This week we’re putting the limelight on recent hip-hop and rap releases that have blown us away. Featuring a song from DJ Drama‘s bangin’ mixtape Quality Street Music 2, NAS and Erykah Badu‘s collaborative track for the much-anticipated film The Wind, and more!
Hip Hop. Rap. A subculture movement and music that spawned from black culture and originated in the 1970’s South Bronx is now global. I got the chance to catch up with one of Shanghai’s biggest rappers, Al Rocco, and the man behind the number one provider of Hip-hop in China, founder of Zhong TV, Stanley Yang to find out a little more about the rap scene in China.
Both Stanley Yang and Al Rocco have had extreme success in their careers. Rocco is a hip hop/trap artist who has been featured on the New York Times, Worldstarhiphop, Vice China, ICS TV, Hit FM Radio, TVB, Beats by Dre “Straight Outta” and has opened and shared the stage with the likes of OT Genasis, OG Maco, and Keith Ape. He has also worked with brands like Adidas Originals, SSUR, Jamesons, Marlboro, Redbull, Jagermesiter, American Apparel, Budweiser. His biography notes, “With over a million “over-all” plays towards the end of 2015, two of his latest projects “Raised in China” & “Red Money” have been nominated top 50 albums of China by That’s Shanghai & Smart Shanghai. He was ranked top 2 artist nationwide China on the Hip-Hop charts with his single “Red Money” ranking number one on China’s Spotify and Soundcloud, Xiami, in January 2015.”
Stanley Yang runs and operates Zhong Tv. China’s 1st ever hip hop / r&b / pop entertainment division, which facilitates audio and video content to the public and is credited for bringing the digital music video wave back in 2010, to China’s hip hop community. Producing over 50 original videos and having over 60 million total views on Youku ( Chinese version of Youtube), Zhong TV has also worked with the likes of WESC, Beats by Dre, Oakley, Nixon, Vans, Jordan Brand, Marshall Headphones, Urbanears and is responsible for discovering many up and coming artist.
Today’s rap music feels more like undercover advertisement than actual music.
The cast of Hamilton speaks with the press in the media room of the 70th annual Tony Awards.
Heavy beats, attitude, and a powerful emotional punch.
Drake, Big Sean, and Jhene Aiko make this a week to remember.
Attention B.o.B fans prepare to freak out! The recording artist has just announced plans for his North American headline tour, “STFU.”
Trap music’s influence on music is a low-key development that’s given loop based music a proverbial kick in the ass, creating a new “audio church” undergirded by a steady roll of hi-hats, snares and percussion that updates any recording to “current” status if used.
The dust surrounding the massive warehouse rave that took place in the Bronx last weekend, ushering in a new era for the northernmost NYC borough, has finally settled (figuratively and literally).
I love Jada, and not just because I was born, raised, and still live in Yonkers although it probably helps.