Music

Berk the Turk – Hello

ME Blog, Music, Promo, Videos

Berk The Turk uses new single to say ‘Hello’

EAST LANSING, MI – When Berk Cindik isn’t studying neuroscience at Michigan State University, he can often be found pursuing his passion for Rap music. But this native of the country of Turkey isn’t just another Hip Hop lover whose hobby allows him to create a song or two every now and then. He’s a rapper whose experimentation lends itself to a new sound and style that the music industry has been seeking. 

Operating under the stage name Berk The Turk, this new artist is hitting the scene with a splash, thanks to his new single, “Hello.” He describes it as a song that perfectly encapsulates the vibe of what Berk the Turk stands for – a person who is uplifting for people to listen to so they feel better when they listen to his music.

“At the end of the day, I want Berk the Turk to stand for something positive that will lift the moods of other people,” he said. “Personal growth has always been the goal for me, but I’ve always wanted people around me to grow as fast as I grow. I love what I study and sometimes it takes a lot of time to focus on my music because I really want to make high-quality music. I only want to do that when I’m 100 percent locked in, so if I have to study for an exam or something, I can’t work on my music. But when I do get to focus on the music, I just get lost in it. I like flowing and even when I’m studying, I always have beats playing in my mind.”

For Berk, growing up in Turkey was very affected by American culture – from television shows to sports and, of course, the music. When he was a sophomore in high school, he was presented with an opportunity to study in the United States, and he hasn’t looked back since. Though he goes back to Turkey about once every six months, he said he loves American culture and hopes to be able to make America his home for a long time to come. Most especially, he said he hopes to advance his music career and become a global brand with a name that everyone knows.

“I just want people to know I’m a great rapper,” he said. “In my opinion, my style is a little different. I’m an international artist and when someone listens to me, I want them to have a different experience than they’ve had with any other rapper. My goal is to write about real stuff. My major is neuroscience so I know a lot about the human body and existential stuff, and that’s what’s usually revolving around in my head and what tends to come out in my music. I don’t flex or anything because that’s just not my style. I’m just a guy who practices a lot and who always works on his flow. I know I will get better, but I’ve been excited to see that people already like my stuff. That makes me want to go for more and learn how to rap even better.”

To listen to Berk the Turk’s music, or to follow him on social media, please visit:

https://www.instagram.com/berkcindik/

https://twitter.com/berkcindik

“Goku”
https://open.spotify.com/track/0swPUZqIZgiZg8SWpxrkJK?si=iu_ihu4KTomeymMPG791EA

QJP 11 – Shit Damn

ME Blog, Music, Videos

QJP 11 drops new hype song that has audiences bouncing all along the East Coast

ROCKY MOUNT, NC – A new single from East Coast rapper QJP 11 (born as Qwandale Jerome Pippen on 11/11) is about to get people all over the U.S. hyped up. The song is called “Shit Damn” and it’s the kind of catchy upbeat song that could be played in clubs or concerts so that as soon as people hear it, they get hyped up. 

“As soon as people hear it, they get into it,” QJP said. “I wanted to show people how I get to it. This song is definitely a hype song. It started one day when I hit my toe on the corner of a wall and I was like, ‘Shit! Damn!’ Someone repeated it and that’s how it came about. People think I’m cussing, but people hear a lot of worse things than those two words put together. We’ve been brought up to believe those words are bad, but who was the first person to claim they were bad? They’re words that can have different definitions but when people hear it or look at the name of it, there’s automatic defensiveness to it. But it’s really just a hype catchy song with a bit of a message to it that challenges the idea of what you think those words mean.”

“Shit Damn” is yet another single of QJP 11’s acclaimed EP, “Listen to Understand.” He released the hit single “Boom Boutta Bang” last month to high praise, and has been riding a wave off success from this EP since its release in August. 

QJP said all of his music is an effort to emphasize his originality. He’s not trying to pretend to be something he’s not though he often tries new things from time to time. He also likes to make a Plan A and a Plan B and even a Plan C just in case things don’t go the way they’re supposed to. Growing up, he was always moving from one place to another and he considers himself lucky to have seen so many different sides of life – whether poor, middle class or rich. 

“At an early age, I always had a thing for being creative whether it was drawing, coloring, writing, whatever,” he said. “I like being by myself just how I am. I don’t pretend to be something I’m not. People say I’m real cool and laid-back, and I pretty much talk to anybody – White, Black, Chinese, Mexican … it doesn’t matter. All my life, I’ve been wondering who I was and what my purpose is. Me trying to be a gangster didn’t work out, then I tried to make a change in college but that didn’t really work out either. But now, I’ve found rapping and it’s like I’ve found myself and I feel a part of it. I really just want to go mainstream now. I want the money, the hate, and everything that comes with a mainstream artist – the money, the shows, and especially being featured in XXL Magazine. All of that is my focus right now.”

To listen to QJP 11’s music or to follow him on social media, please visit:

https://m.facebook.com/home.php
https://www.instagram.com/its_qjp11/
https://mobile.twitter.com/ItsQjp11

T.Jones – Drippin Flava

Industry Spotlight, ME Blog, Music, Promo

Louisiana rapper TJones makes ears tingle with new EP and single

NEW ORLEANS, LA – In TJones’ city, dreams don’t come true until you get hated on or until somebody kills you. That’s been his experience in New Orleans over the years as he’s tried to make a name for himself as a musician and businessman. And those experiences are front-and-center in his EP “Life Thru Penmanship.”

The four-song EP offers listeners a different flavor and appeal, with every song catering to a different atmosphere and vibe. TJones describes it as a project that shows off his life through his writing skills, with many of the stories told through songs coming from his perspective.

“I consider myself a fly on the wall,” he said. “I have survived a lot of crazy situations unscathed. Sometimes I’ve just been in the wrong places at the wrong time. Overall, this project has a cool vibe. There’s nothing way out of the box and extreme with the stories. More than anything, it gives you a new vibe and a new flavor in a way that makes your ears tingle because it’s something special.”

TJones has always been a native of New Orleans, having been born there in the 80s and raised on the streets. Over the years, he’s done many things to make ends meet – from landscaping to being a barber to working as an auto mechanic. But his first love has always been Hip Hop and he’s worked hard as a rapper to make a name for himself and carve out a niche in an over-crowded music scene. His signature sound and style are definitely distinct, with an inviting Louisiana drawl that’s reminiscent of Ludacriss.  But his songs and lyrics are unique to him, and he’s proud of the development he’s gone through over the years as an artist.

“I have my own voice and I’m not a one-trick pony,” he said. “I’ve been through a lot of development, and I know artist development is important. That sets you apart from those who just rely on their raw talent. Plus, my music is derived from my soul, my hustle and my environment. I wasn’t born an angel and I write about what’s true to me and my life. I write about what I’ve done or not done, what I’ve seen and what I love. I want to get a message out through my music – to encourage people. I’ve done my fair share of shit you ain’t supposed to be doing. But at the end of the day, I’m just like you trying to put a message out there to the world. So here I am … a fresh new face who is going to something that exhibits something different.”

In addition to his EP, TJones has also dropped a new single called “Drippin Flava” which is currently available across all streaming platforms. It’s a song about “you and your personality” he said, and embracing all the things you do best. 

“You have to let it drip,” he said. “Flood the streets with it. People are gonna walk all in it and get covered up in it. Whatever it is that defines you, just let it drip with flava.”

To listen to TJones’ music or to follow him on social media, please visit:

www.twitter.com/tjones504

www.facebook.com/t.jones504
www.youtube.com/penmanshipjones

“Drippin Flava”

https://youtu.be/_1ao4RD4Zu4
https://music.apple.com/us/album/drippin-flava-single/1468353189
https://open.spotify.com/album/74eehKSJCY98o9sdLzaXTk

“Life Thru Penmanship” – EP

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/life-thru-penmanship-ep/1421715160
https://open.spotify.com/album/1EZLTJOJdCU4TsVaR5LDcW?

Buck City – Beat The Odds Hosted by @DjSmokeMixtapes

Album, Blog, EP, Industry Spotlight, ME Blog, Mixtapes, Promo, Videos

Buck City Releases His 4th Project “Beat The Odds” Hosted by DJ Smoke

The Midwest artist Buck City is back with sum new slappers for the people on his new project Buck City – Beat The Odds hosted by Dj Smoke!

Tune in, turn it up to the max n vibe out to this! Stream the new single “Execution” on Spinrilla!

Stay connected with Buck City on social media IG: @_buckcity_ | FB: @shatani.buck | SC: @Buckcity74

Follow Buck City on Spotify

JaoT – No Life

ME Blog, Music, Promo

South Texas artist draws from personal life experiences to inspire others through music

SAN ANTONIO, TX – Imagine yourself standing in a painter’s studio, watching a master at work. The blank canvas is unlike any you’ve seen before – a random bit of discarded trash that might have once been a sign. As the artist starts to put brush to paint, he turns on some music and the atmosphere becomes electric.

This is the space in which San Antonio artist JaoT creates. A long-time painter who creates unique pieces of art out of found objects discarded in random places, he brings a different perspective to the idea of creation. This is true of his music, too. And that unique blend of sound, style and artistry is beginning to get noticed by fans all over the country. 

More than anything, JaoT’s artistic creation reflects his love for telling stories. His way of telling stories is relatable to a lot of different types of people from all walks of life. And like true art, those who consume what he has created have a myriad smattering of reactions – from aggression to depression to joy and everything in between.

“I can make music for literally any type of beat or sound,” JaoT said. “I look at instrumentals like an art board. When I paint, I find random objects to paint on and I make the image I see work for the canvas I choose. It’s the same thing for music – no matter what instrumental or beat or sound that’s presented to me, I can fit a part of me onto it. That’s my whole thing when it comes to music. Painting was my first love and I fell in love with it really fast. But music has been equally as fulfilling for me because it’s another form of artistic expression where I can get my emotions out. Now when I find a different item that I come across and start drawing on them with markers or crayons or colored pencils, I usually do that while listening to my own music. I pick a song that I feel like goes with the item I’ve found and make the art go with the music.”

In most cases when JaoT writes new music, he tends to write about things he’s gone through in life. It always starts as an emotional outlet driven by an experience. Inspiration might strike while he’s at the grocery store, or while he’s driving in the car reflecting on his childhood growing up abandoned and left to different families and friends. He starts by putting himself in the moment and remembering the feelings he had at the time, and then writes from that emotion. 

An upcoming single called “Cold Saki” is a perfect example of this process. He said the song was inspired by a dark time in his life earlier this year when he was mourning the loss of a friend who had taken his life by suicide. 

“I immediately turned to drinking … copious amounts,” he said. “It was only when I was drinking that I felt happy – not when I was with my kids or when I was writing or anything. I only felt decent when I was drinking. I was on the verge of coming out of that when I realized it was something other people go through as well, but don’t talk about. There’s a stigma to talking about it. I wrote most of the song while I was still drinking, but I was coming out of it enough to start thinking about the dependency on the alcohol and how good I felt in those moments. I knew it was a problem, but I kept doing it. Alcohol was there for me in a time when I felt lonely. I needed it … even when the Saki got cold, I didn’t care. I was just gonna drink it.”

JaoT said he hopes his music doesn’t just entertain listeners but also helps them through whatever situations they might be facing. “Cold Saki” for instance, is a song that he said can inspire people to talk about their own pain and begin to take the first steps toward healthier lifestyles.

“Healing and help are really what I want my music and my art to be about,” he said. “I want people to hear what I have to say and know that they aren’t the only ones going through a certain situation. That’s what I got out of music growing up. I always tried to relate what other people were talking about in their music and apply it to my life. I want to do that for other people.” 

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

https://www.facebook.com/jaotmusic/
https://www.instagram.com/cultfam_jaotmusic/
https://twitter.com/MrJaoToReal

$PAID – Pieces

Industry Spotlight, ME Blog, Music

Rising rapper, $PAID pushes through adversity to bring out new project “Who Is $PAID”

HOUSTON, TX – Abandonment. Homelessness. Rejection. Jeremy Hicks (known by his stage name $PAID) has dealt with a lot during his 20 years. To cope with life’s hardships, $PAID turned to music early on, and it became a way to express what he couldn’t say when there was no one to turn to. On October 24th, $PAID drops his new project, “Who is $PAID” on SoundCloud and YouTube.

Based on $PAID’s emotions over the last couple of years, “Who is $PAID” shows the listener how life is from $PAID’s side of the fence using raw elements to convey the pain and struggle. The 10 track collection follows the tremendous success of “Pieces” which blew up on its own to 2.16 million plays on SoundCloud. Like all of $PAID’s music, “Pieces” is a highly relatable song about the first heartbreak and a love that didn’t last.

The new project includes the track, “Star Feelings” which explores a relationship with a girl who never left even through the pain. The piece expresses that there is some pain a person can do nothing about, like falling in love for the first time.

Last October, $PAID released “Status” as he was finding his way as a solo artist. While “Status” contained many features, $PAID’s new project has more direction, compassion, substance, and perennial relevance. “The difference between Status and Who Is $PAID,” the artist said, “is that Status was just for the time, but Who Is $PAID is timeless.”

$PAID grew up listening to old school music filled with passion, pain and emotion. To help him get through his tribulations, he turned to the music of James Brown, Erykah Badu, Aretha Franklin, Musiq Soulchild and especially Drake. An example who showed that it is OK to be who you are, Drake had a very positive influence on $PAID’s life. $PAID developed into a melodic, rap-singer with a sound that is different from any other artist. $PAID said “I don’t feel like I should be put in a genre. I feel like I can almost touch all genres.”

$PAID started rapping at 19 and formed a group called Upper Echelon with another artist, Rich London. Originally called Dirty Money to compliment Rich London’s name, Jeremy changed to $PAID after going solo. In 2018, $PAID released “Factuals,” leading to an informal agreement with a small Houston label. After the devastating split with the record label, $PAID released a three track tape called “The Sample” which included the wildly popular track, “Pieces.”

A city where many young artists are trying to make it as rappers, Houston can be a tough nut to crack. But, $PAID is excited about his chances in there because “once you get the city behind you, they are behind you all the way!” Houston and beyond can look forward to much more from this hot young artist. Leading up to the release of “Who is $PAID,” $PAID is dropping a new single on SoundCloud and a music video for the track, “Loyalty” on YouTube this Friday.

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

https://soundcloud.com/user-657483691

https://twitter.com/TheRealSpaid

https://www.instagram.com/therealspaid/

“Factuals”

https://youtu.be/02RvugrMjLs

Kompanion – Redo

Industry Spotlight, Music, Promo

Personal pain and pleasure enlivens new music from alternative Hip Hop artist, Kompanion

DENVER, CO – When Kompanion (also known as James Patrick Sullivan) speaks, there is a lot of pleasure and pain because he has seen both sides of life. Music helped him get through the roughest parts of growing up and helped him express a lot of his emotions. “More than anything,” Kompanion said, “it’s helped me redirect my emotions into something positive that can help other people.” 

Further to the purpose of using his music is to connect with those in need, Kompanion released his single, “Redo” last month. A mixture of old and new age Hip Hop, “Redo” is a song about second chances in anything in life you want to do over again.

Exposed to more hardcore music at a very young age, Kompanion was influenced by the music of Kid Cudi, Mobb Deep, Brotha Lynch Hung and the Dog Town Gangster sound. Kompanion has a style that is unique and hard to classify which is best described as alternative / new age Hip Hop.

On November 30th, Kompanion will drop his new album, “The Kompanion.” The 7 track collection of all new, original material was recorded at his professional home studio, then mixed and mastered by Kentucky-based producer/engineer, Studio 17 llc. The artist’s description of “Motivation,” the album’s first track, is intriguing – “All I was thinking while recording this song was ‘I’m so hungry, both literally and figuratively!’” Kompanion also feels that “Smile” is another track that people will particularly enjoy. Things that built up in his life and came to a head are expressed in this album which gives an amazing inside look at the life of someone who has overcome recidivism, alcoholism and drug addiction.

Moving around and experiencing difficulties at home and in school, Kompanion made some bad choices and ended up in many unfortunate circumstances. In and out of jail over the years, he found himself in a position where he got pushed down. His experience is that everyone at every level wears a mask, whether they are conscious of it or not. Kompanion said “I try to approach people with a tremendous amount of respect because I know that everyone has something going on.” That respect allows him to see the real person, and he is hoping that people see the real him when they hear his music.

Kompanion believes in love for all and hatred for none, and is passionate about helping people from all walks of life. Luckily in 2003, Kompanion found his passion for music which he can attach to other things to help people. He also works with many charitable organizations such as “Be the Match” and “Peace Jam” that help build individuals and communities by addressing power and privilege issues. “I just like to use my platform to try and help somebody because I’ve been in some bad spots,” Kompanion said. “I know that social support is the most important thing when it comes to helping people who are struggling.”

His life experiences allow him to operate from a position which those who are in need can relate to. And Kompanion strongly believes that “Tough times never last, but tough people do.”

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

https://kompanion.us/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/6CkPNLDxzxok1v2k1SLO2D

https://soundcloud.com/itskompanion

https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/1473245707

https://store.cdbaby.com/Artist/Kompanion

https://youtube.com/kompaniontv

https://twitter.com/thekompanion

https://Instagram.com/thekompanion

http://facebook.com/kompanionmusic

https://show.co/Dcg4YD

Adam James – Temporarily Blinded

ME Blog, Music, Promo

Introspective lyricist encourages listeners to
consider a different perspective

MIAMI, FL – Adam James wants you to think about things differently … all things from relationships to politics to cultural influences and everything in between. His music is the kind of music intended to give listeners some deeper food for thought, and it’s that content-forward music that is grabbing the attention of new fans all over the South and in larger circles throughout the U.S.

Hailing from Miami, Florida, this introspective lyricist has been making a name for himself in Hip Hop circles around Miami for the better part of the past five years. In 2013, he dropped a mixtape called “Thru My Eyes” that was his announcement to the world. Shortly after that, he started his own independent recording label called House of M Music LLC and in 2018, he recorded his first EP “Temporarily Blinded” which featured singles such as the self-titled track “Temporarily Blinded,” produced by Nate Da Quiet Storm, “Pressure,” produced by Mike Anthem, and “Hollywood Afrikkanz,” produced by Drock. That project continues to making waves and James said he’s eager for an even wider audience to experience his music.

“It’s an EP that’s more lyrical than a lot of the music you hear today,” James said. “I just try to take a different lane and speak a little bit about political values and things that I’ve been through coming up as a man. To me it’s a lyrical project that reflects on things like the ups and downs of relationships or religion and various other things like that.”

The title track is perhaps the best example of the unique style of music James creates. Working off a sample of a speech from Malcolm X, the up-tempo vibe underscores lyrics that observe things through a different lens and looking at life with a different perspective. 

“It’s about seeing the darkness before the light and recognizing it for what it is,” James said. “I’m talking about coming up in the music game and seeing different things and witnessing different artists and seeing how one artist goes one way and then changes and you can tell it’s not them anymore. It’s a song about sticking to a code and not ever changing just to be more popular or make more money. I want to be recognized more for my music than my antics. I’m speaking more for a lot of different artists who are so blind to so many different things and try so hard to get noticed that they lose themselves along the way. It doesn’t have to be that way. We can be ourselves without having to do ridiculous things and losing ourselves. So ultimately, this song is about recognizing those fads for what they are – temporary – and then coming back to our truest selves.”

James said he’s set to follow up that successful EP with another project that is in production right now called “Finally See.” He said it will be “a bit jazzier” than his previous work and will feature more samples and more live instrumentation. 

To listen to Adam James’ music or to follow him on social media, please visit:

https://www.instagram.com/adam_the_genius/

https://soundcloud.com/user-673405160

thehouseofmmusic.com

M Soto – Throw That Dough

ME Blog, Music, Videos

M Soto uses unique writing abilities to create songs with meaningful storylines

Originally from Brooklyn, NY and raised by his grandparents, M Soto is ready to break barriers in the game. His latest hot new single, “Throw That Dough” on Spotify, iTunes and other platforms, is proving his capabilities with well over 100k streams. “Throw That Dough” gives you a feel and setting of being in a strip club while the dancers work their magic.

From an early age, he started writing poems as an outlet for him to express any sadness he was feeling while growing up. His love for music and poetry developed into an interest in creative songwriting. Recognizing the similarities between song and poem creation, M Soto began to refine his craft. Hearing other artists such as Jay-Z, Notorious B.I.G, Nas and 50 Cent influenced him to focus on songwriting.

Capturing the experiences while traveling and hearing some of the music played at venues led to the creation of “Throw That Dough.” Although the song has more of a club feel than the other music he was making at the time, the single has gotten a great response.

Currently residing in Baltimore, MD he recorded the track and a few others in his own built studio. Not satisfied with the work of several engineers, he took upon himself to take classes in an audio production school to get the sound he was looking for. “I just wanted to be satisfied, [for them]to bring out the best out of my music and I didn’t get that.” 

M Soto’s first big break came when a publicist affiliated with Sony heard his music. That connection led to a distribution deal with Sony Records and streaming numbers in the hundreds of thousands for Soto. However, it hasn’t always been easy for the songwriter. As an independent artist, having the budget to do everything Soto wants to do is a challenge. On top of that, he spent a lot of money in areas he didn’t need to early on. Soto believes that one of the greatest challenges for any new artist is the lack of proper knowledge of the business side, and knowing where to allocate funds.

M Soto’s music is full of variations: from the club to a state of mind of realization. He also has a podcast called “NYO Podcast” (Not Your Ordinary), featuring himself, his producer and his director. For the podcast, the men talk about all different topics, and there is no holding back from any of them. 

M Soto and his team are also putting everything together for his next single, “Blessed.” Recorded in April, the music video is complete and the finishing touches are being added to the track. 

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

https://www.instagram.com/therealmsoto/

https://twitter.com/therealmsoto

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbNVzAGh5rD59u54AgtrgWw

https://open.spotify.com/artist/6Xy3YDx4o2ruqYiyaf78BJ