Video: Lil Gotit – “Walk Down” ft. Biggz, CEO Trayle & Lil Double 0
The ATL Trap Star Cleans House and Tosses Opps to Clear the Way for Upcoming Big Zone 3 Project
Critical Praise:
“The centerpiece of the mixtape is the hypnotic “Get N Dere Gang,” which I could see holding a permanent place on DJ sets throughout the summer.” – Pitchfork
“Lil Gotit is continuing to slither his way to the top of Atlanta’s new wave with the release of his latest project, Top Chef Gotit.” – Complex
“Since officially stepping into the Rap game in 2017, Gotit has been one of several standout stars to come out of Atlanta’s buzzing scene and he continues to impress with each new release.” – HotNewHipHop
“Lil Gotit is the heir to Atlanta’s rap throne” – The FADER
The Video:
After feeding the streets with Top Chef Gotit, Atlanta’s one and only “real hood baby” must have left the stove running. Continuing to cook up heat and icing any opp that can’t handle it along the way, Lil Gotit returns to share “Walk Down,” his new single and music video. Featuring a guest verse from rising rapper CEO Trayle, as well as spots from Gotit’s associates Biggz and Lil Double 0, the track sees Gotit in his musical element, flashing an unfazed flow over a frantic, menacing trap instrumental. His laid-back bars, juxtaposed with the urgent, booming beat on the track gives a sense that the threat of imminent danger is looming, but not for Gotit. Directed by ShotByWolf, the video finds Lil Gotit and company trading verse after verse, sending warning shots toward anyone bold enough to try them.
“Walk Down” arrives ahead of Lil Gotit’s forthcoming project, Big Zone 3, due for release in early 2022 via Alamo Records. Big Zone 3 follows behind the Gunna-executive-produced Top Chef Gotit, released early this past summer. Featuring multiple appearances from his brother Lil Keed, an additional verse from NAV, and additional guest spots from Yak Gotti, Millie Go Lightly, and Lil Pj, Top Chef Gotit marked Gotit’s ascension into the ranks of Atlanta’s trap elite, earning the official co-sign from his slimes like Young Thug. With Big Zone 3, Gotit looks to cement his legacy within ATL’s storied trap tradition.
Stay tuned for much more from Lil Gotit in early 2022.
“Whether or not you realize it, this Puerto Rican rapper is one of the most popular artists in America right now.” – Vice
“Luckily, a few artists have taken on the task of ensuring [reggaeton’s] origins aren’t suppressed or forgotten. Farruko is one of the few at the forefront, doing so in the most overt fashion…Farruko, who has over a decade of experience in the music industry, has been a part of that time of reinvention for reggaeton, trap en español, and now reggae…Taking on the advice of the wise, Farruko more often than not says the least but does the most, pouring out his thoughts, emotions and vision for the future of Latin music into extended albums and tracks.” – Remezcla
The Background:
About Farruko
Farruko is recognized as one of the most important musical phenomena in the Latin music industry. Thanks to his fantastic artistic versatility and his excellence on stage, the multi-platinum artist and two-time Latin GRAMMY winner has managed to conquer massive audiences around the world, becoming one of the most innovative exponents of the reggaeton genre. With eight successful studio albums and multiple collaborations with international artists of different genres, his success has impacted the Hispanic American community, in such a way that his career has been recognized by HBO with a documentary, “Farruko: En Letra de Otro.”
His latest album Gangalee debuted #2 on Billboard’s “Top Latin Songs” chart, entered the “Billboard 200” global chart, and was certified 7x multi-platinum. This album presents essential singles like “Nadie,” “Inolvidable,” “La Cartera” with Bad Bunny, and “Delincuente” with Anuel AA. Likewise, his single “Calma – Remix” with Pedro Capó became an iconic hit of popular reggaeton, which not only received a Latin GRAMMY award but has also been certified as platinum by the RIAA. Additionally, the song received an ASCAP 2020 award and has almost two billion views in its music video. Farruko is characterized by his highly-adaptable skills across musical genres, and his ability to break international barriers with his unique talent. Constantly demonstrating his musical evolution, Farruko reaffirms his position as an artistic powerhouse in the Latin music industry.
About Carbon Fiber Music
Carbon Fiber Music, Inc. (CFM) is a record label specializing in the international Latin market, established in 2014 and founded by international superstar, Farruko, and his manager/entrepreneur Franklin Martinez. Today, Carbon Fiber Music is one of the most respected independent record labels in the music industry and is responsible for the internationalization of multiple artists such as: Farruko, Ankhal, Lary Over, Milly, Akim, Lil Tati, Josephlee, and producers and songwriters: Sharo Towers, K4G K LO K, Ghetto, White Star.
The label is characterized by its mastery of a wide variety of musical styles, which reflect the constant evolution of the Hispanic American youth thanks to its wide and successful catalog that has taken it to win multiple Latin GRAMMYS and tour the world with its artist roster.
Carbon Fiber Music has always distinguished itself for its consistency and the quality of its releases, leading it today to become one of the most recognized and significant brands in Latin Urban music, with more than 3.97 million followers through its social networks and more than one billion views on its official YouTube channel.
Farruko Ends First Leg of US Tour Celebrating an Unprecedented Year of Successes
The multi-Platinum selling artist gave a showstopping and emotional performance to a sold out crowd of over 11,000 at Orlando’s Amway Center
The Puerto Rican Urbano performer’s LA 167 album and His Global Hit “PEPAS” made history this year, Time magazine, NY Times and Billboard include “PEPAS” in Top Songs and Albums of 2021 lists
Credit: Imagine It Media
The Announcement:
December 7, 2021 (Miami, FL) – Latin music’s most versatile and experimental artist, Farruko, wrapped up the first leg of his first US Arena tour this past Sunday at Orlando’s Amway Center to a sold out crowd. This was one of 8 sold out shows on this tour which included stops in California, Colorado, Georgia, Tennessee and Texas. Farruko delivered an electrifying show night after night, giving fans an unforgettable experience and demonstrating why he is one of the most celebrated artists of our time.
This year, the platinum selling artist continues to make history with the release of his critically acclaimed album LA 167 which includes the global phenomenon hit song “PEPAS“. Since its debut, “PEPAS” has encountered vastly monumental successes having charted No. 1 on Billboard’s “Hot Dance/Electronic Songs” (8 weeks in the top spot), “Hot Latin Songs,” “Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales,” “Dance/Electronic Streaming Songs,” and “Latin Digital Song Sales” charts. The song was listed at No. 29 on Billboard’s Hot 100, currently ranks at No. 5 on Spotify’s Global Top 50 chart, and has over 830 million total streams (it has well over 236.9 million views on YouTube alone) and over 3 million daily streams. The recognitions did not stop there. Farruko’s LA 167 was included in The New York Times “Best Albums of 2021” list and “PEPAS” was named by TimeMagazine as the number 1 song of 2021 and Billboard recognized the global phenomenon song in the Top Ten Hot Latin Songs of 2021.
Farruko hit another milestone with “PEPAS” and was nominated for the 2021 American Music Awards in the “Favorite Latin Song” category. “PEPAS” continues to establish itself as a massive Latin crossover hit with Farruko’s late-night TV debut performance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Sony Music Latin and Carbon Fiber Music have also awarded the performer with commemorative plaques celebrating the song’s global success and the myriad of certifications it has received: Platinum in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico; CAC Platinum + Gold; 2X Platinum in Peru; 3X Platinum in Spain; Gold in Italy, Switzerland, and the Netherlands; and 8X Platinum in the United States.
The Puerto Rican multi-Platinum selling artist’s success doesn’t end with “PEPAS” as his album LA 167 also debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart. For this album, Farruko felt inspired by the nostalgia of his youth and named the album after the main highway that runs through his hometown of Bayamón, PR. Staying true to his nonconformist approach to music, LA 167 fuses and embodies the eclectic subcultures and genres that have inspired the singer-songwriter throughout his career. As an ode to both Puerto Rico and his late grandfather, the album is nostalgic, festive, vulnerable, and full of pride for the Urbano pioneer’s heritage. LA 167 features 25 expansive and unrivaled tracks that coalesce perreo beats, “pilita” (the EDM sounds popularized by the Dominican Republic), and reggae.
Farruko’s hit anthem “La Tóxica” also finds a home on the new album. “La Tóxica” debuted in the top 10 of Billboard’s “Latin Digital Song Sales” list, in the top 15 of “Hot Latin Songs,” peaked at No. 1 in nine countries, No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs and Latin Streaming Songs, and scored him a 2021 Latin GRAMMY® nomination in the “Best Reggaeton Performance” category. Most recently the singer-songwriter released the video for his song “Amigos Nuevos No” with Fresy Franklin, which is also part of the album. The album also sees Farruko team up with Ñengo Flow, Myke Towers, Jay Wheeler, Brray, Secreto, Noriel, Luar, White Star, India Martinez, Lenier, Jamaican dancehall singer Mavado, and repeat collaborator Pedro Capó, who worked with the performer in 2019 for the 25x Platinum hit “Calma.” In February 2022 Farruko will kick off the second les of his tour starting at his nativo Puerto Rico. He hit a career milestone and made history by selling out Puerto Rico’s renowned Coliseo arena during a presale for 2 nights for his upcoming homecoming shows of “LA 167 Tour” on February 4 and 5th, 2022.
Social Media Following: Instagram (18.5 million), Twitter (4.7 million), Facebook (15 million likes), YouTube (13.7 million)
2x Nominee at the 2021 Latin American Music Awards (vote here until 3pm ET on March 23rd)
Winner – Premios Juventud 2021 (La Mezcla Perfecta)
2x Latin GRAMMY Award Winner (2016, 2019)
ASCAP Latin Songwriter of the Year (2018)
Latin Billboard Award Winner (2015)
Nine Latin Airplay #1 Hits (including 2020’s “La Toxica”)
“After his 2017 single ‘Krippy Kush’ became the first Latin trap song to reach the Hot 100 singles chart, Farruko did the unexpected by shifting his next album away from the burgeoning format and returning to urbano’s reggae roots. Eschewing tough rap braggadocio in favor of tuff gong vibrations, Gangalee makes Carribbean connections via cuts like the breezy ‘Quédate’ and the throwback ‘Pórtate Mal.'” – Rolling Stone’s Best Latin Albums of 2019 (Gangalee)
“Whether or not you realize it, this Puerto Rican rapper is one of the most popular artists in America right now.” – Vice
“Luckily, a few artists have taken on the task of ensuring [reggaeton’s] origins aren’t suppressed or forgotten. Farruko is one of the few at the forefront, doing so in the most overt fashion…Farruko, who has over a decade of experience in the music industry, has been a part of that time of reinvention for reggaeton, trap en español, and now reggae…Taking on the advice of the wise, Farruko more often than not says the least but does the most, pouring out his thoughts, emotions and vision for the future of Latin music into extended albums and tracks.” – Remezcla
The Background:
About Farruko
Farruko is recognized as one of the most important musical phenomena in the Latin music industry. Thanks to his fantastic artistic versatility and his excellence on stage, the multi-platinum artist and two-time Latin GRAMMY winner has managed to conquer massive audiences around the world, becoming one of the most innovative exponents of the reggaeton genre. With eight successful studio albums and multiple collaborations with international artists of different genres, his success has impacted the Hispanic American community, in such a way that his career has been recognized by HBO with a documentary, “Farruko: En Letra de Otro.”
His latest album Gangalee debuted #2 on Billboard’s “Top Latin Songs” chart, entered the “Billboard 200” global chart, and was certified 7x multi-platinum. This album presents essential singles like “Nadie,” “Inolvidable,” “La Cartera” with Bad Bunny, and “Delincuente” with Anuel AA. Likewise, his single “Calma – Remix” with Pedro Capó became an iconic hit of popular reggaeton, which not only received a Latin GRAMMY award but has also been certified as platinum by the RIAA. Additionally, the song received an ASCAP 2020 award and has almost two billion views in its music video. Farruko is characterized by his highly-adaptable skills across musical genres, and his ability to break international barriers with his unique talent. Constantly demonstrating his musical evolution, Farruko reaffirms his position as an artistic powerhouse in the Latin music industry.
About Carbon Fiber Music
Carbon Fiber Music, Inc. (CFM) is a record label specializing in the international Latin market, established in 2014 and founded by international superstar, Farruko, and his manager/entrepreneur Franklin Martinez. Today, Carbon Fiber Music is one of the most respected independent record labels in the music industry and is responsible for the internationalization of multiple artists such as: Farruko, Ankhal, Lary Over, Milly, Akim, Lil Tati, Josephlee, and producers and songwriters: Sharo Towers, K4G K LO K, Ghetto, White Star.
The label is characterized by its mastery of a wide variety of musical styles, which reflect the constant evolution of the Hispanic American youth thanks to its wide and successful catalog that has taken it to win multiple Latin GRAMMYS and tour the world with its artist roster.
Carbon Fiber Music has always distinguished itself for its consistency and the quality of its releases, leading it today to become one of the most recognized and significant brands in Latin Urban music, with more than 3.97 million followers through its social networks and more than one billion views on its official YouTube channel.
The Rapper Whips Through the Chicago Streets in Special Effects Filled Video Off of His F1LTHY-Produced WAKE UP LUCKI Album, Out Now 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 Video:
Forever marching to the beat of his own drum, LUCKI has an undeniable knack for crafting meditative rhymes, coupled with his attentive ear for production. Taking a look at his position as an underground icon, LUCKI shares “U.G.K,” his new LONEWOLF-directed video. The visual bounces back and forth between behind the scenes footage of LUCKI shooting the video then jumps to the Chicago rapper throwing down bars as he speeds in his foreign car. Full of addicting bars and flawless production, “U.G.K.” is a highlight track from the recently released WAKE UP LUCKI, a collaboration between LUCKI and F1LTHY.
Spanning 12 tracks, WAKE UP LUCKI continues the 25-year-old artist’s penchant for existential and starkly honest lyricism, with an added sense of urgency from F1LTHY’s video game-worthy beats. The new tape is home to the recent single, “NEPTUNE V.S INDUSTRY,” a bite-sized banger that examines LUCKI’s role as a “real geek boy in the industry,” and generated over 1.3 million views on its LONEWOLF-directed video. New highlights include “NEEDED,” which combines an instrumental that wouldn’t sound out of place on Dance Dance Revolution with LUCKI’s triplet-flow flexes and “LOVE IS WAR,” a heartbreaking tale of relationship failure and relapse.
WAKE UP LUCKI is the culmination of an action-packed 2021, packed with music and live performances. In the Spring, LUCKI released Almost Woke, a double-single meant to prepare fans for his WAKE UP LUCKI artistic direction, home to “LifestyleBrazy” and “No Joke,” with the former racking up over 1 million streams on Spotify. Prior to the two pack, LUCKI dropped the Lyrical Lemonade-approved banger, “Greed” featuring Lil Yachty. Since these three tracks were gifted to the public, LUCKI has kept himself busy, playing his soulful catalogue at major music festivals across the U.S. including Summer Smash in Chicago and Rolling Loud in New York. The artist took a step forward in his career by embarking on two headlining tours alone in 2021, the “Almost There Tour” and the “Wake Up Lucki Tour,” the latter ending with a hometown show in Chicago on November 27. LUCKI will conclude his live shows with a performance at Rolling Loud California next weekend.
With WAKE UP LUCKI, LUCKI releases one of the most complete artistic statements of his career. Stay tuned for much more in 2022 from the young artist, plus plenty more music videos before the year ends.
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.”
The Global list of songs emphasizes TikTok’s international impact, with songs from four different countries dominating For You pages across the globe, and further illustrates TikTok’s effect on streaming numbers and chart positions. Originally released in 2019, previously unknown Australian Masked Wolf’s “Astronaut In The Ocean” rode a wave of TikTok virality to the Top Ten of the Billboard Hot 100, while TikTok helped “Beggin” racked up hundreds of millions of Spotify streams and make Måneskin a household name. The rest of the list brought mega hits created by teenagers: 17-year-old ElyOtto crafted the year’s hyperpop anthem with “SugarCrash!,” which the Calgary-born artist created between homework assignments, and garnering the artist a new record deal at RCA. Meanwhile, The Kid Laroi (highlighted by TikTok last year as a notable emerging artist) scored a global chart-topper (7 weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100, 11 weeks atop the Australian Charts) when he recruited Justin Bieber to polish up a snippet that had been floating around TikTok for almost a year.
Music is a major driving force behind creativity on TikTok, so it was inevitable that musical artists, moments, and trends popped up throughout the rest of the global results.
After setting records with his TikTok LIVE performance at the UEFA Euros, superstar singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran was highlighted as a “creator who sparks joy.”
Named a “Breakthrough Creator.” BTS made their presence felt on TikTok around the globe, sharing videos soundtracked to number one hits like “Butter,” “Permission To Dance,” and “My Universe,” a collaboration with Coldplay. Olivia Rodrigo and Taylor Swift were also named breakthrough creators for their success on and off TikTok.
Legendary Swedish pop group ABBA made a splash when they joined TikTok this year, and earned recognition in TikTok’s “The Throwbacks” category
Golden voiced Scotsman Nathan Evans earned recognition in the #FYFaves section for somehow making Sea Shanties the world’s hottest genre in early 2021.
Perhaps the most unlikely music moment in a year full of unlikely music moments, TikTok highlighted the soundtrack of Nick Jr.’s The Backyardigans for inspiring two of the year’s most enduring trends.
Stay tuned next week when TikTok reveals its “Year On TikTok Music Report,” full of charts, fascinating data, and in-depth analysis about music on TikTok and TikTok’s impact on the music industry at large.
TikTok Reveals Top 10 U.S. and Top 5 Global Songs, Part of Its “Year On TikTok: 2021” Rewind
Popp Hunna Tops U.S. List, While Masked Wolf Tops Global List
Stay Tuned For Much More Data and In-Depth Analysis When TikTok Releases Its Full “Year On TikTok Music Report” Next Monday, December 13th
The News:
After a 2020 that made the world take notice, TikTok remained a dominant force in music in 2021, paving the way for the next generation of superstars, enabling current stars to meaningfully interact with their fans, and opening doors to underground and DIY scenes, exposing them to a global audience. Today, TikTok shared “Year On TikTok 2021-of-a-kind,” a year-end recap, reviewing some of the most impactful moments on the platform from the last calendar year. Music is at the core of TikTok and has a presence throughout the recap, but most notably in ‘The Playlist’ category, which listed TikTok’s Top 10 tracks in the US and Global Top 5.
The U.S. list highlights America’s unabiding love for hip-hop, and is a testament to the creativity and influence of Black creators on the platform. Popp Hunna’s “Adderall (Corvette Corvette)” emerged from the streets of Philadelphia to spur one of 2021’s hottest dance trends, and LPB Poody’s “Batman” also put up gaudy numbers behind user-created dance challenges. Meanwhile, Kayla Nicole’s baddie anthem provided an empowering soundtrack for anyone in the mood for flexing. Coi Leray scored a few hits on TikTok this year (including “No More Parties,” and “Ocean Prime,” a collab with BfB Da Packman), but the bouncy and playful “TWINNEM” proved to be the most ubiquitous. Doja Cat continued to be a TikTok favorite, as her glistening pop jam “Kiss Me More” inspired multiple trends, including one that highlighted the guest verse from SZA. The rest of the top 10 is a constellation of stars, including established faves like Cardi B and newcomers like Olivia Rodrigo, whose TikTok fueled rise made her the biggest breakout star of 2021.
The Global list of songs emphasizes TikTok’s international impact, with songs from four different countries dominating For You pages across the globe, and further illustrates TikTok’s effect on streaming numbers and chart positions. Originally released in 2019, previously unknown Australian Masked Wolf’s “Astronaut In The Ocean” rode a wave of TikTok virality to the Top Ten of the Billboard Hot 100, while TikTok helped “Beggin” racked up hundreds of millions of Spotify streams and make Måneskin a household name. The rest of the list brought mega hits created by teenagers: 17-year-old ElyOtto crafted the year’s hyperpop anthem with “SugarCrash!,” which the Calgary-born artist created between homework assignments, and garnering the artist a new record deal at RCA. Meanwhile, The Kid Laroi (highlighted by TikTok last year as a notable emerging artist) scored a global chart-topper (7 weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100, 11 weeks atop the Australian Charts) when he recruited Justin Bieber to polish up a snippet that had been floating around TikTok for almost a year.
Music is a major driving force behind creativity on TikTok, so it was inevitable that musical artists, moments, and trends popped up throughout the rest of the global results.
After setting records with his TikTok LIVE performance at the UEFA Euros, superstar singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran was highlighted as a “creator who sparks joy.”
Named a “Breakthrough Creator.” BTS made their presence felt on TikTok around the globe, sharing videos soundtracked to number one hits like “Butter,” “Permission To Dance,” and “My Universe,” a collaboration with Coldplay. Olivia Rodrigo and Taylor Swift were also named breakthrough creators for their success on and off TikTok.
Legendary Swedish pop group ABBA made a splash when they joined TikTok this year, and earned recognition in TikTok’s “The Throwbacks” category
Golden voiced Scotsman Nathan Evans earned recognition in the #FYFaves section for somehow making Sea Shanties the world’s hottest genre in early 2021.
Perhaps the most unlikely music moment in a year full of unlikely music moments, TikTok highlighted the soundtrack of Nick Jr.’s The Backyardigans for inspiring two of the year’s most enduring trends.
Stay tuned next week when TikTok reveals its “Year On TikTok Music Report,” full of charts, fascinating data, and in-depth analysis about music on TikTok and TikTok’s impact on the music industry at large.
The Acclaimed Rapper/Producer and SossHouse CEO Connects with the Multi-Platinum Producer for a New Song From Yo!88, Their Collab Project, Out 12/10
Critical Praise:
“Bourne’s raps are wordplay-heavy, funneling boasts about money and fashion, flirtations with lovers, and the occasional autobiographical gem through the tried-and-true art of the metaphor.” – Pitchfork
“these are easily Bourne’s strangest and most thrilling designs. They can feel equal parts absurd and scintillating, like plugging a jailbroken Super Nintendo into a particle accelerator or rigging an augmented reality headset to convert the pixels of cartoon gifs into sounds.” – Pitchfork
The Song:
December 3, 2021 – (Hollywood, CA) – Today, Pi’erre Bourne and TM88 release “Block Boy,” a glittering new collaboration soaked with colorful synths mixed with bold lyrics, outstanding beats, and memorable shoutouts to their day ones. On Yo!88, fans can expect lustrous and unique lyricism from Pi’erre rapping over the beats crafted from TM88 taking the reins on the full production.
“Block Boy” serves as the first offering from their forthcoming joint album, Yo!88, which is set to drop on December 10 on Capitol Records / Taylor Gang / Interscope Records / Soss House. Listen to “Block Boy” HERE.
Coasting over the glossy production, Pi’erre Bourne lets loose, reminding people of his love of where he came from, and how far his hard work has carried him. “Everywhere, yeah, I go I bring my block with me,” he warbles on the hook. With celebratory bars, luminous production, and a message that resonates on blocks everywhere, “Block Boy” is an example of Pi’erre Bourne and TM88 operating on full throttle.
Yo!88 is a long time coming – the two hitmakers have been teasing the album in interviews and online for a while now. Naturally, that’s only led fans to speculate about what’s to come and, given the two artists’ genuine friendship and natural chemistry, it isn’t hard to see why.
For years now, these two have helped define an era of hip-hop. GRAMMY®/NAACP nominated, TM88 helped develop the vibrant aesthetic of trap music from the 2010s to now. In 2017, he produced Lil Uzi Vert’s “XO TOUR Llif3,” a song that’s been certified 7x platinum since its release. More recently, he produced “Way 2 Sexy,” a Future and Young Thug-assisted Drake song that peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. For his part, Pi’erre Bourne first left his mark as a producer. He kicked off his career working on massive singles for Playboi Carti (“Magnolia”), topped Billboard’s Hot 100 Producer chart working with Lil Uzi Vert (Eternal Atake), and eventually became a GRAMMY® Award winning producer (Kanye West’s Jesus Is King) – all the while establishing himself as a successful rapper in his own right with his solo critically acclaimed albums The Life of Pi’erre 4 and The Life of Pi’erre 5, which was recently listed as one of Complex’s“Top 50 Albums of 2021.” Now, the two are teaming up, and if tracks like “Block Boy” are any indication, their combined powers should position them to make another seismic impact with Yo!88.
The San Francisco Crooner Puts the Healing Power of Music on Full Display with New Album, Featuring Appearances From Babyface Ray, PnB Rock, Rexx Life Raj, Lil Bean & More
The Album:
San Francisco Native Lil Yee has consistently proven his mastery of forging intimate connections with his listeners with an authentic feel that’s equally as street savvy as it is heartfelt. Continuing to use music as a healing process for himself and fans alike, Lil Yee returns to share his new album, Unbreakable, available now via G-Affair/EMPIRE.
Unbreakable serves as a testament to the enduring spirit of a man and his music. The journey of Lil Yee’s most personal album to date was born in the wake of tragedy, as Yee’s uncle, role model and biggest supporter, ChiAli was murdered in San Francisco in 2020. “It took a toll on me. It made me buckle down on who I am, what I’m here for, and what I need to do,” he admits. It moved the Bay Area artist to halt his original release plans and create a new album that honored the life of the man who helped Yee transition from the streets to a life as an artist and father. Recognizing his own strength and dedication to fulfilling the promises he made to his uncle, Lil Yee proves that Unbreakable is more than an album — it’s a personal mantra.
Unbreakable arrives following the release of recent singles “Dead & Gone” ft. Lil Bean and “Going Crazy,” both of which received visuals this past month. Featuring additional appearances from PnB Rock, Babyface Ray, Shaun Sloan, Lil Pete, TEC, Rexx Life Raj, Unbreakable is streaming everywhere via G-Affair/EMPIRE.
Unbreakable is the first full-length release from Lil Yee since 2019’s Live 4 It, Die 4 It, which saw the Bay Area rapper expand his sound beyond the traditional Mob music styles of his hometown into the melodic trap stylings of Atlanta and the snapping West Coast sound favored in L.A. and the East Bay. In 2021, Yee featured prominently on trap superproducer Zaytoven’s compilation mixtape, Zaytoven Presents: Fo15, dedicated to the city of San Francisco and exclusively featuring the city’s hottest artists.
With Unbreakable, Lil Yee reminds the world that he refuses to be stopped: “I’ve had a life, and I’ve been through a lot. But it ain’t break me, so I’m still prevailing through it all.”
San Francisco rapper Lil Yee’s first three songs all reached more than a million people before he ever signed a record deal. “So Lost,” “We Livin’ Hopeless,” and “War” built a dedicated fan-base. From the historic Fillmore District, Yee is influenced by 1990s greats from his neighborhood such as San Quinn, Rappin’ 4-Tay, and Messy Marv. This rapper of Black and Puerto Rican heritage raps about loss, reaching for a better lifestyle, and a Bay Area underbelly that goes overlooked. 2019’s Live 4 It, Die 4 It built on that story, with production by Zaytoven and features from Mozzy, E-40, and FMB DZ while his 2021 album, Unbreakable, further cements his determination against all odds with features by PnB Rock, Babyface Ray, Rexx Life Raj, and more.
Culminating His Fast Rise to the Top of the Brooklyn Rap Scene, UNTAMED Finds the Canarsie Native Perfecting His Basso-Voiced and Melodic Flavor of Drill Music
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 Album:
DUSTY LOCANE‘s booming rasp reverberated throughout the Five Boroughs in 2021, the 22-year-old artist scoring hit after hit en route to over 250 million streams. Now ready to show the world the full extent of his artistic prowess, the Canarsie rapper shares UNTAMED, his hotly-anticipated debut album. Though he rhymes with plenty of force, DUSTY’s flavor of drill stands apart because of its deep musicality–DUSTY attacks beats with a sonorous sing-song flow, often backed up by ethereal and haunting vocal samples. Spanning 20 tracks, the album benefits from the artist’s stark and aggressive lyricism, as he shows fierce loyalty to his suvies and promises a rough time for anyone who dares cross him.
The new album is home to DUSTY’s GOLD-certified breakout hit “ROLLIN N CONTROLLIN FREESTYLE,” an eerily melodic banger that generated over 200 million combined streams, as well as follow-up smashes like “Rolando (Caught In The Rain)” and “RUMBLE” that dropped earlier this year and still can be heard blaring out of car stereos from Bed Stuy to Bay Ridge. DUSTY’s hit single “ROLLIN N CONTROLLIN PT. 2 (PICTURE ME)“ is currently scorching hot on TikTok, trending at #9 on the app’s list of Top Trending U.S. Songs. Just last month, DUSTY shared a hair-raising video for “CANES WORLD,” as DUSTY opened up about his life in the trenches and his motivations to leave that life in the past.
Beyond the hits, the project introduces new bangers like the apocalyptic, guitar-flecked “ICED OUT,” the thug love anthem “WHAT YOU NEED,” and the Canarsie neighborhood theme song “FLOSS STATE OF MIND.” Featuring appearances from Yung Bleu, OBN Jay, Rah Swish, and more, UNTAMED is available everywhere via EMPIRE.
DUSTY LOCANE has been rapidly climbing up the NYC rap ladder, powered by the success of “ROLLIN N CONTROLLIN” and its follow-up singles. DUSTY’s second single, the follow-up hit “Rolando (Caught In The Rain),”proved that the WOO-affiliated rapper’s success was no fluke, racking up over 1 million YouTube views and 1 million Spotify streams in its first week and earning praise from Pitchfork. Both “ROLLIN & CONTROLLIN” and “Rolando” peaked in the Top 5 of Rolling Stone’s Trending 25 chart, and his third single “INTRO 2 ME, PT. 1” peaked in that chart’s top 10. On just his first four singles, the rapper racked up over 250 million combined audio and visual on-demand streams.
With his debut album under his belt and the streets of Brooklyn on his back, DUSTY LOCANE is a great bet to reach the upper echelons of rap stardom.
UNTAMED Tracklist:
1. CHANGE YOU
2. ROLLIN N CONTROLLIN FREESTYLE
3. RUMBLE
4. MISFIT ft. OBN Jay
5. ICED OUT
6. DEADLY
7. FLOSS STATE OF MIND
8. CHEAT CODE
9. 5TH CLOCC FINEST ft. 3Kizzy
10. WHAT YOU NEED ft. Yung Bleu
11. ROLANDO (Caught In The Rain)
12. ROLLIN N CONTROLLIN PT. 2 (PICTURE ME)
13. BEST FRIEND ft. 8ANDITT
14. EDEN ROCC
15. A DAY ON THE FIFTH
16. REWIND
17. GET MONEY
18. BIG WOOS ft. Rah Swish
19. CLICC CLACC ft. KG MORE BREESH
20. CANES WORLD
“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.
LUCKI Locks In For WAKE UP LUCKI, Produced in Full by F1LTHY of Working On Dying
The Chicago-Born Cult Hero Spins Narcotic Flows Into Infectious Hits Atop F1LTHY’s Hyperactive Production in His Highly-Anticipated 12-Track Project
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 Project:
A master of introspective hedonism, LUCKI entices with brutally honest rhymes, organized into mantra-like hooks. Known for his immaculate ear for production, the Chicago native connects with F1LTHY for WAKE UP LUCKI, his most energetic set of songs to date. A member of the WORKING ON DYING collective, known for producing hits for Lil Uzi Vert, Playboi Carti, Juice WRLD, and more, F1LTHY brings a blown-out, synth-heavy, and futuristic aesthetic, mixing booming percussion with carnival-esque synths and cavernous trance soundscapes. Deliberately sliding into the negative space as melodies dance in the background, LUCKI grounds F1LTHY’s flights of fancy, twisting his flows into cadences that toe tag the hyperactive percussion.
Spanning 12 tracks, WAKE UP LUCKI continues the 25-year-old artist’s penchant for existential and starkly honest lyricism, with an added sense of urgency from F1LTHY’s video game-worthy beats. The new tape is home to the recent single, “NEPTUNE V.S INDUSTRY,” a bite-sized banger that examines LUCKI’s role as a “real geek boy in the industry,” and generated over 1.3 million views on its LONEWOLF-directed video. New highlights include “NEEDED,” which combines an instrumental that wouldn’t sound out of place on Dance Dance Revolution with LUCKI’s triplet-flow flexes, “U.G.K.,” which explores the rapper’s position as a underground icon, and “LOVE IS WAR,” a heartbreaking tale of relationship failure and relapse.
WAKE UP LUCKI is the culmination of an action-packed 2021, packed with music and live performances. In the Spring, LUCKI released Almost Woke, a double-single meant to prepare fans for his WAKE UP LUCKI artistic direction, home to “LifestyleBrazy” and “No Joke,” with the former racking up over 1 million streams on Spotify. Prior to the two pack, LUCKI dropped the Lyrical Lemonade-approved banger, “Greed” featuring Lil Yachty. Since these three tracks were gifted to the public, LUCKI has kept himself busy, playing his soulful catalogue at major music festivals across the U.S. including Summer Smash in Chicago and Rolling Loud in New York. The artist took a step forward in his career by embarking on two headlining tours alone in 2021, the “Almost There Tour” and the “Wake Up Lucki Tour,” the latter ending with a hometown show in Chicago on November 27. LUCKI will conclude his live shows with a performance at Rolling Loud California next weekend.
With WAKE UP LUCKI, LUCKI releases one of the most complete artistic statements of his career. Stay tuned for much more in 2022 from the young artist, and plenty more music videos before the year ends.
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.”
BMAC (BLACK MUSIC ACTION COALITION) AND ROLLING LOUD PARTNER TO RAISE SOCIAL JUSTICE AWARENESS AT THIS YEAR’S FESTIVAL IN CALIFORNIA
The Announcement:
(Los Angeles, CA December 2, 2021) – The Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC) announces a new partnership with Rolling Loud, the world’s largest hip-hop festival, for Rolling Loud California, occurring at NOS Events Center in San Bernardino on December 10th-12th. Together, BMAC and Rolling Loud will prioritize activism, community, and awareness of social justice issues with a series of panel discussions, fundraising initiatives, and more, continuing their mission to fight against all forms of discrimination and inspire them to be the change they want to see in the world. The new partnership between BMAC and Rolling Loud arrives as more and more hip-hop artists feel compelled to raise their voices and speak out against inequality and injustice in the political landscape.
“The Artists community has the reach, the influence and the power to force this nation to live up to its promise. Artists have always provided the soundtrack that inspired or provoked change in this world. As others turn down the volume around the issue of racial and social justice, we salute a company who’s willing to keep the noise rolling LOUD!” –Prophet, Co-Founder/Co-Chair of BMAC
Throughout the 3-day festival, Rolling Loud and Black Music Action Coalition will host panel discussions featuring industry thought leaders, activists, and musicians who have used their platforms to advocate for change. Rolling Loud California will display curated art installations with messages promoting social change, will promote fundraising initiatives during the festival, and offer limited edition merch, with profits going to charity. Rolling Loud and BMAC look to foster an environment where fans can express themselves, explore new ideas, and advocate for whatever they believe in.
“Rolling Loud is proud to use our platform to help the Black Music Action Coalition in its mission to keep the fight for racial and social justice alive. Hip-hop is rooted in community, and it’s important for all members of the culture to do their part.” – Tariq Cherif, Co-Founder/CEO of Rolling Loud
“BMAC salutes Rolling Loud for stepping up and their willingness to use the platform to support racial equity and social justice. This is a bold and strong move from one of the leaders in the live space. We are moving past hashtags and into true action.” – Shawn Holiday, Co-Founder/Co-Chair of BMAC’s Executive Leadership Council
About ROLLING LOUD:
Founded by 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 an 18-month hiatus with the sold-out Rolling Loud Miami 2021 in July, its biggest event yet, bringing in over 75,000 fans per day to Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL. With headliners Travis Scott, Post Malone and A$AP Rocky, Rolling Loud Miami 2021 is 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, headlined by Travis Scott, J. Cole, and 50 Cent, in October and Rolling Loud California, headlined by J. Cole, Kid Cudi, and Future, in December.
During the pandemic, Rolling Loud expanded into much more than just a live festival company. With no in-person show possibilities in sight, Rolling Loud pivoted to become a heavy-hitter in the world of Livestreaming, drawing millions of unique viewers and landing multiple events in Pollstar’s Year-End Livestream Chart. In June 2021, Rolling Loud launched Rolling Loud Presents, their first venture into tour promotions, taking the Rolling Loud experience on the road with a series of tours headlined by some of the biggest stars in hip-hop, including Rod Wave, Trippie Redd, Jack Harlow, and more to be announced.
About BLACK MUSIC ACTION COALITION:
Tuesday June 2, 2020, the music industry went silent for one day to join the fight for equality as part of #BlackOutTuesday…the day the show paused!. This movement spread beyond the business and inspired tens of millions worldwide to follow suit. Galvanized by this historic moment, close to 200 preeminent artist managers, attorneys, business managers, agents and other industry executives signed up to join forces, instituting and introducing the first-ever BLACK MUSIC ACTION COALITION.
Together, these individuals form one common voice, representing the interests of artists, producers, songwriters, and executives.
This illustrious cadre of industry heavyweights notably represents artists who comprise a majority of the industry’s revenue.
This advocacy organization endeavors to uphold and actualize the mission of Black Lives Matter in the music industry and reach racial justice not just across labels, publishers, agencies, distributors, and DSP’s but throughout society at large. BMAC works together with leaders from various business leaders to hold their companies accountable and implement a system of checks and balances to ensure change takes root. The group fosters and shepherds various educational, mental health, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, policing, social justice, and political causes that directly impact Black communities. In 2021, the BMAC released the first annual Music Industry Action report card that measured and assessed the music industry’s progress toward achieving racial justice and equity. To commemorate the report card, BMAC also held the inaugural Music In Action Awards Gala to honor musicians, activists and industry professionals who have used their platforms to enact change within the music industry and broader society.. The Weeknd, H.E.R., Ethiopia Habtemariam Ben Crump and more were honored for their contributions to change.
Real change begins now with BMAC. BLACK MUSIC MATTERS. BLACK LIVES MATTER.
The Highbridge Rapper Shows Why Talking Smack is an Ill-Advised Gamble in Latest Video from Recent Project, Double Or Nothing
Critical Praise:
“He’s tough, funny, powerful, and completely in control. In addition, every once in a while he’ll throw in a line that will completely change the mood and make things somber (such as his note that at his young age, he’s “been to more funerals than graduations”), before ramping back up into the energetic rhymes.” – Complex
“Don Q Is The New York Rap Hardass We Need…Don Q has one of those deep, grizzled voices that communicate a whole lot just through their grain and texture.” – Stereogum
“After taking some time away from the spotlight, Don Q is back with new music and it feels like he hasn’t missed a beat…The New York native reminds everyone that his pen game can match up with the best of the best in his generation.” –Def Pen
The Video:
Since returning to music after a three-year hiatus, BX’s own Don Q has yet to show any signs of slowing down. In just the past two months, the Highbridge the Label rapper has blessed listeners with the release of his latest solo project, Double Or Nothing, as well as five music videos, including “Slander,” which receives new visuals today. On the track, Don shows why he considers his misguided opposition as little more than a novelty while he focuses on maintaining his New York rap throne.
The Tony Picaso-directed video shows Don Q shooting dice in a high-stakes craps game, stating plainly that the riskiest bet is talking down on the Don in this rap game. Keeping one eye on security camera feeds and another on the money laid across the table, the Bronx baller raps, “I ain’t used to the slander/He try to break in, I go for the tool and the hammer/They ask me, ‘Don, why you move to Atlanta?/You got to come back and influence the scammers.’”
The Bronx-born-and-raised Don Q grew up idolizing NYC’s rawest rhymers like Jadakiss, Cassidy, Fabolous and Jay-Z, and he modeled his style after their hard-nosed, lyrical approaches. After cutting his teeth in the battle rap scene, he made waves in the streets with his mixtapes, eventually landing him a deal with Highbridge The Label in 2016. After teaming with fellow Highbridge rapper, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, on the popular Highbridge: The Takeover mixtape, the pair’s careers took off overnight, as Don Q caught the attention of a national audience with his highly-regarded Funk Flex freestyle. With mixtapes like 2017’s Corner Stories and 2018’s Don Talk, he would continue to cement his status in the New York scene.
In recent years, Don Q blessed the streets with more high-profile collaborations, such as “Flood My Wrist,” featuring Lil Uzi Vert and A Boogie, which has racked up over 42 million Spotify streams to date, and “Legends” featuring Buffalo-native Benny The Butcher. In 2021, Don reminded his fans that his freestyle game is as strong as ever with recent appearances on Funk Flex, as well as Charlie Sloth’sFire In The Booth. With the release of Double Or Nothing, Don Q put the rap game, in NYC and beyond, on notice that he’s leveled up in major fashion. Where he takes it from here, however, is up to the Don.
Double Or Nothing tracklist:
1. True King
2. Same Thing
3. Say That
4. Light Today
5. Come Find Us ft. B-Lovee
6. Slander
7. Some N****
8. Outta Here
9. Product
10. Artificial
The TikTok Community Puts a Spin on Christmas Classics, Vibes to an Alphabetical Breakup Anthem, and Excitedly Share Their Thanksgiving Plates During a Busy Week on the Platform
The News:
Each week, the TikTok Treats newsletter gives a snapshot of the state of music on TikTok, touching on trending hits, emerging artists, superstar moves, ascendant memes, and much more. This week’s TikTok trends reflect the ups and downs of Thanksgiving week, with some creators living their truth despite their family’s objections, others anticipating the arrival of Christmas, and some just salivating over the holiday’s feast. Take a look at some of the most notable trends this week, featuring two new songs reaching the charts, propelled by TikTok success:
The weather outside is getting frightful, and on TikTok, like in department stores across the nation, that only means one thing: it’s time for Christmas music. Several old chestnuts are trending throughout TikTok as the community gets into the holiday spirit. Leading the way is “Let It Snow! Let It Snow!,” the carefree classic popularized by Frank Sinatra himself. Some users delight in the song’s wintery vibes, but many more come through with a sarcastic spin on Sinatra’s drawn out delivery of “mmm delightful,” commenting on backhanded compliments, weird comments from customers, or unexpectedly low test scores. The other Christmas classic experiencing a resurgence is Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride,” with a trend that takes advantage not of its famous chorus and verse but its lesser-known instrumental passage. Enterprising creators create dance routines soundtracked by the song’s clopping hooves and whip cracks, while one creative user made a video about her unique take on an elf on the shelf.
TikTok consistently provides a space for creators to fully and authentically embrace, and take pride in, their identities. This week, creators throughout TikTok are reclaiming their power from those that didn’t understand or support them, proudly displaying their confidence in themselves and affirming their identity for the world to see. With over 46.6K creations, rock band CRAWLERS’ song “Come Over (Again)” is leading the way for this self-love trend. Creators are taking to the powerful lyric “Take her name out of your mouth” as they reflect on their journey to gaining the self-confidence and freedom to express their true selves. The song is inspiring creations from those proudly declaring their trans identity with their siblings and those advocating for body positivity. CRAWLERS’ lead singer Holly has even taken to the sound on the band’s page to reveal the song’s origin and emphatically thank fans on TikTok for their immense support.
“Do It To It” by ACRAZE, a house remix of former girl group Cherish’s 2007 “Do It To It,” was one of the most surprising EDM hits of 2021, with DJ Snake going as far as to call it “the song of the summer.” The song gained traction on TikTok earlier this year, but ever since Zedd released a new remix that incorporates the theme music from Squid Game, the song has exploded into the stratosphere. With over 1.3 million video creations, the song is the basis of a dance challenge that tests the knees and takes hours to master, but it’s crossed over into the wider world of TikTok viral videos, soundtracking memes about spilling beans, the lowering of a new roommate’s expectations, and much more.
The TikTok community was more than ready to express their excitement for the Thanksgiving holiday. After a successful food-related run on the app last year DJ Chose’s “#UNameItChallenge” (42.7K+ creations) made a comeback, establishing itself as the official TikTok Thanksgiving anthem. DJ Chose’s catchy, booming production paired with gospel legend Shirley Caesar’s recitation of some of the most popular Thanksgiving foods has made for a plethora of mouth-watering Thanksgiving-themed creations. DJ Chose’s track can be heard soundtracking delicious leftover recipes, public displays of eccentric dancing, and creative dinners for the cutest shelter pups.
The Charlotte Native Strives to Sharpen His Pen and Perfect His “Trap Punk” Style on Tireless New Project
Critical Praise:
“Be prepared to see a whole lot more of Jaah in the coming months as he continues his ascension.” – ELEVATOR
“I think there’s no question that he’s going to be the next big thing out of North Carolina sooner rather than later.” – Lyrical Lemonade
The Project:
With his meticulous mania and flair for ferocity, Charlotte’s Jaah SLT is poised to be the next North Carolina native to take the rap game by storm. After a year of growth and increased focus on his craft, Jaah returns in full-force to share One Year Later, his new project. Jumping from brutal bangers to melodic vibe-setters and everything in between over 12 tracks, Jaah’s attentive versatility and quality-over-quantity approach to music is evident throughout.
The project boasts a selective feature list highlighting Jaah’s support from his SLT family, with verses from his crewmates Loweye SLT and SleepWalkin SLT as well as an appearance from “Break S***” hitmaker, Jasiah. On Jaah’s deftest, most refined project to date, he continues to let his unpredictable, athletic flows shine while keeping listeners on their toes with his brutally candid, confident lyricism. Jaah’s originality and irreplicable swagger shine through on every second of the project, with ear-catching bars like, “I’m a JUCO dropout, turned to a standout/Racks in the safe, I ain’t never had a handout,” on standout track, “Hot Lil N****.” One Year Later is available everywhere via Alamo Records.
One Year Later arrives following the release of recent singles, “I Love It” ft. Jasiah, “For The Week,” “Rent Free,” “Toxic” and “Feeling Hot,” all of which appear on the project. The latest efforts from Jaah SLT follow in the wake of “In My Bag (Remix),” featuring Dallas diva Erica Banks. The original “In My Bag” gained particular traction in Texas, the home of chopped-and-screwed music, thanks to a TikTok dance trend set to a slowed version of the song, inspiring over 150k video creations. Before releasing the Erica Banks-featuring remix, Jaah shared a Houston-style remix of the song produced by club god BeatKing. With over 2.3 million streams on Spotify, “In My Bag” was the second TikTok hit for the North Carolina native, following 2019’s “Tuff” which hit 32 million streams on Spotify after generating over 250k video creations on the video platform.
With One Year Later, Jaah SLT looks to continue his upward trajectory and stake his claim as Charlotte’s next star. Stay tuned for more.
With uniquely animated vocalizations over trap-punk beats, rapper Jaah SLT—a nickname spawned from a mashup of Charlotte’s airport code, CLT, and a childhood fight club named SALT—first caught viral attention with his 2019 single, “Tuff.” With the song soundtracking playful Tik Tok videos and charting high on Spotify Viral Charts, Shazam Top 200 and Rolling Stone Charts, the North Carolina native is quietly emerging from the internet underground to solid hip-hop spotlight.
Miami Native Pouya Fights His Internal Demons in the Latest Video From His Blood Was Never Thick As Water Project
Critical Praise:
“He’s one of the most creative minds in music right now. His songs are always versatile and complex considering he fills them with a plethora of true stories and experiences, and his music videos never disappoint even slightly.” – Lyrical Lemonade
The Video:
A staple in the packed South Florida rap scene for nearly a decade, Pouya’s rise and staying power is a testament to staying true to himself. Reflecting on his come up, Pouya shares “One Deep in the Fleetwood,” a new music video for a soulful and saxophone-drenched banger. Addressing those who think the Miami native betrayed his core values, Pouya raps “I see why they think I sold my soul / Really don’t know how deep this goes”–the haters don’t see the whole picture. Directed by MidVessel, the video echoes the song’s paranoid lyrics, as Pouya is trapped in a surveilled bedroom that’s impossible to escape, regardless of how many different ways he tries to break free. “One Deep in the Fleetwood” is a highlight track off of Blood Was Never Thick As Water, Pouya’s recent album, full of introspective anthems and mosh pit-ready bangers.
The new project is a versatile effort, allowing Pouya to flex his range and introduce himself to new fans. The album’s pre-release singles illustrate how the Miami artist has grown–on one hand, Pouya fights his demons while soul searching on the jazz-infused “The First Step To Becoming God Is A Bottle To The Face,” while on the other, he recruits fellow Florida native Denzel Curry for the bass heavy “Wig Split” to help him let the people know that he can’t be messed with. The album was executive-produced by Pouya’s longtime collaborator and friend, Mikey The Magician, and features additional production from Rocci and IvanRamirez, amongst others. Characterized by Pouya’s distinctive flow and versatile beats, Blood Was Never Thick As Water is available everywhere now.
An iconoclastic figure who’s collaborated with everyone from $uicideboy$ to Juicy J, Pouya grew a massive fanbase with SoundCloud singles, independent albums, and visceral live performances. The prolific artist has released three studio albums–Underground Underdog, FIVE FIVE and The South’s Got Something to Say–along with multiple mixtapes with fellow BuffetBoys rappers like FatNick and BoobieLootaveli. Earlier this year, Pouya made a triumphant return to RollingLoud, a festival at which he’s been a fixture since the very first event in 2015, firing up crowds with his vast catalog of anthems.
With Blood Was Never Thick As Water, Pouya bares his soul, fearlessly plumbing the recesses of his mind and daring fans and newcomers alike to accept him as he is. Making it clear that he sees himself as his only real competition, the 26 year old rapper is determined to show the world that he should no longer be seen as an underdog.
To be fully independent as an artist in this day and age is to know your musical & creative worth; trusting the process and fully believing in your project. For Miami native Kevin Pouya, better known as Pouya, there’s been no hesitation as he’s climbed through the ranks from his humble Soundcloud beginnings to upwards of 3.5 million monthly Spotify listeners, a number that’s consistently growing.
With a devout fanbase and the constant itch to not only make great music, but the love of helping his community and giving back, Pouya is becoming a household name. Ever-expanding through genre defying beats, he’s leaving no stone left unturned as he creates music to be angry to, to get hyped to, to be sad to and every emotion in between – vocally exuding his story & becoming more and more relatable – building and unbreakable bond between him & his fans.
With the success of his previous albums, Underground Underdog, FIVE FIVE and The South’s Got Something to Say, alongside multiple mixtapes with underground veterans Fat Nick & Boobie Lootaveli, multiple international tours under his belt, and working with stars such as Juicy J, The Ying Yang Twins, J.I.D & more – this is truly just the beginning for the young rapper. Be on the lookout for yet another massive album with some big features from the Buffet Boys rapper – Pouya is a name you’ll be remembering.
The Two Flint Area Characters Urge Fans and DJs to Play Their Music Loud in Their High-Energy New Video
Critical Praise:
“”There is Bruce Wayne and Batman. Clark Kent and Superman. And now, YN Jay and the Coochie Man” – Pitchfork
“Flint, Michigan wouldn’t be one of the hottest scenes in rap without ‘Coochie,’ ‘Coochie World,’ ‘Coochie Scout,’ a mixtape titled Coochie Land, and Coochie Man, the floor-humping alter ego of YN Jay.” – Pitchfork
“‘Coochie’ is one of the funniest hip-hop videos of the last five years” – XXL
“The Flint native is one of the more eccentric rappers in Michigan, rapping about coochie, using very distinct ‘hold onnnnnnnnnnnnn’ ad-ibs, and starting off songs by asking the producer: ‘Why you always do that mannnnnnnn?’ I’m honestly not sure what these producers are doing while YN Jay is recording in the booth, but whatever it is, it’s working. The music is always wildly entertaining.” – Complex
“He raps in different voices, draws out words like they’re self-contained riddles. You never know if he’s entirely serious, but that’s the point.” – SPIN
The Video:
Ever since connecting for their cult hit “Coochie” in 2019 (32 million video views), true blue Michigan men YN Jay and Louie Ray have been one of rap’s funniest and freshest dynamic duos. Uniting once again to rouse those who try to tune them out, Jay and Louie share “Turn Me Up,” a hyperactive new banger. Produced by Flint-area sound architect YungWayne616, “Turn Me Up” gets its life from bouncing blasts of thudding bass and racing piano arpeggios, adding a sense of urgency to the duo’s tag team verses. Jay delivers animated ad-libs and rhythmic grunts as he hurls taunts towards his opposition and Louie grounds the proceedings with a more conventional flow, but equally colorful bars: “Go and do my dirty work for me, lil stuntman/My n****s ain’t that dirty, that’s your mans,” spits Louie. The new video highlights the brotherly dynamic between the two emcees, as both rappers take to the studio while decked out in blue streetwear.
The prolific YN Jay had a massive 2021, releasing multiple projects, starting several TikTok trends, and dropping a metric ton of music videos. “Turn Me Up” is the latest video to emerge in the wake of Coochie Chronicles, YN Jay’s acclaimed recent project. Home to recent singles like “Slow Motion” and the earlier “Triple S Remix” ft. Coi Leray, Coochie Chronicles ushers listeners into Jay’s sex-crazed mind, the Beecher, MI native wielding a slip-sliding, start-stopping flow as he unleashes a torrent of punchlines and outrageous boasts. Covered by Pitchfork, The FADER, and more, the project is also home to “Oxyyyyy,” a paean to Jay’s favorite narcotic, the ebullient opening track “Summer Time,” and his signature song “Coochie,” a collaboration with Jay’s close friend Louie Ray that has more than 30 million YouTube views. More recently, YN Jay shared the video for “Rock The Boat,” which is a vivid throwback to the days of disco, complete with dancers in dazzling sequins and roller skates. Featuring an additional appearance from Flint heavy-hitter Rio Da Yung OG, Coochie Chronicles is available everywhere via Alamo Records.
The recent release of Coochie Chronicles continues Jay’s steady rise to rap game notoriety. Jay is a nearly mythic figure on TikTok, generating millions of video creations on viral hits like “Kakashi,” “Coochie Land,” and “Coochie Scout,” and inspiring TikTok comedian @Nuhchez to splice YN Jay’s voice into Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise” and create one of the platform’s most successful running jokes. YN Jay’s inimitable style earned him co-signs from Drake and Lil Uzi Vert, and last month, he made his festival debut when he performed at Rolling Loud Miami. Stay tuned for much more from the “Coochie Man” in 2022, including a collaborative project with Louie Ray and plenty of music to come.
Taking over the internet with his distinctive style and outrageous lyrics, YN Jay is well on his way toward mainstream stardom. Hold onnnnnn…YN Jay is coming for the throne.
“It’s scary how easy it is for me to make music,” admits 21-year-old rapper YN Jay. This is true of his 2020 hit “Coochie” and the follow-up album Coochie Land. “It was made in three minutes, easily, and the video did 30 million views. I’ve been writing songs to go a certain way my whole life, but it never worked. Now, I’m not overthinking it, and it’s making me a star.” After over a decade at the mic, the Beecher, Michigan native has given rap fans an alternative to music about violence and drugs.
Amid his rise, Jay got cosigns from Drake and Lil Uzi Vert. While Drizzy and Jay are exploring music, he recorded extensively with Uzi. The same night the two discussed collaborating, Jay stopped everything to drive to Philly. “I pulled up; we did damn near eight songs.” One track, the “coochie”-inspired “HOLD ONNNNN,” promises to release during an exciting 2021. Fresh off of Ninja Warrior—an album featuring Lil Yachty and Sada Baby that he conceptualized and recorded in a single day, YN Jay recently signed a deal with Alamo Records and is focused on showcasing his versatility and staying power. “I’m working on a few albums and letting the world know how big this is. Anybody can be a rapper; I’m trying to catch the culture and update the game.”
The Charlotte Native Spits Fire and Totes Flamethrowers Alongside Jasiah in Hard-Hitting Video Single from his One Year Later Project, out December 1st via Alamo Records
Critical Praise:
“Be prepared to see a whole lot more of Jaah in the coming months as he continues his ascension.” – ELEVATOR
“I think there’s no question that he’s going to be the next big thing out of North Carolina sooner rather than later.” – Lyrical Lemonade
The Video:
Charlotte’s Jaah SLT haunts the nightmares of the opposition like Freddy Krueger, and like Freddy, he’s able to compose himself and deliver an iconic, comedic one-liner right before he gets you. His music embodies that unpredictable intensity that makes it feel like he could snap at any second. That energy is omnipresent on Jaah’s latest video single, “I Love It,” featuring a high-octane assist from Ohio rapper Jasiah, whose unchained hostility makes him a perfect counterpart—the Jason to Jaah’s Freddy.
The video finds Jaah and Jasiah marauding around a red-lit warehouse, toting flamethrowers and raging out the window of a BMW as the visuals grow more and more distorted to match the track’s wicked, twisted atmosphere. Bouncing from shot to shot with frantic frequency, the video presents a sense of urgency which complements and highlights the eccentricity of Jaah’s flows and intonation. Like a ticking time bomb that could blow at any minute, Jaah SLT brings life to the track, as he transitions from the rabid repetition of the line, “I love it, I’m with it,” with increasing ferocity on the hook to kicking off the following verse, rapping, “I’m great, I’m straight, I’m doing good,” with the calm composure of someone who just woke up from a nap, only seconds later.
“I Love It” arrives in the wake of recent singles, “For The Week,” “Rent Free,” “Toxic” and “Feeling Hot,” all of which appear on his upcoming project, One Year Later, due for a December 1st release via Alamo Records. Jaah’s new project will follow in the wake of “In My Bag (Remix),” featuring Dallas diva Erica Banks. The original “In My Bag” gained particular traction in Texas, the home of chopped-and-screwed music, thanks to a TikTok dance trend set to a slowed version of the song which inspired over 157k video creations. Before releasing the Erica Banks-featuring remix, Jaah shared a Houston-style remix of the song produced by club god BeatKing. With over 1.5 million streams on Spotify, “In My Bag” was the second TikTok hit for the North Carolina native, following 2019’s “Tuff” which hit 27 million streams after generating over 250k video creations on the video platform.
With One Year Later coming later this week, Jaah SLT continues to make waves with his fiery, unapologetic personality while taking his career to the next level in the rap game. Don’t sleep, or Jaah might go Freddy Krueger on your ass.
With uniquely animated vocalizations over trap-punk beats, rapper Jaah SLT—a nickname spawned from a mashup of Charlotte’s airport code, CLT, and a childhood fight club named SALT—first caught viral attention with his 2019 single, “Tuff.” With the song soundtracking playful Tik Tok videos and charting high on Spotify Viral Charts, Shazam Top 200 and Rolling Stone Charts, the North Carolina native is quietly emerging from the internet underground to solid hip-hop spotlight.
The Prolific Michigan Native Connects with his TeamSESH Signee Lyson to Craft a Percolating and Diverse Collection of Songs
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:
His mind bursting with more ideas than he can count, underground hero BONES never stops working–he accomplishes in one year what many artists achieve in their entire careers. Coming through with his fifth full-length album of 2021, BONES shares Scraps, a 17-track new collection of songs. Created in collaboration with Lyson, a producer signed to BONES’s TeamSESH label who connected with the artist in 2020 for the fan-beloved Remains project, Scraps finds the Michigan native in his rap bag, unleashing triplet rhymes with ease before slipping into softly-sung choruses that hammer his points home. Lyson’s production is intricate and lush–he’s a master of arpeggios, twirling delicate melodies whether he’s using a mournful piano, a vibrant guitar, or a vintage synthesizer.
On songs like “MaryTylerMoore,” BONES taps into the nostalgic vibe, channeling emo vocalists for a hopeful and heartfelt paean: “We’re gonna make it after all.” That tender ballad segues seamlessly into the pitch black “DeadEnd,” which harkens back to BONES’ love for Memphis trap. Though stylistic leaps like those might cause whiplash in less-skilled hands, BONES and Lyson’s high level of craftmanship and sparkling chemistry makes each genre exercise feel natural. The immediate follow-up to ForbiddenImage, a collaborative album with TeamSESH’s cat soup, Scraps is available everywhere via TeamSESH/EMPIRE.
Scraps continues a remarkably busy year for BONES, marked by five full-lengths and more possibly on the way. October’s ForbiddenImage immediately followed July’s InLovingMemory, a dark and personal album that featured the recent single “WhiteBoyRick.” In March, BONES released PushingUpDaisies, a full-length collaborative album produced by TeamSESH producer Deergod. Featuring the single “PopRocks,” which earned praise from Stereogum, the album thrives on the impeccable chemistry between producer and rapper. Earlier this year, BONES shared hisBURDEN album and released albums recorded under the moniker surrenderdorothy onto DSPs for the first time ever.
Despite its title, Scraps is no throwaway–each song builds a carefully considered sonic world that listeners can dive into for minutes at a time. Don’t be surprised if BONES returns with yet another album in the coming weeks.
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).
Morray Earns GRAMMY Nominations for “Best Rap Performance” and “Best Rap Song”
The Ascendant Artist is Recognized for His Role on J. Cole’s “m y l i f e,” Alongside 21 Savage
The Fayetteville, NC Native’s Latest Accolade Culminates a Jaw-Dropping Breakout 2021, and Heralds Even Bigger Things for 2022
Critical Praise:
“‘Trenches,’ from an album due next week titled Street Sermons, rides the minor chords and trap beats that often accompany antisocial boasts. But while ‘Trenches’ doesn’t ignore gangs, drugs or poverty, Morray also recognizes a community that holds families, neighbors and friends” – The New York Times
“Few crooning rappers have his polish, resonance, and soul.” – SPIN
“With only four songs on streaming platforms—all released in 2020—Fayetteville, North Carolina rapper Morray has already proven he’s a hitmaker. His debut single “Quicksand” is undeniable, anchored by the type of hook you get from a Roddy Ricch or Rod Wave song and infused with storytelling and charisma to paint a picture even if you’re unfamiliar with the newcomer.” – Pigeons & Planes
“An impressively feverish turn from Morray, whose 2020 breakout single “Quicksand” leaned toward the spiritual. Here, though, he’s ferocious, rapping with a scratchy yelp and a sense of defiance. He’s accompanied by Benny the Butcher, who is among the calmest-sounding boasters in hip-hop. An unexpected and unexpectedly effective pairing.” – The New York Times
“One of the most promising up-and-coming talents in hip-hop right now, and his new single ‘Never Fail’ featuring Benny the Butcher is just his latest entry in his increasingly impressive catalog.” – Complex
“The offering shines a light on Morray’s verbal dexterity and fast-paced melodic runs.“ – HYPEBEAST
“Morray has become one of the brightest new voices in the soul/rap crossover moment” –Brooklyn Vegan
“North Carolina rapper Morray went from a practically unknown name to one of rap’s most promising new acts in a matter of just one year.” – UPROXX
The Announcement:
Bringing a soulful, gospel-tinged spin on melodic rap, Morray was one of the brightest breakout hip-hop stars in 2021. Today, the Recording Academy announced that Morray earned two GRAMMY Award nominations, the first of the young artist’s career. Morray was recognized for his standout guest appearance on fellow Fayetteville, NC native J. Cole’s #2 Billboard hit “m y l i f e,” which also features an appearance from 21 Savage.
Morray’s Grammy Nominations:
Best Rap Performance: “m y l i f e” by J. Cole ft. 21 Savage & Morray
Best Rap Song: “m y l i f e” by J. Cole ft. 21 Savage & Morray
The two GRAMMY nominations are the culmination of a meteoric rise that started with “Quicksand,” a GOLD-certified hit released in late 2020 that reached the Billboard Hot 100, racking up over 200 million streams in the process. The commercial and critical success of “Quicksand” and its follow-up singles turned heads around the industry, garnering Morray a position on the coveted XXLFreshman list for 2021 and “one to watch” designations from Complex, Billboard, SPIN, Pigeons & Planes, and many more. Recently, Morray earned Best New Artist nominations at both the BET Hip-Hop Awards and the Soul Train Awards.
Earlier this year, Morray released his critically acclaimed debut album Street Sermons. Debuting at #41 on the Billboard 200 and propelling Morray to #1 on Billboard’s Emerging Artists chart, Street Sermons taps into the spiritual uplift and church-trained singing that makes Morray’s brand of hip-hop so unique, taking unflinching looks at the Fayetteville native’s youthful struggles and indiscretions and examining his motivations to succeed. Complex ranked Street Sermons at #10 on their list of Best Albums of 2021 So Far. In July, Morray revisited one of the tape’s highlights “Trenches,” recruiting Polo G to add a verse for “Trenches” (Remix).
Street Sermons was just the beginning for Morray, who’s leveling up in every sense of the word. Morray joined his “m y l i f e” collaborator J. Cole on “The Off-Season Tour,” rocking sold-out crowd in a series of stadium dates. This summer, Morray performed “Quicksand” on JImmy Kimmel Live, and was highlighted by Rolling Stoneas the “Best Debut” performer at Rolling Loud Festival in Miami. Just last week, Morray shared “Never Fail,” a new collaboration with Benny The Butcher that drew coverage in The New York Times, Complex, The FADER, XXL, and many more.
With two Grammy noms under his belt–and possibly more in years to come–Morray is solidifying himself as a fixture in the South and beyond. For an artist with Morray’s talent, the sky is the limit.
Please consider Morray’s music when compiling your year end lists!
Morae Ruffin known professionally as Morray, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter. Best known for his combinations of rapping and singing, Morray’s days as lead singer of his church choir heavily influenced his melodic and unique style. Growing up in Fayetteville, NC and getting in and out of trouble, Morray turned to music as his escape. He uses his real life struggle as inspiration for his music.
Slimelife Shawty made his reputation with emotional raw lyricism and conversational melodics, but sometimes he feels the need to lock in and lay down the law. Taking time to methodically prove why he’s the sh*t and you ain’t, Slime shares “In A Min,” his new video. Produced by Kid Hazel, known for his work with 21 Savage, “In A Min” is a sinister slice of street music, a minimalist banger with prominent percussion and a tolling bell that signifies doom for unlucky opps. Slimelife and guest rapper Nardo Wick (the man behind Billboard Top 20 hit “Who Want Smoke?”) do “diddy bops” on the beat with deadpan drawls: “I’ve been waiting for a n**** to play, why would I tuck my chain,” intones Nardo. In the video, Slime and Nardo take a coal black Jeep to the outskirts of the A as they mug for Jerry Production‘s camera. “In A Min” is the latest video from Better Living, Slime’s new album, which dropped last month via Alamo Records.
Executive-produced by Slime’s mentor Lil Durk, Better Living is a deeply sincere document from one Atlanta’s most promising young rappers, offering head-knocking bangers and heartfelt ballads in equal measure. The new full-length is home to several popular singles that have been tearing up ATL in recent months including “Suit Me Up,” with a guest appearance from Lil Durk, recent videos “Freestyle” and “Only The Slimes,” and street-successful singles like the emotional “Where’s The Love,”the powerful “Slatt Bizness” (2.1 million YouTube views), the determined “Baby Boy” (2.6 million views), the triumphant “No Brakes” (2.98 million views). Featuring additional appearances from Future and Jackboy,Better Living is available everywhere via Alamo Records.
Better Living is the follow-up to last year’s No Slime Left Behind, Slime’s Alamo Records debut. In late 2020, Slimelife shared the 42 Dugg-featuring remix to “Don’t Worry (Clappers),” his biggest hit to date with over 15 million streams across platforms. As he continued his run of popular street singles, Slimelife showed off his performance chops this summer, performing an electrifying set at Rolling LoudMiami in July. Slimelife recently finished up the “Back Outside Tour” with Lil Baby and Lil Durk, where he performed songs from Better Living and other hits like last year’s “All Summer.”
With a knack for emotional honesty that earned him co-signs from heavy-hitters like Young Thug, Lil Baby, and Lil Durk, who gifted him an Only The Family chain, Slimelife Shawty is ready to reach the next level. With Better Living, Slime proves that he has the chops and authenticity to be the next melodic rapper to explode out of the A.
Slimelife Shawty is one of the most promising young voices out of Atlanta, Georgia. Inspired by hometown hero, Young Thug, the 21-year-old has found success with his Southern-twanged, pain-stained lyrics paired with melodic undertones. In 2018, Shawty assisted Lil Keed’s “Blicky Blicky,” which erupted in the Atlanta streets and drew attention to the rising lyricist. Boasting cosigns from the likes of Thug, Keed and YNW JGreen, Shawty stepped confidently into more solo success. In 2019, with his 12-track EP, 100 Reasons, and songs like “Bankroll” and “40 Bars, he amplified his smooth wordplay and shares his story with the world. Fueled by his street hit “Clappers,” Slimelife continues to gain recognition for his undeniable talent and rise to unprecedented heights. His latest project, No Slime Left Behind, came out in May 2020.
Video: Slimelife Shawty – “In A Min” ft. Nardo Wick
Two of the South’s Most Wanted Connect For a Sinister Clip From Slimelife’s Recent Better Living Album, Out Now via Alamo Records
Critical Praise:
“Atlanta rapper Slimelife Shawty has been building his catalog over the last couple of years, earning attention from Young Thug, Lil Durk, Lil Baby, and more. Associating himself with several of the city’s strongest forces, it’s not hard to see why he’s been rising so quickly. The budding star is seemingly one project away from being recognized as one of Atlanta’s top talents.” – HotNewHipHop
“Slimelife Shawty became a staple of Atlanta’s bubbling underground after appearing on early Lil Keed standouts like ‘Blicky Blicky’ in 2018. Since then, he’s been moving with remarkable consistency, gaining traction with anthemic songs like ‘Don’t Worry.'” – DJ Booth
The Video:
Slimelife Shawty made his reputation with emotional raw lyricism and conversational melodics, but sometimes he feels the need to lock in and lay down the law. Taking time to methodically prove why he’s the sh*t and you ain’t, Slime shares “In A Min,” his new video. Produced by Kid Hazel, known for his work with 21 Savage, “In A Min” is a sinister slice of street music, a minimalist banger with prominent percussion and a tolling bell that signifies doom for unlucky opps. Slimelife and guest rapper Nardo Wick (the man behind Billboard Top 20 hit “Who Want Smoke?”) do “diddy bops” on the beat with deadpan drawls: “I’ve been waiting for a n**** to play, why would I tuck my chain,” intones Nardo. In the video, Slime and Nardo take a coal black Jeep to the outskirts of the A as they mug for Jerry Production‘s camera. “In A Min” is the latest video from Better Living, Slime’s new album, which dropped last month via Alamo Records.
Executive-produced by Slime’s mentor Lil Durk, Better Living is a deeply sincere document from one Atlanta’s most promising young rappers, offering head-knocking bangers and heartfelt ballads in equal measure. The new full-length is home to several popular singles that have been tearing up ATL in recent months including “Suit Me Up,” with a guest appearance from Lil Durk, recent videos “Freestyle” and “Only The Slimes,” and street-successful singles like the emotional “Where’s The Love,”the powerful “Slatt Bizness” (2.1 million YouTube views), the determined “Baby Boy” (2.6 million views), the triumphant “No Brakes” (2.98 million views). Featuring additional appearances from Future and Jackboy,Better Living is available everywhere via Alamo Records.
Better Living is the follow-up to last year’s No Slime Left Behind, Slime’s Alamo Records debut. In late 2020, Slimelife shared the 42 Dugg-featuring remix to “Don’t Worry (Clappers),” his biggest hit to date with over 15 million streams across platforms. As he continued his run of popular street singles, Slimelife showed off his performance chops this summer, performing an electrifying set at Rolling LoudMiami in July. Slimelife recently finished up the “Back Outside Tour” with Lil Baby and Lil Durk, where he performed songs from Better Living and other hits like last year’s “All Summer.”
With a knack for emotional honesty that earned him co-signs from heavy-hitters like Young Thug, Lil Baby, and Lil Durk, who gifted him an Only The Family chain, Slimelife Shawty is ready to reach the next level. With Better Living, Slime proves that he has the chops and authenticity to be the next melodic rapper to explode out of the A.
Slimelife Shawty is one of the most promising young voices out of Atlanta, Georgia. Inspired by hometown hero, Young Thug, the 21-year-old has found success with his Southern-twanged, pain-stained lyrics paired with melodic undertones. In 2018, Shawty assisted Lil Keed’s “Blicky Blicky,” which erupted in the Atlanta streets and drew attention to the rising lyricist. Boasting cosigns from the likes of Thug, Keed and YNW JGreen, Shawty stepped confidently into more solo success. In 2019, with his 12-track EP, 100 Reasons, and songs like “Bankroll” and “40 Bars, he amplified his smooth wordplay and shares his story with the world. Fueled by his street hit “Clappers,” Slimelife continues to gain recognition for his undeniable talent and rise to unprecedented heights. His latest project, No Slime Left Behind, came out in May 2020.
The Alamo Records Rapper Flexes His Heavy Jewelry and Stacks of Cash In His Latest Single
Critical Praise:
“Anchored by his nimble lyrical ability, 1.5 Way Or No Way demonstrates how Yung Mal can rap with some of the biggest in the game right now and still hold his own.” – Complex
“Drenched in authenticity, New Orleans-born, Atlanta-bred rapper Yung Mal is looking like the next to blow out of the south.” – XXL
“Unpacking his latest triumphs and showing love to his neighborhood, Yung Mal bosses up in a major way on his new project.” – HotNewHipHop
“Yung Mal is on a fast ascension through the industry.” – ELEVATOR
“One of the most promising rising artists…Mal consistently brings interesting and unique flows onto stellar production.” – Lyrical Lemonade
The Song:
Atlanta riser Yung Mal has catapulted on his hometown hip-hop scene with help from hard-hitting flows and heavy trap beats native to the A. Cementing himself as someone to look out for in ATL rap, Mal shares, “Like Belly,” his new single. With help on production from JCabz and Nuki (Migos “Straightenin”), the new track opens with choir chants accompanied by a piano before Mal comes in with his booming flow and confident lyrics. Mal sticks with the heavenly chants by sending the message that what he’s been through has made him invincible: “I went through hell pull off with the demon / So much s*** man a young n**** seen it.” Following the flex-heavy tracks “One Night” and “Get Right,” “Like Belly” is the latest single to arrive in the wake of 1.5 Way Or No Way, Mal’s recent mixtape.
Named after the neighborhood in which he grew up, and for a phrase that was a favorite of his late homie Plug, 1.5 Way Or No Way is a mature and versatile effort. Mal’s rhymes are more polished and precise, reflecting the perspective of a father of a young son and daughter and a neighborhood leader who bears the hopes and dreams of his friends on his back. Home to singles like “Woah Woah” ft. Lil Gotit and the Pitchfork-praised “Wassup Wit Me” ft. G Herbo, the new mixtape earned acclaim from Complex (“Yung Mal can rap with some of the biggest in the game right now and still hold his own”) and HotNewHipHop (“Yung Mal bosses up in a major way on his new project”), as well as coverage from XXL, RESPECT, and more. Featuring additional appearances from BIG30 and Real Taker, 1.5 Way Or No Way is available everywhere via Alamo Records.
The North Florida Native Shares the Latest Video from His Problem Child 3 Mixtape
Critical Praise:
“What sets Watkins apart from his peers, though, is a natural bounce that sits at the core of his best songs…Dee Watkins makes songs that you can party to in one setting, and learn life lessons from in another. He can really do it all.” – Complex
“Listening to Dee Watkins on ‘Hell Raiser’ is a bit like watching Matthew Broderick in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off: You get the sense the delinquents are having more fun.” – Pitchfork
“Dee Watkins has been rapping for more than a decade, first picking up the trade when he was just 9 years old. By 10, he was recording in his next-door neighbor’s studio under the name Lil D. He’s come a long way since.” – XXL
The Video:
Confident and deeply talented, Dee Watkins could teach a masterclass on self-esteem, but he’ll never forget where he comes from. Ruminating on his past life in the trenches, the North Florida native shares “Nightmare On Grissolm St.,” his new video. Filled with honest lyrics delivered with soul over a haunting instrumentals, Dee reflects on how fame has changed his personal life, rapping: “Still the same n****, just got a lil richer / I be paranoid, I ain’t tryna take no picture.” In the video, Dee stalks his mansion alone before recruiting his crew for a nightcap. “Nightmare On Grissolm St.” is a highlight track from Problem Child 3, Dee’s new project, which dropped earlier this week.
A return to Dee’s signature mixtape series, Problem Child 3 is home to multiple highlight singles that show his versatility. Dee promised to always take care of his loved ones on the humble banger, “JPay,” while he focused on relationship issues on his new emotional banger, “Hurtin’ You,” singing: “I’m running out of love, I’m running out of patience / I was f****** with you, but no more I can’t take it.” Featuring appearances from NoCap, Hotboii, and Quail P, Problem Child 3 is available everywhere now via Alamo Records.
Problem Child 3 is Dee’s second full-length of 2021. Earlier this year, he shared Not One Of Them, a 10-track album featuring “Proud Of Me” ft. FCG Heem, which raked in over 2.5 million views on YouTube. Making sure to stay busy, Dee recently joined Rod Wave on his SoulFly Tour, Presented by Rolling Loud, where he performed his hits including “Hell Raiser” and “Bad A** Jit,” the latter of which has over 40 million YouTube views.
A rapper since age 10 and an artist since age 15, Dee Watkins caught fire in Florida and beyond with his crisply rhythmic flow and sharp Southern drawl. The 23-year-old artist first caught mainstream attention when he shared a remix to “Act Up” by City Girls, garnering millions of streams across platforms. He proved that he was here to stay with his origin story, “Bad Ass Jit,” a slinky rider’s anthem that racked up more than 39 million YouTube videos and inspired Young Dolph to hop on the remix. Dee built momentum in the streets with his Problem Child series of mixtapes, which included regional hits like the Pitchfork-praised “Hell Raiser” and “Fake Sh*t” ft. NoCap.
The Chicago Rapper Flexes His Cash and Gets the Crowd Fired Up in the First Video From His Upcoming WAKEUPLUCKI! Project
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 Announcement + Song:
From his authentic lyrics to his enticing production, LUCKI continues to succeed at drawing listeners in with music that is felt in their souls. Today, LUCKI shares “NEPTUNE V.S INDUSTRY,” his new video. The track is characterized by LUCKI’s typical nonchalant flow and producer F1LTHY’s bass-heavy beats, as the Chicago rapper contemplates his true feelings about the rap industry he’s a part of. In the Lonewolf-directed video, concert venues full of people can be seen and heard chanting LUCKI’s name, as he takes a break from flashing his cash to perform for his fans.
With over 1.1 million views since its release on Friday, “NEPTUNE V.S INDUSTRY” is the first video from LUCKI’s upcoming project, WAKEUPLUCKI!. While LUCKI takes the lead when it comes to vocals, the album is produced entirely by F1LTHY from the Philly-based producer collective, WORKING ON DYING, known for producing hits from Playboi Carti’s Whole Lotta Red, as well as singles for Juice Wrld, Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Yachty, and more. Soon to be available for pre-order/pre-save, WAKEUPLUCKI! arrives in the coming weeks via EMPIRE.
Garnering critical praise from HotNewHipHop, Lucki’s Spring 2021 double-single Almost Woke featured “LifestyleBrazy” and “No Joke,” with the former racking up over 1 million streams on Spotify. Prior to the two pack, LUCKI dropped the Lyrical Lemonade-approved banger, “Greed” featuring Lil Yachty. Since these three tracks were gifted to the public, LUCKI has kept himself busy, playing his soulful catalogue at major music festivals across the U.S. including Summer Smash in Chicago and Rolling Loud in New York. The artist took a step forward in his career by embarking on two headlining tours alone in 2021, the “Almost There Tour” and the “Wake Up Lucki Tour,” the latter finishing up with a hometown show in Chicago on November 27. Shortly after the release of WAKEUPLUCKI!, LUCKI will conclude his live shows with a performance at Rolling Loud California.
With WAKEUPLUCKI!, LUCKI shows that he’s ready to compete with the big dogs by delivering his most complete artistic statement yet.
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.”
Lil Yee Enlists His Fellow SF Native to Raise a Toast for Lost Loved Ones in Latest Video Single from Upcoming Album, Unbreakable
The Video:
Throughout his career, family has always been a main inspiration for Bay Area rapper Lil Yee; one felt deeply in his music. Therefore, it’s unsurprising to find that his father, Big Yee, was a musician as well, performing personalized dedication songs at funerals in communities throughout the Bay with his sibling band, G-Affair. Carrying on that legacy, Lil Yee enlists his fellow San Francisco Native, Lil Bean, for “Dead & Gone,” the latest video from his upcoming album, Unbreakable, due to arrive December 3rd via G-Affair/EMPIRE. The track is dedicated to Yee’s late uncle, role model, and biggest supporter, ChiAli, who he credits with getting him off the streets and into the studio. Now, looking within to recognize his own strength and fulfill a promise to his late uncle, Yee looks to turn his pain into perseverance.
Looking to the heavens with his feet firmly planted in the Bay, Lil Yee memorializes ChiAli and all of the dearly departed in “Dead & Gone.” Assisted by Lil Bean, the track is more than just a potent, heartfelt dedication, but a raw, honest exhibition of the grieving process. Subject matter aside, the track is still packed with the energetic melodic delivery Lil Yee has come to master, which comes as no coincidence. “Music is a healing process for me,” says Yee. “That’s why I never rap weak.” Unbreakable is more than music, it’s a mantra.
Unbreakable is the first full-length release from Lil Yee since 2019’s Live 4 It, Die 4 It, which saw the Bay Area rapper expand his sound beyond the traditional Mob music styles of his hometown into the melodic trap stylings of Atlanta and the snapping West Coast sound favored in L.A. and the East Bay. In 2021, Yee featured prominently on trap superproducer Zaytoven’s compilation mixtape, Zaytoven Presents: Fo15, dedicated to the city of San Francisco and exclusively featuring the city’s hottest artists. As the year comes to a close, Lil Yee aims to take his versatility to new heights while remaining rooted as ever in the San Francisco streets on the upcoming Unbreakable, home to the recent video single “Going Crazy.”
San Francisco rapper Lil Yee’s first three songs all reached more than a million people before he ever signed a record deal. “So Lost,” “We Livin’ Hopeless,” and “War” built a dedicated fan-base. From the historic Fillmore District, Yee is influenced by 1990s greats from his neighborhood such as San Quinn, Rappin’ 4-Tay, and Messy Marv. This rapper of Black and Puerto Rican heritage raps about loss, reaching for a better lifestyle, and a Bay Area underbelly that goes overlooked. 2019’s Live 4 It, Die 4 It built on that story, with production by Zaytoven and features from Mozzy, E-40, and FMB DZ while his 2021 album, Unbreakable, further cements his determination against all odds with features by PnB Rock, Babyface Ray, Rexx Life Raj, and more.
Jaah SLT Announces One Year Later, A New Project, Coming December 1st via Alamo Records
The Charlotte Native Wants A Baddie and A BFF In His “For The Week” Video Single
The Fierce Rapper Lets His Care-Free Spirit Fly on His Upcoming Third Project, Which Features Appearances from Jasiah, Loweye SLT, and SleepWalkin SLT
Critical Praise:
“Be prepared to see a whole lot more of Jaah in the coming months as he continues his ascension.” – ELEVATOR
“I think there’s no question that he’s going to be the next big thing out of North Carolina sooner rather than later.” – Lyrical Lemonade
The Announcement:
With a fired up yet meticulous persona, Jaah SLT keeps his listeners on their toes by changing gears in his songs at any given moment. Today, the Charlotte native announces One Year Later, his new project. Coming a year after his last studio album, listeners can be assured that Jaah has poured over the 12 tracks with a fine-toothed comb, proving once again that quality outshines quantity in his book. The project’s selective list of features highlights the support Jaah has from his SLT family with two of his crewmates, LoweyeSLT and SleepWalkinSLT coming through with their own verses as well as “Break S***” hitmaker, JASIAH making an appearance. Soon to be available for pre-save/pre-order, One Year Later arrives on December 1st via Alamo Records.
Along with the announcement of the project, Jaah shares “For The Week,” his flirty new banger. Characterized by heavy trap beats intertwined with string instrumentals, Jaah uses his casual bravado to successfully win over any woman he has his eyes on. When it comes down to commitment, Jaah lets it be known that he isn’t looking for anything serious in his relationships: “And I can’t trust a h**, that s*** scary / I don’t got a crib, I be living out a telly / Kick her a** out because another one wanna see me.” In the video, directed by Jaah’s frequent collaborator Lurxh, Jaah SLT shows off his green thumb, strutting his stuff in a room full of greenery–he’s surrounded by fallen leaves, flanked by luscious ferns, and backed by floral wallpaper. The rapper dons his signature backpack as he wilds out in his eco-friendly environs.
Leading up to his One Year Later announcement, Jaah shared singles like “Toxic,” “RentFree,” and “FeelingHot,” all of which followed in the wake of “In My Bag (Remix)” featuring EricaBanks. The original “InMyBag” gained particular traction in Texas, the home of chopped-and-screwed music, thanks to a TikTok dance trend set to a slowed version of the song which inspired over 157k video creations. Before releasing the Erica Banks-featuring remix, Jaah shared a Houston-style remix of the song produced by club god BeatKing. With over 1.5 million streams on Spotify, “In My Bag” was the second TikTok hit for the North Carolina native, following 2019’s “Tuff” which hit 27 million streams after generating over 250k video creations on the video platform.
With One Year Later coming in December, Jaah SLT looks to unapologetically be his fiery self while taking his career to the next level in the rap game.
With uniquely animated vocalizations over trap-punk beats, rapper Jaah SLT—a nickname spawned from a mashup of Charlotte’s airport code, CLT, and a childhood fight club named SALT—first caught viral attention with his 2019 single, “Tuff.” With the song soundtracking playful Tik Tok videos and charting high on Spotify Viral Charts, Shazam Top 200 and Rolling Stone Charts, the North Carolina native is quietly emerging from the internet underground to solid hip-hop spotlight.
On His Upcoming Mixtape, the Acclaimed Rapper Locks In With One Of The Hottest Producers In The Underground
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 Announcement + Song:
With over eight years in the game, LUCKI has developed a devoted fanbase with help from his hypnotic rhymes and distinctive croak. Filled with the honesty that makes him so special, LUCKI announces WAKEUPLUCKI!, his new project. While LUCKI takes the lead when it comes to vocals, the album is produced entirely by F1LTHY from the Philly-based producer collective, WORKING ON DYING, known for producing hits from Playboi Carti’s Whole Lotta Red, as well as singles for JuiceWrld, Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Yachty, and more. Soon to be available for pre-order/pre-save, WAKEUPLUCKI! arrives in the coming weeks via EMPIRE.
Along with the WAKEUPLUCKI! announcement, LUCKI shares, “NEPTUNE VS. INDUSTRY,” the first single off the album. The track is characterized by the Chicago rapper’s typical laid-back flow atop F1LTHY’s booming 808’s, while he takes time to reflect on his unique relationship with the hip-hop industry. Trying to confront his emotional unavailability, LUCKI thinks out loud, rapping: “Want my heart but it’s all in the puzzle / She’s so pretty but it felt like trouble / Body a ten and I’m still seeing double.”
Garnering critical praise from HotNewHipHop, LUCKI’s Spring 2021 double-single Almost Wokefeatured “LifestyleBrazy” and “No Joke,” with the former racking up over 1 million streams on Spotify. Prior to the two pack, LUCKI dropped the Lyrical Lemonade-approved banger, “Greed” featuring Lil Yachty. Since these three tracks were gifted to the public, LUCKI has kept himself busy, playing his soulful catalogue at major music festivals across the U.S. including Summer Smash in Chicago and Rolling Loud in New York. LUCKI took a step forward in his career by embarking on two headlining tours alone in 2021, the “Almost There Tour” and the “Wake Up Lucki Tour,” the latter finishing up with a hometown show in Chicago on November 27. Ahead of his WAKEUPLUCKI! release, LUCKI will conclude his live shows with a performance at Rolling Loud California, giving anyone who missed his tour a chance to see him before the end of the year.
With WAKEUPLUCKI!, LUCKI shows that he’s ready to impress the masses by showing the world his most complete artistic statement yet.
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.”
Featuring Appearances from CJ, Farruko, and Mavado, the CFMB Records Signee Jumpstarts His Career with Unforgettable Debut Project
Credit: Luieville & Company
The Album:
Finding the perfect balance of flirty R&B instrumentals and booming bass beats, Lil Tati aims to be the newest artist to blow up out of Miami. Now ready for his breakout moment, Tati shares NiNET33N, his new 10-track project, available everywhere via CFMB Records. The album’s title comes from its significance in Tati’s life such as Tati’s current age and the age Tati’s father was when Tati was born. Leaving behind his childhood love of basketball and video games, NiNET33N stands as a statement of growth for the 19 year old as Tati says, “I feel like I’m growing up now and my project is proof of that.” Tati is also paving the way for the next chapter in Carbon Fiber Music’s legacy, as the first artist signed to the label’s English-speaking arm, CFMB Records.
The new album is home to Tati’s recently released, flirty video single, “Up Late,” which featured a guest appearance from dancehall legend Mavado. Further demonstrating his versatility, Tati is joined by New York Drill rapper CJ on the cut “Came Up,” as their two voices perfectly meld over the heavy drill beats. Tati shines solo on the banger “Blah Blah Blah,” making sure to send the message that he’s done with toxic relationships, singing: “I hate when I talk and you don’t listen / I hate when you act like you know everything.” Continuing to roll out the red carpet of guest appearances, Carbon Fiber co-founder Farruko comes through to provide a Spanish verse on the radio-ready banger “She Got It.” Speaking on his creative vision for NiNET33N, Tati said “I like to describe NiNET33N as ten songs with all different sounds. Not everybody likes rap, and not everybody likes R&B, so I’m just giving you everything.”
Music has always dominated Tati’s life, before he was even making it himself. He watched his father, FrankMiami, go from cutting hair at a barber shop to managing then-bubbling acts Farruko and LaryOver to later forming Carbon Fiber Music in 2014. The label is a Latin music powerhouse, home to the aforementioned acts, along with a number of heavy hitting artists and producers. While it’s inevitably a new era for Carbon Fiber Music as it extends its English-speaking-focused Billionaire arm, it’s a new era for Lil Tati as well. He is an extension of a legacy that has been cultivated over the last decade, only now he is a part of it on his own terms with his own sound.
With NiNET33N, Lil Tati looks to make a name for himself as the stars are aligned for this undeniable talent, and he’s only just getting started. Stay tuned for much more.
Video: Morray – “Never Fail” ft. Benny The Butcher
Fresh Off a Nomination for Best New Artist at the Soul Train Awards, the Red Hot North Carolina Native Assures That He’s Not Finished Rising in the Video for His New 808 Mafia-Produced Banger
Critical Praise:
“‘Trenches,’ from an album due next week titled Street Sermons, rides the minor chords and trap beats that often accompany antisocial boasts. But while ‘Trenches’ doesn’t ignore gangs, drugs or poverty, Morray also recognizes a community that holds families, neighbors and friends” – The New York Times
“Few crooning rappers have his polish, resonance, and soul.” – SPIN
“With only four songs on streaming platforms—all released in 2020—Fayetteville, North Carolina rapper Morray has already proven he’s a hitmaker. His debut single “Quicksand” is undeniable, anchored by the type of hook you get from a Roddy Ricch or Rod Wave song and infused with storytelling and charisma to paint a picture even if you’re unfamiliar with the newcomer.” – Pigeons & Planes
“An impressively feverish turn from Morray, whose 2020 breakout single “Quicksand” leaned toward the spiritual. Here, though, he’s ferocious, rapping with a scratchy yelp and a sense of defiance. He’s accompanied by Benny the Butcher, who is among the calmest-sounding boasters in hip-hop. An unexpected and unexpectedly effective pairing.” – The New York Times
“One of the most promising up-and-coming talents in hip-hop right now, and his new single ‘Never Fail’ featuring Benny the Butcher is just his latest entry in his increasingly impressive catalog.” – Complex
“The offering shines a light on Morray’s verbal dexterity and fast-paced melodic runs.“ – HYPEBEAST
“Morray has become one of the brightest new voices in the soul/rap crossover moment” –Brooklyn Vegan
“North Carolina rapper Morray went from a practically unknown name to one of rap’s most promising new acts in a matter of just one year.” – UPROXX
The Video:
Climbing charts with his soaring melodies and inspirational lyrics, North Carolina’s Morray is one of hip-hop’s brightest young stars. Promising the world that his successful 2021 was just the beginning, the rising rapper shares “Never Fail,” an anthemic new video single. Produced by Smatt Sertified, Akachi, and Sonickaboom of 808 Mafia, “Never Fail” is a change of pace for Morray, eschewing guitar loops for epic trap production and allowing the artist to flex his verbal dexterity with fast-paced melodic runs. The song is a lyrical showcase for the Pick Six Records rapper, who shares harsh words for his doubters and asserts that he won’t be satisfied until he proves himself to be the best in the game: “I’ma just count up the millions it’s touching the ceiling I love how it fall dog/You get one shot to make an impression or you blow it like a sawed off.” “Never Fail” features a guest appearance from Benny The Butcher, the Griselda rapper matching Morray’s lyrical intensity with a percussive and powerful 16 bars.
Directed by Whipalo, the “Never Fail” video finds Morray and Benny spitting in the shadow of skyscrapers, as they tour New York City and mean mug for the camera. “Never Fail” follows in the wake of “Better Things,” a behind-the-scenes video that gave fans an inside look at Morray’s meteoric rise, and September’s “Bad Situations,” which garnered over 6 million views. Morray is currently working on his follow-up to Street Sermons, the artist’s critically acclaimed debut album.
Debuting at #41 on the Billboard 200 and propelling Morray to #1 on Billboard’s Emerging Artists chart, Street Sermons taps into the spiritual uplift and church-trained singing that makes Morray’s brand of hip-hop so unique, taking unflinching looks at the Fayetteville native’s youthful struggles and indiscretions and examining his motivations to succeed. Home to his breakout single “Quicksand,” which recently earned a GOLD certification from the RIAA and racked up more than 200 million streams, the project contains universal truths about the tragedies and triumphs of growing up in the hood, filtered through Morray’s experience as a neighborhood kid made good. Complex ranked Street Sermons at #10 on their list of Best Albums of 2021 So Far. In July, Morray revisited one of the tape’s highlights “Trenches,” recruiting Polo G to add a verse for “Trenches” (Remix).
One of the biggest breakout stars in hip-hop over the past calendar year, Morray recently earned a nomination at the Soul Train Awards for Best New Artist, following a nomination at the BET Hip-Hop Awards in the same category. The honor is the latest in a long line of accolades, including a position on the coveted XXLFreshman list for 2021 and “one to watch” designations from Complex, Billboard, SPIN, Pigeons & Planes, and many more. He’s established himself as a go-to guest artist, appearing on “m y l i f e,” the #2 Billboard Hot 100 hit by fellow Fayetteville, NC native J. Cole, and more recently, lending his talents to “In My Blood,” a new video by the late Mo3, one of Morray’s favorite artists. Morray is an engaging live performer, joining J. Cole on “The Off-Season Tour” and rocking sold-out crowd in a series of stadium dates. This summer, Morray performed “Quicksand” on JImmy Kimmel Live, and was highlighted by Rolling Stoneas the “Best Debut” performer at Rolling Loud Festival in Miami.
Street Sermons was merely the first step in Morray’s rise towards stardom, proving that he’s more than ready to build an artistic legacy and a nest egg for his wife and kids. For an artist with Morray’s talent, the sky is the limit.
Morae Ruffin known professionally as Morray, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter. Best known for his combinations of rapping and singing, Morray’s days as lead singer of his church choir heavily influenced his melodic and unique style. Growing up in Fayetteville, NC and getting in and out of trouble, Morray turned to music as his escape. He uses his real life struggle as inspiration for his music.
Baja Beach Fest Returns For its Fourth Rosarito Festival on August 12th-14th, 2022 & August 19th-21st, 2022
BBF Shares the 2021 Baja Beach Fest Aftermovie, Capturing Highlights from the Two Weekend Fest, Headlined by Anuel AA, J Balvin, Ozuna & Karol G and with Performances From Stars like Rauw Alejandro, Farruko and More
Baja Beach Fest co-founders Aaron Ampudia (left) and Chris Den Uijl (Credit: Baja Beach Fest/Koury Angelo)
CRITICAL PRAISE:
“Baja Beach Fest (BBF) presented some of reggaeton and Latin trap’s biggest names, cementing the beachside event as a top-tier celebration of música urbana” – Billboard
Featured article: Baja Beach Fest Founders Aaron Ampudia And Chris Den Uijl Discuss Their Reggaeton Festival’s Cross-Border Business – Pollstar
Bringing the best in Latin Music and Reggaeton to a beautiful beachside locale, Baja Beach Fest is the premier live showcase for one of music’s ascendant genres. After successfully expanding to two weekends in 2021, Baja Beach Fest announces their return to Rosarito Beach, MX, with a festival taking place over two weekends in 2022. Promising action-packed days of performances from Latin music’s biggest stars, Baja Beach Fest returns on August 12th-14th, 2022, with a second weekend on August 19th-21st, 2022.
Along with the date announcement, Baja Beach Fest shares part one of the Baja Beach Fest 2021 Aftermovie, showcasing the first class artistry of the performers and the energy of the crowd. BBF 2021 boasted headlining performances Anuel AA, J Balvin, Ozuna, and Karol G, along with a red hot undercard led by Rauw Alejandro, Farruko, Jhay Cortez, Becky G, and many more. The aftermovie features kinetic footage of some of the most exciting sets from both weekends of the festival, as well as highlights like boxer and Guadalajara native Canelo Alvarez greeting the crowd during Balvin’s set, and Becky G’s one-of-a-kind performance with the legendary Banda MS. A triumphant return for live Latin Music after a long pandemic, Baja Beach Fest 2021 was the first Latin American music festival to return in 2021, and the first festival in any location to be granted permission by local government to successfully and safely complete a second weekend.
Founded by Chris Den Uijl and Aaron Ampudia as a single-day festival before expanding to two weekends in 2021, Baja Beach Fest is already an institution in global music industry, with plans of even greater expansion on the horizon. Stay tuned for more announcements from the fast-growing festival brand in the near future.
Founded by Chris Den Uijl and Aaron Ampudia in 2018, Baja Beach Fest is well on its way to becoming an institution in Rosarito and the music industry at large. With headliners like Ozuna, Bad Bunny, and J Balvin, BBF 2019 earned rave reviews from the likes of Billboard, Pollstar, Vice, L.A. Times, and more for its outstanding music, diverse and enthusiastic crowd, and positive vibes. The festival was voted the “Best New Festival in North America” by readers of USA Today. Expanding to two weekends, and with headlining performances from Anuel AA, J Balvin, and Ozuna, Baja Beach Fest 2021 occurs on August 13th-15th and August 20th-22nd.
The Florida Rapper Tears Through a Burger Joint with the Help of Lil Gnar in New Video Single
Critical Praise:
XXL Class of 2018 Freshman
“Purpp has caught the ears of everyone from The Weeknd and D.R.A.M. to Chief Keef and Travis Scott, and the 19-year-old rapper is in position for a rapid ascent” – Pigeons & Planes
“If you’ve not been following along, the rise of young Miami rapper SmokePurrp – alongside that of his longtime pal and collaborator Lil Pump – has been one of the more exciting rides in rap’s underground this year” – Noisey
“Out of all the SoundCloud and Florida rappers that have gained floods of attention and acclaim in recent years, Smokepurpp has stood as one of the movement’s strongest proponents and artists.“ – HYPEBEAST
The Video:
Known for his hard-living lifestyle and boundless charm, Smokepurpp can always be found causing a little mayhem while donning a mischievous smile. This time creating chaos with Lil Gnar, Smokepurpp shares his new video single, “Not Your Speed.” The song finds Purpp spitting his mellowed, yet snappy cadences over an entrancing synth-heavy melody, using a new high-pitched delivery that adds intensity to each bar.
The NDOH-directed video sees Smokepurpp and Lil Gnar wreaking havoc on their workplace as fast-food employees, from trashing the kitchen, to choking out their boss, making hundreds rain down in the dining room, and ultimately, bouncing, leaving yet another manager understaffed and overwhelmed. As the duo speed off in a Hellcat, they receive a call from their furious boss, to which they simply respond with, “I’m not your speed, b*tch,” before hanging up. His first release since February’s Psycho (Legally Insane) EP, “Not Your Speed” arrives as Purpp looks forward to Bless Yo Trap 2, the sequel of his 2018 collaborative mixtape with Murda Beatz.
Earlier this year, Smokepurpp channeled the rebellious debauchery of rock star icons like GG Allin and Ozzy Osbourne, using them as inspiration for the bold and experimental Psycho (Legally Insane) EP.The young artist also earned his first Grammy nomination last year for his contribution to “Costa Rica,” the Gold-certified track from Revenge Of The Dreamers III, and racked up over 40 million streams on YouTube and Spotify with his guest spot on KSI‘s “Poppin.”
Stay tuned for much more music from the former XXL Freshman, including Bless Yo Trap 2, the sequel to his 2018 collab tape with Murda Beatz, set to release in 2022.
The Chicago-born, Miami-raised rapper and producer Smokepurpp has been one of the cornerstones of Florida’s burgeoning rap scene since the release of his “Ski Mask” video in 2015. The buzz from the video and other singles with close friend Lil Pump culminated in a record deal with Alamo/InterscopeRecords and Travis Scott’s Cactus Jack Records. The 21-year old Purpp quickly went to work, collaborating with Scott, Yo Gotti, Pump, and more. His debut release, Deadstar, spawned the gold-certified single “Audi” and generated features from The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Pigeons & Planes, XXL, Mass Appeal, and many more. The follow up release, Bless Yo Trap, was a collaboration with Grammy-nominated producer Murda Beatz, boasted the standout single “123” and collaborations with Lil Yachty, Offset, and A$AP Ferg. 2018 has been a banner year for Purpp so far, thanks to his selection on the 2018 XXL Freshman list, the release of “Nephew,” his Gold-certified collaboration with Lil Pump, which has over 100M streams across all platforms, and “I Love It,” the Kanye West and Pump collaboration which Purpp co-wrote and debuted at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. After delighting his fans with the Lost Planet EP in April, Purpp closed 2020 out with the highly-anticipated Deadstar 2. In 2020, Purpp released his latest project Florida Jit, with appearances from Lil Pump, Denzel Curry, and more.
Young Dolph, a luminous person and generational talent, passed away yesterday in Memphis at the age of 36. The man born Adolph Thornton, Jr. is survived by his wife and two children.
The rap game, the city of Memphis, and the world at large lost a giant, a man who used his business acumen and unparalleled facility with authoritative, braggadocious, and deeply clever rhymes to rise from poverty and become the CEO of his own Paper Route Empire. He was an endless source of wisdom, with a startling sense of humor and an unfailing support for the rising artists he took under his wing.
Dolph was much more than a rapper and entrepreneur–he was a father, a son, a grandson, a brother, a nephew, an uncle, and a community leader. Fans know about the time he gifted two baristas fired for playing his music with a check on stage at Rolling Loud, but he was equally philanthropic behind the scenes. He founded the Ida Mae Family Foundation–named after his grandmother–a charitable organization dedicated to serving the needs and strengthening the community of his home neighborhood of Castalia Heights in Memphis.
Dolph hosted a Mother’s Day brunch in 2019 to benefit victims of domestic violence and women suffering from addiction and homelessness, and he was a regular presence in his home neighborhood, gifting a sizable sum to his alma mater Hamilton High School in Castalia Heights and regularly donating school supplies in the fall, turkeys at Thanksgiving, and gifts at Christmas. He changed a fan’s life when he gave a contest winner his own custom-wrapped Lamborghini Aventador, which she sold for enough money to buy a new home for her growing family. Just earlier this week, Dolph visited West Cancer Center, a health facility in his hometown, to lift the spirits of those suffering with illness.
We at Audible Treats will cherish the memories and wisdom of the man behind the legend, who radiated love for his family, close friends, and hometown. He was a loving father whose face lit up whenever he cared for, or just spoke about his children. He was a natural wit with a keen strategic mind and attention to detail, who always did things his own way. We are proud to have known Dolph and to help him spread the message that lives on in his music and his artists’ music.
Those who wish to continue Dolph’s charitable work can donate to the Ida Mae Family Foundation HERE
Katy Perry Inspires a Dancing Duo Trend, Saucy Santana Encourages Creators’ Expensive Taste, & Silk Sonic Sparks New Trends
The News:
Each week, the TikTok Treats newsletter gives a snapshot of the state of music on TikTok, touching on trending hits, emerging artists, superstar moves, ascendant memes, and much more. From the melodic sounds of Summer Walker to 2000s pop hits, check out some of the tracks and trends that are rising on TikTok:
Previously making waves on TikTok with R&B hits like “Playing Games” (85.5K+ creations) and “Girls Need Love – Remix” (91.3K+ creations), songstress Summer Walker began teasing new music from her highly anticipated Still Over It album last month on the app. Since the album’s release this month, the TikTok community has gravitated to numerous tracks on the album, including the “Ex For A Reason” (18.7K+ creations) collaboration with City Girls and “Insane” (19.3K+ creations). The latter track has sparked a new comedic trend amongst TikTok creators as they put their own spin on the somber song. The trend finds creators dramatically sliding down a wall as they confess to some of their most hilariously embarrassing and regretful moments. From botched attempts at gaining sympathy to taking desperate measures to start problems with a partner, “Insane” is inspiring a plethora of confessions. Still Over It has seen success from TikTok to the charts, debuting at #1 on the Billboard 200 this week.
It’s always a fun time when the TikTok community revives a track and it’s even better when the artists join in on the fun. Various performance renditions of Hilary Duff’s 2007 pop hit “With Love” have been consistently going viral on the app since 2020, with TikTok creator @yungdaddycack’s being one of the most recent. Participating on her own official TikTok account, Disney icon Hilary Duff duetted this energetic rendition to show off her take on the “With Love” choreography 14 years later. Powered by the excitement of her fans, Hilary’s duetted TikTok racked up over 7 million views in just over a day since it arrived on the platform.
One of pop music’s biggest stars Katy Perry topped the charts in 2010 with her buoyant hit “California Gurls.” In true TikTok fashion, creators have revived this track over ten years later for an equally bubbly trend on the platform. Amassing over 1.4M creations, the user-generated sound for “California Gurls” is the home to a dance trend perfect for every kind of duo. From couples, to siblings, to the cutest kids, this dancing duo trend consists of one person in the duo “pulling” the other into the screen before they hit a quick, lively dance together to the pop track. Some creators are putting their own spin on this trend, humorously showing how they have no significant other to participate in the trend with.
TikTok’s 2021 celebration of soulful sounds and sweater weather vibes is well underway for #RnBVibes November, with recent Q&As and performances from Summer Walker, JoJo, Khalid, and Tiwa Savage. Join Kehlani on November 19th at 12 PM PT for a TikTok LIVE performance dedicated to her devoted fans. Check out more exciting #RnBVibes content this month, from an array of R&B playlists curated by Alicia Keys, Mario, and Silk Sonic to an upcoming experience with Normani.
