Six Great Artists I Started Listening To in 2015

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!

In The Spotlight: Hip-Hop Artist Young Holley

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. 

In The Spotlight: Hip Hop Artist Sav

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. 

EVENT: Rapper Kidd Flash's Ya'll Gon' Kno' Album Release Party (8.13.15)

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)!

Stylist Ashley Chin Styles Rap Artist LaLah (Directed by Vanguard House)

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!

NEW MUSIC: "DFW"-Mosliano (Premiere)

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!

In The Spotlight: Mosliano

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.

NEW MUSIC: "They Ain't Saying Nothing"-Kai Roy'al

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.

In The Spotlight: Ridock King

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 J and 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.

In The Spotlight: G5 Elz

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.”