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A Late Night With Maeta

by Chantell Hayden
written by Chantell Hayden

Maeta has just finished meeting and mingling with fans as they rave over her performance and excitedly take photos together. I’m waiting in the cold, sketchy basement disguised as a dressing room masked with terrible lighting when, suddenly, a sudden warmth washes over my body. I hear her melodious voice filling the space. She’s singing while heading towards me. It was finally time for our awaited sit-down.

On a Wednesday night in Atlanta, singer-songwriter Maeta performs her sold-out show at Center Stage, a venue housing three spaces under one roof. She’s at The Vinyl, the more intimate venue of the three, with its low ceilings and standing room, and a few random couches near the sound booth.

The crowd was lively even before Maeta hit the stage. As the music played, I went to the bar for a vodka soda with lime, waiting for her to grace the stage. She arrived slightly past her scheduled time. She’s accompanied by her two backup singers Caleb Curry and LennAsia Unique, two artists with strong, polished voices effortlessly weaving emotion and skill into every note they sing.

They perform songs from Maeta’s new album When I Hear Your Name released earlier this year. The sultry R&B project features vocals from Ambré, James Fauntleroy, Ty Dolla $ign, Lucky Daye, and Free Nationals, with production by Pharrell and KAYTRANADA.

The 13-track album fuses pop and soul while delving into the complexities of love and the exhilarating feeling surrounding wanting someone who may not be the best for us but feels right at the moment. But moments are temporary and Maeta explores that fleeting joy in tracks like “ASMR” and “Control Freak.”

The crowd caught a glimpse of those emotions when Maeta takes a brief pause in the midst of her set to give Caleb and LennAsia some shine. Caleb performed “Can’t Be Friends” by Trey Songz and sounded almost identical to the recorded version. Following, LennAsia captivates the audience with the timeless classic, my personal karaoke favorite, “I’m Going Down” by Mary J Blige. The audience responded to Caleb and LennAsia with the same enthusiasm they showed Maeta, cheering the duo on as if it were their performance.

Throughout the night, there were times when she’d interrupt her singing to share a joke with a fan or acknowledge the vibrant energy in the room. She sports a contagious Kool-Aid smile the entire concert. I could tell she was enjoying herself as much as we were. After performing “Fuck Your Friend” she confirmed my thoughts, telling us that Atlanta might be her favorite crowd so far, prompting cheers and raised drinks.

Credit: Angel Roman

 

 

 

Towards the end of her set, she takes it back to her roots. Maeta’s musical journey started on SoundCloud in 2018 where she would post covers of songs by Minnie Riperton, Jhene Aiko, Drake, and more of her favorite artists. So, it only made sense to wrap up the show with her intoxicating renditions of Beyonce’s “1+1” and Silk Sonic’s “Leave The Door Open.”

The concert concludes and I head down to her dressing room.

Coming down the basement stairs after her one-hour set, she continues singing effortlessly, perfectly hitting every note in her runs. Behind her are her backup singers, her Tour Manager, and other crew. She immediately walks over to greet me.

I remembered LennAsia mentioning on stage that they all call her ‘Money Maeta.’ So naturally, as an over-eager fan, that’s how I greet her.

“Hi, Money Maeta!” I say with enthusiasm. She immediately laughs and we hug like two old friends before sitting down. She reaches for a big bag of Skittles on the table in front of us. I ask if that’s her favorite candy, to which she replies “No. I don’t know why I asked for it, honestly,” with a mouthful of rainbow candy.

It starts to settle in that this is actually happening and my anxiety surges. In situations like this, a shot of tequila would be my remedy for taking the edge off. Spotting a bottle of tequila near the entrance, I don’t mention it to maintain professionalism. But almost as if she read my mind, LennAsia spontaneously asks the room “Should we take a shot?!”

We gather around with our cups and toast to one more show before the tour ends. After Atlanta, Maeta will wrap up The When I Hear Your Name Tour with a final performance in D.C. The tour started in August and has ventured through cities across the country, including Chicago, Brooklyn, and Los Angeles, before heading to Europe to perform in London, Berlin, and Paris.

Every person in the room is super friendly and welcoming, including me in their conversations and treating me like they’ve known me for longer than 15 minutes. In a fleeting moment of delusion, I felt as If I was a part of the crew. Like I was meant to be there.

It’s late and nearing midnight. I overheard some of the crew talking about how hungry they were so I didn’t want to waste too much time. I’m sure it’s been a long couple of months for everyone. With the holidays and the new year approaching, Maeta shares with me that she’s fulfilled yet exhausted.

“We got one more show and then we can finally go home. We’ve been going for a few months so now we’re all kind of ready to be done.”

And still, despite her tired state and hectic schedule, the Roc Nation signee found the time to talk to me about her first solo tour, working with industry legends, her journey from girl to woman, and how she’ll be a force to be reckoned with come 2024.

Has this tour been everything you imagined it to be?  

It’s my first tour so I know we’re still in the trenches. It’s not as glamorous as I would like it to be but I really loved my team. I keep talking about my damn background singers, and they don’t give the love back, which kind of pisses me off. But I really love them. And having them around has helped my mental health, my health, and just everything. I love my team. And I look forward to just hanging out and being around them when we’re on tour.

My introduction to you was in 2019. I found your song “Kind of Fool” from your EP Do Not Disturb.

Wait, really?!

Doesn’t that seem like light years ago? The pandemic completely ruined my perception of time.

I went through so much since then. I feel like I’m a whole different person. That [era] is like a little girl to me. I feel like I’m a woman now and I’ve been through certain things. When [Do Not Disturb] came out, I was living in an apartment with no windows, and no WiFi, I had to go to a Starbucks to use my computer. So, seeing the growth is amazing.

You recently performed at the 2023 Soul Train Awards. How was that?

Amazing! It was so different because they did it outside at night on a mountain. And there was nothing to warm us up outside so I was freezing. I got so sick afterwards for like, three days. It was bad. But the performance was really good. I’m proud of it. Watching all the videos and seeing all the love it’s getting is making me very proud. It was my first award show performance ever. So yeah, I’m proud of it. But it was definitely a struggle and I think people don’t realize how hard it was.

To be fair, I couldn’t tell you were having a hard time at all. The wind blowing through your hair while you sang reminded me of Beyoncé.

Honestly, It’s LA at night. It’s gonna be cold. The wind was so bad that they had to stop filming for about an hour.

You and James Fauntleroy both have songs on each other’s projects. He’s featured on your song “Sexual Love” and you’re featured on “Mistletoe” on his new Christmas album The Warmest Winter Ever.

We made [Mistletoe] like three years ago. I just hopped on it and he told me “Do what you want,” and we put it out. I really love that song.

You’ve both been working together for years. I’ve always felt like James [Fauntleroy] is lowkey an A&R. He’s discovered so many artists before the masses found out about them. What have you learned from him?  

I’m so appreciative of his character because he’s a legend. He’s all these amazing things. When I was first signed at 19, and nobody wanted to work with me. And my A&R had to fight people to want to work with me, he was just so cool about working with me all the time. He’s very generous and has been very generous with me. And I see him being like that with other people. He’s a very humble person. He can write a song in like, 20 minutes. He just has something nobody else can recreate.

Your album When I Hear Your Name features some of the biggest names in R&B right now. How does it feel to be embraced by so many top hitters and veterans?

Sometimes, I have to pinch myself because I’m a little girl from Indiana. I was just doing Instagram covers and now I’m in Pharrell’s house. And he’s complimenting me and shit. These are full-circle moments. It’s crazy how you can start from the most random place in the world and now I’m at Pharell’s house. It was a timestamp in my life. I’ve made it to a specific place in my career and I felt fulfilled. I learned from him that no matter how successful you are, to stay humble because he was so nice to me. He treated me like a regular human being and always asked for my opinion.

Have you learned how to be vocal about your feelings in moments like that rather than shying away due to fear?

I actually had to stop doing that for a bit.

Really?

I’m such a hater.

(Laughs) Don’t say that.

I really am a hater.

Oh God.

I shut things down. if somebody has a new idea, and I’m not feeling it, I shut it down. And I’ve had to learn like, stop being so rigid. So, I’ve had to learn to stop shutting down ideas that push me and challenges and things like that. I’m very opinionated. I’m a control freak, especially when it comes to my art. I’ve been doing music my whole life all by myself and now that I’m signed, I have a team of people telling me what to do. At first, it was an overwhelming experience. But now I love my team, and I trust them. And I don’t know what I would do without them.

Do you think that’s the Pisces in you?

Maybe. I’m indecisive and I question everything.

You’ve said that this is the most passionate you’ve been about a project because you’re actually living what you’re singing, as opposed to past projects which felt more like manifestations. How did you get to this point now?  

I think that people always knew when I would perform those songs, I wasn’t connecting [with them.] It just was something that wasn’t clicking. And I think, I really feel my music. When I sing it. When I listen to it. Every time I would put a project out, I wouldn’t listen to it. I would just forget about it.

But yesterday, I did my Apple Music Replay and I’m my top artist. For more than 2,000 minutes I’ve listened to my own music. So, it shows that I really love what I’m doing now. I just experienced some deep and dark moments in life and spent a few years working on it. And I’m so proud of it. I feel it in my soul when I listen to it and when I talk about it.

Who else was in your Apple Music Replay? Who have you been listening to?

 I love Yebba and India Shawn. There’s a girl named ABSOLUTELY. She’s RAYE’s little sister. She’s written a bunch of amazing songs for different artists. She’s a 19-year-old prodigy.

You hate the word vibe.

I knew you were gonna talk about that.

You hate when people describe music as a “vibe,” especially your music. What name would you give your music?

That’s the issue because I can’t think of a better word. I think my music is soulful and passionate and rough and gritty.

I would call it ‘Soft Girl Music.’

That’s a good way to put it because I know exactly what you mean and you didn’t even have to say “vibe.” 

How do you feel 2024 will be different for you?

Okay, so here’s my new conclusion for 2024.  I just decided this about two days ago. It was like a light switch went off. I’m very generous and I’m very forgiving. Sometimes, I’ll put myself through shit to make other people feel good. I’m in a place right now where I’m done normalizing pain in love. I’m a Pisces so I feel things so hard but right now I’m in a place where I just want to demand respect for myself and to be treated well. I’m ready to be a little more selfish next year.

I’m done sacrificing my own happiness and peace for other people. It’s exhausting. Yeah, I want love to feel good. I want love to not make me cry once every other fucking day, you know?

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HDBeenDope Knows ‘What Can They Say (Extended)’ is Only the Beginning

by Bianca Alysse
written by Bianca Alysse

New York City is home to the competitors, and Brooklyn’s HDBeenDope affirmed his fate in the rap genre before his label venerated him. “There is a lot in a name,” he explains during his pop-up at the Bowery Showroom. The lyricist’s new 9-track EP, What Can They Say (Extended), maintains a presence on New York radio with his branded mantra, “Learn and become better,” also known as Labb. 

HDBeenDope seemingly began the year with thoughts on Sean “Diddy” Combs’ earlier radio announcement that New York artists were in “…last place” and utilized that criticism as fuel during the promotion of his track “Mad Man.” The newcomer has the support of a team headquartered in Manhattan and founded by New York native Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter, Roc Nation. “The biggest thing about Brooklyn is that it brings bold and brash personalities,” HDBeenDope tells The Knockturnal.

Following his breakthrough under the major “Mamba,” the rapper was eager to perform his latest single, “Can’t Get Rid of Me,” featuring Fergie Baby, while at his EP’s listening party. Together we learned about his songwriting’s essence, his take on the significance of 50 years of hip-hop, and more surrounding his development. Get to know HDBeenDope in our exclusive below. 

 

Photo: Nickie Rose

The Knockturnal: What have you learned since the release of What Can They Say? 

HDBeenDope: The biggest thing I have learned since the release of What Can They Say is that I am not crazy [laughs]. I think before the release of that project, I had a vision. Seeing the pieces slowly come together is one of the most beautiful things I have witnessed. As a creative, that is all you want to do. I create things, and I feel like right now, what I am doing is creating the life me and my people have been trying to live. 

The Knockturnal: You danced and seemed to have a lot of fun in the “Can’t Get Rid of Me” music video featuring Fergie Baby. Describe your energy leading into the release of the EP, What Can They Say (Extended). 

HDBeenDope: The energy going into the extended was very in your face. It is brash. The project’s first iteration ends with me saying, “We’ll be back.” You know? It was really forceful. 

So, I wanted the music that came right after that to also be in your face. It was a statement. It is bold. That is where we are going! Even so, where we end with this extended project is bringing you to where we go next. This is the beginning. 

The Knockturnal: For listeners outside New York who may not experience it, what should they know about the city’s drill scene? 

HDBeenDope: I think the biggest thing to know about the drill scene in this city is that it stemmed from real things and experiences. The internet makes drill kind of seem like a fantasy. As somebody who has been on the ground, had conversations, and been around the culture, to now living in it, I know these are real people. These are kids, man.

The Knockturnal: The “Locked In” visual felt very Brooklyn. What do you want your fan base to know about your borough? 

HDBeenDope: The biggest thing about Brooklyn is that it brings bold and brash personalities. That’s the most prominent [characteristic]. It is like you are born with a chip on your shoulder. I am from Brooklyn! When I leave Brooklyn, that is what I tell people. Wherever I go, they know. 

Photo: Roc Nation

 

The Knockturnal: Mr. Carter is known as your hometown’s hero. Do you feel responsible for putting on for the city, considering you have Roc Nation behind you? 

HDBeenDope: I feel responsible for staying true to the message. Before I started [getting recognition], and any of us got near the position I am in, or anybody cared about me, I had an idea of what I wanted to do. I knew where I wanted to be. So, as long as I stay true to that, I feel good about what is going on musically. You know?

The Knockturnal: Your “FreeVerses” YouTube clips emphasize that you care about your lyrical content. How important is continuously pushing your pen?

HDBeenDope: For me, I am a writer. At the core of this, I am a writer! It is important for me to continue to write and make things that I can feel proud of. That is the most important thing as an artist.

The Knockturnal: So, it is not strictly vibing…

HDBeenDope: Nah [laughs]! The vibes are important because it is music. I cannot stand strictly on that. 

The Knockturnal: I get that [laughs].

HDBeenDope: Vibes are 100, but for me, you are going to understand that I paid attention to the writing, no matter what the song brings. It’s necessary.

The Knockturnal: What do you consider to be the most significant advice you have received since signing your deal?

HDBeenDope: Wow! Essentially, I think it was, “Work as if none of the things that you have around you are yours.” You know? I heard, “Still work as if you are in the basement.” Even beyond that, all of the moments that happen while you are on the climb are the moments that matter the most. 

I think everyone in the game is focused like, “Okay, we are going here,” or “We need to go there.” I have been in a place of trying to appreciate the moments that I am in. 

The Knockturnal: This year marks 50 years of hip-hop. What does this mean to you?

HDBeenDope: Fifty years of hip-hop is fire because the culture is so young, but it has already changed so many lives. This is American history! It is not a matter of it being beneficial to just some people. Again, this is American history — the world [sees] hip-hop as a crux of that. I believe that alone is beautiful.

The Knockturnal: What would you like those becoming acquainted with your music to know about you? 

HDBeenDope: The biggest thing I want people to understand with me is this… L-A-B-B. Labb is the message. That is what everything I do is centered on. It stands for “Learn and become better.” It is always about personal evolution. You are going to learn something every day. It can be something simple or super complex. 

If you are not taking the things you are learning to make yourself better in any way, then there is no real point in learning. The music is centered on that. I am somebody who is going through this life, taking what he has learned and documenting it. That is what I want people to understand about me.

 

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Exclusive Interview: Roc Nation’s HDBeenDope

by Payton Wilson
written by Payton Wilson

 

Brooklyn rapper HDBeenDope has unveiled his latest single “Locked In” with multi-platinum producer Dizzy Banko. With the rapper’s signature high-energy style over booming beats and a lyric video to pair with it, the highly anticipated single arrives on the heels of its impressive viral explosion on Tik Tok which continues to amass millions of views.  

With recognition from the BET Hip-Hop Awards, co-signers such as DJ Khaled and Rapsody and many others, the Brooklyn Native’s breakthrough return follows his 2022 EP project, What Can They Say, also produced by Dizzy Banko, which marked HD’s debut as a signed Roc Nation artist. With its stand-out Today’s new track release also builds on the massive success of What Can They Say’s lead track, “Mamba” from his latest which has slowly becoming an athlete anthem being celebrated and shared by NBA Miami Heat player Jimmy Butler, major networks like ESPN and sports stadiums across the country.

During Grammy week, we had the chance to sit down with him. Check out our exclusive chat!

The Knockturnal: I read online that you consider yourself to be a student of the rap game. Can you tell me what that means to you?

 HDBeenDope: I would say being a student is, doing the research beyond what was given to you, you feel me? Like, I don’t look at it necessarily. I can’t say that I went through the rap encyclopedia and everything but it’s a matter of when you hear things that you enjoy and going deeper. I feel like that’s in all aspects of just whatever you’re interested in, you know, I mean, you find something that you like, okay, dig deeper, go down that rabbit hole because you really enjoy something. It’s so much more beyond the things that introduced you to it.

The Knockturnal: Tell me about some of the rap rabbit holes you’ve been on!

HDBeenDope:  So early on for me because I mean, obviously, I didn’t grow up on like a lot of the boom bap stuff like, right, you know, like 50 Cent was booming when I first got into hip hop for real. So that was like a journey for me. Like, I remember listening to Illmatic for the first time, and if I’m being completely real with you, I heard him out. And I was just like, “Oh, this is cool.” So for me, obviously, J. Cole beats and all flows and he’s picking I’m like, “Alright, yeah, this is that.” So when I’m hearing Nas, it’s like, it’s the same level of poetry, obviously, you know, I mean, but it was just like, “Alright, this is cool.” But I was walking to class one time and ‘New York State Of Mind.’ was just playing. And I said, “What in the hell is this?” And I don’t even know why it hit me that way. It hit me when I was going to class because obviously, I heard it by that point. But for some reason, that was like the “Oh, okay, I get it.” It really had me on a Nas kick for a minute.

The Knocktunal: You said you were in school at the time, what were you in school for?

HDBeenDope:  I was in school for liberal arts because in my head, I was gonna be in school for two months and then go to Europe. And I just believed it and I was like, Yeah, I’m gonna, I’m gonna, and then I started building a fan base.  So, in my head, I’m just like, Yeah, this demand here. I’m gonna be out of here. Any minute. It was like a semester or two semesters. We’re at City College in New York…I did a year and a half.  But I mean, the whole time. I was about to go to Europe the whole time. And then I  flunked out.  But it worked out. So I flunked out because I wasn’t doing homework. That just wasn’t my thing. When I got home, I recorded in my crib. So make music when I get home. And I had an English teacher, and he was just like, Yo, you’re good in the class, just do this assignment. Just make it up. And you’ll be good. Because right now you’re going to fail. And I was just like, I left that class. I said, Damn, that’s gonna be the last time I see him. I knew it. I knew I didn’t do this. I knew I wasn’t doing it because I was going to record. So, that happens. And when I go to sign up for classes next semester, they were like, Oh, you’re on academic probation. Well, I’m going through the process, right? I’m telling my mom, I’m like, alright, well, I gotta go talk to my academic advisor. I’m dragging it. And then I got an email from my booking agent in Europe, and he was just like, Yo, we got this tour opportunity…I think it was like two or three weeks. And I told my mom, “Yo, so they want me to go out there. They’re gonna pay me. You think I should go to school this semester?” Like, come on. She’s like, “Okay, I get it.” And that was it on school for me.

The Knockturnal: What made you decide to go to college in the first place? What was your major?

HDBeenDope:  Just liberal arts? It was really because I just felt like that’s what I had to do. You know, I mean, because especially growing up in a family I come from like, I come from immigrants, you know, so like, that’s a part of success, you know, as an immigrant parents, like Alright, cool. I’m making a better life. My kid even went to college. I got a degree they got this good job. So for me to kind of deviate from that was like “what are you doing?:

The Knockturnal: Where are your parents from? 

HDBeenDope:  My parents are from Grenada. But it was just like, “what are you doing?” So I kind of just went in just to appease more than anything, and I feel like that’s a big reason why it’s like, you should do things for you. You know, I think it’s very important, but yeah, it was a time.

The Knockturnal: When did rap become a career for you?

HDBeenDope:  I would say I mean, at that time, I was really focused on it once I started going to Europe and things like that. But I would say it became in like 2018. This was when I was getting paid for making beats and I was making records and things started moving like that was when he was like, alright, everything else like the job that I was doing before I was shooting videos. Okay, now shooting videos and out once 2018 came, it was like, Okay, we got to put that to the wayside. 2018 was definitely the turn. 

The Knockturnal: So I feel like every new artist, they go through a period where they have to find their own unique sound. And for a lot of artists today, because of social media everything is so instantaneous, I think artists oftentimes end up replicating the artists that they listen to without even realizing it. For you, how would you describe your sound? What is your unique sound?

HDBeenDope:  I think the sound is bounce. But it’s also very intricate, like an intricate bounce. So No I.D told me this thing with music, people gotta know what to do when they hear it, you know, I’m saying I’d be able to move like, the music has to kind of teach them that. And when he told me that I kinda like, restructured the way I was approaching music, you know, I mean, like, really allowing the beats to kind of speak to me first. So that’s where the bounce comes from. But the intricate part is just because being a writer, like, I’m very focused on like, I what am I saying? How am I saying it? So that’s always implemented, you know, even the records. I feel like you could just turn your ears off. When you turn them on. It’s like, Oh, shit. That was you saying some shit.

The Knockturnal: Take me through the process of writing ‘Mamba’!

HDBeenDope: So Dizzy Banko sent me this beat, and he was like, “just throw something on this and leave a second verse open, we’re gonna throw somebody on it.” And I sat down with it for a little bit. I had the voice memo with me just like mumbling the first part of the hook. So I was figuring that out. And once I got it, it was just like, oh, okay, we’re off to the races. Mumbled a little bit of the verse. You know, I mean, to just get the structure,  And then I’ll start putting the words together, you get what I’m saying. And I sent it back to Dizzy and he was like alright just do the whole song. I’m glad he did that. Because that second verse to me is like the one, I really like that second verse.

The Knockturnal: Who did you grow up listening to?

HDBeenDope:  So my trinity is 50 Cent, Lil Wayne, J. Cole.

The Knockturnal: 50 Cent, J. Cole, Wayne. Three vastly different styles. What was it about each style that appealed to you?

HDBeenDope:  So, 50 cent was like the epitome of a rap superstar. Amazing, like, nobody has had a run like 50 did to this day. Then, Wayne, it was the way he used words. And then J. Cole was very transparent. When I got to Cole, it was like, “Okay, I can be introspective with my music.” When I was 50 listening to Wayne, like, I was very much making music that sounded like my rap style, all that shit. But when I heard Cole was like, okay, cool. I can kind of just use these same elements that I got from these other two artists, but put it into my story. 

The Knockturnal: Growing up in Brooklyn, what were your parents playing?

HDBeenDope:  My mom wasn’t into hip-hop heavily, she listened to a lot of Calypso music, Soca Music, gospel, and country. My mom used to ride around listening to Johnny Cash. But, she was very big on like, kids being kids type shit. So I got all my hip hop from my brother, my brother’s 13 years older than me. He kind of like anytime he was “watching me,” he would be in his room blasting all the music and I was like “oh what’s that?” So that was my introduction to it. 

The Knockturnal: What’s bringing you fulfillment outside of music?

HDBeenDope: Okay, so recently I’ve been going by water in the morning. I’ve been going by the beach, just sit there and just write, not even music. I sit on the beach, might smoke a J, its serenity. I feel like that part of my day will exist throughout my life, wherever I’m at I’m going to find some water. 

The Knockturnal: What’s next?

HDBeenDope: ‘What Can They Say’ is out right now. Those five records I really want to keep pushing those records, but I got a deluxe on the way. I really want people to fully digest these records. I don’t want to just jump to the next one yet. So I’m gonna extend that project and then we got another one on the way in the summer with my homie, Plus from EarDrummer.

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Exclusive: Ebony Riley Talks Debut EP ‘ebony,’ Her Musical Journey & Protecting Black Women

by Nishat Baig
written by Nishat Baig

Ebony Riley, formerly known by her fans as “Riley Montana,” established herself as a staple in the modeling world and has dominated the runway for the past 8 years. From walking for Marc Jacobs to Oscar de La Renta, to shooting Givenchy & Balmain campaigns to spreads in Vogue Paris and Harpers Bazaar, Ebony has only continued to elevate and now it’s time for her to live her truth. While Ebony Riley is no newcomer to the spotlight, the past four years she has dedicated towards music and is finally ready to reintroduce herself to the world as the artist she was always meant be, starting with her debut EP ebony.

“Music was always on the menu,” says Riley, knowing from a young age that music and artistry is where life would eventually take her. Growing up in Detroit’s West Side, Riley was heavily influenced by her grandmother’s gospel music and her mother’s love for 90s R&B like Mary J Blige, Erykah Badu and Toni Braxton. Modeling helped Ebony step out of her comfort zone and helped pave the way for the upcoming superstar, but music was always the end goal.

In celebration of Ebony’s seven-track debut EP, ebony, Interscope & Roc Nation held a listening party at The Ned Nomad in New York City and the night was nothing short of legendary.  Not only was Ebony’s music amazing, but she had the support of heavy hitters like Justin & Hailey Bieber, A$AP Ferg and Meek Mill who were all in attendance in addition to Roc Nation’s Lenny S. who closely worked with Ebony to see this project come to life. Ebony previewed her music video for “Deuce Deuce” which had the entire room going crazy followed by the most legendary after-party in history where Drake himself DJed.

ebony is a beautiful work of art that lets listeners peer into Riley’s soul. From trials and tribulations to introspection and self-reflection, ebony will have you in your feelings just as much as it will leave you feeling empowered and turnt up. The R&B songstress is a force to be reckoned with and we were lucky enough to catch up with  Ebony during her listening to discuss her transition to music, her musical upbringing and the important messages behind her music like protecting black women. Check out our full interview below.

The Knockturnal: How old were you the first time you experimented with music? I know you sang in church choir and you’ve said music’s always been on the menu for you. So please tell me your earliest memories of experimenting with singing.

Ebony Riley: My earliest was around- I’d say it started at five, but when I started to actually sing it was around like seven. That was when I learned music. Like my mom used to always play a little so it just was something that kind of was instilled in me from me hearing it all the time.

The Knockturnal: Do you feel like participating in church choir helped you break out of your shell, and get comfortable being on a stage and performing?

Ebony Riley:  No, actually because that was more something my grandma made me do, it wasn’t that I didn’t enjoy it. It was more just like something that I had to do and it obviously taught me what it taught me, but no it didn’t make me break outta my shell cause I still was super insecure. I didn’t break out of my shell until I started modeling because I didn’t grow up being told I was pretty. When I say stuff like that I always try to give a disclaimer of like, I don’t want sympathy It’s more of like, I’m empowering myself even hearing my own story and it built me, you know, if I had been told I was pretty all when I was younger, I could have been nasty, who knows? So I feel like everything that happened, happened for a reason. So now I’m here today, God put me into the modeling industry originally just to get rid of those insecurities. I wasn’t happy with that because it wasn’t my passion and now I found my way back to my true passion.

The Knockturnal:  Who or what motivated you to pursue a career in music and take it seriously?

Ebony Riley: Myself. I started with modeling, I was doing that for years, but like I said, I wasn’t happy and don’t get me wrong, I’m so, so grateful for the industry. Like it introduced me to so many people. I traveled the world. I’m living a life I never dreamt I would be able to live, but like I said, I wasn’t happy because I wasn’t living what I felt like God put me here for. I never thought that my vanity was my real purpose, so I was in these rooms, but I wasn’t myself. I was just being what I thought they wanted me to be this perfect whatever and it took me to realize that, that wasn’t feeding my soul, that wasn’t making me happy to be like, ‘okay, that’s not what you doing, you need to do what actually makes you happy.’

The Knockturnal: How did it feel pivoting from modeling to music? Would you say music is your first love?

Ebony Riley: Yes and it was scary because when I started modeling, I was able to finally make money and me walking away from that security was scary because I had to fully dive in. I was still there like doing little jobs, but I had to take a point where I was like, okay, now you can’t say you wanna do singing and not fully give yourself to it, so I had to take months off from modeling where I’m not making no money, so it’s like, that’s a big leap for me because I’m living in New York City, I got bills, I got family.

The Knockturnal: How does it feel being on the other side after taking that leap?

Ebony Riley: It feels amazing I’m now living my truth. I’m able to fully be myself. I’m able to speak about my experiences. I’m excited to hopefully encourage young girls that come from, you know, upbringings like mine. So, yeah I know I did the right thing. I don’t question it.

The Knockturnal: So was the name change part of reinventing yourself as an artist?

Ebony Riley: My birth name is Ebony Riley. They changed my name when I started modeling.

The Knockturnal: How did you feel about the name change when you started modeling?

Ebony Riley: Well, that goes back to the part of me feeling like I lost myself. The reason behind the change was because Ebony was too black. For me it was like I can’t be myself and I’m fresh off the boat, I’m not trying to lose no opportunities. I’m just trying to get out the hood. I’m trying to feed myself. I’m trying to keep a roof over my head. That was until I realized l’m losing myself. You not being yourself in these spaces where it’s like, I feel like I have a beautiful soul, but I was hiding that from so many people cause I was scared trying to fit this mold, but now it’s like no fuck that because it’s not giving what it’s supposed to give. 

The Knockturnal: Have you always had a desire to perform on stage or be in the spotlight?

Ebony Riley: Not so much the spotlight. Like I always loved to perform. I was always at the family reunion trying to do my little routines, hip rolling .

The Knockturnal: The confidence that you built up over time while modeling do you feel like being on stage as a model lent itself to an easier transition into performing on a stage as an artist?

Ebony Riley: For sure. The modeling definitely geared me up for this it definitely got me more comfortable for this because now I know my angle, I know my lighting and I know how I wanna be seen.

The Knockturnal: Your music is a whole vibe. Where do you get your inspiration from?

Ebony Riley: The list is too long. So it starts with Mary J Blige, Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, Toni Braxton, Barry White. From when I was growing up, obviously like Beyonce is Beyonce. Rihanna is so swag. It’s just so many different elements that I feel like I’m inspired from different artists. Even from the newer age, Jazmine and Jazmine ain’t new, people are new to Jazmine. Jazmine is OG. She been doing this. I love her. 

The Knockturnal: For your debut project, ebony where did you pull inspiration from?

Ebony Riley: The inspiration for this project is very personal. It’s like, it’s taking me back to a very specific time when I was 21. This album was actually very healing. I’m super blessed to have been able to work with people who understand me, who been through shit too, some of the same shit. 

The Knockturnal: Please tell us about your debut EP, ebony and the inspiration behind the title?

Ebony Riley: It’s just really the reintroduction of myself. I am Ebony. That’s my name. That’s me. I’m finally walking in my power, walking in my truth with my head held high, happy and proud of my shit you know?

The Knockturnal: What are your top 3 standout tracks from ebony?

Ebony Riley: Top three – “Save Me,” “Open,” and “Deuce Deuce.”

The Knockturnal: Why are these standout tracks in your opinion?

Ebony Riley: I mean it’s just personal, those songs are very personal. It was healing, very healing for me. “Open” makes me feel real good and makes me feel very happy like, ooh, I’m that bitch.

The Knockturnal: one line that that stuck out to me from “Save Me” was “watched my sister get shot, nobody doing shit, when you grow up in the hood that’s the hand you get.” As you just said your music is very personal, can you share what was going on that inspired these lyrics?

Ebony Riley: I’m thinking about two people in that part. Originally I put that verse in there, thinking about my sister, she ended up getting shot and it was around the time where society was really just being called out about how black women are not protected. My sister was 24, I was 20, I was still in Detroit. Originally it was about her, but then when I actually hear it back, I think about my friend Dominique who passed away, rest in peace and she was so young. I think she died at maybe 29, 28, 2 kids, wrong place, wrong time and I just feel like black women are the most unprotected in the world. That was around the time where actually it was brought to my attention that we really are unprotected and shit happens and don’t nobody give a fuck. That really was just kind of a homage to my friend who I lost and then also just recognizing shit that I know that my own sister went through.

The Knockturnal: Can we expect more music from you later this year?

Ebony Riley: Hell yeah I’m about to work baby. I don’t wanna rush the art because this took four years but I’m working. 

The Knockturnal: Who would you say is your dream collab?

Ebony Riley: My dream collab is me and J.Cole! I gotta work towards that.

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EventsMusic

On The Scene: We The Best Press Conference Pt 2

by Nishat Baig
written by Nishat Baig

DJ Khaled’s We The Best press conference in Miami was truly a legendary and unforgettable day packed with a multitude of surprises. After announcing that We The Best will be relocating to Def Jam the party did not stop there. If you’re a fan of Khaled you know his signature style always includes a pair of Jordans, so it only seemed natural when Khaled announced that he was partnering with Air Jordan once again for the We The Best Air Jordan V, which is sure to be one of the most coveted drops this year and will be available to the public Cyber Monday 2023. “I wanna shout out Michael Jordan, I wanna shoutout the Jumpman team for believing in me and for supporting me and everything I do, years ago I had so many people come up to me wanting me to be part of this and a part of that, and I respected them coming to me, but I just couldn’t do it because it wouldn’t be authentic to me because really all I wear is Air Jordan,” said Khaled. In addition, Khaled’s We The Best Foundation will continue to collaborate with Jordan Brand Black Community Commitment.

Following the Jordan announcement, Khaled brought out SNIPES CEO Sven Voth, who announced that SNIPES and DJ Khaled would be partnering; to open the exclusive We The Best SNIPES Store in Miami. This collaboration, makes the first time an artist and sneaker retailer have partnered to open a physical location together. The We The Best Snipes store will offer the latest SNIPES apparel and exclusive co-branded merchandise, a live DJ, a sound booth for up-and-coming artists, and showcase looks from local Miami designers. DJ Khaled said, “This store means so much to me because as a kid my parents owned retail stores, so I was basically raised in the back of a store, so to have my own store with a big company like Snipes and something that I’m true to and pure too and what I love about SNIPES is what they do for the community.”

This was the perfect segue into the next surprise, Khaled announced that the We The Best Foundation – a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to uplifting individuals throughout underserved communities across the United States and the support of various non-profits – will be launching its inaugural scholarship program, in partnership with Roc Nation. Khaled plans to offer a full-ride, four-year scholarship for a student seeking to attend the Roc Nation School of Music, Sports, and Entertainment at Long Island University (LIU). Applications for Khaled’s scholarship are open at https://apply.liu.edu/rn, and the University will accept submissions until 11:59 pm ET on April 15.

To be eligible for the scholarship, prospective students must be looking to enroll in the Fall 2023 semester. Additionally, applicants must either submit a written or video entry (maximum three minutes) that answers the following questions:

· How do you define success?

· Please share how the DJ Khaled Scholarship will help you be the best version of yourself.

· Where do you see yourself in ten years, and how will you get there?

During the announcement, Khaled said, “Me and my queen ever since we been together, even before we met each other, we both had a love for giving back. Giving back has always been a priority in my life and her life. We’re raising our kids to see that you have to work hard but also always give back and show love. We have a team that works year-round nonstop on how can we give back, do more, uplift, inspire, motivate, and hug all the kids in need. Inspire them to keep going and not just the kids, but also the families, the mothers, and fathers, and give out scholarships.”

Director Of Roc Nation School’s Music Technology, Entrepreneurship & Production Program, Grammy Award-Winning engineer Young Guru took the stage next to speak on how the Roc Nation school plans on educating kids, “when we look at DJ Khaled, we can understand how somebody can start off with a simple label as a DJ and become a worldwide brand.” Following Guru’s speech, Aneesha Saleem, Head of the We The Best Foundation took the stage to announce this year’s scholarship winner. This year’s recipient of the We The Best scholarship is Miami’s own Felisha Agenor, whose known at her school as “The Achiever” with a 4.2 GPA and seven extracurriculars. 

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Kalan.FrFr Drops “Light Breeze” Music Video, Talks His Album 222 And Giving Back To His Community

by Chantell Hayden
written by Chantell Hayden

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.

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Chicago Band Dehd Is TIDAL’s Newest RISING Artist

by Chantell Hayden
written by Chantell Hayden

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.

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A Jam-Packed Recap of Made In America Fest 2022

by Chantell Hayden
written by Chantell Hayden

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.

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ArtEntertainmentEventsEventsThe Latest

Roc Nation and Modern Luxury Launches Edition Magazine

by Tammy B
written by Tammy B

I do not know about everyone else, however, I am just now recuperating from the beautiful craziness that is Art Basel.  Now that I’ve come up for air let’s talk recaps.

For those that haven’t seen the events, celebs, and artists parading all over your social media feed, Art Basel 2021 took place this past weekend in Miami.  Believe it or not, I met a group of ppl visiting who had absolutely no idea that Art Basel was even taking place.  No shade to them or anyone reading this who didn’t know.  Anyway, let’s move on.   There were tons of exhibits, panels, and parties, highlighting and celebrating artists from all around the world.  Yet the art wasn’t the only site to see.  Just as impressive and may be as important as the art its self were the venues.  I’m taking some of the most sort-out & exclusive venues.  Add sexy & luxurious to the description and you’ve got The Ritz Carlton South Beach!

This is where Roc Nation and Modern Luxury’s new multimedia platform, EDITION’s launch party took place.  The VIP launch event featured a wide array of celebrities, cultural tastemakers, and influencers including Vic Mensa, Ray J, Dreamdoll, Dez Bryant, Romeo Okwara, Tafia, and more.  Roc Nation superstar Dixson wowed guests with an incredibly electrifying performance.  Maeta followed with an equally beautiful soulful set that captivated the crowd.  D’USSE was on deck as the official drink sponsor.  They provided party-goers with specialty cocktails throughout the entire night.  Also guests, including myself, got to experience complimentary manicures from the Bernadette Thompson Collection.

Lastly, I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek at the inaugural issue featuring cover superstar, the incomparable and beautiful  Issa Rae.  This first issue serves as a very limited edition coffee table book, free of ads and full of exclusively, stunningly curated content.  So excited to see what else this new multimedia platform has in store.  Be sure to follow Edition on IG @editionmodlux

Special thanks to Berk Communications and Purple PR Miami.

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On The Scene: Maeta’s First Live Performance at the Iconic Orpheum Theater

by Hakeem Animashaun
written by Hakeem Animashaun

It’s official, live music is back! Even though masks were still permitted to enter the theater, it felt pretty good experiencing live music with a room full of people again.

On Thursday, June 17, Roc Nation recording artist Maeta had her first live performance on a candlelit stage at the iconic Orpheum Theater in Downtown Los Angeles. She performed some stunning R&B covers in addition to songs from her new EP, Habits. She was accompanied by Orchid Quartet (a local string quartet that has performed around the world with Rihanna, Kendrick Lamar, and other influential artists).

It was a mesmerizing evening featuring some of the greatest songs from the world of R&B. Maeta is just starting off for promising music career but everyone in attendance noticed the star power she has. In time, Maeta’s lovely voice will echo across sold out concert halls around the world.

You can stream Maeta’s new EP, Habits, on all streaming platforms and follow her behind the scenes life on her Instagram: @maetasworld.

Photo Credit = Davey Carlson

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