This was a moment full of a lot of heart!
It has been 20 years since the phenomenal release of Eminem’s semi-biographical feature 8 mile and it has only grown in relevance with the forthcoming years.
I, for one, have always been a huge fan of Eminem. I appreciated his lyricism and artistry as a rapper and his body of work has only grown exponentially since the release of the film.
The film takes place in Detroit where a young man named Jimmy “B-Rabbit” Smith (Eminem) attempts to break out into the rap scene. It becomes difficult for him as he is the only white man to attempt to compete in the 90s to early 2000s zeitgeist.
This film had the muster and energy that you would expect from any high-octane Eminem single off of one of his fire albums.
This film proves to be a gritty and raw look at the life of a young man making his way through a strange and dangerous world in Detroit. Its realism is what contributes to its artistry and makes it a thing of beauty that other hip-hop movies like Get Rich or Die Tryin’ failed to achieve.
8 Mile is a feat in, not only the film genre, but also in songwriting, as Eminem became the first rapper to win an Oscar for Best Original Song. “Lose Yourself” is easily one of the greatest rap songs of the decade if not the century. It is played in every gym and almost every motivational video for a reason.
The song has a unique quality that has remained ubiquitous in its use wherever it is played. The song, much like the film, deals with struggle and perseverance with a message of never giving up no matter what happens.
That is what everyone needs to keep the drive and spark inside of them burning. It’s the only thing that gives up hope for a better tomorrow. That’s what keeps me up and running throughout the day.
Visual artist extraordinaire Daniella White is one of those people who when you have a conversation immediately a sense of enlightenment swoops into your head.
Music is that magical thing that is bringing us together in these difficult time.
Make some room on your fall playlist for acclaimed 19-year-old singer-songwriter Brynn Cartelli’s new song “Convertible in the Rain”
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.
Before its official release, rapper Toosii gave fans a special performance of his new E.P, ‘Boys Don’t Cry’.
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.