Briana Donniel – Sick AF

Blog, Industry Spotlight, ME Blog, Music, Promo

Hard-hitting lyricist brings playful style to the world with new single ‘Sick AF’ 

COLUMBUS, GA – Briana Donniel is one of those rare artists who dares to tackle topics that not many other artists talk about. This independent Hip Hop musician from Columbus, Georgia, has a smooth delivery with witty punchlines that give her music a special kind of vibe that offers a deeper look at life. Her latest single,” Sick AF,” is the perfect example of her signature sound and style. 

Told from the point of view of the “girl next door,” the song explores what it means to be an independent woman in today’s day and age. The girl in the song is one that every guy wants to be with and who other girls want to be. She’s a boss chick who is really pretty and who is doing her own thing and she doesn’t care about any other girls’ opinion about her, Donniel said.  

“I’m very old-school when it comes to music especially in the world of Rap and R&B,” she said. “So I wanted to go with the vibe of the early 2000s. I do a lot of references from old songs from back in that era. It’s just a fun song that I think people will like. The beat is hard but it’s still fun at the same time.” 

Donniel said the song also has pieces of commentary laced throughout that show a bit of her playful side. But more than anything, her new track is one that fully puts on display her ability to weave powerful lyrics against a catchy melody. It’s also a song that showcases her unique voice which sits in the higher registers and stands out as it soars over the beat.  

At an early age, Donniel had a deep love for music. Growing up, she was heavily inspired by Hip Hop and R&B and especially loved the playful yet hard-hitting artists like Missy Elliot and Eminem. In early 2019, she transitioned from a fan to an artist and songwriter, and her versatility has shown since then. She’s become known in the industry as someone who can create songs with a range of emotions, while diving into lyrical content that cuts to the core. 

“I want to talk about real things,” she said. “I want people to know I’m gonna be true to myself and inspire others along the way. I especially want to uplift younger girls to go for their goals and live for their dreams. I’ve been insecure most of my life and never thought music would be the way to go. But it’s the one thing that always uplifts me and brings confidence back to my life. It helps me know I can do anything, and I want to create music that does that for others. Live your dreams. Be the best you can be. I want to do anything and everything, and I know if I put my mind to it, I can demolish it.” 

To listen to Briana Donniel’s music or to follow her on social media, please visit: https://www.instagram.com/bri_bri_4/ 

https://twitter.com/BDonniel 

J’Mill – One Of A Kind

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Young Hollywood star Jalyn Emil Hall launches music career with new single ‘One of a Kind’ 

LOS ANGELES, CA – One of the entertainment industry’s hottest young up-and-comers is about to take his talents to the international stage with his new single “One of a Kind.” Jalyn “J’Mill” Hall is a 14-year-old actor and singer best known for his role as Dillon James on the hit CW show “All American” as well as for parts in blockbuster hits “The House With a Clock in its Walls” and “Shaft,” just to name a few. Having spent the better part of the past decade acting and performing in Hollywood, this young entertainer is now set to showcase his skills within a different artistic discipline: MUSIC. 

“One of a Kind” is the first of many singles to come this year from the young star. Inspired by his journey so far, it’s a song that details where he’s come from and what he sees for his future. It’s a song that doesn’t pull back on the Hip Hop tone despite his age. And it’s for that reason that he knows the track will connect with a lot of fans around the world. 

“With kids nowadays, Hip Hop is often watered down,” J’Mill said. “I want to bring that same type of tone that big rappers have, but with my own twist. A lot of my music reflects from my experiences – now and before. I know I’m only 14 but I still have a lot of moments to learn from and express to people that I think will be relatable and interesting to know about. Telling stories in your music is really important.” 

With music now firmly in place as another weapon in his arsenal, J’Mill truly becomes a triple threat entertainer – acting, modeling and music. The latter is something he’s always been interested in and naturally gifted at, but the acting has been so consistent that it has dominated his time. But in the summer of 2020, he had the opportunity to meet the CEO of BTMR Entertainment, Michelle J. Harvest, who loved his sound and style and put him in touch with super producer Mal G.  

“Acting has been the main root of my career tree, but now that I’m branching off into music, too, I see myself doing really big things,” he said. “I hope people feel and love what I’m bringing to the table. I hope people see a kid who had a piece of every other kid. We go through a lot of different stuff these days and music can help you get through. So I hope you can listen to my music and feel like I’m an artist who is someone you can relate to – an artist who is relatable to every other kid. I’m making songs for all the feelings in the world, and I have a lot of music that will be coming out this year.” 

J’Mill said he owes a lot to his parents – mother Yma McGowan and father Jerry Hall – who have supported and encouraged him every step of the way along his journey as a professional entertainer. He also said he appreciates all that BTMR Entertainment and Mal G have done to help him find his sound and produce such a great single. 

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

https://www.instagram.com/jalynemilhall/ 

https://twitter.com/jalynemilhall 

TooFaced – Numbed Emotions

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Dark, hard-hitting artist brings in sweeter tone on new EP ‘Look Back’ 

GROTON, CT – If you only listen to the body of work that East Coast artist Dylan Robinson has released over the course of his young career, you might think that he’s an angry, stand-offish fellow. His sound is dark and evocative of heavy bands such as The Suicide Boys or Ghostmane. But if you meet him in person and talk to him for a bit, you’ll realize that he has a very friendly disposition and is actually a pretty nice guy to hang out with. It’s that duality of personality that serves as the impetus for his stage name TooFaced, and it’s that kind of energy that he brings to the table with his new EP “Look Back.” 

Currently available across all streaming platforms, “Look Back” shows off an evolution of style and sound from this young artist by introducing a lighter, “sweeter” sound to the dark tones he’s become known for. With five songs, TooFaced blends a lot of different emotions and feelings together as he looks back at his journey so far and revels in a bit of nostalgia. 

“It’s about everything anyone works toward and knowing that after a certain amount of time, you can look back and feel like you’ve learned and moved forward,” he said. “I think the main thing that sets me apart from anyone else in the game right now is that I always present an extremely honest view of things. I don’t try to make people think I’m more or less than I am. I don’t fill shoes with what I want to be. And I believe if the whole world could do that, it would be a much better place.” 

The debut single from the project is a song called “Numbed Emotions” which is the third track on the EP. TooFaced said it’s the sweetest song he’s ever made and as such, it will surprise a lot of people who are familiar with his work. But that’s what he always hopes to do with his music – offer new things that provide new perspective and a little bit of shock value. Ultimately, the song details his journey in the music world and the various things he’s experienced emotionally. He’s had to sacrifice a lot – from love to friends to extended relationships. But in the end, he said being “on top” makes it all worth it and the sacrifice ultimately necessary. 

“My music is, quite simply, honesty,” he said. “It’s music that inspires people to find out their own truths.” 

TooFaced said he’s working on more music to follow up “Look Back” and has another EP that should drop before the summer that will feature a lot of lo-fi type music.  

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

https://www.instagram.com/toofacedmusicprod/ 

https://twitter.com/toofacedprod 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfXNO4E1A_l3GdrbHYEhuxw 

https://www.facebook.com/toofacedprod 

https://soundcloud.com/toofaced-1 

“Look Back”  
https://open.spotify.com/album/0KUOb3y6KWzZJ10KhPBAYG?si=hMTRU0S2RImvyY785QPyNA

BlameKlaus – Pain

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Prodigy BlameKlaus launches onto international stage with new Alt-R&B single ‘Pain’ 

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – R&B has a new international flavor thanks to the new music coming out of South Africa from 15-year-old artist Klaus Stechmann. Operating under the stage name BlameKlaus, this young up-and-comer has a sound that evokes thoughts of Drake or Usher, but with a worldlier vibe that lives in the realm of Electronic Synth Pop fused with old-school R&B. His sound is a refreshing take on the R&B genre, and his new single “Pain” is a great introduction of that sound to an international audience. 

Opening with some haunting synths, the ethereal vibe of the song lays a foundation for the heavy bass and driving 808s that offer fans the most epic of slow jams. When Klaus’ vocals come in, they’re like a mysterious haze hovering over the swaggy waters of the creative ocean of sound he’s developed. His lyrics explore depths of relationship that no 15-year-old should have to experience and which will connect with audiences of all ages that have been in up-and-down relationships. 

“It’s about a past relationship and all the flaws that came up over and over again,” BlameKlaus said. “I talk about how I feel about it and how my experience is probably like a lot of other people’s experiences. It’s slightly alternative R&B but with more deep-and-dark tones.” 

BlameKlaus said his sound is tailored to his natural gifts and abilities as an artist – something he’s been developing since he was a young child. Of late, he’s been working with producer Asta Yurei to develop a sound and style that is uniquely his own – a sound that will be showcased to his rapidly growing international audience with even more singles to be released in the coming months. He said he recorded quite a bit of music in 2020 and has a plan to strategically release that music to the world this year.  

“I want my music to be enjoyed by anyone,” he said. “I really want people to listen to my story and be able to say that it’s an experience and a half that maybe they can relate to. Or maybe they just like the sound of the song. My main goal is to get people to deeply listen to my music. I’d love for them to study it – not just listen to it once and breeze past it. I want them to understand and talk about and dissect it so that it will correlate with their lives.” 

“Pain” is currently available across all streaming platforms. BlameKlaus said he’s working on a video for the song that he’d like to release in the next couple of months.  

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

http://hyperurl.co/BlameKlausPain 

https://www.instagram.com/blameklaus/

Snappy – Stack The Gwap

Blog, Industry Spotlight, ME Blog, Music, Promo

New York Rapper rides wave of success with release of new album ‘To Be Continued’ 

BROOKLYN, NY – Snappy is an African American Rap artist who specializes in many different genres of music. Over the course of his career, he’s racked up thousands of followers and his songs have hundreds of thousands of plays over just the past few years. He’s become known for hit singles like “Eviction Notice,” Traumatized” and “Drip with Me.” And he’s caught the attention of many other industry insiders, leading to some great collaborations with artists such as Kooda B., TDot RagedyTay MeezSpazz Dos, Won Foa and more.  

Today, he’s continuing his string of successful releases with his latest album “To Be Continued.” It features 12 songs that are meant to get audiences activated and energized. The first track from the project is “Steppin’,” which is an upbeat club banger that serves as a kind of anthem for people who have a job to do. 

“It’s about putting your all in,” Snappy said. “Either you’re all in or you’re not gonna get where you want to be. You can’t be no halfway steppin’.”  

Snappy said the single is a great intro into the rest of the album and serves to showcase his unique sound and style – a signature that emphasizes real lyrics set against a heavy beat that makes you want to get up and jump around.  

Another single from the project shows a different side of Snappy. “Let Up” is a more chill, laid-back vibe that gently applies pressure on the listener as it lets people have an inside peek on Snappy’s mindset as he pursues his dreams. He’s basically telling the world that he’s never gonna stop but in a way that’s quietly aggressive and fills the listeners with a sense of confidence.  

Snappy said his dream for as long as he can remember has been to be a bona fide Rap artist. Many people didn’t take him seriously when he was younger, and it wasn’t until 2016 that his career started to really take off. He credits his Uncle Spazz for being someone who pushed him to take music more seriously, constantly bringing him to the studio and pushing him to record new sounds and flows. In the years since, he’s been perfecting his sound and honing his craft, and it paid off in 2020 when he was featured on Rap Aechelon Magazine as a hand-picked dope artist.  

“I want my music to be like a fever,” he said. “Or to make you relax. Or to fit any mood you’re in. If you’re having a bad day and you listen to my music, it’ll ease your mood or lift you up or get you hyped. You can’t be knocked down when you’re listening to my music.” 

Snappy said he has plenty of music lined up to be released this year, and encourages fans to be on the lookout for two more singles over the next month called “Peter Pan” and “Elegant.” 

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

“STEPPIN” 

https://youtu.be/05iCIFKXjgg 

“LET UP” 

https://youtu.be/IHf0nCqkssE 

“Stack The Gwap 

https://music.apple.com/us/album/stack-the-gwap/1548053219?i=1548053224 

YungSurfGod – DIY

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Multimedia artist, fashion designer and all-around entertainer releases bevvy of new products 

LOS ANGELES, CA – Tevin Charles is a go-getter in every sense of the word, and he’s extremely grateful for the success that has come to him as a result of that hard work. He’s an East Coast artist with a West Coast vibe, and he’s got big prospects on the horizon. The successful entrepreneur mentors teenagers in his hometown of Cambridge while also running a successful clothing brand. He coaches basketball while also making music videos and short-films. He inspires other artists while undertaking a variety of business and creative endeavors. He is, at his core, a bona fide artist. And his standout feature – his signature style, if you will – is vibrancy. From his poppin new “Big Wave” hoodies, to his flashy videography, to the upbeat and catchy tunes, he makes major waves with his vibrant forms of art. 

“Big Waves inspires artists who are also athletes,” he said. “It’s a place for artists and athletes to be whole – to be themselves without judgment toward their creative waves. Don’t be somebody who is riding someone else’s wave. Whatever you see in your mind as doing, it’s all possible and it’s all there. You just have to be the one to create it.” 

Operating under the stage name YungSurfGod, this budding international superstar has recently released two new singles while also launching his latest clothing line of hoodies and other Big Waves merchandise. Launched in 2019, the Big Wave brand has grown exponentially and is now sold in places all around the world. In addition to the new hoodies, the clothing line features T-shirts, basketball shorts, and a variety of other clothing items.  

Along the way, YungSurfGod has created singles that he knows will cater to a global audience. With “Do It Yourself” and “My Mental,” he offers two new tracks that showcase his one-of-a-kind style.  

“My music is very personal to me,” he said. “When people hear it, they’ll know why people say I’m a very vibrant person. I have a lot of self-love and self-appreciation, and I try to incorporate that into my music. I want my music to promote being able to do things yourself. Whatever it is, just do it and live within it and have fun with it.” 

“Do It Yourself” is a song inspired by artists who don’t put in the effort to market their products and expect the world to be handed to them on a silver platter. YungSurfGod said the song claps back at laziness and serves as a kind of motivational message to other budding entrepreneurs to put in the work and “Do It Yourself.” Eventually, he hopes to be able to return to live shows as he said it’s his chill family vibe in front of a crowd that really makes for some of the best entertainment – almost as if he and the audience have been friends for years.  

“My shows are an escape from reality and take audiences on an entertaining journey,” he said. “My messages radiate positivity and empowerment, and it’s connecting with a lot of people.” 

YungSurfGod said he has a new clothing line potentially dropping in late 2021 or early 2022 that fans of his other brands should watch out for.  

To listen to YungSurfGod’s music, to check out his Big Wave clothing line, or to follow him on social media, please visit the following links: 

Twitter.com/Yungsurfgod 

Instagram.com/Yungsurfgod 

Facebook.com/Yungsurfgod 

https://soundcloud.app.goo.gl/rNep 

www.Yungsurfgod.com  

https://surfyshoots.myportfolio.com/ 

Snapchat @mrjamaica44  

DIY 

https://open.spotify.com/track/5S0TGiToZPSwq16NXR7Sxw?si=xSd_tUc9S3u6kx-l7lrwMQ 

 

 

Cooloquan – Straight Up

Blog, Industry Spotlight, ME Blog, Music, Promo

Young teenage artist bursts onto the scene with hype debut album ‘Move In Silence’ 

FLORENCE, SC – Fans of 16-year-old Naquan Frison have been waiting a long time for him to drop his new album “Move In Silence” which was released on all streaming platforms on Jan. 14. After spending the better part of the previous two years developing his unique sound and style and perfecting the 11 songs that make up the album, he’s finally ready to give the fans what they’ve been waiting for. But it’s not just his fans who will enjoy this debut album from a hot up-and-coming artist – the whole world of music lovers is sure to latch onto this premier album from a musician who is set to become an international name in the next few years. 

The album follows Naquan’s journey as he rises from the struggle and takes a road toward honest success. Operating under the stage name Cooloquan, this young man presents a unique style that is a little bit different than the traditional Hip Hop of today’s industry. 

“On a Hip Hop beat, you would expect someone to rap, but sometimes I might switch it up and put vocals into it,” he said. “I’m not trying to be like everybody else. My style is a little different and I want my signature style to stand out. I want my music to let people know that anything is possible. I’m 16 and I’m achieving my dreams, and I want to spark other people to go out and do the same thing as me. I doubted myself before I started making music, but now I’m pushing myself and investing in my dreams, and I want to encourage other people to do that, too. Along the way, I’ll make music that makes you feel good.” 

The debut single from the new album is a song called “Straight Up” which Cooloquan said is Hip Hop at its purest. Lyrical and full of hype energy, the song is his announcement to the world that he’s a legitimate artist who is here to stay. He’s riding a wave of success and as such, he feels like a GOAT, and he’s trying to tell everybody that he’s the next artist up.  

“No more games,” he said. “This is the real deal. I’ve been making music for the past two years and from when I first started, so now is a big progression. A lot of people have been waiting on this, and this is a real big drop for me. I want to come on the world with some sneaky stuff and give people a sound that’s an unexpected surprise when they hear me.” 

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

https://instagram.com/cooloquan4real?igshid=1jrcyknqew2kc 

https://twitter.com/CooloReal 

https://youtube.com/channel/UCKyOMIgNbUPRo_tgYfSZlTg 

“Move In Silence” 

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lhKXzMBtywlrND5fMnIqXNOMZu6Q6n9r0 

“Straight Up” 

https://music.apple.com/us/album/straight-up/1540678197?i=1540678198 

Josh Royal – Certified Loverboy

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Fast-rising young artist fuses sounds while spreading love on new single 

LOUIS, MO – At only the age of 20, Josh Royal is setting the music industry on fire. This incredibly talented entertainer from the Midwest has been honing his craft over the last few years as he studies music engineering at Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida. Along the way, he’s put together a handful of singles that he’s sharing with the world, starting with hislatesthit “Certified Loverboy.” 

Royal said the song is one that perfectly captures his essence as an artist, with a strong R&B base fused with other genres that he loves.  

“I’m very diverse,” he said. “I’m not just an R&B artist though it is my favorite genre. But I’m real and pure and I create timeless music. It doesn’t matter how many times you listen to it, it doesn’t get old and you appreciate it more and more over time. With this new single, it’s basically me not being afraid to let everybody know I’m a loverboy. I feel like in today’s world everybody is kind of looking at love in a negative way. People just don’t want to do it because of how society shows love. If you listen to a lot of Rap music today and how they talk about women, it’s savage. I want to show a positive side of love and a softer side to it.” 

Though Royal is just now bursting onto the global scene, he’s been doing music for 10 years. He was discovered by a producer doing a project for Atlantic Records at age 11 when a YouTube video of him singing “Happy Birthday” to his baby cousin went viral. That led to opportunities to write and record with other artists specifically producing a demo for a group called Mindless Behavior. He began to learn how to produce music and further developed his entertainment style by performing multiple live shows. He was a finalist in the Fox Teen Talent Competition, made it far through the audition process with NBC’s The Voice, and has opened for artists such as Chante Moore, Ray Goodman, Jacquees, Sammie, and more.  

Today, he has a vault of unreleased music that he’s planning on dropping steadily throughout 2021. He’s also working on more music videos with a cinematic style inspired by his all-time favorite artist, Michael Jackson. The first of those videos will be for a single from his hit album “Need Your Attention,” which is already available on streaming platforms. 

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

https://linktr.ee/joshroyal_ 

“Low”  

https://youtu.be/748MERgnoio 

“HMU”  

https://youtu.be/s8uFmOzQWjQ 

Byrd – Life

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Southern rapper uses poetry to uplift others on new single ‘Life’ 

RIVERDALE, GA – Tamya Thompson – AKA Byrd – is a young artist from Anniston, Alabama who is using her natural gifts as a musician to inspire others and motivate them to live their best lives. Her new single “Life” is the perfect example of how she’s using Hip Hop to grab people’s attention and inspire them to create, uplift, and rise up into stronger versions of themselves.  

“I’m just trying to make this world a better place with my music,” she said. “I want to be a positive influence on the world, not a negative. Everybody has something they have to bring to the world. God didn’t bring us to the world for nothing. All of us are superheroes for real. I’m just trying to do something different with Rap. I’m trying to save lives.” 

“Life” is inspired from the old-school Hip Hop of the late 1980s and early 1990s – artists like Run DMC and Tupac, in particular. Byrd said it’s a song that uses small little fables and punchlines to tell situations from life that many people live through.  

“We go through things in life and we’re tested to do the right thing or the wrong thing,” she said. “Life throws a curveball and it’s up to you to choose to do the right thing. That’s what this song is about. It’s got more of a chill vibe with piano through, and it’s what Rap was intended to be, which is poetry. I’m using it for a style to talk about basic life and offering up ways in which we can be better people for our communities and our children. That’s where Hip Hop came from – from the low points of life and striving to be the best we can be. I’m trying to bring that style back.” 

Byrd said she came to music in a roundabout way. She was messing around with some freestyles with a friend one evening and her natural talent as a rapper impressed everyone around her. They encouraged her to continue pursuing music as a career, and she soon was learning all she could to hone her craft. She began writing and recording and soon booked some events throughout the South. Over the years, she has performed at Club 231, Club 256 and multiple Juneteenth Festivals in Gadsden, Alabama; Lincoln Park in Atlanta; and Club Centre in Alabama. She’s also recorded with the group Nerdgang. 

Following up her success from “Life,” Byrd said she’s planning on dropping a couple of new singles in the coming months called “The Hustle” and Cold Case,” the latter of which touches on issues associated with police shootings.  

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

https://m.facebook.com/tamya.thompson.9 

https://Instagram.com/tamyabyrd16 

https://Twitter.com/ByrdTamya 

https://soundcloud.com/tamyabyrd 

https://www.reverbnation.com/artist/byrd9 

“Life” 

https://music.apple.com/us/album/life-single/1533558178 

https://audiomack.com/tamya-byrd-thompson/song/life

Duke X Dutchess – Putting In Work

Blog, Industry Spotlight, ME Blog, Music, Promo

Perfect blend of sound and style takes centerstage on new single from Hip Hop Duo Duke X Dutchess

PENSACOLA, FL – One of the Gulf Coast’s finest in music and entertainment is the duo known as the Duke X Dutchess. This royal couple is bringing high class Hip Hop to the industry with a string of new singles that is lighting up the South. Their new single, “Putting in Work,” is sure to launch them on the international stage when it drops worldwide across all streaming platforms on Feb. 5.

The couple has been “Putting In Work” together since they released their debut album on Valentine’s Day of 2020, with a bold, sexy, and soulful sound. Their debut album “Tu’Dor I” was released with a Royal Valentine’s Gala, and this couple knows how to put on a show. Check out the highlights here!

Duke X Dutchess released several singles throughout 2020. Their top-selling single, “Jack Rabbit,” closed the year out with a bang and has ushered in an even bigger wave of success in 2021.

“Putting in Work” is a song Dutchess says helps encourage others to keep putting in the work in order to realize their dreams. “Whatever your goals, aspirations, or dreams are, go for it,” Dutchess said. “If you want to reap the rewards, put in the work! It just has a nice vibe to it. We both have our own very unique style as it is, and when you bring them together, it creates a very unique dynamic. It just works very well together.”

The two met while pursuing individual music careers and almost immediately found a
connection that couldn’t be denied. Together they create a sound that penetrates the souls and minds of their fans and listeners all over the world. “We hope people feel our passion, love, and connection through our music,” Dutchess said. “We want our music to resonate with people. We’re creating music that is not only for you to have fun with and vibe to, but to feel what we’re talking about. We’re making music that is classic and timeless.”

You can save their new release “Putting in Work” on Apple Music, Spotify, and Deezer! The Duke X Dutchess are blazing 2021 with many more singles like, “Freak Show”and “Mami Papi”, bringing Exclusive events to the Gulf Coast!

To listen to their music or to follow them on social media, please visit:
https://snd.click/dukexdutchess
https://www.tiktok.com/@dukexdutchess