Future’s One Big Party Tour landed in Atlanta on January 14th with special guest appearances from producer Metro Boomin, Lil Durk and more.
Who could have imagined that crying baby plants, flying broomsticks and talking portraits would be tucked right in the middle of Downtown Atlanta?
Jetsonmade recently announced the launch of BoyMeetSpace – a music education program inspired by his label. BoyMeetSpace Academy takes aspiring producers through a six-week course where they’ll learn about the beat making process, as well as be provided with the resources and tools to establish a successfully career in music while receiving one-on-one feedback from music industry playmakers.
Notable names that will join Jetson at his academy are Tay Keith, Pooh Beatz and WondaGurl. Artists from Jetson’s label including 1st Class and Neeko Baby will also help guide students as they get up close and personal with the inner workings of the music industry.
Those who enroll could also receive college accreditation for the program as soon as next year. Jetson plans to team up with universities across the country in the near future.
We got to sit down with Jetsonmade to talk more about the creation of BoyMeetSpace Academy, his thoughts on higher education, what truly makes an artist and producer’s sound unique and what it’s like producing for some of the biggest stars of today.
You can find out more about Jetsonmade and how to join BoyMeetSpace Academy here.
Hawkins is on a global wide tour. The Stranger Things Experience has officially landed in Atlanta, GA after opening in NYC and San Francisco earlier this year. The beloved Netflix series is now paired with an exciting hour-long walk through of Hawkins, Indiana.
We all know the Stranger Things kids are no stranger to danger and if you’ve ever wanted a firsthand look at the chaos, then this is your chance. Follow Max, Eleven, Mike, Lucas, Dustin and Erica through Hawkins as they try to defeat Hawkins biggest villains.
Without giving out any spoilers, fans are invited to interact with characters at Hawkins notoriously corrupt science lab, solve mysteries through different challenges and enjoy food and drinks inspired by the show in Hawkins very own Starcourt Mall.
Guests are thrown back to the 80’s where leg warmers and tacky windbreakers are the norm, and Scoops Ahoy employees walk around (adorably) interacting with guests in their iconic sailor uniforms.
Vintage arcade video games like Joust and Dig Dug line the walls of Palace Arcade, and of course there are plenty of opportunities for photo-ops in some. Old-fashioned photo booths. Guest can even explore Will Byer’s living room and then sit and enjoy a drink at The Upside, a neon-themed bar with specialty drinks and displays with real props and costumes from the show.
And it wouldn’t be a Stranger Things adventure without having to run for your lives through the woods at some point.
We got to chat with Netflix’s Marketing Producer Iris Arias about her role as a curator and how the live experience went global.
Interview With Netflix’s Marketing Producer Isis Arias
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The Stranger Things Experience is coming to a city near you and, in addition to Atlanta, is now open in Los Angeles and London. Fans can also visit the website and nominate their cities to be Hawkins next landing spot. Tickets start at $49. Follow Stranger Things Experience for more info.
The West Coast is experiencing what some would define as a musical renaissance. For the past few years, there’s been a huge emergence of talent hailing from the city of Los Angeles and taking the nation by storm, including Roddy Richh, rap duo BlueBucksClan, 1TakeJay and Blxst just to name a few.
And joining that list is L.A. bred newcomer Kalan.FrFr.
But rap wasn’t always on his radar. After establishing a pretty solid football career at San Diego State University, a then 21-year old Kalan had to unexpectedly end his time on the field and shifted his focus to pursuing music full time.
His biggest song “Never Lose You” has over 5 million views on YouTube and his infectious discography has gained him 628,000 monthly listeners on Spotify.
So, it came as no surprise when he caught the eye of Roc Nation and signed on the dotted line officially to be a part of the company founded by Jay-Z. He even made his Made In America Festival debut this year as a Roc Nation artist.
We caught up with the rap star to talk about his new album 222, his appreciation for fashion and his outlook on the music industry as a business.
We get deep and touch on his deep connection with his spirituality and how it’s impacted his career, as well as his dedication to fighting the negative stigmas surrounding special needs – an issue the rapper holds near to his heart.
Last month, the rapper hosted his TwoFr Day annual charity event, where he donates clothes, school supplies and more to his former community and high school in Compton, CA. A portion of the proceeds were donated to the Compton Unified School District Special Needs Program.
On a lighter note, he also speaks about his genuine love for his job and making music, and how he’s determined to not let the pressures of life and work stop him from enjoying the fruits of his labor.
“I’m not gonna say I’m not having fun because it’s fun. This is fun, my job is fun. But, it’s still my job at the end of the day. So, I treat it like work. I feel like this next stage I’m at in my life, I’m gonna have a lot more fun with the perks of being a rapper” says Kalan.FrFr.
As for what’s next for Kalan.FrFr?
“The video ‘Light Breeze‘ finna drop. So, just get ready for the video, it’s gonna be fire” he said.
Fire would be an understatement. The new music video for the melodic trap bop off his 222 album follows the rapper around his city of L.A.
Kalan.FrFr may be a rookie in the rap game but he carries his self like a veteran. The lifestyle comes easy to him and it shows.
In the video for “Light Breeze,” released yesterday, he raps “All you can see is a light breeze, Sunroof back, A/C riding through the light, light speed” as he rides past palm trees in foreign cars from sun up to sun down.
Watch out interview with Kalan.FrFr below.
ONE Music Fest shut down the city once again and this year’s show may be their biggest one yet.
With Atlanta being the cultural intersection of music, food and fashion, it was no surprise that this year’s event brought out more than 50,000 festival goers. Dozens of food trucks offering various cuisine across multiple cultures, a mini skating rink sponsored by BET and unique cocktail experiences provided by brands like Bacardi and Tito’s Vodka were spread throughout Central Park in downtown Atlanta.
Colder days are quickly descending on the peach state but that didn’t stop attendees from sporting some of their best festival looks; from fringed crop tops and maxi skirts to sweaters and bell bottom jeans.
The only thing more eye-catching than everyone’s fall fashion was the eclectic artist lineup.
R&B icon Lauryn Hill made a rare yet spellbinding appearance as she closed out Saturday night with a soulful live set. Her son Zion, famously referenced in the song “To Zion” from the singer’s 1998 debut album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, along with her grandsons joined her as they sang along to her some of her timeless classics.
City Girls put on for them hometown of Miami right before the duo brought out Usher for a surprise performance of their recent feel-good collaboration “Good Love.” Chlöe gave a show stopping performance with a sexy cover of Adina Howard’s “Freak Like Me,” and Jeezy resurfaced his popular snowman alter-ego rapping to “I Luv It” while Democratic Georgia Governor nominee Stacey Abrams cheered him on from just a few feet away.
Ashanti & Ja Rule, Juvenile and Tweet put on the 99’s and 2000’s and effortlessly transported the crowd back to 2002, performing songs from their early catalogs and hyping up the crowd as they didn’t miss a beat and recited every word.
Lil Baby set off an explosive performance (literally). Fans watched on as the stage dramatically lit up with sparklers as the Atlanta native rapped along to some of his biggest hits like “We Paid” and “Drip Too Hard.”
ONE Music Fest has successfully provided epic experiences for the Atlanta community for more than a decade and continues to push the needle in entertainment with the help of Toyota, Live Nation, Pandora and more, while promoting cultural innovation and social change.
Check out some of the most memorable moments from One Music Fest 2022 below.
PHOTO CREDIT: ONE Music Fest
The 2022 REVOLT Summit was back in Atlanta this past weekend and featured two days filled with special panels, gaming, performances, food, a career fair, workshops and more. One of the city’s most popular venues 787 Windsor was the backdrop for the weekend, with vendors, sponsors and industry professionals lined up along every path ready to hype up and engage with the crowd.
Hosted by popular social media influencers Pretty Vee and DC Young Fly, the jam-packed event included a star-studded list of celebrities, executives and artists all committed to promoting community outreach by discussing social and cultural topics surrounding the black media.
In partnership with AT&T, the summit was hosted by popular social media influencers Pretty Vee and DC Young Fly, the jam-packed event included a star-studded list of celebrities, executives and artists all committed discussing social and cultural topics surrounding the black media.
PHOTO CREDIT: JMartinVisuals
PHOTO CREDIT: JMartinVisuals
PHOTO CREDIT: JMartinVisuals
PHOTO CREDIT: JMartinVisuals
PHOTO CREDIT: JMartinVisuals
PHOTO CREDIT: JMartinVisuals
PHOTO CREDIT: JMartinVisuals
PHOTO CREDIT: JMartinVisuals
PHOTO CREDIT: JMartinVisuals
PHOTO CREDIT: JMartinVisuals
PHOTO CREDIT: JMartinVisuals
PHOTO CREDIT: JMartinVisuals
PHOTO CREDIT: JMartinVisuals
Master P, Bobby Shmurda, Nene Leakes and Amber Rose appeared on Saturday to discuss matters ranging from the socioeconomic effects surrounding minorities and marijuana on The Future of Cannabis panel, to the importance of financial literacy and building generational wealth on the Assets Over Liabilities panel.
Other panelists included Big Freedia, Dennis Rodman, Social Justice Activists Tameka D. Mallory and Tariq Nasheed,
Coi Leray, Tink, Smino and Ray J were also in attendance to contribute to the conversations. Other events included a dance competition and a talent showcase led by DJ Drama, Rapsody, Tek and more where up and coming singer and songwriter Bae Gii was awarded the $10,000 cash prize.
Both nights concluded with performances by Hip-Hop artists Dream Doll, Big Boss Vette, Rob49, Lakeyah, Kaliii, Baby Tate and Nardo Wick.
TIDAL’s RISING docus-eries is a popular platform introducing fans to up and coming artists in R&B, Hip-Hop and more. Artists like 21 Savage, Chloe x Halle and A Boogie with the Hoodie are just a few notable names from RISING’s alumni, and now the platform’s newest addition is Chicago-based indie rock band Dehd. And yes, it’s pronounced exactly how it’s spelt.
But the group’s name isn’t the most fascinating thing about them. It’s their relationship. And we get a special, intimate look at the inner-workings of the trio in their new documentary that releases on Wednesday, exclusively on TIDAL.
It follows Emily Kempf, Jason Balla and Eric McGrady as they navigate performing and creating together as a group. As three very different people with different personalities, they seem to blend together seamlessly and it shows throughout the documentary.
Emily is the risk-taker. She’s fearless and brave and we see it the most when she’s providing vocals and bass to their songs. Her style is unconventional, figuratively and literally. Her body is covered in bold tattoos and she sports a teal and gold grill in her mouth as she talks about the personalities of each band member.
Regardless of their differences, Emily assures that majority rules in this group. “If it’s two against one, then it’s like ‘alright, no questions asked’… that’s it. It’s not happening” she explains, while sitting on a couch next to her bandmate Jason Balla.
Jason plays the guitar and is pretty expressive about how he likes things done. Both him and Emily have a vision that they try their best to execute in the studio and on stage.
Something common amongst their audiences, is that no matter where the trio performs the audience always seems to be having a great time. Like during their set at The Hideout in Chicago there are no awkward bystanders just looking on, only genuine music lovers enjoying the contagious rhythms of the drums, guitar and lyrics. They sing along to the songs together and the energy is infectious. Everyone is there for the same reason: to have a great time.
But the heartbeat of the group is Eric and his unique style of playing drums. Eric isn’t a man of many words. In fact, throughout the 15-minute documentary, he doesn’t say one word. Jason describes him as being “terrified” of performing. But his presence is felt nonetheless, and it’s strong. Especially on the group’s latest album Blue Skies, which they describe as “the biggest statement that we’ve had.” Jason and Emily made it a priority to make Eric’s drums the focal point of this project.
Regardless, being on one accord doesn’t seem to be much of an issue for them. The group can’t help but blend together. For Dehd, there’s no such thing as an odd one out. Their connection with each other comes so naturally that they are constantly creating together, even when they aren’t trying to. The complement each other well despite their individual quirks.
In the documentary, the band notes the uncanny synergy.
“In a band you come together as one for your music, but we also try to let each of our individualities shine through the different elements we bring to Dehd. It’s a balance that evolves with each new song we write and performance we do” says Dehd.
You can catch Dehd’s latest episode of RISING here.
Last weekend kicked off Roc Nation’s Made In America Festival held annually in Downtown Philadelphia, and this year’s star-studded lineup included Bad Bunny, Tyler, The Creator, Burna Boy, Don Toliver, Lil Uzi Vert and more. The 2-day festival featured an extensive lineup of performances, food, rides and some scorching hot weather.
To kick off their 10th year in the City of Brotherly Love, the festival teamed up with popular retail brand SHEIN to promote different organizations dedicated to various causes including fighting gun violence, social justice reform and voter rights.
Saturday brought a hype set from Detroit rapper Babyface Ray whose audience grew throughout his set once the infectious bass from his hits like “Idols” and “Sincerely Face” echoed across the festival grounds.
Photo by Shareif Ziyadat for D’USSE.
Before her set on the Freedom Stage, rapper Flo Milli stopped by the D’USSÉ Lounge to try her hand at teaching a mini cocktail class with D’USSÉ global ambassador Sullivan Doh. The finished product was a “Gold Fashioned,” a lavish spin on the traditional old fashioned but with a twist: chocolate bitters and gold dust.
While Flo was serving up tasty drinks, rapper Pusha T performed his greatest hits just a couple feet away on the Rocky Stage. Headliner Tyler the Creator ended the night with a bang and closed out the day with an hour-long set, rapping songs from his latest project Call Me If You Get Lost.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – SEPTEMBER 03: Pusha T performs onstage during 2022 Made In America at Benjamin Franklin Parkway on September 03, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Roc Nation)
Sunday started off hot (literally and figuratively) with a sexy performance from Victoria Monet. The R&B songstress the commanded the Rocky Stage while performing fan favorites like “Jaguar” and “Moment.” Snoh Aalegra continued to provide the vibes and delivered soulful melodies while donning bedazzled pants reminiscent of MJ’s fit in the “Rock With You” music video; crooning her early classics like “Fool For You” and her biggest song to date, “I Want You Around.”
Burna Boy brought Nigeria to Philly with a heated performance on the Liberty Stage. The crowd screamed the words to his summer hit “Last Last” while the Afrobeats artist danced around the stage, showing off his elite footwork.
The weekend ended with a show-stopping performance from Bad Bunny, showing a crowd of more than 25,000 people how Puerto Rico likes to party.
Other performers included Larry June, DIXSON, JID, Glorilla, Toro Y Moi, Jazmine Sullivan, Jenevieve, Tate McRae, KUR, Ryan Castro, Ambré, Young Nudy, Armani White and more.
The annual Made In America Festival is taking place in Philadelphia this weekend and the lineup is jam packed. Bad Bunny, Tyler The Creator, Burna Boy, Snoh Aalegra, Jazmine Sullivan and more are set to take the stage at the Roc Nation led music festival during Labor Day weekend.
The name DIXSON may be unfamiliar to some, but his work in the music industry precedes him. He’s worked with some of your favorites including Beyonce, Chance the Rapper and Yebba. His most notable work is his collaboration with the Queen Bey herself for her song “Be Alive,” written specially for the Venus and Serena Williams biopic King Richard which follows their journey to success with the help of their father and coach Richard Williams.
The song also earned him his first Oscar and Golden Globe nomination this year for Best Original Song. While receiving these accolades so early in his career is the ultimate goal for artists everywhere, DIXSON doesn’t shy away from being transparent about his journey to get to where he is now.
“If I were doing this for just the press or the look, it would invalidate the art in a way. It’s really important to fight for your visions, fight for your goals, fight for having the right team around you. That’s super vital,” says the R&B artist.
We spoke with the singer-songwriter 48 hours before making his solo debut at Made In America and he spilled on working with Beyoncé and Chance The Rapper, his desire to get back in to acting and how artists should strive to create regardless of life’s obstacles.
I believe this is your first Made in America, how are you feeling about it?
It’s my first time performing as a solo artist. I performed in 2017 as a background artist. I feel good. I think I’ve been silently praying for this opportunity, to get in front of an audience. This is my first outdoor festival.
Spending years as a background singer, I played a bunch off festivals and I imagined being able to take one of the larger stages and this is really exciting for me at this point in my career.
One thing that really stuck out to me about you is that you play 11 different instruments. How did that journey start?
My parents made a conscious effort to let me explore the things I was interested in. So, my first instrument that I started playing was the drums and then I picked up the piano pretty quickly because my father was a pastor and he needed musicians. I learned how to play everything by ear, and as I got older my parents let me explore everything I was interested in. We always had instruments around the house.
So, it really just started with a home environment. When I was doing other things, I had an instrument in my hand. It was a desire. I really just wanted to know how these instruments works and how I can make them sound how I wanted them to sound.
Which instrument is your favorite to incorporate in music?
Lately my favorite is playing bass. It varies, it depends what I’m working on. But, right not I’m excited to get really good at playing the bass and I’m playing a lot of it on this upcoming project too.
DIXSON is set to release not one but two new albums this year. The first of the two-part project is 004DAISY and is dropping on September 16. His recent single “Cherry Sorbet” featuring Sevyn Streeter is a part of it and features a Beatles sample. The project also features appearances from Tinashe, Vic Mensa and LA-based band frontman Stolen Nova.
In the 70’s inspired music video, DIXSON and Sevyn are seen flirtatiously playing the cat and mouse game while singing about wanting to give in to their sexual chemistry.
DIXSON and Sevyn Streeter in “Cherry Sorbet”.
As a songwriter, you’ve written for films, like King Richard and albums like Chance The Rapper’s The Big Day and Beyoncé’s Renaissance. Is there a difference in the writing process when working on a song for a film versus an album? Is it easier to convey a message due to the visuals already existing, versus a song where you have to paint a visual with lyrics and your voice?
I don’t make one more difficult than the other. I try to approach every project with the same energy and passion. For King Richard, There’s not only visuals for the film but there’s also a mental picture. You go back and think of times you’ve seen Serena or Venus play on TV, or watch that many accomplishments happen in real time and you link those stories back to your own life and experiences, the experience of the artist that’s going to be delivering the song. There’s a lot of representation there.
Chance is an extremely visual person. So, as we work on songs he’s painting a picture for us as well. He’s telling us what he’s thinking, what he’s looking for. He is giving us his potential visual ideas so we had a lot to play with. I’ve been very fortunate to work with artists who have incredible visual sensibilities. I do too, I’m the same way. So, it works well for me that the people I collaborate with are also very visual thinkers, too.
When you’re writing for an artist other than yourself, how do you balance how much of yourself and your experiences to incorporate without going overboard?
I don’t limit myself in that way. At the end of the day it doesn’t matter who you’re working with, whether it’s Bey or another artist I’m realizing more and more that the human experience is the collective experience. Obviously, there are variables. There are very wealthy humans, and very sad humans, very happy humans but it’s all a human experience. I don’t try to limit what I write based on who I’m with.
On your social media, you’re always talking about the importance of versatility. Are there any other creative ventures you’d like to engage in? You were a theater kid growing up and we see musical artists transition from the studio to a movie or TV set in their careers a lot. Are there any other creative ventures you would like to branch out to? Would you consider acting?
I just auditioned for a role not too long ago for a TV show. So, I’m getting back in to it and just trying to make a soft re-entry back in to it. I haven’t been on a stage in a theater as an actor in a while. I have so much respect for actors and also just the workers in theater, television and film that I want to make sure that return in to that space is welcomed and not forced just because I’m having a rise on the music side of things. I respect all of these art forms deeply.
What advice would you give to independent music artists who are struggling with life’s limitations but are still passionate about creating?
One, you have to change how you speak about your work. Secondly, change your view of your experience as an artist. We could be struggling to pay pills, we could be struggling to manage family expectations, but if you have a gift and art that you’re making, as long as you’re not struggling to get those ideas out of your head and on paper, or whatever you record on.
It took me a long time to be interviewed let alone perform at Made In America. It took a lot of financial struggles and hardships to get to this space but you must stay in it. You have to stay in it because to not honor your gift is to not honor the giver and I think that’s the biggest mistake you can make as an artist.
If you stay in it, it’s bound to work. Your work will only get better and your audience will only get bigger.