Netflix Unveils Teaser Trailer and Teaser Art For YASUKE, All-New Original Anime by LeSean Thomas and Studio MAPPA
Starring and Executive Produced By LaKeith Stanfield, With Music by Flying Lotus
Releases Globally on April 29th, 2021
The tale is set in a war-torn feudal Japan filled with mechs and magic, the greatest ronin never known, Yasuke, struggles to maintain a peaceful existence after a past life of violence. But when a local village becomes the center of social upheaval between warring daimyo, Yasuke must take up his sword and transport a mysterious child who is the target of dark forces and bloodthirsty warlords.
Watch the teaser trailer HERE
Download key art HERE*
Download stills HERE
*(please download, do not post the link)
YASUKE INFO:
Release Date | April 29th, 2021
Yasuke is created by LeSean Thomas (Cannon Busters) who also serves as executive producer and director, revered Japanese animation studio MAPPA (Attack on Titan: The Final Season, Jujutsu Kaisen), with director and animator Takeshi Koike (Lupin the Third: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine) responsible for character designs, music by Grammy Award-nominated artist Flying Lotus and award-winning actor LaKeith Stanfield serving as executive producer and the voice of Yasuke.
Additional staff announced today includes:
Chief Animation Director: Satoshi Iwataki
Chief Technical Director: Takeru Sato
Sub-character Design: Kenichi Shima
World Art Design & Art Settings: Minoru Nishida
Art Director: Junichi Higashi
Color Setting: Azusa Sasaki
3D CGI Director: Yuki Nomoto
Photography: Park Hyo-gyu
Editing: Mutsumi Takemiya
Contact:
For press inquiries regarding Yasuke, please contact Kevin or Andrea
Netflix is the world’s leading streaming entertainment service with over 195 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, documentaries and feature films across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on any internet-connected screen. Members can play, pause and resume watching, all without commercials or commitments.
Thugger Challenges Gunna to a Dance-Off, Users Find Unconventional Inspiration with Vanessa Carlton, and More From the World of Music on TikTok
The News:
TikTok is a platform where songs by artists of all artists coexist on a level playing field. This past week on TikTok saw songs from a superstar’s new album trend alongside a fan-favorite from an emerging artist and hits from each of the past two decades. Take a look to see how TikTok’s endlessly creative users built unique worlds out of these disparate songs:
TikTok favorite Justin Bieber returned to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 this week with “Peaches,” his new single with Daniel Caesar and fellow TikTok-beloved singer Giveon (whose “HEARTBREAK ANNIVERSARY” reached the Hot 100 after trending on the app). As is the case with many #1 hits, TikTok played a large part in its rise–the song racked up over 110k video creations since the song’s release, with the song catching fire with TikTok’s haircare community and getting a boost from Hailey Bieber, the song’s subject, and from Justin himself, who danced to the song in his “drew house”-branded attire in a video that racked up over 6 million views in just more than 1 week.
Earlier this morning, TikTok intercepted a mysterious transmission from rock’s most mysterious and creative band…RADIOHEAD. The notoriously enigmatic group posted their first-ever TikTok, featuring an appearance from Chieftain Mews, a character well-known to fans of the band for his appearance on Radiohead webcasts, and a glitchy, but familiar instrumental. Don’t worry…everything is in its right place.
Mike Posner’s laidback, synth-heavy vibe is proving to be a surprising hit on TikTok in 2021. The singer’s 2011 hit “Please Don’t Go” is having a major moment, generating over 450k views, many within the past week. The song has fueled a fashionable new challenge–users start their video by playfully looking at the camera, before the beat drops and the video cuts to them in a babushka and sunglasses, staring into the distance. The song has gained surprising traction in Indonesia, and has become a favorite for users brainstorming new outfits for their pets. benny blanco, the song’s co-writer and producer, recently posted a video commenting on the song’s unexpected resurgence and thanking the TikTok community for making it possible.
When songs get popular enough on TikTok, they become part of the app’s sonic tapestry, offering a familiar soundtrack that evokes fond memories of the app itself. One such song is “Stuck In The Middle” by Tai Verdes (2.6 million views), which blew up on TikTok last summer and has remained on the trending charts ever since. The song’s loping bassline provides the ideal backing track for revealing your birthday color, drinking too many margaritas, and asking friends how they think they might wind up in jail.
One of the most beloved pop songs of the early ’00s, Vanessa Carlton’s “A Thousand Miles” (175k+ combined TIkTok video creations) is finding second (or third or fourth) life on TikTok. The community seized upon the song’s iconic piano intro, subverting its beautiful for some deep irony, creating inspirational quotes out of phrases that are anything but–including quotes from unhelpful dads during labor, thoughts during a hard test, and even the inner monologue of a pet duck.
In the vast expanse of human history, there’ve been songs written about nearly every possible subject. TikTok creator Natalie Burdick (@natsingssongs) is on a mission to make sure that noble tradition continues. Dressed in her signature purple workout clothes, Nat creates catchy and harmonically complex songs about…everything, from sidewalk celery, to unlucky bird encounters, to the at-home feeling that only Shrek’s swamp can provide. Whenever you’re in the mood for an off-kilter, weirdly relatable song to get stuck in your head when you’re reckoning with your newfound love of La Croix, Nat is happy to oblige.
Earlier this week, TikTok announced the first Headstream, a new LIVE series that allows fans to go inside the minds of their favorite artists. The first session airs Friday April 2nd, featuring a one-of-a-kind interview with Demi Lovato, on the occasion of her new album Dancing With The Devil…The Art Of Starting Over. Check back on Fridays at 4pm PT/7pm ET for Headstream, with future installments featuring Lil Tjay, Aly & AJ, plus more. Demi is also set to perform LIVE on TikTok on Monday April 5th at 6PM PT/9 PM ET to perform new songs from her album.
The Silky Smooth Alamo Records-Signed Singer/Rapper Speaks On His Come Up in His Latest Video Single
Critical Praise:
“He explores his relationships with his loved ones on the deeply personal track” – UPROXX
“Dirty South influences and driving top lines set Chino Cappin apart” – Dummy Mag
The Video:
Serving up rhymes with an appealingly raspy tenor, Georgia rapper Chino Cappin is making a name for himself in the Dirty South. Laying out his dreams and aspirations on his latest video single, the Alamo Records signee shares “Shine.” Gliding atop poignant piano chords, Chino flashes his silky smooth pipes, asserting that he has all the qualities needed to reach the top of the rap game: “I be handling business, I’m just focused on riches/Real crazy life that I’m livin’.”
In the video for “Shine,” Chino retreats to a church, as he plays the song on the piano and performs it from the pew. “Shine” is Chino’s latest quality music video, following the February release of Anti-Valentine’s anthem “Fake Love” (135k views) and “Lap Dance,” which generated over 390k YouTube views since its late-December release.
Born and raised in Fort Valley, Georgia, just outside of Atlanta, Chino focused on music as a teenager as a way to escape his rough circumstances. The rapper built a cult following in the Southeast with mixtapes like Cold Hearted and Too Many Losses, which combined strong melodic instincts with braggadocious bars and clear-eyed observations about life on the streets. The 19-year-old artist built buzz with a successful college tour, turning up the heat with recent singles like “Lap Dance,” “NaNaNa,” and “Different,” a collaboration with YSL-affiliated rapper Yak Gotti. He’s earned praise from UPROXX and Dummy Mag, and told his story in an interview with Dirty-Glove Bastard.
Now signed to Alamo Records, Chino Cappin is ready to bring his confident and smooth street music to the general public. Get ready for him to make major moves in 2021.
Chino Cappin is a lyricist and singer of many hats. First and foremost, he’s the voice of the streets, with a background in the slums that has given him the creative drive to progress in the packed hip-hop industry. But in addition to his rough and gruff image, he’s a fun-loving goofball, intense creative, and mastermind of charisma. With co-signs from No Jumper and the UK’s Dummy Mag, it’s clear many people from around the world have begun to tune in to hear what Chino’s been saying and continues to say. To date, Chino has amassed over 1.1 million streams, 900,000+ views, and an Instagram following of 28k+. These are authentic, consistent numbers that reveal a fanbase genuinely attracted to Chino in all capacities. His impact can be attributed to his authentic approach to rap and, surprisingly, his process of making music which is a unique take on two well-tested methods. He typically looks to select beats that evoke emotion and then lay down melodies and write to them. However, he also enjoys going off the top with whatever he’s feeling in the moment as well.
Get Inside The Mind of Your Favorite Artists With TikTok’s Headstream Series
Headstream Launches on 4/2 with a Special Stream from Demi Lovato
The Announcement:
Ever hear a song and wish you could get right inside the artist’s mind and know what they were thinking? Now you can.
TikTok introduces Headstream, the new interactive TikTok LIVE series that invites fans to enter the minds of their favorite artists. The first session drops this Friday, April 2nd at 4PM PT/7PM ET, featuring GRAMMY Award-nominated artist Demi Lovato on the launch day of her new album Dancing With The Devil… The Art Of Starting Over. This will be like no interview you’ve ever seen: it’s a full-on Demi double down, with Demi acting as host and guest.
Join Demi as she shares her creative process—plus some weird trivia and maybe a few secrets, too. Best of all, the show will feature a live listening session of highlights from the new album, including the single “What Other People Say” ft. Sam Fischer.
Demi (and Demi) can’t wait to share her new album, so make sure to join us for the first-ever session of Headstream, this Friday April 2nd at 4PM PT/7PM ET. In support of the release of her new album Demi will also take the TikTok LIVE Stage on Monday April 5th at 6PM PT/9 PM ET to perform new songs from her album and give fans the up close and personal feel they’ve been missing.
Global superstar Demi Lovato is a multi-platinum, GRAMMY-nominated singer, actress, producer, and best-selling author with one of the biggest social media followings over 100 million. In the last year, Demi has stayed busy with appearances at the 2020 GRAMMY Awards and Super Bowl, in addition to a performance at this year’s “Celebrating America” concert special following President Biden’s inauguration. Most recently, Lovato premiered her powerful four-part documentary series from YouTube Originals and director Michael D. Ratner entitled Demi Lovato: Dancing with the Devil at SXSW, where it opened the 2021 festival.
Demi’s accompanying album, Dancing With The Devil… The Art Of Starting Over, which marks her seventh studio album, will be released on April 2nd. Her new song “Dancing with the Devil” is now available globally to download and stream here: https://DemiLovato.lnk.to/DWTD.
Airing LIVE on TikTok’s handle (@tiktok ), Headstream is a whole new way to enjoy new music on the day it drops, live and direct with your favorite artists.
For 30 minutes, starting Fridays at 4PM PT/7PM ET, Headstream invites artists to introduce their new music, interact with fans in the live chat, and get into some real talk with their toughest interviewer yet—themselves.
B Don’t forget to tune in to the first-ever Headstream on Friday April 2nd at 4PM PT/7PM ET on @tiktok. Keep your eyes peeled on Fridays for future editions of Headstream, showcasing artists like Lil Tjay, Aly and AJ, and many more.
Internet Money Releases New “JETSKI” Single Featuring Lil Mosey & Lil Tecca
Following Up Their 2020 #6 Hit “Lemonade,” “JETSKI” is the Taz Taylor-Founded Collective’s First New Song of 2021
Lil Mosey, Taz Taylor, and Nick Mira behind-the-scenes of the “JETSKI” video, coming soon Credit: Michael Christian (@mikeejc)
Critical Praise:
“[Internet Money] grew into a music industry powerhouse that helped break stars like Juice WRLD and Lil Tecca, racking up dozens of Billboard hits and platinum plaques in the process.” – Complex
“The group of beatmakers is dominating music-streaming services” – Billboard
“It seems only inevitable that these guys are just going to continue to take the world by storm, one hit at a time.” – MTV
“Even if you aren’t familiar with L.A. production collective Internet Money, you’ve heard their beats. The group’s sounds have powered some of hip-hop’s biggest records in the past couple years, from Rich the Kid’s “Plug Walk” and Juice WRLD’s “Lucid Dreams” to Drake’s “Blue Tint.” The group is helmed by Taz Taylor, a Florida native who — true to his collective’s name — has accumulated a fortune primarily through the internet.” – The FADER
“Taz Taylor doesn’t consider himself an overnight success, but he’s definitely having a moment.” – Variety
The Announcement:
If anyone doubted their status as the rap game’s top artist-producer collective, Internet Money silenced those doubters with a massive year in 2020. Looking to go even bigger in 2021, the collective founded by Taz Taylor shares “JETSKI,” a new single featuring Lil Mosey and Lil Tecca. Produced by Nick Mira, who connected with LIl Tecca back in 2019 for his smash hit “Ransom,” “JETSKI” mixes Mira’s signature guitar melodies with a dancehall-adjacent bounce that lends itself very nicely to fast-approaching summer weather. Exhibiting a natural chemistry, Mosey and Tecca trade melodic verses, bragging about their towering success at such a young age and sneering derisively at their imitators: “Yeah they tryna ride the wave like a jet ski/100 b*tches on my line tryna sex me/Yeah, my pockets gettin’ full, gettin’ hefty,” sings Mosey on the hook. On pace to rack up over 1 million streams in its first 24 hours of release, “JETSKI” is available everywhere via Internet Money Records/10K Projects.
“JETSKI” is a warning shot from Taz Taylor and Internet Money, offering incontrovertible proof that their 2020 success was no fluke. Though the collective had already racked up billions of streams and dozens of plaques, last year found Internet Money making waves as lead artists, spending several weeks in the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 chart with “Lemonade” ft. Gunna, Don Toliver & NAV. Earning double-platinum certification from the RIAA, “Lemonade” peaked at #6 on the Hot 100, #1 on Spotify’s US Top 50, and #1 on the UK Official Charts and landed them a coveted spot as the musical guest for The Tonight Show, Starring Jimmy Fallon. Meanwhile, B4 The Storm was one of the year’s most star-studded albums, debuting at #10 on the Billboard 200 and featuring appearances from superstars like like Future and Swae Lee as well as artists they’ve built from the beginning like Juice WRLD and Trippie Redd.
Despite all their success with B4 The Storm, Internet Money has no plans of slowing down in 2021. The group is working on their second album with even bigger features in store, beginning with “JETSKI.” “We want to be everywhere. Everyone will have no choice but to get to know Internet Money,” says Taylor.
Starting as a type-beat factory and growing into a global powerhouse, Taz Taylor and Internet Money have earned 3 Grammy nominations, 58 platinum plaques, 33 gold, and 14 Billboard #1 hits since 2018. The collective is behind some of the biggest rap and R&B hits of the past few years, including Juice WRLD’s “Lucid Dreams” (1.3 billion Spotify streams), Trevor Daniel’s “Falling” (#1 Billboard Mainstream Pop, 37 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 with #17 peak), Lil Tecca’s “Ransom” (700 million Spotify streams, #4 Hot 100), and XXXTentacion’s “Fuck Love” ft. Trippie Redd (the most-played song in SoundCloud history). With 2020’s B4 The Storm album, and its double-platinum single “Lemonade” ft. Gunna, Don Toliver & NAV, Taz Taylor and Internet Money confirmed their status as the music industry’s most powerful hitmaking collective.
Internet Money was born out of necessity, a hybrid company that has filled in the gaps between the rap industry, the producer community, and the online marketplace. Disillusioned with the industry, and the way he saw rap producers being taken advantage of, Taz Taylor formed the collective in 2016 as a way to share the knowledge he’d gained from years spent selling his “type beats” online and navigating the internet’s ever-growing impact on the production landscape.
Four years in, Internet Money has expanded as a collective, including Grammy-nominated producers like Nick Mira and JR Hitmaker, and produced for Drake, Trippie Redd, Juice WRLD, and many more. “When you’re in Internet Money, you get the same opportunities that I do, you’re gonna be working with the same artists that I’m working with, and getting credits with them,” Taylor says. “Instead of working with a bunch of people we don’t know, we just have our own network that’s one big family.” Following their success breaking major artists like Trevor Daniel, and co-producing his multi-platinum hit “Falling,” Taylor and Internet Money partnered with Elliot Grange’s 10K Projects in 2019 to launch their own label.
Taz Taylor Background:
Taz Taylor has never cared about fame or clout. To hear the multi-platinum producer and Internet Money founder tell it, everything he’s done — from turning his online production hustle selling “type beats” into a $500,000 per year business to forming his own label — has been born out of necessity and guided by intuition. “I’ve been so tunnel vision during the last five years to make sure I got to this point,” he says. “It was just like, Let’s keep building.”
Though the 27-year-old has only been in the industry for a few years, his accomplishments in that time have come at a staggering pace, notching, by his estimation, over 500 placements and around 200 gold and platinum plaques between himself and the other producers on his Internet Money team. As their leader, Taylor has quickly become a new sort of rap mogul, one who’s built his steadily growing empire from a deep knowledge of the ways music moves online, and he’s done it all from the humblest of beginnings.
Young Dolph & Key Glock Share Dum & Dummer 2, Their Highly-Anticipated Collaborative Project
The Paper Route EMPIRE Duo is Cold as Ice in the Video for Opening Track “Penguins“
The New Album is the Sequel to the Memphis Duo’s 2019 Dum & Dummer, Which Peaked in the Top 10 of the Billboard 200
The Album + Video:
Blessed with unparalleled gifts for crafting punchlines about their lives of luxury, nobody in the rap game flexes harder than Young Dolph and Key Glock. Compiling their opulent magnum opus, the Paper Route EMPIRE duo share Dum & Dummer 2, a new collaborative album. The sequel to 2019’s Dum & Dummer, which peaked at #8 on the Billboard 200, Dum and Dummer 2 finds Dolph & Glock operating at an even higher level of craftsmanship, charisma, and luxury. With artwork that references MTV’s most famous duo, Beavis & Butthead, Dum & Dummer 2 establishes the two rappers (and cousins) as two halves of the same brain, each seamlessly picking up threads and finishing lines that the other leaves off.
The album spans 20-tracks, boasting production from PRE’s own Bandplay, who shows off his musicality and versatility, along with beats from Memphis native Sosa808 and decorated producer Ramy On The Beat. Dum & Dummer 2 is home to a series of standout singles, including the hauntingly flex-heavy“Case Closed,” the soulful winter-weather celebration “Aspen,” and the classily ratchet “Sleep With The Roaches,” which dropped last week. Dum and Dummer 2 features several solo songs from both Young Dolph and Key Glock interspersed with the heavy-hitting tag-team tracks, including Key Glock’s bombastic “I’m The Type,” and Dolph’s bite-sized ad-lib-athon “Yeeh Yeeh.”
Along with the album, Dolph & Glock share the video for “Penguins,” the tape’s ice-cold opening track. Populated by ping-ponging synths and whirring melodies from Bandplay, “Penguins” is a hauntingly percussive Tennessee trap banger. Dolph and Glock take turns setting the tone for their verses throughout the tape, showing off their playfully competitive dynamic and using entrancing repetition to hammer their points home. “It’s a big difference that’s between me and you/I can show you how to hustle, how to ball, and how to shoot/I been doin’ this since a jit, lil b*tch, this sh*t ain’t nothin’ new,” spits Glock. In the video, Dolph and Glock show us how they live, as they take their luxury vehicles to Downtown Memphis, connecting at a gas station and then the club.
Continuing the Memphis natives’ reign as two of the game’s most uncompromising and exciting independent superstars, Dum & Dummer 2 is the most extensive glimpse yet at Dolph & Glock’s extravagantly expensive lifestyles. Dum & Dummer 2 is available everywhere via Paper Route EMPIRE.
Yesterday, Dolph announced the #DumAndDummer2AlbumChallenge on his Instagram. The rapper announced that he would give away $25,000 each week for the next four weeks to the winners (one winner per week). The first challenge? Be the first to email Dolph with the 10,888th word said on Dum & Dummer 2. The challenge will change each week–keep an eye on @YoungDolph for the latest updates.
Starring Eric Andre, Lil Rel Howery & Tiffany Haddish
Out Now on Netflix
Part-buddy comedy, part-hidden camera prank show, and all-ridiculous, Bad Trip is the first feature-length showcase of Eric Andre’s bawdy and bizarre humor. Co-starring Lil Rel Howery, Tiffany Haddish, Michaela Conlin, and a cast of real people who had no idea what they were in for, the new film blurs the lines between reality and fiction, wrapping together real pranks into a loose (and surprisingly sweet) narrative. Packed with uproarious set-pieces that you will never be able to un-see, Bad Trip is a film that will do anything to make you laugh.
ICYMI: Eric Andre gave his fans a sneak peek at the trailer via his OnlyFans account!
Check out his Instagram post about his account HERE.
Bad Trip Info:
Synopsis: From one of the guys that brought you Jackass and Bad Grandpa, this hidden camera comedy follows two best friends as they go on a cross-country road trip full of hilarious, inventive pranks, pulling its real-life audience into the mayhem. Bad Trip stars Eric Andre, Lil Rel Howery, Tiffany Haddish and Michaela Conlin. The film is directed by Kitao Sakurai from the minds of Dan Curry, Kitao Sakurai, and Andre – and produced by Andre, Jeff Tremaine, David Bernad, and Ruben Fleischer.
Cast: Eric Andre, Lil Rel Howery, Michaela Conlin and Tiffany Haddish
Directed by: Kitao Sakurai
Screenplay by: Dan Curry, Eric Andre, Kitao Sakurai
Story by: Eric Andre, Kitao Sakurai, Andrew Barchilon
Produced by: Jeff Tremaine, p.g.a., Eric Andre, p.g.a., David Bernad, p.g.a., Ruben Fleischer
For press inquiries regarding Bad Trip, please contact Erin or Kerry
About Netflix:
Netflix is the world’s leading streaming entertainment service with over 195 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, documentaries and feature films across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on any internet-connected screen. Members can play, pause and resume watching, all without commercials or commitments.
“Majin Vegeta” is the First Video from El Plugg 2 Mixtape, Coming in April via EMPIRE
The Granada Native, Who’s Worked with Metro Boomin, Pi’erre Bourne, 645AR, and More, Kicks Back With His Beamer and His Pitbull in His Stylish New Video
Critical Praise:
“Beef’s geographically diverse sound is unapologetic, with piercing, incisive lyrics over trap beats fused with reggaetón, salsa and more besides, and characterised by its shout-outs to various fashion brands. That all makes sense, as Beef has become a poster boy for labels like Calvin Klein and Givenchy.” – Dazed
“His swaggering aesthetic would come across as crass was it not for the quality of the music – a powerful crossroads that sees the sweaty sounds of Caribbean dembow and reggaeton collide with contemporary hip-hop.” – Highsnobiety
“Yung Beef is without a doubt one of the hottest artists coming up from overseas right now. The young Spanish rapper has been creating a buzz in Spain for a while, and is now starting to catch looks over here in America.” – Lyrical Lemonade
“One of the 25 artists shaping the future of music…A flagbearer for the new Spanish sound…Pulling his biggest tunes off YouTube, deleting releases and dropping projects by surprise have all fed into the cult status around him, while the music sounds equally unpolished, unpredictable and sporadic.” – Crack
The Video:
Spanish rapper Yung Beef draws praise on both sides of the Atlantic for his intoxicating mix of Atlanta trap, groovy reggaeton, and emotional rock music. Today, the Granada native provides the latest taste of his unique alchemy, sharing “Majin Vegeta,” his new video single. Named after a Dragon Ball Z villain who derives his power from dark forces, “Majin Vegeta” is a low-key reggaeton-influenced slapper, produced by two of Yung Beef’s favorite collaborators Pipo Beatz and Kid Favela. Yung Beef layers on the auto-tune and attacks the beat from unconventional angles, giving an ethereal quality to his street savvy lyrics. In the video, Yung Beef mobs on the Mediterranean coast of Spain with a crew of close associates, as they take turns whipping a BMW and an ATV, along with his devilishly adorable pet pit bull.
“Majin Vegeta” is the first single from El Plugg 2, the genre-bending artist’s upcoming project. The sequel to Yung Beef’s 2018 El Plugg Mixtape, which featured production from Mexiko Dro, El Plugg 2 was widely acclaimed for its combination of sounds, mixing elements of Punk and alt-rock with trap music, earning over 21 million streams worldwide. El Plugg 2 features production from American rap sound architect DP Beats (Lil Uzi Vert, Playboi Carti), as well as contributions from Yung Beef’s favorite collaborators like JAGURCLAW, Pochi and Kid Favela. Staying true to Yung Beef’s artistic roots, the upcoming project features contributions from Goa, who connected with Beef for “Guns N Roses” on the original El Plugg, and most notably Pablo Chill-E, a frequent collaborator of Yung Beef and one of the hottest rappers in South America. El Plugg 2 arrives in April 2021 via EMPIRE.
Yung Beef shows no signs of slowing down after releasing 4 projects in 2020, garnering 70M+ total streams worldwide. The projects included Shishi Plugg, a collaborative project with Pablo Chill-E that featured the single “No Nos Pueden Suportar“ (the first song by a Spanish rapper to gain more than 1 million views on the WorldStarHipHop YouTube channel), and Sonrisas, which featured production from Brodinski and a guest spot from 645AR. The Spanish icon had a busy live schedule planned for 2020, before the pandemic hit, including a duo spot at Lollapalooza Chile with Pablo Chill-E, and his own curated stage at Primavera Sound in Barcelona. Expect Yung Beef to pick up where he left off with these festivals in 2022.
Stay tuned for more music from El Plugg 2 to come in the coming weeks.
Spanish rapper Yung Beef is one of his home country’s most popular artists. He’s collaborated with producers like Metro Boomin, Southside, DP Beatz (Playboi Carti), and Brodinski, and made songs with 645AR, Pi’erre Bourne, Pablo Chill-E, Duki, and many more. The genre=bending artist participated in global campaigns for brands like Calvin Klein, Puma, Nike, and Givenchy.
Besides all this, he’s one of the more original and unpredictable European rappers, mixing Atlanta trap with left-field reggaeton and rock and pop music. He’s the major figure in the Spanish rap scene.
Big Jade Announces Pressure, Her Debut Project, Coming in April via Alamo Records
The Rising Texas Rap Queen Shares the Self-Directed Video for the Beat-Shifting “No Hook,” Produced by BeatKing
Bursting Out of Beaumont, TX, a Small City Hours Away From Music Hubs Houston and New Orleans, Big Jade is a Forceful Spitter with a Personality to Match
Critical Praise:
“Beaumont, Texas loudmouth Big Jade has the best music videos. They’re a much needed break from the endless stream of fifteen dudes stuffed into an Airbnb, pointing guns at the shaky cameraman, and doing donuts in rented cars outside.” – Pitchfork
“This unrivaled skill, confidence, and charisma are the attributes that make Big Jade so interesting.” – Lyrical Lemonade
The Announcement:
With a commanding mic presence and a take-no-prisoners attitude, Big Jade is one of the most vital voices in a bustling Texas rap scene. Today, the pride of North Beaumont announces Pressure, her upcoming debut project, slated to release in April 2021. Featuring production from the likes of BeatKing–Jade’s rap game mentor, who discovered her through her freestyle videos on YouTube–DJ Chose, and Bankroll Got It, Pressureprovides a fresh spin on the traditional sounds of Texas rap, packing enough oomph in the low-end to satisfy Houston club-goers. Jade rhymes from her unique perspective, as a bisexual single mother and part-time hairdresser determined to ascend to the top of the game with her pure, athletic rapping. Home to the recent DJ Chose-produced single “Gucci Bag” and following in the wake of a series of verbally dexterous freestyle videos (including “Groupies“), Pressure releases next month via Alamo Records.
Along with the announcement of the project, Big Jade shares “No Hook,” her new video single. Produced by BeatKing, who provides his signature booming kick drums, “No Hook” is a two-part showcase for Jade’s detailed lyricism and unshakeable flow. In the song’s first half, Jade forcefully attacks BeatKing’s arpeggiated keys and trampoline bass, taking aim at fakes who rely on men to provide for them and their kids. The second half instrumental is more downtempo, inviting Jade to spit real talk about her past and her principles: “‘Member those days we was broke we was stealin’/’Member those days we was lazy and chillin/My uncle got shot, how I knew n****s killin’?” Directed by Jade herself, the video has a similar two-act structure: the first half of the video finds a tracksuited Jade attempting to steal a woman’s boyfriend, and the second half migrates to the studio where Jade vibes with a crew determined to help her succeed.
Born and raised in Beaumont, a small city in East Texas far removed from industry hubs like Houston and New Orleans, Big Jade built an online following with her unapologetic realness. In popular videos like “RPM” and “Phone Jumpin,” praised by Pitchfork, Jade exists in her element, showing off her rapping ability while styling hair, her longtime day job. Her brief, but visceral trap bangers caught the attention of BeatKing, who took her under his wing and offered her guest verses and some of his fieriest beats. In late 2020, Jade joined up with her mentor BeatKing for the Texas trap slapper “Respectfully,” also featuring an appearance from Queendome Come. Jade keeps her fans entertained with a regular supply of freestyles, like the recent “Before The Deal,” that show off her bars and indefatigable demeanor. Now with the backing of Alamo Records, Big Jade is ready to make the leap from being the pride of her town to a nationally recognized star.
“I got the attention of the right people by being genuinely myself,” explains rapper Big Jade.
From Beaumont, Texas, the 26-year-old spitter made a name for herself by releasing a series of videos online that showcased her rapping ability. However, her Beatking-produced “RPM” showed a woman juggling rap dreams while doing hair. She was unashamed, unapologetic, and uncut. “It was real. That’s how I grind and get money,” admits Jade. “I’m not out here getting rap money yet; I’m popular on Instagram. Rappers are scared to say they’re doing something else just to make it. Where are you getting the money to invest in yourself and make it happen? Because that’s where it all starts for all of us.” Newly signed to Alamo Records, Big Jade took those steps to get noticed, and now she hopes to put herself and her city on the map.
The Roc Nation Signee Shares a Cinematic Clip for the Emphatic Opening Track from His New Project TwoFr 2
Critical Praise:
“On the West Coast, Kalan has emerged as the premier vocalist in L.A.’s thriving street rap scene, closer in comparison to Ty Dolla $ign than OhGeesy…but Kalan proves he can go bar for bar with L.A.’s best.” – Pitchfork
“Don’t be fooled by Kalan.frfr. Just because he often uses his warm R&B melody over lush piano keys doesn’t mean he’s making bright-eyed love songs…When you’re talking about L.A.’s new wave of sh*t-talking, designer-obsessed rappers, Kalan.frfr should be included. He just happens to sing.” – Pitchfork
“Upon meeting YG, Kalan.frfr was honored that the hip-hop superstar was a fan of his music.” – HYPEBEAST
“Kalan.Frfr has been a part of an exciting new wave of LA rap that includes artists like himself, Shoreline Mafia, 1TakeJay, and the currently incarcerated cult favourites Drakeo the Ruler & 03 Greedo. Unlike most of the artists on that list, Kalan’s music retains a consistently celebratory vibe with an emphasis on party bangers. It’s certainly something he does well.” –HotNewHipHop
Favorite Hip-Hop/R&B Songs of 2020 (“Scoring”) – EARMILK
The Video:
Kalan.FrFr‘s music demands to be played in the whip, preferably a convertible with the top down and a gentle breeze blowing in from the ocean. Traveling from the Pacific to the Atlantic in his latest music video, the L.A. native shares “Look At Me.” The opening track on his new project TwoFr 2, “Look At Me” is Kalan’s mission statement, a breezy and confident riders anthem, in which the 25-year-old artist marvels at how far he’s come and mourns the grandmother who always believed in him: “Granny look at me/I know you smile at me when I see the clouds move/I know you proud of me.” In the video, directed by Kalan’s frequent collaborator Blayr, Kalan enjoys a vacation in Miami, as he rides his jetski through Biscayne Bay and poses with his shiny sports car (colored to match Miami’s pastel color palette). The video also includes a montage of career highlights from Kalan, including performances at Rolling Loud and more.
Spanning 13 tracks, TwoFr 2 is an excellent showcase of what helps the Compton native standout in a crowded hometown scene, namely his silky, rhythmic croon and his sharp sense of songcraft. The new project is home to “Scoring,“ which earned airtime during a Los Angeles Lakers NBA playoff game in the Fall and is currently charting at #29 on urban radio, “Get In,” a lumbering, piano-heavy banger with an appearance from Stunna 4 Vegas, and “No Love” ft. Mozzy, which has a music video that pays tribute to Paid In Full, one of Kalan’s favorite films. The sequel to Kalan’s breakout 2018 tape TwoFr, TwoFr 2 takes the newly-minted Roc Nation signee’s artistry to a new level, complementing his raunchy love songs with introspection and hard-earned wisdom. Featuring production from Cypress Moreno, Bankroll Got It, and more, TwoFr 2 is available everywhere via First Class Entertainment/Roc Nation.
A major figure in Los Angeles’ stacked rap scene, recently crashing the Top 10 of Billboard’s Emerging L.A. Artists chart, Kalan.FrFr earned accolades and co-signs for his breezy melodies and hard-hitting bars. In recent months, the artist’s singular alchemy caught the attention of L.A. rap superstar YG, who hopped on the remix for Kalan’s hard-hitting “Right Wit It” in 2020. A vocalist with many dimensions, the artist earned praise from Pitchfork in 2019 for his pure rapping ability on his fan-favorite “Hot N Ready (Freestyle)“. With TwoFr 2, Kalan solidifies his unique position on the West Coast scene, and builds even more anticipation about great things to come.
TwoFr 2 tracklist:
1. Look At Me
2. Ima Ball
3. Scoring
4. Never Lose You
5. I Like / Good Love
6. Big Dog
7. Get In ft. Stunna 4 Vegas
8. Tidal Wave
9. Run Away
10. I Gotta Know
11. Pray
12. No Love ft. Mozzy & Cypress Moreno
13. Identity Fraud
Kalan.FrFr’s emphasis on keeping things real has propelled his career from the beginning. He has risen to prominence in the saturated Los Angeles music scene blurring the lines between rapper and singer, thoughtfulness, and turn-up.
The Alamo Records Signee and His 1.5 Crew Prepare Their Takeover in an ATL-Set Video
Critical Praise:
“After his rise to prominence through the duo Mal & Quill through the late 2010s, East Atlanta rapper Yung Mal has ventured off for some strong solo offerings, first with last year’s Iceburg and now with his latest 6 RINGS, a quick-hitting 12-track project full of rapid fire flows and strong instrumentals from producer Pyrex.” – HYPEBEAST
“Drenched in authenticity, New Orleans-born, Atlanta-bred rapper Yung Mal is looking like the next to blow out of the south.” – XXL
“The young ATL rapper has been making strides in his city as the next-up.” — HotNewHipHop
“Yung Mal is on a fast ascension through the industry.” — ELEVATOR
“One of the most promising rising artists…Mal consistently brings interesting and unique flows onto stellar production.” — Lyrical Lemonade
“Yung Mal has been the talk of the town in Atlanta” — Karen Civil
The Video:
Yung Mal expertly navigates percolating trap beats, nimbly splicing stuttered syllables between speaker-knocking 808s. Today, the Alamo Records artist celebrates his rise from nothing to something with “Look At Me Now,” his flex-heavy new video single. Blessed with bouncy pianos and thudding bass courtesy of producers Niles Wave and Yung Deee, “Look At Me Now” is a triumphant statement of purpose for Mal, touting his Zone 6 pride and his love for all things designer: “We got a second now we skraight/Hood on my back like an ape/Off-White hoodie but my shoes, they Bape.” In the video, directed by Mike.Envision and Yung Mal himself, the 1.5 Da Label chieftain and his crew enjoy a lively night in the A, before pausing the music to take a phone call from Gucci Mane-affiliated rapper Foogiano. “Look At Me Now” is Mal’s second quality visual of the month, following “Stay Down,” which features a cameo appearance from NLE Choppa.
Yung Mal had a big year in 2020, featuring two high-octane collaborative projects with rising producers. Released in March, 6 Rings paired Mal with Pyrex Whippa. Sporting appearances from Lil Keed, Lil Gotit, and Doe Boy, 6 Rings received praise from publications like HYPEBEAST and XXL. Later in the year, Mal released Iceberg Sosa, produced in full by Memphis producer Sosa808 (Key Glock, G Herbo), which featured highlight video singles like “Hitstick” and “Own Drip.” Building a head of steam in 2021, Yung Mal looks to assume his rightful place among Atlanta’s trap elite.
Stay tuned for 1.5 Way or No Way, Mal’s next project, coming later this year.
Video: Curren$y – “Jermaine Dupri” (Prod. by Harry Fraud)
Blessed by The Man Himself, “Jermaine Dupri” is a Highlight From Curren$y’s Glistening Collection Agency Album
Critical Praise:
“Curren$y is still capable of rapping something so simple it’ll make you wonder how no one has rapped it already” – Pitchfork
“Curren$y’s sharpened pen and deft wordplay will quiet the doubters. His influence was evident then, and it’s irrefutable now.” – Rolling Stone
The Video:
Known for his detailed and silky-smooth luxury raps, Curren$y has always gone hard for his hometown of New Orleans. Offering a picturesque look at NOLA at night, Curren$y shares “Jermaine Dupri,” his latest music video. Produced with signature sumptuousness by Harry Fraud, who adds a sultry saxophone to the mix, “Jermaine Dupri” finds Curren$y explaining how he went from “hood rich to wealthy,” and reveals that his passion for car collecting was inspired by the music mogul: “As a teen I watched MTV Cribs/Jermaine Dupri had the Continental T in the garage/And said you ain’t a big dog unless you got one of these, yeahAnd now I’m driving precision because now I’m that n****.” Upon its release, the song drew praise from Jermaine himself, and helped foster a burgeoning friendship between the OGs.
In the video, directed by Frankie Fire, Curren$y wears a Donald Duck-themed t-shirt and poses with Bentleys and Rolls Royces in a Canal Street garage, all while the Superdome and other NOLA landmarks glisten in the background. “Jermaine Dupri” is a highlight track from Curren$y’s recent Collection Agency album, directly following the video for “Shout Out” ft. Larry June.
Packed with the hazy production and intricate rhymes that have been thrilling Curren$y fans for over a decade, Collection Agency finds the New Orleans native in his bag, spinning witticisms about his life of luxury and painting pictures with his detailed description. The album features production from Harry Fraud, Dj.fresh, Trauma Tone, and more, who create a smooth and sumptuous sonic palette that borrows from ’80s electrofunk and quiet storm R&B. The tape boasts recent singles like the luscious “Kush Through The Sunroof” and the wistfully horn-laden “Misty,” along with highlights like the jazzy, Harry Fraud-produced “Arrival” (complete with an animated visual), and “Closing Date,” which inspired a music video that showed off Curren$y’s massive collection of cars.Collection Agency earned coverage from Complex, HYPEBEAST, XXL, and many others.
Curren$y is always working, feeding his fans quality music while looking towards the future. Collection Agency is merely the first salvo in yet another productive year for the respected rap icon.
Trends and Moments Started by John Mayer, Yungblud, Beach Bunny and More Prove Rock Music’s TikTok Staying Power
The News:
TikTok users are a diverse bunch, and they have diverse music tastes to match. While hip-hop and pop music tend to dominate discussion of music on TIkTok, alternative and rock music, both new and old, has gained a foothold in the community’s imagination. Whether the music soundtracks an emotional confession or a carefree dance party, guitars are always a welcome sound. Check out some of the most compelling stories in the world of guitar-driven music on TikTok in recent days:
Yungblud mixes a light alt-rock feel with hip-hop-inspired vocals and an emo-inspired image. In February, the British artist noticed his 2019 song “Parents” bubbling up on TikTok (36k video creations), recorded an instrumental version, and invited his 3.5 million followers on TikTok to use the duet feature and add their own verse. Thousands of fans took him up on the challenge, some fans racking up nearly 300k video views in the process. The artist was particularly floored by singer-songwriter Chloe Noone, whose verse spoke out against the patriarchy and for gender equality, enough to invite her into the studio and record a new version of the song with her vocals added. Last week, Yungblud posted an adorable video of the moment when he told Chloe that she’d be officially added to a new version of the song, which is now available on DSPs.
Peddling a fresh pop-punk sound, Beach Bunny has been one of TikTok’s favorite indie bands since 2019, when their single “Prom Queen” became one of the platform’s first trending songs. Now, Beach Bunny is back on the top of the TikTok community’s mind with their new single “Cloud 9” (256k video creations) an energetic and romantic rocker that users employ to talk about what they like about their crush, or what they fondly remember about an experience that was otherwise miserable. In the wake of the success of “Cloud 9,” lead singer Lili Trifilio has embraced the platform, answering fan questions about her favorite songs, showing behind-the-scenes clips from upcoming videos, and thanking TikTok for helping “Cloud 9” rack up over 14 million streams on Spotify.
Indie singer-songwriter’s Jack Stauber’s 2017 hit “Buttercup” is a favorite of TikTok’s, experiencing multiple viral moments in the past year and inspiring over 1.5 million creations. During the early stages of the pandemic, “Buttercup” became a popular backing track for TikTok’s surprisingly large community of tie-dye enthusiasts. In recent days, the song is back, gaining steam on the platform with new parents and moms-to-be, providing the soundtrack to adorable babies painting, excited baby name planning, and intense pregnant donut cravings.
Kathleen Hanna has long been an icon in the punk and riot grrl scenes, and now one of her most energetic songs is having a TikTok moment. Creators are feeling he carefree vibes of “Deceptacon” (52k+ creations), a late ’90s song by Hanna’s band Le Tigre, as they showcase their artistic talents in unexpected ways. While some creators are using the sound to show off cool hair dye techniques and intricately spooky wall art, others are using it to prove they won’t back down from any challenge, whether it be painting with their feet or performing Matrix-style slide moves in the driveway with mom.
In the vast world of Music TikTok, there is one soul brave enough to educate the masses about the unfairly maligned genres of ska and ska-punk: that person is JER, aka @SkaTuneNetwork. A music educator and trombone player in ska group We Are The Union, the self-proclaimed CEO of Ska is always willing to talk about their favorite genre, whether demonstrating the rhythmic differences between ska and reggae, explaining the history of ska, recommending ska bands or practitioners of unique ska sub-genres like ska jazz, or enthusiastically “skanking” to their favorite ska songs until the genre gets the “recognition it deserves” (92 days of skanking and counting). They have an enviable skill for explaining complex issues about the public perception of ska music into concise and passionate videos, and maybe, just maybe, if they skank hard enough, JER will usher in a fourth wave of ska all on their own.
As rock music grows more popular on TikTok, rock musicians grow inspired to engage with their fans on the platform. John Mayer, Yungblud, and Beach Bunny all thank fans for their support by interacting with them, changing the perception of the larger-than-life rock star and showing a more accessible side of the artists’ personalities. The TikTok community responds to that kind of authenticity, and developing that kind of relationship with fans is key to success on the app. Rock stars new and old are learning this lesson quickly, and the community is taking notice.
The Rapper Known as “Coochie Man” is Rapidly Gaining Steam Online and IRL With “Kakashi” and “Triple S,” His Latest in a Long Line of Viral Hits
Critical Praise:
“There is Bruce Wayne and Batman. Clark Kent and Superman. And now, YN Jay and the Coochie Man” – Pitchfork
“Flint, Michigan wouldn’t be one of the hottest scenes in rap without ‘Coochie,’ ‘Coochie World,’ ‘Coochie Scout,’ a mixtape titled Coochie Land, and Coochie Man, the floor-humping alter ego of YN Jay.” – Pitchfork
“‘Coochie’ is one of the funniest hip-hop videos of the last five years” – XXL
“The Flint native is one of the more eccentric rappers in Michigan, rapping about coochie, using very distinct ‘hold onnnnnnnnnnnnn’ ad-ibs, and starting off songs by asking the producer: ‘Why you always do that mannnnnnnn?’ I’m honestly not sure what these producers are doing while YN Jay is recording in the booth, but whatever it is, it’s working. The music is always wildly entertaining.” – Complex
“He raps in different voices, draws out words like they’re self-contained riddles. You never know if he’s entirely serious, but that’s the point.” – SPIN
The Video:
With an effortless ability to craft viral songs, YN Jay–better known in some circles as “Coochie Man”–stands out as one of the most creative rappers to come out of a flourishing Michigan scene. Reminiscing about how far he’s come, YN Jay shares the video for “Kakashi,” his latest viral hit. Currently trending on TikTok with over 92k video creations, “Kakashi” mixes punchlines with poignancy, as Jay slides atop BeatsBySav’s beat with a stop-starting flow, wishing that his older brother could share in the success he’s experiencing: “Damn, I lost somebody that I loved too/Damn, I had to get it out the mud too.”
Directed by Dre Beas, the video starts with a moment of contemplation before proceeding to highlight the comedic charisma that helped Jay win a large and growing fanbase, as he mugs for the camera and demonstrates his impressive core strength with his dance moves. “Kakashi” is a highlight track from Ninja Warrior, the Flint native’s most recent project. Earning coverage from Pitchfork, Entertainment Weekly, Mic, and many others, Ninja Warrior showcases the viral sensation’s superior beat-riding ability and boundary-pushing bars. Featuring collaborations with Lil Yachty, Sada Baby, Louie Ray, and Rmc Mike, Ninja Warrior is out now
YN Jay is currently trending on TikTok with “Kakashi” and his recent single “Triple S,” a collaboration with Jay’s frequent collaborator and fellow Flint native Louie Ray. The latest in a long line of viral TikTok hits, “Triple S” has inspired over 450k video views on multiple sounds–one that taps into Jay’s unique mic presence and expressive ad-libs, and another that highlights his witty lyricism–has earned over 8 million Spotify streams, and made its way onto Spotify’s U.S. Viral 50 chart.
Inspired to take rap seriously when his older brother died, the 22-year-old YN Jay quickly started to build a reputation as one of the most colorful characters in a hometown Flint scene populated almost exclusively by colorful characters. He started to get mainstream notice with his single “Coochie,” from his project Coochie Land, which introduced the world to Jay’s one-track mind and eventually racked up over 26 million YouTube views. Jay is a nearly mythic figure on TikTok, generating millions of video creations on viral hits like “Triple S,” “Coochie,” “Coochie Land,” and “Coochie Scout,” and inspiring TikTok comedian @Nuhchez to splice YN Jay’s voice into Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise” and create one of the platform’s most successful running jokes. In recent months, YN Jay earned co-signs from Drake and Lil Uzi Vert, and performed in a prominent time slot during Rolling Loud‘s latest “Loud Stream” virtual festival.
Stay tuned for much more from the prolific YN Jay in the coming days and weeks.
“It’s scary how easy it is for me to make music,” admits 21-year-old rapper YN Jay. This is true of his 2020 hit “Coochie” and the follow-up album Coochie Land. “It was made in three minutes, easily, and the video did 30 million views. I’ve been writing songs to go a certain way my whole life, but it never worked. Now, I’m not overthinking it, and it’s making me a star.” After over a decade at the mic, the Beecher, Michigan native has given rap fans an alternative to music about violence and drugs.
Amid his rise, Jay got cosigns from Drake and Lil Uzi Vert. While Drizzy and Jay are exploring music, he recorded extensively with Uzi. The same night the two discussed collaborating, Jay stopped everything to drive to Philly. “I pulled up; we did damn near eight songs.” One track, the “coochie”-inspired “HOLD ONNNNN,” promises to release during an exciting 2021. Fresh off of Ninja Warrior—an album featuring Lil Yachty and Sada Baby that he conceptualized and recorded in a single day, YN Jay recently signed a deal with Alamo Records and is focused on showcasing his versatility and staying power. “I’m working on a few albums and letting the world know how big this is. Anybody can be a rapper; I’m trying to catch the culture and update the game.”
Mo3’s Family & Team Announces Shottaz 4 Eva, His First Posthumous Album, Available for Pre-Order on April 2nd
Watch “Outside,” the New Music Video from the Late Rapper, Featuring Frequent Collaborator OG Bobby Billions
Arriving via H$M Music/EMPIRE, the Shottaz 4 Eva Album Is Comprised of Material That the Dallas Native Recorded Before Passing Away in November
The Announcement:
Known for his raw lyrics and passionately expressive singing, Mo3 gave a voice to those going through the struggle. Today, the rapper’s family and artist team begin the rollout of Shottaz 4 Eva, the first album to be released since Mo’s tragic passing in November 2020. Shottaz 4 Eva is the fourth entry in Mo’s Shottaz series of project, which helped him build a name for himself in Texas and beyond. The posthumous album–which features the artist’s singular combination of soulful crooning and athletic rhymes–follows up 2020’s Badazz Mo3, a full-length collaboration with Boosie Badazz, 2019’s Osama(featuring popular singles like “Why” and “That Ain’t It), and is the sequel to Mo’s breakout 2018 tape Shottaz 3.0, home to his signature hit “Everybody,” which has over 100 million streams across platforms Shottaz 4 Eva is available for pre-order starting April 2nd via H$M Music/EMPIRE.
Along with the announcement of the project, Mo3’s team shares “Outside,” a heart-wrenching video that pays tribute to the late rapper. Featuring an appearance from fellow Dallas rapper OG Bobby Billions, “Outside” is a poignant examination of the cycle of violence that haunts neighborhoods like Mo3’s. Adorned with emotional saxophones and rippling piano, the song is a potent demonstration of Mo’s singular vocal talent, the passion dripping out of his voice as he prays for an end to the pain suffered by himself and his community. Directed by Prophecy, the video for “Outside” is a moving tribute to the late rapper that doesn’t sugarcoat the violence that takes away far too many lives. The video combines images of mourners at Mo3’s funeral with archival clips of the rapper during happier times, proving that the community to which he dedicated his life appreciated him and loved him back.
Though Mo3 is no longer with us, his legacy lives on in everybody who’s been moved by his music. The late artist’s family and team will continue to release music that he was able to record before his untimely passing. Stay tuned for much more.
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. In 2019, the independent EMPIRE continues to make a major impact, with smash hits and new music from Snoop Dogg, Iggy Azalea, XXXTentacion, Young Dolph, The Free Nationals, and more.
“Yeeh Yeeh” Will Appear On Dum & Dummer, Dolph’s Collab Album with Key Glock,Arriving on March 26th via Paper Route EMPIRE
The Song:
Young Dolph and Key Glock have answered fans’ clamors for more collaborative music by announcing Dum & Dummer 2, coming next week. Today, Young Dolph shares “Yeeh Yeeh,” a solo showcase for the Paper Route EMPIRE CEO. Titled after one of Dolph’s favorite ad-libs, “Yeah Yeah” is a sinister, single-verse slapper. Aided by ominous piano and eerie synths–once again provided by PRE maestro Bandplay–”Yeeh Yeeh” shows off Dolph’s skill with memorable one-liners, as he paints opulent and absurd pictures of his opulent lifestyle with each word: “Can’t nobody count faster than me, I’m a motherf*cking nerd/I stand on top of sh*t, I stamped that, that’s my motherf*cking word/Hit my blunt then take a sip, hit the blunt ‘gain and then I swerve/Got so high I bought a parrot, woke up I forgot I had a bird.” “Yeeh Yeeh” quickly follows “Sleep With The Roaches,” a new video single that dropped yesterday and was featured on Apple Music Radio by Zane Lowe.
Dum and Dummer 2 is the second full-length collaborative album by Young Dolph & Key Glock, following 2019’s Dum and Dummer, which peaked at #8 on the Billboard 200. Currently available for pre-order, the album is home to “Case Closed,“ last month’s hauntingly flex-heavy single, Key Glock’s bombastic solo cut “I’m The Type,” the soulful cold weather flexer “Aspen,” which inspired an icy music video, as well as plenty of new highlights. With artwork that references MTV’s most famous duo Beavis & Butthead, Dum and Dummer 2 features several solo tracks from both Young Dolph and Key Glock interspersed with the heavy-hitting collab songs. Featuring production from PRE’s own Bandplay, who shows off his tremendous musicality and versatility, along with beats from Memphis natives like DJ Squeaky and Sosa808, Dum and Dummer 2 hits the internet on March 26th via Paper Route EMPIRE.
Home to fan-favorite hits like “Water On Water On Water” and “1 Hell Of A Life,” Dum & Dummer was a deluxe-sized showcase for the duo’s inimitable chemistry and unparalleled flexes. Dum and Dummer inspired a successful joint tour, during which Dolph & Glock sold over 43,000 tickets and sold out shows in multiple markets. Dolph & Glock connected earlier this year for “Green Light,” a highlight single from the deluxe version of Dolph’s Rich Slave album, which peaked at #4 on the Billboard 200 upon its release in August. Look for the Memphis natives to make just as big a splash with Dum and Dummer 2.
Created by and Starring Jamie Foxx
Premieres Wednesday, April 14 on Netflix
New Original Series Releases Globally on Netflix on April 14th, 2021
Watch the trailer HERE
Download key art HERE
Download first look photos HERE
Visit the Netflix Media Center HERE
About Dad Stop Embarrassing Me!:
Series Launch Date: April 14, 2021
Format: 8 x 30 minute episodes
Executive Producers: Jamie Foxx, Corinne Foxx, Bentley Kyle Evans, Ken Whittingham
Showrunner: Bentley Kyle Evans
Directors: Ken Whittingham (101-106), Bentley Kyle Evans (107-108)
Cast: Jamie Foxx, David Alan Grier, Kyla-Drew, Porscha Coleman, Jonathan Kite, Heather Hemmens, Valente Rodriguez
Brian Dixon (Jamie Foxx), successful business owner and bachelor, just unexpectedly became a full-time father to his teenage daughter Sasha (Kyla-Drew). Determined to turn over a new leaf, Brian’s going to need all the help he can get from his dad (David Alan Grier) and sister (Porscha Coleman) — and Sasha’s going to need all the help she can get learning how to fit into her new, lovingly imperfect home. Full of heart and humor, Dad Stop Embarrassing Me! is inspired by Foxx’s real-life relationship with daughter Corinne Foxx, who also serves as executive producer. The multi-cam sitcom reunites Foxx with showrunner Bentley Kyle Evans (The Jamie Foxx Show) and is directed by Ken Whittingham (black-ish).
Netflix is the world’s leading streaming entertainment service with over 195 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, documentaries and feature films across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on any internet-connected screen. Members can play, pause and resume watching, all without commercials or commitments.
Starring and Executive Produced by
Wanda Sykes & Mike Epps
Premieres Wednesday, May 12 on Netflix
Premieres on Netflix on May 12th, 2021
Format: 10 x 30 minute episodes
Executive Producers: Regina Hicks, Wanda Sykes, Mike Epps, Page Hurwitz, Niles Kirchner
Co-Creators & Co-Showrunners: Regina Hicks and Wanda Sykes
Cast: Mike Epps, Wanda Sykes, Kim Fields, Page Kennedy, Diamond Lyons, Khali Daniya-Renee Spraggins, Jermelle Simon, Gabrielle Dennis, Journey Christine
Download first look photos HERE
Visit the Netflix Media Center HERE
About The Upshaws:
Bennie Upshaw (Mike Epps), the head of a Black working class family in Indianapolis, is a charming, well-intentioned mechanic and lifelong mess just trying his best to step up and care for his family — wife Regina (Kim Fields), their two young daughters (Khali Daniya-Renee Spraggins, Journey Christine) and firstborn son (Jermelle Simon), the teenage son (Diamond Lyons) he fathered with another woman (Gabrielle Dennis) — and tolerate his sardonic sister-in-law (Wanda Sykes), all without a blueprint for success. But the Upshaws are determined to make it work, and make it to the next level, together.
The Upshaws is co-created by Regina Hicks and Wanda Sykes, who serve as executive producers alongside Mike Epps, Page Hurwitz and Niles Kirchner.
Netflix is the world’s leading streaming entertainment service with over 195 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, documentaries and feature films across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on any internet-connected screen. Members can play, pause and resume watching, all without commercials or commitments.
Director | Ricky Staub
Writers | Ricky Staub, Dan Walser
Based On | ‘Ghetto Cowboy’ by G. Neri
Producers | Tucker Tooley, Lee Daniels, Idris Elba, Dan Walser, Jeff Waxman, Jennifer Madeloff
Cast | Idris Elba, Caleb McLaughlin, Jharrel Jerome, Byron Bowers, Lorraine Toussaint, Clifford “Method Man” Smith
When fifteen year-old Cole (Caleb McLaughlin) is expelled from school in Detroit, he is sent to North Philadelphia to live with Harp (Idris Elba), his estranged father. Harp finds solace in rehabilitating horses for inner city cowboys at the Fletcher Street Stables, a real-life black urban horsemanship community that has provided a safe haven for the neighborhood residents for more than 100 years. Torn between his growing respect for his father’s community and his reemerging friendship with troubled cousin Smush (Jharrel Jerome), Cole begins to reprioritize his life as the stables themselves are threatened by encroaching gentrification.
Inspired by the novel “Ghetto Cowboy” by G. Neri, Concrete Cowboy is directed by first-time feature filmmaker Ricky Staub, written by Ricky Staub and Dan Walser and produced by Tucker Tooley, Lee Daniels, Idris Elba, Dan Walser, Jeff Waxman and Jennifer Madeloff. Byron Bowers, Lorraine Toussaint, Clifford “Method Man” Smith and members of the Fletcher Street Stables also co-star in this moving father-son drama about a teen caught between a life of crime and his estranged father’s vibrant urban-cowboy subculture.
Official Selection at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival
#ConcreteCowboyNetflix
Contact:
For press inquiries regarding Concrete Cowboy, please contact Andrea
Netflix is the world’s leading streaming entertainment service with over 195 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, documentaries and feature films across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on any internet-connected screen. Members can play, pause and resume watching, all without commercials or commitments.
Rising L.A. Rapper/Singer Kalan.Frfr Comes Into His Own with TwoFr 2
The Roc Nation Signee Praised by Billboard As “One Of L.A.’s Top Hip-Hop and R&B Hybrids” Shares the Video for “No Love” ft. Mozzy
The New Project From the Versatile Compton Native Features Recent Singles like “Scoring” and “Get In” ft. Stunna 4 Vegas
Critical Praise:
“On the West Coast, Kalan has emerged as the premier vocalist in L.A.’s thriving street rap scene, closer in comparison to Ty Dolla $ign than OhGeesy…but Kalan proves he can go bar for bar with L.A.’s best.” – Pitchfork
“Don’t be fooled by Kalan.frfr. Just because he often uses his warm R&B melody over lush piano keys doesn’t mean he’s making bright-eyed love songs…When you’re talking about L.A.’s new wave of sh*t-talking, designer-obsessed rappers, Kalan.frfr should be included. He just happens to sing.” – Pitchfork
“Upon meeting YG, Kalan.frfr was honored that the hip-hop superstar was a fan of his music.” – HYPEBEAST
“Kalan.Frfr has been a part of an exciting new wave of LA rap that includes artists like himself, Shoreline Mafia, 1TakeJay, and the currently incarcerated cult favourites Drakeo the Ruler & 03 Greedo. Unlike most of the artists on that list, Kalan’s music retains a consistently celebratory vibe with an emphasis on party bangers. It’s certainly something he does well.” –HotNewHipHop
Favorite Hip-Hop/R&B Songs of 2020 (“Scoring”) – EARMILK
The Project + Video:
Peddling a fresh and melodic take on the modern L.A. sound, Kalan.FrFr effortlessly straddles the line between raw street rap and smooth R&B. Stepping into the spotlight for a versatile new project, Kalan shares TwoFr 2. Spanning 13 tracks, the new project is an excellent showcase of what helps the Compton native standout in a crowded hometown scene, namely his silky, rhythmic croon and his sharp sense of songcraft. TwoFr 2 opens up with mission statement “Look At Me,” a breezy and confident riders anthem, in which the 25-year-old artist marvels at how far he’s come and mourns the grandmother who always believed in him: “Granny look at me/I know you smile at me when I see the clouds move/I know you proud of me.” The project progresses through romantic ballads like “Big Dog,” flex-heavy anthems like “Ima Ball,” which alludes to his past as a Division I athlete, to rap-style hybrids like “Never Lose You.”
The new project is home to “Scoring,“ which earned airtime during a Los Angeles Lakers NBA playoff game in the Fall and is currently charting at #29 on urban radio, and “Get In,” a lumbering, piano-heavy banger with an appearance from Stunna 4 Vegas. The sequel to Kalan’s breakout 2018 tape TwoFr, TwoFr 2 takes the newly-minted Roc Nation signee’s artistry to a new level, complementing his raunchy love songs with introspection and hard-earned wisdom. Featuring production from Cypress Moreno, Bankroll Got It, and more, TwoFr 2 is available everywhere via First Class Entertainment/Roc Nation.
Along with the TwoFr 2 project, Kalan comes through with a cinematic interpretation of his latest single “No Love.” Featuring a breezy beat from Cypress Moreno and a soulful verse from Mozzy, “No Love” is a melodic examination of one of life’s most important questions: how can you tell who you can trust? Inspired by the cult-beloved 2002 film Paid In Full, starring Wood Harris and Mekhi Phifer, the video follows Kalan as he progresses in his career, his luxurious lifestyle causing friction with his friends. After getting some game from Mozzy during his verse, Kalan sadly realizes his paranoia is justified when his homie attempts a double-cross and he has to regulate.
A major figure in Los Angeles’ stacked rap scene, recently crashing the Top 10 of Billboard’s Emerging L.A. Artists chart, Kalan.FrFr earned accolades and co-signs for his breezy melodies and hard-hitting bars. In recent months, the artist’s singular alchemy caught the attention of L.A. rap superstar YG, who hopped on the remix for Kalan’s hard-hitting “Right Wit It” in 2020. A vocalist with many dimensions, the artist earned praise from Pitchfork in 2019 for his pure rapping ability on his fan-favorite “Hot N Ready (Freestyle)“. With TwoFr 2, Kalan solidifies his unique position on the West Coast scene, and builds even more anticipation about great things to come.
TwoFr 2 tracklist:
1. Look At Me
2. Ima Ball
3. Scoring
4. Never Lose You
5. I Like / Good Love
6. Big Dog
7. Get In ft. Stunna 4 Vegas
8. Tidal Wave
9. Run Away
10. I Gotta Know
11. Pray
12. No Love ft. Mozzy & Cypress Moreno
13. Identity Fraud
Kalan.FrFr’s emphasis on keeping things real has propelled his career from the beginning. He has risen to prominence in the saturated Los Angeles music scene blurring the lines between rapper and singer, thoughtfulness, and turn-up.
New Artists and Old Favorites Light Up the Trending Charts as TikTok Favorites Prepare For Grammy Weekend
The News:
TikTok is a bustling superhighway of musical ideas, carrying music from artists of all types and genres to a large community eager to find new music. As artists and fans flock to the platform, it can be daunting to try to keep track of the app’s various musical trends and events. Below, take a look at some of the most relevant stories heating up on TikTok in recent days, ranging from a host of Grammy nominees to up-and-coming artists, and everything in between:
It takes a lot to impress Shania Twain, but even the country icon might be taken aback by the reaction to her new #LetsGoGirls challenge. The multiple Grammy-winning artist joined TikTok on International Women’s Day with an energetic TikTok (over 11 million video views) soundtracked by her 1999 hit “Man! I Feel Like a Woman“. With over 19.5k video creations and over 45 million video views on the #LetsGoGirls hashtag, the song’s blaring horn intro has become a popular sound on TikTok, as users take Shania’s cue and strut their strut, reveal little-known feminine facts, and dress for a wild night out.
Kid Cudi scored his biggest hit in 2008 with the now-classic single “Day ‘N’ Nite”, and in 2021, the TikTok community has adopted it to spill their confessions. With over 303K creations, many creators are putting a humorous spin on the somber song as they turn off the lights in the room and switch up the sentence on the screen to reveal a confession or an unexpected object. Some creators confessed to too many drunk college nights, while others have turned off the lights to reveal funny emo cats. One of TikTok’s favorite grandmas even joined in on the fun as she used this opportunity to expose her own sneaker obsession.
The Grammys are approaching this weekend, and TikTok played a major role in elevating songs, artists, and albums that earned nominations, including Record Of The Year nominees Doja Cat (“Say So,” 15 million+ creations), Megan Thee Stallion (“Savage,” 25 million+ creations), Dua Lipa (“Don’t Start Now,” 3.7 million creations), and DaBaby (“Rockstar” ft. Roddy Ricch, 8 million creations). Megan and Doja Cat also earned nominations for Best New Artist, Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia earned an Album of the Year nod, and Roddy Ricch earned multiple nominations in rap categories for his TikTok hit “The Box.” All of the above artists have noted TikTok’s role in the success of their songs–just this week, Doja Cat released the music video for “Streets,” in which she attempted the trending “Silhouette Challenge” (339 million video views) that the song inspired.
TikTok made a major impact on the Grammy Awards and the charts in 2020, and 2021 proves that TikTok hasn’t lost an ounce of its hitmaking juice. The latest TikTok hit to skyrocket up the charts is “Track Star,” a melodic trap jam by rising rapper Mooski. The song started to trend in January after @CityBoyJ created an ambulatory dance that commented on the song’s “she’s a runner, she’s a track star” hook. Undeterred by untoward comments, @CityBoyJ posted a video of himself dancing to the song every day–not as a way to get viral, but as a way to stay fit. His persistence made a mark on the TikTok community, helping “Track Star” rack up over 308k video creations and inspiring celebrities like Coi Leray, Dream Doll,, and more to do their own spin on the dance. Propelled by @CityBoyJ’s dance challenge, “Track Star” debuted at #99 on the Billboard Hot 100 last week, before rising 33 spots this week to #66.
Music fans on TikTok are a loyal bunch–if an artist has one hit on the platform, fans will constantly be on the lookout for their next hit. In recent weeks, a few TikTok favorites have resurfaced with new trending songs. The artist responsible for TikTok’s #1 song of 2020, Jason Derulo is trending once again for his Adam Levine collab “Lifestyle” (77k creations), which inspires TikTok users to reveal their lifestyle aspirations and has been heavily and creatively promoted by Derulo himself. Meanwhile, “Stupid” hitmaker Ashnikkohas another brash banger on the trending charts–the unapologetically raunchy Princess Nokia collab “Slumber Party” (60k video creations). Last but not least, indie rock group Beach Bunny has a devoted following on the platform after scoring one of TikTok’s first sleeper hits in 2019 with the wistfully catchy “Prom Queen” (265k video creations). The Chicago native band is back on TikTok’s trending charts with “Cloud 9” (45k creations), a romantic power pop jam that’s perfect for indulging in crushes.
TikTok is full of up-and-coming musicians using the platform to showcase their immense talent. One such instrumentalist is @devilishbri, a brilliant teenage bassist who built up a following of nearly 150k by recording distorted bass covers of songs by Rico Nasty, Grimes, Muse, and many more. In recent weeks, Bri has been trying to get reacquainted with the guitar so she can more easily write songs of her own. When she’s not shredding on her stringed instruments, Bri takes the time to engage with the latest dance trends and continue her search for the real Santa Claus.
TikTok’s influence has caused a seismic change in the way the music industry does business. During next week’s SXSW, members of the TikTok team will discuss how the platform changed the industry, and how it affects the music itself. Next Thursday, March 18th at 4pm ET, Ole Obermann, TIkTok’s Global Head of Music will sit down with Fleetwood Mac drummer and viral starMick Fleetwood for “Going Viral: In Your Dreams,” a conversation where they’ll talk music, technology, discovering talent, and more. William Gruger, TikTok’s Music Editorial Lead, will also host the “TikTok Music Curators Round Table,” a wide-ranging discussion with respected TikTok users like Blu DeTiger, SongPsych’s Devon Schmalz, and others.
The Paper Route EMPIRE Rappers Get Icy in All Senses of the Word in the First Video from Dum And Dummer 2, Coming March 26th
The Announcement:
Young Dolph and Key Glock are a dynamic duo, one-upping each other’s flexes with humor and panache. Taking a luxurious vacation to the Rocky Mountains, the Paper Route EMPIRE rappers share “Aspen,” their new music video. Produced by Bandplay, who makes a cameo in the video, “Aspen” is a bright and soulful single about ballin’ out in Colorado’s ritziest mountain town. Directed by Dolph himself, using the Paper Route Pictures moniker, the “Aspen” video deposits the Memphis natives in a spacious slope-side chalet with some beautiful women for company. The two rappers partake in a variety of winter weather activities, from snowball fights, to snowmobiling, and snowboarding (of course Dolph has Moncler ski goggles). Key Glock even makes a trip to a petting zoo to interact with his fellow goats. “Aspen” is the first video from the upcoming Dum and Dummer 2.
Dum and Dummer 2 is the second full-length collaborative album by Young Dolph & Key Glock, following 2019’s Dum and Dummer, which peaked at #8 on the Billboard 200. Currently available for pre-order, the album is home to “Case Closed,“ last month’s hauntingly flex-heavy single, and Key Glock’s bombastic solo cut “I’m The Type,” as well as plenty of new highlights. Boasting artwork that references MTV’s most famous duo Beavis & Butthead, Dum and Dummer 2 features several solo tracks from both Young Dolph and Key Glock interspersed with the heavy-hitting collab songs. Featuring production from PRE’s own Bandplay, who shows off his tremendous musicality and versatility, along with beats from Memphis natives like DJ Squeaky and Sosa808, Dum and Dummer 2 hits the internet on March 26th via Paper Route EMPIRE.
Home to fan-favorite hits like “Water On Water On Water” and “1 Hell Of A Life,” Dum & Dummer was a deluxe-sized showcase for the duo’s inimitable chemistry and unparalleled flexes. Dum and Dummer inspired a successful joint tour, during which Dolph & Glock sold over 43,000 tickets and sold out shows in multiple markets. Dolph & Glock connected earlier this year for “Green Light,” a highlight single from the deluxe version of Dolph’s Rich Slave album, which peaked at #4 on the Billboard 200 upon its release in August. Look for the Memphis natives to make just as big a splash with Dum and Dummer 2.
The Young Dolph Co-Signee Flashes an Easygoing Flow in This Bandplay-Produced Video Single
Critical Praise:
“5 under-the-radar rappers from Memphis you should know about…Kenny Muney stands as the city’s rap emissary.” – The FADER
“Laced with familiar southern swagger and street tales, the new project solidifies Kenny has a viable name to keep an eye on as the new year creeps up.” – HotNewHipHop
The Video:
Rhyming in rocksteady triplets through a sly grin, Paper Route EMPIRE artist Kenny Muney is a rising Memphis rapper to watch. Thrilled about living the life of his dreams, the Paper Route EMPIRE shares “Poppin It,” his new music video. Produced by PRE’s own Bandplay, who piles thudding bass atop gently plucked guitars, “Poppin It” proves that Kenny Muney has perfected the art of flexing, as he sneers at those who save instead of spend and those who claim that they’re haves when they’re really have-nots. In the video, Kenny Muney gives a glimpse into his high-flying lifestyle, filled with stacks of cash, glamorous jewelry, beautiful women, and sugary bowls of oatmeal. “Poppin It” is Kenny Muney’s first new song of 2021, arriving after a 2020 that brought local hits “FR” (991k views on YouTube) and the fiery “Hot” (646k views).
A native of South Memphis, Kenny Muney grew up idolizing rappers like Lil Wayne, Gucci Mane, and Boosie. He started rapping at age 15, developing his aggressive aesthetic and honing his deeply rhythmic flow. Kenny got his first brush with fame when he released “YTN Freestyle,” which racked up over 2.5 million YouTube views, made him a neighborhood hero, and earned airplay on local radio. He made noise in 2019 with Muney Talk, his first mixtape for PRE. Earlier this year, Kenny Muney connected with his mentor Young Dolph for “No Regrets,“ a highlight track from Dolph’s recent Rich Slave (Deluxe) album. Hard at work on his next project, Kenny Muney looks to join Dolph and Key Glock in the national rap conversation.
“I’m never satisfied,” says Kenny Muney. “It’s a gift and a curse. I’m always looking for the next step.” Stay tuned for much more from Kenny Muney and the rest of Paper Route EMPIRE as 2021 moves on.
The Jet Life CEO Shares the Latest Video from His New Collection Agency Album
Critical Praise:
“Curren$y is still capable of rapping something so simple it’ll make you wonder how no one has rapped it already” – Pitchfork
“Curren$y’s sharpened pen and deft wordplay will quiet the doubters. His influence was evident then, and it’s irrefutable now.” – Rolling Stone
The Video:
Spitting detailed rhymes about his life of luxury, Curren$y is the world’s most productive stoner. Showing his romantic side in a new music video, Curren$y shares “Shout Out,” a highlight from his recent Collection Agency album. Produced by Curren$y‘s frequent collaborator Trauma Tone, “Shout Out” is an ultra-smooth, saxophone-drenched for the ladies anthem, in which Spitta proves himself to be the perfect gentleman: “I could pull up with you a couple spots and have you poppin’/Open the door for you, I know everybody watchin’.” In the video, Curren$y and featured guest Larry June–who adds his deep-voiced witticisms to the proceedings–post up on a rooftop with bottles of wine and beautiful women, showing off the casual class of a typical night in their high-rolling lifestyles. “Shout Out” is Curren$y’s latest video from Collection Agency, following last week’s “Closing Date,” which showed off Spitta’s impressive car collection
Packed with the hazy production and intricate rhymes that have been thrilling Curren$y fans for over a decade, Collection Agency finds the New Orleans native in his bag, spinning witticisms about his life of luxury and painting pictures with his detailed description. The album features production from Harry Fraud, Dj.fresh, Trauma Tone, and more, who create a smooth and sumptuous sonic palette that borrows from ’80s electrofunk and quiet storm R&B. The tape boasts recent singles like the luscious “Kush Through The Sunroof” and the wistfully horn-laden “Misty,” along with highlights like the jazzy, Harry Fraud-produced “Arrival” (complete with an animated visual), “I Don’t Call,” in which the rapper brags about getting bands in a pandemic, and the saxophone-drenched late-night heater “Jermaine Dupri,“ which drew praise from the man himself on Twitter.Collection Agency earned coverage from Complex, HYPEBEAST, XXL, and many others.
Collection Agency is Curren$y’s first new project of 2021, following a yet another busy year for the veteran rapper. In 2020, the uncountably prolific rapper released 4 full-length projects and multiple EPs, each with a different set of collaborators. He kicked off the year with The Tonite Show With Curren$y, an entry into Dj.fresh’s renowned series of mixtapes, before keeping the momentum up with the Cardo Got Wingz-produced Green Tape EP,Smokin’ Potnas, a collaborative effort with his Jet Life associate Fendi P, and Spring Clean, a 10-track project with 808 Mafia producer Fuse. The second half of 2020 brought TheOutRunners, a Harry Fraud-produced effort that earned coverage from Consequence Of Sound, HYPEBEAST, REVOLT, and more. The Jet Life CEO ended the year with Welcome To Jet Life Recordings, a label showcase that featured contributions from signees like T.Y., Black Cobain, and more.
Curren$y is always working, feeding his fans quality music while looking towards the future. Collection Agency is merely the first salvo in yet another productive year for the respected rap icon.
Director | Ricky Staub
Writers | Ricky Staub, Dan Walser
Based On | ‘Ghetto Cowboy’ by G. Neri
Producers | Tucker Tooley, Lee Daniels, Idris Elba, Dan Walser, Jeff Waxman, Jennifer Madeloff
Cast | Idris Elba, Caleb McLaughlin, Jharrel Jerome, Byron Bowers, Lorraine Toussaint, Clifford “Method Man” Smith
When fifteen year-old Cole (Caleb McLaughlin) is expelled from school in Detroit, he is sent to North Philadelphia to live with Harp (Idris Elba), his estranged father. Harp finds solace in rehabilitating horses for inner city cowboys at the Fletcher Street Stables, a real-life black urban horsemanship community that has provided a safe haven for the neighborhood residents for more than 100 years. Torn between his growing respect for his father’s community and his reemerging friendship with troubled cousin Smush (Jharrel Jerome), Cole begins to reprioritize his life as the stables themselves are threatened by encroaching gentrification.
Inspired by the novel “Ghetto Cowboy” by G. Neri, Concrete Cowboy is directed by first-time feature filmmaker Ricky Staub, written by Ricky Staub and Dan Walser and produced by Tucker Tooley, Lee Daniels, Idris Elba, Dan Walser, Jeff Waxman and Jennifer Madeloff. Byron Bowers, Lorraine Toussaint, Clifford “Method Man” Smith and members of the Fletcher Street Stables also co-star in this moving father-son drama about a teen caught between a life of crime and his estranged father’s vibrant urban-cowboy subculture.
Official Selection at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival
#ConcreteCowboyNetflix
Contact:
For press inquiries regarding Concrete Cowboy, please contact Andrea
Netflix is the world’s leading streaming entertainment service with over 195 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, documentaries and feature films across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on any internet-connected screen. Members can play, pause and resume watching, all without commercials or commitments.
Celebrate IWD and Women’s Month on TikTok with Shania Twain’s #LetsGoGirls
The Announcement:
Iconic artist Shania Twain pioneered a world-conquering blend of country music and pop, and now she’s bringing her unapologetically feminine energy to TikTok. Just in time for International Women’s Day, Shania asks the TikTok community to join her in the #LetsGoGirls challenge, soundtracked by her immortal hit “Man! I Feel Like A Woman.” Users can demonstrate what they think is the best thing about being a woman by creating a transition or stitch to showcase what happens when they hear Shania utter her famous phrase “Let’s Go Girls.”
“Tik Tok is a place where everyone has a voice,” says Shania Twain. “ It is more than a platform, it is a community. Somewhere to celebrate creativity and have fun–so I’m in! TikTok and I are spending March supporting all those who FEEL LIKE A WOMAN… so join me loudly when I say ‘LET’S GO GIRLS!’”
The multiple Grammy Award-winning Canadian singer is the latest living music legend to join the platform in recent months. Shania Twain and “Man! I Feel Like A Woman” are already popular on TikTok, with over 19k video creations on the song. The hashtags #ShaniaTwain and #LetsGoGirls have generated more than 95 million combined video views.
With five albums released and more than 100 million albums sold worldwide, Twain remains the top-selling female country pop artist of all time. Her hits include “Any Man of Mine,” “That Don’t Impress Me Much,” “You’re Still the One” and “Man! I Feel Like A Woman!” Twain’s first album in 15 years, NOW, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 albums in September 2017. She is eagerly waiting to be reunited with her fans, but for now, you can find @ShaniaTwain on TikTok.
TikTok will also be hosting a special six-hour LIVE telethon today from 1:00-7:00 p.m. PST, in celebration of International Women’s Day, to raise money for organizations that are committed to providing support and resources to help women continue flourishing in their lives. Starting today, #ThanksToHer will be a featured banner on the Discover page, connecting our community to a schedule of TikTok LIVE programming featuring women creators and artists, including @mayemuskofficial, @lillysingh, LGBTQ+ TikTok Trailblazers @team2moms, @kaliuchis, @christaallen, and more.
TikTok is a platform that empowers women to own their voice and showcase their best selves but we know there is still work to be done. TikTok will be donating $250,000 to non-profit organizations across the US and Canada that commit to the advancement of women’s leadership and economic empowerment globally including: Center for Asian Pacific American Women, Girl Effect, I Support the Girls, Kode With Klossy, League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), Malala Fund, Period., and Plan International USA.
From the days of Sylvia Robinson pulling strings behind the scenes at Sugar Hill Records to the era of Queen Latifah spreading “U.N.I.T.Y>” to Cardi B & Megan Thee Stallion topping the charts, women have always played a crucial role in shaping hip-hop and pushing it forward.
With an inspiring number of women making noise in the current rap scene, we are proud to work with three vastly talented, and vastly different artists who are forging their own creative paths.
A stellar lyricist who embodies the East Coast tradition, Beanz first earned notice on Netflix’s Rhythm & Flow for her outsized charisma and lyrical dexterity.
A digital native who started making music in her Vancouver bedroom, Prado transcends genre with her intoxicating combination of hip-hop, pop, and electronic.
A hairdresser and a single mom from a little-known mid-sized Texas city, Big Jade’s fierce attitude earned the respect of influential tastemakers in Texas.
Check below for much more information on these artists. who are more than ready to make their mark on the scene in 2021 and beyond.
Happy International Women’s Day!
Sincerely,
The Audible Treats Team
Contact:
For more info about Beanz or Big Jade, please contact Michelle or Andrea
For more info about Prado, please contact Michelle or Kerry.
With an authoritative voice that leaps out of speakers, rising rapper Beanz has bars for days. Born and raised in Reading, Pennsylvania, a mid-sized city located between Philadelphia and Harrisburg, Beanz started her rhyming career as a poet. Before long, her poems evolved into raps, and she began to develop a reputation as the best rapper in her city. Beanz brought her artistry to a larger audience when she joined the cast of Rhythm & Flow, Netflix’s first-ever reality competition show, becoming a fan favorite for her take-no-prisoners attitude. Since Rhythm & Flow, Beanz has been active, releasing successful singles like “Can’t Call It” (over 1 million streams across platforms) and collaborating with Dizzy Wright for “Sick Of Complaining.” Most recently, Beanz turned heads with her new song “Trending Topic,” which samples “Who’s That Girl?” by fellow Pennsylvania native Eve. Ready to take her game to the next level in 2021, the artist is preparing a deluge of new music, including a forthcoming project. Beanz season is coming.
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. As she continues to release her unceasingly witty and irresistibly catchy music, prepare to see Prado’s lyrics in more Instagram captions than you can count.
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 Queendom Come, Jade exists in her element, showing off her rapping ability while styling hair, her longtime day job. Jade is a proud mother to her young daughter, who often makes cameo appearances in her true-to-life music videos.
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, Jade is gearing up for her debut project, recently sharing the ultra-confident video for the DJ Chose-produced single “Gucci Bag.” With undeniable skills behind the mike, Big Jade is ready to make the leap from being the pride of North Beaumont to a nationally recognized star.
Meet Hip-Hop’s Next Leading Ladies: Beanz, Prado, and Big Jade
This International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, Take a Listen to These Rising Rappers–One Might Become Your New Favorite Artist
From the days of Sylvia Robinson pulling strings behind the scenes at Sugar Hill Records to the era of Queen Latifah spreading “U.N.I.T.Y>” to Cardi B & Megan Thee Stallion topping the charts, women have always played a crucial role in shaping hip-hop and pushing it forward.
With an inspiring number of women making noise in the current rap scene, we are proud to work with three vastly talented, and vastly different artists who are forging their own creative paths.
A stellar lyricist who embodies the East Coast tradition, Beanz first earned notice on Netflix’s Rhythm & Flow for her outsized charisma and lyrical dexterity.
A digital native who started making music in her Vancouver bedroom, Prado transcends genre with her intoxicating combination of hip-hop, pop, and electronic.
A hairdresser and a single mom from a little-known mid-sized Texas city, Big Jade’s fierce attitude earned the respect of influential tastemakers in Texas.
Check below for much more information on these artists. who are more than ready to make their mark on the scene in 2021 and beyond.
Happy International Women’s Day!
Sincerely,
The Audible Treats Team
Contact:
For more info about Beanz or Big Jade, please contact Michelle or Andrea
For more info about Prado, please contact Michelle or Kerry.
With an authoritative voice that leaps out of speakers, rising rapper Beanz has bars for days. Born and raised in Reading, Pennsylvania, a mid-sized city located between Philadelphia and Harrisburg, Beanz started her rhyming career as a poet. Before long, her poems evolved into raps, and she began to develop a reputation as the best rapper in her city. Beanz brought her artistry to a larger audience when she joined the cast of Rhythm & Flow, Netflix’s first-ever reality competition show, becoming a fan favorite for her take-no-prisoners attitude. Since Rhythm & Flow, Beanz has been active, releasing successful singles like “Can’t Call It” (over 1 million streams across platforms) and collaborating with Dizzy Wright for “Sick Of Complaining.” Most recently, Beanz turned heads with her new song “Trending Topic,” which samples “Who’s That Girl?” by fellow Pennsylvania native Eve. Ready to take her game to the next level in 2021, the artist is preparing a deluge of new music, including a forthcoming project. Beanz season is coming.
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. As she continues to release her unceasingly witty and irresistibly catchy music, prepare to see Prado’s lyrics in more Instagram captions than you can count.
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 Queendom Come, Jade exists in her element, showing off her rapping ability while styling hair, her longtime day job. Jade is a proud mother to her young daughter, who often makes cameo appearances in her true-to-life music videos.
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, Jade is gearing up for her debut project, recently sharing the ultra-confident video for the DJ Chose-produced single “Gucci Bag.” With undeniable skills behind the mike, Big Jade is ready to make the leap from being the pride of North Beaumont to a nationally recognized star.
Young Dolph & Key Glock Announce Dum and Dummer 2, Coming March 26th via Paper Route EMPIRE
The Duo Ball Out in Colorado’s Fanciest Ski Town in the Soulful New Single “Aspen”
The Follow-Up to 2019’s Billboard Top 10-Charting Dum and Dummer, D&D2 Rekindles the Chemistry That Makes Young Dolph and Key Glock One of Rap’s Best Duos
The Announcement:
Tag-teaming trap tracks with outlandish flexes, Young Dolph & Key Glock are rap’s most in-demand twosome. Today, the Paper Route EMPIRE rappers officially announce Dum and Dummer 2, their second full-length collaborative album. The follow-up to 2019’s Dum and Dummer, which peaked at #8 on the Billboard 200, Dum and Dummer 2 finds Dolph & Glock operating at an even higher level of craftsmanship, charisma, and luxury. The two rappers–and blood cousins–often seem like two halves of the same brain, each seamlessly picking up threads and finishing lines that the other leaves off.
Currently available for pre-order, album is home to “Case Closed,“ last month’s hauntingly flex-heavy single, and Key Glock’s bombastic solo cut “I’m The Type,” as well as plenty of new highlights. Boasting artwork that slyly references MTV’s most famous duo Beavis & Butthead, Dum and Dummer 2 features several solo tracks from both Young Dolph and Key Glock interspersed with the heavy-hitting collab songs. Featuring production from PRE’s own Bandplay, who shows off his tremendous musicality and versatility, along with beats from Memphis natives like DJ Squeaky and Sosa808, Dum and Dummer 2 hits the internet on March 26th via Paper Route EMPIRE.
“Dumb & Dumber is one of my and Glock’s favorite movies,” says Young Dolph. “We do stuff in real life that’s just like they do in that movie. We just like having fun with everything we do.”
To accompany the announcement of the album, the duo “Aspen,” a new music video and single that is icy in all senses of the word. Blessed with a deeply soulful beat from Bandplay (“that’s who I’m runnin’ up the bands with,” rhymes Dolph), complete with textured blasts of organ and twinkling keys, “Aspen” is a master class in flexing, as Dolph & Glock brag about ballin’ out in Colorado’s ritziest mountain town. Each rapper has a blast slaloming around Bandplay’s 808s to craft their assonant boasts: “Get out my way, I’ll pop you like an Aspirin/Trap n**** on my way to Aspen/Smoke the best weed and spend millions on fashion,” spits Dolph on the hook.
Home to fan-favorite hits like “Water On Water On Water” and “1 Hell Of A Life,” Dum & Dummer was a deluxe-sized showcase for the duo’s inimitable chemistry and unparalleled flexes. Dum and Dummer inspired a successful joint tour, during which Dolph & Glock sold over 43,000 tickets and sold out shows in multiple markets. Dolph & Glock connected earlier this year for “Green Light,” a highlight single from the deluxe version of Dolph’s Rich Slave album, which peaked at #4 on the Billboard 200 upon its release in August. Look for the Memphis natives to make just as big a splash with Dum and Dummer 2.
Taleban Dooda Connects with 42 Dugg for the Hard-Hitting “Trappin’ Ain’t Dead”
The Tampa Native Announces Debut Album Fallen Angel, Arriving May 14th via Green Light Music Group/Rostrum Records
The 18-Year-Old Rising Star Shows Off His Spitting Skills Over a Helluva-Produced Beat on His New Video Single
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 Announcement + Video:
Taleban Dooda is tearing up the Florida scene with his nimble melodics and raw lyricism. Ready to harness his prodigious talent into a full-length effort, the 18-year-old East Tampa native formally announces Fallen Angel, his forthcoming debut album. Bursting with invention and earworm hooks, the upcoming album gives a home to recently released highlights like “Chosen” ft. T9ine, a gospel-influenced anthem that earned praise from Pitchforkand HipHopDX (who named the song one of the Best Hip-Hop Songs of 2021 So Far) and counts 3 million total streams, and the tuneful “No Eater,” released last month and featured prominently on Spotify’s Fresh Finds playlist. Capitalizing on momentum that has been building since the Dooda’s release of the street hit “Tru Colors” last January, Fallen Angel releases on May 14th via Green Light Music Group/Rostrum Records.
To accompany the announcement of the album, Dooda shows off his pure rapping ability in his hard-charging new video single “Trappin’ Ain’t Dead.” Featuring an appearance from in-demand guest verse god 42 Dugg, “Trappin’ Ain’t Dead” borrows the chaotic sonics of Dugg’s native Detroit, recruiting producer Helluva to provide his signature rubbery bass and racing piano arpeggios. The stylistic change-up comes naturally for Dooda, who tones down his usual melodics and lets loose with a hard-charging flow, proving that he’s the top dog in his hometown. In the video, shot by 20k Visuals, Dooda and Dugg trap out at an East Tampa Chevron as they mob with their crews.
Taleban Dooda has been steadily building a fanbase since release his first single in early 2020, displaying a natural melodic ability that helps him stand out in a burgeoning Florida street rap scene. He scored street hits in the first half of the year with the likes of “Tru Colors” (over 3 million total streams) and “2 In Da Morning” (1 million views), and kept the momentum going in the fall with standout singles like “Dis Dooda,” which Vice named as one of the 24 Best Songs of September. Stay tuned for more releases from Dooda in the run-up to his debut album, and his first-ever full length project, Fallen Angel.
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.”
The Zone 6 Standout Flashes His Ice and His Ice-Cold Flow in His First New Video of 2021, With a Cameo From NLE Choppa
Critical Praise:
“After his rise to prominence through the duo Mal & Quill through the late 2010s, East Atlanta rapper Yung Mal has ventured off for some strong solo offerings, first with last year’s Iceburg and now with his latest 6 RINGS, a quick-hitting 12-track project full of rapid fire flows and strong instrumentals from producer Pyrex.” – HYPEBEAST
“Drenched in authenticity, New Orleans-born, Atlanta-bred rapper Yung Mal is looking like the next to blow out of the south.” – XXL
“The young ATL rapper has been making strides in his city as the next-up.” — HotNewHipHop
“Yung Mal is on a fast ascension through the industry.” — ELEVATOR
“One of the most promising rising artists…Mal consistently brings interesting and unique flows onto stellar production.” — Lyrical Lemonade
“Yung Mal has been the talk of the town in Atlanta” — Karen Civil
The Video:
With a supernatural feel for rhythm and a devil-may-care demeanor, Yung Mal is ready to take the next step. Giving a glimpse of his hectic and high-flying lifestyle, Mal shares “Stay Down,” his new music video. Doing donuts around swirling flutes and insistent 808s, Mal shows off his rapidfire patter on the new track, occasionally switching to a cut-time triplet flow to pontificate about his problems and brag about his hard-earned riches: “Stay down, stay down, stay down, stay down/None of this sh*t did come overnight/I ran that sh*t all the way up from the ground/The bands don’t fit cause my pants too tight.” In the video, an effortlessly fly Mal shows off his ice and counts his cash as he throws down in Candler Park with his 1.5 Crew and other close friends including NLE Choppa.
“Stay Down” is Mal’s first video following a breakthrough 2020, featuring two high-octane collaborative projects with rising producers. Released in March, 6 Rings paired Mal with Pyrex Whippa. Sporting appearances from Lil Keed, Lil Gotit, and Doe Boy, 6 Rings received praise from publications like HYPEBEAST and XXL. Later in the year, Mal released Iceberg Sosa, produced in full by Memphis producer Sosa808 (Key Glock, G Herbo), which featured highlight video singles like “Hitstick” and “Own Drip.” Building a head of steam in 2021, Yung Mal looks to assume his rightful place among Atlanta’s trap elite.
Stay tuned for 1.5 Way or No Way, Mal’s next project, coming later this year.
