Author: Alain Clerine

Former NFL Star Darren Waller Continues Prolific Musical Journey with New Video Ft. Westside Boogie

Former NFL pro bowler and NY Giant tight end Darren Waller continues his post-retirement musical journey with a new single and music video featuring Westside Boogie. The inspiring track explores themes of personal introspection, blending vulnerability and memories of self-doubt to create a strong message of growth and self-discovery. Additionally, Shady Records artist, Westside Boogie, chimes in with his own moment of self-reflection to top off the emotional record. Similarly, the music video is therapeutic in its presentation, with Waller rhyming his verse as he solemnly raps his verse.

Getting Boogie for this record was really organic, thanks to a mutual connection from my high school basketball days. As an artist, he’s incredibly versatile and vulnerable, which made him a perfect fit for the record. We’ve both found success and joy in a lot of areas of our personal lives, but we’re still looking for the answers to our deepest questions.
– Darren Waller

All in all, Waller has been using his newfound career as a music artist as a form of therapy, The new song follows Waller’s Internal Warfare: This Too Shall Pass EP, which dropped last month. Inspired by a year of significant transformation, the EP takes an in-depth look at personal and professional highs and lows he experienced. Moreover, earlier this year, Waller also released On Notice: Bag Talk EP, showcasing his artistic versatility, and Mind Games: It’s All In Your Head EP, which touches on Waller’s decision to retire from the NFL.

Since calling it quits, the former NFL star has dropped a number of viral records including “Who Knew (Her Perspective)” dedicated to his ex-wife, Kelsey Plum of the Las Vegas Aces. After being drafted into the NFL in 2015, waller began exploring music, inspired by his great-grandfather, the iconic jazz pianist Fats Waller. While music initially took a back seat to football, Darren made his musical debut in 2021 with the project Delusions of Clarity. Following that release, Waller received a placement on the official Madden NFL soundtrack in 2023.

December 5, 2024
Prolific Haitian-American Rapper Mach-Hommy Marks First-Ever New York City Performance At The Appel Room At Lincoln Center

Mach-Hommy, the enigmatic Haitian-American rapper, will be performing in New York City for the first time ever on Wednesday, November 27 at The Appel Room at Lincoln Center. Presented by Live Nation, the performance will see Mach-Hommy bring his (most recently) heralded album #RICHAXXHAITIAN to life in its entirety. This rare, intimate show promises an unforgettable fusion of raw talent, rich storytelling, and the magic of live music at one of the city’s most iconic venues with the city skyline as the backdrop.

Mach-Hommy will offer a glimpse into his enigmatic persona.

About Mach-Hommy

Moreover it will offer a glimpse into the Mach-Hommy persona that has buzzed about throughout hip hop’s underground scene for nearly a decade. That is until his 2021 album Pray For Haiti (executive produced by Westside Gunn) broke through on a larger scale, earning him looks from the likes of Black Thought and Jay-Z. Nonetheless, the Mach-Hommy persona operates like a successful, family-owned business. Using the principals of quality control, Mach is intentional in not over-saturating himself or his product. How else would one gain a loyal following while keeping their lyrics off of lyric decoding websites, only granting a handful of interviews since debuting on the music scene over a decade ago, maintaining no social media presence, and covering their face with a bandana featuring the Haitian flag?

The answer lies in how Mach-Hommy treats each project like a culture-shifting piece of art, worthy of a place at the Louvre, delivering exclusive vinyls and artwork to go along with each project. After all, Mach—who established a fund to support social, economic, and technological growth in Haiti with his 2021 classic, Pray for Haiti—views #RICHAXXHAITIAN as a small musical antidote to the political strife that has long plagued his cultural homeland, intensified since the assassination of former president Jovenel Moïse. “Within two months of releasing Pray for Haiti, the president was assassinated by a paramilitary hit squad,” says Mach. “Now we’re talking about a place with no central governing body. Haiti was the world’s first free Black republic, but now it’s in free fall.”

Mach-Hommy’s first ever performance in New York will see him perform his latest album #RICHAXXHAITIAN

Fans can purchase tickets for Mach-Hommy’s historic debut performance in New York City here.

November 11, 2024
Mary J. Blige Announces “The For My Fans Tour” With Several Stops in NY

The Queens of hip hop soul will be coming to a stage near you, as Mary J. Blige announces her upcoming expedition, “The For My Fans Tour,” in light of her new album Gratitude, set for release on November 15. Produced by Live Nation, the 27-city tour will feature several stops within New York State. Beginning on Saturday, March 22 with a stop at Buffalo’s KeyBank Center, April 10 at Madison Square Garden and April 11 at UBS Arena in Belmont Park, NY.

Mary J. Blige’s “The Four My Fans Tour” will feature 3 stops within New York State.

Moreover, this tour will be another notch in the r&b star’s legendary career. Her upcoming album–Blige’s 15th– will release through her own Beautiful Life Productions and in partnership with 300 Entertainment and serves as a refresher for fans of Blige as her star has blossomed on the TV screen in recent years. However, in August, she dropped the first single off the album, âBreathingâ featuring Fabolous signaling a returned focus for the stage. In addition, the Grammy, Emmy-winning songstress will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on October 19 in Cleveland, ahead of both the album release and tour.

I am so excited to kick off this tour. I have amazing fans and am so grateful for all of the love and support they have given me throughout the years. This tour is for them, and I cannot wait to be able to travel to all these cities and see everyone. I am in such a place of immense gratitude and peace at this moment, so also having the chance to release my new album Gratitude on November 15 ahead of this tour is really special to me.
– Mary J. Blige

In light of Mary J. Blige’s latest accolades, “The For My Fans Tour” will offer a variety of different VIP packages and experiences for fans to take their concert experience to the next level. While tickets will be available starting with an artist presale beginning on Tuesday, October 1. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general on-sale beginning on Friday, October 4 at 10 AM at LiveNation.com.

MARY J. BLIGE â THE FOR MY FANS TOUR 2025 DATES:

Thu. Jan 30 – Greensboro, NC – Greensboro Coliseum

Fri. Jan 31 – Raleigh, NC – Lenovo Center

Mon. Feb 03 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena

Thu. Feb 06 – Charlotte, NC – Spectrum Center

Sat. Feb 08 – Tampa, FL – Amalie Arena

Tue. Feb 11 – Hollywood, FL – Hard Rock Live

Fri. Feb 14 – New Orleans, LA – Smoothie King Center

Tue. Feb 18 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center

Fri. Feb 21 – Ft. Worth, TX – Dickies Arena

Tue. Feb 25 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena

Sat. Mar 01 – Los Angeles, CA – Intuit Dome

Fri. Mar 07 – San Francisco, CA – Chase Center

Sat. Mar 08 – Sacramento, CA – Golden 1 Center

Wed. Mar 12 – St. Louis, MO – Enterprise Center

Fri. Mar 14 – Chicago, IL – United Center

Sun. Mar 16 – St. Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center

Wed. Mar 19 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena

Sat. Mar 22 – Buffalo, NY – KeyBank Center

Mon. Mar 24 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena

Wed. Mar 26 – Washington, DC – Capital One Arena

Fri. Mar 28 – Atlantic City, NJ – Boardwalk Hall

Wed. Apr 02 – Columbus, OH – Nationwide Arena

Fri. Apr 04 – Baltimore, MD – CFG Bank Arena

Sun. Apr 06 – Newark, NJ – Prudential Center

Thu. Apr 10 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden

Fri. Apr 11 – Belmont Park, NY – UBS Arena

Mon. Apr 14 – Boston, MA – TD Garden

October 1, 2024
A Tale of Two Dirtys: What We Learned From A&E’s Ol’ Dirty Bastard Documentary
The life, career and death of Wu Tang Clan member Ol’ Dirty Bastard was chronicled for the first time ever in a new documentary on A&E. Ol’Dirty Bastard: A Tale of Two Dirtys examines the late rapper’s life as he juggled between down-to-earth family man Russell Jones/Ason Unique and enigmatic rap star, Ol’ Dirty Bastard. Known as the most unconventional in a crew full of colorful MC’s, his eccentric public persona, off-the cuff rhymes and unwillingness to conform to industry norms made him a fan-favorite (marked by the fact that he was the first member of the Wu to release a solo album with 1995’s Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version).
Embed from Getty Images
Recap

All in all, ODB was very cognizant of what, and who he represented amidst hip hop’s “shiny suit” era. Often making conscious lifestyle choices in order to keep his image as raw and gutter as possible. This includes the famous limo ride to get food stamps during an MTV biography piece, his foods stamp ID card on his debut album cover, as well as his unconventional delivery. In essence, ODB sought to juxtapose the glamors of the entertainment industry with the realities of inner-city life. As a result, he spent much of his career playing the role of agent provocateur.

Yet his constant his need to live up to the expectations of the Ol’ Dirty Bastard persona led to his untimely demise. Marked by first hand recountings from Wu Tang members Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, GZA, as well as ODB’s widow and her children with ODB, A Tale of Two Dirtys captures the essence of a one-in-a-lifetime personality, devoted father and troubled psyche. After watching, here’s what we learned about the late great Dirt McGirt.

A Tale of Two Dirtys captures ODB and Russel Jones.

Beginning

Although known for his out-of-this-world persona, ODB — born Russell Jones — grew up shy and reserved. That is until his cousins GZA and RZA introduced him to hip hop and began the journey of one of the great expressionist musicians of the 20th century. However, his infatuation with petty crime would manifest itself from a young age with repeated arrests for boosting clothes. He sought out teachings of the 5 percent nation for discipline, and earned the name Ason Unique after memorizing the 120 lessons, supreme alphabet, as well as the supreme mathematics. After watching the 1983 kung fu flick Shaolin and Wu Tang, Ghostface Killah details bringing the film to RZA and urging him to watch it. Which inspired RZA to kick-start the group. Dirty got his name from RZA after watching the 1980 film, Ol’ Dirty Kung Fu.
Embed from Getty Images
Family

Throughout the documentary, ODB’s widow Icelene Jones vouches for the devoted family man, revealing that ODB’s sole purpose for pursuing a rap career was to provide for his wife and kids. She also details their unstable life after marriage, as the duo and their 3 children bounced from family homes to shelters, where they lived for 6 months before he signed his record deal. However, his ego got the best of him after tasting success, as he began relentlessly indulging in women. He fathered 13 children before his death, 3 of them with his wife.

Career

As ODB’s drug abuse, arrests and behavior became too unpredictable, Elektra Records pivoted away from him because he was described as a “liability.” His famous Grammy interruption also caused Elektra Records tons of industry backlash, as they dealt with being embarrassed by not being able to control their artist. Additionally, former Roc-A-Fella records employee Choke No Joke claims that, Damon Dash signed ODB to the label after his two-year prison sentence, for publicity and that he didn’t really care about helping him overcome his drug addiction. He even claims that ODB didn’t know he was signing with Roc-A-Fella upon his release from prison. He also did not know Dame Dash would be there.
Embed from Getty Images
Public Image
He was aware of what the Ol’s Dirty Bastard image was and worked to accentuate it. Which is why the now famous artwork for his debut album features pictures of ODB in a trashed apartment. He served as his own creative director and would even call for more “blunts” and “40s” if the room was too clean. In like manner, his need to remain rooted in order to authenticate the ODB character meant that he often found himself in compromising situations (like his 1994 shooting back home in Brooklyn). In true ODB fashion, he made an appearance at a Wu Tang Clan show at Hammerstein ballroom while on the run from the police before letting the crowd know that he had to leave due to an outstanding warrant.
Drug Abuse

As detailed by his wife, ODB’s drug abuse began with weed, then weed and cocaine blunts, then weed and crack cocaine blunts. Moreover, his 1994 shooting accentuated his drug abuse. As he racked up missed court dates due to drug arrests, he was ordered to attend rehab but escaped. He was eventually caught at a McDonald’s in Philadelphia while giving out autographs, as two police officers were fans, knew who he was, and knew he was on the run. After a getting out of his 2-year prison stint he began abusing drugs again. ODB’s family details finding him unconscious for the last time during a studio session. Icelene then emotionally recounts her immediately lashing out at everyone in the room for enabling and taking from him.
September 4, 2024
Benny The Butcher Releases ‘Buffalo Butch Vol. 1’ With Feature From Drake

Benny The Butcher looks to make his mark on the summer, returning with Buffalo Butch Vol. 1 just two weeks after releasing Summertime Butch. The new 3-track EP features close collaborator 38 Spesh, along with guest spots from Fabolous and Drake on the songs “Hard Way Freestyle” and “Buffalo Freestyle” respectively.

Artwork for Benny The Butcher 3-song E, Buffalo Butch Vol. 1

Benny Back Again

It’s been just over six months since the Grammy and Emmy nominated Buffalo native released his Def Jam Recordings debut, Everybody Can’t Go. During which he tried his hand at a more commercial sound along with a mainstream album that included several singles and guest spots on popular hip hop adjacent podcasts. While songs like the West Coast influenced “Back Again,” and the uptempo “How To Rap” showed some variance to Benny’s musical approach, his core fans continue to yearn for the gritty street rhymes that Benny and his tone-setting delivery have become synonymous with.

Artwork for Benny The Butcher 10-song EP, Summertime Butch

As a result he returned with Summertime Butch featuring appearances from Black Soprano Family signees Rick Hyde, ElCamino, and Fuego Base. With an additionally cameo from hip hop legend Ed Lover on “Summer 24,” while Harry Fraud and StreetRunner handled the album’s production. Now juts two weeks later he returns with a 3-pack of tracks to close the Summer out strong. As these last two EP’s have seen Benny return to his grimy best. Back are the slow, cinematic beats with street tales galore. Moreover, each song on Buffalo Butch Vol. 1 sees Benny bring the best out of his collaborators, which includes Drake first feature with a rapper of Benny’s pedigree since his much publicized beef with Kendrick Lamar. However, as of right now the Drake feature has been removed from streaming since the project’s release on Thursday night.

August 24, 2024
‘Ova With’ The Wait As MVW Releases New Single With Lisha G Ahead of Album Launch

Producer/Composer MVW is back with a new single featuring current Houston underground staple Lisha G. The new record, “Ova With,” is a silky flowing thumper that sees MVW brings his trademark piano driven melodies. Meanwhile, the burgeoning Lisha G’s penetrating vocals and southern twang to create a stimulating mix.

MVW’s new single “Ova With” features burgeoning Houston rapper Lisha G.

Her intoxicating flow makes for a trippy listen on it own however, however, combined with MVW’s classically trained melodies create a refreshing song with two artists forging their own unique paths. Yet, aside from Lisha G’s inviting vocals, her appeal comes from the wholesome, small-town values that set the Houston rapper apart from other artists. Moreover, “Ova With” continues a rise that has also seen her collaborate with Famous Dex and gain even more traction following her performance in her On The Radar Freestyle. For his part, MVW continues to collaborate and feature bubbling female underground rap artists. He dropped songs with TiaCorine, aka Freaky T and rising star Anycia.

New Album

All in all, this is the beginning of what presumes to be a busy few months for for MVW as the Staten Island native is set to release a joint-project this October with frequent collaborator Valee. Earlier this year MVW dropped “Goofy” featuring deceased legend Gangsta Boo. Meanwhile, the fall release will be their second collaborative album, as their debut effort Valeedation offered a welcome into MVW and Valee’s world of pianos, violins, horns and effortless delivery.

The new project will be MVW’s 4th hip hop album following his decision to complement his career as a composer by expanding into the fluid world of hip hop music. MVW kicked things off in 2021 with the Lex Luger assisted CLASSIC$, followed by Connections in 2022 and Valeedation with Valee in 2023.

August 20, 2024
Conway The Machine Signee, Jae Skeese, To Release New Album This Friday

It’s clear that Jay Skeese intends to follow the Griselda model of flooding the market. The first signee to Conway The Machine‘s Drumwork Music imprint, Jae Skeese, is set to release his 2nd project of the year, Ground Level, on August 16. The new album comes on the heels of his first project of the year, Testament of The Times, released in March. In light of the new album, the Buffalo native, has gone on to release several singles with a list of exclusive features as part of this underground effort,.

About Ground Level

With this in mind, Jae Skeese teased the upcoming album with the calculated release of a single roughly every2 weeks. Beginning with the project’s lead single and video, “Situated” featuring Big K.R.I.T. and Sauce Walka, to set the tone for Ground Level. He later retuned with the projects second single, the star-studded “Sara Lee.” Featuring Dave East, Jay Worthy and a sultry chorus from r&b singer Lloyd, the record offers an alternative side to Jae Skeese. “Sara Lee” is a vibe that I don’t think you haven’t got from me yet. I wanted to show another side of who I am as an artist and give the ladies something to think about,” Jae Skeese comments.“

The lastest single, “Brick After Brick (Ground Level),” also doubles as the intro track for Ground Level. Featuring thunderous, tone-setting horns, Jae Skeese hopes to set the tone with this into record. Moreover, Skeese takes the next step in his career with Ground Level. After all, he has spent the last three years laying the foundation for his breakthrough — which includes Skeese’s Drumwork debut, Abolished Uncertainties, and his collaborative album with Conway The Machine Pain Provided Profit. Thus, Ground Level‘s release this Friday is a testament to Jae Skeese’s evolution as an artist, as he continues to stack up high-profile collaborations

August 15, 2024
KRS-One to Headline 4th Annual Tour For Life Concert At The Brooklyn Monarch

This Sunday at The Brooklyn Monarch, MC’s better act like they know, as KRS-One headlines the annual Tour For Life concert this Sunday, August 18. Uniquely, Tour For Life is essentially a rap concert that also advocates for mental health awareness within the hip-hop community. At each stop, on-site therapists offer free sessions, live art, giveaways, community mending art projects, and performances. Presented by Full Blast Booking, a Connecticut-based booking company that specializes in booking tours, Tour For Life has raised over $60,000 for mental health non-profits over the past three years. Hence, this year’s tour will be raising money for organizations such as Mental Health Connecticut.

KRS will headline Tour for Life this Sunday August, 18.

Tour For Life’s Final Weekend

Yet, Brooklyn will be the final stop for Tour for Life. This weekend’s performances, from August 15 – 17, will see Tour For Life make stops in various neighboring east coast states including Rhode Island, Connecticut and New Hampshire. Meanwhile, performances will feature hip-hop headliners Sage Francis, Billy Danze of M.O.P., and Rome Streetz. Supporting this stop on the tour will be artists such as, Duece Bug, Konflik, Sosoon + Tony Dimes, DTaylz, Neema MC, Mickey Bourbon, Mic Hoffa, and more.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Full Blast Booking (@fullblastbooking)

With this intention, Tour for Life also works to provide a platform for legendary headliners, as well a the many talented and independent artists from all over the nation. Thus, with the tour’s final stop will see hip hop pioneer/legend KRS-One replace initial headliner Redman. However, with one of the most comprehensive discographies in hip hop as well as a bevy of thought-provoking lyrics, KR-One is no stranger to nuance nor the healing properties of rap music.

Tour for Life Dates and Lineups

8/15 Manchester, NH- The Shaskeen feat. Sage Francis + Akrobatik

8/16 Providence, RI- Alchemy feat. Billy Danze of M.O.P.

8/17 Hamden, CT- Cellar on Treadwell feat. Rome Streetz

8/18 Brooklyn, NY – The Monarch feat. KRS-One (+ surprise guests)

Set to begin at 6:00 p.m. at 23 Meadow St, tickets for Tour for Life’s closing weekend can be found on Full Blast Booking’s official website.

August 15, 2024
An Evening With Nas at Albany’s Palace Theatre

Amidst a slew of tour dates, Nas made a stop at Albany’s Palace Theatre this past Friday (July 19) and delivered an all-encompassing performance. In turn, the normally quiet-kept streets surrounding the Palace felt a simultaneous murmur between 7 and 8 p.m. on Friday night as hip hop fans came out in droves in support of Esco.

With both floors of the Palace decked out, the legendary rhymer offered a passionate rendition of his biggest hits, album cuts and freestyles.

Nas performs “Fever,” the opening track from Magic 3

Backed by longtime tour DJ and friend, Rochester’s own DJ Green Lantern, Nas offered fans a non-linear run through his historic discography. In truth, An Evening With Nas, gave the feel of a distant family gathering. As though Nas was kickin’ it with his hip hop cousins from Upstate.

The crowd’s appreciation was apparent as the 17-time Grammy-nominee was on the receiving end of the night’s first standing ovation within the first 20 minutes, after a flawless, passionate performance of “N.Y. State of Mind.” Green Lantern played to the lively crowd, riling them up with chants of “hip hop, hip hop,” before dropping the iconic DJ Premier scratches preluding “Nas Is Like” as the crowd roared their approval.

Nas receives a standing ovation

Similarly, performances of “Got Ur Self A…,” “Made You Look,” and “You Owe Me” all earned the crowd’s approval. Yet, the most well-received songs are the ones that capture Nas’ soulful essence. For instance, performances of “Life’s a Bitch,” “The World Is Yours” and “If I Ruled the World” had the crowd hung on every word, particularly the latter two which led to a theatre-wide serenade.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Queensbridge NYC (@qb_nyc)

Such was the scene as a noticeably vibrant Esco basked in he and the crowd’s shared catharsis. Afterwards, in a moment of reflection over his long-career, the hip hop mogul thanked his long-time supporters and encouraged the vivacious crowd of about 1500 to “live vicariously through me. Iâm still outside.”

Memorable Moments

During this period of elation DJ Green Lantern upped it and announced a Nas and DJ Premier album slated for later this year. As the show waned, Nas honored both Prodigy and The Notorious B.I.G with special renditions dedicated to both fallen legends.

Nas paid tribute to Prodigy

A large image of Prodigy appeared on the big-screen as he performed his verse on their classic hit, “It’s Mine.” He later shouted out Biggie before performing a special rendition of “One Love” over the “Sky’s The Limit” beat. Meanwhile a rendition of “Daughters” was cut short as Nas claimed it made him emotional, before transitioning to the more rugged “40-16 Building.” The show closed as the Queens native gave an impassioned performed “One Mic” to applause and shouts not to leave.

July 23, 2024
Grafh & 38 Spesh Get Their ‘Rocafella Chain’ In New Single Ft. Memphis Bleek, Freeway, Peedi Crack

Grafh and 38 Spesh’s “Rocafella Chain” is the latest single in promotion of their joint-album, God’s Timing, which drops on August 2. The new single features a quartet of former Roc-A-Fella Records artists in Memphis Bleek, Freeway, Peedi Crack and Grafh himself in an ode to the legendary record label. Moreover, this is the second single Grafh and 38 Spesh have released ahead of God’s Timing, with this new single following the Talib Kweli assisted, “Right Now.”

Roc-A-Fella records alumni come together for this latest heater

If these two records are anything to go by then the new project will be full of quality. On “Rocafella Chain,” 38 Spesh sets the tone with a hard-hitting horn and drums loop before each artist takes turns trying to steal the show. In like manner, the record brings back memories of a good old posse cut. In turn, each artist brings their distinctive style, creating a dynamic and energetic anthem that pays respect to their roots while pushing the boundaries of contemporary hip-hop.

God’s Timing

God’s Timing will be released on August 2, and is produced in its entirety by 38 Spesh. The album also includes appearances from Jim Jones, Talib Kweli, Method Man, Vado, Freeway, Memphis Bleek and Peedi Crakk. This will be the first joint-project between Grafh and 38 Spesh in a link-up between upstate, New York and the city.

July 19, 2024