1.27.21

TikTok Treats, Week of January 25th

This Week On TikTok: Star Artists Join The Platform, Backstreet’s Back, and the “Vivi Trend” Takes Over

The News:

Home to an endlessly inventive community, TikTok is an instant mood booster. In recent weeks, artists have embraced the platform, enticed by its creative potential and by the promise of meaningful fan interaction. The past week on TikTok saw established artists making themselves at home on the platform, even as the community continued to lift unlikely songs to prominence. Check out the most interesting recent trends below:

• TikTok helped create a surprise hit in 2020 when the community found Imanbek’s danceable remix to SAINt JHN’s 2016 song “Roses,” propelling the then-4-year-old song to the Billboard Top Ten. A trend on TikTok, called “The Vivi Trend,” seems to spring from a similar formula, shining a spotlight on EZRA’s remix of Migos & Young Thug’s 2014 street hit “YRN.” Originally released in 2015, the remix has recently become massively popular on TikTok (4.3 million video creations), thanks in part to a dance popularized by @larrayeeee, and has caught the attention of users like Maddie Ziegler and Bella Poarch. “The Vivi Trend” recently livened up a remote classroom, leading to Zoom mayhem and one very confused teacher.
• Nicki Minaj commands a legion of “Barbz” who sing her praises across social platforms–and TikTok is no exception. The self-styled queen is currently at the center of two separate trends heating up on the platform. The first trend springs from her massive hit “Anaconda,” in which creators pretend they are in a casket at their funeral, but spring to life when the beat drops and a family member says something to catch their attention (even a corpse couldn’t resist a good seafood boil). The second trend digs up a deeper cut: “I’m Legit” from her 2012 album Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded (700k video creations). The song is popular in TikTok’s sizable community of makeup artists, who’ve used the song as a way to show off their favorite looks.
• One of the most exciting parts of using TikTok is watching popular artists join the app and quickly get addicted. Last week was a big one for artist on-boardings, as the Foo Fighters, Tegan & Sara, and 6lack all joined the app. Joining the platform to help promote their new single “Waiting On A War,” the Foo Fighters immediately made a splash with a video wishing frontman Dave Grohl a happy 52nd birthday. After Sara Quinn admitted that she’s been secretly lurking on TikTok for over a year, Tegan & Sara finally established an official account, which they’ve mainly been using to post adorable videos of their pets. Last but not least, Atlanta singer 6lack seems to have already gotten the hang of the app after just one week, racking up over 130k followers and posting 12 times, including videos of himself vibing to Wizkid and celebrating his song “Pretty Little Fears” going double platinum. Most notably, 6lack generated 4.5 million views on a video where he made fun of Lebron James for horribly butchering the lyrics to one of his songs.
• The TikTok community loves itself some boy band nostalgia, and former Backstreet Boy AJ McLean is always happy to add fuel to that fire. He’s always willing to revisit his classic hits, transforming “I Want It That Way” into a sea shanty, recreating his demonic cackle at the start of “Larger Than Life,” and introducing the world to AJSTREET to the tune of “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back).” The veteran singer is a playful presence, whether he’s bonding with his daughter or challenging fellow boy band veterans to recreate their favorite songs from a rival group (AJ’s favorite? “Bye Bye Bye” by *NSYNC).
• Known for his raunchy rhymes, Flint, MI native YN Jay is one of TikTok’s favorite rappers. The artist has another trending hit with “Triple S,” a propulsive track with a long spoken word intro that lends itself well to TikTok skits. With over 140k video creations, the song inspired a comedic trend around YN Jay’s delivery of “I can take you there” and his now-trademark “yeeeeahs,” providing the ideal soundtrack for teenaged runaways, potential homeowners, and those who can’t shower without listening to music.

On Super Bowl Sunday, TikTok is teaming up with the NFL to host 7500 vaccinated healthcare heroes at a socially-distanced TikTok Tailgate. Headlined by Miley Cyrus, the TikTok Tailgate will feature a show-stopping performance from the artist, along with appearances from popular TikTok creators and surprise guests. While only a select few healthcare workers will be able to attend in person, everyone else can tune in at 2:30pm ET on the NFL’s official TikTok account (@NFL) to watch the event unfold LIVE.

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

For more info, please contact:
Michelle McDevitt, Andrea Higgins, Erin Ryan, Audible Treats
Leah Linder, TikTok

The Background:

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

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

Links:

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

Check out previous editions of TikTok Treats, a weekly newsletter about the most interesting music happenings on TikTok:
This Week on TikTok: Olivia Rodrigo Hits #1 as Memes & Mashups Flourish
New Year, New TikTok Trends: Alicia Keys, Remembering MF DOOM & More
Paul McCartney, Holiday Celebrations, and New Year’s Eve Live on TikTok
TikTok Releases First U.S. Music Report: Here Are Some Key Insights
How TikTok’s Top 10 Songs of 2020 Impacted the Industry
On TikTok: Lil Nas X Brings “Holiday” Cheer, Shawn Mendes Welcomes Us to His World & More
Run-DMC, MGMT, and More Noteworthy TikTok Stories
Billie Eilish and Queen Join the Party, New Viral Hits Take Flight, and More From the World of TikTok
Ariana Grande, Rick Astley and More TikTok Stories
Elton John, Tim Burton, Liam Payne and More Add Some Pumpkin Spice to the Week in TikTok
John Lennon, Oasis, George Michael, and More Score Trending Hits on TikTok
Stevie Nicks, Jason Derulo, and More Highlight a Big TikTok Week
Now Here You Go Again, You Say You Want Your TikToks
Pop Smoke, 24kGoldn, Flo Milli, and Others Have Scored Multiple TikTok Hits
TikTok Salutes Its #FamiliaLatina: Music Stories from Latinx Heritage Month
Big Sean, Charlie Puth, Classical Harp, and More From TikTok
David Guetta, Sada Baby, and Rick James Are Having a Moment on TikTok
BTS Hits #1, Kendrick Plants Money Trees, and More From TikTok
Dua Lipa Levitates, J. Cole Soundtracks Glow-Ups and More TikTok Stories
TikTok: The “WAP” Dance Challenge, Folklore, La Roux, and More Provide Joy and Catharsis
Charlie Puth, Pop Smoke, and More Trending TikTok Stories
Artists Unite to Say #SaveTikTok
How TikTok Users Use the App to Boost Their Musical Careers
TikTok Doesn’t Just Mint New Hits…It Revives Old Ones
These International TikTok Artists and Hits Eliminate Language Barriers
Who’s Hot on TikTok? Jason DeRulo, Rod Wave, and More
TikTok Success = Chart Success and the Hot 100 Proves It
TikTok Users and Artists Celebrate #MyPride Through Music
TikTok Promotes a Vibrant Artistic Community with #BlackMusicMonth

1.22.2021

Video: Laney Keyz – “360” ft. Lil Keed

Oakland and Atlanta Connect For a Flex-Heavy Anthem

Critical Praise:

“With raw talent, and against the backdrop of a pandemic, Laney Keys looks poised to jump straight from aspiring musician to full-blown star.” – SF Weekly

“Laney’s music comes from a place of support, combining infectious hooks and a delivery that reels listeners in like a prize catch.”  – DJ Booth

“Inspired greatly by Meek Mill, his music is a combination of melodic R&B and hardcore hip-hop.” – FLAUNT

“Keyz’s music is melodic and heartfelt, his three singles bouncy enough for the club but introspective enough for a late-night drive. ‘Colorful Sh*t’ is succinct and snappy, enough so that it unexpectedly caught the attention of Lil Yachty. “ – PopDust

The Video:

A master of conversational, easygoing melodies, Laney Keyz is the next to blow in the Bay. Continuing to bring his East Oakland attitude to the Southern trap sound, Laney Keyz shares “360,” his latest single. Tip-toeing atop distorted vocal samples and stuttering 808s, Laney shares tuneful anecdotes about his boss life and warns his competition that he’s coming for them: “We heard ’em talkin’, we takin’ em down/I ain’t patrolling, I’m making the rounds.”

The song features an appearance from on-fire ATL rapper Lil Keed, who brings vocal acrobatics to the song’s second verse. In the video, both L.K.’s connect in the Bay, as they strut their stuff in a strip club and a parking lot with souped-up muscle cars. “360” is Laney’s first single of 2021, and it immediately follows “Drop Top Coupe,” which can be found on Spotify’s Clout Culture playlist.

Born and raised in East Oakland, Laney Keyz spent his teenage years in and out of prison. At a particularly low point, Laney turned to the example of Meek Mill, his favorite rapper, and was inspired to turn his life around. Laney started his in music career behind the scenes, making ends meet as an audio engineer before starting to write songs for some notable West Coast artists. After years of working on his craft, the rapper started to release music of his own in Summer 2020, gathering buzz with loose singles and by recording his own freestyles over popular beats, including Travis Scott’s “FRANCHISE” and DaBaby’s “Blind.” Laney Keyz made noise earlier this year with the globe-trotting “Russia,” the flossy trap ballad “Knockout,” and “Colorful Sh*t,” which features an appearance from Lil Yachty.

Signed to Nontra Records, Laney Keyz is the subject of a brand new article in SF Weekly, affirming his local hero status and touting his readiness to make his name known in Oakland and beyond.

Buy/Stream “360” ft. Lil Keed: https://foundation-media.ffm.to/lk360

Watch “360” ft. Lil Keed: https://youtu.be/w6JAiBqkvw4

Read about Laney Keyz in SF Weekly: https://www.sfweekly.com/music/for-laney-keyz-rap-is-a-balancing-act/

Please contact Michelle or Kevin for more info.

The Background:

Laney Keyz Background:

Laney Keyz is a slick-talking, smooth, melody-making lyricist on the verge of becoming a household name so early in his career. At just 23 years old, with a smaller discography than most under his belt, Laney Keyz has found a way to reach a subset of rap fans who’ve immediately clung to his music, image, and aesthetic, in ways that artists who’ve been in the industry for triple the time that he has haven’t been able to. He’s a prodigy with an inspiring story for anyone looking to pursue their dreams.

Nontra Records Background:

Nontra Records is an independent record label re-established in 2020. Nontra (Short for Nontraditional) focuses on a unique approach to developing artists and helping them build their respective businesses.

Links:

Instagram | Spotify | Youtube

“Drop Top Coupe”: https://foundation-media.ffm.to/drop

“Colorful Sh*t” ft. Lil Yachty: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKF3y6_Dlnw

“Russia”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfMdxJHC6ME

“Knockout”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGYEseI5HTM

1.22.2021

Young Dolph Shares Rich Slave (Deluxe), Out Now Everywhere via Paper Route EMPIRE

The Independent Rap Titan Pops Bottles in the Video for Album Highlight “To Be Honest,” With a Cameo from NFL Legend Deion Sanders

Peaking at #4 on the Billboard 200 Upon Its Release in August, Rich Slave (Deluxe) Adds 8 New Thunderous Tracks and Adds Appearances From Paper Route EMPIRE’s Key Glock and Kenny Muney

The Album + Video:

Charting his own path to stardom, Young Dolph is ready to grow his Paper Route EMPIRE to new heights in 2021. Kicking off a busy year for the industry titan, Dolph shares Rich Slave (Deluxe), expanding his acclaimed 2020 album. The deluxe edition offers eight new tracks, bringing the blend of outlandish flexes, confident punchlines, and words of wisdom for which Dolph is known. Though Dolph offers a snapshot of his extravagant life, he never forgets where he came from–the 8 new tracks emphasize Dolph’s connection to his hometown of Memphis, featuring guest spots from Dolph’s Paper Route EMPIRE signees Key Glock and Kenny Muney, boasting production from PRE producer Bandplay, and packing in references to local food spots and neighborhood haunts. The album is home to the bombastic new single “Large Amounts,” along with new highlights like the luxury life anthem “Fast” (“I’ve got a billion dollar future, f*ck yesterday and the past,” asserts Dolph) and the simmering “Buy My Way To Heaven.” Rich Slave (Deluxe) is available everywhere via Paper Route EMPIRE.

Along with Rich Slave (Deluxe), Dolph shares the music video for “To Be Honest,” an album highlight. Produced by Juicy J, “To Be Honest” is a masterpiece of unapologetic flexing, as Dolph ignores his naysayers and focuses on his bankroll: “I’m nothin’ like the rest, so what the f*ck did you expect?/To be honest, I don’t care ’bout your opinion, where the check?” In the video, Dolph pops bottles in a mansion with a bevy of baddies, before heading to a private movie theater to watch football tape with NFL hall of famer Deion Sanders (who gets a shoutout in the lyrics) and to play catch with Deion’s son Shadeur Sanders, a major QB prospect.

Released in August 2020, Rich Slave explores Dolph’s rags to riches story, while taking time to reflect on the glass ceiling on the upward mobility of Black people; no amount of money allows you to escape racism as a Black person in this country. The album is home singles like the West Coast tribute “Death Row,“ the conversational “Blue Diamonds,“ and the Megan Thee Stallion-featuring riders’ anthem “RNB,” which reached the top ten of Billboard’s Hip-Hop/R&B airplay chart. Rich Slave also features Dolph’s most political statement to date–the searing “The Land,” in which Dolph recounts a run-in with racist police and calls out America for its history of systemic racism. Rich Slave peaked at #4 on the Billboard 200 and hit #1 on Billboard’s Independent Albums chart, selling over 65k units and generating over 44 million on-demand streams in its first week. The album features additional guest appearances from G Herbo and Dolph’s frequent collaborator and Paper Route EMPIRE rising star Key Glock.

Buy/Stream Rich Slave (Deluxe): https://music.empi.re/richslave_deluxe

Watch “To Be Honest”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKgdGouaoI0

Rich Slave tracklist:
1. Hold Up Hold Up Hold Up
2. Black Friday Skit
3. To Be Honest
4. I See $’s
5. Corduroy House Shoes
6. What’s Da Bizness
7. The Land
8. Death Row
9. Cray Cray
10. RNB ft. Megan Thee Stallion
11. Rich Slave
12. Until It Rot
13. Blue Diamonds
14. No Sense ft. Key Glock
15. Benz
16. 1 Scale ft. G Herbo
17. Large Amounts
18. Fast
19. Gimme My Bag
20. Green Light ft. Key Glock
21. Scotch Deluxe
22. Obey Your Thirst
23. No Regrets ft. Kenny Muney
24. Buy My Way In Heaven

Please contact Michelle or Erin for more info.

Links:

twitter | facebook | soundcloud | youtube | instagram | official site | spotify

Bio, photos, music and more can be found at www.audibletreats.com/young-dolph

Rich Slave (Deluxe): https://music.empi.re/richslave_deluxe

“To Be Honest”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKgdGouaoI0

“Large Amounts”: https://music.empi.re/largeamounts

“No Sense” ft. Key Glock: https://youtu.be/zvgXz0us78M

“The Land”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6l946DZi80

“Hold Up Hold Up Hold Up”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fb-K-3arN9c

“Cray Cray”: https://youtu.be/E42t-yK78gg

Rich Slave: https://empire.ffm.to/richslave

“Death Row”: https://empire.ffm.to/deathrow

Visit Young Dolph’s website to purchase Young Dolph merch: http://store.youngdolph.com/

“Blue Diamonds”: https://empire.ffm.to/bluediamonds / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBn_aZPcqJk

“RNB” ft. Megan Thee Stallion: https://empire.ffm.to/youngdolph_rnb

“Sunshine”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2lUhNmdXkE / https://empire.ffm.to/sunshine

Dum & Dummer: https://empire.lnk.to/dummer

1.22.21

Audio: DJ Scheme – “Buck 50” ft. Juice WRLD & Carlton

The Miami Native Polymath Shares a New Song Featuring a Posthumous Verse From His Close Friend; “Buck 50” Can Be Found on the Finished Edition of Scheme’s Album FAMILY

Juice WRLD & DJ Scheme (Credit: Chris Long, @chrislongfilms)

Critical Praise:

“The Palm Beach-raised music curator and general of vibes Gabe Guerra, better known as DJ Scheme, is among the biggest influencers in South Florida hip-hop…Think of him as DJ Clue to Miami’s up-and-coming Jay-Zs.” – Miami New Times

“DJ Scheme is a driving force behind Miami’s Members Only collective, and his menacing beats helped turn XXXTentacion and Juice WRLD into household names.” – Consequence of Sound

2019 XXL Freshman DJ

The Song:

An influential figure in hi-hop, DJ Scheme is a quintessential connector. Releasing a highly-anticipated collaboration with one of his closest friends, Scheme shares “Buck 50,” a new song featuring Juice WRLD and Carlton. Originally meeting in 2017, Juice WRLD and DJ Scheme were constant companions, with Scheme spending time as Juice’s tour DJ and Juice validating Scheme’s ambitions to branch out and become an artist and producer. A brilliant showcase for the late rapper’s mastery of melody and rhymes, the DJ Scheme & Carlton McDowell-produced “Buck 50” is an effortlessly fly banger about Juice’s world-conquering ambitions. A fitting companion piece to “Conversations,” the Scheme-co-produced song from Juice’s posthumous album Legends Never Die, “Buck 50” ends with a poignant guitar solo, putting a fine point on Juice’s words.

The latest collaboration helps complete the mission of Scheme’s recently-released FAMILY album–to harness the energy of love and friendship into musical collaboration/  Scheme’s debut album, FAMILY explores how creative partnerships can create deep familial connections and reinforce a sense of community. Scheme had a hand in the production on each of the project’s 17 tracks, creating a diverse, yet cohesive flow that echoes the 23-year-old’s invigorating DJ sets at Rolling Loud and elsewhere. Throughout the project, Scheme proves to be a natural at finding the hidden chemistry in unexpected partnerships, as well as finding new avenues to explore the South Florida sound that took rap by storm. An ambitious debut for the multi-talented DJ/Producer/Artist, FAMILY establishes Scheme as a tastemaker with a distinct aesthetic and a wide musical range. “Buck 50” can be found at the beginning of FAMILY (Finished Edition).

“In all honesty, I never really wanted a deluxe because I can’t add to that part of my life,” says DJ Scheme. “Now that ‘Buck 50’ is out and the album is complete, I can manifest new energy and focus on the future. 🖤”

The album has racked up tens of millions of streams since its early December release, landing Scheme at #2 on Rolling Stone’s Breakthrough 25 chart and increasing his Spotify monthly listener count from 1 million to 2.1 million. Featuring appearances from Lil Mosey, Ski Mask The Slump God, Lil Yachty, Skrillex, Cordae, Ty Dolla $ign, Lil Keed, $NOT, Fenix Flexin, Take A Daytrip, Danny Towers, Lil Gnar, Shakewell, TheHxliday, Tes-X, and more, FAMILY (Finished Edition) is available everywhere via Scheme Records/EMPIRE.

Buy/Stream “Buck 50” ft. Juice WRLD & Carlton: https://music.empi.re/familyfinished

FAMILY (Finished Edition) Tracklist:
1. Buck 50 ft. Juice WRLD & Carlton
2. Homesick ft. Zacari & Skrillex
3. Trust Nobody (2 My Brothers) ft. Joey Bada$$
4. Thor’s Hammer Worthy feat. Ski Mask the Slump God & ZillaKami
5. E-ER ft. Ski Mask, Danny Towers & Lil Yachty
6. Bussin’ Out ft. Lil Mosey & Ty Dolla $ign
7. Soda ft. Ski Mask & Cordae
8. Splurgin ft. Lil Gnar & Shakewell
9. Baby ft. iann dior
10. Fallin 4 U ft. TheHxliday
11. It’s Alright ft. Tes X
12. Blue Bills ft. $NOT & Fenix Flexin
13. How You Feel ft. Danny Towers, Ski Mask The Slump God & Lil Yachty
14. Zebra ft. Jackboy & Danny Towers
15. 3 Sum ft. Robb Bank$
16. Top Of The Mountain ft. Lil Keed
17. Feel ft. Cris Dinero & G.Wakai
18. Piece Of My Heart

Please contact Michelle or Kerry for more info.

The Background:

Just 23-years-old, DJ Scheme has evolved into one of the rap industry’s most influential figures. The Miami native started his career as a tour DJ for wifisfuneral, before linking up with Ski Mask The Slump God and XXXTentacion and joining their Members Only collective. Over the past half-decade, Scheme has evolved into one of rap’s most in-demand DJ’s, serving as official tour DJ for the likes of Juice WRLD, Pouya, Robb Bank$, Fat Nick, and more. In 2019, XXL tapped Scheme to be the official DJ for its 2019 Freshman Cyphers. In 2019, Scheme released the PRESEASON EP, his first release as a lead artist, featuring the hit single “How You Feel” ft. Ski Mask The Slump God & Danny Towers, which recently earned a GOLD certification from the RIAA.

DJ Scheme is a fixture at Rolling Loud, hip-hop’s biggest festival brand, performing DJ sets at every Rolling Loud event since its inception and acting as master of ceremonies for the emotional Juice WRLD memorial during Rolling Loud Los Angeles 2019. As the official DJ of Rolling Loud’s Twitch channel, Scheme has evolved into an engaging on-camera personality, regularly co-hosting Rolling Loud’s “The Rotation” talk show and acting as host for two “Loud Stream” virtual festivals.

With his new album FAMILY, Scheme looks translate his vision into a cohesive statement about the power of artistic collaboration. FAMILY is available everywhere via Scheme Records/EMPIRE.

Links:

instagram | twitter | spotify | soundcloud | youtube

“Buck 50” ft. Juice WRLD & Carlton: https://music.empi.re/familyfinished

“Baby” ft. iann dior: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXpoK4Ppm9U

“Homesick” ft. Skrillex & Zacari: https://youtu.be/b45KJdqXkaQ

FAMILY: https://music.empi.re/family

“Soda” ft. Ski Mask The Slump God, Cordae & Take A Daytrip: https://music.empi.re/soda

“How You Feel” ft. Ski Mask The Slump God & Danny Towers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjTsQINzwl8

PRESEASON EP: https://open.spotify.com/album/4un0IQy9lIQfk2zFRVAj0o?si=DvhbcYbPT8qmheLOSJQkHg

1.20.21

TikTok Treats, Week of January 18th

Buzzing Rappers, Internet Drama, Mashups, and More Interesting Stories From the World of TikTok

The News:

TikTok excels at amplifying talent of all stripes. Whether you’re an expert cook, or flawless make-up artist, or gifted comedian, TikTok provides access to an audience eager to share their latest discovery. Music is the glue that connects TikTok’s disparate threads, providing a through-line between individuals and communities bringing their own spin to the latest trend. Check out some interesting ways music formed connections on the app this week:

• TikTok reasserted its power as a tastemaker with the first new number one hit of 2021. In the past week, Olivia Rodrigo’s touching ballad “driver’s license” bubbled up from TikTok to take over the music world. Unsurprisingly, “driver’s license” is the top trending song on TikTok (750k video creations since January 8th), inspiring thematically appropriate artwork, comedy sketches, and dramatic dance routines (Charli D’Amelio’s version generated over 29 million video views). The song’s TikTok success led to massive success across the board. After setting a single-day record for most Spotify streams for a song, “driver’s license” debuted atop the Billboard Hot 100.
• Buzzing Georgia rapper Yung Baby Tate has a TikTok hit on her hands with “I Am,” a self-esteem boosting banger featuring fellow TikTok fave Flo Milli. The song’s aspirational chorus (“I am healthy/I am wealthy/I am rich/I am that b*tch”) has been adopted by many people on TikTok as a daily affirmation, a sign of celebration, and a confidence-inspiring mantra, generating more than 73k video creations in recent months. Yung Baby Tate has been eagerly encouraging the trend, duetting her favorite videos and creating a group dance for the song with her friends. Meanwhile, guest artist Flo Milli’s verse on $NOT’s “Mean” is one of TikTok’s most popular sounds, generating over 40k videos per day (over 550k total).
• Another rap hit on the rise is “Beat Box 2,” a thunderous trap track from Florida up-and-comer Spotemgottem. The song is at the center of a mock-aggressive, “come at me, bro” kind of challenge, where users try to make their friends, significant others, or dads flinch at a key moment of the song (it’s probably not a good idea to try this challenge with your dad). With over 430k video creations, “Beat Box 2” has earned influential fans, with both Tyler, The Creator and NLE Choppa dancing to the song in the past week.
• The TikTok community has diverse musical tastes, but a good and unexpected mashup can unite users of all sensibilities. In early December, self-proclaimed “Mashup Messiah” DJ Cummerbund shared “Shaxicula,” a new mix that seamlessly blends offbeat new wave (“Love Shack” by the B-52s), sultry electro pop (Britney Spears’ “Toxic), and industrial horror metal (Rob Zombie’s “Dragula”). The mix has become a big TikTok hit (over 400k views), spurred by an exuberantly stiff new dance that thrills, amuses, and confuses in equal measure.
• The Brazilian Netflix series Sintonia is relatively unknown in the states, but “Funk Da Netflix,” a song from the show, is making waves on TikTok. Created by MC Fioti with help from electronic duo TrapKillaz, “Funk Da Netflix” translates Netflix’s signature “Ta-dum” sound into a funk carioca jam. The bass-heavy remix has more than 400k video creations on TikTok, fueled by a jerking, rag doll dance trend that equally suits nosy parents and über-athletic synchronized swimmers. The true winner of the “Funk Da Netflix” trend, however is former So You Think You Can Dance winner @bailrok, who dances to the song in outfits inspired by his favorite Netflix shows. The dancer recently released the animé-themed sixth part of his “Funk Da Netflix” series, after earning over 35 million video views on the first five.
• Montreal singer Lubalin is making waves on TikTok with his creative musical interpretations of random internet drama. The singer’s moody arrangement and expressive reenactment of an absurd Facebook Marketplace interaction caught fire, generating over 30 million views and inspiring over 19k video creations that use its sound. Inspired by the rapturous reception of the video, Lubalin continued to indulge his fondness for “Turning Random Internet Drama Into Songs,” creating riveting and hilarious chapters about broccoli theft and a pressing need for butter.

TikTok demonstrated the ability to mint new stars and propel hits up the charts in 2020, but there are hints that TikTok will be even more influential in the New Year. Powered by the TikTok community, Olivia Rodrigo’s “driver’s license” smashed records set by much more established artists, and became the youngest artist to ever debut at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. A deeper dive reveals a diverse wealth of hits, ranging from conventional to bizarre, each capable of crossing over and making a mainstream splash.

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

For more info, please contact:
Michelle McDevitt, Andrea Higgins, Erin Ryan, Audible Treats
Leah Linder, TikTok

The Background:

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

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

Links:

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

Check out previous editions of TikTok Treats, a weekly newsletter about the most interesting music happenings on TikTok:
New Year, New TikTok Trends: Alicia Keys, Remembering MF DOOM & More
Paul McCartney, Holiday Celebrations, and New Year’s Eve Live on TikTok
TikTok Releases First U.S. Music Report: Here Are Some Key Insights
How TikTok’s Top 10 Songs of 2020 Impacted the Industry
On TikTok: Lil Nas X Brings “Holiday” Cheer, Shawn Mendes Welcomes Us to His World & More
Run-DMC, MGMT, and More Noteworthy TikTok Stories
Billie Eilish and Queen Join the Party, New Viral Hits Take Flight, and More From the World of TikTok
Ariana Grande, Rick Astley and More TikTok Stories
Elton John, Tim Burton, Liam Payne and More Add Some Pumpkin Spice to the Week in TikTok
John Lennon, Oasis, George Michael, and More Score Trending Hits on TikTok
Stevie Nicks, Jason Derulo, and More Highlight a Big TikTok Week
Now Here You Go Again, You Say You Want Your TikToks
Pop Smoke, 24kGoldn, Flo Milli, and Others Have Scored Multiple TikTok Hits
TikTok Salutes Its #FamiliaLatina: Music Stories from Latinx Heritage Month
Big Sean, Charlie Puth, Classical Harp, and More From TikTok
David Guetta, Sada Baby, and Rick James Are Having a Moment on TikTok
BTS Hits #1, Kendrick Plants Money Trees, and More From TikTok
Dua Lipa Levitates, J. Cole Soundtracks Glow-Ups and More TikTok Stories
TikTok: The “WAP” Dance Challenge, Folklore, La Roux, and More Provide Joy and Catharsis
Charlie Puth, Pop Smoke, and More Trending TikTok Stories
Artists Unite to Say #SaveTikTok
How TikTok Users Use the App to Boost Their Musical Careers
TikTok Doesn’t Just Mint New Hits…It Revives Old Ones
These International TikTok Artists and Hits Eliminate Language Barriers
Who’s Hot on TikTok? Jason DeRulo, Rod Wave, and More
TikTok Success = Chart Success and the Hot 100 Proves It
TikTok Users and Artists Celebrate #MyPride Through Music
TikTok Promotes a Vibrant Artistic Community with #BlackMusicMonth

1.19.2021

Young Dolph Announces Rich Slave (Deluxe Edition), Coming January 22nd via Paper Route EMPIRE

The Memphis Rapper Shares the Video for “Large Amount,” One of 8 New Songs on the Deluxe Edition

Released in August and Peaking at #4 on the Billboard 200, Rich Slave Explores the Glass Ceiling That Limits Black Men in Contemporary American Society

The Announcement:

Fiiercely independent and proud of his mogul status, Young Dolph does everything big. Today, Dolph officially announces Rich Slave (Deluxe), an expanded version of his acclaimed 2020 album. Adding 8 flex-heavy new tracks to the original 16, Rich Slave (Deluxe) features Dolph’s trademark mix of clever flexes and boisterous ad-libs, celebrating the extravagant fruits of his years of labor. The seven new songs emphasize Dolph’s connection to his hometown of Memphis, featuring guest spots from Dolph’s Paper Route EMPIRE signees Key Glock and Kenny Muney and packing in references to local food spots and neighborhood haunts. Rich Slave (Deluxe) arrives on Friday January 22nd via Paper Route EMPIRE.

Along with the announcement of the deluxe edition, Dolph shares “Large Amounts,” a new single. Produced by Bandplay, “Large Amounts” is a playfully bombastic trap slice of Tennessee, colored by staccato synth strings and speaker-knocking 808s. Switching between a variety of hard-hitting flows, Dolph basks in his life of luxury, grateful to be able to live the life he’s always dreamed and untroubled by the actions he took to reach the top: “I got a confession to make, I sold my soul to the trap/I had to do what I had to do/I had to move when I had to move/I come from sh*t so I can’t lose.” In the video, Dolph takes his vintage Mercedes to the suburbs, before heading back the city to chill at Crumpy’s, his favorite wing joint. “Large Amounts” is available gratis with pre-order of Rich Slave (Deluxe).

Released in August 2020, Rich Slave explores Dolph’s rags to riches story, while taking time to reflect on the glass ceiling on the upward mobility of Black people; no amount of money allows you to escape racism as a Black person in this country. The album is home singles like the West Coast tribute “Death Row,“ the conversational “Blue Diamonds,“ and the Megan Thee Stallion-featuring riders’ anthem “RNB,” which reached the top ten of Billboard’s Hip-Hop/R&B airplay chart. Rich Slave peaked at #4 on the Billboard 200 and hit #1 on Billboard’s Independent Albums chart, selling over 65k units and generating over 44 million on-demand streams in its first week. The album features additional guest appearances from G Herbo and Dolph’s frequent collaborator and Paper Route EMPIRE rising star Key Glock.

Watch “Large Amounts”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6YAoOYQkvo

Buy/Stream “Large Amounts” & pre-save Rich Slave (Deluxe): https://music.empi.re/largeamounts

Visit Young Dolph’s website to pre-order the album and purchase Young Dolph merch: http://store.youngdolph.com/

Rich Slave tracklist:
1. Hold Up Hold Up Hold Up
2. Black Friday Skit
3. To Be Honest
4. I See $’s
5. Corduroy House Shoes
6. What’s Da Bizness
7. The Land
8. Death Row
9. Cray Cray
10. RNB ft. Megan Thee Stallion
11. Rich Slave
12. Until It Rot
13. Blue Diamonds
14. No Sense ft. Key Glock
15. Benz
16. 1 Scale ft. G Herbo
17. Large Amount
18. Fast
19. Gimme My Bag
20. Scotch Deluxe
21. Obey Your Thirst
22. No Regrets (feat. Kenny Muney)
23. Buy My Way In Heaven

Please contact Michelle or Erin for more info.

Links:

twitter | facebook | soundcloud | youtube | instagram | official site | spotify

Bio, photos, music and more can be found at www.audibletreats.com/young-dolph

“Large Amounts”: https://music.empi.re/largeamounts

“No Sense” ft. Key Glock: https://youtu.be/zvgXz0us78M

“The Land”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6l946DZi80

“Hold Up Hold Up Hold Up”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fb-K-3arN9c

“Cray Cray”: https://youtu.be/E42t-yK78gg

Rich Slave: https://empire.ffm.to/richslave

“Death Row”: https://empire.ffm.to/deathrow

Visit Young Dolph’s website to pre-order Rich Slave and purchase Young Dolph merch: http://store.youngdolph.com/

View the official rules for the “Rich Slave Lamborghini Contest” here. No purchase is required to enter the contest: https://store.youngdolph.com/pages/young-dolph-contest-rules

“Blue Diamonds”: https://empire.ffm.to/bluediamonds / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBn_aZPcqJk

“RNB” ft. Megan Thee Stallion: https://empire.ffm.to/youngdolph_rnb

“Sunshine”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2lUhNmdXkE / https://empire.ffm.to/sunshine

Dum & Dummer: https://empire.lnk.to/dummer

01.15.2021

EP: White John – Cases Still Pending

The Rising L.A. Rapper Shares A 6-Song Collection, Along With a Kinetic Video for “Dead Homies” ft. OMB Peezy

Critical Praise:

“Where did White John come from? Did he drop from the sky? Was he created in a lab? We’ll never know. Regardless, the Inglewood rapper has quickly become a must-know name on the West Coast.” – Pitchfork

“The self-proclaimed ‘Mr. F*ck LAPD,’ John has a swagger undoubtedly forged by moving in Piru sections of the city.If he continues to improve at this rate, he might be next up far beyond Inglewood.” – SPIN

“Everybody in LA loves White John. He’s from Inglewood. He grew up down the street. He went to Westchester High. He’s always been around everybody. He should’ve been rapping, but he was into living the fast life. Everything he be talking about is real sh*t. LAPD really does hate his ass.” – Rucci, to The FADER

The EP + Video:

Buoyed by a sterling reputation and known by many aliases–the White Gurb, Mr. F*ck The LAPD, Mr. F*ck The Police–White John is one of the most colorful characters in L.A.’s flourishing rap scene. Painting a picture of his chaotic and cinematic life in Inglewood, White John shares Cases Still Pending, his new EP. Wielding a laid-back, yet insistent flow, John sits firmly in the pocket of the propulsive West Coast production, crafted by the likes of scene sound architects like Beat Boy and Ace The Face, alternating outlandish flexes and hedonistic odes to the turn-up lifestyle with sober reflections on the realities of street life. The EP features two appearances from John’s Mackk&Co affiliate Rucci, underlining the EP’s emphasis on the importance of loyalty. The sequel to last year’s Cases Pending EP, home to the rapper’s street hit “Crazy,” Cases Still Pending is available on all platforms.

Along with the EP, White John shares the video for “Dead Homies,” a hard-hitting block boy anthem. “Dead Homies” is a steely-eyed statement of purpose, marked by bouncing bass, ambient synths, and White John’s calm-and-collected words of warning: “No pencil, but the lead on me/Ride around smokin’ all the opps, dead homies.” The song gets a dose of manic energy from OMB Peezy, whose rapidfire Southern drawl provides an excellent contrast to White John’s deadpan charisma. In the video, directed by Mr. Realmovie, John and Peezy kick back in Inglewood with a squad, playing cards, counting cash, and showing off a sparkling white Maserati.

Respected in his hometown for his unapologetic realness and fluency with slang, White John rose to local hero status in L.A. in 2020. He caught the attention of his city with songs like “Crazy” and “Road Runnin’,” racking up hundreds of thousands of streams on YouTube and Spotify. He’s been praised by the likes of Pitchfork and SPIN, and collaborated with Fenix Flexin, Lil House Phone, and many others in the L.A. scene. Look for White John to make much more noise as 2021 moves along.

Buy/Stream Cases Still Pending EP: https://lnk.to/CasesStillPending

Watch “Dead Homies” ft. OMB Peezy: https://youtu.be/cRv-g3Fbpb4

Cases Still Pending EP tracklist:

1. By Yourself
2. Dead Homies ft. OMB Peezy
3. I Need Drugs ft. Rucci
4. No Phones
5. Switch On Me
6. Thug Life ft. Rucci & Big Sad 1900

Please contact Michelle or Erin for more info.

Links:

instagram | youtube | spotify

Cases Still Pending EP: https://lnk.to/CasesStillPending

“Dead Homies” ft. OMB Peezy: https://youtu.be/cRv-g3Fbpb4

“Crazy”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oD33a1D9oLk

“Road Runnin”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUYNxxpids0

1.14.2020

Video: DJ Scheme – “Baby” ft. iann dior

The Miami Native Producer/DJ/Artist Dresses to the Nines in the Latest Video from His Debut Album FAMILY

Critical Praise:

“The Palm Beach-raised music curator and general of vibes Gabe Guerra, better known as DJ Scheme, is among the biggest influencers in South Florida hip-hop…Think of him as DJ Clue to Miami’s up-and-coming Jay-Zs.” – Miami New Times

“DJ Scheme is a driving force behind Miami’s Members Only collective, and his menacing beats helped turn XXXTentacion and Juice WRLD into household names.” – Consequence of Sound

2019 XXL Freshman DJ

The Announcement:

An influential figure and creative polymath, DJ Scheme specializes in getting the best out of his collaborators. For the latest music video from his debut album FAMILY, Scheme connected with iann dior for the music video for FAMILY highlight “Baby.” Produced by Scheme, Nuri, and Carlton McDowell, “Baby” is a romantic trap ballad about newfound infatuation, accented by clean guitars and sumptuous 808s. Directed by Griffin Olis, the video is a high-class throwback to the days of dinner-and-a-show clubs like The Copacabana. Looking dapper in a slick white suit, DJ Scheme plays master of ceremonies (with Nuri and Carlton in the house band), welcoming the guests and bringing iann dior to the stage to perform the song.

A celebration of musical kinship, FAMILY explores how creative partnerships can create deep familial connections and reinforce a sense of community. Scheme had a hand in the production on each of the project’s 17 tracks, creating a diverse, yet cohesive flow that echoes the 23-year-old’s invigorating DJ sets at Rolling Loud and elsewhere. Throughout the project, Scheme proves to be a natural at finding the hidden chemistry in unexpected partnerships, as well as finding new avenues to explore the South Florida sound that took rap by storm. An ambitious debut for the multi-talented DJ/Producer/Artist, FAMILY establishes Scheme as a tastemaker with a distinct aesthetic and a wide musical range.

The album has racked up tens of millions of streams since its early December release, landing Scheme at #2 on Rolling Stone’s Breakthrough 25 chart and increasing his Spotify monthly listener count from 1 million to 2.1 million. Featuring appearances from Lil Mosey, Ski Mask The Slump God, Lil Yachty, Cordae, Ty Dolla $ign, Lil Keed, $NOT, Fenix Flexin, Take A Daytrip, Danny Towers, Lil Gnar, Shakewell, TheHxliday, Tes-X, and more, FAMILY is available everywhere via Scheme Records/EMPIRE.

Watch “Baby” ft. iann dior: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXpoK4Ppm9U

Buy/Stream FAMILY: https://music.empi.re/family

FAMILY Tracklist:
1. Homesick ft. Zacari & Skrillex
2. Trust Nobody (2 My Brothers) ft. Joey Bada$$
3. Thor’s Hammer Worthy feat. Ski Mask the Slump God & ZillaKami
4. E-ER ft. Ski Mask, Danny Towers & Lil Yachty
5. Bussin’ Out ft. Lil Mosey & Ty Dolla $ign
6. Soda ft. Ski Mask & Cordae
7. Splurgin ft. Lil Gnar & Shakewell
8. Baby ft. iann dior
9. Fallin 4 U ft. TheHxliday
10. It’s Alright ft. Tes X
11. Blue Bills ft. $NOT & Fenix Flexin
12. How You Feel ft. Danny Towers, Ski Mask The Slump God & Lil Yachty
13. Zebra ft. Jackboy & Danny Towers
14. 3 Sum ft. Robb Bank$
15. Top Of The Mountain ft. Lil Keed
16. Feel ft. Cris Dinero & G.Wakai
17. Piece Of My Heart

Please contact Michelle or Kerry for more info.

Background:

Just 23-years-old, DJ Scheme has evolved into one of the rap industry’s most influential figures. The Miami native started his career as a tour DJ for wifisfuneral, before linking up with Ski Mask The Slump God and XXXTentacion and joining their Members Only collective. Over the past half-decade, Scheme has evolved into one of rap’s most in-demand DJ’s, serving as official tour DJ for the likes of Juice WRLD, Pouya, Robb Bank$, Fat Nick, and more. In 2019, XXL tapped Scheme to be the official DJ for its 2019 Freshman Cyphers. In 2019, Scheme released the PRESEASON EP, his first release as a lead artist, featuring the hit single “How You Feel” ft. Ski Mask The Slump God & Danny Towers, which recently earned a GOLD certification from the RIAA.

DJ Scheme is a fixture at Rolling Loud, hip-hop’s biggest festival brand, performing DJ sets at every Rolling Loud event since its inception and acting as master of ceremonies for the emotional Juice WRLD memorial during Rolling Loud Los Angeles 2019. As the official DJ of Rolling Loud’s Twitch channel, Scheme has evolved into an engaging on-camera personality, regularly co-hosting Rolling Loud’s “The Rotation” talk show and acting as host for two “Loud Stream” virtual festivals.

With his new album FAMILY, Scheme looks translate his vision into a cohesive statement about the power of artistic collaboration. FAMILY is available everywhere via Scheme Records/EMPIRE.

Links:

instagram | twitter | spotify | soundcloud | youtube

“Baby” ft. iann dior: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXpoK4Ppm9U

“Homesick” ft. Skrillex & Zacari: https://youtu.be/b45KJdqXkaQ

FAMILY: https://music.empi.re/family

“Soda” ft. Ski Mask The Slump God, Cordae & Take A Daytrip: https://music.empi.re/soda

“How You Feel” ft. Ski Mask The Slump God & Danny Towers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjTsQINzwl8

PRESEASON EP: https://open.spotify.com/album/4un0IQy9lIQfk2zFRVAj0o?si=DvhbcYbPT8qmheLOSJQkHg

1.13.21

TikTok Treats, Week of January 11th

Olivia Rodrigo Scores a Massive Hit, the Community Sets Sail With Its New Favorite Genre, and More “Only On TikTok” Stories

The News:

TikTok’s community-driven approach to content lends itself to unpredictability. Though the community at large has favorite artists, users do not pre-judge music based on the age of the song, the starpower of the artist, or the song’s genre–a banger is a banger. In recent weeks, some seemingly niche artists, songs, and genres have made major moves on the platform and on the music scene at large. Check below for new trends from a new major pop star, rising rappers, drunken sailors, and more:

• TikTok users love themselves some Texas rap. Artists like Megan Thee Stallion, BeatKing, TisaKorean, and 10k.Caash rank among the Texan emcees who’ve had success on the platform. Dallas native Erica Banks looks to be the next Lone Star State rapper to win the hearts and minds of the TikTok community. Her new single “Buss It” is one of the most popular songs on the app, with over 600k creations and over 1 billion views in just the past week. The track came to prominence in a challenge that mashes up the single with Nelly’s immortal “Hot In Herre,” inspiring TikTok users, including popular users like Bella Poarch and Lele Pons, to transition from drab attire to glamorous couture and drop it low.
• Last year, country star Morgan Wallen used an early snippet released on TikTok to build momentum for his song “7 Summers,” scoring a Billboard Top 10 debut for his single in the process. When he learned that some tracks from his album Dangerous leaked online, he decided to take matters into his own hands, sharing snippets of Dangerous songs as TikTok sounds. The snippet for the album’s title track generated over 2 million video views, and generated 6k creates from fans eager to hear the full song and the rest of the album.
• Singer Olivia Rodrigo is one of TikTok’s fastest-growing stars, gaining over 800k followers in just the past week. The 17-year-old singer is currently trending with her new song “driver’s license,” which has over 150k creates since Olivia posted a video explaining the story behind the song on Friday, generating over 17 million views. Thanks in part to its TikTok virality, “driver’s license” reached #1 on iTunes’ all-genre charts, and more importantly to Olivia, earned a co-sign from Taylor Swift.
• Beloved by critics for their winding guitar melodies and the stream-of-consciousness vocal delivery of frontwoman Sue Tompkins, Scottish indie band Life Without Buildings have always been an underground concern. Enter the TIkTok community, who’ve turned their 2001 song “The Leanover” into one of the platform’s most unlikely hits ever. Since it started trending over the holidays, “The Leanover” and its frenzied repetition of “If I lose you” and “to her” inspired more than 60k video creations, including a video from indie star beabadoobee, lending its wistful immediacy to everything from bold hair bleaching decisions, dreary car rides, and expressive free-form dancing. The TikTok success of “The Leanover” spurred the song to the top ten of Spotify’s UK Viral 50 chart, and helped Life Without Buildings increase their Spotify monthly listenership by over 200k.
• The TikTok community loves a good cover song, especially one that takes the original material in an unexpected direction (e.g. Ritt Momney’s cover of Corinne Bailey Rae’s “Put Your Records On,” a surprise hit in 2020). In recent days, several covers have made an impact on the platform. Last week, Tom Rosenthal thanked the TikTok community for helping his cover of Edward Sharpe’s “Home” (763k video creations) generate over 19 million streams on Spotify. Over the holidays, talkbox virtuoso Carson Elliott generated over 59 million video views on his cover of Olivia Newton-John’s “Hopelessly Devoted To You,” driving his follower count above the 4 million mark and inspiring over 322k romantic TikTok users to use it in their own videos. Most recently, Kim Dracula found a way to make Lady Gaga even more dramatic with his screamo-trap cover of “Paparazzi” (172k creates), which is the TIkTok community’s favored soundtrack for showing off their fitness gains.
• The TikTok 2020 Music Report proved that music of all genres can find an audience on TikTok, but the success of #ShantyTok truly hammers that point home. That’s right mateys, Sea Shanties are having a moment on TikTok, making waves with users eager to show off their voices as well as those just looking to vibe. The salty sea dog most responsible for the surprising shanty surge is Scottish singer Nathan Evans, who won the community’s hearts and minds with rousing acapella-and-hand-percussion renditions of shanties like “The Scotsman” and “The Wellerman.” The latter of which has taken off on the platform, with users of all vocal ranges using TikTok’s duet function to add their own harmonies. The #SeaShanty community is a niche, but a sizable and growing one–the hashtag has over 63 million video views, and “The Wellerman” climbed into the Top 20 of the Spotify U.S. Viral 50 chart.

TikTok flattens the borders that used to exist between meme culture and the mainstream, creating a liminal space that can elevate niche subcultures into prominence. As TikTok continues to mature, it will continue to create a feedback loop between the platform and the culture-at-large, boosting unlikely music and filtering pop hits through its funhouse mirror. There’s no telling what will spark the community’s creativity next.

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

For more info, please contact:
Michelle McDevitt, Andrea Higgins, Erin Ryan, Audible Treats
Leah Linder, TikTok

The Background:

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

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

Links:

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

Check out previous editions of TikTok Treats, a weekly newsletter about the most interesting music happenings on TikTok:
New Year, New TikTok Trends: Alicia Keys, Remembering MF DOOM & More
Paul McCartney, Holiday Celebrations, and New Year’s Eve Live on TikTok
TikTok Releases First U.S. Music Report: Here Are Some Key Insights
How TikTok’s Top 10 Songs of 2020 Impacted the Industry
On TikTok: Lil Nas X Brings “Holiday” Cheer, Shawn Mendes Welcomes Us to His World & More
Run-DMC, MGMT, and More Noteworthy TikTok Stories
Billie Eilish and Queen Join the Party, New Viral Hits Take Flight, and More From the World of TikTok
Ariana Grande, Rick Astley and More TikTok Stories
Elton John, Tim Burton, Liam Payne and More Add Some Pumpkin Spice to the Week in TikTok
John Lennon, Oasis, George Michael, and More Score Trending Hits on TikTok
Stevie Nicks, Jason Derulo, and More Highlight a Big TikTok Week
Now Here You Go Again, You Say You Want Your TikToks
Pop Smoke, 24kGoldn, Flo Milli, and Others Have Scored Multiple TikTok Hits
TikTok Salutes Its #FamiliaLatina: Music Stories from Latinx Heritage Month
Big Sean, Charlie Puth, Classical Harp, and More From TikTok
David Guetta, Sada Baby, and Rick James Are Having a Moment on TikTok
BTS Hits #1, Kendrick Plants Money Trees, and More From TikTok
Dua Lipa Levitates, J. Cole Soundtracks Glow-Ups and More TikTok Stories
TikTok: The “WAP” Dance Challenge, Folklore, La Roux, and More Provide Joy and Catharsis
Charlie Puth, Pop Smoke, and More Trending TikTok Stories
Artists Unite to Say #SaveTikTok
How TikTok Users Use the App to Boost Their Musical Careers
TikTok Doesn’t Just Mint New Hits…It Revives Old Ones
These International TikTok Artists and Hits Eliminate Language Barriers
Who’s Hot on TikTok? Jason DeRulo, Rod Wave, and More
TikTok Success = Chart Success and the Hot 100 Proves It
TikTok Users and Artists Celebrate #MyPride Through Music
TikTok Promotes a Vibrant Artistic Community with #BlackMusicMonth

1.13.2021

Video: Taleban Dooda – “Chosen” ft. T9ine

Two Rising Florida Emcees Connect in Tampa in the Video for Dooda’s Inspirational Trap Banger

Critical Praise:

“At only 18 years old.. his talents are already overly abundant and his potential is probably higher than most up and coming artists you could name off the top of your head.” – Lyrical Lemonade

“He falls into the lane of melodic street rap that acts like YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Lil Durk, Teejay3k, and others are making, but his high-pitched vocals and limitless subject matter set him apart.” – Earmilk

The Song:

Making waves in the South and beyond with his vocal acrobatics, Taleban Dooda is intent on making 2021 his year. Teaming up with fellow Floridian T9ine for an anthem for the strivers, Dooda shares “Chosen,” his latest single. Produced by Gasky, “Chosen” layers gospel pianos and mournful saxophone atop thumping 808s, creating the perfect canvas for both emcees to open their hearts. The two emcees trade melodic verses, expressing gratitude that their God-given talents allowed them to escape the difficult circumstances of their birth: “It started as a dream to us/They ain’t believe in us/Don’t know what it mean to us/They always leavin’ us,” croons Dooda.

In the video, Dooda (who rocks a Tom Brady Bucs jersey) and T9ine squad up on Hillsborough Ave in Dooda’s native East Tampa. The camera alternates celebratory shots of the rappers chilling with their friends with artfully lo-fi clips from the picturesque Florida gulf coast landscape. His first new single of the year, “Chosen” follows the romantic  “Problematic” and the TM88 & ATL Jacob-produced “Finish Him,” which notched over a million streams in its first week

Though Taleban Dooda only started rapping at the age of 15, the Tampa, FL native displayed a natural melodic ability that helped him stand out. After working hard behind the scenes to build a backlog of bangers and gain inroads in the local rap scene, Dooda scored a hit with “Tru Colors,” his first-ever release, racking up over 3 million streams, generating over 1 million views on its YouTube video, and reaching #18 on SoundCloud’s worldwide New & Hot chart. The teenager kept the momentum going with collaborations with his frequent rap partner Rees Money, and successful video singles like “2 In Da Morning” (930k views) and “Dis Dooda,” which Vice named as one of the 24 Best Songs of September. Stay tuned for much more from the Green Light Music Group/Rostrum Records signee as he continues to develop into one of the South’s most exciting rap talents.

Buy/Stream “Chosen” ft. T9ine: https://smarturl.it/TalebanDoodaChosen

Watch “Chosen” ft. T9ine: https://youtu.be/m__VzdnFqwI

Please contact Michelle or Kevin for more info.

The Background:

Taleban Dooda always had a voice–a combination of distinctly Floridian style and irresistibly catchy melody, has made the 18-year-old rapper one of the most exciting new rap voices coming out of the South. Hailing from East Tampa, Dooda had few options to avoid the violence that lurked outside his door. When he injured his knee in his 9th grade year, ending his football dreams, Dooda turned his attention to music. He began by recording himself covering other people’s songs — inspired by his love for artists like Bruno Mars, John Legend, and Sam Smith — before moving on to his own original compositions. Influenced by artists like NBA Youngboy, Polo G, and NoCap, Taleban Dooda decided to become a rapper.

For Dooda, 2020 was all about consistency, as he continued to drop a steady stream of strong singles throughout the year. In September, he released “Dis Dooda” — which VICE named one of the best songs of the month and Lyrical Lemonade highlighted on their site — and followed that up in November with the TM88 and ATL Jacob-produced “Finish Him.” Now, Dooda has his eyes set on the upcoming release of his debut album. With all this momentum, and all of Florida behind him, he doesn’t plan to slow down any time soon. “I’m just trying to keep dropping music,” he says. “I ain’t trying to take no breaks.”

Links:

instagram | soundcloud | twitter

“Chosen” ft. T9ine: https://smarturl.it/TalebanDoodaChosen

“Problematic”: https://smarturl.it/TDoodaProblematic

“Finish Him” (Prod. by TM88 & ATL Jacob):
https://youtu.be/G6DSOiBojRE / https://smarturl.it/TalebanDoodaFinish

“Dis Dooda”: https://smarturl.it/DoodaDisDooda / https://youtu.be/q-GBO7z9XAc

“2 In Da Morning”: https://youtu.be/Tm2Pvww2Y4A

“Tru Colors”: https://youtu.be/DF1A9DcbtKA

01.11.2021

Video: King Von – “Armed & Dangerous”

The Video:

King Von’s estate shares the video for “Armed & Dangerous,” directed by Jerry Production. Produced by Chopsquad DJ, “Armed & Dangerous” is a showcase for the late rapper’s gripping vocal delivery and gift for immersing the listener into his state of mind. The video calls back to Von’s experiences in prison and shows how the lessons he learned inside shaped his worldview, even as a successful rapper. “Armed & Dangerous” is the opening track from his album Welcome To O-Block.

To celebrate Von’s artistry, music, and vision, Von’s team will continue to roll out Welcome To O’Block, while continuing to share unreleased music, videos, and interviews that Von was able to complete in his lifetime. “Armed & Dangerous” follows the recent video for “Wayne’s Story,” which was Von’s favorite music video.

Long Live King Von.
Watch “Armed & Dangerous”: https://youtu.be/tBKYI3-3lMg

Please contact Michelle, Andrea, or Erin for more info.

Links:

twitter | instagram | spotify

“Armed & Dangerous”: https://youtu.be/tBKYI3-3lMg

“The Code” ft. Polo G: https://youtu.be/luU7F7lvvjk

Welcome To O-Block: https://music.empi.re/oblock

“Gleesh Place”: https://youtu.be/vMxOz_6gWOE

“I Am What I Am” ft. Fivio Foreign: https://music.empi.re/iamwhatiam / https://youtu.be/JHixsTYXfso

“How It Go”: https://music.empi.re/howitgo / https://youtu.be/WU6EHi410UQ

“All These N****s”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gB2LmRyfXuk

“Why He Told”: https://empire.ffm.to/whyhetold | https://youtu.be/PLutQQzjig4

LeVon James: https://empire.lnk.to/LevonJames

“Took Her To The O”: https://youtu.be/hzt31eJTGxo

Grandson Vol. 1: https://empire.lnk.to/grandson1

“Crazy Story”: https://Empire.lnk.to/Crazystory // https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YC8NmE3H-zs

01.08.2021

Netflix Unveils Trailers for Upcoming Films:

Outside The Wire (starring Anthony Mackie & Damson Idris) Releases on January 15th

Malcolm & Marie (starring Zendaya & John David Washington) Releases on February 5th

The Announcement:

Audible Treats is excited to be working be working with Netflix on the below titles, with more to come in the future. Please contact us if you are interested in participating in future press junkets or viewing advance screeners for upcoming films.

Visit Netflix’s Media Center for additional information and assets.

Outside The Wire:

Malcolm & Marie:

Links:

instagram | facebook | twitter | youtube | tiktok

Netflix Media Center: https://media.netflix.com/

01.08.2021

Video: Key Glock – “Off The Porch” (Prod. by ChaseTheMoney)

The Paper Route EMPIRE Rapper Upgrades From a 10-Speed to a Coupe in His New Music Video

Critical Praise:

“If somebody wants to know what current day Memphis rap sounds like, show them Key Glock. The 21-year-old has uncontrollable energy, can tell a funny story, and says it all over beats that pay homage to the city’s history while still incorporating a modern bounce.” – Pitchfork

“Rags-to-riches stories are a constant in rap, but Glock’s enthusiasm is infectious. Coupled with hard-hitting beats—from the slinky guitars and 808s of opener “1997” to the subwoofer-crushing drums of lead single “Mr. Glock”—Yellow Tape is enough reason to celebrate making it to the finish line on any given day. May the congregation say amen.” – Complex

“Key Glock is Memphis’s best new lyricist.” – The FADER

The Video:

Dropping banger after banger with no need for features, Key Glock specializes in hard-hitting punchlines and creative flexes. Joining forces with ChaseTheMoney for a bass-heavy new video single, Key Glock shares “Off The Porch.” An ominous trap track with subsonic 808s and a synth that tolls like a funereal church bell, “Off The Porch” finds Glock keeping cool as he runs through choice details from his boss life: “I’m all out west smokin’ doobies like Snoop/Yuh, I’m playin’ with the blues, sh*t i should have went to Duke.” In the video, which reached #14 on YouTube’s trending chart, Glock echoes the song’s opening line–he jettisons his ten speed bicycle in favor of a black-and-yellow Lambo as he raps into a vintage microphone and shares his blunt with his Homer Simpson chain.

Signed to Young Dolph‘s Paper Route EMPIRE label, Key Glock established himself as a bonafide star in 2020, reaching the top 40 of the Billboard 200 with two different projects and without any guest artists. His May mixtape Son Of A Gun reached #37 on the Billboard 200.  January’s successful Yellow Tape, which hosted successful singles like “Look At They Face,” the suave “Mr. Glock,” and the sinister “I’m Just Sayin’.” Praised by Pitchfork, Complex, and more, the project reached #16 on the Billboard 200. His two 2020 releases built on the success of 2019’s Dum & Dummer, the rapper’s collaborative project with Young Dolph. Most recently, the 23-year-old rapper released “Never Change,” a new video single produced by Bandplay (2 million views). The prolific rapper is hard at work on his next project, set to release in the coming months.

Watch “Off The Porch” (Prod. by ChaseTheMoney): https://youtu.be/haVcu4cz_PI

Buy/Stream “Off The Porch” (Prod. by ChaseTheMoney): https://music.empi.re/offtheporch

Please contact Michelle or Erin for more info.

Links:

twitter | soundcloud | instagram | spotify

Bio, photos, music and more can be found at www.audibletreats.com/key-glock

“Off The Porch” (Prod. by ChaseTheMoney):

“Never Change”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsbEolz3k_Q

Son Of A Gun: https://empire.ffm.to/sonofagun

Yellow Tape: https://Empire.lnk.to/Yellow_Tape

“Look At They Face”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qO3OpoRgwc / https://empire.lnk.to/LATFYo

Dum & Dummer: https://empire.lnk.to/dummer

01.08.2021

David Bowie and His Music Land on TikTok

The News:

“The absolute transformation of everything that we ever thought about music will take place within 10 years, and nothing is going to be able to stop it.” – David Bowie

January 8th, 2021 – On what would have been his 74th birthday, TikTok today announced that the music of David Bowie is now available to the TikTok community. An account in Bowie’s memory has launched in partnership with Warner Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment and The David Bowie Estate.

Celebrating one of the greatest stars of the musical universe, David Bowie’s music catalogue is now available through yet another medium, ready to excite and inspire a whole new generation of fans. His TikTok channel is live at @DavidBowie featuring iconic videos from his life and work across over five decades of innovation and reinvention.

Tracks such as “Heroes,” “Space Oddity,” “Let’s Dance,” “Fame,” “Rebel Rebel,” “Life on Mars?,” and “Ashes To Ashes” now feature in a dedicated playlist on the TikTok Sounds page. On Sunday January 10th, to mark his passing five years ago, TheStarman hashtag challenge (#TheStarman) will launch. Using the track Starman – first released in 1972 as the lead single from The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders from Mars – the TikTok community will come together to celebrate his life and work, recreating his iconic looks across the years.

A pioneer in music and fashion, David was – and remains – a cultural icon. He was never afraid to push boundaries and was always first to embrace new technology to reach his global fan base.

Paul Hourican, Head of UK Music Operations at TikTok said: “We are truly honoured to welcome David Bowie and his music to TikTok. He remains one of the most influential and acclaimed artists of all time and his music has defined multiple generations and cultural moments. We know the excitement our community will find discovering his music and creating using the indisputable Bowie sound.”

Read the post on TikTok’s newsroom: https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-us/david-bowie-joins-tiktok

For more info, please contact:
Michelle McDevitt, Andrea Higgins, or Erin Ryan, Audible Treats
Leah Linder, TikTok

The Background:

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

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

1.8.2021

Video: Morray – “Big Decisions”

The Fayetteville, NC Artist Continues His Run of High-Quality Videos With This Revealing Clip

Critical Praise:

“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

The Video:

Bursting onto the scene with a big personality and a singing voice to match, Morray is an expert at delivering emotional resonance in melodic rap jams. Coming through with another reflective banger, Morray shares “Big Decisions,” his latest music video. A vocal showcase for the rising rapper, “Big Decisions” is an introspective examination of Morray’s responsibilities as a bread-winner for his family and a role model for his community. Flexing his nimble flow and church-trained melodic runs over subdued guitar-and-808s production, Morray resolves to stay motivated to get his bread up, despite the temptations to take an easier path: “I’m tryna do everything the right way/but the wrong way so damn inviting/I got a family to feed I got a family to feed, I got a family with needs.” In the video, Morray spends quality time with his friends and his kids, hanging at his home on the corner of Fieldcrest and Dashland and taking his boys for an afternoon at the bowling alley.

Since arriving on the scene in October, Morray has developed a reputation for his quality visuals. The Pick Six Records signee showed off his emotive facial expressions in high quality clips for “Switched Up” and the tough-talking, Complex-premiered “Low Key.” Just in time for the holidays, Morray shared “Dreamland,” a moving video about his troubled upbringing, racking up over 1.3 million views. He made a massive impression with his debut video “Quicksand,” which was an instant sensation, drawing praise from across the industry and the internet. The video has more than 12 million views, and the song is included on the Rap Caviar, Most Necessary, and The Realest Down South playlists on Spotify and the Rap Life playlist on Apple Music. Thanks to “Quicksand” and its follow-up releases, Morray earned powerful co-signs from the likes of Jay-Z, who listed “Quicksand” as one of his favorite songs of 2020, fellow North Carolinians J. Cole and DaBaby, superstar DJ Marshmello, rap icon Rick Ross, and more.

Morray storms into 2021 as one of hip-hop’s most impressive newcomers, earning recognition from SPIN as one of the 20 Most Interesting New Artists of 2020 and making Pigeons & Planes’s list of Best New Artists of December. Stay tuned for much more from the North Carolina native, who is currently hard at work on his debut project.

Watch “Big Decisions”: https://picksix.ffm.to/bigdecisionsvid

Buy/Stream “Big Decisions”: https://picksix.ffm.to/bigdecisions

Watch “Quicksand”: https://picksix.ffm.to/qsvid.opr

Please contact Michelle or Erin for more info.

The Background:

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.

Links:

instagram | twitter | youtube | soundcloud | spotify

“Big Decisions”: https://picksix.ffm.to/bigdecisionsvid / https://picksix.ffm.to/bigdecisions

“Low Key”: https://picksix.ffm.to/lowkey / https://picksix.ffm.to/lowkeyvid

“Switched Up”: https://picksix.ffm.to/suvid.opr / https://picksix.ffm.to/switchedup

“Quicksand”: https://picksix.ffm.to/qsvid.opr

1.7.2020

TikTok Treats, Week of January 4th

TikTok Heads Into the New Year With Trends from Alicia Keys and Megan Thee Stallion As the Community Pays Tribute to the Late MF DOOM

The News:

After emerging as a major force in music and culture in 2020, TikTok is showing no signs of slowing down at the dawn of the New Year. The past week brought fascinating new trends, featuring contributions from A-list stars, emerging artists, and talented creators. Here are some of the most interesting new music stories from the world of TikTok:

• Megan Thee Stallion was TikTok’s most viewed artist by catalog in 2020, and she’s already making an impact on 2021. Her latest TikTok hit is “Cry Baby,” a collaboration with fellow TikTok-popular rapper DaBaby, which has over 850k video creations and reached a new peak on the Hot 100 this week (it rose 10 spots to #57 after entering the chart at #95 two weeks ago). Spurred by a dance challenge created by @arri.arii, “Cry Baby” viral rise comes hot on the heels of Megan’s #BodyodyChallenge (over 300 million views on the hashtag).
• Alicia Keys is an active TikTok user, taking to the app to cover BTS on the piano, goof around with Jason Derulo, and show how she takes her tea (with a side of Prince). The Grammy-winning singer took note of a charming challenge (81 million video views) based on “My Boo,” her 2004 duet with Usher, in which users seamlessly segue from a sneeze into the song (“a-choo were my baby”). Earlier this week, Ms. Keys did the #myboochallenge herself in a video that generated over 10 million views, flashing her golden pipes and thanking the TikTok community for bringing the song back into prominence.
• The TikTok community is always on the lookout for new favorite artists, and if an artist has a viral hit, it becomes likely that a subsequent hit will strike a nerve as well. Rising rappers TisaKorean and Cochise have each returned to trending status after scoring big TikTok hits last year. Known for his banger “Hatchback,” which inspired over 2.3 million video creations and racked up 55 million streams on Spotify, Cochise is making waves once again with “Knicks” (over 100k creations), propelled by a dance challenge created by @bryansanon and popularized by @mariesuh. Meanwhile, “The Mop” hitmaker TisaKorean is trending once again with his 2019 song “LSD” (347k video creations), known for its “coco puffs” refrain and the dance challenge it inspired (once again created by @arri.arii in a video with over 7 million views).
• Jowell & Randy’s “Se Acabó De Cuarentena”  finds the two veteran reggaetoneros daydreaming about the end of quarantine over a propulsive dembow beat. The song resonated with TikTok users eager to put the miseries of 2020 behind them and venture out once again into the outside world. With over 15 million video creations “Se Acabó De Cuarantena” is a worldwide TikTok smash, trending once again thanks to the bachata dance stylings of @poplikethstguy and @siennamae.
• The TikTok community demonstrated its mischievous creativity and offbeat sense of humor when user @poloboy layered Lady Gaga‘s 2009 hit “Just Dance” over a high-energy drill beat. The mashup works surprisingly well, as the sliding 808s fit snugly between phrases of Gaga’s declarative chorus melody. With over 80k video creations since December 27th, the new audio soundtracks an absurd trend where users dance to the song while wearing as many pairs of underwear that they can fit on their legs.
• The music world received a shock on New Year’s Eve with the announcement of the death of legendary rapper MF DOOM. The rapper’s passing saddened the TikTok community, who had long counted the villain as one of their favorite underground emcees. In December, user @m0shpitlov3r scored a viral video when she predicted what would happen if Charli D’Amelio or Addison Rae found DOOM’s music. Since his death, the TikTok community flooded the service with tributes (the hashtag #MFDOOM has over 43.5 million video views): guitar players tried their hand at the difficult riff from “Rapp Snitch Knishes,” craftspeople documented the making of one-of-a-kind items that featured his likeness, and creative collagists made video edits in which cartoon characters seem to recite DOOM’s lyrics.

One of the most thrilling aspects of TikTok is the feeling of unpredictability that it fosters. As you scroll down your “For You” page, you might encounter the latest viral dance, incisive cultural commentary, and goofy humor in quick succession. Though nobody knows precisely what 2021 will bring on TikTok, it is a safe assumption that the platform will continue to propel hits up the charts, revive old songs, mint new stars, and provide countless surprises as the year moves along.

Check out TikTok’s 2020 U.S. Music Report: https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-us/year-on-tiktok-music-2020

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

For more info, please contact:
Michelle McDevitt, Andrea Higgins, Erin Ryan, Audible Treats
Leah Linder, TikTok

The Background:

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

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

Links:

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

Check out previous editions of TikTok Treats, a weekly newsletter about the most interesting music happenings on TikTok:
Paul McCartney, Holiday Celebrations, and New Year’s Eve Live on TikTok
TikTok Releases First U.S. Music Report: Here Are Some Key Insights
How TikTok’s Top 10 Songs of 2020 Impacted the Industry
On TikTok: Lil Nas X Brings “Holiday” Cheer, Shawn Mendes Welcomes Us to His World & More
Run-DMC, MGMT, and More Noteworthy TikTok Stories
Billie Eilish and Queen Join the Party, New Viral Hits Take Flight, and More From the World of TikTok
Ariana Grande, Rick Astley and More TikTok Stories
Elton John, Tim Burton, Liam Payne and More Add Some Pumpkin Spice to the Week in TikTok
John Lennon, Oasis, George Michael, and More Score Trending Hits on TikTok
Stevie Nicks, Jason Derulo, and More Highlight a Big TikTok Week
Now Here You Go Again, You Say You Want Your TikToks
Pop Smoke, 24kGoldn, Flo Milli, and Others Have Scored Multiple TikTok Hits
TikTok Salutes Its #FamiliaLatina: Music Stories from Latinx Heritage Month
Big Sean, Charlie Puth, Classical Harp, and More From TikTok
David Guetta, Sada Baby, and Rick James Are Having a Moment on TikTok
BTS Hits #1, Kendrick Plants Money Trees, and More From TikTok
Dua Lipa Levitates, J. Cole Soundtracks Glow-Ups and More TikTok Stories
TikTok: The “WAP” Dance Challenge, Folklore, La Roux, and More Provide Joy and Catharsis
Charlie Puth, Pop Smoke, and More Trending TikTok Stories
Artists Unite to Say #SaveTikTok
How TikTok Users Use the App to Boost Their Musical Careers
TikTok Doesn’t Just Mint New Hits…It Revives Old Ones
These International TikTok Artists and Hits Eliminate Language Barriers
Who’s Hot on TikTok? Jason DeRulo, Rod Wave, and More
TikTok Success = Chart Success and the Hot 100 Proves It
TikTok Users and Artists Celebrate #MyPride Through Music
TikTok Promotes a Vibrant Artistic Community with #BlackMusicMonth

12.22.2020

Video: Morray – “Dreamland”

The North Carolina Artist Behind “Quicksand” Continues His Meteoric Rise With a Heartfelt New Song and Video

Critical Praise:

“Few crooning rappers have his polish, resonance, and soul.” – SPIN

The Song:

Morray‘s skill with melody, sharp wordplay, and knack for emotional resonance makes him one of the rap game’s most exciting newcomers. Continuing his lightning quick rise to prominence, Morray shares “Dreamland,” a heart-wrenching new single. Marked by ringing pianos and Morray’s church-trained vocal runs, “Dreamland” is the artist’s pained recollection of growing up in poverty, and the lasting trauma caused by his experiences. The Fayetteville, NC native recalls Christmases and birthdays without gifts, living in motels, and sleeping on “some carpet cuz its better than the pavement.

In the track’s accompanying video, directed by Christian Breslauer (Roddy Ricch’s “The Box,” Lil Baby’s “Errybody” videos), Morray looks back at his younger self, from his early run-ins with the law to rough times at home. He ultimately takes the place as his mother’s defender as she faces domestic violence, further cementing the difficulty of his situation as a youth and solidifying his dreams to change his situation using his musical ability. Thanks to his game-changing talent, showcased on “Dreamland” and his breakout hit “Quicksand,” the Pick Six Records artist is on the cusp of leading the life of his dreams.

Morray made massive waves with his debut single “Quicksand.“ Built around a bluesy minor-key guitar loop, “Quicksand” showcases the young rapper’s limitless array of lyrical and vocal weapons, telling the story of his desire to escape difficult circumstances with lightning quick triplets, syncopated counter-rhythms, ultra-smooth melodies, and assonant internal rhymes. Released on October 30th, the “Quicksand” video was an instant sensation, drawing praise from across the industry and the internet. In its first month of release, “Quicksand” recently reached #4 on YouTube’s Trending chart and has generated almost 8 million views on YouTube, not to mention nearly 3 million Spotify streams to date, with inclusions in the Most Necessary, The Realest Down South, and Fresh Finds playlists. “Quicksand” earned powerful co-signs from the likes of Jay-Z, who listed “Quicksand” as one of his favorite songs of 2020, fellow North Carolinian J. Cole, superstar DJ Marshmello, rap icon Rick Ross, and more.

More recently, Morray proved that he had staying power with the ragged, soulful “Switched Up” and the tough-talking, Complex-premiered “Low Key.“ As the calendar turns to 2021, Morray looks to keep his momentum going with more music, including an upcoming project. Stay tuned…the artist is just getting started.

Watch the video for “Dreamland”: https://picksix.ffm.to/dreamlandvid.opr

Buy/Stream “Dreamland”: https://picksix.ffm.to/dreamland.opr

Watch “Quicksand”: https://picksix.ffm.to/qsvid.opr

Please contact Michelle or Erin for more info.

The Background:

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.

Links:

instagram | twitter | youtube | soundcloud | spotify

“Dreamland”: https://picksix.ffm.to/dreamland.opr / https://picksix.ffm.to/dreamlandvid.opr

“Low Key”: https://picksix.ffm.to/lowkey / https://picksix.ffm.to/lowkeyvid

“Switched Up”: https://picksix.ffm.to/suvid.opr / https://picksix.ffm.to/switchedup

“Quicksand”: https://picksix.ffm.to/qsvid.opr

12.22.2020

TikTok Treats, Week of December 21st

Paul McCartney, Holiday Celebrations, and New Year’s Eve Live on TikTok

The News:

Though 2020 has undoubtedly been a whirlwind for most, TikTok has taken pride in being able to serve as a faithful sidekick to many in the midst of it all. Throughout the year, millions of users have looked to TikTok as a way to escape life’s daily challenges while also making the best of the present. With snow falling and anticipation rising, the TikTok community prepares to embrace winter, the cherished holidays, and a brand new year by celebrating with classic holiday jams, welcoming one of the most prominent names in music history, and an eye-popping NYE celebration to cap it all off.

• TikTok is ending 2020 with a bang! Hosted by Brittany Broski and Lil Yachty, here comes another TikTok LIVE, “New Year’s Eve” with performances from TikTok’s biggest stars, including Jason Derulo, Saweetie, Anitta, and more. In addition to the performances, there will be appearances from trendsetters such as Cardi B, Mick Fleetwood, Liam Payne, Wayne Brady and many more. With a stacked lineup, this event goes to show the extent of TikTok’s growth and influence in 2020. Tune in on December 31, 2020 at 9:30 pm EST, to say #bye2020 and #welcome2021.

• To celebrate the release of his new album McCartney III, one of music’s greatest legends Paul McCartney gracefully took to the platform to give users and fans a lighthearted, yet revealing glimpse into the makings of his new body of work. From behind the scenes studio footage to heartwarming looks at the album photoshoot led by his daughter Mary McCartney and featuring his beloved Appaloosa horse, Sir Paul seems to be sharing it all. Perhaps the best was a comical TikTok showing off his best moves to standout track, “Find My Way.” TikTok stardom may be the next feat in the ever-talented icon’s endless list of successes.

• TikTok has become known for reviving music of all genres, and Christmas music is no exception. “Holly Jolly Christmas” by Michael Buble, one of the “kings” of Christmas, is making its rounds on TikTok during this holiday season. With over 200k video creations so far, the suavely-festive song has become the home for Christmas-themed paw print ornament tutorials, sneaky prank attempts, and jovial mail delivery driver reactions to snack baskets.

• With an already remarkable 60+ year history, TikTok adds further proof that there are few Christmas songs as beloved as the classic Bobby Helms classic “Jingle Bell Rock.” The song’s continuously-increasing presence is certainly being felt, with almost half a million creations on the platform so far. This timeless tune has everyone putting up their best Christmas lights, sharing recipes for their own unique hot cocoa, and, quite literally, taking Christmas tree shopping and decorating into their own hands to prepare for the upcoming holiday. After all, aside from “Jingle Bell Rock,” almost nothing screams Christmas more than extravagant light displays, spiced hot cocoa, and Christmas tree competitions.

In a year of uncertainty, one thing has been for sure: TikTok’s ability to entertain and bring joy to the world. Not only has TikTok become a global phenomenon, it has revolutionized the music industry as we know it. Playing a vital role in music, TikTok has propelled hits, both old and new, to find success on the Billboard charts and beyond. The TikTok community has witnessed A-list artists and brand new names join in on the endless fun and flourish on their quests to leave a mark on the music industry, as well as the world. With TikTok leading the charge, 2020 will surely go down in history as a year of musical innovation.

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

For more info, please contact:
Michelle McDevitt, Andrea Higgins, Erin Ryan, Audible Treats
Leah Linder, TikTok

The Background:

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

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

Links:

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

Check out previous editions of TikTok Treats, a weekly newsletter about the most interesting music happenings on TikTok:
TikTok Releases First U.S. Music Report: Here Are Some Key Insights
On TikTok: Lil Nas X Brings “Holiday” Cheer, Shawn Mendes Welcomes Us to His World & More
How TikTok’s Top 10 Songs of 2020 Impacted the Industry Run-DMC, MGMT, and More Noteworthy TikTok Stories Stevie Nicks, Jason Derulo, and More Highlight a Big TikTok Week Pop Smoke, 24kGoldn, Flo Milli, and Others Have Scored Multiple TikTok Hits TikTok Salutes Its #FamiliaLatina: Music Stories from Latinx Heritage Month Big Sean, Charlie Puth, Classical Harp, and More From TikTok David Guetta, Sada Baby, and Rick James Are Having a Moment on TikTok BTS Hits #1, Kendrick Plants Money Trees, and More From TikTok Dua Lipa Levitates, J. Cole Soundtracks Glow-Ups and More TikTok Stories TikTok: The “WAP” Dance Challenge, Folklore, La Roux, and More Provide Joy and Catharsis  Charlie Puth, Pop Smoke, and More Trending TikTok Stories Artists Unite to Say #SaveTikTok How TikTok Users Use the App to Boost Their Musical Careers TikTok Doesn’t Just Mint New Hits…It Revives Old Ones These International TikTok Artists and Hits Eliminate Language Barriers Who’s Hot on TikTok? Jason DeRulo, Rod Wave, and More TikTok Success = Chart Success and the Hot 100 Proves It TikTok Users and Artists Celebrate #MyPride Through Music TikTok Promotes a Vibrant Artistic Community with #BlackMusicMonth

12.22.2020

Audio: Superboy Cheque – “Zoom” (Remix) ft. Davido & Wale

The Rising Nigerian Star Recruits Two Heavy-Hitters to Lend Their Voices To His Buzzing Afro-Fusion Hit

Critical Praise:

“The talent jumps out of this young man…He also has the ‘young forever’ tenor vocals that suits Afro-pop, trapsoul, rap, post-destructionist emo and trap. This EP is a winner from all angles and intents, and all its songs are impressive with high replay value.” – Pulse Nigeria

The Song:

Up-and-coming Nigerian artist Superboy Cheque made waves in Africa this past summer when his single “Zoom,” a highlight track from his debut EP, Razor, charted across the continent. Now, the 25-year-old artist has enlisted the help of fellow Nigerian artist Davido and rapper Wale for the official remix of the genre-bending single.

In the original “Zoom,” Cheque demonstrates his Afro-fusion style, combining the emotional street music and lilting melodies of Lil Durk and Roddy Ricch with the lush musicality of Afrobeats. On the remix, Cheque recruits two artists that typify the hybrid approach that has him on the rise. Lending his pipes to the remix’s first verse, Nigerian superstar Davido makes good on his promise to hop on the “Zoom” remix, complimenting Cheque’s angelic tenor with a gruff rap verse. A rapper who proudly represents his Nigerian heritage, Wale adds a  new dimensions to the track by effortlessly his rhythmic rap cadences into this trap-influenced Afrobeat earworm. This cross-continental collaboration helps establish Cheque’s bonafides and amplifies his hybrid sound.

When the original version of “Zoom” was released, it slowly developed into one of the biggest Nigerian hits of 2020. Racking up over 40 million streams across platforms, “Zoom” reached number two on Nigeria’s all-genre Apple Music chart, only trailing Davido‘s smash single “FEM.” “Zoom” also reached #2 on the worldwide Audiomack chart (25 million+ total streams), peaked at #4 on Ghana’s Apple Music chart, #3 on Sound City Africa’s Top 20 chart, and #3 on Nigeria’s Shazam chart. Released in September, the music video for “Zoom” has over 1.4 million views.

Signed to Penthauze, a label founded by respected Nigerian rapper Phyno, Cheque is currently preparing videos for more Razor EP highlights. “Zoom” (Remix) comes on the heels of the release of “Loco,” another highlight from Razor. Cheque recently earned a “New Artist Spotlight” from Apple Music Nigeria, who named Cheque “New Artist of the Month” for November 2020.

The artist is vocal and active in Nigeria’s #EndSARS movement against police brutality, posting in support on socials and even taking to the streets himself in protest. More than ready to become Nigeria’s next crossover star, Cheque is only scratching the surface of his immense talents. Stay tuned for much more from the young artist.

Listen to “Zoom” (Remix) ft. Davido & Wale: http://smarturl.it/zoomremix

Watch “Zoom”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkFKrYc_ero

Listen to Razor on the platform of your choice: apple | spotify | audiomack | pandora | deezer

Razor EP tracklist:

1. Zoom
2. Loco
3. Satisfied
4. Odun
5. Hollywood

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

Links:

official site | instagram | twitter | youtube | spotify

“Zoom” (Remix) ft. Davido & Wale: http://smarturl.it/zoomremix

“Loco”: https://youtu.be/Z44nx7P52JQ

“Zoom”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkFKrYc_ero

Razor EP: apple | spotify | audiomack | pandora | deezer

“Satisfied”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3FuFYjbU2U

12.21.2020

Audible Treats Clients Who Pivoted and Innovated In Order to Succeed During a Global Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on all aspects of American life, and the music industry was no exception. Faced with the prospect of no concerts, festivals, or large in-person events like SXSW, all sectors of the industry needed to adapt. Record labels needed to scrap tour-based marketing strategies, artists needed to support themselves without the guaranteed income live performance provides, and promoters had to reconfigure the concept of live music from the ground up.

Audible Treats is proud to work with clients who navigated 2020’s treacherous waters with aplomb, upending their business models in an effort to face an unprecedented challenge. The Audible Treats Game-Changers of 2020 all found innovative ways to survive and thrive during an impossibly tough year.

Check their stories below:

TECH & MUSIC DISCOVERY:

TikTok
tiktok | desktop website

TikTok was one of music’s defining commercial and culture-shaping forces in 2020, propelling hits up the charts and introducing music fans to new artists. As the spaces where people normally enjoy music were impacted by the pandemic, TikTok helped fill the need for communal musical experience. Over 85 songs that trended on TikTok became Billboard Hot 100 hits, and 15 of those topped a Billboard Chart (including Megan Thee Stallion’s “Savage” and Jason Derulo & Jawsh 685’s “Savage Love”). Dozens of artists who emerged on the platform signed major label deals.

TikTok was also an innovator in the livestream space in 2020, broadcasting The Weeknd Experience, an  interactive expanded reality performance by The Weeknd, to an audience of over 2 million fans, and hosted LIVE streams with Miley Cyrus, Jennifer Lopez, Rivers Cuomo, Trippie Redd, and many more.

LIVE MUSIC:

Rolling Loud
website | twitter | instagram | facebook

Since its origins as a single-day festival in Miami, Rolling Loud has transformed into a worldwide festival behemoth. But more crucially, Rolling Loud also established a recognizable and valuable brand equity–the name “Rolling Loud” is synonymous with Hip-Hop culture in 2020.

That brand equity allowed Rolling Loud, led by co-founders Tariq Cherif & Matt Zingler, to make a major pivot as the pandemic shut down the live music industry. Inking a partnership with livestream giant Twitch, Rolling Loud transformed into a full-fledged media company, offering a diverse array of weekly programming with high-profile guests from the worlds of music, sports, and gaming.

Rolling Loud’s Twitch partnership also included two “Loud Stream” virtual festivals. Featuring performances from Trippie Redd, Swae Lee, Gunna, Ski Mask The Slump God, and many more, Rolling Loud’s “Loud Stream” virtual festivals provided hours of live music (no pre-recorded sets) and entertaining between-sets commentary, drawing millions of unique viewers and twice topping Pollstar’s weekly Livestream Chart.

Collectiv Presents
instagram | official site

It is a special kind of risk to start a live events company during a global pandemic, but Collectiv Presents co-founders Chris Den Uijl, Lucas King, and Michael Berg managed to pull off the impossible. The company innovated a new kind of socially-distant concert experience, organizing drive-in hybrid concerts in both Chicago and Atlanta. The hybrid concerts featured performances from A-list talent like Major Lazer, Omar Apollo, Steve Aoki, Jeff Tweedy of Wilco, Trampled By Turtles, comedian Iliza Shlesinger, and DEADMAU5, and many of them sold all available tickets. Collectiv is most proud of safely creating jobs for artists, their teams, venue crews, and of course, bringing live entertainment back to the fans.

PRODUCTION:

Internet Money
soundcloud | twitter | instagram | youtube

Founded by Taz Taylor as a type-beat factory, Internet Money has evolved into one of the industry’s most powerful hit-making collectives. Recorded over a period of weeks during quarantine, Internet Money worked to prove their status as the game’s top producers with B4 The Storm, their first album as lead artists. Recruiting a murderer’s row of rap talent, including Future, Swae Lee, Kevin Gates, Lil Tecca, and many more, the album debuted in the Top 10 of the Billboard 200. Internet Money made their biggest impact with their single “Lemonade,” one of the year’s biggest hits. Buoyed by a hook from Don Toliver, with flashy guest verses from NAV & Gunna, “Lemonade” peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100, generated over 500 million streams across platforms, and culminated in their live TV debut with a performance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.

Links:

Audible Treats: official site | instagram | twitter

12.18.2020

Peewee Longway Announces Longway Sinatra 2, A Full-Length Collab with Producer Cassius Jay, Featuring Lil Baby, Lil Yachty, Blac Youngsta & More

The ATL Street Hero Flashes His Cash and His Bright Smile in the Video for “Anxious”

The MPA Bandcamp CEO Readies the Sequel To His Fan Favorite 2016 Mixtape As He Prepares For a Busy 2021

Critical Praise for Artist Name:

“Peewee Longway is one of hip-hop’s secret weapons.” – XXL

“His topic is usually trapping, but that singular scope allows him to be one of Atlanta’s most consistent rappers on the subject.” – Pitchfork

“As a sheer vocal stylist, Longway is an absolutely incredible rapper, one capable of finding five different cadences on one spacey beat and then trying them all out in the space of a single verse.” – Stereogum

The Announcement:

Known for his bottomless arsenals of tongue-twisting flows, Peewee Longway commands respect in ATL and beyond. Teaming up with trap maestro Cassius Jay for a full-length project, Peewee announces Longway Sinatra 2, hitting the internet in January 2021 via MPA Bandcamp/EMPIRE. The sequel to a beloved 2016 mixtape, Longway Sinatra 2 rekindles the chemistry between Peewee and Cassius Jay, the rapper navigating the producer’s percolating synths and swelling organs with a constantly mutating patter.

Spanning 17 tracks, the project reaffirms Peewee’s status as a one-of-a-kind trap original, flashing the nimble verbosity and witty lyricism that endears the rapper to his fans and earns the recognition of compadres like Gucci Mane and Young Thug. Featuring appearances from Lil Baby, Lil Yachty, Blac Youngsta, Tee Grizzley, Hoodrich Pablo Juan, Jazze Pha, and more, Longway Sinatra arrives on January 22nd and is currently available for pre-order/pre-save.

Along with the announcement of the mixtape, Peewee shares “Anxious,” the project’s first video single. An uptempo, Cassius Jay-produced trap track that reverberates with a Mannie Fresh-esque bounce, “Anxious” is a relentless head-nodder, as Peewee twirls a tapestry of disrespectful flexes and drawly rhymes. In the video, Peewee struts his stuff in an abandoned warehouse, flashing his cash and his toothy grin as he energetically recites the lyrics.

Peewee Longway has been laying low in 2020, plotting his next move towards the top of the rap game. In Late 2019, Peewee connected with fellow ATL rapper Money Man for Long Money, a full-length collaborative project. Dominated by textured, rippling production by Cassius Jay, the project finds the two artists finding common ground, waxing poetic with melodic plug talk and celebrating their triumphs over adversity. Last year, Peewee also shared The Blue M&M 4, an extension of his long-running mixtape series, which featured appearances from Quavo and Key Glock. Stay tuned for much more from Master Peewee in the coming weeks.

Pre-order/pre-save Longway Sinatra 2: https://music.empi.re/anxious

Watch “Anxious”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_IcQXPl-ZY

Buy/Stream “Anxious”: https://music.empi.re/anxious

Longway Sinatra 2 tracklist:

1. White Horse
2. Anxious
3. Real Trappas (feat. Hoodrich Pablo Juan & Wicced)
4. Bad Bitch (feat. Blac Youngsta)
5. Wet Wet
6. Get Right
7. Nobody Now
8. Heaven Got A Ghetto
9. Trap It Out (feat. Lil Baby)
10. Pink Salmon
11. Skydiving
12. Takeoff
13. Help (feat. Wicced)
14. C.O.D. (feat. MPA Yikes)
15. Work (feat. Jazzy Pha)
16. Forever (feat. Tee Grizzley & Lil Yachty)
17. Blue Benjamins

Please contact Michelle or Andrea for more info.

EMPIRE Background:

Founded in 2010 by San Francisco native Ghazi, EMPIRE has experienced immense growth through their innovative approach to independent label, distribution and publishing services. With their focus on early stage artist development, the San Francisco based company has been instrumental in launching the careers of multi-platinum, Grammy Award winning artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Cardi B, DRAM and Anderson. Paak. Ten years after its foudning, the independent EMPIRE continues to make a major impact, with smash hits and new music from Snoop Dogg, Freddie Gibbs, Young Dolph, The Free Nationals, and more, starting its own publishing arm, and expanding its international footprint with major artists in Africa and Asia.

Links:

Peewee Longway: official site | twitter | facebook | youtube | instagram | spotify

Pre-order/pre-save Longway Sinatra 2: https://music.empi.re/anxious

“Anxious”: https://music.empi.re/anxious

Long Money: https://Empire.lnk.to/Longmoney

The Blue M&M 4: https://Empire.lnk.to/BlueMnM4

12.18.2020

Video: DC The Don – “ØUTLAW”

The Milwaukee Native Struts His Stuff In the Latest Video from Come As You Are (Deluxe)

Critical Praise:

“Not only can he sing with so much emotion behind his words, but he also knows how to masterfully rap as well as switch up his cadences constantly, always keeping you guessing about what he’s going to do next.” – Lyrical Lemonade

“Los Angeles by way of Milwaukee’s DC The Don is part rapper, part rockstar, excelling in the melodic and riotous lane popularized by cult heroes like Lil Uzi Vert and Trippie Redd.” – Audiomack

The Video:

A versatile talent who splits the difference between pop-punk and futuristic trap, DC The Don is proud to be different. Today, he returns with a colorful and energetic new video for “ØUTLAW.” Produced by frequent collaborator, Supah Mario (Drake, Lil Uzi Vert), “ØUTLAW” is a testament to DC’s spectacular ear for production, complete with exciting ad-libs and layered vocals that make the track pop. The song pays tribute to the ØUTLAW collective, a group of young artists, producers, videographers, and other creatives to which DC belongs. The video, directed by 713Bran, finds DC and his fellow outlaw homies kicking back, pouring up, and relishing in their recent successes. “ØUTLAW” is a standout cut from the Deluxe edition of Come As You Are, DC’s debut album

With more than 50 million streams across platforms, Come As You Are emphasizes the importance of being authentic to your creative self. The album reflects the 20-year-old rapper’s willingness to put in the work and create his own lane in a stifling city. The Deluxe edition of the album brings six unreleased tracks, including the sinister and head banging “MW3 FREESTYLE,” and the auto-tuned, spaced-out “STOP BEING SO NICE,” and the pop-punk guitar-driven rager “Wait Your Turn” (142k video views). Most recently, he shared a video for his arcade-era inspired cut, “WORST DAY 🙁“ (323k video views) which payed homage to the 2004 cult classic, Napoleon Dynamite. Come As You Are (Deluxe) also includes previously released fan favorites like “Jesus Can’t Save You“, the Supah Mario-produced “Nascar Racer,” and the recent video single “HELLO DC!“ With additional production from Trademark, Garza, SephGotTheWaves, and others, Come As You Are (Deluxe) is available everywhere via Rostrum Records.

Watch “ØUTLAW”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2CxUNSuLT0

Buy/Stream Come As You Are (Deluxe): https://smarturl.it/DCTheDonCAYADeluxe

Come As You Are (Deluxe) Tracklist:
1. Paranoid
2. Hello DC!
3. MW3 FREESTYLE*
4. Mr. Not Nice
5. STOP BEING SO NICE*
6. ECLIPSE
7. Hellraiser
8. Jesus Can’t Save You
9. ØUTLAW
10. WORST DAY :(*
11. Next Week!
12. REST IN PEACE
13. Wait Your Turn*
14. Light Speed <3*
15. Ball Player
16. EMOTIONS POUR
17. Free Falling!*
18 Nascar Racer
19. Campfire Story

*denotes song added for deluxe edition

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2CxUNSuLT0&feature=youtu.be

Please contact Gavin or Kevin for more info.

The Background:

DC The Don is a rapper from Milwaukee, WI. In 2016, at the age of 16 and standing 6’7”, DC moved to Los Angeles to pursue a basketball career under Lavar Ball and alongside teammate LaMelo Ball. During this time, he fell in love with music and used his spare time to make experimental records which suddenly gained traction – As the public became increasingly aware of DC The Don’s talent for rapping, NBA player Lonzo Ball featured his song “Everything 1k” on the first Big Baller Brand shoe commercial, introducing DC The Don’s music to an even wider audience. DC signed to Rostrum Records in 2020, releasing his debut album Come As You Are on August 7th, generating over 40 million streams across platforms.

Links:

instagram | twitter | youtube | soundcloud | spotify

“ØUTLAW”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2CxUNSuLT0

“Worst Day ):”: https://youtu.be/IUma3lyWEMo

Come As You Are (Deluxe): https://smarturl.it/DCTheDonCAYADeluxe

“Wait Your Turn”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wLVbKqCgvE&feature=youtu.be / https://smarturl.it/DCTheDonWaitYourTurn

“Hello DC!”: https://youtu.be/FreXBlV57_8

Come As You Are: https://smarturl.it/DCTheDonCAYA

“Nascar Racer”: http://smarturl.it/DCTheDonNascarRacer

“Campfire Story”: https://youtu.be/zqCPURtgoc0

“Eclipse”: https://smarturl.it/DCTheDonEclipse

“Jesus Can’t Save You”: https://smarturl.it/DCTheDonJCSY

“Red Light” ft. DDG & YBN Almighty Jay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLVYoXBQ2W0

12.18.2020

PRESSA’S OFFICIAL VIDEO FOR “BLACKBERRY ZAP” ft. JACKBOY OUT NOW

“Blackberry Zap” is a Highlight From the Toronto Rapper’s Gardner Express EP

Critical Praise:

“Not a lot of musicians can claim to have the attention of the biggest music names in their country, or have toured with one of the most successful acts of all time and have released an album all before the age of 23. But Canadian artist Pressa is one of the few that would fit the description.” – Complex

“Pressa’s come a long way from his native of Driftwood and is approaching the business and art of music making like a seasoned veteran.” – Vice

The Announcement:

On December 16, after his livestream event on Happin.App, Pressa surprised concertgoers with a sneak peak of the official video for “Blackberry Zap” ft. Jackboy. Today, the video is out on streaming platforms for all fans to enjoy. The song is a departure from the hard, street tracks Pressa is known for, but still feels authentic by meshing both rappers’ melodic rap styles with Jackboy’s southern Florida charm.

Produced by MVA Studios, and shot by Michael Vincent in Los Angeles, the highly stylized video journeys through a day of altercations with enemies, but also celebrating life with your close friends. Whether they’re riding around in a Lamborghini together or vibing on the stoop, Jackboy and Pressa show us how to thrive despite your circumstances. “Blackberry Zap” was produced by fellow Canadian producer Bijan Amir (Killy, Metro Boomin, Bryson Tiller), written by Pressa and Jackboy, and mixed by Joey Galvan (Meek Mill, French Montana, Travis Scott).

The video for “Blackberry Zap” ft. Jackboy comes one week after the release of Pressa’s major label debut EP, Gardner Express. The EP currently resides in the top 10 on Apple Music’s Top Albums Chart ahead of its Billboard Chart debut, received top playlist support on all DSPs, and has already accumulated over 1.02M total worldwide streams across Spotify and Apple Music. In Pressa’s hometown, Gardner Express received major support with a downtown Toronto Billboard takeover via partners Spotify and Amazon Music on release day. Poised for a takeover in the U.S. as well, HotNewHipHop writes that the EP “showcases his growth, charisma, and penchant for making bangers.” Pressa plans to continue that reign in 2021 with more new music on the way.

Gardner Express extends Pressa’s sizzling hot streak of collaborations with the biggest rising stars in the genre, with “Dracula” ft. Flipp Dinero, “Attachments” ft. Taliban Glizzy and “Blackberry Zap” ft. Jackboy. The EP rounds out with “Ouija Board” featuring U.K. hip-hop collective, D-Block Europe, and previous released smashes, “OTM” and “96 Freestyle.”

Watch “Blackberry Zap” ft. Jackboy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POoQIE35dRQ

Buy/Stream Gardner Express: https://smarturl.it/Pressa_TGE_EP

Gardner Express Tracklist:

1. Attachments ft. Taliban Glizzy
2. Blackberry Zap ft. Jackboy
3. O.T.M (Out The Mud)
4. Ouija Board ft. D-Block Europe
5. Head Tap ft. Sleepy Hallow & Sheff G
6. Dracula ft. Flipp Dinero
7. 96 Freestyle

Please contact Michelle or Kevin for more info.

The Background:

Pressa captured rap fans’ attention in Canada and the U.K. by garnering millions of YouTube views for 2016’s “Wass Gang,” landed on a tour with Drake, and emerged as a local cultural sensation. Pressa made his mark with the inimitable mix of his street-oriented lyrics, melodic hooks and high-pitched voice, making him a fixture in the Toronto hip-hop scene.

Recognized for an impressive list of collaborations (Murda Beatz, UK hip-hop don, Giggs, Lil Uzi Vert) over the years, the Canadian rapper continued his hot streak in 2020 with features from Sheff G and Sleepy Hallow, Jackboy, Flipp Dinero and more. Aligned with the new crop of artists dubbed “ones to watch,” Pressa is on track in his journey to becoming a household name.

No stranger to releasing full bodies of work with mixtapes such as, Press Machine, Press A Brick, and Prestige, 2020 was a prime display of Pressa’s growth and versatility as an artist, culminating with the release of his EP, Gardner Express. The EP features “OTM,” “96 Freestyle,” and “Head Tap” ft. Sheff G and Sleepy Hallow, which resulted in coverage from media juggernauts like Complex, a global Apple Music Beats 1 premiere with Ebro Darden, and over 10.5M worldwide global streams, together to date.

Pressa is applying a renewed vigor to his music and collaborating with likeminded writers, producers and artists on the rise. Inspired by the diverse streets of Toronto and a multicultural Jamaican/Filipino upbringing, Pressa is eager to share his passion and unique music style with the world.

Links:

official site | instagram | twitter | merch | youtube | spotify

“Blackberry Zap” ft. Jackboy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POoQIE35dRQ / https://smarturl.it/Pressa_BlackberryZap

Gardner Express EP: https://smarturl.it/Pressa_TGE_EP

“Head Tap” ft. Sheff G & Sleepy Hallow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pbeegimfTc

“OTM”: https://youtu.be/–ZbWzmU-lI

“96 Freestyle”: https://youtu.be/wqMW57_RO7Q

12.18.2020

Maybe We’re Amazed: Paul McCartney Jets Onto TikTok

Follow Paul: @PaulMcCartney

The News:

TikTok is thrilled to welcome one of the world’s greatest songwriters to the platform: Paul McCartney. On the occasion of his new album McCartney III, the legendary artist welcomes TikTok users into his studio to give a revealing and whimsical peek behind the music (featuring audio from new songs “Find My Way,” “Pretty Boys,” and “Slidin’”). Stay tuned for Paul’s first TikTok videos, which will show off his multi-instrumental prowess, cheeky sense of humor, and nimble dance moves.

Along with a brand new profile, ten of his classic hits will now be available for use as TikTok Sounds. Users will be able to rock out to “Jet,” profess their love with “Maybe I’m Amazed,” and get moving to “Band On The Run.” See below for the full list of McCartney classics now available on TikTok:

Maybe I’m Amazed
Waterfalls
Coming Up
Band On The Run
Live And Let Die
Jet
Silly Love Songs
Uncle Albert / Admiral Halsey
Great Day
Come On To Me

Follow Paul at @paulmccartney, don’t forget to stream McCartney III on all platforms, and fill the world with your silly love songs.

Check out the post on TikTok’s newsroom: https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-us/paul-mccartney-on-tiktok

For more info, please contact:
Michelle McDevitt, Andrea Higgins, or Erin Ryan, Audible Treats
Leah Linder, TikTok

The Background:

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

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

Links:

Read more at TikTok’s Newsroom: newsroom.tiktok.com

📣📣Bet On These Artists To Go to the Next Level in 2021 📈📈

At Audible Treats, we pride ourselves on our ability to identify future stars and help usher them to the next level. In recent years, we’ve worked with Rod Wave, Lil Durk, Maxo Kream, and many others, as they embarked on their journeys from local heroes to national names. This year, we counted a special milestone, when 24kGoldn became the first Audible Treats alum to hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100!

In 2020, there’s no prototype for a rap star–stars can come from any region, be of any gender, and might not even be legally able to drive. Our “Who’s Next” candidates for 2021 run the gamut of origins, but we believe that all of them have that star quality that will make them impossible to ignore. Don’t sleep.

Before we get to our selections, let’s take a look at how some of our 2020 picks fared in the past year:

24kGoldn:

• Released “Mood” ft. iann dior, one of the most popular songs of 2020, which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for four non-consecutive weeks and earning a Platinum certification from the RIAA
• “Mood” became the first-ever song to reach number one on Billboard’s Hot Rap Songs and Hot Rock & Alternative Songs charts.
• Goldn made his presence felt on TikTok, generating 2.3 million video creations for “Mood” and racking up over 3 million followers on the platform.
• Goldn and iann dior performed “Mood” on national television during the American Music Awards

Sheff G:

• Sheff and his label Winners Circle Entertainment entered into a partnership with RCA Records.
• The 21-year-old artist shared his debut album One And Only, generating over NUMBER streams on Spotify alone
• Sheff showed steady gains on all streaming platforms, reaching the #2 spot on the Rolling Stone Breakthrough 25 in the weeks following his album’s release.
• Followed up his debut single “No Surburban” with “No Suburban Pt. 2,” racking up 30 million combined streams on YouTube and Spotify.
• Continued his fruitful partnership with Sleepy Hallow, earning 25 million combined Spotify and YouTube streams on their collab “Molly.”

And now, some of our clients you’ll be hearing a lot more of in 2021…

$NOT

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A misanthropic introvert with expert pop instincts, Florida rapper $NOT is quickly becoming one of his generation’s defining voices. Known for wearing his signature hoodie, which he wears wrapped tight around his face, $NOT has earned co-signs from the likes of Billie Eilish, who debuted his song “Sangria” as , and his song “Billy Boy” appeared in an episode of HBO’s Euphoria. $NOT completed a successful tour in Q1 2020, selling out venues across the country. The 22-year-old rapper has released hits like “GOSHA” (123 million Spotify streams), “Moon & Stars” ft. Maggie Lindemann (55 million), and “Beretta” ft. wifisfuneral (28 million), which appeared on his album – TRAGEDY+. $NOT connected with Cole Bennett for two interconnected videos–”Revenge” & “Mean ft. Flo Milli,” two highlights from his recently released Beautiful Havoc album, which demonstrated $NOT’s unrivaled ability to match punchy hooks with confrontational lyrics. Another highlight from the album, “Sangria” ft. Denzel Curry was a “World’s First” record, premiered by Zane Lowe on his Apple Music radio show. Stay tuned for $NOT to raise his game to a new level as he rushes into the new year with a head full of steam.

PRADO

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Fusing elements of pop, rap, R&B, shoegaze, and electronic music into an invigorating cocktail, Prado makes genre-bending anthems for bad girls. After cutting her teeth as a songwriter and on SoundCloud under the name AlienKanye, Prado started to her mark on the music industry in 2020, packing inventive sonic ideas into her effortlessly quotable jams. The Vancouver native released STRIP, her debut double-single for tmwrk records, which featured the atmospheric, hook-filled banger “STEPHEN” and the confident, incantatory sigh “DRIP” (praised by Complex) in October. She followed up STRIP with “Men In Black,” an anti-f*ckboy anthem that’s catchier than a nursery rhyme. In 2021, prepare to see Prado’s lyrics in more Instagram captions than you can count.

MARIO JUDAH

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Mario Judah became an internet sensation for his operatic, hard rock-influenced vocals, macabre lyrics, and wild-eyed intensity. He trended worldwide in October 2020 when he released his song “Die Very Rough,” a bombastic and insidiously catchy story of revenge, which went viral on Twitter, YouTube (9 million views, plus 2 million on its lyrics), and TikTok. The rapper recently recorded a Genius Verified for “Die Very Rough,” surpassing a million views in less than a week. Mario is a massive fan of Playboi Carti, and inspired by Carti’s latest album tease, an impatient Mario recorded Whole Lotta Red in the style of Playboi Carti, impersonating his voice and crafting beats that fit Carti’s futuristic aesthetic. The Florida native, who started his career as a producer and didn’t start singing until January 2020, is working hard to bring his dark and dramatic aesthetic to the mainstream. You have been warned…there’s no running from Mario Judah’s impending takeover.

MORRAY

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With a church-trained voice and an infectious charm, Fayetteville, North Carolina rapper Morray is a readymade star. His debut single “Quicksand” racked up over 6 million views in fewer than two months of release, and earned over 800k Spotify streams after its inclusion in the Most Necessary, The Realest Down South, and Fresh Finds playlists. “Quicksand” earned powerful co-signs from the likes of fellow North Carolinian J. Cole, superstar DJ Marshmello, rap icon Rick Ross, and most importantly, Morray’s mom. He recently released his heartfelt follow-up single “Switched Up,” as well as the intimidating “Low Key,” and is currently hard at work on his debut project.

TISAKOREAN

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Beloved by TikTok teens and rap critics alike, TisaKorean is rapidly taking over the world with his otherworldly dance-rap. After spearheading “#thewoah” in the late 2010s, Tisa stormed into 2020 with “The Mop,” a viral sensation that became the first major dance craze of the 2020s. With over 50 million streams across platforms, “The Mop” earned the attention of a growing array of celebrities, including LeBron James, Lil Uzi Vert, Marshmello, James Harden, Diplo, Chance The Rapper, Tim Westwood, and dozens of football and basketball athletes. The Houston native spent the rest of 2020 showing off his expansive creativity, releasing self-produced beat-shifting songs like “Bate Onna Bo,” trying his hand at EDM with the Father-featuring “Rocky Road,” and flexing his melodic muscles on his new album Wasteland. The 24-year-old even dabbled in linguistics, coining his own new language. Working tirelessly to evolve his craft and with some high-profile collabs on the way, start paying attention to TisaKorean before the whole world starts speaking Tisinese.

BIG JADE

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Bursting out of Beaumont, Texas, a small city with a population of 100k that sits 1 hour east of Houston and 30 mins west of the Louisiana border, Big Jade built an online following with her unapologetic realness. In popular videos like “RPM,” “Phone Jumpin,” and “Respectfully” ft. BeatKing and Queendome Come, Jade exists in her element, showing off her rapping ability while styling hair, her longtime day job. Her brief, but visceral Texas trap bangers caught the attention of Houston heavy-hitter BeatKing, who took her under his wing and offered her guest verses and some of his fieriest beats. Now signed to Alamo Records, Big Jade is ready to make the leap from being the pride of North Beaumont to a nationally recognized star.

DEANTE’ HITCHCOCK

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A respected member of the ATL rap scene, Deante’ Hitchcock eschews trap, specializing in soulful and conversational hip-hop and dazzling with live performances. After years on the scene delivering acclaimed EPs, turning heads with the single “Side N**** Anthem,” and appearing on the platinum-selling compilation Return Of The Dreamers III, Deante’ dropped his album Better. Featuring appearances from Miguel, JID, Young Nudy, and 6LACK on the buzzing single “How TF,” Better is a deeply personal and engaging effort, inspiring UPROXX to rave “Deante Hitchcock’s Luminous Better Stands Head And Shoulders Above Its Peers” and rank the album at #16 on its list of Best Albums of 2020. With Better and its recently released Better (Deluxe), which added ten new songs and new guest spots from Kenny Mason, REASON, Guapdad4000, and more, in the rearview, look for the rapper to continue his rise as he steamrolls into the new year.

SUPERBOY CHEQUE

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Blending the bounce and vibes of Afrobeats with the attitude and vocal delivery of hip-hop, Superboy Cheque is on a mission to become Nigeria’s next massive crossover success. The 25-year-old artist had a breakthrough summer in his home country, releasing the acclaimed Razor EP, and coming through with lush music videos for EP highlights “Zoom” and “Satisfied.” “Zoom,” in particular” became a major hit across Africa, reaching #2 on Nigeria’s Apple Music charts and #2 on Audiomack’s all-genre worldwide chart. The rapper was vocal and active in Nigeria’s #EndSARS movement against police brutality, posting in support on socials and even taking to the streets himself in protest. Splitting the difference between Burna Boy and Roddy Ricch, Cheque is more than ready to assume his destiny as Nigeria’s next all-genre force.

DC THE DON

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Mixing soaring vocals and fast-paced flows, DC The Don is a natural behind the mic, stacking flexes and wise-cracks in his verses and crafting memorable choruses. Building massive followings on SoundCloud and YouTube, the rapper turned heads with singles like the pop-punk “Jesus Can’t Save You” and “Red Light” ft. DDG & YBN Almighty Jay. The 20-year-old Milwaukee native shared his debut album Come As You Are, an album that synthesized his idiosyncratic influences (emo, pop-punk, SoundCloud rap) into a full length statement about the importance of being true to yourself. Signed to Rostrum Records, the charismatic multi-talent is only beginning to unlock his sky-high potential. Stay tuned.

DIABLO

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A major sound architect of the South Florida SoundCloud scene, Diablo made his name making bangers for the likes of Lil Pump (including the Platinum-certified “Boss”) and Ski Mask The Slump God, among others. Now branching out as a solo artist, Diablo is on a mission to change the sound of hip-hop, incorporating elements of metal and EDM into his unique sonic realm. Born to Ecuadorian immigrants and raised in West Palm Beach, the DJ/producer is well-respected in electronic circles, earning a co-sign from Diplo and touring with Dillon Francis and Alison Wonderland. Diablo’s recent single “Otra Vez” features an appearance from Argentinian latin trap megastar Khea and has over 10 million combined plays on YouTube and Spotify. Wielding a hard drive packed with songs featuring many of the rap game’s biggest names, Diablo is set to release his debut EP Do Not Disturb in the coming months.

12.16.2020

TikTok Treats: Key Insights from the 2020 U.S. Music Report

TikTok Reflects on the Songs, Trends, and Artists That Defined the Year in Music On The Platform

The News:

TikTok was one of music’s defining commercial and culture-shaping forces in 2020, propelling hits up the charts and introducing music fans to their favorite artists. Today, TikTok released its first-ever U.S. music report, taking stock of the songs, trends, and artists that made an impact on the platform and the music world at large. The report offers an array of numbers that measure the sheer size of music consumption on the platform, highlights big hits and emerging artists, and provides more information about the taste profile of users on the platform. Below, check out some key insights that can be gleaned from the U.S. music report:

• The TikTok community’s music obsession produces some staggering numbers: TikTok has 100 million users in the U.S., many of whom use the platform as their go-to source for music discovery. The community’s massive size allows music to reach milestones that other platforms can’t match: over 176 songs reached one billion views on TikTok in 2020 alone (YouTube generated just one).
• TikTok made a major impact on the Billboard Hot 100: TikTok emphasizes active creation, rather than passive consumption, fostering a listener-song relationship that helps hits gain success off platform as well. Nearly 90 songs that trended on TikTok reached the Billboard Hot 100, and 15 trending songs reached number one on a Billboard chart.
• Hip-Hop dominated TikTok in 2020: According to the music report, hip-hop inspired more than four times as many TikTok video creations as the next-most popular genre (pop music). Hip-hop’s overwhelming popularity on the platform is notable in many of the report’s other categories as well: 9 of the 10 fastest songs to 1 billion views were hip-hop, and rappers comprised 7 out of the 10 most-viewed artists by catalog.
• Artists With One Hit Song On TikTok Are More Likely To Score a Second Hit: The top ten artists by catalog on the platform, as measured by total video views on their songs, each had multiple trending songs on the platform. Some artists, including Pop Smoke (4 trending hits) and Doja Cat, seemed to score a trending hit with every release.
• Emerging artists scored some of TikTok’s fastest-rising hits: Though TikTok’s list of fastest songs to 1 billion views includes anticipated releases by superstars like Drake and Billie Eilish, the list also includes songs by regional heroes like Detroit’s Sada Baby (“Whole Lotta Choppas”) and Houston’s BeatKing (“Thick”) along with brand new artists like Popp Hunna and WhoHeem.
• Artists emerged by being active users on the platform: TikTok dedicates the largest section of its music report to emerging artists that used the platform to jumpstart their careers. The artists come from different geographical regions and make music of different genres, but something they all have in common was their ability to actively use TikTok to promote their songs and engage with their fans. Acts like Avenue Beat and Tai Verdes scored viral hits by interacting with TikTok users, creating a personal connection that engenders a familiar relationship between artist and fan. As a result, fans feel personal investment in the success of the artist, and can proudly claim to have played a small role in their rises.
• Catalog songs are nearly as likely to go viral as new hits:  TikTok’s revitalization of Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” was a major music story in 2020, as user @420doggface208 propelled the former #1 hit back onto the Billboard Hot 100 after a 43-year absence. “Dreams” was not alone–The Ying Yang Twins “Say I Yi Yi” (2002) and The Black Eyed Peas’ “Where Is The Love?” (2003) ranked among TikTok’s songs that reached 1 billion video views the fastest.
• ’00s nostalgia is alive and well on TikTok: Songs like La Roux’s “Bulletproof,” Nelly Furtado & Timbaland’s “Promiscuous,” Ne-Yo’s “Because Of You,” and Avril Lavigne’s “Girlfriend” were among the app’s biggest revitalized hits of 2020.

As the spaces where people normally enjoy music were impacted by the pandemic, TikTok helped fill the need for communal musical experience in 2020. The industry hopefully will return to a degree of normalcy in 2021, but TikTok will continue to shape tastes, start trends, and create universes of content around hit songs, new and old. One thing is clear: if you want to know what is pushing music forward, keep scrolling down your “For You” page.

Read TikTok’s full 2020 U.S. music report at the newsroom: https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-us/year-on-tiktok-music-2020

Check out The Year On TikTok: Top 100 at TikTok’s newsroom: https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-us/the-year-on-tiktok-top-100

The Background:

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

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

For more info, please contact:
Michelle McDevitt, Andrea Higgins, Erin Ryan, Audible Treats
Leah Linder, TikTok

Links:

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

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

How TikTok’s Top 10 Songs of 2020 Impacted the Industry
Run-DMC, MGMT, and More Noteworthy TikTok Stories
Billie Eilish and Queen Join the Party, New Viral Hits Take Flight, and More From the World of TikTok
Ariana Grande, Rick Astley and More TikTok Stories
Elton John, Tim Burton, Liam Payne and More Add Some Pumpkin Spice to the Week in TikTok
John Lennon, Oasis, George Michael, and More Score Trending Hits on TikTok
Stevie Nicks, Jason Derulo, and More Highlight a Big TikTok Week
Now Here You Go Again, You Say You Want Your TikToks
Pop Smoke, 24kGoldn, Flo Milli, and Others Have Scored Multiple TikTok Hits
TikTok Salutes Its #FamiliaLatina: Music Stories from Latinx Heritage Month
Big Sean, Charlie Puth, Classical Harp, and More From TikTok
David Guetta, Sada Baby, and Rick James Are Having a Moment on TikTok
BTS Hits #1, Kendrick Plants Money Trees, and More From TikTok
Dua Lipa Levitates, J. Cole Soundtracks Glow-Ups and More TikTok Stories
TikTok: The “WAP” Dance Challenge, Folklore, La Roux, and More Provide Joy and Catharsis
Charlie Puth, Pop Smoke, and More Trending TikTok Stories
Artists Unite to Say #SaveTikTok
How TikTok Users Use the App to Boost Their Musical Careers
TikTok Doesn’t Just Mint New Hits…It Revives Old Ones
These International TikTok Artists and Hits Eliminate Language Barriers
Who’s Hot on TikTok? Jason DeRulo, Rod Wave, and More
TikTok Success = Chart Success and the Hot 100 Proves It
TikTok Users and Artists Celebrate #MyPride Through Music
TikTok Promotes a Vibrant Artistic Community with #BlackMusicMonth

12.11.2020

Rolling Loud Announces “Home For The Holidaze” Presented by Xfinity, It’s Next Livestream Event, With Performances From Rick Ross & More

Bringing Hip-Hop Holiday Cheer as They Celebrate a Sold Out Miami 2021 Festival, “Home For The Holidaze” Airs December 15th Exclusively on Twitch

The Announcement:

Pivoting from a live music behemoth to a full-fledged media company due to the pandemic, Rolling Loud plays a crucial role in hip-hop culture. Continuing its run of quality livestream events, Rolling Loud announces “Home For The Holidaze,” airing December 15th exclusively on Twitch. Headlined by Rick Ross, “Home For The Holidaze” is Rolling Loud’s third livestream event of 2020, following the two multi-day “Loud Stream” virtual festivals.

Like the “Loud Stream” virtual festivals, “Home For The Holidaze” will feature multiple hours of live performances–with no pre-recorded sets or segments–accompanied with interviews and commentary from the Rolling Loud team, including hosts DJ Scheme, JenesisGiselle, and DJ Five Venoms. The ideal accompaniment to at-home mosh pits or chestnuts roasting on the open fire–whatever floats your holiday boat–”Home For The Holidaze” airs at 6pm ET/3pm PT on Rolling Loud’s Twitch channel.

“Home For The Holidaze” arrives as Rolling Loud prepares for Rolling Loud Miami 2021. Headlined by Travis Scott, Post Malone, and A$AP Rocky, the 3-day festival keeps as much of the lineup from the postponed 2020 event as possible, while adding slots from budding stars. Occurring at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL on May 7th-9th, 2021, Rolling Loud Miami is currently sold out.

Throughout the pandemic, Rolling Loud made headlines and entertained fans with their “Loud Stream” series of virtual festivals. The first livestream boasted headlining performances from Swae Lee and Ski Mask The Slump God, and generated over 4.4 million views from over 3 million unique viewers. Offering an elaborate Halloween theme, the second livestream featured headliners Trippie Redd and Gunna and topped Pollstar’s Livestream Chart for the second time.

The “Loud Stream” virtual events are part of Rolling Loud’s wide-ranging partnership with Twitch, which includes daily live hip hop-driven programming, offering special guests and original live shows like The Rotation, The Leak, and Loud Gaming. Recent guests on Rolling Loud’s Twitch programming include Machine Gun Kelly, iann dior, Jaden Smith, Cordae, Cole Bennett, The Kid Laroi, and many others.

Tune into “Home For The Holidaze” at 6pm ET/3pm PT on December 15th at Twitch.Tv/RollingLoud.

Subscribe to Rolling Loud on Twitch and visit RollingLoud.com/Twitch to read about subscriber benefits.

Press for Rolling Loud:

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

“Rolling Loud is the be-all of hip-hop festivals.” – Billboard

“The Rolling Loud New York experiment was a success—one which will likely earn it a return trip to the city in future years. Far from a traditional NYC rap experience, it was a two-day event that catered to the genre’s youngest fans, with an eye squarely focused on the future.” – Complex

“Rolling Loud continues to prove its hip-hop tastemaking status is no fluke” – Pollstar

For more info, please contact:
Rolling Loud: Michelle, Kerry, or Kevin
Twitch: Samantha

The Background:

About Rolling Loud
Founded in 2015 by Matt Zingler and Tariq Cherif as a one-day festival in Miami, Rolling Loud evolved into a global behemoth, with massive festivals on both American coasts and international events in Europe and Australia. In October 2019, Rolling Loud hosted the first annual Rolling Loud New York, which boasted one of the brand’s most impressive lineups yet, and in December, it drew 65,000 fans per day to Banc of California Stadium for Rolling Loud Los Angeles.

About Twitch
Launched in 2011, Twitch is a global community that comes together each day to create multiplayer entertainment: unique, live, unpredictable experiences created by the interactions of millions. It brings the joy of co-op to everything, from casual gaming and world-class esports to anime marathons, music, and art streams. Twitch also hosts TwitchCon, the biggest community event of the year, where tens of thousands of people come together to celebrate and connect with others who share their interests and passions. We’re always live at Twitch. Stay up to date on all things Twitch on Twitter and on our Blog.

Links:

website | twitter | instagram | facebook

Buy Rolling Loud Merch: shoprollingloud.com

Check out Rolling Loud on Twitch: Twitch.tv/RollingLoud

Check out RollingLoud.com for more information.

12.11.2020

Audio: Taleban Dooda – “Problematic”

The East Tampa Native Shows a New Side of Himself with This Emotional Heater

Critical Praise:

“At only 18 years old.. his talents are already overly abundant and his potential is probably higher than most up and coming artists you could name off the top of your head.” – Lyrical Lemonade

“He falls into the lane of melodic street rap that acts like YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Lil Durk, Teejay3k, and others are making, but his high-pitched vocals and limitless subject matter set him apart.” – Earmilk

The Song:

Taleban Dooda’s mixture of entrancing melodies with raw lyricism has him buzzing in the Sunshine State and beyond. Peeling back the curtains on a tumultuous relationship, Dooda is back with a new heater, “Problematic.” Produced by worthakilo, “Problematic” is an emotional cut that provides Dooda with yet another opportunity to show off his melodic prowess and let his vocals soar. The song profiles Dooda’s inability to chase love while trying to cope with a traumatic past. “I tried to get her love, but is was problematic / I even told her what it was, but she still act dramatic / If I put on my mask and gloves, then I’m bout to let em have it / Cause when I lost one of my thugs, it filled my heart with sadness.” “Problematic” is the latest in a successful run of singles for the East-Tampa native, as he moves into the new year with an impressive track record under his belt.

Though Taleban Dooda only started rapping at the age of 15, the Tampa, FL native used his innate sense of melody to gain inroads in his state’s rap scene. After working hard behind the scenes to build a backlog of bangers, Dooda scored a hit with “Tru Colors,” his first-ever release, racking up over 2 million streams, generating over 1 million views on its YouTube video, and reaching #18 on SoundCloud’s worldwide New & Hot chart. The teenager kept the momentum going with collaborations with his frequent rap partner Rees Money, and successful video singles like “2 In Da Morning” (930k views). Most recently, the Green Light Music Group/Rostrum Records signee shared “Finish Him” (prod. TM88 & ATL Jacob), which notched over a million streams in its first week, and “Dis Dooda,” which Vice named as one of the 24 Best Songs of September. Stay tuned for much more from the teenaged rapper as he continues to develop into one of the South’s most exciting rap talents.

Buy/Stream “Problematic”: https://smarturl.it/TDoodaProblematic

Please contact Michelle or Kevin for more info.

The Background:

Taleban Dooda is an 18-year old rapper from East Tampa, FL, with the vivid lyrics of Kodak Black and the smooth tone of Jeremih. Dooda got his start singing at 15 and rapping at 16, making melody the foundation of his sound. In addition to several releases with frequent collaborator Rees Money, his debut solo release was this year’s “Tru Colors” and the song has amassed over 2 million streams.

Links:

instagram | soundcloud | twitter

“Problematic”: https://smarturl.it/TDoodaProblematic

“Finish Him” (Prod. by TM88 & ATL Jacob): https://youtu.be/G6DSOiBojRE

“Dis Dooda”: https://smarturl.it/DoodaDisDooda / https://youtu.be/q-GBO7z9XAc

“2 In Da Morning”: https://youtu.be/Tm2Pvww2Y4A

“Tru Colors”: https://youtu.be/DF1A9DcbtKA