Featuring Three New Tracks and Familiar Favorites

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 EP:\

Since bursting into the spotlight with his debut single two summers ago, DUSTY LOCANE has proven himself a name to remember with a booming voice you can’t forget. With his throne atop the Brooklyn drill scene well secured, DUSTY revels in his accomplishments on the new ROLLIN N CONTROLLIN EP, available now via EMPIRE. The EP features each installment of DUSTY’s GOLD-certified debut single, “ROLLIN N CONTROLLIN FREESTYLE,” including the recent “ROLLIN N CONTROLLIN Pt. 3 (BEEN ROLLIN)” and it’s TikTok-viral predecessor, as well as his second-ever single, “Rolando (Caught In The Rain),” (92 million Spotify streams), which receives a sequel on the project.

In addition to those successful serial tracks, ROLLIN N CONTROLLIN delivers a pair of explosive new singles in “PRESSURE” and the Kajun Waters-assisted “GAME.” Whereas the rest of the project highlights the thunderous impact DUSTY’s made in his young career, the new additions pave the way for a new era of DUSTY’s dominance. Kicking off the EP, “PRESSURE” provides instant momentum as DUSTY barks his braggadocio over deep sliding surges of bass that sharpen with each bar. On “GAME,” DUSTY delivers exactly what its title promises, lining his slick talk with street wisdom far beyond the 23-year-old artist’s age.

ROLLIN N CONTROLLIN arrives amidst a year of dominance for DUSTY in Brooklyn and beyond, most recently highlighted by the viral success of his collab with Lil Mabu on “No Snitching,” which is in the Top 10 of Spotify’s U.S. Viral 50 with over 7 million streams. The new EP marks DUSTY’s first project since his debut album, UNTAMED, which capped off a massive 2021 for the 23-year-old artist. In December, DUSTY joined the exclusive ranks of artists like Olivia Rodrigo, Coi Leray, Pooh Shiesty, and many more, as a member of the #RIAAClassOf2021 after receiving his first GOLD certification that year with “ROLLIN N CONTROLLIN FREESTYLE,” which racked up over 200 million combined streams. Stay tuned for more from the Canarsie native as he continues to dominate his drill domain.

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

ROLLIN N CONTROLLIN Tracklist:

PRESSURE
GAME ft. Kajun Waters
ROLLIN N CONTROLLIN Pt. 3 (BEEN ROLLIN)
ROLLIN N CONTROLLIN Pt. 2 (PICTURE ME)
ROLLIN N CONTROLLIN FREESTYLE
ROLANDO (CAUGHT IN THE RAIN)
ROLANDO 2 (CATCH THE RAIN)

Please contact Michelle or Kevin for more info.

The Background:

Links:

instagram | twitter | youtube | spotify

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

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

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

“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

“DEADLY”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7XjFZrh4Ag

“ICED OUT”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_Ys8JTQSKw

“FLOSS STATE OF MIND”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HK5Irx554sQ

“BIG WOOS” ft. Rah Swish: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wc4JUR5Ph-Y

“REWIND”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phyPg2-g6IA

“WHAT YOU NEED”: https://youtu.be/Hi2le5fnQWs

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

“CANES WORLD”: https://music.empi.re/canesworld

“Best Friend” ft. 8ANDITT: https://music.empi.re/bestfriend / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1ZgFI53hAk

“ROLLIN N CONTROLLIN Pt. 2 (Picture Me)”: https://music.empi.re/rollinnpt2 / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaSSZYz_GrU

“Move Doley” ft. OnPointLikeOP: https://youtu.be/dpzKPNP9U3Y / https://music.empi.re/movedoley

“Rumble”: https://music.empi.re/rumble / https://youtu.be/dpzKPNP9U3Y

“Intro 2 Me Pt. 1”: https://music.empi.re/intro2me

“Rolando (Caught In The Rain)”: https://music.empi.re/rolando

“ROLLIN N CONTROLLIN”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaNL4YI3wt4

END

09.06.2022

Merlyn Wood Explores Addiction and Identity Crises in “ONE OF US” Video

Press Release

Merlyn Wood Explores Addiction and Identity Crises in “ONE OF US” Video

Go to Post

9.2.2022

Video: Merlyn Wood – “ONE OF US“

The Texas-Raised Rapper of Ghanaian Heritage Confronts His Demons Head On As He Explores Digital Depths in a New Video

Critical Praise:

“On ‘GREEN LIGHT,’ Merlyn comes out swinging, delivering a trunk-rattling club anthem over CONNIE’s mid-aughts throwback beat.” – The FADER

“It’s a fun, direct, dynamic solo outing, with the punchy production laden with the colour that illuminated BROCKHAMPTON’s glorious run.” – Clash

“Of Brockhampton’s members, Merlyn Wood stands out as the most entertaining and unhinged of them all.” – HotNewHipHop

“Best New Tracks” – HYPEBEAST

“”S.Y.K.” contains all of the best parts of Brockhampton from the last several years, especially the futuristic feel of 2018’s iridescence, and smashes them together with snares straight out of a SOPHIE sample pack.” – NPR

“Merlyn Wood has always stood out for bringing maximum energy to every BROCKHAMPTON track. Whether that was on “1999 WILDFIRE,” “WINDOWS,” or “ZIPPER,” his rambunctious rapping style consistently stands out.” – Sheesh Media

The Video:

Notorious for his animated flows and confrontational flexes, Merlyn Wood is ready to reveal more about the man behind the mic. Baring his soul in a haunting new video single, Merlyn explores issues close to his heart in “ONE OF US.” Produced by Lido, an acclaimed producer who has worked with Chance The Rapper, Ariana Grande, and more, “ONE OF US” combines ethereal choirs, gently-plucked harps, and liberal bursts of distortion to create an insular and introspective sonic world for Merlyn to discuss his former struggles with drug addiction. Over the course of three verses, Merlyn takes listeners into the frenzied mind of an addict, chronicling the desperate need for a fix, followed by detachment from friends and family, and culminating in Merlyn’s realization that he needed to quit to save his own life. “ONE OF US” is a both harrowing confession and a stern warning, providing a more serious context for Merlyn’s playful wordplay: “Ever since I was six/I was seen as the token black kid/Couldn’t show any flaws/A mark on our reputation/I was fighting the demons/That lived in my own reflection.”

Directed by Sean Russo and featuring a cameo from the actress Diamond White, the video for “ONE OF US” dramatizes Merlyn’s conflict with a powerful metaphor about his loss of control. The first two-thirds of the video take place in a blue-tinted digital realm, with Merlyn as an avatar with characteristics altered and closely monitored by an unseen entity. In the video’s final third, Merlyn attempts to awaken from his haze, the video adopting a more naturalistic color palette as a disoriented Merlyn confronts his masked demons in the flesh. Stay tuned for the end of the video, when a twist ending reveals the culprit behind the blue screen who has been at the controls the whole time.

A member of BROCKHAMPTON from 2012 until its final performance at this year’s Coachella, Merlyn Wood made his mark as the most outgoing and eccentric member of the groundbreaking band. Born in Ghana and raised in Houston, the artist credits both places as major influences on his vibrant and lively vocal style. Though he occasionally released music outside of the framework of BROCKHAMPTON, Merlyn spent the early part of 2022 laying the groundwork for his foray into solo stardom, sharing his CONNIE-produced single “S.Y.K.” in February to praise from NPR, HYPEBEAST, and more. In May, Merlyn struck again with “GREEN LIGHT,” also produced by CONNIE, showing off his playful side in a video praised by The FADER, Clash, NME, and many more.

Beyond music, the artist plans to continue expand his universe of King Arthur-inspired ventures with A Really Round Table (ARRT), which aims to bring different communities together through unique goods, human-connection events, and philanthropy–a portion of all revenue will go toward solving hunger in Ghana.

With multiple solo singles under his belt and many more to come, there’s no stopping Merlyn’s rise. Stay tuned for much more from the 26-year-old as he continues to forge his own path through the music scene and the world at large.

Watch “ONE OF US”: https://youtu.be/gCN78nQSPgg

Buy/Stream “ONE OF US”: https://orcd.co/oneofus_

Please contact Michelle or Annjie for more info.

The Background:

For Merlyn Wood, his only option is sticking out from the crowd. Being coined the most energetic, shameless, and dynamic member of BROCKHAMPTON was no accident for Merlyn, but rather an intentional decision born from feeling like an outsider most of his life. In a group so large, it can be easy to fade into the background — “If you already feel like you don’t belong, you might as well get comfortable standing out”, he so plainly states. From becoming several viral memes to playing world tours to earning Platinum and Gold records, Merlyn has proven over and over again that his can’t-take-your-eyes-off-of-me energy is exactly what will make him BROCKHAMPTON’s breakout star.

Now, Merlyn is setting his own stage by leaping into the solo limelight with an ambition that mirrors his own personality: 4 singles and 4 videos in 4 weeks. In numerology, 444 signifies the end of one phase of life and the beginning of another. One might think to chalk this up to mere coincidence, but perhaps this is Merlyn’s way of further signaling this new era for himself. His time has come, his work is paying off, and we’re about to witness the magic happen.

Links:

instagram | twitter | spotify | soundcloud

“One Of Us”: https://orcd.co/oneofus_

“GREEN LIGHT”: https://orcd.co/greenlight_ / https://youtu.be/MGLuho8HsGI

“S.Y.K.”: https://orcd.co/merlynwoodsyk / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMbD1q5I2uY

END

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PRE’s Snupe Bandz and PaperRoute Woo Prepare for ‘Boyz In The Hood’ With “Dam Fool” Video

9.14.2022

Video: SNUPE BANDZ & PaperRoute Woo – “Dam Fool“

The Paper Route Empire Rhymers Travel From Memphis to Los Angeles in the New Video From Their Joint Project Boyz In The Hood, Coming Very Soon

The Video:

Links:

LUCKI Gets “GEEKED N BLESSED” in Latest Drop from 9/23 ‘FLAWLESS LIKE ME’ Album

9.19.22

Audio: LUCKI – “GEEKED N BLESSED“

The Chicago Rapper Prepares to Release Flawless Like Me, Out September 23rd via EMPIRE

Critical Praise:

The Audio:

The Background:

Links:

Rot Ken & Anti Da Menace Throw ‘Bows on “Moshpit”

9.16.2022

Video: Rot Ken – “Moshpit” ft. Anti Da Menace

The Internet Money/BoyMeetSpace Artist Enlists Fellow Georgia Riser Anti Da Menace to Let the Demons Out on New Video Single

Critical Praise:

The Video:

Links:

Lupe Fiasco Releases Two Tracks from the 1st & 15th Vault

9.16.2022

Lupe Fiasco Releases “The Pen and the Needlz” and “Ohh Oh” from the 1st & 15th Vault, as Part of Chill’s Spotlight 3 EP

Both Songs Hail From 2005 and Originally Appeared on Lupe’s Fahrenheit 1/15 Mixtape

The Announcement:

The Background:

Links:

Rich Amiri Keeps a Clean Conscience on “Dirty Money”

9.16.2022

Video: Rich Amiri – “Dirty Money“

The Buzzing Teenage Rager Tightens His Circle as He Broadens His Pockets on Smooth New Video Single

Critical Praise:

The Song:

The Background:

Links:

BONES Teams with ghost/\/ghoul for Atmospheric and Hard-Hitting ‘DreamCard’ Album

9.16.2022

Album: BONES & ghost/\/ghoul – DreamCard

The Underground Hero Connects With a Renowned TeamSESH Producer for Their Long-Awaited Full-Length

Critical Praise:

The Album:

The Background:

Links:

Jay Fizzle, Big Scarr & Big Moochie Grape Join Forces for “Dust Town Livin”

9.15.2022

Video: Jay Fizzle – “Dust Town Livin” ft. Big Scarr & Big Moochie Grape

The Paper Route Empire Artist Enlists Big Scarr & Big Moochie Grape for New Video from DonaFizzo Mixtape

The Video:

Links:

Central Cee Earns BET Hip-Hop Award Nomination for Best International Flow

9.15.2022

Central Cee Earns BET Hip-Hop Award Nomination for “Best International Flow”

The U.K. Star is Having a Breakout 2022, Marked by Highlights Like His #1-Charting 23 Mixtape, Smash Hit Single “Doja,” and a Viral L.A. Leakers Freestyle

With Over 150 Million Worldwide Streams and 48 Million Video Views, “Doja” Debuted at #2 On the UK Charts and Currently Sits in Spotify’s Global Top 25

Critical Praise:

The Announcement:

The Background:

Links:

On TikTok: ‘Yonce, Yeat, Lizzo, SZA and More

9.14.2022

TikTok Treats, Week of September 12th

A Busy Week Of TikTok Music Trends Brings New Trends From Beyoncé and Lizzo, Relationship Dramas from SZA, and End of Summer Vibes From Tim McGraw

The News:

The Background:

Links:

Rolling Loud Announces Rolling Loud Thailand 2023, Its First Festival in Asia

9.14.2022

Rolling Loud Expands to Asia, Announcing Rolling Loud Thailand 2023, Touching Down in Pattaya, Thailand Next April

The World’s Largest Hip-Hop Festival Introduces the Festival in a Star-Studded Press Conference and Concert at CentralWorld Live in Bangkok

Hosted by Piyawat Kempetch (PK), With Appearances From Thai Celebrities Like Nana, Daboyway, Twopee and More, Plus Performances From 30+ Artists Including South Korea’s B.I., Memphis Bleek, and Thai Artists Including Thaitanium, Young Ohm, 1mill, FIIXD and Many More

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Critical Praise:

The Background:

Links:

AFROPUNK Sunday Recap: Burna Boy Brings the Bangers and Much More