Recently New York City gathered at Terminal 5 for the illustrious LegendsNFT launch party.
Recently HDBeenDope hosted a listening party in New York City to celebrate his latest project.
Friends and fans gathered at Daily Paper’s Flagship store in New York City to celebrate HDBeenDope’s newest collaborative project, produced entirely by Earl On The Beat, titled Side A: The Preface. Excitement and good vibes were in the air as everyone showed out to support HD’s latest release. The event featured complimentary cocktails courtesy of D’usse, Millhouse NYC was on the ones and twos and Goldie Harris hosted the intimate the affair. Everyone enjoyed themselves and had a great night especially when HD took center stage and started playing his project for everyone. It was clear from HD’s performance just how much thought and care he put into it. We event got to catch up with HD at the end of the night regarding his new project.
The Brooklyn native’s latest project Side A: The Preface is a 4-track EP with features from Roc Nation artists Maeta and Landstrip Chip. HD views this project as just the beginning and wants this project to serve as his introduction to the world. In addition to releasing the new project HD also dropped a new music video for his track “Hold It Down” featuring Landstrip Chip. Not only did HD drop a new project he also performed at Rolling Loud at the end of last month and just finished up a college tour. Find out what else Hd had to say in our exclusive interview below:
The Knockturnal: At what age did you start experimenting with music?
HDBeenDope: I probably started fucking with music at about 9. That’s when I got introduced to 50 Cent.That was like the start of it. I started writing raps in this little book that I got that my third grade teacher gave me. She said I was a good writer. She gave us a journal.
The Knockturnal: How important do you think it is to be a good writer if you want to be an artist?
HDBeenDope: I feel like at the core of this music shit, people need sh*t that they’re going to feel. But the core, the shit that’s really going to last and stick with you, the writing got to be something. They have to be saying something that makes you feel something. Give me feelings, that’s necessary.
The Knockturnal: What would you say are the three biggest highlights of your career so far?
HDBeenDope: Definitely first 10,000 views on Youtube. First show in Paris, and the first time I made some sh*t that I was really proud of. Like it meant something to me.
The Knockturnal: Can you tell me about your new project? How important is it to have people you know and love on this project?
HDBeenDope: This project was different in a sense that everything was about getting uncomfortable. Normally I’m making all the beats and mixing and doing everything inside my bedroom. I wanted to get with a producer because one it’s forcing me outside of my comfort. I’m not the one who is behind the board the whole time. I’m not in control. I’m giving up control to someone, so that was different. Then being around my friends and making music was different. I normally make all my songs in my bedroom, finish them and then it goes out and the people around me say oh word ok that came out. This was the first time I was making music and playing it for my friends.
The Knockturnal: Who are some music influences?
HDBeenDope: 50 cent was the start, then Lil Wayne, and then J. Cole.
The Knockturnal: Can you tell me the meaning behind the title of your project Side A: The Preface?
HDBeenDope: This is the beginning, this is what is going to introduce me to the world. This is the one to do that and put the footsteps down.
Get to know rapper Eighty8.
Miami based artist Eighty8 signed with Cash Money in 2020, but his musical journey began long before then. As a child Eighty8 was heavily inspired by his Jamaican and Haitian heritage and music. Growing up in Miami, also allowed Eighty8 to be exposed to a variety of cultures and music. At the age of 3 Eighty8 would spend hours watching VHS tapes of Michael Jackson while singing along. Eventually his interest in music grew and he began performing at talent shows and pep rallies before joining R&B group 4th & Ocean and signing to Warner Bros. Records. Following the group’s disbanding Eighty8 continued to pursue his passion for music and even went viral with his hit single “Pree.” In 2020 Eighty8 caught the attention of Cash Money Records and joined it’s roster.
Eighty8 fuses R&B, Hip-Hop, Pop and island music to create a truly new and innovative sound that transcends genres. He cites Tupac, Biggie, Chris Brown, Buju Banton and Jeezy as his biggest musical influences and has worked with artists like Usher and Betty Wright. Recently Eighty8 released new visuals for his single “HIT” as well as a visual mixtape teaser of what fans can expect from him in the near future. Find out more about Eighty8 by checking out our exclusive interview below.
The Knockturnal: When did you first start experimenting with music?
Eighty8: As far as I remember, because my mom always tells me the story, I was pretty young, but she says that I was kinda obsessed with Michael Jackson videos and sitting in front of the TV watching music videos. She knew I could sing by the age of 3. I was holding notes, you know when kids sing along to songs. She knew. I knew later on in middle school and that was when I was like I want to do this.
The Knockturnal: Can you talk about your Haitian and Jamaican roots and how that influences your music?
Eighty8: My mom is Haitian and my dad is Jamaican. That mix alone is crazy. My mom was Haitian so I grew up with predominantly Haitian heritage. My mom always kept me in touch with my Jamaican roots, and being from MiamI it’s a big mixture of cultures down there. I was never too far away from stuff and I grew up with a mixture of music. It wasn’t one sort of sound, I was exposed to a lot of different kinds of music.
The Knockturnal: How old were you when you started taking music seriously as a career?
Eighty8: At first it was football, when I was 10 or 11 going into middle school and doing a couple of talent shows. It was just a hobby and I knew I was good at it. I always loved it but it wasn’t really something I wanted to do until I got to see Chris Brown and then this was something I could do. From there I linked up with some dude who was supposed to get me into the studio. He never got me in the studio but I never got the bug off me, so I kept bugging my mom until I found my way and I got into high school and it’s been a wrap since then.
The Knockturnal: How did it feel to be part of R&B group 4th & Ocean while you were a teenager?
Eighty8: It was dope because of all the experiences. Being in the studio long hours and doing what it takes to do a great song or a song that everyone likes, learning how to perform. Touring for the first time and meeting executives. It was really the hook, I was able to experience it for a bit and never turned back. Before I got in the group I was with one of my childhood friends and we were always working in the studio. It was always a mixture of R&B and rap when I got in the group. It was what was needed and I’m a team player and did what was needed at the time. Musically, growing up from North Miami, the west side, our music always had the influence of singing and a street type of vibe. It wasn’t really a pivot, it was really like a thing where I was holding myself back. I was just doing what we needed to do to get there.
The Knockturnal: What have been the biggest highlights of your career so far?
Eighty8: For one, signing to Cash Money. Two, getting with my team just because we were able to accomplish a lot independently and now we are able to take it to another level. Those are kind of the highlights from me, as far as what music is right now. There’s a couple things I want to put in there like my record called ‘girlfriend’ getting on the radio but I wanted to keep it big.
The Knockturnal: How did it feel to sign with Cash Money?
Eighty8: It was amazing to be real. It feels right, me and my team didn’t want to do anything that felt like it wasn’t going to go anywhere. It felt right and it feels good to be on the same label with the top 3 right now, Nicki, Drake, and Wayne. The most valuable thing that I’ve learned from signing the Cash Money team was to be very humble.
The Knockturnal: Can you tell us about “HIT?” What was it like making your Cash Money debut?
Eighty8: “HIT” is an introduction record, it just gave an introduction of who I am and what made me who I am and what my sound is and how I flow through stuff. There’s going to be a lot more of that and I’m about to have a lot of fun with it. That’s why I think “HIT” is a record that gives you a proper introduction into what I am.
The Knockturnal: Is this a preview of upcoming music? I remember some of these songs from your performance. Is Trilly Wonka out already right?
Eighty8: “Trilly Wonka” isnt released yet. All the records that you heard are going to be on the mixtape. We definitely wanted to make sure that once people were interested and engaged they would be interested in listening to more. There are going to be some more records but we haven’t really figured out a tracklist yet.
The Knockturnal: Can you tell us about what else you’re currently working on?
Eighty8: Before the new year we are dropping a tape. I gotta get to work and finalize the name. But right now I’m just making some music that would actually touch the world and make people feel something because a lot of stuff right now is regular and no disrespect to nobody. Just something to stand out. So that’s what I’m here doing you know cracking out my brand and my
team and right now we are just working on some new music. We got some freestyles coming out though. We are definitely here working.
Find out what took place and what Snoop had to say at his recent album listening for “The Algorithm.”
Last week, Snoop Dogg hosted an intimate album listening for his upcoming project The Algorithm at the illustrious Invite-Only Studios. The entire space showcased the album’s artwork, from posters to projections. Cocktails and food were served complements of Def jam Recordings. Snoop hosted 2 separate listening sessions, one at 6pm and one at 8pm. Guests included Def Jam executives, editors from XXL including Editor-in-Chief Vanessa Satten and Managing Editor Bianca Torres, news correspondents and anchors like Alicia Quarles and Ari Melber and even a few other artists pulled up to show their love like Def Jam’s Dave East and artist Sauce Walka.
During the event Snoop took the stage to welcome his guests and share the project with everyone. Before playing any music Snoop announced that this was his first project with Def Jam after being appointed Def Jam’s Executive Creative and Strategic Consultant and even shared with the crowd how his new role came to be. Snoop grabbed the mic and said, “This is my first presentation with Def jam Records, for those unaware I wanted to be with Def Jam Records, I asked Lucian Grainge could I come over to Def Jam and be an executive or creative consultant so I can help some of the homies and homegirls over at Def Jam and just instill the feeling that I felt was missing from the industry in general, and I love Def jam Records so much and what it meant to me as a kid, as an entertainer and just the spirit of Def Jam Records.” After introducing everyone to his new project Snoop smoked and vibed out with Dave East on stage as we all experienced The Algorithm together.
Since the album listening Snoop has released two new tracks off of the upcoming project including Jane Handcock’s “Like My Weed” and “Murder Music” featuring Snoop, Benny The Butcher, Jadakiss and Busta Rhymes. Earlier this year on his 50th’s birthday Snoop released “Big Subwoofer,” the first single off of The Algorithm featuring himself, Ice Cube, E-40 and Too Short collectively known as Mount Westmore. The Algorithm is a compilation project featuring former and current Def Jam artists as well as other talent that Snoop has chosen to highlight. Snoop aims to change the game with his Algorithm by bringing feeling back to music, he wants to focus on what feels good, not just sounds good.
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