AJ From The 9 Comes Thru With Vibes On “Live From The 9/YeaYea Freestyle”
After dropping his last album “Sounds From The 9” on New Years 2020, Southern California rap artist AJ From The 9 is back with his latest visual and follow up album in over a year. Despite difficult circumstances during the COVID-19 pandemic, AJ has stayed busy working on new music for his album “More Sounds From The 9”, ready to once again, “Do it for The 9”, aspiring to be a breakthrough success from the region, referring to the 909/951 area of Southern California.
Over the 2nd half of 2020, AJ has teased new music, dropping singles such as “Dead Presidents”, “9PM in The City” & the Black Lives Matter themed “Light It Up”. His latest visual comes as a double feature involving his most recent single “Live From The 9” along with a fresh new track “YeaYea Freestyle”. The double video showcases the duality of the album, with “Live From The 9” channeling a chill, mellow vibe and “YeaYea Freestyle” encompassing a more upbeat, energetic type approach from the BlaQ Kennedy artist.
Check out the visual directed by videographer Jarrod Anthonee below:
It can be very difficult sometimes to pick and choose which site is a great source for new music. Thankfully, we know of a site that does just that. Based in New York City, rising music platform Hip Hops Revival is going hard for hip-hop’s culture one post at a time. Hip Hop’s Revival is a source for Hip-Hop news that’s composed of new music, videos, and interviews. Averaging over 5 million impressions monthly worldwide, HHR is undeniably needed in the industry. Their major breakthrough was the 1 million viewers they received for their well conducted 21 Savage interview. In addition to their 21 Savage interview, the site also conducted interviews with top tier artists in their industry such as; Boosie Badazz, Blac Youngsta, Young Dolph, and more. The founder CEO Ray Goodwin has definitely made things a lot easier for those with no available outlet.
“Hip Hops Revival was created with no major backing and is intended to be a platform for artist’s. Our goal grow’s each day as the industry changes. We wish to give the most authentic and most exclusive content to our viewers. This is why we choose to only work with the most authentic individuals in our industry.”
Hip Hops Revival recently had the chance to sit down with a buzzing Atlanta artist known to the streets as 21 Savage.. In this short but fulfilling interview we get a better understanding of the life of the “Skrrt Skrrt” rapper.. From sleeping in abandoned houses used for drug trafficking, to getting kicked out of middle school for carrying a weapon, this interview is raw, real, and absolutely 100% unscripted. For the full interview click on the video below. @21savage @hiphopsrevival
Sarafino Exerts Power over Potential on Latest Album Departure
Sarafino doesn’t just follow his dreams. He stalks them. He tracks them through the perilous wilderness of personal tragedy. He hunts their trails and pursues them with vengeance. For those whose “I can’t” mantra holds them in place, Sarafino offers guidance. “There’s probably someone that thought the same thing before they came up with a great invention or a great thing,” said Sarafino. “I would tell them that there are a lot of people that said they can’t. That’s just what you’re thinking in the moment. You might fail. But you’re going to learn from that failure. The people that achieve success have failed the most times.”
Already an adept lyricist, Sarafino views his latest album Departure as a major transition in his career. “I’m always telling a story. I’m keeping it genuine. People see the way that I live. I’m going away from what I used to be.” Departure represents Sarafino leaving behind old, outdated patterns and habits. “It’s a symbolic departure,” Sarafino explained. “When you go to an airport, departure is taking off. I feel like I’m taking off. Not just in life but in music too.”
Sarafino’s narratives on Departure draw from authentic loss and grief. “Stay True” finds him eulogizing friends and family members lost to addiction. “I’ve had a lot of people in my life struggle with addictions to alcohol,” Sarafino remembered. “All types of drugs. That’s the environment that I grew up in. That’s all I saw around me. For the longest time, I thought things like that were ok. As I grew and matured, I learned otherwise.” An active duty soldier in the US Army, Sarafino also commemorated friends and fellow soldiers who died by suicide. “My best friend from when I first came to the States committed suicide,” he said. “My college teammate committed suicide. The military has people so trapped; it’s hard for people to search for help.”
Refusing to let tragedy deter him from victory, Sarafino runs GoDreamchase. In addition to nutritional supplements, the organization also provides life coaching. But that’s not all. “I have an ultimate vision for GoDreamchase being the ultimate corporation,” Sarafino said. “I do a lot of personal training. We have supplements. We’ll launch an apparel line soon. Going down the line, I plan on purchasing a facility.”
Sarafino’sGoDreamchase features 3 core elements: mind, body, and spirit. “A lot of people try to chase success and happiness,” said Sarafino. “Those are things that won’t be obtained. If you chase a million dollars and you get it, there’s still more money to earn.” Happiness, Sarafino believed, comes when people find meaning and purpose in what they do. “Happiness is a byproduct,” he went on. “For you to be happy, you have to be aligned in the aspects of mind, body, and spirit. Happiness is an emotion. It has to be content in that moment, but it’s not guaranteed in the next moment.”
Stream Sarafino’s music, find out more about GoDreamchase, and follow his social media channels at the links below.
Daz Payne blends underground rap vibes with R&B approach on upbeat new hit ‘Rich Boy Trap’
LOS ANGELES, CA – Daz Payne is a veteran artist who is introducing a new spin of sound and style that music lovers around the world have been familiar with for years. His mix of Trap, traditional rap and a more underground hip-hop vibe contrasts in intriguing ways against a smooth R&B approach, and the end result is a truly original take on music. If you’re a fan of artists such as The Weeknd, Bruno Mars, or Anderson Paak, you’ll love what Daz Payne is bringing to the table.
His latest single “Rich Boy Trap” is a perfect example of this signature style.Described as a vibe that feels a bit like the popular Netflix series “Black Mirror” mentality, the song explores what it takes to stay centered when there are a lot of distractions going on in life.
“It’s a response to my life now,” Payne said. “I have a new daughter who is 11 months old and doesn’t always sleep through the night. I wrote this song late at night when I was frustrated and had sleep deprivation. I channeled that energy into this song. It’s pretty upbeat with a good dance tempo, and the lyrics blend pretty well. It’s the kind of song that makes you want to go to the club and just put your head in a drink and have some fun.”
The title of the song comes from an idea that Payne has been exploring for the past couple of years. Compared to where he used to be in his life, he’s now doing well financially with a strong family life and stability. He’s an artist who has transitioned out of the streets and now has a more legitimate situation. He’s making money as an entrepreneur which is where the Rich Boy name comes in. But with more money comes more problems … it’s a trap, so to speak. The name of the song, therefore, serves as a warning to himself and others not to let ego run away out of control.
Originally from Fort Worth, Texas, Payne initially set his sights on playing in the NFL. He played cornerback for Army at West Point until a devastating knee injury and the sudden death of his father saw him transfer to the University of Houston and ultimately ended his football career. The experience unlocked his new life mission: to become the world’s biggest superstar.
“I always felt I had a special talent for making music,” he said. “God gave me a gift that I wasn’t using at all. My father’s passing was like a wake-up call. I couldn’t waste another moment.”
To listen to Daz Payne’s music or to follow him on social media, please visit:
Disco Sundays has fans dreaming of better days with new single ‘Cloud9’
BALTIMORE, MD – Soul, Funk, R&B, Jazz and Disco come together in profound new ways on the debut album “Sending Love” from the new group Disco Sundays. With a sound that’s often described as nostalgic yet progressive, Disco Sundays pays homage to the catchy sounds of the past by combining elements of previous eras with sounds and styles of today. The undeniable swing of the drums and a signature soulful touch in the melodies pairs perfectly with a healthy dose of funky bass lines, making Disco Sundays one of the hottest new acts in the music industry today.
The standout single “Cloud9” from the new project is perhaps the best example of Disco Sunday’s original sound. With a mesmerizing and hypnotic melodic flow that plays against bouncy 808s, the song hooks listeners from the beginning and invites them into an unending flow that takes them on a ride and refuses to let them off the tracks until it reaches the end of the line. It almost has a Bone Thugs N Harmony kind of feel to it, though with more of a throw-back vibe that evokes ethereal emotions along the way. As one of the only songs on the album with vocals – from featured artist Irie Buchanan – it certainly stands out from the others and serves as a great introduction to the one-of-a-kind sound and style coming from Disco Sundays.
“It’s a favorite among most who hear it,” said Melvin Thomas – the music producer, musician, audio engineer, DJ, sound designer, and digital artist behind the creation of Disco Sundays. “Basically it’s about when the world tries to knock you out of your zone and you have the willpower to fight and stand up for what you believe in. It’s a song that shows off what we’re trying to do. Disco Sundays has a production style that has a lot of kicks and crazy basslines. The name describes a lot.”
The name is so powerful, in fact, that Thomas said Disco Sundays plays to reinforce that vibe by releasing a new single on Soundcloud every Sunday for the rest of the year. They’ll start with “Pick Me Up” on March 29, followed by “Nightcrawl” on April 4. Thomas said it’s a strategy that Disco Sundays wants to employ so as to keep listeners engaged consistently every week and continue to build momentum over time as they share their music with the world. Eventually the group will sell vintage-like merchandise and offer their music on vinyl instead of CDs. It’s an approach similar to artists such as The Gorillaz, Flying Lotus or Thundercat, just to name a few.
To listen to Disco Sunday’s music or to follow them on social media, please visit:
Living Legend Sir Don Wayne offers positive outlook on ways to unify different cultures with new single ‘Green Fever’
DALLAS, TX – Imagine, if you will, the image of two hands lighting a blunt. One hand is olive-skinned and obviously of Hispanic origins. The other is black. It’s a symbol of peace and unity – something desperately needed in today’s world of turmoil and hatred. That’s the image that resides on the cover of Sir Don Wayne’s latest single, “Green Fever,” and it’s the symbol he’s using to inspire a generation to embrace peace and push against hatred.
Currently available across all streaming platforms, “Green Fever” is the latest hit from this Dallas-based multitalented artist. It’s an upbeat, introspective look at today’s American culture and the various divides that continue to cause unrest among so many different people groups.
“There’s so much hatred in the world, I thought I could create a song to unite us,” Sir Don Wayne said. “All the different colors of the world can come together – Black, White, Indian, Mexican … It’s time to start shedding a little positive light on the world and giving some insight to people who have darkness to them. If we work together, we can get through whatever it is they’re going through.”
As is the case with most of his music, “Green Fever” features Sir Don Wayne’s signature Southern slang and Deep South style. It’s a sound that he said symbolizes Texas, albeit in his own definition of what Texas Hip Hop should sound like. As a student of music – having studied artists and influences from all over the world and from every genre imaginable – Sir Don Wayne has become a connoisseur of sound. He’s perfected the art of blending different genres and styles into something that’s original and unique. And through it all, he presents lyrics that have substance and evoke deeper thought while inspiring action.
“All the real artists talk about something in their music,” he said. “That’s what I have always looked up to. They ain’t just spitting bullshit in their music – they’re telling stories and have something to say. I want my music to be known for just being one of those guys – being up there with those legends. I want to be a living legend and do what I gotta do. I want my music to keep hope alive and try to correct positive energy and not negative. My music has a positive outlook on life and when you hear it, you’re just going to have good vibes.”
Sir Don Wayne said his artistry could be summarized as “making music for the people.” As he grows on this journey of music vibes, he’s eager for an ever-widening global fanbase to join him on the ride. Following “Green Fever”, he has plans to release another single called “Blue Champagne” before the end of May, with another couple singles planned for later this year.
To listen to Sir Don Wayne’s music or to follow him on social media, please visit:
Fall in Love with the Beautiful Madness of Flvco’s Strawberry Blonde
“There is no great genius without a touch of madness.” Roman philosopher Seneca attributed that idea to Aristotle. For Flvco, genius and madness dwell together in harmony. “Dare to be insane,” laughed Flvco.
Flvco became acquainted with the relationship between genius and madness in his youth. As a punishment, his mother would make him copy lines of poetry. Flvco recalled how his mother’s love of poetry led him to the macabre work of Edgar Allan Poe. “I like to think Poe does a lot because he is just so unapologetically emotional,” Flvco explained. “I felt like he didn’t care about looking vulnerable. Even if it takes me too long to write a song, I want to do the same.”
Flvco doesn’t care about looking vulnerable. He credited madness as fuel for his creativity. “The only time I ever felt real was when I was listening to something I recorded,” Flvco explained. “Even writing it doesn’t feel that way. When you dissociate, you don’t feel inside your own body. When you write about your feelings, it brings you to a certain place. When it’s a finished product, it really makes me more unstable. But it makes me more comfortable with being unstable.”
Flvco’s latest album Strawberry Blonde finds a protagonist driven to insanity through love. Album opener “Alewife” finds the protagonist smitten with an attractive bartender. “He meets this girl and she works in the service industry,” said Flvco. “They try to hit it off. She’s busy doing her thing, he’s busy doing his.” For the listener, Strawberry Blonde offers gentle tracks that slowly unveil the melancholy nature of Flvco’s narrative. “When I was writing, I wanted to step out for once and just be me,” said Flvco. “It just kinda was a revelation that happened while I was writing. I didn’t even know where I was going with it until I was done. All the anxiety and feelings; it transformed me.”
Strawberry Blonde culminates with the doomed protagonist embracing violence. The final track, “‘Tis a Pity She Was a Whore,” builds to a cinematic crescendo. But fans should not expect the narrative to end here. Flvco plans to continue the Strawberry Blonde story arc with a future release. “I think I’m going to continue that storyline with a few more songs,” he said. “I like to create worlds in my body of art. My next project is called The Teal Tapes. I think I’m gonna save it for June. The tempo is much higher and things are a little bit more exciting.”
Flvco’s raw emotional vulnerability will stick with listeners. His writing expresses what you feel as though he was writing the story of your life. “I always like to refer to Kanye West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Listening to that, I can look back at that time of my life and remember exactly what was going on and how it felt. I want to be that kind of artist. Take me on a road trip and I’ll share that summer with you.”
Stream Flvco’s music and follow him on his social accounts at the links below!
Fast-Rising Pop songwriter noto drops another hit single with ‘Rather Be’
BROOKLYN, NY – Noah Thomas – better known by his stage name noto – is a Pop singer, songwriter and guitarist from the East Coast whose unique style is rooted in his deep love for the narrative lyrical tradition present in traditional Country music but coupled with the sonic qualities of R&B and contemporary Pop. Often drawing comparisons to the likes of John Mayer and Daniel Caesar, noto also cites a diverse array of influences including Jeff Buckley, Tyler Childers, and Phoebe Bridgers.
His latest single, “Rather Be,” is his third professional release and follows the extremely successful releases of “Girl from the City” and “Drugs in the Bathroom,” both of which have seen hundreds of thousands of streams since wide distribution on all streaming platforms over the past three months. In fact, the music video for “Drugs in the Bathroom” is about to hit 100K views on YouTube.
Much like “Girl from the City” – which is featured on nearly 400 Spotify user playlists and recently appeared in a viral TikTok video by @olympusgreatdanes with 12.4 million views – “Rather Be” is an upbeat dance song that’s ready-made for another TikTok viral sensation. Written after a night out at the club with some friends, the song explores class boundaries and the grotesqueries of the ultra-elite.
“I remember that night we started at a club that had a cover of $200 and we had to go somewhere else because it was so expensive,” noto said. “I couldn’t get that out of my head and so when I went home that night, I wrote the song. It started out with me trying to figure out what it would take to get my foot in the door and try to impress a girl from that upper echelon. Part of me is infatuated with that entire sphere and lifestyle, but the real me is incensed and grossed out by it.”
With a groove that has a Future Pop and R&B vibe, the song showcases noto’s adept ability to bring lyrical content that is more narrative-based than what most people are listening to. Originally written on acoustic guitar before it was fully produced by Ghidrah of Studio G in Greenpoint Brooklyn, the song definitely plays like a songwriter’s tune, albeit with an upbeat tone and aggressive energy that makes the listener want to move.
“Rather Be” is one of many singles that noto is in the midst of releasing to the world as he tries to carve out a niche in the crowded music marketplace. He considers these songs his calling card and a way of showing an ever-widening fanbase what he’s capable of writing and creating. Through it all, he hopes that his narrative voice will shine through and serve as the definitive, iconic thread for which he becomes known.
“I love platitudes and listening to people talk in public places,” he said. “I write a lot of stuff down that I overhear in passing – whether it’s at a restaurant or on the street. A lot of times, I’ll write songs around a single line that I’ve heard come out of somebody’s mouth. I also like to draw from personal experience. My first song and this song are deeply personal because they’re literally about my life. Some of the next few tracks are intimate and detail accounts and moments from my life. More than anything, I just want the lyrics to shine through while I try to put out a lot of different things sonically.”
“Rather Be” was released wide across all streaming platforms on March 19.
To listen to noto’s music or to follow him on social media, please visit:
Jamaican native Ryan Cash sheds light on troubles of Caribbean Islands while celebrating the carefree lifestyle
LOS ANGELES, CA – People familiar with the Caribbean Islands today know that there are a lot of negative things happening there. Violence, murder, drugs, crime … the Caribbean has gained a bad reputation over the years. But Ryan Cash – who originally hails from Kingston, Jamaica – is on a mission to shed light on the more positive things of that region. With his new EP, he’s using music to help “Save The Caribbean.”
The first single from his upcoming project is “Blessings on Blessings” which went into wide release across all streaming platforms on March 19. Self-described as a “jolly vibe,” the song is one of the most upbeat from the forthcoming EP. Most of the songs on the project deal with topics that are more on the controversial side, but Cash wanted to introduce fans to something fun and carefree with his first introduction into the lifestyle of the Caribbean.
“This song is happy and calling blessings down on yourself,” he said. “It’s basically saying I’m blessed and I’m just happy right now. I’m awake and I’m blessed. I drink some tea and I’m blessed. I take a shower and I’m blessed. It’s about appreciating the simple things. Some people don’t have a cup of tea to drink or a nice bed to sleep in, and this song is meant to help people appreciate those things more.”
Cash moved to America in his teenage years to pursue more opportunities in the music industry. Growing up in Kingston, he played in the marching band and drum corps and lived with a family that was very musical. He also grew up in the same neighborhood that Beenie Man grew up in, and as such, he said the culture of music was ingrained within him at a young age.
Over the years, Cash has developed his own unique sound and style into something that he classifies as Universal Reggae. He has a crossover vibe that comes from living in different cultures, but he focuses mostly on Reggae and Island vibes that fuse in sounds and styles from other genres. With “Save The Caribbean,” Cash takes seven songs to share those signature sounds with the world in ways that will shed light on the troubles of the various Island nations while also celebrating the joyful lifestyle that comes from living in that area. With songs like “Put Down the Gun,” “Don’t Touch The Child” and “Good Good Police,” Cash explores tough topics that he hopes will enlighten listeners and inspire them to pursue positive change in the Caribbean.
“I want my music to be known for truth and love,” he said. “I don’t want to sell a fairytale story. I sing about real-life stuff, not make believe. I write about what I believe and what I feel, and that comes out raw and real and true. And laced through all of that is love.”
To listen to Ryan Cash’s music or to follow him on social media, please visit:
ValenciaP remembers where she’s been. The past remains close to her heart. But more than that, she understands the power of the future. Letting go of what used to be and seeking what will be. A changing season… Metamorphosis… ValenciaP is an artist in transition. She’s become something entirely new. Fans can recognize this palpable sense of transition in ValenciaP’s butterfly logo. “I was shy,” she revealed. “I promised myself I would never be homeless again. When I started writing and producing music, I saw a caterpillar at my front door. I took that as a sign that I was becoming something different. I’d been changed into ValenciaP, the artist.”
Her album Transformation (out April 5 and pre-orders April 1) finds a ValenciaP charting unmapped territory. Though she grew up singing in the youth choir, it wasn’t until she began writing her material that she felt called beyond comfort. “As a kid, I would make up beats with my hands,” she said. “When I got older, I started doing music on my own. Around 2007, I started doing beats on my own (on the computer) and writing. 2020 was the first time I produced music. I wanted to express my feelings about stuff that’s out there in the world.”
ValenciaP unveiled the Transformation track “Try Me” as her introduction to the world. The serendipitous track carries magic that awaits discovery. “One day I was just mixing,” said ValenciaP. “Practicing with using some beats and loops and stuff. I heard that beat and I loved it! I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, I love that! That’s fire!’ So, I went with it. Then I thought about the Ying Yang Twins. I said, ‘I should whisper in this song.’ And that made it even better.”
Though the Transformation album itself represents ValenciaP following her dreams, other references to dreams abound. Tracks like “Adam & Eve” and “Cinderella Never-Ending Love Story” detail astral encounters with a soul-mate-to-be. “I’ve had recurring dreams about a man I’ve never met,” explained ValenciaP. That’s what ‘Adam & Eve’ is about. Being in love with someone you’ve never met.”
As a self-taught musician and author, ValenciaP is entirely a one-woman show. Aside from music, her artistic journey also includes film production. “I’m hoping to make my movies one day and do music videos and stuff like that,” said ValenciaP. “But music is my passion. I love being creative. The trouble would get someone to work with my creativity. But I think it would help my music. And it would help me be more extroverted.”
Besides the Transformation album release, ValenciaP will also perform via a live stream. Fans can catch her at the ITNS Radio Showcase Showdown April 16 – April 19. Tickets start at $5.
Stream ValenciaP’s music and follow her social media channels at the links below!
