This weekend we were on the scene for Rolling Loud, the largest Hip-Hop festival in the world, CÎROC and Mass Appeal kicked off the official Hip-Hop 50th festivities with an exclusive dinner bringing the influential voices in Hip-Hop together to toast to the past, present, and future.
Future’s One Big Party Tour landed in Atlanta on January 14th with special guest appearances from producer Metro Boomin, Lil Durk and more.
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.
Amazon Studios presents Sleazyworld Go, the event gave fans a chance to get a first look at the Kansas City native presenting his music and story in his own words. After a brief interview breaking down his upbringing, Sleazyworld made it clear that those same circumstances were instrumental in the way that he developed his own sound and was able to handle all that has come with his current fame.
The intimate setting complimented Sleazyworld Go’s quiet confidence as he took his time and carefully and clearly answered each question- it was clear that he understood how big of an opportunity he was receiving as he sheaded a light on the fact that there are but a few rappers coming out of his city.
“I think what I am doing now is big- but I want to make a way for the artist’s down the line. Like, in ten years I want my city to look like Atlanta, Memphis- you know what I mean.”
Going into deep dive, Sleazyworld discussed some of the main influences that made his project “Where The Shooters At” exactly what it is.
While he is known for the hard hitting anthems, he mentioned showcasing his ability to make slower love songs- such as his single that was released in August of this year “India Me”. In the song Sleazyworld Go elaborates on his fantasy of finding a female that will stick by his side through thick and thin. A rare sight to see an artist this early into his development willing to experiment with his sound, especially when he has already developed a formula that has been successful thus far.
Shortly after the interview wrapped, Sleazyworld Go proceeded to show those in attendance as well as those live streaming exactly what they came for. His soft spoken energy disappeared almost immediately as he showcased his high energy that worked almost hand in hand with his music.
From his smash hit single-”Sleazy Flow” to the single he elaborated on “India Me” he did not hold back anything. It felt like he had an endless supply of energy once he began performing, each song carrying the energy that the previous song had held. Throughout the entirety of the performance- one thing was evident, the sky’s the limit in terms of potential.
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.
Club LIV, located at the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach, FL was the place to be last week for the BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards. The spectacular and extremely exclusive event was hosted by Mike O’Neill, BMI president and CEO, and Catherine Brewton, BMI vice president, creative.
The evening started with the artist, producers, family members, and other VIP guests walking the red carpet and showcasing their outfits, as well as being interviewed, and photographed before they get into the awards show. We got the pleasure to speak with a variety of artists such as; Christopher ‘YC’ Pearson, India Shawn, Lil Scrappy, Adiz “Bambi” Benson, Travis Porter, Morray, 808 Mafia, ATL Jacob, DJ Khaled, and the 2022 BMI Icon, Busta Rhymes. The interviews can be found on our Instagram.
After the Red Carpet guest made their way inside the event where they could listen to jams played by DJ Nasty and guests were welcomed by DJ Khaled. Guests also were invited to indulge in an open bar and hors d’oeuvres. On the menu were; chicken and waffles, many types of empanadas, and a variety of flatbreads. My personal favorite was the carne asada empanadas they were filled with some much flavor and the meat was cooked to perfection.
The crowd got to enjoy performances from singer-songwriter Pheelz and Morray. Towards the end of the night Busta Rhymes preformed “Break Ya Neck,” “Scenario” and “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See” with Spliff Star and DJ Scratchator. Closing the evening Busta Rhymes and Pharrell Williams preformed “Pass the Courvoisier.”
“As one of the pioneers of hip-hop, we are excited to honor Busta Rhymes as a BMI Icon,” said Brewton. “Through his award-winning solo work, countless collaborations and acting, Busta is a true innovator in every sense of the word and has made a dynamic impact on legions of fans and music creators worldwide.
Rhymes launched his musical career in the early 90s with the hip-hop crew Leaders of the New School. He moved on to become an in-demand collaborator, appearing on numerous tracks for other artists before he officially went solo in 1996 with his massive hit, “Woo-Hah!! Got You All in Check.” The single was quickly certified platinum, earning him his first GRAMMY nomination. Throughout the ’90s and 2000s, he was a creative force, topping the charts, including debuting at number one in 2006 with his seventh studio album, The Big Bang. Several of his hit songs, such as “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See,” “Break Ya Neck,” “Dangerous,” “Gimme Some More” and “What’s It’s Gonna Be?,” featuring Janet Jackson, became hip-hop anthems, solidifying his place as one of the most in-demand rappers in the industry. In 2020, he independently released the critically acclaimed ELE 2: The Wrath of God, with NME saying it was “arguably one of the best-produced hip-hop albums of the last five years.”
Beyond his work in music, Rhymes has appeared in several films and television series, including in Shaft, Finding Forrester, Master of None, The Rugrats Movie and he competed in The Masked Singer on FOX.
As the 2022 BMI Icon, Busta Rhymes joins an elite group of music creators who have received BMI’s highest honor. Past BMI Icons include: Janet Jackson, Patti LaBelle, Nile Rodgers, Snoop Dogg, The Jacksons, LA Reid, Babyface, Al Green, Isaac Hayes, James Brown and more.
Song of the year: Justin Bieber hit “Peaches,” featuring GIVĒON and Daniel Caesar.
Songwriter of the year: Megan Thee Stallion and Christopher “YC” Pearson tied. YC and Megan Thee Stallion co-wrote three of the most performed R&B/Hip-Hop songs.
Megan Thee Stallion: “Body,” “Cry Baby” and “Thot Shit.”
Christopher “YC” Pearson: “Time Today” and “Wockesha” and Pooh Shiesty’s “Back in Blood”
R&B/Hip-Hop publisher of the year: Sony Music Publishing
Producer of the year: D’Mile. His work included: Silk Sonic’s “Smokin Out the Window,” “Skate” and “Leave the Door Open,” and “Fair Trade” by Drake and Travis Scott.
Top producer citations: Isaac “Zac” De Boni, ATL Jacob, Michael “Finatik” Mulé, Kanye West, Charlie Handsome, and Rogét Chahayed.
Lastly, but definitely not least, Busta Rhymes was named a BMI Icon at the 2022 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards.
To learn more about the BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards, visit here and use the hashtag #BMIRnBHHAwards on social media.
09-07-2022- Brooklyn’s own National Sawdust hosted Paloma Ford’s breakout session sponsored by United Masters & Crown Royal Apple.The intimate venue was electric from the jump, not sure if it was the specialized cocktails that were sponsored by Crown Royal Apple or the level of excitement that was exuded from each artist that had a chance to grace the stage, regardless every party involved delivered.
The opening acts consisted of a variety of talent as United Masters showcased their diverse roster. You had artists such as Goldie Scott, a New York based soul-singer who seemed to grasp the crowd’s attention immediately. Following Goldie, we had Pieri- a Mexico based artist whose energy can only be explained as electric, when she got on stage you could not believe the tone and energy she was able to generate during her set. Following a brief intermission- Liana Banks hit the stage and delivered in a major way. The Queens born R&B sensation captured everyone in attendance with not only her vocal ability but with her veteran-like stage presence, those in attendance seemed to be holding on to her every move. As she finished her set, the crowd was in an uproar as they did not get enough.
United Masters set it up perfectly, as by the time Paloma Ford hit the stage the crowd was in a peak frenzy. For those in attendance that had no knowledge of Paloma’s track history was able to get a hands-on first experience.
From the lighting to the back up vocalist, everything was on point. She delivered with precision as she ran through her catalog as well as performing her newest single fresh off her two year hiatus “Bentley Truck”. As she wrapped up her performance, she voiced her gratitude for being allowed to perform for such a lively crowd.
As she exited and those in attendance were heading to the exit, it was announced that they have a special guest performance. As the crowd pressed for the identity to be revealed, VP Recording Artist & Grammy nominated Spice made her grand entrance and sent everyone into a frenzy.
The energy was off the charts as Spice along with her backup dancers and volunteers from the audience quickly brought a dancehall vibe to the stage that felt authentic. From her provocative outfit to her exotic choreography, one thing was evident- Spice is a star and she was the perfect talent to utilize as a guest performance.
On Tuesday, May 10th, I had the pleasure of attending new breakout artist, Willow Kayne’s, first ever concert in New York.
Willow Kayne is a British sensation who is taking over the pop/punk/hip hop world by storm.
Location: The Sultan Room, Bushwick Brooklyn
It was 10pm and the anticipation of her arrival was worth the wait. The crowd of influencers, musicians, and new fans were eager to be surrounded by her magical sound. Kayne began by introducing herself and started singing her first song. The sound waves filled the room as the colorful background changed with each note she sang. I was quite impressed with her stage presence and impact.-
Willow Kayne is 20 years old and to have this much experience so young is very inspiring. She likes to live young, wild and free, unapologetically being herself and doesn’t give a damn what anyone thinks about her. I was very intrigued with her song “copycat” which was about people who let jealousy get the best of them. Kayne is very uplifting and sheds light on her experiences being in her teens as well as entering her 20’s. Everyone was dancing along to her being so flawless on stage. Willow Kanye’s style was what I was also so interested in as well. Kayne rocked an oversized vintage Dennis Rodman T-shirt, Bermuda baggy jeans, and layers of jewelry, and a spice girls hairstyle that completed her punk rock aesthetic. She is a star and I love the crossover impact she has being from the UK. Im looking forward to what else she brings to the music scene.
To have such an impact and voice at such a young age, can only show that her career will take her very far in life. Her concert lasted only about an hour, but within that time span, I felt like I was brought back to being carefree and dancing in my room as a teen with the music on full blast. I appreciate when artists give you the feeling of being “alive”. I’m so happy that she building a fan base, curating her personal sound and style, being positive, and living life to the fullest, I wish her the very best and hope to attend another one of her concerts soon.
Get into the groove of the workweek with new tunes from Eva Shaw, chae, Valentino Khan (+ Lil Jon!), Besomorph, and more!