What I love about having started this blog, second to featuring the up and coming, is checking out new music from different genres. Before I began working on Spotlight, I was pretty selective about the music that I listened to, focusing on R&B, hip-hop, gospel, and pop. With the widely different music submissions that we get, I was kind of forced to step outside my comfort zone and check out new music from other genres. I branched out into a lot of alternative, folk, blues, and electronic music surprisingly, and even some rock and country!

That being said, I definitely started regularly listening to some great artists this year, one of whom is actually nominated for three Grammys on his debut project! Definitely wanted to share them with you guys. I hope that you like them!

Check them out below!


James Bay

Quite a few of the artists I've started listening to over the past few years, I actually first heard on TV shows. Even if a show doesn't provide the artist and song name of a track that I like, I try to quickly type some of the lyrics I remember into Google so I can find it. That was the case when I was binge watching The CW's hit show Reign earlier in the year, and heard British singer-songwriter James Bay for the first time, loving his song "Incomplete."

James' music is a seamless folk-rock mix, energetic at times and mellow at others. His debut studio album, Chaos and the Calm, reflects that, and has been widely successful, with the album going platinum in the UK, and gold in other countries. Singles "Let It Go," and "Hold Back the River," have done well, and his work has garnered him Grammy nominations this year for Best New Artist, Best Rock Album, and Best Rock Song!



Bizzy Crook

I first saw hip hop artist Bizzy Crook as an opening act for Wale's most recent Simply Nothing Tour this past February. I really liked Bizzy's flow and material, and even bought a few of the songs I liked as he performed. The artist dropped his critically-acclaimed project, No Hard Feelings back in 2014, and is gearing up for his new project, From Everything Came Nothing, which will be released on Tidal Discovery.

Recently, the Miami rapper performed at the 2015 Made in America festival which was headlined by Beyoncé, The Weeknd, J. Cole and others!



Skye Townsend

The daughter of actor and director Robert Townsend, Skye Townsend has created buzz for herself as an R&B/pop singer, releasing two EPs, Vomit (2012), and Rocking Chairs (2015). I've seen her music circulating throughout my Twitter timeline, and decided to give her music a listen. The LA-based singer is pretty good!


NAO

I first heard Nao's (pronounced NAY-O) track, "Zillionaire," on the Samsung Galaxy Note5 S Pen commercial, and automatically loved it. I only had the lyrics played in the short snippet, but found her on Google as well, and became a fan! The British singer-songwriter brings a mix of neo-soul, electronic, and alternative R&B that I find really soothing.

Nao has released two EPs, So Good (2014) and February 15 (2015), and played Glastonbury Festival back in June. Her most recent track, "Bad Blood," is one that I play almost every day!


Tove Lo

I was introduced to Tove Lo after Wale tweeted about her music one day. The Swedish artist has been deemed as an indie pop singer with a dark tone. Her debut album, Queen of the Clouds, including singles "Habits (Stay High)" and "Not on Drugs," has gained various awards and nominations since the album's release in 2014. Her song "Moments" is one of my favorites!


William Singe
William Singe is an artist I found on YouTube, after looking up Drake's video for "Hotline Bling," To me, William's cover of the song is better than the original! His voice is so smooth!
William's done a variety of covers including TLC's "No Scrubs," Justin Bieber's "Sorry," and even Fetty Wap's "Trap Queen." A bunch of his covers are available on iTunes, and other music is on his website as well. 

What do you think of these artists? What are some artists that you started listening to this year? 

12:54:00 PM

Another spotlight today, with more on the way! As always, if you are or represent an upcoming artist, designer, producer, etc., and are interested in a feature, please visit our Features/Submissions page for more information!

Hailing from the West Side of Detroit, we have rapper Young Holley! He got his start in music after his brother-in- law showed him the movie Krush Groove (Hey Uncle Rush!) when he was a kid. The most memorable scene for him was when LL Cool J rushed into an audition when the auditions were already over. They were trying to kick him out but he was so good when he rapped for them that they signed him on the spot. This had such a great impact on Holley as a child that it became one of his favorite movies and birthed his love of rap. 


Young Holley said the difference between him and other rappers is that his ability to create real music that will hold the attention of listeners. "I'm not afraid to be myself in my music or speak on very personal situations," the rapper said. "Music is therapy for me and it's the only thing I am passionate about." Young Holly also noted that he was inspired by his doubters and anyone overcoming obstacles and chasing their dreams. This type of passion and inspiration helped create his new single, "Grind For It." He stated that everyone has "to work for what you want. That's the only way you'll get it. Nothing was ever given to me."

Currently, the rapper is working on an untitled project, which features "Grind For It" as the first single. The track is available for purchase now on iTunes. In the meantime, fans and new listeners should check out his latest mixtape GRIP!  

We ended our interview by asking Holley about any potential work with frequent collaborator, friend and fellow rapper Cash McKenzie. As of now, they are both focused on their individual projects, but he hopes to have some new collaborations with the rapper  in the future. 

Top 3 Albums of 2015
1. King Los - God, Money, War
2. Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp A Butterfly
3. Big Sean - Dark Sky Paradise
**Even though it was released in 2014, J. Cole's 2014 Forest Hills Drive is Holley's favorite album overall right now.**

You can check out more music from Young Holley on YouTube and Soundcloud. You can also follow him on Twitter, Instagram and on Snapchat (YoungHolley)!

7:11:00 AM

Another spotlight today, with more on the way! As always, if you are or represent an upcoming artist, designer, producer, etc., and are interested in a feature, please visit our Features/Submissions page for more information!

Today, we have hip hop artist Sav! Taking time out of his busy schedule recording his new EP Walk With Me hosted by the well known DJ, Mr. Peter Parker, Sav provided us with a very insightful interview about his start in music, his new projects, and some of his favorite albums in 2015 so far. 

Representing for the city of Cleveland by the way of one of its suburbs, Warrensville, Sav got his start in music when he was about 11 or 12. When he would hear Bone Thugs-N-Harmony on the radio, the rapper would record their songs off the radio onto cassette tapes. As he learned about different artists from different areas,  he was further inspired to try and write his own raps.

Sav admitted that most of his inspiration comes from the city of Cleveland. “Right now, to be blunt about it, the city is a war zone. Young kids are killing and dying everyday," the artist stated. "I want to show them that there is way more to life then that. I want to show them that getting rich and providing for your family is cool, not going to jail.” Music also serves an inspiration, as he considers himself to be a fan before he’s an artist. When he hears a dope song, bar or beat, it makes him want to go in the studio to create some dope music as well.

With his upcoming EP, Walk With Me, the rapper invites listeners to walk with him as he takes them down a path that gives a look into his life, his city and his generation. The project is also solely produced by a producer by the name of Snook and only has two features on it, fellow Cleveland artists Bei Sims and Jonre. 



In terms of what sets him apart, Sav believes it's his vulnerability in music that makes him unique. "I am not afraid to say anything about whats going on
in my life or how i feel about certain situations," he admitted. "I will let you know if I'm hurt, mad, [or] sad, and I think a lot of artists are not wiling to share as much personal stuff as I do in my music.” In the future, Sav plans to release new merchandise and music from his Elevated Livin’group, including his own big singles and features with the group.

Keep up to date with Sav on his official website and SoundCloud. You can also connect with him on Twitter and Instagram! 

Bonus:

Sav’s Top 3 albums of 2015

1. Kendrick Lamar- To Pimp a Butterfly

2. Big Sean - Dark Sky Paradise

3. Wale – The Album About Nothing

Which 2 artists would you love to see do a collaborative album from and why?

"Kendrick and Cole been teasing us for years now and that's the one project I would still love to listen to. I know that project will be FULL of substance and that's the kind of music I like. Plus , those are two of the best rappers in the game when it comes to lyrics."

7:08:00 AM

Last week, I had the opportunity to attend and cover rapper Kidd Flash's album release party for his debut project, Ya'll Gon' Kno'!

Held on August 13, 2015 at Kabin Lounge in Washington, D.C., the event featured an Artist Talk with Kidd Flash hosted by journalist Gia Peppers, as well as performances by the artist himself!

Kidd Flash is actually the son of singer Ginuwine, and has inherited his father's love and passion for music, although he leans toward the hip hop side. The young rapper definitely has potential to make a name for himself in the industry.

Check out some footage from the event below (hosted by P² Media)!

Kidd Flash gives an interview before the party

Ginuwine poses with daughters Dejan and Cypress

Be sure to cop Ya'll Gon' Kno' which is available on iTunes and other digital outlets now! Check out more from Kidd Flash on his official website, and be sure to follow him on Twitter and Instagram! 

9:18:00 AM

Always proud and honored to feature the work of my girl Ashley Chin! Based in Miami, she's definitely grinding and making serious moves. She recently started a marketing company,
Vanguard House, which is working towards representing different clothing brands, directing shoots, etc.

One of VH's most recent projects is an editorial shoot featuring Miami recording artist LaLah, who got her start in the industry back in 2008, and has been building a loyal fan base since! Combining different genres like hip hop, urban pop, and even a bit of rock, LaLah's sound is definitely unique and she has gained much respect in the industry. The rapper has opened for artists like Flo Rida, Mario, Rick Ross, and more. With her talents not only as an artist, but as a songwriter and dancer, LaLah is definitely going far in the game!

The looks for the shoot were styled by Ashley herself as well. Check out the looks from the shoot and LaLah's single "Friday" below!

...

STYLIST : ASHLEY CHIN
MAKEUP : @Prettyboi_hollywood
PHOTOGRAPHER: WILNA
MODEL : LALAH MUSIC
DRESSES BY : TENTHIRTY 
White hoodie pants suit / white hoodie dress Dress BY: PERSONALFX (@PERSONALFX on Instagram)
DIRECTED BY VANGUARD HOUSE

5:48:00 PM

Today, we are honored to premiere artist Mosliano's new song "DFW!"

The song itself is about truly living in the moment with someone, and not getting caught up in their past or even looking too far into the future. It's all about enjoying the time you have with him or her right now.

Mosliano admitted that it took a while to actually finish this song, not really having any type of inspiration. He received the beat back in 2013 from producer Sheikh Beatz, but didn't actually do anything with it until summer 2014. He ended up writing the chorus and a part of a verse, but struggled to finish because he didn't have any type of inspiration. "It wasn't until the beginning of this year, when an amazing woman came into my life at the right time, that I was able to finish," Mosliano stated. "We connected on a different level so quickly that writing the two verses came effortlessly." He created "DFW" as a conversational piece, talking directly to this special woman in his life.

Check out the track below!




You can check out more of Mosliano's music on SoundCloud, and also follow him onTwitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (@Mosliano)! 

11:51:00 AM

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the loved ones of the veterans and others gone on before us on this Memorial Day....gone but never forgotten!

Starting out the week with another spotlight! Today on The Spotlight, we have rapper Mosliano! Born and raised in the Bronx, he began writing lyrics in the fourth grade. Eventually, the artist moved to the Phillipines in 2007, where he lived until 2010, and began actually recording music there. "A friend of mine asked me if I wanted to record one day," Mosliano stated. "I took him on his offer, and ever since then it's been something that I've wanted to do." In January 2015, the rapper made the decision to leave college to pursue his craft full time.



Growing up, Mosliano listened to artists like the Diplomats, the Heatmakerz, Jay-Z, and Kanye West, who were all able to use old school samples creatively in their music, which is part of what you hear in Mosliano's sound as well. "It may not be in the same vein as how they did it back then," he said. "But it’s just something about the feeling you get when you hear certain samples flipped a certain way that does something to me." In addition to these artists, Mosliano is also inspired by Wale, Drake Static Major, and The-Dream, who have all had a heavy impact on his music and business ventures.

Currently, the artist is working on his project, Moments. Though he is still thinking about whether it will be an EP or mixtape, he doesn't want to get caught up in titles or anything. "I’m just working on a great body of work for people to enjoy," he admitted. "I’m also trying to do a 10-15 minute short film to go along with the project, so we’ll see how that plays out."


Mosliano feels like there are several things that separates him from other artists, from his work ethic to his songwriting to his catchy flow. "We live in  an era where instant gratification is at an all time high. Majority of the audience has a short attention span," the artist said of the current state of the industry. "They want whats new, what’s hot, what’s catchy. I feel that I have replay value. Not only am I blending melodies with raps, but I am also playing with different flows." The artist prides himself greatly on his songwriting and his flow. In terms of his future in the entertainment industry, Mosliano kept it simple. "I just want to take this as far as I can take it," the artist admitted. "I refuse to limit myself to just music. I want to create."

You can check out more of Mosliano's music on SoundCloud, and also follow him on Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (@Mosliano)! 

7:19:00 AM

Queens rapper Kai Roy'al has dropped his new track "They Ain't Saying Nothing," for the listeners! The hard-hitting track speaks to all of the posers pretending to be something they're not, including some of these other rappers out.

Check out the track below!
You can keep up with Kai Roy'al on his official website and listen to his music on SoundCloud. You can also follow him on Twitter and Instagram.

9:46:00 AM

Another spotlight for you all...and more on the way! I tweeted earlier today that doing spotlights is probably my favorite part of blogging. I get the chance to be able to connect with other people and share their work and stories, and that's really special to me. As always, if you are or represent an upcoming artist, producer, designer, etc., please refer to our Features/Submissions page for more info!

Today, on The Spotlight, we have hip hop artist Ridock King! Ridock began writing music at the age of 9, inspired by artists like LL Cool Jand Tupac. “They created music that reached your soul and could also stimulate your mind to help you think more critically about life in general,” he explained. Growing up in Philadelphia, he admitted “many of the ‘street horror’ stories were not unusual to see.” However, he also began to educate himself and connect with other scholars and professionals, which he says gave him great balance. Ridock effortlessly uses a great blend of all of his experiences to create his current sound and lyrics.

Ridock began recording music for fun in 2003 with his cousin in a friend’s basement. However, it wasn’t until 2011 that he began to take his craft seriously.  Also influenced by Public Enemy, Nas, and Lupe Fiasco, Ridock released his projects Dreamy U.N.conscious and the Ridock King EP in 2013 and 2014 respectively. Speaking out a variety of topics, he strives to create music that can inspire and motivate other people. “I have experienced so much in life I have learned many things and I feel like music, particularly hip hop can be that conduit to not only tell my story but to help encourage others to tell theirs,” the artist said. 

Ridock is currently working on his upcoming project S.A.F.E. Combination, which is set to released in April of this year. This EP is a “three-headed concept,” which Ridock explained further in detail. “Safe combination could mean a “safe” combination of songs (conscious, party, urban tales, and relationships. A second concept is the ability to finally crack the combination to the safe that will open doors financially,” he said. “The third and final piece of the concept is the acronym S.A.F.E. standing for a very motivational idea that, in order for you to reach any level of success, you must have a combination of these four things: S = Sacrifice A = Ambition F = A serious will to obtain true Freedom [and] E = always striving for Excellence.” Connecting with a few producers from Philly like Stashbokz, Pace-O, and Taji Aqib, as well as singer/songwriter Belle and Ghingy “Songbird” Miles.

In terms of what sets him apart from other artists out right now, Ridock listed examples of what makes him stand out. “I would definitely have to say my vision, my work ethic, my innovative skills, my life experience, and my ability to always remember what my purpose and mission is without compromising my art for temporary gain,” he said. In the future, his goal is to have security and freedom in his career. “I would like to be very financially well-off with total control of my art and career with very solid business relationships formed with companies and organizations that are dedicated and passionate about helping the black community,” Ridock stated.        

Be sure to check out more from Ridock on his official website and SoundCloud, and connect with him on Twitter and Instagram.

4:28:00 PM

Got another spotlight for you all on this wonderful Friday! Expect several within the next few weeks! As always, if you are an upcoming artist, designer, producer, etc., and you are interested in featuring your work on The Spotlight, email me (please allow some time for response)!

Today on the blog, we have G5 Elz! Exposed to music all of his life, the rapper learned and loved the art of rhyming. From Dr. Seuss books to watching rappers like The Notorious BIG, Jay Z and Nas, he quickly caught on to rapping. “By the time I was 8 years old, I began writing my own rhymes in school, preferably math class,” G5 joked. “Then it was always rapping in front of the TV like I was whatever rapper in the video with the remote in my hand.”

Hailing from Queens and living in NYC, G5 Elz recognizes that his environment has had a great deal of influence over his music. “My environment inspires everything because I’m seeing and hearing noises everyday then I incorporate that into my rhymes,” the rapper acknowledged. Though he always knew that creating music was his life’s purpose, he began to take his music seriously after his grandmother passed away in 2011. “I stepped my game up to another level and started molding solid projects, performing, and profiting.”

Currently the rapper has two mixtapes out, The NY Times and Bread and Butter, as well as his most recent EP 2nd Coming which is available on iTunes! Inspired by friendships, rough times, blessings, and his dreams, G5 worked with Keem Bel’air, Shawn Giftz, Halftime, and more on the project. You can also check out his current single “X-Drive” featuring Sv Don , just released on October 2, 2014, below!


G5 Elz is currently working on a new EP called Before Cameras, so definitely be on the lookout for that. In terms of his sound and how he differs from other artists, the rapper said, “I’d say I keep it organic [and] soulful, not trying hop on the trends of what is so-called ‘relevant.’” In the future, he plans to continue to create music, of course, but wants to branch out into various avenues including possibly books, television, movies, sneakers, and clothes, as well as helping kids break into the entertainment industry! I respect the ambition. It’s your life, your rules. You don’t have to stick to just one lane!

You can connect with G5 Elz on Twitter, and hear more of his music on YouTube and Soundcloud!

7:53:00 AM