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

New Hip Hop group The Hated Crew prepares to drop hard-hitting new single ‘Body Bags’

LAS VEGAS, NV – A collective of rap aficionados from all over the U.S. have come together to create a group that is redefining the essence of Hip Hop. Calling themselves The Hated Crew, these artists from the West and East Coasts are infusing the old techniques that have been lost with the soul of music that used to exist, and combining that with progressive new sounds that are truly original. The result is a sound unlike any other.

Leading the charge is Dan “DJ Zig Zag” Baker. Born in the Philippines and raised in the mean streets of Chicago, Baker made a name for himself as a popular radio DJ in Denver, Colorado, before moving to Las Vegas where he has become a mainstay on the music scene. Over the years, he’s had the opportunity to work with some big names in Hip Hop such as Bone Thugs N Harmony. About five years ago, he worked with some other artists from around the country to create the original Hated Crew. But as they gained notoriety and saw increasing success, Zig Zag said egos started to get out of control.

“One of the things I appreciated the most about Bone Thugs N Harmony was how humble they were even after making it so big,” Zig Zag said. “They showed me how to do it right. But some of those guys in that first crew started acting like they were bigger than the fans. I decided I had to do a mulligan and do it all over again. I couldn’t do that crap. I had to search for some realism and through that hunt, I met some people and things finally clicked.”

The group just finished their first album, “The Watchers” and the debut single, “Body Bags,” is set to drop on Sept. 13. It’s a song that Zig Zag said serves as a statement to the world that they are here to make a major impact on the music industry and “murder the rap scene with good lyrics.” 

“Right now, we are focusing on club bangers and hype music,” Zig Zag said of the new album. “I like the eye-opening and eye-wakening type of music. We have a few tracks coming up that will be more West Coast, though. And we don’t just hit one style. We have a reputation to be diverse and have a lot of different sounds. And there’s some amazing talent in this group. I really feel out beat-maker out of Tennessee – Hella Beats – is making classics, and he’s only 19 years old.”

Other members of the group include 22-year-old Vegas-based artist Golden The Prophet, 24-year-old rapper KG $ THC, Atlanta-based artist JDOTBRWN, Denver rapper Mr. Xile, and Los Angeles artists Cru$HH, SB The QB and Tax Free. There’s also the Stoner High Girls – a sisterhood of models from across the U.S. and internationally who bring attention to the medical benefits of marijuana. The models do a lot of charity work as well and are a key part of the brand of The Hated Crew.

Golden The Prophet is self-described as a “true, raw style” that makes fans feel his high-intensity lyricism and uses cultural references to make connections with his listeners. KG $ THC is close friends with Golden The Prophet and has worked with him on projects before. Tax Free is a fusion of West Coast meets East Coast with a combination of influences from South Central Los Angeles and South Bronx in New York. 

“The Watchers” is slated to drop in October while the debut single “Body Bags” is currently available across all streaming platforms. 

To listen to The Hated Crew’s music or to follow them on social media, please visit:

http://www.analogbeats.com/

https://twitter.com/TheHATEDCREW1?s=03

https://instagram.com/thehatedcrew?igshid=19wdl103ck02n

“Boss On ‘Em”
https://youtu.be/VXycYcEJ54g

“Vip Where I Go”
https://youtu.be/mFfjQq9hYSE

“I Just Might”
https://youtu.be/DuWkB_I9ZxA

Charlie Mu$cle reps streets of Kansas City
with new album ‘Goonz and Tycoonz’

KANSAS CITY, MO – Charlie Mu$cle’s life has been marked by a lot of tragedy, and that pain permeates his music in ways that tell powerful stories of the streets. When he was a teenager, his best friend, Cornell Lewis, the person who introduced him to music by encouraging him to make raps while listening to beats in his basement, was murdered at the age of 17. Out of his anger, Charlie started becoming bolder and bolder in his criminal endeavors and eventually landed in prison where he stayed for 16 years. Just before he was set to be released, his 17-year-old son Tre was tragically killed in a car accident. As most would expect, this was devastating for Charlie, and the only way he could cope was to pour himself into his music.

Out of that emotional release came his new album, “Goonz and Tycoonz,” which features the hit single “Keepin’ It Lit,” a tribute to his son. The album is a project that Charlie said “comes from the heart” and touches on stories and experiences from his life that not only nod to his time on the streets but also speak to the wisdom that he has gleaned over the years. 

“I’m not really trying to cater to everybody,” he said. “I understand my demographic and my audience, and it’s the streets. It’s the underground. The Goonz and Tycoonz are my associates, and with this album, I’m trying to represent those Goonz and Tycoonz in Kansas City.”

With “Keepin’ It Lit,” Charlie offers a personal look at his life as he speaks about the loss of his son, and uses that experience to connect with others who have experienced loss and tragedy  whether because of a hard life on the streets, or through accidents such as the one his son experienced. Alongside such a deep and introspective song comes other more hard-hitting singles such as “Active” – an upbeat vibe that reminds listeners that he still has the goods to make it in the music industry – and “Tattletale Epidemic” – which is a scathing critique of those in the world who snitch on others.

“It’s addressing this way of telling on your friends,” Charlie said. “There’s a different between snitching and telling. If you’re a law-abiding citizen who isn’t involved in crime and you report on a crime, that’s what you’re supposed to do. That’s not snitching. But if you’re a person who is involved in crime and you get caught and you’re first instinct is to tell about everybody else – which is happening a lot these days – then that’s just wrong. That’s what this song is about.”

Charlie said he knows that fans of hardcore street Hip Hop will love this new album, and he’s excited for the ways his unique sound and style will be showcased to the world. He said his time in prison gave him the opportunity to explore a wide variety of different sounds and styles – from West Coast to East Coast to Down South and everything in between – all of which has formed his own style. 

“I listen to the substance and the content, and though I don’t necessarily have a particular sound, it will always be genuine and you can feel it,” he said. “It’s real music. I just want my music to represent the streets and the struggle. Somewhere along the line, the essence of Hip Hop just got lost. It used to be about saying something but a lot of artists today aren’t saying anything. I just want to bring that realness back to Rap music.”

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

https://www.facebook.com/charles.traylor.77  

https://www.instagram.com/charlie_muscle/  
https://open.spotify.com/artist/6RgWL92NG7BN4oA9KyaoCI?si=QS8Z5HbhR361tdw3VNRPWA

“Active”
https://music.apple.com/us/album/active-single/1477561489

https://open.spotify.com/album/7ETY10JjAWynmEjxObCNRj?si=oN3o2-_8QSKLcw-_D7Zy5A

https://youtu.be/9q4zpdC16Ac
https://www.pandora.com/artist/charlie-muscle/active-single-explicit/ALZvp6jbJrc2l4J?part=ug&corr=95072955

“Keepin’ It Lit”
https://soundcloud.com/user-473801459/04-keepin-it-lit

“Tattletale Epidemic”
https://soundcloud.com/user-473801459/08-tattletale-epidemic/s-hlKTn

Spiritual journey leads Indian artist to share transcendent frequencies with the world through music

VRINDAVAN, INDIA – For many years now, Akshay Radia has been on a quest to find the ultimate heightened existence. That quest has taken him through the United Kingdom, United States and now into deep parts of India. It has been a journey of perpetual self-discovery and innovation, and the secrets found along the way he is now sharing with the world through his music.

Over the course of the next few months, this deeply connected musician who goes by the stage name Ixist will be dropping a series of singles that aim to connect the world to the ancient flows of India. The first is a single called “Livin One,” which he describes as a Hip-Hop-esque vibe with themes of life at its purest form. It is produced by a hyper talented producer known as Prof. also based out of India. 

“All of us on earth are singular beings,” he said. “There is no real border in this world. Eventually, every empire will crush and every system will fall. What is left at the essence of all is singularity. We’re all just existing and are one with each other already. This song is about that expression and that idea that we’re one and we can all be one and we can be connected to everything we see around us.”

Ixist said he discovered Hip Hop at a young age and began rapping around age 11. He credits legends like Nas and Method Man for being some of his earliest inspirations and said he enjoys some of the new music coming out today from artists like J.Cole, Ocean Wisdom and Logik. Over the years, he has developed his own unique sound and style while honing his skills by performing in more than 500 shows in stadiums, auditoriums and clubs all around the world, opening for artists like Chemical Brothers, Snoop Dogg, Nucleya (India) and more. 

As an artist, Ixist has a holistic approach to life and music with his art resonating with his beliefs and way of life. He deals with the quintessential questions of the nature of one’s existence, truth and art, and his versatility is evident as he draws inspiration from old-school and new-school Hip Hop. But he doesn’t like to be tied to one specific genre and often will incorporate sounds from many genres in his music – from Funk to Reggae to R&B and even spoken word. Throughout it all, his lyrical content expands upon a broad range of topics and pairs perfectly with his technical prowess, making his music one-of-a-kind.

“Almost all of my music is about consciousness and the philosophies of Yoga – Yoga like union with the self not downward dog,” Ixist said. “I’m not following too much of a genre. I’m more looking into frequencies. I’m always seeking that original analog frequency, pure and connected. It’s what transcends race or country or location or whatever. I hope to create music that helps us stay as true as possible to creating strong and connecting frequencies with one another – to keep as close to the essence or source of all of our existence. My music helps us transcend borders and push vibration through all differences and hurdles so that we can resonate with all sorts of people, not just specific people in specific genres or demographics.”

“The world is changing and we have to have confidence in ourselves for that change, especially if we want to build our own futures” he said. “If you’ve got good music around you, it makes you strong and gives you confidence to do the things that you may have never done before. I make music that helps people who are going through those transitions, or who are experiencing change or initiating change. I make music that helps them feel strong or good. At the end of the day, that’s what I hope my music does – helps people to be strong and happy and one.”

Ixist said he plans to follow up “Livin One” with four more singles over the next couple of months. He’ll start with “Meditation” which is slated to drop before the end of August. Then will come “M16,” “Shifting Designs” and “A to Zen.” All of them will have the same theme of universal frequency and connecting to a higher self. All have been produced with super talented producer Prof. 

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

www.ixist.in 

https://www.instagram.com/ixistmusic/

https://twitter.com/Ixistmusic

https://soundcloud.com/ixistmusic

https://www.youtube.com/ixist

“Livin One”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKmCiqkG6ko
https://open.spotify.com/track/7oSmJaBJDJSo25QtgS1SRz?si=1ixZKIgtTumM7qeA8KuEDw