Aj Angels – Check In

Industry Spotlight, Music

AJ Angels inspires others with new introspective EP ‘Iso’

DENVER, CO – Separated…  Alone … Isolated…

That’s how Denver artist AJ Angels has felt at times throughout his life and it’s in those moments that he always turns to music. The power of artistic expression has played out multiple times in his life in a myriad of ways, and it’s that power that he wants to capture and share with the world through his new EP “Iso.”

The project explores what it means to take a moment and check in with yourself. It’s about his mentality during those isolated moments and the motivating factors that happen in life to derail us from our dreams.

“It’s about asking yourself why you’re doing what you’re doing and why you’re chasing whatever it is that you’re chasing,” AJ said. “It’s about looking back and seeing how much progress you’ve made. For myself, I have the pedal down right now and a lot of times I feel like I have to drive this road alone. But that’s OK because I have to chase this dream and I’m focused on that.”

The idea for the project came about while he was checking into a hotel a few months back. He found himself almost in an out-of-body experience, looking down at his life in that moment and wondering what it was that led to him feeling so alone. So as he checked into a hotel, he also checked in on himself and began to reminisce on the progress of his life and the things around him. As he sat in his room, those introspective thoughts became words on a page which eventually turned into the debut single from the album, “Check In.”

“It’s kind of mellow and really echoes a lot of what I’m talking about on this project,” AJ said. “There’s an all-audio track to start the project, then you get ‘Check In’. But by track 3, things are more uplifting and fun and you’re enjoying life. I have some great choreography I want to put with some of those later songs on the EP, and we’re getting ready to film a video for ‘Check In’ later this month.”

The last three songs on the EP are “Witness,” “Little People” and “Arise” – all of which are inspirational and upbeat, with lyrics that demand attention. “Little People” in particular is one of the stronger tracks on the project as it pushes listeners to remember the “little people” in life and acknowledge that all of us are in some way little people, no matter how far we go in life or how much we succeed. 

“And then I end with ‘Arise’ where I’m talking about my view on how I’m seeking something that makes me want to keep going,” AJ said. “I’m always seeking more and with this song, I’m touching on the fact that I’m single again and how I’m focused on my music. It’s about something I’m seeking and how it’s hard for me to put energy into something else. So I’m putting energy into what I think is working.”

Through all of his music, AJ’s unique sound and style reflects influence from the West African heritage that was instilled in him as a child growing up with immigrant parents. His taste in music and his sound has always had a foreign touch, and it’s that subtle blend that AJ thinks sets him apart from others in the industry today.

“At the end of the day, I want my music to be known for being real and inspiring,” he said. “That’s big for me. What I’m talking about a lot is finding self-progress in my music. There are a lot of people around me who don’t think I can have a version of success. But if there’s one thing to pick up from my music it’s that I’m being real and I’m showcasing how anyone can have a journey of success. Don’t worry if what you’re doing is right or wrong – if you love it, go all-in and see how things work out. If you’re 100 percent authentic and real, you can impact an unknown number of people’s lives. There are many times when I’ll never know how much my music impacts someone, but I can always count on being a positive impact on others if I’m being 100 percent real myself.”

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

http://iamajangels.com/

instagram.com/iamajangels

twitter.com/iamajangels

facebook.com/iamajangels

soundcloud.com/ajangels 

“Iso” (EP)

http://soundcloud.com/ajangels/sets/iso

https://open.spotify.com/album/2buz7G9djLQIEmYHNpYDYr

https://music.apple.com/us/album/check-in/1480428104?i=1480428106

New Video/Single: Buck City – Execution | @_BuckCity_ @DjSmokeMixtapes

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

Buck City Is Gearing Up For His Next Release “Beat The Odds” Hosted By Dj Smoke Mixtapes

Buck city is putting it down for the entire Iowa/Quad city area. The mid-west artist is back with a new project for the people! Buck linked up with Dj Smoke Mixtapes again to bring you “Beat The Odds”!

Check out the first single from titled “Execution“. Its a lil something to hold the people until we drop the full project. Other stand-out tracks on this project are “Without Warning”, “Only God Can Judge Me”, “Way To Go” amongst others. Make sure you stream the entire project when it drops on Spinrilla October 2nd and share it if you are feeling it!

Check out his previous projects “Unfamiliar Territory hosted by Dj Duce“, “The Hate Never Paid You hosted by Dj Smoke Mixtapes“, “Versatile hosted by Dj Smoke Mixtapes“; Look out for “Beat The Odds hosted by Dj Smoke Mixtapes” on Spotify and all streaming outlets.

Catch the video shot by @TroyBoyTheBeast below.

Stay connected with Buck City on social media

IG: @_buckcity_

FB: @shatani.buck

SC: @Buckcity74

Follow Buck City on Spinrilla and Spotify.

Shaad Goon – Money ft. YGG Tay

Industry Spotlight, ME Blog, Music

Shaad Goon Drops The Visual For His Brand New Single ‘Money” Tune-In on YouTube

Va’s own Shaad Goon links up with YGG Tay for the Sauce anthem ‘Money’ produced by Beat Zombie. Visual was directed by @LoveTheCulture.

Shaad Goon’s new single “Money’ is now Available On All Digital Streaming Platforms! Be on the lookout for Shaad Goon’s EP “Home Of The Hustlers” its on the way, coming real soon!

 

Follow Shaad Goon online:

https://twitter.com/ShaadGoon

https://www.instagram.com/Shaad_Goon

https://www.facebook.com/shaad.goon.77

YGG Tay:

https://www.instagram.com/Ygg_Tay

Freddy D – Everybody

Industry Spotlight, ME Blog, Music

Freddy D creates major buzz in the Music World
with new album ‘Extant’

HEMPSTEAD, NY – A hot new album from up-and-coming music artist Freddy D is giving fans of the genre a lot of exciting things to talk about. Called “Extant,” the album dropped on Sept. 13 and features Freddy D’s unique blend of power and lyrical mastery, showcasing an ability to make strong, relevant music that has been compared to Jay-Z, Nas and Kanye. Tough and wise, it’s a project that shows Freddy at the top of his game, ready to take it even higher.

“My whole life, I was trying to become a superstar,” he said. “I’ve been blessed with vision.  Even though a couple of record deals from the past went south because they weren’t aligning with my vision, I knew I wanted to keep the creativity going. As I was struggling with how to create my own stuff, the world changed. It wasn’t ready for what I was doing before but it’s ready now, and that’s what this album is about. It comes to a point of being existent even though people think it’s not a reality.”

The album starts off slow, with a mellow tune that samples the Bee Gee’s “Staying Alive,” and which Freddy said is one of his favorite songs. From there, it picks up with the single “Everybody” which is a song that Freddy said opens the conversation about love and acceptance and the innate desire to belong to another person. The journey continues across nine songs and one skit on the album, all of which Freddy said is sure to leave its mark on the Hip Hop industry.

“I feel like I bring something different,” he said. “I started my own record company and produced my own music without selling drugs – just the hard grit from an everyday job and the hunger to not let my talent go to waste. I believe in what I do and how I do it. I’m just like my fans. I bleed. I cry. I live. I sweat. I’ve been through so much. And it’s that humanity, I believe, that allows me to connect with so many people. I’ve made the most out of my hard times and I’ve been attracting attention with my music since I was in high school. Now I feel like people can see that I’m a fully developed artist with a real shot at breaking through worldwide. Hip Hop heads everywhere will be speaking my name and start listening.”

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

www.twitter.com/freddydmusic

www.instagram.com/freddydmusic

www.facebook.com/freddydmusic

www.soundcloud.com/freddydmusic

Tody – Backshots

Music, Promo

Imagination and creativity help Tody build
one-of-a-kind sound on new single ‘Backshots’

JACKSON, MS – Antorian Williams, professionally known as Tody, is a rapper, songwriter and CEO of Global Demand Entertainment based out of Southern Mississippi. He’s an artist and entrepreneur who had been creating for the better part of a decade, dropping underground hits all across the South with a rising tide of fans growing with each new release. That tide is set to grow even bigger with the release of his most recent single, “Backshots.”

Dropped on Sept. 12, the single is something sexual for the ladies and blends Hip Hop and R&B across a smooth vibe. Tody said he wanted to come up with a commercial way of describing the doggy style position, and through that process organically created “Backshots.” With his music, he’s been breaking boundaries since he was a kid growing up with little-to-no-hope in Bunkley, Mississippi. Early projects such as “Mississippi Mind State,” “Old Testament” and “Quarter Til” helped him make a name for himself, and he’s been gaining momentum across the country ever since.

“I’ve been doing this for a while and putting out a lot of projects,” Tody said. “I’ve been trying lately to take my time and release things single by single. Where I’m from, the resources for music are scarce so I moved to Jackson a few years back and started to learn the business side of the industry. I started my record label last year and it’s starting to really get off the ground. I know a big reason for that is because I’m just an outgoing individual with a lot of energy and most of my music is straight fun. Beyond that, I really believe it’s the business that moves the artist, not the other way around, and I’ve been paying a lot more attention to the business side of the industry over the past few years.”

Tody said more often than not, the music he creates is built organically from the mood he’s feeling at the time. His cadence, rhythm and flow are also things that he says stand out and make him a truly original artist. He likes to meld different sounds such as blending rap with Mexican-influenced horns. As such, he creates music that can’t be boxed into any one lane. 

“I have a good spirit and I try to make music that makes you feel good and that cheers people up,” he said. “I don’t really make slow music. I make music that hypes you up a lot, kind of like Migos. I’m in that same kind of lane. I just try to promote a good time and I want my music to give good vibes.”

“Backshots” is available across all streaming platforms. 

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

https://twitter.com/todymuzik 

https://www.facebook.com/TodyMuzik/

https://www.instagram.com/tody_gon_global/

DJ Rinnecka – Hibachi

ME Blog, Music, Promo

DJ Rinnecka shows off rapping mastery
with 32 bars on new single ‘Hibachi’

SAN ANGELO, TX – If there’s one thing that Deep South Hip Hop artist DJ Rinnecka wants people to know, it’s that when it comes to music, he can do it all. 

“I can produce, mix, master, and everything else,” said the up-and-coming artist from San Angelo, Texas. “I want to dip into different genres and be known for being a jack of all trades. I’ve always had a distinct taste in music and I’m really picky about the types of music I like in any genre. Part of the reason I got into music in the first place is because I would get a little bit jealous when someone would put out something great and I would hear it and think, ‘I want to do that.’ It made me want to learn more and try harder, and that’s how I got to where I am today.”

That journey is one that started as a young teenager who loved music and started dabbling with different aspects of the profession. This led to an aspiring artist, DJ and producer whose new single, “Hibachi,” is the perfect example of the kind of original artist that he has become known for. 

While working at a meat production plant, DJ Rinnecka initially started out as a small DJ, playing music at local parties and company events, and even at a small hookah lounge. While struggling to find his niche and earn enough money to keep going, he met up with an old friend who taught him how to be independent in the music industry. They started working together with some of his first endeavors taking place as host for tracks like “Bowlegged” and “Money Maker.” But hosting music wasn’t enough – he needed to create his own music.

“That’s how I decided to break in on ‘Hibachi,’” he said. “When we played that beat in the studio, I just started rapping. I did 32 bars just to show that I could hold my own on the mic. It is a track where I’m cooking up fire, and it’s the first track I was ever on. But when I heard it and worked on it, it had my kind of sound to it and it just sounds fire.”

DJ Rinnecka said “Hibachi” is just the first of many singles to come and that he’s already working on putting together some songs that would go toward an EP he hopes to release early next year. He’s also interested in earning some features with other artists and dreams of the day when he’s made it big enough to work with people like Lil Wayne, Calvin Harris, Marshmallow or Clams Casino. He’s also interested in partnering with lesser-known artists who do anime beats and is putting together the groundwork to be able to start an online store that would sell those types of beats. 

“Hibachi” is currently available across all streaming platforms. 

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

https://instagram.com/djrinnecka99?igshid=19pj7x9zx7rz7

https://www.facebook.com/amire.kelly.9

https://mobile.twitter.com/AmireKelly

“Hibachi”

https://open.spotify.com/track/4D7AQ8U75pmvNHjpHSD8Ut?si=8u0Kx9npShKFCMM9IibRrw

https://music.apple.com/us/album/hibachi-feat-doomzday-bat-marzworld-single/1478519813

IMA – Shinin’

ME Blog, Music, Promo

Complex new album “Calm Down” signals new era for west coast rapper, IMA

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – Although Isaiah Malik Armstrong (known by his stage name “IMA”) started over nine years ago as a DJ for upcoming rappers, his new album, “Calm Down” is his first project entirely of his own compositions. Bored with just being a DJ, the young man relaunched his career, picking up an MPC and a computer and creating his own beats to dive head first into songwriting.

“Calm Down” came together with the help of a friend and frequent collaborator Estimate, who did all of the recording and mixing. This 9 track album was mastered by Seattle native Sendai Mike. The high quality recording features unusual melodies and lots of live instrumentation, combined to showcase IMA’s broad musical ear which has been influenced by the likes of Kendrick Lamar, the whole team at Top Dawg Entertainment, artists at Dreamville Records, EarthGang, SiR and Kanye West.

IMA has little interest in creating music which sounds like everything else, and he constantly strives to find the lane of being lyrically and musically sophisticated while remaining listenable for a pop audience. “I want my music to be more than just simple patterns for a basic listener,” IMA said. “I want it to be more complex.”

Earlier in his music career, Isaiah collaborated on numerous single and album releases under different aliases over the years. He was producing beats for other rappers, giving them choruses and rapping on their singles. Forging ahead with a new stage in his career, “Calm Down” is a collection of music influenced by the past year and a half of IMA’s life. Mixing cocktails and shucking oysters (despite an allergy to shellfish!) at a top Seattle restaurant means IMA is privy to the lifestyle of the high end restaurant scene which has provided inspiration for his lyrics. 

When he was growing up, IMA lived in Puerto Rico and on several military bases which is also reflected in his unique music and lyrics. The half Native American, half black arts kid went to a high school in the Pacific Northwest which has produced fashion models, art scene aficionados and indie bands. IMA has eclectic views and different perspectives which come through in his music. He said “I feel like I have a worldly view because I’ve been around so many different people, and had to adapt to different circumstances continuously which makes me able to talk to a lot of different people with a lot of different perspectives.”

“Calm Down” dropped on September 12 and is available on all digital platforms. The album’s first track and lead single is called Shinin’ which the artist described as a party track with a house beat. IMA will follow with a music video for Shinin’ shortly after the song’s release.

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

https://www.instagram.com/ima.chillin/

https://twitter.com/IMAchillinyo

“Calm Down” Album

https://open.spotify.com/album/4Jv9aOUXjN9wjzvNSOvlbx

M Jane – IONO

ME Blog, Music

Southern soul meets Hip Hop with new single from M Jane

LITTLE ROCK, AR – What do you get when you mix a little bit of Soul, a little bit of Hip Hop, a little bit of a Southern drawl and a whole lot of sass? You get one of the hottest new female artists on the planet.

Look out world, here comes M Jane. 

Hailing out of Little Rock, Arkansas, this fast-rising young talent is set to take the music industry by storm with her unique new sound and style. Her debut single, “IONO,” is already creating buzz throughout the Southeast and priming her for a whorl wind second half of the year as she drops more and more music. 

The single shows off her naturally soulful voice which she’s honed over the years of singing Gospel in the church and exploring her sound at performances all over the country. It’s a song that talks about the anticipatory moments that come in that period right before you’ve attained success – the moments that are difficult to wait on.

“It talks about before I get on, I’m waiting to get on,” M Jane said. “I don’t know when it’s gonna happen but I know it’s gonna come. I might get a lot of haters behind it, but I’m gonna keep pushing and keep grinding while I’m waiting for that success.”

The up-tempo vibe is a perfect introduction to new fans of her one-of-a-kind style and is sure to have people bouncing as soon as they hear it. Like all of her music, “IONO” was written and produced all on her own. M Jane said she’s been honing her craft as a musician since she was about 7 years old, and for the past decade has worked hard to become a quality producer who can make her own beats and mix her own music. When she combines that with her true, natural gift as a singer, she becomes a singular talent within the world of Hip Hop.

“A lot of Hip Hop female singers aren’t true, raw singers,” said her manager Desmond Tappin. “They might know how to sing or have a decent tone but they have to rely on auto-tune to make it sound perfect. But M Jane has the whole background of singing and has a natural talent. Plus, she knows music – she knows notes and keys and theory. Put those things together and you get a different sound to Hip Hop than anything else out there. She has that true soul vibe that goes with the Hip Hop that creates a different sound for the listeners. More than anything else, she just creates really, really, really good music. Most people in Hip Hop right now and anyone who is a fan of that genre will hear her music and know immediately that it’s good. She’s not a one-hit wonder who will be gone in a couple of years. She’s the real thing and this is just the beginning.”

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

https://www.instagram.com/mjane_music/

https://twitter.com/mjane_music

Facebook:  @mjane_music

Blitzo – Big Blitzo

Industry Spotlight, Music, Promo

Near-fatal stabbing doesn’t stop East Coast artist Blitzo from pursuing dreams

BRISTOL, PA – A lot of things changed for Winston Williams when one of his closest friends stabbed him in the eye. 

Winston “Blitzo” Williams was born in Monrovia, Liberia and moved to the U.S. with his family when he was only 4 years old. They moved into the neighborhood projects just outside of Philadelphia and for the rest of his childhood, he grew up in the struggle. But his isn’t a story that others from the struggle have experienced. He discovered a gift for songwriting as early as age 7, and was already on the fast track to becoming a household name in the music industry by age 13. By age 19, he was hosting his own shows in New York and setting up major tours all over the U.S. 

Things were perfect until he visited home and went by the studio to work with one of his friends on some new music. An argument broke out and before he knew it, Blitzo was doing whatever he could to save his own life. His friend was coming at him with a knife, first stabbing him in the eye and then in multiple other places around his body. He spent many days in the hospital and despite multiple surgeries, the doctors weren’t able to save his eye – but they did save his life. 

The incident derailed his career for a bit, but after some recovery time, both physically and mentally, Blitzo is back and ready to pick back up where he left off. He’s starting that second lap of his career with a new single called “Big Blitzo” which is the first track off a new album by the same name. A new music video for the single just recently dropped, and he’s excited to be able to share this new music with the world.

“It’s basically me re-introducing myself to the industry and letting them know who I am,” he said of the song. “My story is really different. I had a real close friend try to take my life. He stabbed me and almost killed me, but I can’t give up. I gotta keep pushing. It’s a blessing to be alive and music has saved my life in more ways than one. It will continue to save my life. That’s what I want my music to do for other people. I want it to be inspirational. My story is going to inspire people. It’s definitely good music, 100 percent. But as I’ve grown as an artist, it has become all about longevity and keeping going and creating the next sound for the next generation.”

Blitzo points to the late Nipsy Hustle as his biggest inspiration in music and in life. 

“What happened to him is tragic,” Blitzo said. “As an artist, he really taught me a lot of things. Growing up and dealing with people who try to scam you… and you just want to make it and go record and make some videos and chase your dreams. People try to take advantage of you and it’s hard. But he did it, and I saw that and it gave me faith. I need help but I can’t give up. He changed my life in that way and I cried when he passed. But he has taught me to just keep pushing. I know that my strength is undeniable and I’m just going to keep going at this point.”

Blitzo’s music is available across all streaming platforms. To listen to his music or to follow him on social media, please visit:

https://blitztheone.com/

https://mobile.twitter.com/home

https://www.instagram.com/blitztheone/?hl=en

https://music.apple.com/us/artist/blitzo/296903461

Jay Against Humanity – Straight Fire

Industry Spotlight, ME Blog, Music

New single from Jay Against Humanity is
‘a whole song full of quotable bars’

BALTIMORE, MD – Jay Against Humanity, who is from Detroit, Michigan, has felt like he’s the only one who had his own back – the only one who could see the dream he had for a better life and who had the fire in his belly to do whatever it took to make that dream become a reality. He fought against haters and even people who seemingly went out of their way to stop his momentum. In fact, at times it seems like it was him against all of humanity. 

He could have buckled under that pressure, but instead he embraced it. It inspired him to go harder. He started doubling his efforts. He took that chip on his shoulder and put it into making the kind of legacy-lasting music that only artists once in a generation create. 

Out of that work came his newest single, “Straight Fire” (feat. Rocky Badd) which is a precursor to his new EP “I’m Chillin’ 2”. This EP is set to drop later this year. Described as an introspective look into his life and the things he’s had to overcome to get to this point in his career, “I’m Chillin’ 2” is the kind of project that will have people hitting “repeat” just to catch all of the gold dripping from his bars. It’ll also take listeners through a variety of moods and emotions – from party records to love songs to singles oozing with aggression. 

“‘Straight Fire’ is a whole song full of quotable bars,” Jay said. It’s almost as if someone was in a cyper or a freestyle booth – it’s just all bars. And in the middle of that, Rocky brings her fierce lyricism and shows why she’s one of the top rappers in Detroit. She is one of the emerging female artists out there and she really brings the fuel to help spark fires with this project. I’ve known about her for a while and I’ve been a fan of her music for the last four or five years. She has a lot of dope singles out and I just reached out to her and asked if she wanted to collaborate on this project. I’m a real lyricist and I’m also in tune with myself, which is a big part of being a successful musician, I think. You have to be able to be vulnerable and personable. Everything I make is influenced by my real life, and that’s my idea of being vulnerable and being out there and not being afraid to be myself. Rocky does that too, and that’s why I knew she’d be perfect for this song. I want my music to inspire and heal people. I’m real big on healing and helping the community and helping the people. And more than anything, I want my music to be the kind of music that people can reflect on and remember at different times in their lives to help them out in any situation.”

“Straight Fire” is currently available across all streaming platforms, and “I’m Chillin’ 2” is set to follow in the next couple of months. 

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

https://www.instagram.com/youngs1gma/
https://twitter.com/SpriteboyJay