Category: Hip Hop/Rap

‘Check In’ With MVW’s First Single from Upcoming Album, Featuring Matt Ox

Michael Vincent Waller’s foray into the world of hip hop continues with his latest single, “Check In,” featuring teenage YouTube star and rapper, Matt Ox. The highly touted classical composer’s latest endeavor comes on the heels of his debut hip hop project, the Lex Luger assisted, CLASSIC$.

MVW now recruits the frenetic Matt Ox, who has amassed tens of millions of views, with his breakout song “Overwhelming” amassing 31 million views. “Check In” will serve as promotion for MVW’s sophomore album, Connections. Continuing to draw on the parallels between his life as a composer and hip-hop producer.

The theme of the upcoming project is entitled ‘Connections,’ MVW reveals.” “This first single channels that ethos of branching out into the hip hop landscape and making revelations through collaboration and furthermore, the title for the project was derived from a bar in [the song’s first verse], “I am way too connected, too many connections.

Connections are what MVW has continued to foster, as he has developed working relationships with many talented acts like Atlanta-bred Lil Gotit and Good Music artist Valee. Jumping head-first into a new creative space, an invigorated MVW has churned out his second project in less than a year.

Matt Ox, whose newer releases have seen him experiment with his vocal ranges, shows his versatility. On “Check In” he rhymes in a start & stop flow focusing on cadence and annotation.

As a producer MVW is equally parts free-wheeling and controlling. Preferring to give leeway on artistic freedom while focusing on the song’s structure and vocal tones on his beats.

Overall, Matt was given freedom to be inventive and true to his voice in the chorus and verse, but how the final arrangement and orchestration played out was very meticulous and true to the way I like to work on records that is starting to feel like a melodic signature for the music I’m working to produce and release into the world.

MVW’s quest to explore classical sounds within the frame of contemporary trap sounds require a great attention to detail. On “Check In” Matt Ox’s enigmatic flow on eerily inviting loops are structured for rhythmic optimization and his pursuit has brought him, Connections.

The vocals could be considered more complex in their delivery and intonation than maybe appears on the surface, or from first listen. I think the more one sits with the material and marinates on how the vocals are arranged with the beat, the exact placement and timing in relation to the bars and feel of the cadence.

MVW’s continues the road to Connections with another Matt Ox assisted single, also featuring Valee and 645AR releasing on April 22 and a spring/summer timetable set for the album.

April 8, 2022
The Backstreet Boys Set To Hit Four New York Venues This Summer

The Backstreet Boys, one of the most famous boy bands of all time, have announced that they will be touring through the United States and Europe this year.

The band is set to hit three New York locations. They will be visiting Darien Lake on July 3rd, the Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh on July 16th, Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs on July 23rd, and Bethel Woods Center for the Arts in Bethel on July 24th. They will also tour through two New Jersey destinations. The full schedule is available down below.

Photo Credits: Dennis Leupold

The Backstreet Boys will be touring their 10th studio album, DNA, which was released in 2019 via RCA Records. The album debuted at #1 and features the Top 10 hit “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart.”

Tickets for the Backstreet Boys go on sale Friday, April 8th at 10 am local time on Ticketmaster.

DNA World Tour

4/8 – Las Vegas, NV – The Colosseum at Caesars Palace

4/9 – Las Vegas, NV – The Colosseum at Caesars Palace

4/15 – Las Vegas, NV – The Colosseum at Caesars Palace

4/16 – Las Vegas, NV – The Colosseum at Caesars Palace

6/4 – Chula Vista, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre

6/5 – Irvine, CA – FivePoint Amphitheater

6/7 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl

6/9 – Phoenix, AZ – Ak-Chin Pavilion

6/11 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater

6/13 – Austin, TX – Germania Insurance Amphitheater

6/14 – The Woodlands, TX – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman

6/15 – Irving, TX – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory

6/17 – Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP

6/20 – Jacksonville, FL – VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena

6/21 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre at the FL State Fairgrounds

6/22 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre

6/24 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion

6/25 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek

6/28 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre

7/1 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage

7/2 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage

7/3 – Darien Center, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheater

7/5 – Burgettstown, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake

7/6 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center

7/8 – Milwaukee, WI – SummerFest (American Family Insurance Amp)

7/10 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center

7/12 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live

7/13 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach

7/14 – Camden, NJ – Waterfront Music Pavilion

7/16 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater

7/17 – Hartford, CT – XFINITY Theatre

7/19 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center

7/20 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center

7/21 – Bangor, ME – Maine Savings Amphitheater

7/23 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center

7/24 – Bethel, NY – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts

7/26 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center

7/28 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre

7/29 – Tinley Park, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre

7/30 – Maryland Heights, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre

8/2 – Englewood, CO – Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre

8/4 – Salt Lake City, UT – USANA Amphitheatre

8/6 – Wheatland, CA – Toyota Amphitheatre

8/7 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre

8/9 – Concord, CA – Concord Pavilion

8/12 – Auburn, WA – White River Amphitheatre

8/19 – Nampa, ID – Ford Idaho Center Arena

8/21 – Spokane, WA – Spokane Arena

8/22 – Portland, OR – Moda Center

8/24 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena

8/26 – Edmonton, AB – Rogers Place

8/27 – Saskatoon, SK – SaskTel Centre

8/29 – Winnipeg, MB – Canada Life Centre

9/1 – Ottawa, ON – Canadian Tire Centre

9/2 – Quebec City, QC – Centre Videotron

9/3 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre

9/6 – Lexington, KY – Rupp Arena

9/8 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena

9/9 – Memphis, TN – FedExForum

9/11 – Sioux Falls, SD – Denny Sanford PREMIER Center

9/13 – Wichita, KS – INTRUST Bank Arena

9/14 – Oklahoma City, OK – Paycom Center

10/3 – Lisbon, Portugal – Altice Arena

10/4 – Madrid, Spain – WiZink Center

10/6 – Barcelona, Spain – Palau Sant Jordi

10/9 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Ziggo Dome

10/12 – Berlin, Germany – Mercedes-Benz Arena

10/15 – Hannover, Germany – Zag Arena

10/18 – Mannheim, Germany – SAP Arena

10/20 – Munich, Germany – Olympiahalle

10/22 – Bologna, Italy – Unipol Arena

10/25 – Hamburg, Germany – Barclaycard Arena

10/27 – Zurich, Switzerland – Hallenstadion

10/29 – Krakow, Poland – Tauron Arena

10/30 – Leipzig, Germany – QUARTERBACK Immobilien ARENA

10/31 – Cologne, Germany – Lanxess Arena

11/2 – Budapest, Hungary – Sports Arena

11/4 – Dortmund, Germany – Westfalenhallen

11/6 – London, UK – The 02

April 8, 2022
LL Cool J’s Rock The Bells Festival In Queens Announced, Featuring Ice Cube, Lil Kim, and More

A new day-long celebration of Hip-Hop culture founded by LL Cool J called Rock The Bells Festival will be happening at Forest Hills Stadium in LL’s hometown of Queens on August 6.

The festival will feature live performances, art exhibits, food, fashion, interactive experiences, and more. Each performer was hand-picked for their culture-defining careers, undeniable talents, and contributions to Hip-Hop culture.

Rock Bells Lineup Poster

Featured on the lineup are LL Cool J, DJ Z-Trip, Ice Cube, Rick Ross, Lil’ Kim, The Diplomats ft. Cam’ron, Jim Jones & Juelz Santana, Fat Joe & Remy Ma, Jadakiss, Scarface, Trina, N.O.R.E, Digable Planets, and more to be announced.

LL Cool J said in a statement that he is excited to bring all these artists together to celebrate Hip-Hop culture.

This festival is my way of showing love to the community of Hip-Hop and celebrating the incredible journey this culture has taken, going from DJ Kool Herc’s Sedgwick Avenue rec room, to the global phenomenon we all cherish today. Getting to bring some of the most iconic and influential Hip-Hop artists to the same stage, in my hometown and the city that started it all, is an honor and I can’t wait for everyone to see what we have in store for them.

For fans that cannot make it to the festival, they can tune into LL Cool J’s Rock The Bells Radio on SiriusXM (Ch. 43) for exclusive live coverage. Tickets go onsale April 4 for pre-sale, and April 8 for general sale, and tickets can be found here. For each ticket sale, Rock The Bells will be donating partial proceeds to the Universal Hip-Hop Museum in the Bronx.

April 6, 2022
Adekunle Gold Announces Catch Me If You Can Tour, Apollo Theater Performance

Nigerian born and bred Adekunle Gold has just announced his “Catch Me If You Can – The Tour,” kicking off on Thursday, June 2nd at Big Night Live in Boston. This tour will also make a stop at Apollo Theater in Manhattan on Friday, June 3rd, 2022.

Adekunle Gold is a Nigerian singer-songwriter based between Lagos, Nigeria, and Los Angeles. He gained recognition from his very first release, ‘Sade’ a love song which sampled instrumentals from One Direction’s ‘Story of My Life.’ Just two weeks after its release, Adekunle was contacted by one of Africa’s biggest acts, Olamide, to join his music imprint for two years.

Adekunle Gold is one of the most innovative artists to come out of Africa. He is one of the most recognizable and exciting pioneers of the vibrant Afropop genre, currently dominating this genre across the globe. His music consistent of mixing and influences of Afrobeat with Pop, Hip-Hop and R&B.

Since releasing his first single “Sade,” a love song which sampled instrumentals from One Direction’s “Story of My Life,” Adekunle has gone on to release four albums – Gold, About 30, AfroPop Vol. 1. His newest album, Catch Me If You Can, includes collaborations with an array of world-class talent including Ty Dolla $ign, Stefflon Don, Fatoumata Diawara and Fousheé. Altogether, featuring his one-of-a-kind combination of addictive melodies and razor sharp lyricism.

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN TOUR DATES:

Thu Jun 02 – Boston, MA – Big Night Live

Fri Jun 03 – New York, NY – Apollo Theater

Sun Jun 05 – Montreal, QUE – Corona Theatre

Mon Jun 06 – Philadelphia, PA – The Theatre of Living Arts

Wed Jun 08 – Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore Silver Spring

Thu Jun 09 – Cleveland, OH – The Cambridge Room at House of Blues

Fri Jun 10 – Toronto, ON – The Opera House

Sun Jun 12 – Minneapolis, MN – Varsity Theater

Tue Jun 14 – Atlanta, GA – Buckhead Theatre

Thu Jun 16 – Houston, TX – House of Blues

Fri Jun 17 – Dallas, TX – Echo Lounge & Music Hall

Sun Jun 19 – Denver, CO – Marquis Theater

Tue Jun 21 – Chicago, IL – House of Blues

Thu Jun 30 – Phoenix, AZ – Crescent Ballroom

Fri Jul 01 – Los Angeles, CA – Regent Theater

Sat Jul 02 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore

Mon Jul 04 – Seattle, WA – Neptune Theatre

Tue Jul 05 – Vancouver, BC – Commodore Ballroom

Fri Jul 08 – Edmonton, AB – Union Hall

Ticket sale starts Friday, April 8^th at 10am on Catch.ag

April 5, 2022
Gunna performs on Saturday Night Live

Saturday Night Live returned on April 2 to address the Oscars slap and more, with host Jerrod Carmichael and musical guest, Gunna.

Weekend Update focused on ‘the slap’, noting it as a defining moment of television for the current generation, a mark in pop-culture time.

Pete Davidson returned for the first time in three episodes with the music video “Short Ass Movie,” where he cited the need for movies with a runtime under 1 hour, 40 minutes. Joined by fellow cast member Chris Redd, Dirt Nasty (Simon Rex) and musical guest Gunna, the group explored the myraid of movies considered a quick watch.

Gunna rapped “I’m not pushin P unless it’s under two hours/ Like Lion King or Bad Moms or all three Austin Powers.” Davidson took on A Beautiful Mind-style observation on the run times of Jurassic Park (2 hours, 7 minutes) and Sex and the City 2 (2 hours, 26 minutes), and even referencing a recent Instagram post from Davidson where friend Scott Diseck fell asleep during boys night.

Gunna’s first song, “Banking on Me,” was released as a single on Valentine’s Day, originally planned to be on the deluxe edition of his third studio album, DS4Ever, his second consecutive number one album, released in January and featuring guest appearances from 21 Savage, Drake, Kodak Black and more.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kW_miq1-SXQ

For his second performance, Gunna was joined by Future for “pushin P,” a phrase meaning to ‘push positivity.’ On DSM4Ever, the pair are joined by Young Thug for the brief (2:12) yet hypnotic track.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ex3LGdbDqe0

Next week Saturday Night Live welcomes host Jake Gyllenhaal with Musical Guest Camila Cabello.

April 5, 2022
Cobblestone Live Music & Arts Festival Announces Daily Lineup and Schedule For 4th Annual Event

The Cobblestone Live Music & Arts Festival is preparing for its 4th annual event with over 16 artists in Buffalo’s Historic Cobblestone District on July 15 and 16.

For this event there will be four stages: the main outdoor stage will be located on the corner of South Park Ave & Illinois Street, the second will be on Columbia Street, the third is located inside of Buffalo Iron Works, and the fourth stage is inside Lockhouse Distillery & Bar.

For the past 10 years the Historic Cobblestone District has been a neighborhood full of live music, entertainment and has paved the foundation of Cobblestone Live bars, restaurants and venues; with the goal being to grow each year until this festival is national-sized.

Following the events of the last two years, we are thrilled to announce that we are coming back bigger and better than ever this year. With the birth of Twenty6 Productions in 2020, we have resources that we haven’t had in previous years – which shows in the lineup and will certainly be evident at the festival itself for years to come.
Festival Director and Twenty6 Productions CEO Josh Holtzman

Advanced tickets are discounted: the two-day general access is $40, while the single-day general access is $25. There are also VIP tickets: the two-day access is $175 and the single-day access is $100. However, the day of the festival tickets are $50 for both days and $30 for one. Additionally, the VIP ticket for both days is $200 while the single-day ticket is $125. VIP passes consist of extra amenities such as private areas, front-of-stage viewing, a premium bar with craft beverages, lounge area and more.

For more information and to acquire tickets visit the Cobblestone Live website.

THE COBBLESTONE LIVE 2022 LINEUP

Misterwives
Pigeons Playing Ping Pong
Andy Frasco & The UN
The Hip Abduction
Doom Flamingo
Mihali of Twiddle
Alanis Morissette Tribute ft. former members of Turkuaz
Dirty Work [Steely Dan Tribute] ft. members of Aqueous & The Sideways
Funktional Flow
SE2 Silent Disco [Alt, Hip Hop, 2K Pop]
Workingman’s Dead
Grub
Canetis
Mom Said No
The Sideways
Grace Greenan

April 1, 2022
BUKU Music and Art Project Celebrates 10th Anniversary in New Orleans

After a pandemic-induced two-year hiatus, the BUKU Music and Art Project made it’s triumphant return to New Orleans this past weekend. The 2-day music festival and art project took place at it’s usual location outside of Mardi Gras World on the banks of the Mississippi river. The project’s 10th anniversary featured a stacked lineup of EDM and bass music, rap, hip-hop, and indie rock. Back in March of 2020, as the stages and grounds were being built, project organizer Winter Circle Productions made the tough decision to cancel BUKU Project just over a week out. Being the first cancelled festival in 2020, it was only fitting that in 2022, a few weeks after Mardi Gras celebrations returned to New Orleans, that BUKU would be the first festival to kick off the season.

Photo by Buscar Photo

The 2022 lineup featured several hold over names from the cancelled 2020 edition including headliner Tyler, the Creator, Glass Animals, Alison Wonderland, Taking Back Sunday, and 100 Gecs. Over the years BUKU has grown into a 20,000 attendees per day festival and the location has proven ideal. A 100 year old power plant with graffiti covered smoke stacks and a vintage riverboat anchored on the Mississippi overshadow the project, reflecting the rich history of New Orleans’ warehouse district.

Photos by Buscar Photo

The Project

BUKU Project attendees were treated to a perfect sunny 75 degrees in New Orleans, a city that was eager to welcome music lovers back into their arms. New Orleans’ famous culture center of Bourbon Street is once again buzzing with music and activity and this was mirrored into the design of BUKU. Organizers weaved the experience of discovering local music into the fabric of the project.

As you walk around the grounds, you find pop-up musical performances, many which were not featured on the lineup. In the fields of the main stage area, there is a small vendor market with bands playing DIY style shows in the center of the market. A mobile rickshaw draped in hundreds of Mardi Gras beads was seen riding around the festival with massive speakers and a DJ playing music off the back. Outside of the ‘Ballroom’ stage, there was a boxing ring where rappers, bands, and interpretative performers played intensely experimental music.

Rickshaw and Boxing Ring “Stages”

Aside from the music, BUKU is also an Art Project that celebrates New Orleans artists. Art installations were scattered around the festival grounds and vendors were selling art and custom clothing. Modern sculptures and lighting pieces were found around every corner of the grounds, provided interesting backdrops to the music and for photos. There were also “live art” areas where graffiti and mural artists spent the two days creating beautiful pieces in the shadows of the music stages. Some of these were sold or auctioned for charity, but many fans just spent time watching the art being created while listening to the music in the distance.

Live Art Gallery

Bass Music and Underground Rap

The backbone of the BUKU Project lineup are the dubstep and bass music artists, with the ‘Wharf’ stage dedicated entirely to the genre for both days. The stage production was top notch and all of the performers took full advantage of the system’s power. Lasers from the stage were projected onto the nearby warehouse and the Louis Armstrong riverboat anchored in the river, creating the feeling of an intimate outdoor club while still housing thousands of fans. Liquid Stranger and Lane 8 headlined the stage on Friday and Saturday respectively, with Svdden Death, Mersiv, Clozee, and Wreckno filling in the days.

The Wharf Stage at BUKU Music and Art Project

“Multimedia aggregate” Lab Group also played the Wharf stage, only three months after the tragic death of member and producer Charlesthefirst. The 25 year old’s death shocked the community, but surviving members Potions and Supertask are keeping the aggregate alive and still performing the music that the group created together. At one point in their set Lab Group paid tribute by playing “Old Ways” which features rap verses from Charlesthefirst.

Lab Group Performs on The Wharf Stage. Photo by Buscar Photo

Underground rap and hip-hop played a large role in the 2022 edition of the BUKU Project in New Orleans. Odd Future founding member and now international superstar and fashion designer Tyler, the Creator headlined the project on Saturday. Ever since his solo debut Goblin back in 2011, Tyler, the Creator has been putting a fresh spin on his sound with each new release. 2019’s IGOR was an ambitious blend of rap and experimental R&B which debuted at No. 1 on the charts. Tyler, the Creator followed this up with Call Me If You Get Lost in 2021 which continued to propel his commercial success.

Tyler, the Creator at the BUKU Music and Art Project. Photo by Buscar Photo

Aside from the big name headliner, the rap lineup for both days of BUKU was stacked with rising stars and veteran artists. Friday featured ShyGirl and Tierra Whack in the Ballroom with Trippie Redd delivering a fiery set mid-day on the main Skyline stage. On Saturday, fans were treated to a full day of Flo Milli, Vince Staples, Baby Keem, Maxo Kream, and Tyler, the Creator. Another major success of the BUKU Project was that these individual genre lineups had no conflicts and fans who were there for the rap did not have to make any hard decisions.

Flo Milli at the BUKU Music and Art Project. Photo by Buscar Photo

Indie Rock and The Undefined

What festival would be complete these days without the indie kids? The best thing about music today is that anyone can listen to anything at any time. This has cultivated a generation of music lovers with a very wide palate. This was on clear display when Taking Back Sunday took the Skyline stage for their mid-day set. The band is on tour celebrating the 20th anniversary of their seminal 2002 LP Tell All Your Friends and they split their set between newer material and classic songs “Cute Without the ‘E’” and “MakeDamnSure.” The band drew a large crowd for an early festival set and the injection of nostalgia was a beautiful way to kick off the weekend.

Taking Back Sunday at the BUKU Music and Art Project. Photo by Buscar Photo

Friday headliners and Australian psych-rock titans Tame Impala were the highlight of the indie side of the festival. The band is on the second leg of The Slow Rush Tour which was partially postponed due to the pandemic but is back on the road in full force. Featuring a massive lighting rig suspended from the stage, the band’s live production overwhelms any audience they host. The lighting gives the unsettling yet beautiful feeling of coming face to face with a UFO.

Tame Impala at the BUKU Music and Art Project. Photo by Buscar Photo

The band cruised through reworked live versions of The Slow Rush songs “Breath Deeper” and “Borderline” while playing a driving, laser fueled rendition of fan favorite “Elephant.” Two extended releases of confetti during the last two songs “Let It Happen” and “New Person, Same Old Mistakes” felt like a celebration not only of Tame Impala or BUKU, but more of the return to live music in one of the richest musical cities in the world.

Tame Impala at the BUKU Music and Art Project. Photo by Buscar Photo

Given the seemingly endless creative outlets that exist today, there are so many artists out there that defy categorization and cannot fit within the typical genre classifications. 100 Gecs were an early highlight of the day on Friday. Described as “hyperpop,” the duo performs an aggressive and in your face punk-like pop music. Their chaotic style is a great show to see in a small club, but their gigantic sound reverberated across the main stage grounds as if that was their natural setting. Porter Robinson performed his Nurture live show and British indie rockers Glass Animals brought their iconic summer pool staging to same time slot on the main stage on Friday and Saturday respectively.

Glass Animals at the BUKU Music and Art Project. Photo by Buscar Photo

Our Impression

All in all, the return of the BUKU Music and Art Project to New Orleans was a major success. Organizers brought back some of the big names from the cancelled 2020 lineup and designed grounds that were well laid out and easy to navigate. Lines for food and drinks were never too long and there was plenty of free water and “BUKU Budz” throughout the festival supporting attendees. Most festivals with bass heavy electronic music suffer from sound bleed issues, but none of the stages interfered with each other at BUKU. The food lineup featured local mainstays and highlighted the signature creole cuisine of New Orleans.

NYS Music had a great time at the festival and we caught sets from so any different artists and styles throughout the weekend. We enjoyed seeing big names like Tame Impala in their prime, but also discovering new music that will become part of our rotation. Nothing is better than discovering new music live, looking over at your head-banging friends and asking “what song is this?” Moments like this are what we missed most during the pandemic and we are so happy to have back again.

Check out our artist galleries from the 10th edition of the BUKU Music and Art Project below, photographed by NYS Music photographer Buscar Photo.

Artist Galleries

100 Gecs

Lab Group

Tame Impala

Kumarion b2b Reaper

Rezz

Alison Wonderland

Baby Keem

Vince Staples

SFAM

Glass Animals

Lane 8

Amelie Lens

Porter Robinson

Taking Back Sunday

March 30, 2022
Watch Sy Ari Da Kid and Jadakiss Team Up For “Unbreakable Promises”

The Bronx-bred rapper/singer Sy Ari Da Kid released his newest debut album, The Shadow In The Shade which features multiple artist throughout the album. Sy Ari Da Kid features Yonkers hip-hop icon Jadakiss on the album with track, “Unbreakable Promises” along with recently released music video.

Sy Ari Da Kid and Jadakiss met up in Virginia to shoot the music video for “Unbreakable Promises” that would celebrate their success while also shedding light onto the hurdles they faced with the soulful track produced by Vtng Jag.

The new album, “The Shadow In The Shade” appeared on New Music Friday select playlists by XXL, Brooklyn Vegan, and Essence. A variety of artists are showcased on the debut album that helped Sy Ari Da Kid bring his project to life, artists like Jadakiss, T.I.. Benny The Butcher, Big K.R.I.T., Trouble, Lloyd Banks, Ransom, Mickey Factz, Cyhi The Prynce, Shawn Ellery, JR Writer, Raekwon and Bumpy Knuckles are featured on the tracklist.

“Some rappers sprint to the tape but Sy is running a marathon with no finish line in sight. He just keeps going.”
-RapReviews

Growing up between the Bronx and Atlanta, he quickly started his career right after high school and became a battle rapper. Working on numerous of other projects throughout his career such as Alone but Not Lonely, S.O.O.N, Better Safe Than Sy Ari and others, which led to him releasing his own that he had in the works for long time for his rap fans.

The album consists of 21 tracks with brazen but vulnerable lyrics that allows for fans to connect and relate with. Sy Ari Da Kid’s sound is versatile which ultimately makes his fans equally crave his deep hip hop cuts and his continue uphill climb will keep his fan wondering what will be next for him.

March 29, 2022
Benny The Butcher: Tana Talk 4 Review

As Benny the Butcher and his Griselda cohorts further entrench themselves in the music industry and the lines between mixtapes and studio albums continue to blur, the Buffalo-bred rapper returns with another edition of his cult-like mixtape series. The array of Tana Talk mixtapes helped lead Benny’s ascension including his breakout third edition, which featured standout tracks like “Langfield,” and “Rubber Bands & Weight.”

Tana Talk 4 is officially Benny’s third studio album and the intro track serves as a reminder of Benny’s current standing within the industry. The lead single — “Johnny P’s Caddy”– features a strong J. Cole verse, while the rest of the appearances remain close to home in the likes of Stove God Cooks, Westside Gunn, Conway The Machine, 38 Spesh and fellow Griselda signee, Boldy James. While Benny commands that street presence throughout his projects, the Tana talk series has always maintained a more personal feel and has seen the Def Jam signee at his most introspective.

This ain’t my story about rags to riches, more about how I mastered physics.

The records opening line sets the tone for the entire body of work as Benny weaves through street tales and the specific details of the drug game, while giving attention to his growth in the music industry and the supposed dissension between Conway and the rest of Griselda records after his departure from the label. Songs like “Johnny P’s Caddy” sees Benny flex his muscles in the rap game, as he went from making street dollars to legitimate rap money.

In the game, I used to train like Rocky catchin’ chickens. I was nice, but they was right when they told me that rap a business.

While once again flexing his loyalty to the ones he entered the game with.

Besides Con’ and West, tell me, who else I gotta respect?

Benny effortlessly exchanges his street and rap personas. His production is composed of Griselda in-house producer Daringer’s grimy, raw, slowed down beats, combining that with famed hip hop producer Alchemist’s soul-samples. On the 38 Spesh assisted, “Uncle Bun,” Benny is raw and unforgiving about his street dealings.

I sold dope to a fiend while she pregnant, emotionless. I’m not a case worker, that’s not the reason I sold the shit.

While the more soulful “Weekends In The Perry’s” featuring Boldy James, sees the Def Jam signee portray himself as simply an author to his own motion picture, which is the sort of bob-and-weave that is displayed throughout the 12-track, 40-minute long project.

Tana Talk 4 isn’t all drug and industry talk, as Benny also addresses the relationship between him, Westside Gunn and Conway The Machine. On “Tyson vs. Ali” featuring Conway The Machine, he addresses the media and fans attempts to pin the former label-mates against each other, while unbeknownst to them, the trio remain tethered.

So confused when ya’ll compare two n**gas from the same movement. Only for ya’ll amusement is funny to me. Ya’ll do it, truth is, while I’m killing shit Conway is somewhere rootin’.

Conway The Machine responds with his own salute to his cousin,

Ayo, Benny, I remember what we used to do to the fiends. That’s why it feel so good to see you doin’ your thing.

As the entire Griselda empire has grown within the past few years, they’ve maintained their model, even as they’ve ventured with bigger labels and entertainment entities. The making of Tana Talk 4 — a renowned mixtape series — into a studio album exemplifies just that. Benny The Butcher continues to elevate and flexes his industry connections with the J.Cole feature, while remaining true to his core fanbase.

Overall, fans of Benny can be left satisfied with this project, as it has plenty of rugged street talk, but more importantly growth, as fans can see the fruits of Benny’s ascension as he rubs elbows with the hip hop industry’s elite.

March 23, 2022
Cypress Hill Release New Album “Back In Black”, Announce Tour Dates With Stops In Brooklyn and Albany

Critically acclaimed rap group, Cypress Hill, has a busy year ahead of them, not only having just released their tenth studio album, Back In Black, but a new video for album highlight “Certified” and months of touring ahead.

Cypress Hill is a rap group from South Gate, California that have been active since the late 1980’s. They have paved the way for the rappers that followed, especially considering their desire to use Spanish lyrics in songs. This group stood their ground during a time when rappers had trouble getting booked to perform live. Cypress Hill shifted the culture of the music industry and for that their accomplishments did not go unnoticed. In fact, they earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, sold more than 9 million albums, and were nominated for three Grammy Awards.

Considering, Back In Black is their first full-length album since Elephants on Acid in 2018, Cypress Hill had to adapt to today’s culture and were pushed creatively as artists. Their newest work has reconnected the group with Black Milk (Slum Village, Lloyd Banks, Pharoahe Monch), who produced the entire album.

Within Back In Black, the group raps about cannabis but in an educational way. Knowing the impact it has had on people of color, as well as where it stands with the federal government, Cypress Hill believes it is a significant conversation to have and what better way for them to vocalize that than through their lyrics.

We can talk about smoking, but there’s still a lot of people out there that need to be educated. As the scene has progressed and evolved into what it is now, there still are some road bumps out there. It’s not federally legal across the United States. It’s legal here in California and other states, but we still face a lot of obstacles in terms of the federal government. A lot of us are pushing to finally get it recognized federally. There’s still a whole lot of work to be done, so we just keep pushing along.
B-Real

Furthermore, their video for “Certified” was directed by Tillavision, who have a great reputation for creating 3D, augmented reality and virtual reality content for well-known artists such as Swae Lee, Pop Smoke, JuiceWRLD and Young Dolph.

However, Cypress Hill’s agenda for 2022 does not end there. The rap group has plans to embark on a massive slate of touring including performances at Slipknot’s Knotfest Roadshow 2022.

With the visionary photographer and director Estevan Oriol, Cypress Hill has developed a documentary titled Insane In The Brain: Cypress Hill. It will debut as part of Showtime’s HIP HOP 50 banner on April 20 at 8pm ET/PT. This film will take viewers on a cannabis filled journey of the lives of the rap group, highlighting their relevancy for 30 years, unique sounds, and genre-shifting sonic tapestry. With never before seen footage, Insane In The Brain: Cypress Hill, will most importantly reflect the group’s everlasting brotherhood.

Tickets and VIP Packages for Cypress Hill’s tour are now available. For more information visit the Cypress Hill website.

CYPRESS HILL LIVE 2022
3/18 – Kings Of The West – Rio Rancho, NM %

3/20 – Big Surf Water Park – Tempe, AZ

4/2 – Smoking Gun Casino – El Paso, TX

4/9 – North Carolina Azalea Fest 2022 – Wilmington, NC ^

4/19 – Red Rocks – Morrison, CO %

5/18 – Bryce Jordan Center – University Park, PA *

5/20 – Barclays Center – Brooklyn, NY *

5/21 – Dunkin Donuts Center – Providence, RI *

5/22 – SNHU Arena – Manchester, NH *

5/24 – MVP Arena – Albany, NY *

5/26 – Bell Centre – Montreal, QC *

5/28 – Videotron Centre – Quebec, QC *

5/29 – Canadian Tire Centre – Ottawa, ON *

5/30 – Budweiser Stage – Toronto, ON *

6/1 – Heritage Bank Center – Cincinnati, OH *

6/2 – Van Andel Arena – Grand Rapids, MI *

6/4 – Alpine Valley Music Theatre – East Troy, WI *

6/5 – TaxSlayer Center – Moline, IL *

6/7 – Azura Amphitheater – Bonner Springs, KS *

6/9 – The Broadmoor World Arena – Colorado Springs, CO *

6/11 – Ford Idaho Center – Nampa, ID *

6/13 – Climate Pledge Arena – Seattle, WA *

6/14 – RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater – Ridgefield, WA *

6/17 – MGM Grand Garden Arena – Las Vegas, NV *

6/18 – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre – Chula Vista, CA *

% – w/ Ice Cube
^ – Festival date
* Knotfest Roadshow 2022

March 22, 2022