Artist Highlight: Luther

I reached out to Luther through Twitter & email:

Luther, also known as @lordrex_ from Twitter, is a young emcee based out of DMV; VA to be exact. His works include a mixtape Black Ghost, as well as an assortment of features and collaborations within his label Tribe 95. He is currently working on another project which will feature a more cohesive and matured sound. When asked about how much the DMV plays into his music:

"I'm from the DMV or to be more specific Woodbridge, VA. And hell yeah this area made me who I am today. It's my roots. It's what makes Luther, Luther."

**An update will be posted here for the release date of Luther's project: Corrupted Youth.

(Until I Die Prod. C.Justice)  

(You Like That Prod. By Ignorvnce)

Until I Die (Prod By. C.Justice) and You Like That (Prod. By Ignorvnce) are both available for streaming and free download through Soundcloud.

Q & A With Luther

Musically speaking, who or what inspires you?

I get inspired musically from anything: whether it be my random thoughts, my emotions, or even my friends who make really dope music. We're always trying to one up each other, so that competition keeps me going.

How and when did you get into music?

I started making music around 3rd grade. It wasn't rap- I was into a lot of punk rock back in the day so I wrote shit like that. I didn't start writing rap music till 6th grade (I was 11 or 12) and never took it seriously [until] I was 15.

What is your greatest weakness as an artist? On the flip, what is your greatest strength?

My greatest weakness is not believing in myself all the time. I go through little phases where I'm not fully confident with my music and that shit holds me back sometimes. My greatest strength is that I accept myself as who I am, and I can always build off that. You know? It helps me "be me" in my music. I hope that makes sense [laughs].

Where do you see yourself in 5 years time with your music? And what are your concrete music goals?

In 5 years, I just hope I see myself as an established artist and not a broke college student, struggling for rent. No shade thrown [laughs]. My goals are simply to be the best I can be. I know I have talent. I know I can be great one day, but for now I'm not shit, and until I'm big I'm gonna be working my ass off.

What projects are you currently working on?

I'm currently working on my mixtape Corrupted Youth; I've dropped two songs from it so far called "Until I Die & "You Like That". It's pretty much almost done. Just needs that finishing touch.

2 Cents: Running (Prod. Helping Hands)

This single is available for download and streaming through Soundcloud:

(Running Prod. Helping Hands)

Flow

Reece has a beautiful voice. His sultry and textured voice sounds authentic- not forced at all. Reece has a matured range and his diversity in tones on the song give it a full feeling. Reece...

Production

First and foremost- there are no supporting vocals on this track. The vocals for this single mesh and melt into the beat. I appreciate the soft drum kit in the song; the track is fuller because of the range in song and the switch-up break is A1. The production quality is a bit loud perhaps. However the sound is of excellent quality and the beat shows musical prowess.

Content

Running offers a relatable perspective. I appreciate the writing style of this artist. The words are emotionally charged but not the song is not extremely verbose. The message can reach a diverse audience.

Overall

Overall, Running (Prod. Helping Hands), is a dope track. Definitely a single that exemplifies Reece's range as a vocalist and dexterity as a writer. I would stamp the song with 4/5- only noting that the production value of the song can be improved further.

Artist Highlight: ShaqIsDope

I reached out to ShaqIsDope through Soundcloud & email:

Shaquille B, better known as ShaqIsDope from Soundcloud, has recently been shouted-out by The Daily Loud (@DailyLoud). The number of times his tracks have been played and streamed are easily creeping into the tens of thousands. This emcee comes from a home based in Downtown Toronto:

"I’m from Downtown Toronto, and yes my surroundings help shape my music. I use real life situations from my day to day experience- I want to show the world [Downtown Toronto] is more than a shopping district."

You can follow Shaq on Twitter @ShaqIsDope and on Instagram @ShaqIsDope, respectively.

(Wraith Dreamz)  

(Off The Ground Prod. by Pitt Tha Kid)

Wraith Dreamz is available for purchase from iTunes as well as for streaming from Soundcloud. Off The Ground is available for streaming from Soundcloud.

Q & A With ShaqIsDope

Musically speaking, who or what inspires you?

At first it was Big Pun, he was big and still and inspiration to me but growing up in my neighborhood really shape me and my artistry as well.

How and when did you get into music?

I can’t really remember when I started. Around 16-17, I started recording music seriously.

What is your greatest weakness as an artist? On the flip, what is your greatest strength?

I think being from Toronto is my weakness, the Canadian music industry its nothing compare to the states. Its all a learning process for me, I can’t really say, but I can say my words are very inspirational to others.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years time with your music?

Hopefully out the hood.

What projects are you currently working on?

I can’t really say, [I've] been working on this Black Frames project for almost 2 years now but [it]  still aint coming out the way I want. I plan to keep recording & making tweaks as I go. I really [want to] give the fans a solid body of work.

If you could collaborate with any artist- who would it be?

I would love to work with Kanye West, I know its sound cliché but I think what Kanye can bring the best out of me.

Quite The Treat Pt. 2

https://soundcloud.com/lilbibby-1/aint-heard-about-you-feat-lil-herb

Ain't Heard About You

Lil Bibby and Lil Herb come together for a classic "trap" sound.

The production value of this song is great. The piano sits nicely behind the bass. Overall the beat is pretty flame and pretty appropriate for a trap-oriented song. Lil Bibby and Lil Herb sound like true goons on the track- the message is clear: Don't mess with this duo. They haven't heard about you and they can make sure that no one else has either. Cool song to turn up to astronomical levels within a vehicle.

Artist Highlight: Jazz

I reached out to jazz through Twitter & email:

Nathan G, best known on the inter-webs as jazz (with a lowercase j) or hawthorne, is from Northern Virginia. MTC, VA to be exact. His sound gives listeners a unique glance into his environment that he credits as: "the best looking area in NOVA," jazz pays respect to his close friend (@setheronibeats), his sister, and her husband as the support group that helped him get into music. jazz also attributes his "mind, positivity, and the ability to learn a lesson in everything he encounters" as his greatest musical strengths. Where can we find this enigmatic producer/rapper in 5 years?

"I see myself enjoying whatever I'm doing at that point in time. Definitely gonna be ganja and music involved. No labels or anything, but I know everything will be organized and steady before then. At some point I want to direct video. I've been learning tons of stuff about cameras recently."

(Track 5 prod. Setheroni)

(Ocean Drift)

Track 5 and Ocean Drift are both available for streaming through Soundcloud.

Q & A With jazz

When did you first get into music?

I started writing lyrics about 13 months ago. Soon, I kinda learned I could reach an entirely different and more self-aware aspect if I produced it all myself- that started about 7 months ago on FL studio.

What is your greatest weakness as an artist?

Procrastination, hands down.

Besides your family and friends, what or who inspires you musically?

A handful of hip hop artists- with a good amount of alternative/post-alt rock and heavy metal thrown in there too.

What are some of your goals in making music?

Honestly, I don't even know yet. But my definitive short term goals through music are traveling, creating with artists who inspire me, and learning how to make music that changes how people think. I have tons of aspirations and long term planning done, but that will show itself over time. 

What can readers/listeners look forward to from you?

Right at this second, I am mixing an instrumental for a track off of my 1st unreleased project "Bud". [Bud is] about 13-14 tracks long, but at this point I have changed just about every aspect of the original plan for the tape more than once. I have nothing to say about it right now, except that it will be fully produced by local artists, mainly Seth and I. A visual single will be released soon, and after I see how people respond: I will act accordingly.

Artist Highlight: Reece

I reached out to Reece through Twitter and email:

Reece, an 18 year old singer-songwriter from Virginia, has been captivating listeners with his sultry voice since he got into music around 3 years ago. As of late, his song, GHOST, has garnered upwards of 20k plays through Soundcloud. The young artists credits Imogen Heap as his biggest inspiration:

"I remember being 9 years old trying to emulate [Imogen Heap's] voice! Stylistically, I'm inspired by Yuna, Frank Ocean, Adele, Lana Del Rey, and The Weeknd."

Reece is currently cooking up an EP that he is taking his time on; "I want to deliver the dopest music I possibly can."

(King's Throne)

(GHOST)

 (Dead To You)

The mixtape King's Throne, as well as the singles GHOST, and Dead To You are all available for free download and streaming through Soundcloud.

Q & A With Reece

What is your greatest weakness and strength as a musical artist?

Hmm... that's an interesting question. I think my greatest strengths are my work ethic, my determination to get things done, and get them done well. My greatest weakness is that I don't trust myself all the time; I'm trying to learn how to not doubt myself so much.

What material or inspiration of you draw from your surroundings?

I guess I get material from my surroundings- I get a ton of inspiration from human behavior. Something about human interactions and just the human experience in general, really intrigues me.

What is a main goal in making music? Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

A main goal of mine, in regards to making music, is to continue to make quality music that I'm proud of. I will never release a song I do not like. I hope that in 5 years time I'm a successful artist! I also hope that I'm happy and secure in my life.

2 Cents: Until I Die ft. Ty The Dude (prod. C Justice)

This single is available for download and streaming through Soundcloud:

https://soundcloud.com/tribe-95-va/until-i-die-ftty-the-dude-prod-by-cjustice

Flow

Luther's flow is sure. The confidence in this rapper's vocals goes a long way: you hear his attitude and you understand because he enunciates. Ty The Dude's flow stands its ground and couples well with his counterpart. Ty's vocals carry emotion and sound pretty authentic (hip-hop based). The overall vibe of the two emcees together is dope; not one outshines the other. Both carry their own weight on the track. 

Production

This beat is flame: Play this at loud volumes in conservative neighborhoods from your vehicle. The bass envelopes the whole song which is full of beat-breaks and minute switch-ups. I appreciate the mini-repeat in the beginning as well. From a production value: this song is industry ready. This could be sent to an exec or played on the radio as is. Nods to the producer.

Content

Until I Die features drug innuendoes that are super clever. This is a super feel-good song that gives a glimpse into 2 young dude's lives. Their perspective on living their life freely is shown through the verses, the short succinctness of the song, and the title. Luther and his counterparts take an easy message and make it their own.

Overall

Overall, the song is dope. The beats coupled with the hook yield a solid 4/5 stars single. What is interesting is that while I enjoy how short the song is, I feel that the track lacks without another verse from the headlining artist: Luther. The title is misleading, "ft. Ty The Dude". Without any prior knowledge of these 2 separate artist, a listener may assume that this was a song put out by a duo.

Artist Highlight: Chieftaine

I reached out to Chieftaine through Soundcloud & email:

Chris, best known as Chieftaine aka Casper the Friendly, has called Fredericksburg, VA home. Currently he is based in Richmond, VA and attributes his time in F-burg as the 'push he needed' to aspire for more:

"I'm from Fredericksburg.. And [Fredericksburg] really only inspires me to try hard with this music, so I don't have to be [there]. It's so boring. But in Richmond, I've went through a lot of different crazy things that have inspired me. I've been through many things I never thought I'd experience that I know [others can connect with]. I have many stories to tell."

This emcee is currently working on a tape called the Misadventures of Chieftaine. The project is basically a continuous series of songs dropping every 2 weeks.

(Vandalism)  http://chieftaine.bandcamp.com

(Dreamin' prod. by JG Beats)  soundcloud.com/chieftaine/Dreamin-prod-by-JG-beats

Vandalism, a free mixtape, is available for download from Bandcamp, while the single Dreamin' is available for streaming through Soundcloud.

Q & A With Chieftaine

How and when did you get into music?

I wrote my first rap in 6th grade, but I didn't start recording til the 10th grade when I dropped my first project. My dad is also a rapper, so I really grew up around rap.

Who or what inspires you musically?

All of the crazy things that happen in my life inspire my music a lot [haha]. But I really have always pulled inspiration from 80s & 90s rap (Wu tang, Pharcyde, 2Pac, etc.) and I also pull inspiration from a lot of other rappers like Ab-Soul, Earl, or Joey Bada$$.

What are some of your major goals with music? Why do you do what you do?

My goals with music are to: 1) Impact this world & 2) Help open some eyes to what is really important in life. I want to use words that really imprint on people who spend their time chasing material items, and show them the real wealth of one's soul. I want to expose the system and rebel against the corruption in the government. It's time to spark the revolution.

What is your greatest weakness as an artist? On the flip, what is your greatest strength?

My biggest weakness would probably be writer's block. It comes to me and stays for days, maybe weeks at a time- just making sure I don't get inspired. Luckily, recently I've found ways to really draw inspiration and I haven't had writer's block in a while. I think my greatest strength is my use of metaphors and word play. I could make puns for hours. I've never said a line that didn't have some connection to the others, or that didn't have a double meaning to it. It's just my passion, yo.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years time with your music?

In 5 years, I see myself at Mac Miller's fame level. I never have really seen myself on the radio, or in some expensive-ass-million-dollar car, or in some mansion. I've always saw myself on an underground path, torch in hand, leading people to true freedom away from all of these gold chains and expensive whips that keep the youth shackled to the system. Scalpel in hand, I wanna change the face of the earth.

Quite The Treat

http://digitaldripped.com/s/Kendrick-Lamar-King-Kunta.23692

If you haven't heard- peep the link above from Digital Dripped.

Kendrick Background

Kendrick Lamar has been sprinkling singles on the public since the track i. I'd wager that we as fans are feeling pretty good about his newest sound. To recap, the public has experienced i, The Blacker The Berry, and now King Kunta. Lamar's album, dropping March 23, 2015, is creating a huge buzz on the inter-webs, without a doubt.

Kendrick's Album

Kendrick Lamar's album, To Pimp A Butterfly, can be pre-ordered on iTunes. This album is expected to be super conscious- no throw-away tracks. The sounds that we've been getting from K.dot are super authentic or super in touch with older musical forms and genres.

How're you felling about this new album?

Artist Highlight: Mak 11

Hold On, I Need To Crank

I reached out to this artist through Soundcloud and text

Hailing from our nation's capital is an artist that goes by the name Mak 11 AKA PORTAL GOD. This young dude has been into music since the young age of 5. His first concert, interestingly enough, was a Fugees show-featuring Busta Rhymes and the Wu-Tang Clan. Mak's musical inspirations can be attributed to Kid Cudi, Kanye West, MF Doom, The Fugees, and Bob Marley.

Mak 11 is unsigned-hype at the moment, however, is supported by his counterpart Fluiidity in their group FI. Even cooler is that FI is associated with a larger group: Portal Boys. If this dude didn't sound interesting enough- get this: he started his musical journey playing guitar and taking music theory. After acquiring some musicality and know-how he composed his own rock song at 10 years old!

Mak 11's music is available on Soundcloud for streaming.

https://soundcloud.com/kingkushite11/sets/mowet-mami

2 Cents: Nothing's Changed

This sophomore mixtape from the artist Bucky aka the Royal Warlord is available for streaming and free download @ 

https://soundcloud.com/buckythewarlord/sets/nothings-changed

Flow

Bucky's flow is confident. His vocals are easy on the ears and he sounds like he's been spitting for awhile. This emcees vocal skills show diversity within one project. Songs such as Gotta Lotta sound much different from Passionate. This diversity in flow shows maturity, much appreciated. On the flip, for listeners who don't favor a lazier, more relaxed flow: Bucky's vocals may sound tired. While I concede to that fact that his flow is slower- I challenge to the listener to understand that his flow matches the intensity the beats he's rapping over. The hype tracks feature a hype Bucky- the more relaxed tracks feature a relaxed Bucky.

Production

Speaking of beats- this project features some interesting sounds. There is a definite diversity in sound on this tape that I appreciate. An artist that has a slew of different sounds under their belt has much more longevity than the artist that has only one sound. The production value of the mixtape ranges from average to adept. The mastering of certain songs such as Rollin' differs greatly from the mastering of Cold Hearted, for sure. On the flip, the beats are fun, lively, and layer well with Bucky's vocals. The arrangement of the songs also makes sense and I applaud the intelligence behind that. The features are also used strategically (not taking up most of the tape, fun back and forth).

Content

The youth in this artist's sound is apparent in his content. The cliche drug references are sprinkled over frequent conscious verses. Bucky seems to be in a transitional phases where he uses his music to reflect on himself and his surroundings. Usually hearing an artist's youth through his content is detrimental, however, in Bucky's case I feel it is beneficial. His verses are all relatable and authentic to his story. A listener will understand what Bucky's message is about himself and what he perceives from one listen through, no problem.

Overall

Overall, as a standalone project I think Nothing's Changed is dope. I feel as though growth has been made but more is to come. This project gets 3 stars out've 5 for me keeping in mind 2 things: mixtapes today are viewed though am album scope and Bucky's peers are just as hungry. The hip-hop industry is inundated with young emcees doing their thing, Bucky's project has a place in this rebirth of raw rap, for sure. He's got to stay hungry to stay alive. Right now I feel Bucky is heating up- when he's hot its a wrap.

Favorite Song: Fly Me To The Moon (prod. By RayAyy)

Artist Highlight: Bucky aka Royal Warlord

I reached out to Bucky through Soundcloud, email, and text:

Ryan N, best known by his stage name Bucky hails from the 757 VA area code. Growing up in Yorktown, VA and eventually moving to Richmond, VA definitely shows up in this emcees music. He comments himself: 

"I definitely think growing up in a middle class, mostly white area definitely influences the kind of stuff and topics I rap about today. Ever since moving to Richmond I have been enveloped into a whole other culture that is phenomenal and definitely makes it way into my current sound today."

(Good Vibes) https://soundcloud.com/buckythewarlord/sets/good-vibes

(Nothing's Changed)  https://soundcloud.com/buckythewarlord/sets/nothings-changed

Both these mixtapes are available for streaming and free download from Soundlcloud.

Q & A With Bucky

How did you get into music? When exactly did you start?

I started making music my junior of high school, when I was 16 after I did a cover of Childish Gambino's Freaks and Geeks for my school's talent show. After the performance, I had a lot of people tell me I could flow very well. So at the point I just started rapping as a hobby and I never thought I would get so dedicated to it.

Who or what inspires you musically?

I think my biggest influence is probably Childish Gambino, he is the reason I started rapping in the first place and he showed me through his music that it doesn't matter how different you are- you can do what you want. [This was up until] I heard Chance the Rapper's 10 Day and I thought it was the most incredible piece of artistry I had ever heard. That piece alone inspired me to change my technical abilities and narratives, along with other things. Don't even get me started on Acid Rap. Other influences I can think of growing up are probably Eminem, Lil Wayne, Kanye West and OutKast.

What are your goals in making music? Why is it that you do what you do?

[My goal] is just to show everyone that music is a powerful tool and it is capable of bringing light and joy to people instead of just entertainment. Even though [music] is also a great piece of entertainment; I try to keep that aspect in my music as well. Also [my goal is to show] that I am just like everyone else; I do not occupy some high and mighty level, that it may seem all these other artists [occupy]. I go through the same shit that you do, and so does everyone else. I hope to bring some sympathy within my music that people can feel for themselves and bring about a better day to them.

What is your greatest weakness as an artist? On the flip, what is your greatest strength?

My greatest weakness is that I have trouble finding my own completely authentic sound and substance which is something I strive for everyday at this point. I constantly get comparisons to other rappers that are fairly popular but this is not something that I want. It's nice but I don't want to be told that I sound like Mac Miller or whoever. I want to be told that I sound like Bucky.

I think my greatest strength as an artist is that I relate very well with my intended audience which are those around my same age. I feel like at this point in life I am starting to experience pivotal changes in living that a majority of the population goes through and I am able to vent the same feelings that everyone else has about everything.

What are you currently working on? What can we, the listeners, look forward too?

As of the end of February I just finished my third project titled You're Not Alone. It is a 12 track mixtape which took me about a half a year to finish and finalize. This time around it is a piece that actually has a consistent theme throughout the mixtape which I think will appeal to a massive audience and that is definitely apparent within society. Needless to say, anyone who is a fan of Good Vibes and Nothing's Changed will be more than satisfied with what the project has to offer. I can promise that it makes my first two projects look like a warm up before the championship game and that this is the win for my team.