KingstonBoi – Walking (Scary Place)

Blog, Industry Spotlight, ME Blog, Music, Promo, Videos

 

 

KingstonBoi Finds Common Ground in Scary Place 

ARCADIA, FL – On his new single “Scary Place,” Florida rapper KingstonBoi speaks to fears we all share. “Anything you go through in life can be a scary place. If you’ve never taken out a loan and you go to a bank, that can be a scary place. If you’ve never been to church, a church can be a scary place. I wrote the song with that in mind,” he explains. For the artist, fear is a unifier– sharing our fears brings us together as much as surviving them.  

There’s nothing scary about the song. In fact, it offers up hopeful reassurance, thanks to gospel-driven vocals, soft percussion, and a mellow dub beat. Mr. Sandman sings, offering a vocal and narrative counterpart to Kingston Boi’s rapping“The first verse is through my own perspective and experiences. The second verse is motivational, letting other people know that I was able to overcome my obstacles in scary places, and they can too,” the rapper says. Sandman brings his own story to his verses. “The song means a lot to him also. He had a situation in his life he had to deal with. He’s dealing with it now. To keep it positive and stay on the right track he chose to deal with it rather than avoid it,” KingstonBoi says, explaining another way in incorporate the lessons of someone who’s struggled with scary places himself.  

KingstonBoi has been rapping since he was 11 with his close friend James Gregg (aka Dragnizzle, now a frequent collaborator).  Raised by their grandparents, the brothers were always surrounded my musicians, whether at church or in their family lives. “All my aunts and uncles are musicians. They came up in the church. Growing up, I looked to them, and it was something I wanted to do, but I didn’t think I had the voice to be a singer like they were,” he remembers. His grandmother told him he could do anything he put his mind to, an assurance he’s held close all these years.  

Remembering her words is especially important since she and his grandfather passed. Of course the artist wishes they could hear how he’s using his voice now, how he’s deftly blending musical styles to send meaningful messages. “I lost my grandmother, Mary L. Blandin, in 2000. I lost my grandfather Nathaniel Blandin, in 2017. These are the people that raised me my whole life. Unfortunately, she wasn’t here to hear me record these songs and put them out there. But I believe she’s looking down on me and she sees it. I believe she and my grandfather will both be able to look at my music and say they’re proud. That, more than anything, means the world to me,” he says. 

It’s hard to imagine any grandmother not being proud of him, a young man finding a place for a new voice. In the rap world of hyped-up violence and materialism, KingstonBoi hopes to show listeners new possibilities. “You can come from a bad environment, but that doesn’t mean you gotta be a thug or curse with every other word you say. Music can be more than that,” he says simply. For him, music is a way for us to abandon our illusions of difference—including race—and find what we all have in common.  

“Scary Place” is available on major streaming services.  

KingstonBoi will be releasing more singles, and he expects a mixtape to drop in late 2021. 

Clippa Cartier – Wine Dark

Blog, Industry Spotlight, ME Blog, Music, Promo, Videos

Honesty meets catchy vibes on new album from Clippa Cartier 

EUGENE, OR – For most of his adult life, Clippa Cartier has been a professional barber. But like many people hit hard by COVID in 2020, he found himself without a job and looking for something different to fill his life. Enter a career in music, something that had previously only been a hobby he and his brother had dabbled with from time-to-time. Clippa has a natural gift for rapping and singing, and though he’s always dreamed of becoming a professional musician, he admits he needed the extra push of desperate circumstances to make him fully take the leap.  

Looking back over the past year-and-a-half, he’s glad that he did. In October 2020 he released his first song, “Thought You Knew Pt. 1,” featuring hip-hop artist K. Banks. Just a few days after that he released the song “Drip,” which became almost an overnight sensation and has gone on to gather hundreds of thousands of streams across multiple digital platforms. Since that time he’s released other popular songs such as “What You Trynna Do,” “The Protocol,” and “23/Jumpman.” And today he’s compiling all of those successful singles alongside a handful of others on a full album called “Wine Dark,” which is also available across all streaming platforms. 

“It’s my debut album and I’m introducing everyone to the style of my music,” he said. “I fully mixed and mastered the whole project. There’s a dark theme behind it, and the tone has a background that is kind of dark and mysterious, kind of like a good dark wine. Mostly I’m talking about life in general and Just being honest about the shit that’s really happening in our world right now.” 

Over the past year, Clippa has become known for his hard-hitting trap and club music style. He raps in hard, catchy flows that’s unique to each listener. He has a different style that incorporates a witty comedy throughout his various pieces of work. But above all he’s totally honest, emulating some of his favorite artists – like Too Short and Shuga Free – who he said have a “don’t give a f*ck kind of style and just tell you how it is.” 

Clippa has also worked with many artists who have released many songs over the past year, as well. On YouTube, Clippa had earned more than 100,000 views and thousands of subscribers. On Spotify, as well, his numbers continue to climb into the tens and hundreds of thousands. And he’s consistently releasing new music weekly.  

“I’m motivated and passionate for my craft,” he said. “I have no plan of stopping soon.” 

To listen to Clippa Cartier’s music, or to follow him on social media, please visit the following links: 

https://open.spotify.com/album/7JwaUrwpK3mD1C0voIBUnM?si=VeFWCMkBROePMjlLbz8-2w 

https://music.apple.com/us/album/wine-dark/1556003025 

https://music.amazon.ca/albums/B08XQL1D36?marketplaceId=A2EUQ1WTGCTBG2&musicTerritory=CA 

https://deezer.page.link/cyQhcLsRkc7XvFNdA

Social
https://www.facebook.com/CartierClippa/ 

https://open.spotify.com/artist/5hWolPmhlXA7rZw9DT5Oc8?autoplay=true 

https://music.apple.com/us/artist/clippa-cartier/1539110850 

https://music.amazon.ca/artists/B08NH4NX9X/clippa-cartier 

http://www.clippacartier.com/ 

https://twitter.com/CartierClippa 

One Fame – Broken

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Melodic Soul meets Spoken Word on new single from Midwest legend One Fame 

CHICAGO, IL – Like many young people who grew up in the Chicago public housing authority on the South Side of the city – an area known as State Way Gardens – life was rough for Dalvin Williams. But living in the rough streets of Chicago and going through some difficult situations has motivated him to tell his story and put it all in his music. Out of that process has come a sound that is unique – a melodic Soul vibe mixed with a little bit of Trap and hints of R&B and other genres. His goal is to become one of the greatest artists of all time and to bring his city together through music. It’s the reason why he adopted the stage name One Fame. His latest attempt at that musical healing comes in the form of his new single, “Broken.” 

Created from the mindset that anything damaged can be fixed, “Broken” is a song that uses melodic Soul mixed with R&B to explore the motivations behind relationships that break down.  

“Every relationship goes through its ups and downs,” he said, “but if it’s really real, you’ll make it work and everything will be cool and smooth in the end. That’s what this song is about. People have relationships that are broken and damaged, but if they’re willing to put in the work then anything can be fixed.” 

One Fame describes his sound as a mixture of spoken word blended with various other genre influences. He feels like he has a sound that can’t be compared to anyone else, though he admits to being inspired by legends such as Drake, Future, FabalousMeek Mill, Jay-Z, and Jadakiss. But when you hear one of One Fame’s songs, you’ll immediately know it’s different and something you’ve never heard before. That’s because he’s tapping into his own little wave and creating a signature style that is all his own. 

One Fame has been creating music for the better part of the past decade. It started when he was in high school. He had a natural gift for music, and soon found himself as part of a group that traveled throughout the Midwest to perform. He’s had the opportunity to work with some big names in the music industry – including Soulja Boy, with whom he can be seen in some of his music videos. One Fame also credits producers 905, Mvjor, and Butterfly with helping him to craft his sound and perfect some of his singles over the years. He also said DJ Reese – who was also the DJ for Lil Durk and Tink – for giving him encouragement and always motivating him to keep moving forward.  

“I want to be known as an A-list artist,” One Fame said. “I want to open up the world and inspire people. I want to be a gatekeeper – that person who others look up to. I want to be that person who can bring people together and make people think better and make better choices. I want to be a leader who leads the way.” 

One Fame will continue on that mission with more music set to drop this year. His next single, “Jodeci,” is slated to drop in April and will coincide with a music video release on his YouTube channel.

To listen to One Fame’s music, or to follow him on social media, please visit the following links: 

https://mobile.twitter.com/1fame_ 

https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1319746196&refsrc=https%3A%2F%2Fm.facebook.com%2Flogin.php 

http://instagram.com/1fame__ 

 

New Single One Fame Broken 

https://youtu.be/6PI6E7h7ya4 

https://music.apple.com/us/album/broken-single/1560559188  

Charlie Walker – Still Love You

Industry Spotlight, ME Blog, Music, Promo, Videos

Young new artist explores love and innocent relationships with four new singles 

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Charlie Walker is only 16 and admits he hasn’t been in a crazy amount of relationships, but the relationships he has been in have influenced his music.   

His latest single “Still Love You” is the first of four singles he plans to release over the next four months. “Still Love You” is a Punk/Pop fusion that’s reminiscent of artists like The Kid Laroi or Machine Gun Kelly. It’s a great first introduction to the world of this young new talent, showcasing his one-of-a-kind sound and style that’s been drawing attention from more and more listeners along the East Coast over the past year.  

“The song is basically me putting myself in a situation in myd of how I would feel if something happened to me in a relationship,” he said. “Like if a girl left me or I left her. If we split up but I still loved her and I’m trying to win her back, even though I know it’s over. That’s the kind of vibe I’m going for in the song.” 

Walker said music has always played a big part in his life, especially in the years since his parents got divorced. He said learning how to love their differences and relate to them differently helped him to appreciate a wide variety of musical genres, and as he’s developed as an artist he said one of his main goals is to connect to people through music regardless of their differences. 

“I take elements of my biggest influences and use that to inspire me,” he said. “My dream is that my music can connect with people the way my influences’ music has connected with me. I look at all of these huge stars and the way they influenced me and the way their music helped me get through a rough patch in life, and I want to be able to do that with my music.” 

Aside from The Kid Laroi and Machine Gun Kelly, Walker said some of his biggest influences are XXX Tentacion, James Taylor, Ed Sheeran, Carly Simon, Carole King, Charlie Puth, and Juice Wrld. And like many of those artists, Walker not only sings and produces, but he also plays multiple instruments – including piano, guitar, ukulele, and bass guitar. 

At the end of the day, he said he hopes to be “the same, but different as some of those great.” He hopes to eventually amaze people who hear his music; that it would one day stand head-and-shoulders above anything else in the same genre.  

To listen to Charlie Walker’s music or to follow him on social media, please visit: 

https://www.instagram.com/charliewalkerofficialmusic/ 

https://twitter.com/_charliewalker_ 

https://www.tiktok.com/@officialcharliewalker?lang=en 

https://open.spotify.com/track/6ZIKs4nsBXYRjDKBNFlNyi?si=kFNShwX0SOOnBagD1s7QNw 

Troy Remedy – Next to You

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Troy Remedy Shows Elegance With Soulful Single “Next To You” 

For Troy Remedy, to live is to endure. Life makes for an uphill climb. One must claw and scrape to gain even a morsel of advantage. When in need of solace, Troy Remedy turns to music. “Music has always been an element to some of the things that have happened around me,” said Troy Remedy. “When you’re in a bad spot, in a bind, mentally stuck or trying to find your way through the maze. music has always been there.”   

Troy’s fresh lyrical delivery and organic production hearkens back to the days of old but with a bold new twist. His songs burrow down into the heart, revealing concealed pain and sorrow. “My professors taught me the method,” said Troy. “I took the lessons that they taught me and I had to show my own version of it. And in my own style. I take great pride in the production side of things.” 

Troy brings listeners his own lesson in the form of the rich, soulful new track “Next To You.” The song sees Troy Remedy collaborating with singer (and fellow Texan) Molly May Rockwell. “I created the harmonies and wrote all the lyrics,” Troy explained. “I tried to find a distinctive voice that fits this type of song.” “Next To You” sees Troy Remedy reminiscing on romance and regret. “It’s about the kind of enjoyment that you have when you meet somebody,” said Troy. “But also the missed opportunities that come with that. The realization that you did have something good but you let it slip away.”  

Regarding Molly May Rockwell’s sultry vocal harmonies on “Next To You,” Troy said, “she did exceptionally well!” The music video for “Next To You” features Troy and Molly performing in what appears to be a local jazz lounge. “[Molly] added some grace and elegance with her performance,” Troy recollected. “Everybody from the Randy McGill band to acclaimed saxophonist Andrew Landell did a spectacular job!”  

Fans of Troy Remedy’s “Next To You” have time to brush up on his other singles while he records new material. His emotive, moving song “Gratitude” features guest vocals from hiphop legend Bizzy Bone. “I felt like all the stars aligned with that song,” Troy Remedy remembered. “Everything from the beat to the video. I just felt like everything came into place perfectly.” Troy recalled feeling the pressures of being an independent artist reaching out to an established veteran. “That’s a serious conversation you have with yourself. You’ve got to ask, ‘Are you capable of doing this? I personally feel we did a great job with the finished product and were able to meet the challenge.”  

Anyone who enjoys “Next To You” won’t have to wait long. Troy Remedy revealed that he has 2 upcoming singles in the works. “Temperatures Rising” and “Lost The Flame” that will both be released later this year. Troy also announced that he is currently booking live shows. He will perform at Texas’ independent music festival, Loudfest, in December.  

Stream Troy Remedy’s “Next To You,” and follow him on all social media platforms, via the links below.  

troyremedy.com 

youtube.com/songsofremedy 

IG : troyremedy

twitter: troyremedy

Sean Essary – Better at Being Lonely

Blog, Industry Spotlight, ME Blog, Music, Promo, Videos

<a href=”https://www.thehypemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/preview-lightbox-Better-At-Being-Lonely-Artwork-Final-Copy.jpg”><img class=”alignnone size-full wp-image-217766 aligncenter” src=”https://www.thehypemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/preview-lightbox-Better-At-Being-Lonely-Artwork-Final-Copy.jpg” alt=”” /></a>
<p style=”text-align: center;”><b><span data-contrast=”auto”>Warm </span></b><b><span data-contrast=”auto”>Synth Pop </span></b><b><span data-contrast=”auto”>vibes meet heartbreaking lyrics on new single ‘Better at Being Lonely’ from new artist Sean </span></b><b><span data-contrast=”auto”>Essary</span></b><span data-ccp-props=”{&quot;335551550&quot;:2,&quot;335551620&quot;:2}”> </span></p>
<span data-contrast=”auto”>BENTONVILLE, AR – </span><span data-contrast=”auto”>A lot of great artists over the years have gotten their start from humble beginnings. Many of them, in fact, found their first big hits while collaborating with others at songwriting workshops or in songwriting sessions with other artists in the studio. Arkansas artist Sean </span><span data-contrast=”auto”>Essary</span><span data-contrast=”auto”> is on his way to joining those legends with his new hit single “Better at Being Lonely.” It’s a song he wrote during a songwriting class he took earlier this year wit</span><span data-contrast=”auto”>h the famous Ryan Tedder, front man</span><span data-contrast=”auto”> for the band One Republic and one of the most sought-after producers in the music industry today. It’s a song that captures infectious melodies and grooves that compel listeners to move their bodies, but </span><span data-contrast=”auto”>which is</span><span data-contrast=”auto”> set against deeper lyrics that will make listeners think more deeply about their own lives.</span><span data-ccp-props=”{}”> </span>

<span data-contrast=”auto”>“It’s about getting over a relationship or trying to move on and acknowledging that it’s not </span><span data-contrast=”auto”>gonna</span><span data-contrast=”auto”> happen</span><span data-contrast=”auto”>,” </span><span data-contrast=”auto”>Essary</span><span data-contrast=”auto”> said.</span><span data-contrast=”auto”> </span><span data-contrast=”auto”>“</span><span data-contrast=”auto”>Since we can’t be together, I need to get better at being lonely. I’m drawn to the juxtaposition of heartbreaking lyrics and upbeat rhythms. Effectively</span><span data-contrast=”auto”>,</span><span data-contrast=”auto”> my goal is to make people cry while dancing.”</span><span data-ccp-props=”{}”> </span>

<span data-contrast=”auto”>Though </span><span data-contrast=”auto”>Essary’s</span><span data-contrast=”auto”> roots are in Bluegrass, the kind of music he’s creating today sits more in the lanes of Pop and EDM. He’s experimenting with the organic inspiration of electronic 80s </span><span data-contrast=”auto”>Synth Pop</span><span data-contrast=”auto”> and its fusion with other genres and sound. He said he loves how those sounds create a “sonic warmth and a commercial crispness” for the listener. He’s a big fan of artists like Charlie </span><span data-contrast=”auto”>Puth</span><span data-contrast=”auto”> and John Mayer, and said</span><span data-contrast=”auto”> that “Better at Being Lonely” h</span><span data-contrast=”auto”>as a little influence by the sound and style of Justin Bieber – specifically his newer single “Anyone.”</span><span data-ccp-props=”{}”> </span>

<span data-contrast=”auto”>“I just like something a bit more rhythmic because it’s not something I grew up with,” he said. “I like the warm-sounding synths and the big drum sounds. That’s where the 80s influences come from in my music. Then I combine that with strong melodies over the top.</span><span data-contrast=”auto”> Ultimately, I want to make music people can relate to and feel when they listen to it. I want them to have a good time, but I’m not trying to just create a party song that you can dance to and then forget it. I want to create songs that you take with you long after you hear it.</span><span data-contrast=”auto”> </span><span data-ccp-props=”{}”> </span>

<span data-contrast=”auto”>In addition to “Better at Being Lonely,” </span><span data-contrast=”auto”>Essary</span><span data-contrast=”auto”> said he also wrote the single “Dangerous” at the Ryan Tedder songwriting workshop, which he plans to release in the next couple of months. He said he has plans for even more singles later this year, as well. </span><span data-ccp-props=”{}”> </span>

<span data-ccp-props=”{}”>

</span>

<span data-contrast=”auto”>To listen to his music </span><span data-contrast=”auto”>or to follow him on social media, please visit:</span><span data-ccp-props=”{}”> </span>

<a href=”https://soundcloud.com/seanessary/better-at-being-lonely/s-IemML4NwyuY”><span data-contrast=”none”>Better At Being Lonely</span></a><span data-ccp-props=”{}”> </span>

<a href=”https://www.instagram.com/seanessary/”><span data-contrast=”none”>Instagram</span></a><span data-contrast=”none”> </span><span data-ccp-props=”{}”> </span>

<a href=”https://www.tiktok.com/@seanessary92?lang=en”><span data-contrast=”none”>Tiktok</span></a><span data-ccp-props=”{}”> </span>

<a href=”https://www.facebook.com/sean.essary.9″><span data-contrast=”none”>Facebook</span></a><span data-ccp-props=”{}”> </span>

Clémon III – Rollin Xo

Blog, ME Blog, Music, Promo, Videos

Versatility, good vibes, and inspirational tracks combine on new album ‘H’ from Midwest artist Clémon 

CLEVELAND, OH – Hayward Clémon Smith III – best known by his stage names Clémon or Clémon III – is an American rapper, record producer, record executive, and entrepreneur. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, and raised in Philadelphia, he’s a naturally born artist who started as a musician in church before playing in bands throughout high school and eventually starting his own record label, Third Breed Entertainment. At the end of 2020 he released his breakthrough album, “H,” which has been getting major raves from critics and fans in the months since. Featuring hit singles like “Rollin Xo” and “Buss U Down,” the album is a great example of the unique sound and style that Clémon brings to the international music market. 

“This album has something on there for everybody,” Clémon said. “H is what they call me on the streets, and that’s what this project is: it’s just me. It’s about me. It’s about how I live and how I am and the stuff I think about the people I lost and the relationships I have and stuntin’ with the gang. I’m not really going for a theme, like some of the other projects I’ve released. I’m just giving you my life in a raw and real way.” 

Throughout that journey Clémon not only creates upbeat vibes that entice listeners, but he also introduces some wittiness and humor in a lot of the tracks. Take “Buss U Down,” for example. It’s a song about stealing a girl from another guy. Told from the point of view of a guy who is hanging out at a gas station, the song describes the moment when a “little shorty” rolls up to the station with her man. As he goes into the store, Clémon rolls up to her and starts talking to her. “And I basically bag her and take her from her dude,” he said. “I tell her, ‘Call me anytime you need me to buss you down.’” 

“Rollin Xo” is another example of Clémon’s witty wordplay. It’s an upbeat song that’s a little bit of “talking shit,” he said, though overall it’s a nice song to bump if you’re partying or turning up. He said he was just having fun in the studio when he created this song, and it’s become one of the most-liked tracks by audiences all over the world.  

Though he’s glad fans are enjoying the music and having a good time, overall he hopes listeners will not only appreciate his versatility as an artist, but also his passion for embracing the unique qualities that make him an individual – and how others can do that, as well.  

“I grew up in a church and not everybody understands why I did what I did and why I do what I do,” he said. “I do me, no matter what. My life motto is Don’t bit This, Do You. I just do myself. I do whatever I want to do. Nobody can tell me what type of music I need to be making. Everybody else has a gimmick in the industry – like one specific style that they do – but I want to be known to excel in multiple genres. And I want to be known as an artist who didn’t just make it, but who was top notch. All of my music has to be top notch.”

Following the success of “H,” Clémon said he’s working with another artist named YHN Trenches on a new album called “Blessings,” which is tentatively scheduled to drop later this year. Prior to that the two will collaborate on the upcoming single “Switch Lanes.” 

To listen to Clémon’s music, or to follow him on social media, please visit the following links: 

Rollin Xo  

https://youtu.be/rn7a7lV79j8 

Buss U Down 

https://youtu.be/VMGP7fH00kc 

https://youtube.com/channel/UCueLjyylT_aJnApVGMbzOzw 

https://music.apple.com/us/artist/clemon-iii/1453439422 

https://open.spotify.com/artist/0B4L2CChTFBxgp7Wlz2NsV?si=DHzDl8aqRRmTPNaqjJoNHQ 

https://tidal.com/artist/22284878 

https://www.instagram.com/keepdoubtinh/ 

Keyz Emmanuel – Lo Ballo

Industry Spotlight, ME Blog, Music, Promo, Videos

Italian vogue dancer DoIores Ninja partners with Nigerian music artist Keyz Emmanuel for upbeat dance track ‘Io BalIo 

LOS ANGELES, CA – For as Iong as she can remember, DoIores Ninja has been saying the phrase “Io BalIo.” Pronounced “ee-o ba-lo” … the catchy phrase means “I Dance” in Italian. If something challenging comes into her life … “Io BalIo.” If she just wants to let Ioose for a night and have fun … “Io BalIo.” It’s a phrase that has deep meaning for this dancer from Italy, and it’s soon to be a phrase on the lips of music Iovers worldwide.  

Fittingly, “Io BalIo” is the name of the newest single from international artist Keyz Emmanuel and DoIores Ninja. True to its name, it’s an upbeat dance track that’s perfect for the clubs and necessary for a world weary of hardships and pain. Written as a way to inspire others to get up and move, the single is the natural next step for an artist who has become known for her dancing among the uppermost echeIon of artists in the world. Featured on the hit HBO show “Legendary,” which highlights the dance phenomenon racing around the world known as Voguing, DoIores has Iong been an artist who pushes boundaries. As a vogue dancer, she embraces movement and incorporates progressive high fashion into an expression that’s like Madonna meets the modeling runway. And that’s the vibe she brings to the table with this latest single.  

“I try to keep my artistry complete with my dance and use music as an escape for people,” DoIores said. “I want people to feel good when they hear my song. I want to make them travel with their imaginations and to be able to dance and share their emotions. When you hear this record, you can see something and dream about whomever you want and go wherever you want. The visual side of the art is what I really Iove.”  

DoIores and Keyz first started down this collaborative path when their producer, Phoenix Red, brought them together. Having produced the track that he thought would be perfect for the two artists, Phoenix contacted Keyz and told him his vision for the record. Eventually the three of them came together for a recording session in Las Vegas that all of them say was “Magical” in how effortless and creative it was.  

Keyz is a Nigerian-born music artist who plays the piano and a variety of percussive instruments. Currently based out of Ohio, this young artist brings a different vibe – a fresh kind of vibe – to the music world. The juxtaposition of Nigerian Afrobeat influences and Italian high art influences make for a truly original sound and style on “Io BalIo.”  

“I believe in the quality of the vibe we’ve created,” Keyz said. “You can feel it. We came in with great energy and it’s just different. Ultimately, I believe that it’s about breaking barriers and building bridges that help people from different places around the world to connect and have  

fun. We can still connect in the midst of all this chaos. So, let’s get back to a time when everyone can have fun.”  

With the music video slated for premier the same day, “Io BalIo” was released on all major streaming platforms March 26th.  

To listen to Keyz and DoIores Ninja’s music or to follow them on social media, please visit:  

https://open.spotify.com/track/7ALXJtDZBnwEMSieHvoFuQ?si=53c453917f2d443c 

Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQVN7d2qGLA_
Keyz Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamkeyzemmanuel/
Dolores Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doIoresninja/

 

BeeUpNext – Romance

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BeeUpNext Puts the Fun Back in Romance 

JACKSONVILLE – Nineteen year-old Brandon Seward, aka BeeUpNext, blends his vocal training from childhood with the hip hop vibes he’s perfecting the past few years in his home studio. These skills, and his wide variety of influences, combine to make him a true original, an artist who shows promise through his versatility and creativity.  

That hybrid is palpable on his new single “Romance.” Blending sultry melodies, twinkly beats, and rap verses that contrast the seduction story sung elsewhere – the pop sensibility and relatable message of romantic confusion make “Romance” fun but never vapid. It’s not a heavy, braggadocious club track, and listeners will want to move their bodies to it all the more. 

Despite his youth, BeeUpNext has familiarity with ways of making music many would call OG. In his sophomore year of high school, he remembers going with a friend to record at the house of another friend who had a microphone and software. The rapper’s introduction to production was to send his raw vocals to an engineer friend, who’d return it with beats. “Anything he sent me back would sound fire,” Seward says.  

Still, he knew he needed a home studio, so he upgraded his equipment and found himself leveled up in a lot of ways. “My creativity boosted to a whole different level. I let everyone know that I’m an artist. This is what I want to do. My senior year, this year, I’ve really been investing in myself so I can brand myself as an artist and be taken seriously,” he explains.  

Seward plans to drop Bee’s World” on April 23 – an EP featuring his recent work. Until then, “Romance” is available on all major streaming sites for fans to check out. 

 

City Da King – Murdermore

Industry Spotlight, ME Blog, Music, Promo, Videos

City da King is Baltimore-Strong on Three Singles 

BALTIMORE – I love my city. I love my town. I’m striving to be great, and I’m not afraid to be myself,” says Baltimore singer-rapper City da King. City grew up rough, ousted by his mother and forced to sell drugs on the street starting at age 13. The next years brought devastating losses, leaving City with pain he shares easily and a truly empowering growth story. 

Baltimore builds you to be able to be strong and to be able to make it through life. I am a true product of Baltimore. I’ve been through the worst of the worst. I overcame it and still was able to obtain a psychology degree and continue to strive,” says City. His musical striving has paid off as well; he’s opened for Future, Jezzy, Rakim, Dru Hill, and more. 

He documents the worst parts of Baltimore, the dangerous street life in his recent single “Murdermore.” He made the song shortly after leaving the band N.I.T. and realizing what freedom he now had as a solo artist. “’Murdermore’ was the record that let me spread my wings. That song came out of a lot of pain, a lot of frustration, a lot of anger, a lot of hardships I’d been through. It was a raw record. It was something that came over me. It helped me release a lot of pent-up stuff,” says the artist. The song’s poetically harsh lyrics and layered tracks of singing and rapping help make it memorable, and Baltimore locals are quickly finding it relevant and anthemic. 

City’s singing ability is one of his assets. “I have a singing background, so I can bring some harmonies and pretty dope melodies to records,” he says, explaining one facet of his versatility. “My versatility comes in my ability to be able to experiment and be creative with the music instead of being locked into one type of sound. It’s not just about hardcore hip hop. There are touchy love records, some inspirational music, some downright you-in-the-mud-trying-to-get-out-of-the-mud-music,” he says.  

He celebrates this versatility and originality in his song “One Me” from a project with the same name. With a sultry, melodic vibe, the song celebrates individuality, a pushback against the music industry’s attempt to force replication of sounds. As the artist says, “In a time when we see that the industry is copycattish where everyone wants to do what the other artists are doing. ‘One Me’ is a testament to how we’re all special. We’re all individuals. We’re all unique in our own selves.” 

But City knows that maintaining authenticity and individuality can come at a price. “I went through a lot of scenarios that people would look down on and a lot of people would not be proud of. I am not proud of all my experience. But I am saying I am not running from the experiences that made me who I am. I’m grateful and blessed, and I wouldn’t change what I went through because ultimately that made me who I am,” he explains.  

He remembers the backlash when Kanye West was running for president, how quickly people said he’d lost his mind. The comments happened to hit City when he was thinking and writing about what it means to be real, especially in an industry that doesn’t value that. “We go through things that challenge us mentally. I felt like on that record people would think I was losing my mind. That was the inspiration. When I wrote the record, it was around the time Kanye was running for president. We all know the type of energy that he was getting, people saying he was losing his mind. I’m losing my mind and going ballistic because you never know who’s real and authentic in this world, especially in the music industry,” City says of the track, which he compares to soulful Rod Wave record.  

“Ye Yeah,” like “One Me” and “Murdermore” are selfies of a man who’s found the strength to talk about the hard, important things in life. But he does it with such dexterity that he switches lanes easily, moving from painful anthems about street life to the power of one to trying to stay grounded as a musician. He plans more singles, and there’s no doubt they’ll be as genuine and autobiographical as these.