• 12.14.2020

  Germ and G59 Associate Shakewell Confront the SWAT in “Hellcat” Video

Press Release
Germ and G59 Associate Shakewell Confront the SWAT in “Hellcat” Video
• Go to Post
12.10.2020
Video: Germ – “Hellcat” ft. Shakewell
Based on Real Events, the Latest Video From The Hijinx Tape Details the ATL Rapper’s Close Encounter with the Law

Critical Praise:
“For a time, Germ was your favorite SoundCloud rapper’s favorite SoundCloud rapper. Before established himself with solo releases, he was racking up hundreds of thousands of streams providing a jolt of off-the-wall energy on tracks by $UICIDEBOY$, Fat Nick, and Pouya. When he began to branch out on his own, with the mixtape Bad Shit (Bootleg) and the $UICIDEBOY$ collaboration DIRTYNASTY$UICIDE, he established himself as a raucous spark plug with a nasally flow and rhyme schemes that recalled a certain Academy Award-winning Memphis rap crew” – Complex
“The Haitian rapper is soaring to new heights with a debut album under his belt called Germ Has A Deathwish.” – Interview
“The latest signee to the $uicideboy$ label is an Atlanta skater-turned-rapper with a voice that’s as aggressive as it is gleeful. His new tape isn’t that serious, but his rapping is.” – Pitchfork
The Video:
Influenced by the world of skating and his hometown trap scene, Atlanta’s Germ serves up bangers at a regular clip. Connecting with associate Shakewell for a cinematic new clip, Germ shares “Hellcat,” his latest music video. A salute to Germ’s favorite muscle car, “Hellcat” finds the two G59 Records rappers teeing off on a minimalist beat by Budd Dwyer (aka Scrim from label honchos $uicideboy$), trading bars in hypnotic cadences: “Born Sinner, Lord willin’, I don’t get my dome split/That’s why I got my four-fifth tucked right, let’s hear this flow shift,” spits Germ.
Based on a real life incident, the Highdeas Productions-directed video recreates an intense encounter with law enforcement. Germ recalls this incident in his own words: “It was April 4th, 2019, around 7:30am. I get woken up by a loud-ass bang on the apartment door. My roommate at the time was already at the door, yellin’ ‘it’s the police!’ By the time I got to the front door–like a second later–the door swings open and the f*ckin S.W.A.T. rushes in with huge military guns. They shove the guns in my face and started f*cking my crib up looking for guns. They took my gun, laptop, and phone, and then they let us go. A bit later, I went to the airport for my first European tour…they came back like a month after the tour, served a warrant, and arrested me for possession of a firearm and intent to distribute assault rifles. I fought the case for a year with my co-defendant, and I recently got sentenced. Some light jail time, I have to turn myself in on March 5th, 2021. 3 years probation and 2 year suspended sentence. The reason why it took the ‘Hellcat’ video so long to come out is because we were in the sentencing stage of court, and our lawyers advised us not to drop. Bad sh*t. F*ck 12.”
“Hellcat” is the latest video from The Hijinx Tape, Germ’s 2020 project. Praised by Pitchfork for its gleeful and aggressive rhymes, album is an outrageously confident catalog of Germ’s favorite things, as he rhymes about his ounces of Cookies weed, his garage full of Dodge SRT Hellcats, and having more jewels than your local Zales. The tape is home to singles like, “Walked In,” “7 Hunna Horses“ and”Cookies.”The Hijinx Tape is the ideal soundtrack for crashing a whip just to have an excuse to buy another one – in fact, the album artwork is a photo of Germ’s actual car crash in 2019. Featuring an appearance from G59’s Shakewell, The Hijinx Tape is available now via G59 Records.
Watch “Hellcat” ft. Shakewell: https://youtu.be/1YrVG_zBXVU
The Hijinx Tape tracklist:
1. “Walked In” (Prod. by Budd Dwyer)
2. “6 God Freestyle” (Prod. by YAYGO)
3. “Cookies” (Prod. by Grove$ide)
4. “7 Hunna Horses” (Prod. by Kevin Rolly)
5. “Dolo” (Prod. by BeatsByAzura)
6. “We Outside” (Prod. by M4orty)
7. “Plead The 5th” (Prod. by Budd Dwyer)
8. “Runnin Thru Plastic” (Prod. by ProdByOra)
9. “Brand New Rollie” (Prod. by H3 & Ace Taylor)
10. “AR Pistols” (Prod. by Kevin Rolly)
11. “Hellcat” ft. Shakewell (Prod. by Budd Dwyer)
12. “Green Light” (Prod. by Rxland)
Please contact Michelle or Kerry for more info.
The Background:
Atlanta-native and G59 signee Germ dropped his debut album and first project with the label (helmed by his co-conspirators $uicideboy$) titled Germ Has A Deathwish in 2019. The 11-track LP proves to be his breakout; a versatile and progressive body of work showcasing the elevation of his rap career, from his early upbringing and Haitian roots to his days cutting his teeth as a skater on the streets of ATL. Germ recently supported $uicideboy$ on Grey Day Tour and proved he could infuse energy into crowds numbering into the thousands. Germ’s sophomore album The Hinjinx Tape arrived in Summer 2020 and earned praise from Pitchfork, among other publications.
---
Links:
instagram | twitter | youtube | spotify | soundcloud

“Hellcat” ft. Shakewell: https://youtu.be/1YrVG_zBXVU
“Walked In”: http://germ.lnk.to/walkedin / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4-2dt7rK2g
“Cookies”: https://youtu.be/ot4vbjDN3Ak
“7 Hunna Horses”: https://germ.lnk.to/7HunnaHPR
Germ Has A Death Wish: https://germ.lnk.to/germhasadeathwish
END
Read more
• 12.09.2020

  On TikTok: Lil Nas X Brings “Holiday” Cheer, Shawn Mendes Welcomes Us to His World & More

Press Release
On TikTok: Lil Nas X Brings “Holiday” Cheer, Shawn Mendes Welcomes Us to His World & More
• Go to Post
12.9.2020
TikTok Treats, Week of December 7th
Big Names Promote New Music, the Community Revives Classic Hits, and More from the World of TikTok. 


 
The News:
On TikTok, songs take on a life of their own, as the bustling community transforms lyrics into trends and inverts meanings to fit their creative ends. When confronted with the possibilities offered by a massive community eager to discover new songs, artists tend to react in ways that fit their personalities. Some artists will take an active role in shepherding the community towards interpreting a song in the way they intended, while others will sit back and let the trend play out on its own. And sometimes, the community will get its hands on an evergreen classic and make it their own. Check below for recent happenings in the wide world of TikTok:
• More than a year after using TikTok to propel “Old Town Road” to the stratosphere, Lil Nas X is back on the platform once again, this time to promote his festive new single “Holiday” (720k video creations). In the past week, Lil Nas head-banged to the sounds of @TheTikTokDrummer, gave unhelpful lip-syncing advice, created a choir arrangement for “Holiday,” and offered a selection of potential 2021 vibes.
• In preparation for his upcoming album Wonder, Shawn Mendes connected with TikTok to launch “A World of Wonder,” a fourteen-part video series that gives insight into each one of the album’s songs. Among the many revelations delivered by the series: the song “24 Hours” was inspired by girlfriend @CamilaCabello, “Call My Friends” emphasizes the importance of staying close to friends during a pandemic, and “Higher” reveals how much the 22-year-old artist misses tour life.
• Megan Thee Stallion is one of TikTok’s most popular artists, scoring two of the platform’s top ten songs of 2020. This week, the H-Town hottie is trending once again, as the community uses a modified version of her song “Girls In The Hood” (415k video creations) to take an ironic approach to her signature catchphrase “hot girl sh*t.” Thanks to TikTok, the definition of “hot girl sh*t” has grown to include playing Minecraft, struggling to park a car, and eating a pizza by yourself.
• Aussie rap sensation The Kid Laroi made waves on TikTok earlier this year when he saluted one of the platform’s most popular creators with his song “Addison Rae.” The 17-year-old artist is trending once again with his song “WITHOUT YOU” (156k video creations), an acoustic emo-rap ballad that the community uses to make light of less-than-ideal romantic situations. The Kid himself hopped on the trend to acknowledge how he might be complicit in deepening his own problematic entanglements.
• “How Bizarre” by OMC (1995) endures as one of the strangest and catchiest one-hit wonders of the 1990s. There are plenty of memeable moments from the song, but the TikTok community has landed on lead singer Pauly Fuemana’s colorful delivery of the titular phrase. With over 140k video creations in recent weeks, “How Bizarre” has become the aural equivalent of the Kermit-sipping-tea meme, offering a not-so-believable expression of innocence when a boyfriend asks why he’s getting emails for engagement rings, when a senior citizen reveals one of the few benefits of being a widow, or when your dog has separation anxiety.
• The latest classic hit to trend in the TikTok community is the timeless “Just The Two Of Us” by Grover Washington Jr. & Bill Withers (1980). With over 370k video creations, Withers’ dulcet tones are the perfect companion to videos that illustrate the chemistry between a QB and receiver, the unbreakable bond between a man and his pelican buddy, or the everlasting love shared by a dog and its ball.
Last week, TikTok revealed its Year On TikTok: Top 100 list, recapping the most notable moments and memes that marked the platform in 2020. Music, of course, played a massive role, earning its own section for popular songs and soundtracking some of the year’s most popular memes. Check out TikTok’s full Top 100 list at the Newsroom, and stay tuned for a specific report about TikTok’s impact on music in the coming days.
Check out TikTok’s full Top 100 list at the Newsroom: https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-us/the-year-on-tiktok-top-100
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:
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
 
END
Read more
• 12.09.2020

  DJ Scheme Dreams of Simpler Times on “Homesick” Video

Press Release
DJ Scheme Dreams of Simpler Times on “Homesick” Video
• Go to Post
12.9.2020
Video: DJ Scheme – “Homesick” ft. Skrillex & Zacari
The Miami Native Producer/DJ/Artist Dedicates the Video to the Memory of His Close Friends Juice WRLD and XXXTentacion

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:
DJ Scheme specializes in collaboration, his genuine ability to connect and foster electric chemistry through music put him at the center for Florida’s rap renaissance. Scheme cherishes the friendships and community he’s built throughout the years, it’s the essence of his recently released debut album FAMILY, but the pain of losing two of his closest friends, Juice WRLD and XXXTentacion, will always leave gaps in his heart. Recruiting vocals from Zacari and production from Skrillex, DJ Scheme shares the video for “Homesick.” Dedicated to the memory of his two friends, “Homesick” is a nostalgic representation of the young artists in their purest forms, having fun and playing in the schoolyard as children. Zacari’s somber, heartfelt vocals perfectly capture the earnest sentiment of the opening track off of the album, as the young boys brighten the sidewalk with ‘FAMILY’ in chalk.
“Together In Our Most Pure Forms The Way It Should Be,” wrote Scheme in a recent Instagram post.
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 Scheme’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. On “Blue Bills,” Scheme combines Florida rapper $NOT and L.A. standout Fenix Flexin of Shoreline Mafia, who prove to be perfect sparring partners above a propulsive and bassy beat. Recent single “Soda” (over 3.3 million Spotify streams) connects unlikely kindred spirits Cordae and Ski Mask The Slump God over a stomping piano-led beat by Scheme and Take A Daytrip. Scheme also finds new angles for artists who share similar styles, creating a smoothed-out West Coast riders’ anthem for Lil Mosey & Ty Dolla $ign (“Bussin’ Out”) and reuniting Ski Mask, Lil Yachty, and Danny Towers for “E-ER,” a spirited sequel to their Gold-selling collab “How You Feel” (which also appears on the project).
Scheme’s collaborators also inspired the 23-year-old artist to add new elements to his production. The soul-sampling cut “Trust Nobody (2 My Brothers)” provides a pristine, traditionalist canvas for Joey Bada$$, while iann dior has a vocal showcase atop gently arpeggiated acoustic guitars on “Baby.” Album opener “Homesick” enlists the aid of Skrillex and Zacari uses airy synths, tasteful guitar, and swelling vocal choirs to achieve a mournful, gospel-adjacent tone. Despite the stylistic expansions, Scheme aims to satisfy longtime fans with trunk-rattling productions, like the towering instrumental offered to Lil Keed on “Top Of The Mountain,” and punchy trap bangers like “Zebra” ft. Jackboy and Danny Towers.
An ambitious debut for the multi-talented DJ/Producer/Artist, FAMILY establishes Scheme as a tastemaker with a distinct aesthetic and a wide musical range. Featuring additional appearances from Lil Gnar, Shakewell, TheHxliday, Tes-X, and more, FAMILY is available everywhere via Scheme Records/EMPIRE.
Watch “Homesick” ft. Skrillex & Zacari: https://youtu.be/b45KJdqXkaQ
Buy/Stream FAMILY: https://music.empi.re/family
FAMILY Tracklist:
1. Homesick ft. Zacari & Skrillex
2. Trust Nobody (2 My Brothers) ft. Joey Bada$$
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
“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
 
END
Read more
• 12.09.2020

  wifisfuneral Continues His Melodic Artistic Turn with “Back Track”

Press Release
wifisfuneral Continues His Melodic Artistic Turn with “Back Track”
• Go to Post
12.8.2020
Audio: wifisfuneral – “Back Track (Intro)” (Prod. by Nvbeel)
The Alamo Records Signee Collabs with Frequent Producer Nvbeel for an Atmospheric and Melodic New Track

Critical Praise:
XXL Freshman, Class of 2018
“[wifisfuneral] displays an impressive array of verbal acrobatics, showing off masterful breath control and a rapid fire flow.”  – Pitchfork
“He’s synthesized the regionless, borderless world of the internet age from which he takes his name, while lacing it with a narcotically addictive flow and a distinct ear for melody that’s allowed him to develop while others stagnate.” – NOISEY
“The young rapper has a wide range of skills, from agile raps and bass-heavy tracks to dark and moody slow-burners, and his unpredictability is part of his appeal” – Pigeons & Planes
The Song:
wfisfuneral changed his artistic direction this year, incorporating more melody to deliver his cerebral bars. Returning with his first new song since the August release of his album  PAIN?, wifi shares “Back Track (Intro).” Connecting with frequent collaborator Nvbeel, who produced wifi’s fan-favorite “Peace Sign” ft. YBN Nahmir and fills the track with burbling keyboards and ringing hi-hats, wifi offers an array of auto-tuned witticisms: “In the choppa droppin’ bombs just like Baghdad, my shooters like Mad Max.” Released on SoundCloud, “Back Track” proves that wifi has much further to go with his new artistic style.
PAIN? marks a new chapter in the one-time XXL Freshman’s career, integrating auto-tune assisted melodies, giving his songs a tuneful lift. The album veers from romantic devotionals, to X-rated sex jams, to expressions of loneliness, wifi’s pitch-shifting voice expressing the deeply-felt emotion reflected in his lyrics. PAIN? is home to several well-received singles, including the Smoove’L-featuring “Ocean” and lo-fi pop gem “Lost In Time” ft. Coi Leray. Over the past few weeks, wifi showcased certain album highlights with live performance videos, including clips for ride-or-die lead single “End Of Story” and playalistic cautionary tale “Guy Like Me.” Praised by Stereogum, XXL, HotNewHipHop, Lyrical Lemonade, and more, PAIN? is available everywhere via Alamo Records.
Listen to “Back Track (Intro)” (Prod. by Nvbeel): https://soundcloud.com/wifisfuneral/wifisfuneral-nvbeel-back-track-intro
Buy/Stream PAIN?: http://smarturl.it/PainWifisfuneral
PAIN? tracklist:
1. Lost In Time ft. Coi Leray
2. End of Story
3. What It Is?
4. Guy Like Me
5. Hills
6. Backache
7. Take Me Away
8. Motion
9. Front 2 Back Side 2 Side
10. Ocean ft. Smoove’L
11. All In
12. Day Switch
13. Screw Up
14. End of Story (Pt. 2) ft. Mariah Angeliq
Please contact Michelle or Kerry for more info.
The Background:
22-year-old South Florida rapper wifisfuneral has taken his dark sonics, mature-beyond-his-years lyrics, and trunk rattling bass from the streets of Palm Beach to the world, amassing over 1.7 million monthly listeners on Spotify and over 700,000 followers on various social media platforms. wifisfuneral’s growth has been organic and cult-like, with his fans spreading his music like wildfire with each and every release. With virtually zero promotion other than his social media presence, wifisfuneral’s independent projects Black Heart Revenge (May 27th, 2016) and When Hell Falls (January 27, 2017) reached #69 and #17 on the iTunes hip-hop charts respectively, resulting in a label deal with Alamo and Interscope Records. His major label debut mixtape, Boy Who Cried Wolf, received critical acclaim, with two of the tracks earning placement in the Spotify’s coveted Most Necessary playlist. His latest mixtape, Ethernet, was released in June 2018 via Alamo Records. In 2018, wifisfuneral was officially named to the XXL Freshman List and reached #1 on YouTube’s trending chart. In 2019, wifi headlined two nationwide tours, released two follow-up EPs to Ethernet, and collaborated with Robb Bank$ on the Conn3ct3d project.
---
Links:
official site | soundcloud | twitter | instagram | tumblr | spotify
Bio, photos, music, and more for wifisfuneral can be found at www.audibletreats.com/wifisfuneral
“Back Track (Intro)”: https://soundcloud.com/wifisfuneral/wifisfuneral-nvbeel-back-track-intro
“All In”: https://youtu.be/UlQLwCwa_rI
“Back Ache”: https://youtu.be/f7xcZY0WWNY
PAIN?: http://smarturl.it/PainWifisfuneral
“Lost In Time” ft. Coi Leray: http://smarturl.it/LostInTimeWifi / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hW40drW8uMI
“Ocean”: http://smarturl.it/OceanWifisfuneral
“End Of Story”: http://smarturl.it/EndOfStory / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2imgkFvqU4
“idk”: https://soundcloud.com/wifisfuneral/idk-prod-cris-dinero
“All Bones”: https://youtu.be/IHa63es_PyI
“It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane!” ft. Ratchet Roach: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2I02ZG3iqQ
“What You Made Me”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hEn4ZT6QXU
EV3RYTHING SUCKS EP: http://smarturl.it/ev3rythingsucks
“Split”: https://youtu.be/XGiDoQOKtSg
“Peace Sign” ft. YBN Nahmir: http://smarturl.it/wifipeacesign
Ethernet 2: https://smarturl.it/ethernet2
“Alone As A Facetat”: https://youtu.be/9t2a0gp5g5E
“run?”: http://smarturl.it/run
Conn3ct3d: https://soundcloud.com/wifisfuneral/sets/conn3ct3d
Ethernet : Soundcloud | Spotify | iTunes
END
Read more
• 12.09.2020

  King Von Posthumously Shares “Wayne’s Story” Music Video

Press Release
King Von Posthumously Shares “Wayne’s Story” Music Video
• Go to Post
12.08.2020
Video: King Von – “Wayne’s Story”

The Video:
“It’s a story about a shorty and he just grew up bad. He started young. He trying to hit a lick. He tries to go rob a guy named Wayne. Wayne sees him trying to rob him and they get in a shootout. The boy gets away, but Wayne ends up killing the boy’s cousin. It’s just crazy.” – King Von to UPROXX in one of his final interviews.
Directed by Joán based on a treatment King Von wrote himself, he had originally planned to make “Wayne’s Story” into a three-part series, like his breakout “Crazy Story.” Though he was not able to complete the trilogy, the new video, which was Von’s favorite of his videos, lives on as a document of the man’s singular talent.
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. Stay tuned for more information.
Long Live King Von.
Watch “Wayne’s Story”: https://youtu.be/9P7P1lxwZms
Share Welcome To O-Block: https://music.empi.re/oblock
 

 
Please contact Michelle, Andrea, or Erin for more info.
---
Links:
twitter | instagram | spotify

“Wayne’s Story”: https://youtu.be/9P7P1lxwZms
“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
 
END
Read more
• 12.08.2020

  DJ Scheme Shares Debut Album FAMILY ft. Lil Mosey, Ski Mask, Yachty & Many More

Press Release
DJ Scheme Shares Debut Album FAMILY ft. Lil Mosey, Ski Mask, Yachty & Many More
• Go to Post
12.4.2020
Album: DJ Scheme – FAMILY
The Miami Native Producer/DJ/Artist Celebrates the Power of Musical Connection and Collaboration, With Help From Friends Like Lil Mosey, Ski Mask The Slump God, Lil Yachty, Skrillex, iann dior, & More

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:
DJ Scheme is a quintessential connector, an expert at piecing together musical collaborations and fostering electric chemistry. Recruiting some of his closest friends–who also happen to be some of rap’s biggest stars–to help realize his vision, Scheme shares FAMILY, his debut album. A celebration of musical kinship, the album 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 Scheme’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. On “Blue Bills,” Scheme combines Florida rapper $NOT and L.A. standout Fenix Flexin of Shoreline Mafia, who prove to be perfect sparring partners above a propulsive and bassy beat. Recent single “Soda” (over 2.5 million Spotify streams) connects unlikely kindred spirits Cordae and Ski Mask The Slump God over a stomping piano-led beat by Scheme and Take A Daytrip. Scheme also finds new angles for artists who share similar styles, creating a smoothed-out West Coast riders’ anthem for Lil Mosey & Ty Dolla $ign (“Bussin’ Out“) and reuniting Ski Mask, Lil Yachty, and Danny Towers for “E-ER,” a spirited sequel to their Gold-selling collab “How You Feel” (which also appears on the project).
Scheme’s collaborators also inspired the 23-year-old artist to add new elements to his production. The soul-sampling cut “Trust Nobody (2 My Brothers)” provides a pristine, traditionalist canvas for Joey Bada$$, while iann dior has a vocal showcase atop gently arpeggiated acoustic guitars on “Baby.“ Album opener “Homesick” enlists the aid of Skrillex and Zacari uses airy synths, tasteful guitar, and swelling vocal choirs to achieve a mournful, gospel-adjacent tone. Despite the stylistic expansions, Scheme aims to satisfy longtime fans with trunk-rattling productions, like the towering instrumental offered to Lil Keed on “Top Of The Mountain,” and punchy trap bangers like “Zebra” ft. Jackboy and Danny Towers.
An ambitious debut for the multi-talented DJ/Producer/Artist, FAMILY establishes Scheme as a tastemaker with a distinct aesthetic and a wide musical range. Featuring additional appearances from Skrillex, Zacari, Lil Gnar, Shakewell, TheHxliday, Tes-X, and more, FAMILY is available everywhere via Scheme Records/EMPIRE.
Buy/Stream FAMILY: https://music.empi.re/family
FAMILY Tracklist:
1. Homesick ft. Zacari & Skrillex
2. Trust Nobody (2 My Brothers) ft. Joey Bada$$
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.
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
---
Links:
instagram | twitter | spotify | soundcloud | youtube
 
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
 
END
Read more
• 12.08.2020

  “Quicksand” Hitmaker Morray Returns with the Woozy Banger “Low Key”

Press Release
“Quicksand” Hitmaker Morray Returns with the Woozy Banger “Low Key”
• Go to Post
12.04.2020
Video: Morray – “Low Key”
The Fayetteville, NC Artist Releases Another Quality Track As “Quicksand” Passes the 3 Million View Mark
Critical Praise:
“Few crooning rappers have his polish, resonance, and soul.” – SPIN
The Video:
Rising rapper Morray makes waves with his expressive vocals, twisting melodies, and raw lyricism. Coming through with another follow-up to his runaway hit “Quicksand,” the North Carolina native flexes his muscles with “Low Key.“ Running roughshod atop gentle guitars and booming 808s courtesy of producer Dil, “Low Key” shows off Morray’s expert command of the pocket, as he coarsens his church-trained voice to give a stern warning to the opposition: “I’m driving the boat, I stay afloat/When I turn up I be doin the most/Watch how you scheme, gon’ get turned to a ghost/Surrounded by lions and demons, the bros.” In the video, a Von Dutch-adorned Morray posts up with his crew and in a remote cabin and demonstrates why he’s not one to be trifled with. Premiered by Complex, “Low Key” is Morray’s third release, following “Quicksand” and the ragged, soulful “Switched Up.”
Arriving on the scene fully-formed, 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. Directed by @jaxofnorth, the video proved that Morray is as captivating on camera as he is behind the mic, as he showed off his nimble dance moves with a Belaire bottle in hand.
“When I released ‘Quicksand,’ I was shocked when it hit its first 100,000 views, that in itself was more than enough for me,” says Morray. “It’s a crazy feeling to get the love and to feel the pressure at the same time- I feel like it makes me want to work that much harder. With ‘Low Key,’ I wanted people to understand that my music is more than the struggle I come from, its the lifestyle ive been surrounded by my entire life. On the outside I maybe funny and cool, but the streets raised me and thats something that will never change about me. I’m trying to do my thing for my family, my city and most importantly my people.
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” racked up over 3 million views and nearly 2 million 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 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. Stay tuned…the 25-year-old artist is just getting started.
Watch “Low Key”: https://picksix.ffm.to/lowkeyvid
Buy/Stream “Low Key”: https://picksix.ffm.to/lowkey
Watch “Quicksand”: https://picksix.ffm.to/qsvid.opr
Check out the Complex premiere: https://www.complex.com/music/2020/12/morray-low-key-video
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
“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
END
Read more
• 12.03.2020

  How TikTok’s Top 10 Songs of 2020 Impacted the Industry

Press Release
How TikTok’s Top 10 Songs of 2020 Impacted the Industry
• Go to Post
12.2.2020
TikTok Treats, TikTok U.S. Top 100 Edition
TikTok’s Top Ten Songs of 2020 Show How the Short-Form Video Giant Makes a Seismic Impact on the Culture and Charts in the U.S.


The News:
In 2020, TikTok grew from a popular new app into a culture-shifting monolith, capable of birthing unlikely stars and propelling unknown songs to the Billboard charts. Earlier today, TikTok U.S. revealed its Year on TikTok: Top 100, studying and analyzing engagement across the platform to summarize what made the community smile and brought them together.. The list was broken out into several categories, from fashion to memes to cooking and more. Of course, the TikTok Top 100 was full of music, soundtracking memes (a la @420doggface208‘s Fleetwood Mac-and-cranberry-aided skateboard trip), highlighting the community contributions of artists like Lizzo, Jason Derulo, and Charlie Puth, and creating “The Playlist,” a selection of the ten most impactful songs of 2020 in the U.S.

In a strange, eventful, and “savage” year in the U.S., the TikTok community played a major role in shaping the soundtrack to our lives. With TikTok, songs transform into immersive, expansive universes–a canvas with unlimited avenues for expression. Aided by some of TikTok’s most creative users–who’ve created dance challenges, transformation trends, and even comedy skits inspired by their favorite music–the community presents music in new contexts, offering an engaging look at how we relate to our favorite tunes. This ten song playlist, which features hits from established hitmakers, rising stars, and previously-unknown artists, gives a snapshot of some of 2020’s defining hits, which bubbled up from TikTok to take over the world.
• Jason Derulo x Jawsh 685 – “Savage Love (Laxed – Siren Beat)“: Jason Derulo made major career moves in 2020, using TikTok to earn his biggest hit and first number one single in years. He’s one of the platform’s most-followed artist and he constantly engages with trends and collaborates with popular creators. “Savage Love” started its life as a TikTok sound, “Laxed – Siren Beat,” which was created by New Zealand 17-year-old Jawsh 685 and became the year’s most popular TikTok sound (54 million video creations). When Derulo add his vocals to Jawsh’s beat, it became “Savage Love,” and it quickly became one of 2020’s biggest hits, topping charts across the globe and generating over 575 million streams on Spotify alone. The song reached the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 after recruiting global superstars BTS for the official remix.
• Megan Thee Stallion – “Savage“/“Savage” (Remix) ft. Beyoncé: One of the most popular TikTok songs of the year, Megan Thee Stallion’s “Savage” owes much of its rise to users creating unique interpretations of the song’s “I’m a savage/Classy, bougie, ratchet” refrain. The song started its viral rise on TikTok on March 11th, when user @keke.janajah created a dance choreographed to the song’s chorus. Her dance reached influencers like Charli D’Amelio and Keke Palmer before reaching Megan herself, who shared a rip of the dance on her Instagram on March 13th. The song was the most-played song on TikTok in the month of March (7.5 billion video views), debuting at #98 on the Hot 100 on March 28th, before skyrocketing to #20 in its second week. The song eventually caught the attention of Megan’s fellow Houston native Beyoncé, who contributed to the “Savage” (Remix), and the remix reached #1 on the charts on May 26th. The 29 million+ video creations for “Savage” inspired Beyoncé to shout out the platform on her verse on the remix: “Hips Tik Tok when I dance.”
• JACKBOYS & Travis Scott – “OUT WEST” ft. Young Thug: Released in late December 2019, Travis Scott’s “OUT WEST” was one of the first and most popular viral hits of 2020. With a flute-laden beat from Budda Bless and a hypnotic hook from Young Thug, “OUT WEST” inspired an easy to mimic dance that became a favorite of celebrities and influencers. Charli D’Amelio, Dixie D’Amelio, and Addison Rae posted multiple versions of the dance, and the dance reached celebrities like Shaquille O’Neal, Steve Harvey, and Scott’s significant other Kylie Jenner. “OUT WEST” became the unofficial theme of NBA All-Star Weekend, as the D’Amelio sisters and Addison Rae traveled to Chicago to dance with Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam, Chicago Bulls mascot Benny The Bull, and and influential TikTok creator Jalaiah Harmon.
• Cardi B & Megan Thee Stallion – “WAP“: 2020’s raunchiest hit was also one of TikTok’s biggest, inspiring tens millions of video creations on the original version, and various parodies and remakes. “WAP” inspired a notoriously difficult dance challenge, created by @besperon, and spent multiple weeks at or near the top of TikTok’s trending charts, helping to fuel its multi-week run atop the Billboard Hot 100.
• Doja Cat – “Say So“: Originally released in 2019 as part of Doja Cat’s Hot Pink album, “Say So” (17.7 million creations) caught fire in early 2020 after TikTok user Haley Sharpe (@yodelinghaley) created an original dance set to the song. After Haley’s dance started to trend, the song’s video streams started to skyrocket, helped by video creations by influencers like Charli D’Amelio, James Charles, and Laura Dern.  “Say So” reached its commercial zenith in May 2020, reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 after the release of its music video (with a cameo appearance from Haley Sharpe) and a remix featuring Nicki Minaj. Due to its TikTok success, “Say So” is the 4th-most-streamed song of 2020, and the song lifted the album Hot Pink into the Top 40 most-streamed albums of the year months after its original release.
• Saweetie – “Tap In“: After making “My Type” one of TikTok’s biggest hits of 2019, Oakland rapper Saweetie returned with a vengeance in 2020 with “Tap In,” a relentless bouncer that samples Too $hort’s classic “Blow The Whistle.” Released in July 2020, the song immediately became a TikTok sensation, generating over 2.5 million video creations in July alone thanks to a dance craze that Saweetie herself helped kickstart. The TikTok success of “Tap In” translated directly to the Billboard charts, blessing the song with a #84 Hot 100 debut (it eventually peaked in the Top 20)–by contrast, ”My Type” didn’t reach the Hot 100 until December 2019, three months after its release. “Tap In” has continued its meteoric rise, as Spotify user streamed the song over 16 million times in its first month and 95 million times overall. Comparing “Tap In” and “My Type” shows just how much TikTok has grown as a driver of success in just one year–songs that trend chart faster and generate more streams than last year.
• Roddy Ricch – “The Box“: Roddy Ricch’s smash hit “The Box” (3 million+ TikTok creations) is a good case study about how TikTok drives listener behavior. “The Box” wasn’t originally meant to be the lead single from Roddy Ricch’s Please Excuse Me For Being Antisocial project (“Big Stepper,” “Start Wit Me,” and “Tip Toe” were pre-album focus tracks), but after TT user @jaywill4real posted a TikTok (17 million views) about the song’s distinctive vocal ad-libs, the song went viral on the app, eventually generating over 6 billion video views on the platform.  “The Box” wasn’t even officially released as a single until 1/10, when it was already viral on TikTok and had already spent multiple weeks at #1 on Billboard. The official music video didn’t even come out until late February, after millions of TikTok users had already created their own videos to the sound.
• Rod Wave – “Rags2Riches“: One of 2020’s biggest breakout stars, Rod Wave knows how to use TikTok to help make a fan favorite song into a worldwide smash.  An inspirational rap ballad with an appearance from ATR Son Son and a perfect backing track for glow-ups (including the rapper/singer’s own), “Rags2Riches” became Rod’s biggest-charting hit, with a boost from users on the platform. Focusing on a defiant pre-chorus lyric leading into the triumphant chorus (‘Cause that type of sh*t don’t faze a player, uh/This type of sh*t is what make a hater”), the success of “Rags2Riches” on TikTok inspired the #ragstoriches hashtag, which racked up over 2.7 billion views. The song eventually earned a remix featuring Lil Baby and peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100.
• Benee – “Supalonely” ft. Gus Dapperton: Benee’s “Supalonely” was one of TikTok’s most surprising hits of 2020, its themes resonating with a population confined to their homes during the early parts of quarantine. A bouncy indie-pop ditty about heartbreak and loneliness, the previously unknown Auckland, NZ native’s latest song caught fire when TikTok user Zoi Lerma (@zoifishh) choreographed a dance to the song’s self-deprecating chorus. Since then, “Supalonely” became a major hit, inspiring 11.9 million creations, racking up over 470 million Spotify streams, and peaking at #39 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #18 on the UK’s Official Chart. Benee now has over 11 million monthly listeners on Spotify and is signed to Republic Records.
• Pop Smoke – “What You Know Bout Love“: The late Brooklyn rapper Pop Smoke was one of TikTok’s most popular artists of 2020, scoring trending hits including “Dior” (700k+ creations), “For The Night” (4.2 million+ creations), and “Mood Swings” (2.3 million+ creations) The fourth hit, “What You Know Bout Love” was the most unexpected and the most popular, generating over 12 million video creations. A deep cut from Pop’s successful posthumous album Shoot For The Stars, Aim For The Moon, “What You Know Bout Love” was fueled by a viral dance choreographed by @willdevane and @jennasinatra, generating over 12 million video creations and propelling the song, which was never released as a single, into the top half of the Billboard Hot 100. In October, more than three months after the album’s initial #1 debut, Shoot For The Stars, Aim For The Moon returned to the top spot on the Billboard 200.
By nature, the TikTok Top 100 highlights the most popular songs, but TikTok’s impact on the music industry stretched much further. The TikTok community revived classic hits, championed rising artists, and unearthed little-heard gems and made them hits. Stay tuned for much more when TikTok releases its 2020 music report in the coming days.

Check out TikTok’s full Top 100 list at the Newsroom: https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-us/the-year-on-tiktok-top-100

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:
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
 
END
Read more
• 12.03.2020

  DC The Don Pays Tribute to Napoleon Dynamite in “Worst Day ):” VIdeo

Press Release
DC The Don Pays Tribute to Napoleon Dynamite in “Worst Day ):” VIdeo
• Go to Post
12.2.2020
Video: DC The Don – “Worst Day ):”
The Milwaukee Native Recreates One of His Favorite Movies in the Charming Video off 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:
With a natural melodic ability and a fast-paced flow, DC The Don prides himself on standing out from the pack. Dressing up as one of film’s most famous outsiders, DC The Don gets his Napoleon Dynamite on in “Worst Day ):,“ his new video. Produced by Astroboy and Theo Zim, “Worst Day ):” is a product of DC’s exquisite ear for beats, as he molds his flow around 8-bit piano arpeggios and soulful vocal samples that could easily fit in an 80s arcade game. Directed by OUTLAW of Guapruns Productions, the video is a loving tribute to the 2004 cult classic, sketching an outline of the film’s plot with DC portraying Napoleon and successfully capturing the original’s color scheme and aesthetic. The video provides a twist on some of the film’s most memorable moments, including football tosses with Uncle Rico, Pedro’s presidential campaign, and the closing talent show dance performance. “Worst Day ):” is a new song from Come As You Are (Deluxe), the recently-released expanded edition of DC’s debut album.
With more than 45 million streams across platforms, CAYA emphasizes the importance of being authentic to your creative self, and 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,” andthe auto-tuned, spaced-out “STOP BEING SO NICE,” and the pop-punk guitar-driven rager “Wait Your Turn” (142k video views). 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 “Worst Day ):”: https://youtu.be/IUma3lyWEMo
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
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
“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
 
END
Read more
• 12.01.2020

  Laney Keyz Has Boss Life Aspirations in “Drop Top Coupe” Video

Press Release
Laney Keyz Has Boss Life Aspirations in “Drop Top Coupe” Video
• Go to Post
12.1.2020
Video: Laney Keyz – “Drop Top Coupe”
The Nontra Records Signee Lives the Life He Dreamed Of as a Kid in East Oakland in this Luxurious New Video

Critical Praise:
“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:
Laney Keyz captivates with his effortless melodies, bringing a Bay Area attitude to the Southern trap sound. Visualizing the life of luxury that might finally be within his reach, Laney shares “Drop Top Coupe,” his latest music video. A melodic single that highlights Laney’s nimble flow, “Drop Top Coupe” finds Laney on the road to pursuing his dream, his rap talent bringing him ever-closer to a high-flying lifestyle that he never could have imagined as a kid in East Oakland: “Pull up in different color coupes, me and my dogs, and we’re callin’ it mismatch.” In the video, directed by Eddie Choppo, Laney delivers a testament to his boss-life aspirations, chilling in a tropical paradise in the company of beautiful models, white-on-white ‘Raris, and poolside parties. As Laney continues on the path to rockstar status, these extravagant situations will quickly become part of the 22-year-old artist’s day-to-day.
Born and raised in East Oakland, Laney Keyz spent his teenage years in and out of prison. At a particularly low point, he was inspired by his idol Meek Mill to get his act together and pursue music. 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. Now signed to Nontra Records, Laney Keyz is ready to make his name known in Oakland and beyond.
Watch “Drop Top Coupe”: https://youtu.be/o3JRflbkv-I
Buy/Stream “Drop Top Coupe”: https://foundation-media.ffm.to/drop
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
 
END
Read more
• 12.01.2020

  New Chains, Same Glock: Key Glock Shares “Never Change” 💎

Press Release
New Chains, Same Glock: Key Glock Shares “Never Change” 💎
• Go to Post
11.30.2020
Video: Key Glock – “Never Change”
The Memphis Native Comes Through With A Casually Boastful Banger

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:
Wielding sharp punchlines and emphatic flows, Memphis magnate Key Glock is always about his business. On his new video single “Never Change,” the Paper Route EMPIRE rapper asserts that no matter how high his star rises, he will always be the same Glock. Slicing through a bruising, bass-heavy beat by Bandplay, Glock unleashes a barrage of blasé bars about his luxury lifestyle: “I’m ballin’ like a laker, I’m cutthroat I might trade em’/I’m sippin’ smokin’ flavors, goin’ up like elevators.” In the video, Glock shows off his diamond-studded watch and his Bart Simpson chain as he mobs in Memphis with some close cohorts. Released over the weekend with over 470k views, “Never Change” is the latest salvo in a busy 2020 for the 23-year-old rapper.
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. The prolific rapper is hard at work on his next project, set to release in the coming months.
Watch “Never Change”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsbEolz3k_Q
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
“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
END
Read more
•  – The FADER

  “… El Perro confirms Rucci as a major talent…There is likely no skeleton key to instant national fame, but Rucci seems to be developing, right in front of us, into an artist of major consequence.” – Vulture

  “He’s become equally adept at writing fun party slappers and ferocious pain rap dirges, gangsta rap indebted to history but hounded by the demons of the present.” – The LAnd

  The Video:

  With a talent that shines no matter his mood, Inglewood’s Rucci strikes the perfect balancing act between heartfelt bars and disrespectful rhymes. Delivering a melodic post-mortem to a recent relationship, Rucci shares “Understand,” his latest video. Featuring an appearance from fellow L.A. native Blxst, whose smooth tenor helps accent producer JR‘s emotional guitar flourishes, “Understand” is an aching and vibey rap ballad, in which Rucci offers a mea culpa from the bottom of his heart to his ex, making sure that even if she doesn’t take him back, she understands where he comes from: “First off, look I’m sorry, to keep it real, you know that ain’t me/And it broke me into pieces when you told me that you hate me.” In the video, Rucci and Blxst bring their respective ladies to a ’50s-style diner in an attempt to make things right. Directed by RealMovie, the striking video perfectly suits the song’s laid-back vibe and sorrowful, yet hopeful message. “Understand” is Rucci’s second video in two weeks, following the autobiographical clip for “Complicated.“

  “Understand’ is a standout track from Midget, Rucci’s second album. The follow-up to 2019’s acclaimed Tako’s Son, Midget finds Rucci maturing as an artist, while still treating his fans to the delirious punchlines they’ve come to expect. Last week, Rucci shared Midget (Deluxe), which added 9 quality songs to the original’s 15 tracks. The deluxe edition is home to new highlights including the Ron-RonTheProducer-helmed “Where I’m From,” in which Rucci trades bars with OhGeesy of Shoreline Mafia and BandGang Lonnie Bands over gentle acoustic guitars, the Public Enemy/Jay-Z-interpolating “Hotel,” the lush and plaintive “Do I Ever,” and “Watch Me,” another confrontational collaboration with Rucci’s frequent sparring partner AzChike. With production from Ron-Ron, Cypress Moreno, JR, and others, and additional guest spots from AzSwaye, Lil Deuce, Mister, and Pjay, Midget (Deluxe) is available everywhere via Mackk&Co/EMPIRE.

  Watch “Understand” ft. Blxst: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoI9HDfVCO8&feature=youtu.be

  Midget tracklist:
  1. Complicated (Prod. by 420Tiesto, Traplordcami, Drumma)
  2. No Friends (Prod. by Romo)
  3. Bad Boys ft. AzChike (Prod by Traplordcami & 420Tiesto)
  4. Check Me Out ft. Haiti Babii (Prod. by Drumma & 420Tiesto)
  5. Okay Doeee ft. ALLBLACK (Prod. by Ron-Ron)
  6. Me & My Drugz Pt. 2 ft. Shordie Shordie (Prod. by Steelz)
  7. Burn In Hell Bitch ft. White John (Prod. by Traplordcami , Killa cam & Drumma)
  8. Hoe Friends (Prod. by Romo)
  9. Killa (Prod. by Traplordcami & Drumma)
  10. Understand ft. Blxst (Prod by JR)
  11. Broken Wings Interlude (Prod. By 420tiesto & Traplordcami)
  12. Believe In Me ft. Mozzy (Prod. By Steelz)
  13. Ran Outta Luck (Prod. by Romo)
  14. Leave Me Alone (Prod. by Romo)
  15. Juan Carlos Martinez Jr (Prod. by Romo)

  Midget (Deluxe) new tracks:
  16. Hotel (Prod. by Zay Coronado)
  17. Tha Whoops (ft Lil Duece & Cypress Moreno) (Prod. by Cypress Moreno)
  18. Watch Me (ft. AzChike)
  19. Where I’m From (ft. Band Gang Lonnie Bands & OhGeesy) (Prod. by Ron-RonTheProducer)
  20. Do I Ever (Prod. by BlvckLotus)
  21. Ride Wit Me (Prod. by Benny Ave)
  22. Float On (ft. Mister) (Prod. by Tiesto)
  23. Shmoke (ft. Pjay & AzSwaye) (Prod. by Fort Woe)
  24. Everybody Weird (Prod. by JR)

  

  Please contact Michelle or Erin for more info.

  The Background:

  Rucci Background:

  Rucci is a 26-year-old rapper with a deep and decorated bloodline in the streets of Inglewood’s Northside. His father, known as “Tako,” is tied to three generations of Neighbor Hood Piru (NHP) set. “He’s a living legend where we’re from, ‘cause he was the only Hispanic person from a Black gang at that time,” explains Rucci, who is Salvadoran and Black. Raised by his father, who is now deported, and an uncle who is currently serving life in prison, the artist born Juan Martinez has been groomed for navigating the streets. However, in a critically-acclaimed, rising music career, Rucci is using wisdom and charisma to change the narrative on his life and his city. “Everything bad that I had to go through is because of my dad,” he notes. Rucci’s EMPIRE debut Tako’s Son sees the rapper turning the difficult cards he’s been dealt into a winning hand.

  EMPIRE Background:

  EMPIRE was founded in 2010 as an artist-friendly, progressive digital distribution company. After early success, and identifying future icons such as Kendrick Lamar, Anderson .Paak, and Rich Homie Quan, EMPIRE was quickly regarded as a tastemaker in the industry and throughout the past five years evolved into a full-fledged record label, distributor and publisher for independent musicians. With the company and roster growing at a breakneck pace, EMPIRE has effectively disrupted a stale business model by bringing its energy, expertise, and acumen to its artists and labels. Today, EMPIRE works with some of music’s hottest talent, ranging from superstars such as T.I. and Snoop Dogg, red-hot newcomers such as SOB X RBE and Mozzy, and established veterans like Jim Jones and Redman. While remaining 100% independent, EMPIRE has also partnered with Atlantic Records for a joint venture, home to breakout star D.R.A.M. and propelled singles by Fat Joe & Remy Ma (“All The Way Up,” 2x Platinum), Tyga (“Taste,” 3x Platinum), and Lil Duval (“Smile”) to the top of the Billboard Hip-Hop Charts. In April 2018, EMPIRE signed a global distribution deal with Universal Music Group for select artist projects.

   

  ---

  Links:

  instagram | twitter | soundcloud | youtube | spotify

  “Understand” ft. Blxst: https://youtu.be/BoI9HDfVCO8

  “Complicated”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PLtaTd5WzU

  Midget (Deluxe): https://music.empi.re/midget_deluxe

  Midget: https://music.empi.re/midget

  “Bad Boys” ft. AzChike: https://music.empi.re/badboys

  “Okay Doeee” ft. ALLBLACK: https://music.empi.re/okaydoeee

  “Killa”: https://music.empi.re/killa

  “Check Me Out” ft. Haiti Babii: https://empire.ffm.to/checkmeout

  “Tako’s Son” Documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvtGS3tELKM

  Tako’s Son: https://empire.lnk.to/takoson

   

  ' data-instagram='' >
  11.24.2020

  Rucci & Blxst Work Through Relationship Problems in “Understand” Video

Press Release
Rucci & Blxst Work Through Relationship Problems in “Understand” Video
• Go to Post
11.24.2020
Video: Rucci – “Understand” ft. Blxst
The Inglewood Alpha Dog Shows Off His Sweet Side in the Video for This Touching and Melodic Highlight from Midget

Critical Praise:
“On the spectrum of the new Los Angeles, Rucci sits closest to classicism, capturing the spirit of greats like Suga Free and Mack 10. But don’t mistake that homage for predictability: Rucci consumes these beats. His presence throughout this album is glowing, outsized, and even within the frames of L.A. bump — minor keys, minimal bass — he makes daring production choices. (“Lowrider” interpolates, you know, that song). But beneath the booming production and drug inventories that run rampant on Tako’s Son are stories of deep loss and chosen family” – NPR
“Rucci is one of the few young and buzzing West Coast rappers capable of pleasing both emcee traditionalists and those seeking true starpower and hit-making potential… Inglewood’s chosen son is on his way to stardom.” – HYPEBEAST
“… has raw neighborhood-star quality that leads to raucous and overpacked live shows.” – Billboard
“… L.A.’s most exciting rappers at the moment, capturing the raw energy of their respective neighborhoods on tracks like ‘Arco’ and ‘Like Woah.'” – The FADER
“… El Perro confirms Rucci as a major talent…There is likely no skeleton key to instant national fame, but Rucci seems to be developing, right in front of us, into an artist of major consequence.” – Vulture
“He’s become equally adept at writing fun party slappers and ferocious pain rap dirges, gangsta rap indebted to history but hounded by the demons of the present.” – The LAnd
The Video:
With a talent that shines no matter his mood, Inglewood’s Rucci strikes the perfect balancing act between heartfelt bars and disrespectful rhymes. Delivering a melodic post-mortem to a recent relationship, Rucci shares “Understand,” his latest video. Featuring an appearance from fellow L.A. native Blxst, whose smooth tenor helps accent producer JR‘s emotional guitar flourishes, “Understand” is an aching and vibey rap ballad, in which Rucci offers a mea culpa from the bottom of his heart to his ex, making sure that even if she doesn’t take him back, she understands where he comes from: “First off, look I’m sorry, to keep it real, you know that ain’t me/And it broke me into pieces when you told me that you hate me.” In the video, Rucci and Blxst bring their respective ladies to a ’50s-style diner in an attempt to make things right. Directed by RealMovie, the striking video perfectly suits the song’s laid-back vibe and sorrowful, yet hopeful message. “Understand” is Rucci’s second video in two weeks, following the autobiographical clip for “Complicated.“
“Understand’ is a standout track from Midget, Rucci’s second album. The follow-up to 2019’s acclaimed Tako’s Son, Midget finds Rucci maturing as an artist, while still treating his fans to the delirious punchlines they’ve come to expect. Last week, Rucci shared Midget (Deluxe), which added 9 quality songs to the original’s 15 tracks. The deluxe edition is home to new highlights including the Ron-RonTheProducer-helmed “Where I’m From,” in which Rucci trades bars with OhGeesy of Shoreline Mafia and BandGang Lonnie Bands over gentle acoustic guitars, the Public Enemy/Jay-Z-interpolating “Hotel,” the lush and plaintive “Do I Ever,” and “Watch Me,” another confrontational collaboration with Rucci’s frequent sparring partner AzChike. With production from Ron-Ron, Cypress Moreno, JR, and others, and additional guest spots from AzSwaye, Lil Deuce, Mister, and Pjay, Midget (Deluxe) is available everywhere via Mackk&Co/EMPIRE.
Watch “Understand” ft. Blxst: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoI9HDfVCO8&feature=youtu.be
Midget tracklist:
1. Complicated (Prod. by 420Tiesto, Traplordcami, Drumma)
2. No Friends (Prod. by Romo)
3. Bad Boys ft. AzChike (Prod by Traplordcami & 420Tiesto)
4. Check Me Out ft. Haiti Babii (Prod. by Drumma & 420Tiesto)
5. Okay Doeee ft. ALLBLACK (Prod. by Ron-Ron)
6. Me & My Drugz Pt. 2 ft. Shordie Shordie (Prod. by Steelz)
7. Burn In Hell Bitch ft. White John (Prod. by Traplordcami , Killa cam & Drumma)
8. Hoe Friends (Prod. by Romo)
9. Killa (Prod. by Traplordcami & Drumma)
10. Understand ft. Blxst (Prod by JR)
11. Broken Wings Interlude (Prod. By 420tiesto & Traplordcami)
12. Believe In Me ft. Mozzy (Prod. By Steelz)
13. Ran Outta Luck (Prod. by Romo)
14. Leave Me Alone (Prod. by Romo)
15. Juan Carlos Martinez Jr (Prod. by Romo)
Midget (Deluxe) new tracks:
16. Hotel (Prod. by Zay Coronado)
17. Tha Whoops (ft Lil Duece & Cypress Moreno) (Prod. by Cypress Moreno)
18. Watch Me (ft. AzChike)
19. Where I’m From (ft. Band Gang Lonnie Bands & OhGeesy) (Prod. by Ron-RonTheProducer)
20. Do I Ever (Prod. by BlvckLotus)
21. Ride Wit Me (Prod. by Benny Ave)
22. Float On (ft. Mister) (Prod. by Tiesto)
23. Shmoke (ft. Pjay & AzSwaye) (Prod. by Fort Woe)
24. Everybody Weird (Prod. by JR)

Please contact Michelle or Erin for more info.
The Background:
Rucci Background:
Rucci is a 26-year-old rapper with a deep and decorated bloodline in the streets of Inglewood’s Northside. His father, known as “Tako,” is tied to three generations of Neighbor Hood Piru (NHP) set. “He’s a living legend where we’re from, ‘cause he was the only Hispanic person from a Black gang at that time,” explains Rucci, who is Salvadoran and Black. Raised by his father, who is now deported, and an uncle who is currently serving life in prison, the artist born Juan Martinez has been groomed for navigating the streets. However, in a critically-acclaimed, rising music career, Rucci is using wisdom and charisma to change the narrative on his life and his city. “Everything bad that I had to go through is because of my dad,” he notes. Rucci’s EMPIRE debut Tako’s Son sees the rapper turning the difficult cards he’s been dealt into a winning hand.
EMPIRE Background:
EMPIRE was founded in 2010 as an artist-friendly, progressive digital distribution company. After early success, and identifying future icons such as Kendrick Lamar, Anderson .Paak, and Rich Homie Quan, EMPIRE was quickly regarded as a tastemaker in the industry and throughout the past five years evolved into a full-fledged record label, distributor and publisher for independent musicians. With the company and roster growing at a breakneck pace, EMPIRE has effectively disrupted a stale business model by bringing its energy, expertise, and acumen to its artists and labels. Today, EMPIRE works with some of music’s hottest talent, ranging from superstars such as T.I. and Snoop Dogg, red-hot newcomers such as SOB X RBE and Mozzy, and established veterans like Jim Jones and Redman. While remaining 100% independent, EMPIRE has also partnered with Atlantic Records for a joint venture, home to breakout star D.R.A.M. and propelled singles by Fat Joe & Remy Ma (“All The Way Up,” 2x Platinum), Tyga (“Taste,” 3x Platinum), and Lil Duval (“Smile”) to the top of the Billboard Hip-Hop Charts. In April 2018, EMPIRE signed a global distribution deal with Universal Music Group for select artist projects.
 
---
Links:
instagram | twitter | soundcloud | youtube | spotify
“Understand” ft. Blxst: https://youtu.be/BoI9HDfVCO8
“Complicated”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PLtaTd5WzU
Midget (Deluxe): https://music.empi.re/midget_deluxe
Midget: https://music.empi.re/midget
“Bad Boys” ft. AzChike: https://music.empi.re/badboys
“Okay Doeee” ft. ALLBLACK: https://music.empi.re/okaydoeee
“Killa”: https://music.empi.re/killa
“Check Me Out” ft. Haiti Babii: https://empire.ffm.to/checkmeout
“Tako’s Son” Documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvtGS3tELKM
Tako’s Son: https://empire.lnk.to/takoson
 
END
Read more
• 11.24.2020

  Miley Cyrus to Preview New Album LIVE on TikTok

Press Release
Miley Cyrus to Preview New Album LIVE on TikTok
• Go to Post
11.24.2020
Miley Cyrus to Host TikTok Watermarked LIVE Stream, Previewing Her New Album Plastic Hearts
Airing 11/26 at 11:30pm ET on Miley’s TikTok Account, the LIVE Stream Continues a Series That Includes Trippie Redd and French Montana as Past Hosts

The News:
TikTok is proud to be a major source of music discovery for our users, many of whom log on every day in search of their new jam. With Watermarked, TikTok’s recurring LIVE video series, TikTok teams up with artists of all genres to give the TikTok community an exclusive first spin of their brand new releases.
Watermarked is an exclusive live-only listening session, streamed and hosted by the artist, giving TikTok users an opportunity to listen to major new releases before they hit streaming services. Airing on Thursdays at 8:30PM PT/11:30PM ET, 30 minutes before the album goes live on DSPs, Watermarked allows artists to walk their fans through some of the album’s key tracks and answer individual questions posed by fans in the comments.
The next edition of Watermarked goes live this Thursday, November 26th, with an exclusive look at Plastic Hearts, the next album from Miley Cyrus. True to form for the restlessly creative artist, Miley plans to go above and beyond with her upcoming LIVE stream. This special edition of Watermarked will take fans on an interactive journey inspired by the music and punk-rock-inspired aesthetic of Plastic Hearts, packed with cameos, easter eggs for longtime Miley fans, and excerpts of new songs from the album.
Miley’s Watermarked continues a big year for Miley on the TikTok platform. She’s a regular user of TikTok, with more than 6.5 million followers, and her music regularly inspires trends in the TikTok community. Over the summer, Plastic Hearts lead single “Midnight Sky” became a trending hit, generating over 40k video creations. Just last week, Miley used TikTok to preview the music video for “Prisoner,” the latest Plastic Hearts single.
But Miley has enraptured the TikTok community with her unmatched ability to make a cover song her own. In September, Miley performed a fierce rendition of Blondie’s “Heart Of Glass” at the iHeart Music Festival, hypnotizing her fans with her rock star attitude, glamorous outfit, and spine-tingling vocal performance. An audio snippet from the performance became a viral TikTok sound, as fans obsessed over her transformation of the classic song. After generating over 30k video creations in just one week, Miley decided to officially release “Heart Of Glass” to streaming services. “Heart Of Glass” now has over 118k total video creations and more than 35 million streams on Spotify alone.
Another Miley cover took TikTok by storm in subsequent weeks, when her version of “Why Do You Only Call Me When You’re High” by the Arctic Monkeys soundtracked the viral “#MainCharacterChallenge.” Originated by @jonysios, the “#MainCharacterChallenge” provided the vibes for a transformation challenge that allowed TikTok users to unleash their inner divas. With over 420k video creations and over 114 million views on the hashtag, the #MainCharacterChallenge encourages TikTok users to transform from their ordinary selves to their “main character” at the moment that Miley’s piercing vocal hits.
With her upcoming LIVE stream, Miley is taking the opportunity to show her gratitude to the TikTok community for all the love they’ve shown her, and to give them a gift in return. Tune in LIVE at 11:30pmET/8:30pm PT on November 26th on Miley’s @mileycyrus account to hear new music and perhaps witness the birth of another challenge or two.
Watermarked is the latest installment in an ever-evolving lineup of TikTok LIVE programming that highlights and promote artists’ personal stories. Sound Off, a casual conversational series that airs at 12 PM PT / 3 PM ET every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, has featured more than 40 artists since it launched in May 2020, including Liam Payne, LIl Yachty, Swae Lee, and Dixie D’Amelio. Recent Watermarked LIVE streams spotlighted new music from Trippie Redd and French Montana.
Read more at TikTok’s newsroom: https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-us/

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
 
END
Read more
• It’s Tricky,” the immortal rock-rap anthem by Run-DMC, which was a top trending song on TikTok this week. Generating over 1 million video creations, many of which in just two weeks, the song is the go-to backing track for TikTok’s “This Or That” trend, in which users give a little glimpse of their personalities by creatively making a series of binary decisions. The trend is perfect for couples, families, and parents who really hope their child brings home the right person.
• Singer-songwriter Ricky Montgomery is an unlikely TikTok star, but his soft folk ballads have struck a nerve with the platform’s community. The Honeysticks frontman is currently trending with his 6/8 unrequited love ballad “Line Without A Hook” (114k creations) The TikTok community uses “Line Without A Hook” to celebrate the love of movie couples, celebrity couples, or even their parents. Most touchingly, it’s been adopted as an anthem by the trans community, who use the song to help connect what can seem like two different selves. Montgomery, who also had a minor TikTok hit earlier this year with his 2016 song “Mr. Loverman” (42k creations), returned the TikTok love by sharing an acoustic performance of the song.
• Mexican producer-singer Leon Leiden has used TikTok to develop into one of his country’s most promising rising stars. The 22-year-old artist is incredibly active on the platform, posting several videos per week and often enlisting the TikTok community to help promote, and sometimes even contribute to his music. He built up a following with music commentary, detailing the history of samples in reggaeton and analyzing songs like Bad Bunny’s “Safaera.” During the first stages of quarantine, Leon started to let people into his creative process, detailing the creative process behind his song “Gitana” (26k video creations, 15 million Spotify streams), which he created by compiling contributions from talented TikTok users over his laid-back beat. Most recently, Leon has been indulging his obsession with Spongebob Squarepants, recording a new banger that samples the show’s bouncy, nautical credits music. The week-old sound already has 2.8k video creations.
• Vince Guaraldi’s classic music for the Peanuts cartoon series has inspired joy and nostalgia for decades on end–and now it’s inspired a creative TikTok trend. In September, TikTok user @papa.squash posted a video soundtracked to Guaraldi’s “Linus & Lucy,” in which he showed the world how he would dance if he were a Peanuts character. His video caused a snowball effect over the next month, as users hopped on the Charlie Brown bandwagon with TikTok’s duet feature, adding their own unique dance styles to the Peanuts special in their heads.
•  One of the more surprising TikTok hits of the year is MGMT’s “Little Dark Age,” the title track from their 2018 album. With over 195k video creations across multiple sounds, the vibey song soundtracks a unique trend, in which TikTok users attempt to transform themselves into figures from classic paintings. The trend has splintered into several sub-themes, allowing people to express their inner god or goddess and providing an outlet for people who believe they have “ancient faces,” or “that 1800 B.C. look.”

Along with the TikTok platform itself, artists new and old are flourishing. The trends and tracks introduced or reintroduced above are just a few examples of the ways TikTok is the bellwether for popular music. The TikTok community will continue to support established artists and identify future stars.

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:
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