Hip-Hop Archives

Featured Placement: FX’s “Hip Hop Uncovered”

“Cabbage” by Orrin and “Smoke” by TheRealEVK are featured in episode 5 of the new FX mini-docuseries “Hip Hop Uncovered”, airing February 26th on FX, or catch it streaming on-demand on Hulu. About “Hip Hop Uncovered” “Hip Hop Uncovered” is an examination of a dying breed of power brokers who operate from the shadows of hip-hop. Set against 40 years of music history, this six-part documentary series takes a deep dive into the paradox of America’s criminalization of the genre and its fascination with the street culture that created it and still exists within it. Instead of telling the story of hip-hop from the top down, “Hip Hop Uncovered” tells the story from the streets up, as it reveals the untold story of how America’s streets helped shape hip-hop culture from an expression of survival and defiance into one of music’s most dominant genres.

Featured Placement: Verizon/Fortnite Live Gaming Event

Several hip hop tracks by our artists Call Me Ace, Julian Xtra, Nate Rose and Orrin were used in a live-streaming event promoting Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband. The event featured Twitch megastar Myth crushing Fortnite with the new Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, as well as tips and tricks for gameplay. About the Event According to Verizon, the 5G Stadium in Fortnite Creative, is the largest activation ever built in Fortnite’s Creative Mode and will give gamers the opportunity to interact with their favorite NFL players and pro gamers in a way that’s never been done before. The activation will feature four football-inspired games and a few hidden surprises for players. Highlighting the power of 5G for gaming, the virtual stadium was built utilizing the low lag and high speeds made possible by the Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband network.

Daz Rinko – “Candy Mane”

Like so many of our favorite artists, Memphis rapper Daz Rinko just loves to mix it up. His recent single “Candy Mane” is a dreamy concoction of hip hop, R&B and retro 80’s dance pop, like a pure sugar rush like you get from mixing all the fountain soda flavors together. Produced by Italian producer Cheap Limousine, “Candy Mane” gets it’s throwback vibe from the classic DX7 piano, bouncy synth bass lines and electric guitar dripping in spring reverb. Daz leans further in to the nostalgia vibe with a nod to MTV in the video: Daz’s brilliant 2017 debut EP “Black Boy Joy” showcased his southern take on future bounce and lyrically tackled some of the struggles facing black youth today. It frankly sounds fresher and more relevant than much of what was released this year. It’s no surprise he received praise and recognition from NPR, Noisey, Pigeons & Planes, […]

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Eddy Braveaux – “INCOMING”

Eddy Braveaux has been honing his craft for over a decade, developing a unique hip hop aesthetic he calls “dream trap”. Born Edward Ebri to Nigerian immigrants in Jacksonville, FL, Eddy is a proud first generation American. With grit and determination he’s built a reputation for himself not just as a talented rapper, but also a producer, recording engineer and graphic designer. A true independent creative. Braveaux’s style is heavily influenced by martial arts and video games, built around dense beats and employing sly, incisive wordplay. Throughout his career he’s mostly remained a solo artist, but recently he decided to branch out and start doing features and collaborations. This includes his new single “INCOMING”, featuring an early member of XXXTentacion’s infamous hip hop collective Member’s Only, Miami rapper Fukkit. “INCOMING” has a mellow swagger to it, with Braveaux laying back in the cut and unleashing Fukkit to provide contrast with […]

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TruRebel Migs – “Lust, Love & War – Detox & Quarantine | Part 1”

Like so many kids growing up poor in the NYC projects, two clear options were laid before Miguel Cespedes, better known as TruRebel Migs. Pursue a life of crime in the streets, or plan an escape route through music. And it was the latter which brought this brilliant young rapper out to Los Angeles to record his EP “Lust, Love & War – Detox & Quarantine | Part 1”. From the very first hit of the opening track “Needs” you immediately get drawn into a dark, swirling vortex with a bit of a menacing vibe. With lyrical themes of sex, drugs, violence and street life, it’s very much what you’d expect from a rap record. But Migs delivers real emotion in his voice that you can really feel. His elevated sense of phrasing, melody, wordplay and imagery set him apart from most rappers. The production on the record is notable […]

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Julian Xtra – “Five Stars”

Brooklyn based rapper/producer Julian Xtra is back with a dynamic new single “Five Stars”, slated for release on October 9th. The song celebrates a ‘five star status’ illustrating his passion for creating high quality art. His collaborative nature invites fans into an inspirational mindset while encouraging listeners to “Come be five star with us.” “The track is meant to manifest abundance. It’s a celebration of what I have received as well as what I’m about to get.” – Julian Xtra Julian recently produced a viral TikTok hit for DSW’s “Too Many Shoes” campaign, garnering over 4B views with a massive endorsement by Jennifer Lopez. Quick to follow was his hit “This is Bliss” for Bliss Cosmetics which acquired over 6B TikTok views. Having opened for acts like Post Malone, Migos, Lil’ Yachty, Young Thug, Kevin Gates, Tech N9ne and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Julian’s energy organically thrives in a live concert environment. […]

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The Kickdrums – “Blurred Colors”

Alex Fitts, widely known under his moniker/band name The Kickdrums, is a bit of a wizard. With one foot firmly in shoegaze indie rock and the other in the mainstream hip hop world, Alex has made a name for himself by effortlessly blending these two seemingly incompatible genres together as few others can. With their brand new album Blurred Colors with features by rappers R.A. The Rugged Man and Blu, the Kickdrums are back in full force. Standout single “Sunshine Guy” has electro-pop Big Data sensibilities, and it feels especially relevant with the refrain, “All these days are blurring together.” They suuure are. Over the past 15 years, The Kickdrums have shared the stage with revered indie rock acts such as Miike Snow, The Walkmen, Andrew W.K. and Miguel. As a producer, Alex has worked with artists like 50 Cent, Kid Cudi, Freddie Gibbs, A$AP Rocky and Lana Del Rey, […]

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Orrin – “No Adlib”

Orrin is a strange dude. A self-described “collective conscious and cyborg sent by a higher civilization to warn humans about the incoming apocalypse”, Orrin exclusively speaks using plural pronouns. They claim to use music as a vehicle to spread their message about disease, famine, environmental disaster and the overall impending apocalypse. Oh, and of course he went on Dr. Phil. Regardless of who or what Orrin really is, there is undeniable musical talent hidden within. “HARLEY”, the first single off his upcoming full length album NO ADLIB, is a hard-hitting alternative hip hop track merging early 2000’s rock sonics with the modern “punch-in” flow made popular by Rico Nasty and Lil Uzi Vert. The rest of the album is loud, bassy, brash and absolutely filthy. We have the clean mixes, but honestly it won’t make much of a difference. If you’re looking for raw and unique alternative rap, WE got […]

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Markis Precise – “No Wings Without Scars”

Born in Fresno, California, producer/keyboardist Markis Precise took to time-honored traditions of crate-digging to create the sample-based soundscapes that contributed to Central California’s independent hip-hop scene in the early 2000s. His production later evolved to incorporate his lifelong training as a keyboardist, expanding the boundaries of chopped boom bap with the melodic elements unique to live instrumentation. Staying true to his collaborative ethos, Markis independently connected with some of hip-hop’s most talented artists to contribute to his debut studio album The Feeling Of Flying, including features by Brother Ali, Fashawn, Oddisee, Zion I, The Grouch, Ras Kass, Gift Of Gab, Sol and Chuuwee. In its first week of release, the record became the number one added hip-hop album on the national CMJ radio charts, with multiple tracks receiving steady airplay. Following on the success of his debut record, Markis is back with a powerful full-length album No Wings Without Scars […]

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Call Me Ace – “Working From Home: Extended”

Bay Area hip hop artist Call Me Ace is a millennial professional and disruptor who loves to challenge the status quo. In his new EP Working From Home: Extended, Ace reflects on what “survival” means during these virtually unprecedented times: global pandemic, racial injustice, and social unrest. Following the release of Working From Home in February, Ace delves deeper into his attempts to persevere within an unfair system while struggling with exhaustion, repression, and hopelessness. The EP suggests there’s light at the end of the tunnel, but it’s faint. Although the project’s title continues playing on the corporate phrase describing a flexible work environment, the title also symbolizes how the uncertainty of the future continues to be extended. Call Me Ace’s 2019 album Airplane Mode debuted at #3 on the iTunes Top 40 US Hip-Hop Album Chart as well as #50 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Album Sales chart. Working From […]

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Tag: Hip-Hop