David Cobo’s story is one of a man fighting for freedom. Freedom from social constructs, freedom from haters and freedom to speak the truth. Born in Angola and raised in Austin, Texas, Cobo is no stranger to change. In his new video for “No One,” Cobo takes us through his artistic evolution, putting his heart on his sleeve in this no-holds-barred new video.
The “No One” music video starts with Cobo in his creative sanctuary, ravaging his journal, obsessively writing and rewriting lyrics by himself. When the second verse drops, he is found following the train tracks, eluding to his journey as an artist. His passion, alone, is enough for him to follow this path blindly, fueled by the desire to stick it to the ones who don’t believe in him. For the final verse, Cobo makes it to the studio, where he spills his heart out to the microphone.
In his own words, Cobo states: “Originality is the main key to success. When you’re yourself you can’t be anything but yourself… Never let anyone tell you what you can or can’t do; stay true to yourself and fight for what you believe in.”
Apple Sauce, is a high energy club banger aimed at those who think a girl's appearance in a club is an invitation to get hit on. SPOILER ALERT: it isn't. After reuniting for another collaboration, Rena and Drootrax releases their first two singles, Over U and Apple Sauce. Drootrax and Rena have been making music for the past 5 years together. Over that time, they synced a song in Magic Mike XXL in the famous Mad Mary’s scene, which was featured on Jimmy Fallon and Entertainment Tonight. Their song, Jealous, was also featured in an international ad for Acura TLX, gaining them a eclectic international following. After their success together, Rena released a solo EP, premiering songs in Nylon Magazine, Bitch Media, and Bullett Magazine. She self-produced the pop-rock EP, on which she played guitar, piano, and drums. Her song “BFF” landed in the forthcoming Nick Kreiss film “Little Bitches” starring Jennette McCurdy.
Born Shelton Hills in New Orleans, LA, Kush3Kidd (@darealogkush) is one of the Southwest’s rising stars. With his fresh rap style and club ready hooks, he is growing amongst DJs and promoters. Kush3Kidd has released a 4 installment Mixtape Series titled “Gang Member Lifestyle”; the most recent version, “Gang Member Lifestyle 4” dropped in April. Kush3Kidd continues to perform his fan favorites around Louisiana, and is ready for the world to hear him.
Rejoice, its finally here!!! Vampr, is an easy to use platform that allows you to Discover and Collab with like-minded musicians around the world! You know the saying "It's not what you know, it's who you know". Very true when it comes to the music industry. Networking is a key to success. Vampr is a revolutionary app that helps you find other talented artists that you may have never knew otherwise. More than anything, the networking process is made fun, refreshing, and seamless!
@babyfacemonster Great blog post! Thanks for using the site and being open about what you like and don't like about it. We would love to
There are a wide variety of social media platforms nowadays. However, useful music social media platforms are few and far between. From my own experience there were only about three popular music networking platform's thatwere truly helpful for rappers, rockers, singers, and producers... Reverbnation, TuneCore and CDBaby. A few yrs ago I wrote an article of my ongoing love/hate relationship with Reverbnation (which was liked by @Reverbnation btw). Even with its powerful database of artists, which is 2nd to none, Reverbnation's major flaw is its jumbled navigation and its low user engagement. This is the reason I believe Vampr is such a valuable resource for this day and age.
-tunecore
Vampr co-founder, Josh Simons says, "The best apps are ones which help the user complete their task as efficiently as possible whilst simplifying their task, and where possible employ an element of gamification or fun." Which is what reaffirms what I love really love about the app. Vampr's connections are super easy to make, very similar to popular dating app, Tinder. The navigation of the app is basically swiping right on an artists that you'd like to collab with! You can limit your search by genre, age, and even location. This is 1 of my fav features as "location" can be HUGE if you are a traveling artist. Locally, it could be used to setup a studio session, release party, or video shoot. Or, regionally or even globally, Vampr's power could easily be harnessed into a promotional tour, international collabs, a way for advertisers to find brand ambassadors, or demo for record labels to find the next big star! There are infinity possibilities with Vampr at your fingertips! -Carl "BFM" Jones
It doesn’t happen often. But every now and then, an independent artist makes a song and a video undeniable enough to become an international sensation. Rich Chigga shook the music world in 2016 with “Dat $tick,” a trap rap and searing video that opened eyes and ears on both sides of the Pacific — and the teenaged emcee shot to Internet stardom. Part of the reason for the fuss was Rich Chigga’s nationality: there just aren’t that many Indonesian rappers with devoted followings in America. A young Asian in a collared shirt making rap boasts and delicious threats?, that’s a rare sighting.
Nothing gimmicky, though, not even a little bit. Rich Chigga’s production, lyrics, and, most importantly, flow marked him as the genuine article. Here was a kid raised on hip-hop and trap music, and who loved the form enough to be inspired to make some himself. Hip-hop aficionados recognized “Dat $tick” as an indispensable record, and other emcees embraced Rich Chigga as one of their own. The legendary Ghostface Killah of Wu-Tang Clan thought enough of Rich Chigga and “Dat $tick to contribute a verse to the official remix.
There’s a (slightly) softer side to Rich Chigga, too, and it’s on display in “Glow Like Dat,” his latest release. Dedicated to a former girlfriend and graced with a mellow, ruminative chorus, “Glow” takes the magic of “Dat $tick” in an unexpected direction. In so doing, Rich Chigga demonstrates that he’s a multidimensional writer and vocalist, and one with enough depth to far outpace the typical YouTube sensations. And the dedicated audience that he’s built is right there with him as he evolves: the “Glow Like Dat” clip was viewed more than four million times in the first seventy two hours since it’s been uploaded to the Web. This autumn, Rich Chigga will headline his first national tour — 31 dates, including concerts in major venues in Los Angeles, Miami, and New York City. His momentum is unstoppable.
Rich Chigga — or Brian Imanuel, as he’s known to friends and family — is a video director, too. He’s partnered with James Defina, who has shot memorable hip-hop clips for Post Malone and BADBADNOTGOOD, to fit “Glow Like That” with a video that reinforces its themes and its tone. Rich Chigga still looks plenty threatening, but he’s also in a field of multicolored flowers, smoking a cigar, rapping, thinking about what he’s lost and what’s ahead of him, too. Interspersed between the shots of the rapper on his back, petals all around him, are images of rolling papers, lingerie, expensive plane tickets, jewelry. He may indeed be an unusual emcee, but he’s got the basics down pat.
Mr. Wired Up (@mrwiredupohboy) a.k.a The architect of #StripHop gets clubs fired up and parties “turned up” when he gets on the mic. Born Kerry Howard, Mr. Wired Up, the once DJ, has a flow with a cadence influenced by some of Houston’s finest rappers. Having worked with the likes of Yung Joc, Trae Tha Truth, and Fat Pimp; Mr. Wired Up created a wave and provides a soundtrack for Houston’s exotic dance scene. Although he’s just getting started, Mr. Wired Up is moving full speed ahead. Inking a new deal with Houston, Texas independent powerhouse L.O.U.D. Muzik.
Check out some of Mr. Wired Up’s latest work in his “Walked In” video below:
The ChiCity OG is back like he never left.... Co Still (@costill8nine) the 89 General checks back in with his latest installment to remind y'all he's "In Luv Wit The Trap" always 89 grindin "Co Still" in between his 1st love trappin he's also back cookin in the booth so press play an vibe out with "Co Still" an expect more raw & uncut in the meantime chop it up with him on a daily via Twitter/IG @costill8nine
When is the last time you've heard a rapper who actually makes sense? Who is not auto-tuning, mumble rapping, trapping, flexing, saucing, swagging or.. eh, you get the point! Our culture is screaming for an hiphop artist who articulates common sense and positive values without the cookie cutter approach. Enter, spawn of hiphop's Golden era and on-the-verge mc, Marcus Alexander, with his collosal new album “Suited Up Vol. 1”. This is grownup music! “Suited Up Vol. 1” is an 8-track work of art with a focused on quality and sophistication. Marcus uses explosive punchlines and his superior lyrical abilities to pull the listeners into his world. He comes for the head of the industry with bangers like, “Average Rappers”. He takes a more personal approach while using creative metaphors for the ups and downs of his love life on “The Gambler” and then again on the emotional story of his absent father, “Sperm Donor”. Then he is ready for the world on positive anthems like “Battle Cry” and “Hover High”. In conclusion, “Suited Up Vol. 1” is a stellar project that is packed with gems! Marcus Alexander shows you a man on a mission to change the game with positivity and his skills.
Another from the 502 come up Boss "Cino Fresh" still going strong campaigning the "Red Tape" 🔴 Cino drops his latest visual installment called "Gold" which "Cino Fresh" freestyles about the hardships of coming up from the bottom slums to being successful with his hiphop craft so without further a due press play an vibe out afterwards hit up midwestmixtapes.com
http://midwestmixtapes.com/release/cino-fresh-red-tape-cinofresh-midwestmixtapes/ to cop the"Red Tape" an kick it Cino Fresh on a daily via Twitter @cinofresh IG @1cinofresh
Imagine travelling light years through space and time, longing to get back to your one true love. Through far away galaxies and past random stars until you finally land and step off of the shuttle platform into her arms. This is the vision of alternative hiphop artist, Jonny Cool, as he drops the heartwarming visuals of his groovy love song titled, “Special Girl”. “Special Girl” is a creative derivative of Outkast's 2004 favorite, “Prototype”. It makes perfect sense that he would totally rock it, since he has always been inspired by such legends as Andre 3000, Earth, Wind & Fire, ect. Jonny is extra wavy as he lures the listener in with his playful melody, telling a story with the help of a keyboard and a killer saxophone solo at the end. He has mastered his own exciting style of music that infuses hiphop, R&B, rock, and more, which he has dubbed, Galactic Soul. Jonny recently chatted with USA Blog Network's TheDopeness interview series where he shared his story. Watch the video and checkout the in-depth interview today!
Since his first mixtape in 2010, H3RO (@yourh3ro) has been making a name for himself on the Carolina hip-hop scene. Having released several projects since then, H3RO continues to infuse the musical genius of his favorite artists into his music. Artists like Nas, Lupe Fiasco, and Eminem serve as the inspiration for his witty lyrics and poetic flow. H3RO is on a mission to break the mold of hip-hop, and his music says just that.
Check out the video to his “Be Something” single below:
Detroit’s youngest hip hop royalty, Brooklyn Queen, is back with another raucous clip that shows that this little lady knows how to party! Her last single “Keke Taught Me” captured her and her friends turning a quiet night home into an energetic dance party. In her new video for “Emoji,” she turns a deathly dull day at school into a fun time like only she can. Let’s just say she has a knack for turning the mundane into something spectacular.
Part of the BMB Ent family, Brooklyn Queen was raised in the hip hop world. She’s named in honor of Biggie, her mother is the notable Detroit rapper Nailnotirious Kim, and she’s even been on stage as a backup dancer for Rob Base, Vanilla Ice and Salt-N-Pepa just to name a few. With a work ethic and vision unheard of for a girl her age, it’s no surprise that this pocket-sized pixie has a legion of loyal fans that have been with her since kindergarten.
“Emoji” is a fun romp through the halls of the local middle school that perfectly captures the exuberance of youth. Brooklyn Queen and her crew find themselves in a Saturday detention session, but not even the hard knock supervisor can put a crimp in their style. The group spills out into the halls to take back their weekend in style. Lots of snap references to the joys of communicating through emojis and the unique language the smart phone culture has created. If it all seems to go over your head and you don’t think you’re in the right generation, just remember what Marty McFly says in Back To The Future “I guess you guys aren't ready for that yet. But your kids are gonna love it!”
