SOHO (Official Video)

“This is exactly what I imagined when I first heard the song,” commented a satisfying fan under the long-awaited music video for Jaden Smith’s The Sunset Tapes: A Cool Tape Story standout cut, “SOHO,” on YouTube.

Truthfully, the visual is everything we thought of when The Fresh Prince’s heir uttered—more like auto-tune sang— the acronym of NYC’s historic downtown district. Starting off with a shot of Soho’s story brick buildings (they’re plastered together like subway riders during rush hour), the clip swiftly shifts to a mountainous area, where Jaden and his significant other are preparing for a picnic.  Printed on their blanket (sorry carpet, us mere humans aren’t up on that level yet) is UK’s national flag, maybe he’s subliminally paying homage to London’s very own Soho region as well.

The music video continually time travels back and forth from the east to west coast, showcasing the 20-year-old polymath’s ability to woo his shorty whether on Calabasas’ grassy plains, or cobblestone streets of my favorite region in New York.

Check it out below:

Hey Julie!

The soberest duo in all of Hip Hop, KYLE and Lil Yachty, have finally unleashed the visual for their latest irritatingly catchy single, “Hey Julie!”

For those who are not aware, Lil Boat and the Super Duper lyricist initially combined their playful raps in 2016 to conjure up “iSpy,” which peaked at number four on the Billboard Top 100 chart. Yachty ain’t never lied when he stated that he and KYLE “stick together like piano keys,” in the aforementioned tune because their latest effort is another slapper, which yet again shits on their doubters. (more specifically, chicks who couldn’t see the vision back in the day.)

With the way they’re putting out hits, hopefully these two will eventually release a full album—Super Boat would be a wavy title. For now, check out the Lonewolf-directed clip for “Hey Julie!” below:

Splash Brothers: Patiently

What happens when five fast-rising lyricists come together for the greater good of Hip Hop? You get the highly eclectic rap supergroup, Splash Brothers.

The original Splash Bros, consisting of NBA superstars Steph Curry and Klay Thompson (yes, Klay is a superstar in my book—he’s dating the enchanting Laura Harrier), would be proud to hear the collective’s debut single, simply because they’re shooting 100% from the field coming out the gate!

Titled “Patiently,” the genre-bending tune is like a delicious bowl of gumbo, as it showcases the flavorful yet distinctive flows of group members Topaz Jones, Allan Kingdom, Brother KAMAU, Haile Supreme and SIIMBA SELASSIIE.

Indulge in the banger below:

Feel That Again

Allow me to present a soothing tune from Hello Yello which just might serve as the new soundtrack for your moments of reflection.

Consisting of brothers Jaden (bassist) and Dylan (vocalist/guitarist), and their comrade Martin (drummer), the Oakland punk band’s “Feel That Again,” is filled with hypnotic melodies and a hook that stimulates the mind with past events we dearly want to feel “agaaaaaaaaaaain.”

Directed by Jack Paradise, the song’s visual mirrors its exact sunny sentiments.  Check it out below:

Liked what you heard?  Listen to Hello Yello’s recently-released Love Wins EP here.

Old Town Road

Yeehaw! You might have the sudden urge to cop Balenciaga’s latest Santiag Harness Booties, and go horse riding in Central Park after hearing this viral hit from Hip Hop (well, at least that’s what I think it is) newcomer, Lil Nas X.

Montero Lamar Hill sort of shares the same rap moniker as Nasir Jones—arguably one of the greatest lyricists to ever live—but their sounds totally differ.  The rising ATLien’s music boasts a trappy, genre-bending new age twang, which is accented in his western-influenced sonic offering, “Old Town Road.” Initially released in December, the “banjo hip hop smash,” as coined by Rolling Stone, is just under two minutes long yet sticks in your noggin like itty-bitty tape on Cardi B’s nips.  Heck, it even received a cosign from Justin Bieber via Instagram on March 24th.  Long before the Biebs displayed his approval, though, the “country rap” track debuted on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart and the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart all at once!  Furthermore, it was also made popular on Tiktok, the 4th ranked app in the App Store that allows users (mostly teenagers) throughout the country to create video clips set to music.

Check out “Old Town Road” for yourself below and decide if all the hoopla surrounding it is warranted:

While you’re at it, indulge in Young Thug’s very own revolutionized take on Country music, “Family Don’t Matter,” featuring Millie Go Lightly.

Anchors

The heir of Hip Hop royalty Diggy has just unleashed the visual for the sixth track off his commendable comeback project, Lighten up.

Aptly titled “Anchors,” not only is Diggy dropping gems on this record, the former Jetsetter is jack-hammering bars that might get your girl wetter than a whirlpool in Vegas.  “ We put anchors on the blessings so they can’t leave us/walking overseas but I ain’t Jesus/ tryinna spit me game, I spit it back, ‘cause I ain’t need it/ you should give it to them youngins that be hungry with our same features,” raps Diggy on its first verse.  He then heats things up with: “you wanna kill me, better dig deeper/ she whispered in my ear she wanted Dig deeper (and I did do it)/ If I dig deeper I might hit yo’ heart/ baby we so far apart, tryinna force it isn’t smart.”

The single’s video, shot by HDtayfilms, sees the dapper young spitter in his usual spiffy threads in an array of locations complimenting his retro attire and hard-hitting lyrics.

Check it out below:

Rio Is Numero Uno

“Beautiful, I just want you to know, you’re the first-ever world capital of architectuuuure.” Don’t mind me, I had a sudden urge to sing my own rendition of Pharrell and Snoop Dogg’s legendary hit “Beautiful,” upon hearing that Rio de Janeiro, the city that they shot its accompanying visual, was picked by UNESCO as the World Capital of Architecture for 2020.

For years, the Brazilian seaside city has been a major tourist attraction due to its ethereal geography, historical museums, delectable food, and of course, poppin’ ass carnivals. As a result of winning the coveted title, Rio will serve as the brilliant backdrop for the International Union of Architects (IUA) World Congress Forum, which is scheduled for July 19-26 2020.  The event is a big pow wow where architects from around the world discuss topics such as mobility and sustainability.

Shout out to Rio one time, man. Let us all celebrate by rocking out to Theophilus London’s ode to the heavenly region:

A Calabasas Freestyle

The very first track found on Jaden Smith’s latest sonic body of work The Sunset Tapes: A Cool Tape Story is dedicated to my favorite region in all of New York—SoHo (shameless plug: there are a few sizes left in my hoodies if you were wondering). Although it wasn’t the project’s premier single, “SOHO” easily became a fan favorite after the Fresh Prince’s heir blessed Instagram with a visual that meshed the latter with a hilarious clip from his dad’s legendary TV show.  Now, the young icon is moving forward with a new freestyle hitting close to home!

Fittingly titled, “A Calabasas Freestyle,” the bar-filled jam fully displays the Karate Kid’s lyrical chops as he spits about his elaborate lifestyle and splurges.  As you might of guessed, its accompanying video takes place in, that’s right, Calabasas, where Jaden is found rocking his own MSFTS gear and shredding with friends.  Check it out below:

While we’re on the subject, I might as well revisit one of my favorite cuts from Drake that also pays homage to the lavish Los Angeles County, “4PM In Calabasas”.  Enjoy!

Pink Sweat$

I’m all about showcasing phenomenal, rising musicians on this platform and Pink Sweat$ is no exception.  I caught wind of the 26-year-old multi-hyphenate about 6 months ago when he released the confessional ballad “Honesty,” from his standout debut EP, Demo 1.

Sweat$ is a proud member of the new age pack of musicians who defy the stereotypical look of an R&B crooner. I mean, who needs chiseled abs when you have a woman-melting falsetto like he has?

Although the Philly native’s project is just 14 minutes long, it is packed with minimally-produced, emotive tunes that’ll snatch your soul.  

Check out the visual for “Honesty” for a preview of what I’m talking about below:

P.S Shout out to my OG supporter MC for her leading lady role in the clip.

Justine's Interlude

D’Anthony Carlos, better known as Goldlink, is the very first rapper to appear twice on the music-centered Youtube channel, Colors.

Performing his latest slow bop “Justine’s Interlude,” the DC native paid tribute to his dear friends: the late Mac Miller and Brooklyn’s own Justine Skye.  By its title alone, you can infer that the song mostly touches on the Roc Nation songstress.  

Goldlink spilled major tea during his second run on “A Colors Show,” and he didn’t even have a mug in-hand like Daniel Caesar (watch Daniel’s performance on the platform here to get that witty joke).

Check it out below:

FRNDY LMRN Mix 1

Happy New Year everyone! Allow me to kick off 2019 with the very first FRNDY LMRN Mix curated by yours truly and my musically-inclined lil’ cuz, Kareem Hilaire.  Enjoy!

Before You Get A Boyfriend (Music Video)

Brooklyn-based group Phony Ppl has been making their rounds in the music industry since 2008. They’re still here entirely due to producing genre-bending sounds with heartfelt lyrics.  After taking a three-year hiatus, the eclectic quintet has released a new project titled, mō'zā-ik , which certainly proves that great art cannot be rushed.

One of my favorite cuts from the album, “Before You Get A Boyfriend,” displays Elbee Thrie’s, Phony Ppl’s lead vocalist, rapping and singing ability as he is declaring his love/lust (yeah, he isn’t quite sure what it is either) for a shorty before she finds another boo.

Check out the single’s climactic visual below:

Claustrophobic (Music Video)

Man, kudos to my little sister for putting me on to PJ Morton.  If the multitalented crooner looks familiar, it’s because since 2012 he’s been one of the keyboardist for Adam Levine’s super successful pop rock band, Maroon 5.

I would of dug a little deeper into the background of the Grammy-nominated New Orleans artist, but words aren’t needed when an act is that good—the music always speaks for itself. Allow me to present “Claustrophobic,” the first single from Morton’s 2017 album, GUMBO.  The song truly is an anthem for all artists who are unapologetically two-stepping to the beat of their own drum. (makes sense why I like it so much.)

Check out the inspirational tune’s visual below, and if you loved what you heard, feel free to explore his fascinating discography.

LA PRKWY Tunes: Days In

Elijah Mora is working diligently to shine bright in the mainstream Hip Hop scene.  I met the emerging rapper this summer while on a shoot with photographer Deandre Mitchell.  Admittedly, I had no clue Elijah was going to tag along, but I’m glad he did. During our various location changes we had a chance to bond and I was thoroughly impressed by his ambition.

The confident 23-year-old spitter is representing the Big Apple to the fullest—more specifically, Laurelton Parkway. Born in Brooklyn with Haitian roots, Elijah and his family moved to the aforementioned Queens suburb at the young age of seven.  “I grew up in Laurelton, definitely a West Indian middle-class area, not the worst of hoods but having friends in different areas showed me shit ain't sweet,” he states. “Although things settled down now, I legit remember days when I couldn’t take my phone out on the bus in certain neighborhoods. Queens just prepared me for the world in general and how to stay on point. Anything can happen at any time.”

With his head on a swivel and an insatiable appetite for success, Mora unleashed a mixtape commemorating his beloved setting aptly titled, LA PRKWY Tunes. The sonic body of work consists of eight original tracks produced by fellow burgeoning artists OOLUWAA, Losco and Wavy J.  Setting himself apart from the pack, Elijah produced a short film alongside More Like This Media titled, LA PRKWY Tunes: Days In, to fully accent the tape’s four premier tracks. He further explained the visual’s significance by saying: “I felt like I have the mind for it, so why not bring a cinematic aspect into music. I was trying to capture just a day in the life type of feel. Kind of like watching the movies ‘Boys In The hood’ or ‘Friday’, showing you different areas of where I’m from and how we maneuver.”

Sit back, relax and watch an eventful day in the life of Elijah Mora below:

Finding: J-Kwon

“One, here comes the two, to the three, to the four/ Everybody drunk out on the dance floor!” I hope you guys aren’t tired of me and my habitual method of writing song lyrics to kickstart a poppin’ write up. Jay-Z said it best: “What you want me to do?  I’m sorry!”  Whenever I’m in the zone—especially when the article is music centered—my hands start typing whatever Source energy tells me.  This particular piece revolves around a Rapper that most people have forgotten about (his Hip Hop prominence occurred during my braided hair era), J to the mothaf%#$ Kwon!

Recently, BET premiered a new episode of their docu-series, Finding, featuring the “Tipsy” king, where he detailed his struggles and triumphs in the “manipulative” music industry.  He’s more than ready for a major comeback, let’s see what happens!

For now, check out the clip below:

D'Evils (Music Video)

Just in case you didn’t follow through and dive deep into the discography of SiR (I briefly mentioned him in my last post), I decided to showcase the video of one of my favorite recent cuts from the sensational TDE multi-hyphenate.

Coined “D’Evils,” the irie riddim, found on Sir Darryl’s—yeah, that’s his real name—first full-length album November, samples late reggae artist Billy Boyo’s legendary hit “One Spliff A Day.”  Its flawless production blended in with the Inglewood native’s smooth vocals will most certainly keep your ears on fire during this chilly weather.

Rightfully so, the music video for the blazing single takes place in none other than Jamaica, where SiR is found with his lovely lady taking in the island’s organic vibes, and of course, enjoying “one spliff a day” to keep the evil away.

Check out the scenic, Karena Evans-directed clip below:

Music video for D'Evils performed by SiR. TXDXE.com https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/sir/884211644 Copyright (C) 2018 Top Dawg Entertainment. --- Powered by http://www.vydia.com http://vevo.ly/7EX4AU #SiR #DEvils #Vevo #RandB #VevoOfficial

Old Age (Music Video)

Whenever someone happens to catch me on the cobblestone streets of SoHo (or anywhere else in the city for that matter) they suddenly become bug-eyed and yell out : ”Yo Frendy! you got that Pharrell syndrome—you really don’t age.”  Now, I do not fancy anyone wishing any sort of malady on me, but this particular symptom, I’ll gladly accept. Before you start thinking all crazy, let me just say that I am not anywhere near the legendary super-producer’s length of life. I’ve just celebrated my 25th year on earth just a few more times than the average person  *insert smiley face emoji here*.

Back in August, “TrapHouseJazz” pioneer Masego released a majestic tune which dealt with the theme of age and its irrelevance. Man, let me keep it real, he’s basically crooning about his desire to court a genetically blessed, older woman. “I need me a sugar mama, old lady, foxy mama, sophisticated,” is how the multi-talented singer kicked off his daring single, so you know he ain’t playing no games!  Featuring TDE ’s most slept on and extremely talented artist SiR, “Old Age” serves as a soundtrack for those who are bold enough to shamelessly receive most of the benefits in a romantic relationship *Laughs*.

Check out the track’s comedic, Keoni Marcelo-directed visual with appearances by the hilarious Renny and thicka-than-a-snicka goddess herself Yaris Sanchez as “Ms. Johnson” below:

Wow Freestyle (Music Video)

I’ll start off by apologizing to all of the die hard Jay Rock fans reading this post.  I finally took the time to listen to the TDE lyricist’s Redemption album right after watching the music video for his trunk-rattling hit, “Wow Freestyle.”  That song is so hard I couldn’t hold off listening to the project any longer!

Featuring the incomparable Kendrick Lamar, the 11th track found on Jay’s latest effort truly displays the tandem’s clever wordplay and sensational synergy. Its visual, directed by Jack Begert, finds Top’s artists in their old hood where they use to freestyle before the fame.

Check out the clip below:

Rap Radar Interviews Tay Keith

“Tay Keith, F*ck these N*ggas up!” is arguably the best producer tagline in Rap today.  For the saying to be as potent as it is, the artist behind the infamous line has to actually be lit, and fortunately, the Memphis maestro passes the requirement with flying colors.

The distinguished Hip Hop journalists of Rap Radar recently sat down with the super producer to talk about his origin, schooling, megastar collaborators and more.

Check out the informative clip below:

Off Deez

“Off Deez” might actually be J.I.D’s very first publicly released song with a J. Cole feature.

Destin (yeah, I just spilled his government name) felt that he wasn’t ready to receive a coveted verse from Dreamville’s head honcho on his 2017 debut album, The Never Story.  Furthermore, the rising spitter wanted to fully express his come-up to the world alone. After one full year—filled with countless fiery freestyles and memorable performances (please go watch his appearance on COLORS)—the East Atlanta native has leveled up, and is now preparing to release his sophomore effort with a little help from several musical heavyweights...and yes, Jermaine is certainly not left out.

Produced by ChaseTheMoney, the Cole-assisted banger is from J.I.D’s forthcoming project Dicaprio 2, which is slated to drop on November 26th, 2018.  I honestly have no words to describe how scorching this track is.  All I can say is that if you had any doubts about why J. Cole signed this dude (seemingly out of nowhere), they will cease to exist after hearing it.

Check out the chune for yourself below: