Watch "Legends of the Underside", the Newly Released Visual Project from Ultra_eko

Hip-Hop artists Ultra_eko and DaRealMrLee have just unveiled a unique and completely original, award winning musical feature using hip-hop to tell a story through the visual medium. “Legends of the Underside” is truly quite unlike anything else.

With this new album, Ultra_eko and DaRealMrLee tell an absurd metaphysical story, in which a supernatural penguin, aided by a senile pensioner, battles a demonic materialist, the Outsider Artist, in a more subtle realm of reality known as the Underside.

The visuals for “Legends of the Underside” are insane, and that’s how you should truly absorb the album, but you can also listen to it on Spotify. Do so below, connect with Ultra_eko and DaRealMrLee on their social media, and be on the lookout for our in-depth review of the album.

Listen to “Legends of the Underside” on Spotify

Connect with Ultra_eko: Instagram | X

Connect with DaRealMrLee: Instagram

merci, mercy Releases Her 3rd EP "Like An Orchid", Plus New Single "If You Had Any Friends"

Alt-pop artist merci, mercy shares her third EP, “Like An Orchid”, out now via Liberation Records; part of Mushroom Music which is home to beloved alternative acts including DMA'S, Gengahr and Demob Happy. With this new body of work she delivers sparkling alt-pop anthems with heart, including recent releases ‘Shovel’, ‘Lonely & Horny’ and ‘Silver Lining’, along with unreleased cuts ‘If You Had Any Friends’ and ‘Mouldy’.

The songs bounce around merci’s thoughts on big topics including the ups and downs of relationships, struggles with addiction and anxiety, and everything in between. With support from BBC Radio 1 on Jack Saunders' Future Artists show and Mollie King’s Future Pop show, on all of her material to date, merci, mercy has never been afraid of exploring emotional vulnerabilities. Navigating mental health issues and overcoming personal hurdles surrounding anxiety and growing up in relationships, she has poured newly gained insights and perspective into “Like An Orchid”.

"My new EP Like An Orchid is the roller coaster of emotions you have during your first relationship and how extreme they can feel especially when you are someone who has anxiety. This EP will take you on a journey of my inner demons while also showing you into my heart a little bit. The songs in Like an Orchid are a family in terms of the lyrics but distant relatives in terms of the way they sound. Each story has its own sound."

“Like An Orchid” saw merci, mercy once again work with her longtime collaborator and friend, producer Chris Collins (‘Lonely & Horny’ and ‘Mouldy’) along with fellow Sydney-based songwriter and producer Robby De Sa (‘Silver Lining’ and ‘If You Had Any Friends’) and the one and only Matthew ‘Murph’ Murphy of The Wombats (‘Shovel’).

With over 24 million streams to her name thanks to the success of her first two EP releases: no thank you, no thanks (2020) and is it me, or is it you? (2022), the demand for new music from merci, mercy has grown in a consistent and organic way.

Widespread support via renowned outlets including triple j, Beats 1 and Zane Lowe, BBC Radio 1, Paper Magazine, NME, Clash Magazine, Flaunt and more, has positioned merci, mercy as part of a new vanguard of fresh Australian pop artists who have the potential to establish themselves as a long-standing presence internationally.

Extensive radio support throughout the UK and Europe, as well as continued global editorial playlist support across DSPs (she was one of the first global ambassadors of Spotify’s RADAR series and recently featured on the cover of Apple Music’s Superbloom playlist), has ensured merci, mercy’s front-of-mind status on the radars of industry and a fast-growing fanbase alike.

Perfecting her live show through support slots for international acts Valley and Lights, merci’s headline shows at Melbourne’s The Wesley Anne and Sydney’s The Vanguard are selling fast, and will see her perform songs from the new EP along with fan favourites. For those who cannot wait until January, merci will appear at Melbourne's SoundBox tomorrow, followed by Mushroom Group’s huge Mushroom 50 Celebration on Sunday and also at Changing Tides Festival beside acts like Spacey Jane, PNAU and The Temper Trap in December.

“Like An Orchid” is the next chapter in what has become one of Australian pop music’s most exciting and intriguing stories. Her dynamism was present from the jump but here, merci, mercy holds her space with a rejuvenated sense of self-awareness and ultimate happiness. A moment of blooming we can all wish to experience.

Listen to “Like An Orchid” now and connect with merci, mercy on her social media.

Connect with merci, mercy: Instagram | TikTok

Grammy Award-Winning Singer-Songwriter and Actress Monica Nominated for "Soul Train Awards" 2023 'Certified Soul Award'

Multi-platinum 25-million-plus selling Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, philanthropist, entrepreneur, and actress Monica has been nominated for "Soul Train Awards" 2023 'Certified Soul Award' alongside Usher, Ashanti, Ciara, and more. The 13x Nominee and Winner of 2020's 'Lady of Soul' Award is thrilled to receive this latest recognition for her decades of hard work and commitment to her craft. Tune in Sunday November 26 at 8/7c to watch the "Soul Train Awards" presented by BET.

The nomination comes as Monica is promoting her new single “Letters.” Released this summer via her label MonDeenise Music, the song is the latest from her forthcoming R&B album Trenches. "Letters" was written by Monica along with Grammy Award-winning songwriter Tasha Catour (Tinashe, Lecrae), Ciara, Brian (Killah B) Bates (Usher, Ariana Grande, Seven Streeter) and Alicia Renee Williams (Rihanna) and produced by Catour and Dana Johnson (Indie.Arie, Avery Sunshine). The “Letters” single release was accompanited by a stunning music video directed by Richard Selvi from Swiss Made Entertainment, the award winning creative and production studio responsible for numerous Lil Nas X visuals as well as Eminem ft. 50 Cent’s “Is This Love '09” and the highly influenced VFX (visual effects) video also features The Game, watch now.

“Letters” follows last year’s “Friends (ft. Ty Dolla $ign),” which scored a Top 20 spot on the R&B Billboard chart and was accompanied by a music video directed by Sarah McColgan (H.E.R., Miguel, Charli XCX), choreographed by Parris Goebel (Rihanna, SZA), and racked up more than 2.2 MILLION plays in the first week. Both singles will be featured alongside “Trenches (ft. Lil Baby)” on Trenches – Monica’s first new studio album since 2015’s Code Red. The new album will also be the first LP for her own imprint MonDeenise Music, which was launched in 2019 with the #1 Billboard R&B hit “Commitment.”

In addition to releasing new music, this summer Monica launched her Apple Music show MoTalk Radio with an interview with basketball Hall of Famer & entrepreneur Shaquille O’Neal followed by a talk with Country Music Star Mickey Guyton and just last month, Monica joined Quavo and NBA great Lou Williams for a special episode of The Shop's UNINTERRUPTED Live Tour in Atlanta, where she talked about motherhood, her career and more - watch now.

Born and raised in Atlanta, GA, Monica began her career at 12-years-of-age and was the youngest female ever to have two #1 back-to-back hits on Billboard’s R&B chart. “The Boy Is Mine,” the title track from her sophomore album, garnered Monica pop success with a record-breaking 13 weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Her success has continued throughout her exceptional and longstanding career. She achieved six number one hits on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, becoming the first artist to ever have chart-topping singles in three consecutive decades, a distinction she now shares with an elite group of acts including Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, James Brown and Marvin Gaye.

Connect with Monica: Instagram | TikTok | X | Facebook | Website

'May The Lord Watch: The Little Brother Story' Set To Premiere In Five U.S. Cities

Last year, Little Brother fans were first teased with a trailer for the group's new documentary May The Lord Watch: The Little Brother Story. Now, the group finally announced premiere dates for the film in five U.S. cities. LB's Phonte and Rapper Big Pooh are set to hos free screenings for fans in Washington, DC, Atlanta, Georgia, Los Angeles, California, and New York, New York.

The full list of dates and registration info:

11/9 @ Eaton DC in Washington, DC

11/10 @ Plaza Theatre in Atlanta, GA

11/12 @ Cinemark Baldwin Hills Crenshaw in Los Angeles, CA

11/15 @ New York Public Library for the Performing Arts in New York, NY

11/16 @ Carolina Theatre in Durham, NC

All of the film screenings are free and open to the public. Space is very limited, so be sure to register early.

Fans can make a donation to the film via the Southern Documentary Fund here.

MORE ABOUT THE FILM:

May The Lord Watch: The Little Brother Story follows the rise, breakup, and reunion of Little Brother, the critically acclaimed and widely influential Hip-Hop group from Durham, North Carolina. A music documentary in the tradition of films like Beats Rhymes & Life, Zappa, or 20 Feet From Stardom, May the Lord Watch details the vast impact of the preeminent 2000s group, composed of rappers Phonte, Big Pooh and (formerly) producer 9th Wonder.

The heart of the documentary lies in the unraveling and reconciliation between members Phonte and Big Pooh. Their relationship begins in the wake of their challenging upbringings in the South, strains while coming of age together in the music industry, and resolves with an enduring friendship, as the two men reunite and record their 2019 album May the Lord Watch. Told through never before seen archival footage, contemporary vérité scenes, and interviews from the group's members, peers, and family, the film’s story unfolds in intimate detail under the framework of a 'UBN Made-for-TV Documentary', riffing on the fictional UBN Network created through comedy sketches on Little Brother albums.

Directed by filmmaker Holland 'vacay' Gallagher and written by 'Yoh' Phillips (of Rap documentary studio 'Rap Portraits’), the film includes a notable list of Hip-Hop's most influential people – from Questlove and DJ Drama, to cultural critics, industry execs, and more.

“When you meet someone at the Uber line at LAX rarely does it coalesce into a years-long, soul-searching and feature-length-documentary-creating endeavor, but so it happened with Phonte and I in 2018. Four years, two scrapped cuts, and a pandemic later, we're rounding the corner on completing the project that will tell the Little Brother story once and for all. I don't take that responsibility lightly and I hope our film reflects that.” - Holland Randolph Gallagher

MORE ABOUT LITTLE BROTHER:

Little Brother is a critically acclaimed hip-hop group from Durham, North Carolina. Credited as one of the first buzzing rap acts in the pre-streaming era of online message boards, Little Brother emerged during the new millennium renaissance of alternative rap in the early 2000s. Ranked among Rolling Stone's "200 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums Of All Time", Little Brother’s 2003 debut album The Listening helped pioneer "grown man" or "every man" rap, relating to the working-class and everyday person. The group’s members-- rappers Phonte and Rapper Big Pooh --formed as college students at North Carolina Central University in 1998.

Over the course of their illustrious careers, Little Brother has worked with some of the biggest names in music: Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Lil' Wayne, and many more. He also co-hosts the Questlove Supreme podcast alongside Questlove of The Roots. Pooh currently manages Dreamville artist Lute, and DJ’s under the moniker RPM. Outside of his work under Grammy-nominated soul outfit The Foreign Exchange, Phonte has written music for Sesame Street, AMC's Sherman’s Showcase, and VH1's The Breaks. Now recognized as one of Billboard's "Greatest Rap Groups Of All Time", Little Brother has helped bridge the gap between The Roots and Kendrick Lamar, A Tribe Called Quest and J. Cole, De La Soul and Drake.

In 2023, Little Brother celebrated the 20th anniversary of their debut album The Listening, starting with a sold out, four-city tour in March. The year-long celebration was eventually brought back to its roots with "Made In Durham: A Little Brother Block Party".

Connect with Little Brother: Website | X | Instagram

Hip Hop Legend The RZA Named Official Ambassador of the 2023 Urbanworld International Film Festival

The 27th Annual Urbanworld Film Festival has announced that Grammy and Emmy-nominated producer, actor, musician and filmmaker The RZA will serve as official ambassador of this year’s festival.

A founding member of the seminal hip hop group the Wu-Tang Clan, RZA is co-director of the documentary A Wu-Tang Experience: Live at Red Rocks Amphitheatre with Gerald Barclay. The film, which will make its world premiere at Urbanworld on Friday, November 3, chronicles the Wu-Tang's iconic 2021 performance with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra.

“I’m completely honored to be a part of a platform like Urbanworld which supports storytellers from all walks of life,” says RZA.”As a filmmaker, I understand the work that goes into not only getting a film made but getting it seen. There aren’t a lot of film festivals that intentionally shine light on the works of Black Men and Women in our industry. Our growing number of directors and producers need more outlets. Urbanworld gets it and this opportunity to serve as ambassador to this year’s festival is an honor and a privilege.”

Urbanworld is also proud to announce that the festival’s Opening Night Film will be the Toronto International Film Festival award-winner American Fiction, directed by Cord Jefferson.

The festival takes place November 1-5, 2023 at AMC 34th Street and the SVA Theatre. HBO returns as Founding Partner for the 27th year and Warner Bros. Discovery serves as Prestige Partner. Tickets and passes can be purchased at urbanworld.org.

Additional highlights of Urbanworld 2023 are: Misty Copeland will participate in a post-screening discussion of her short film “Flower,” directed by Lauren Finerman and executive produced by Nelson George and Leyla Fayyaz; NBCUniversal will showcase their new television series “Found,” starring Shanola Hampton; and National Geographic Documentary Films will sponsor over 100 New York City students to attend a screening of The Space Race, directed by Diego Hurtado de Mendoza and Lisa Cortès. Astronaut Leland Melvin will be in attendance for a Q&A.

The festival will also feature a Friday night tribute to music videos sponsored by Hulu entitled “Lights, Cameras, Rhymes: 50 Years of Hip Hop on Screen.” The retrospective will be followed by a panel discussion of industry icons including director Benny Boom and artist Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter.

The Urbanworld Innovation Conference & Panel will return on Friday, November 3 at the SVA SOC DOC Theater for another year of networking and building community among diverse creatives. This one-day convening will feature filmmakers, industry leaders and content creators from media, technology and storytelling who will discuss topics such as AI, culture, sports and content distribution.

Connect with Urbanworld Film Festival: Website | Instagram

AleXa Makes History as First Korean Solo Artist to Perform at iHeartRadio’s Jingle Ball

Female powerhouse, AleXa, makes history as the first Korean solo artist to perform at iHeartRadio’s Jingle Ball. Join her as she hits the stage on 11/28 for 106.1 KISS FM in Dallas/Fort Worth and 12/16 for Y100 in Miami where she’ll be performing alongside household names such as Shaggy, Big Time Rush, Flo Rida, Marshmallow, Ludacris and more. Named by Elle as an artist who’s “breaking the mold of the typical K-pop star”; AleXa will be performing all her hit songs including her latest release “Juliet.”

AleXa has been on an fast-paced upward trajectory here in the U.S where she performed the National Anthem to nearly 50,000 fans at Los Angeles’ iconic Dodgers Stadium in 2022, and went on to sell out three fan-meeting stops during her first U.S. visit in September. Going on to clinch a win at the 2021 Asia Artist Awards, one of the most celebrated award shows in Korea, the Oklahoma-born star also became the first K-pop artist to host a fan-meeting event in the metaverse, attracting thousands of fans for a party in a special arena built inside of first-person shooter game Scavengers. After a breakthrough comeback with mid-tempo dance track “Tattoo,” AleXa’s song “Wonderland” earned a resounding win on NBC’s American Song Contest, a remake of Europe's hugely popular Eurovision Song Contest. “Wonderland” ranked #38 on Billboard’s Pop Airplay Chart, propelling AleXa to the 6th most played Korean artist on U.S. Radio, and the first female Korean act to present at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards. AleXa’s American Song Contest Win took the world by storm with coverage from Billboard, iHeart, People, E!, BBC, Insider, Cosmopolitan and more; along with signing to UTA.

GET YOUR TICKETS NOW: https://www.iheart.com/jingle-ball/

Connect with AleXa: Instagram | TikTok | X

Vancouver Synthpunks Phuture Memoriez Release Their New Album "Play Cobra"

Phuture Memoriez have just released their latest full length LP Play Cobra out now on Nerve Wracking Collections with accompanying video-single for “Ear Blue”. Phuture Memoriez is a dark synth-pop-punk band from Vancouver BC and is composed of Marc Blaquiere and Jessica Blaquiere. Their third release, Play Cobra, is a concept record dedicated to the musical improv game Cobra. Created by jazz legend John Zorn, Cobra utilizes a series of hand jesters, cue cards, drawings, etc. and a conductor leading a group of improv artists creating noise, chaos, and beauty. Phuture Memoriez used each of the 10 chapters in the Cobra manual as inspiration, pulling all of the lyrics and song titles for each of the 10 songs on their new album Play Cobra, creating song titles like Mouth Yellow, and Ear Blue.

Aiming to create a hypnotic listening experience, all 10 songs are the same tempo of 138 BPM. All songs were written, recorded, and mixed by Jessica Blaquiere (Synth/Pedals/Sampler) and Marc Blaquiere (Vocals/Bass Guitar/Sampler/Production) and mastered by Doug Fury at Fortissimo Sound in London, Ontario. The band describes the album as “our best record to date, the cobra’s bite is intoxicating!” After Play Cobra was completed, Tylor David joined Phuture Memoriez on guitar. Tylor’s guitar compositions offer an enhanced live version of the Play Cobra songs, providing rich texture, tone, and harmonics.

The songs on the LP are short, fast, visceral blasts that are rooted in early punk and hardcore and have elements of Krautrock and foundational industrial music. Each track is an explosion, an expression of internal turmoil and angst against discordant hooks and symphonic feedback. Phuture Memoriez’ sound transitions constantly - not surprising because of their desire to test new sounds, tools, and techniques, which range in quality from lo-fi to professional level. They use tools like the Akai MPC Live, a cohort of digital/analog synths, pedals, noisemakers, electric bass guitar, among others, and vocals affected by other-worldly tones and textures. Their sound has been described by some to encompass “twisted tones and haunting synth vocals, pulling the listener down into a shadowy soundscape”. In other instances, some say Phuture Memoriez is “grungy with a metallic edge”.

Listen to “Play Cobra” right now, and connect with the band on their social media!

Connect with Phuture Memoriez: Facebook | Instagram | Label

SEMA Fest Las Vegas Announces Day x Day Music Festival Line-Up

The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), producers of the SEMA Show, the major trade-only automotive event held annually in Las Vegas, is celebrating its 56th anniversary in 2023 with the launch of SEMA Fest, an open to the public two-day full-throttle festival that fuses motorsports, music, and car culture.

The event has announced details of its day by day line up with Incubus, Wiz Khalifa, Bush, Third Eye Blind, Ludacris and more set for Friday November 3 and Imagine Dragons, AJR, Walk The Moon, The Struts, Badflower and more set for Saturday, November 4. The full line up follows below. Single day tickets among other options are on sale now here.

SEMA Fest, happening at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds, brings together some of the biggest names in music across the gamut of rock, hip-hop and pop and the hottest automotive brands and their enthusiasts in a large-scale festival format. In addition to the world-class music programming, it will also feature a full slate of immersive automotive lifestyle events, a consumer marketplace, world-class drifting, motorsports competitions, freestyle motocross, BMX demos and more.

The all-ages two-day event marks the conclusion of SEMA Week, which runs around the 2023 SEMA Show on October 31-November 3 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Whether you are a diehard car enthusiast, a motorsports fan, a music lover or just like to have a good time, SEMA Fest is an event not to miss.

The official SEMA Fest day by day line-up is:

Friday, November 3

Incubus

Wiz Khalifa

Third Eye Blind

Bush

Ludacris

Chase Matthew

Rome&Duddy

Ayron Jones

Bones UK

Starcrawler

Paper Idol

Saturday, November 4

Imagine Dragons

AJR

Walk The Moon

The Struts

Badflower

Meg Meyers

Dead Sara

renforshort

Brooke Alex

Hot Crazy

Good Boy Daisy

The Foxies

About SEMA

SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association founded in 1963, represents the $51.8 billion specialty-automotive industry. The industry provides appearance, performance, comfort, convenience and technology products for passenger and recreational vehicles. Association resources include market research, legislative advocacy, training and product development support, as well as leading trade shows such as the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nev., and the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show in Indianapolis, Ind. For more information, visit www.sema.org, www.semashow.com, or www.performanceracing.com.

Viral Creator Tiko Announces New Album "Introduction" and Releases New Single "Keep My Cool"

YouTube creator and artist Tiko has announced the release of his third full length album, Introduction, out October 20th via ONErpm. Alongside the announcement, Tiko has also released his new single, “Keep My Cool,” an uplifting and energetic track that melds youthful infatuation with ambition over an airy soundscape while he sings about keeping his composure and trying to stay on top of his game.

“This song is one I think a lot of people can relate to, it’s about keeping your cool around a girl you like,” says Tiko. “Its breezy and lighthearted vibe is meant to make you feel like you’re driving in a car with all the windows open with your best friends!”

Utilizing his signature voice changer, Tiko is the moniker of emerging singer Jayden who debuted his original vocals on his sophomore album UPSIDE DOWN last fall, sharing a side of himself he hadn’t before with his fast-growing audience. Inspired by the response to the record, which quickly amassed over 4.6 million streams, Jayden dives into the spotlight on Introduction as he showcases his multi-versatile prowess and ability to meld the Tiko world with his pop leaning sound.

“Keep My Cool” is the third track from the album and at its heart is an uplifting song about passion, pursuits, and prevailing. It follows previous offerings “Daylight,” a jaunty synth track layered in ambiguity as the person you’re with begins to see you in a different view, and effervescent single “Don’t Call Back” where Jayden sets boundaries while navigating through heartbreak. The 8-track LP — produced by The Ready Set's Jordan Witzigreuter (Lindsey Stirling, AWOLNATION, UPSAHL, The Mowgli's) — finds Tiko swimming in a new direction while Jayden explores the sounds and styles that inspire his artistic vision. Full track listing for Introduction is below.

Introduction Track Listing:

1. DON’T CALL BACK

2. DAYLIGHT

3. Keep My Cool

4. STINKY

5. CATCH A VIBE

6. Obsessed

7. Introduction

8. Distraction

Additionally, this fall, Tiko will invite players to experience his fishy world firsthand in an upcoming creator concert map in Fortnite. Keep an eye out for more information coming soon!

Tiko began launching content on his main YouTube channel in 2018 and has since garnered more than 6.9 million subscribers and 1.3 billion views, making him one of the biggest stars in the creator community. In 2020, he was recognized by YouTube as the #5 Top Creator, #2 Breakout Creators in the U.S., and one of the Top 10 Breakout Creators on the planet. In addition to his gaming videos — which focuses on Fortnite, Minecraft, VR, and IRL content — he ventured into music after his viral hit single “Fishy On Me” swam to the top of Spotify’s U.S. Viral 50 (#2) and Global Viral 50 (#4) playlists, accumulating over 185 million streams to date. Tiko has two full-lengths under his gills with his debut album Wave and his sophomore album UPSIDE DOWN where his original vocals were introduced for the first time. His lighthearted electro-pop music resonates with audiences around the world with over half a billion global streams and over half a million monthly listeners, carving a lane that is all his own. He has also received media support from the likes of Entrepreneur, Game Rant, Sweety High, Ones To Watch, and Spindle Magazine as well as playlist support from Apple Music's Kids Party, The Kids Table, Going To School, and Social Distancing Social Club, Spotify’s New Music Friday, Game Time, and Viral 50 Malaysia, and Filtr TikTok Songs among others.

Part of the next generation of dynamic multi-platform artists, Tiko’s unique ability for developing compelling story lines while connecting with his fans creates a strong sense of community and a tight-knit network of fishy followers.

Connect with Tiko: Website | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok

Female Led Neo-Soul Collective Menajerie Announce Debut EP "Selective Deafness" With Intoxicating New Single "Holding Pattern"

Taking centre stage with three ensnaring female vocalists, Menajerie is a Meanjin/Brisbane-based neo-soul outfit, who are announcing their debut EP 'Selective Deafness' (out September 29). Dripping with heated charm and a clawing passion, they are teasing the EP with the slow-burning lead single 'Holding Pattern' out now.

The heart and soul of Menajerie is embodied in its three captivating frontwomen. Primed with their spellbinding abilities, they are led by the compelling Gracie Mack on keys and vocals, powerhouse vocalist Rosa Mack, and the fiery Mel Galletly. Oozing sass, the three weave together their silky melodies and poignant lyrics as they get wrapped up in irresistible sultry grooves.

Having awed audiences on stage/s at Jungle Love Festival, Fortitude Valley Fiesta, and supporting Sex On Toast, plus so much more, Menajerie have already achieved a lot. With their previous singles, 'Stuck' and 'Time', they have left audiences craving more, and now, they are ready to unveil their debut EP 'Selective Deafness'.

The 8-track debut EP ultimately allows the band to expose their musical odyssey made up of laid-back and sophisticated soul, coloured by alluring rhythms and anti-gravity funk. At the heart of it all lies lyrics that gracefully navigate the line between unfiltered, gritty reality and a flirtatiously witty, tongue-in-cheek sensuality.

Gracie Mack eloquently encapsulates the essence of 'Selective Deafness' by stating, "This debut EP traverses all aspects of the creative human experience through introspection, humour, and grief and showcases the band's eclectic musical experiences."

The upcoming single 'Holding Pattern' dives deeper into the exasperation of being ensnared in a self-made cycle. Harnessing the EP's title within the lyric "Selective deafness, but now you know," the track fuses neo-soul and hip-hop harmonies with a magnetic undercurrent of grooves.

The song's confrontational lead vocals simmer with passion and allure, while its cool and calm demeanour ultimately crescendos into an electrifying harmony layered over a gritty shuffle. Intoxicating and bold, 'Holding Pattern' is a boiling cauldron of emotions, a musical mirror reflecting the complexities of life's patterns.

Be embraced by the divine tones of Menajerie as they turn up the heat with 'Holding Pattern' ahead of their debut EP 'Selective Deafness' on September 29.

Stream and Share “Holding Pattern”

Connect with Menajerie: Website | Facebook | Instagram

Lil Baby's It's Only Us National Tour Stops in Raleigh on Monday, Sept. 11th (PNC Arena)

Diamond certified rapper Lil Baby has announced two additional shows in New York and Philadelphia have been added to his 25-stop It’s Only Us national tour produced by AG Entertainment Touring and Mammoth in support of his most recent album, It’s Only Me (Quality Control Records/Motown) which was released in October of 2022.

The nationwide tour is set to kickoff July 26th in Houston. Other tour dates include Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Boston, and many more before wrapping the tour on September 22nd in Ft. Lauderdale. Lil Baby will be receiving tour support from GloRilla, Rylo Rodriguez, GLOSS UP, and Hunxho at all stops while on the road.

Artist pre-sale will start Tuesday July 18th at 12pm eastern time, with general on sale starting on Thursday July 20th at 10am eastern time. For more information and ticket purchasing please visit: www.itsonlyustour.com

The beloved QC rapper started this year on a high note after making his Saturday Night Live (SNL) musical guest debut in January and performing both his singles “California Breeze'' and “Forever” from his hit album.

‘IT’S ONLY US’ TOUR DATES:

www.ItsOnlyUsTour.com

Wed Jul 26 - Houston, TX - Toyota Center

Fri Jul 28 - Austin, TX - Moody Center

Sat Jul 29 - Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center

Sat Aug 05 - Los Angeles, CA - Crypto.com Arena

Sun Aug 06 - Oakland, CA - Oakland Arena

Sat Aug 12 - Seattle, WA - Climate Pledge Arena

Thu Aug 17 - St. Louis, MO - Enterprise Center

Fri Aug 18 - Milwaukee, WI - Fiserv Forum

Wed Aug 23 - Detroit, MI - Little Caesars Arena

Thu Aug 24 - Chicago, IL - United Center

Sat Aug 26 - Columbus, OH - Nationwide Arena

Tue Aug 29 - Philadelphia, PA - Wells Fargo Center

Wed Aug 30 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden

Thu Aug 31 - Washington D.C. - Capital One Arena

Sat Sep 02 - Boston, MA - TD Garden

Sun Sep 03 - Baltimore, MD - CFG Bank Arena

Thu Sep 07 - Memphis, TN - FedExForum

Sat Sep 09 - Nashville, TN - Bridgestone Arena

Mon Sep 11 - Raleigh, NC - PNC Arena

Tue Sep 12 - Charlotte, NC - Spectrum Center

Fri Sep 15 - Tampa, FL - Amalie Arena

Sat Sep 16 - Jacksonville, FL - Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena

Sun Sep 17 - Atlanta, GA - Music Midtown Festival

Tue Sep 19 - New Orleans, LA - Smoothie King Center

Fri Sep 22 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - FLA Live Arena

Get your ‘It’s Only Us’ concert tickets HERE, and connect with Lil Baby on his social media.

Connect with Lil Baby: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok

Confluence: The Carolinas’ Premier Music Industry Conference + Festival, Announces First Round of Speakers and Performers

The spotlight is on the music community of Charlotte and the Carolinas as Confluence 2023, the region's most anticipated music industry conference and festival, announces the launch of ticket sales and the first round of speakers and performers. Confluence will bring together music artists, industry professionals, and live music fans for two unforgettable days of inspiration, networking, and collaboration. Daytime conference programming will be October 18 and 19 at the AvidXchange Music Factory in Uptown, Charlotte, with night-time live music showcases in several music venues in Uptown, NoDa, Plaza-Midwood, and Elizabeth.

Confluence 2023 promises to be a catalyst for the growth of the regional music ecosystem. With a lineup of panel discussions and keynotes featuring speakers from Charlotte, the Carolinas, and around the country, and performances by Charlotte- and Carolinas-based artists, Confluence aims to empower attendees with insights, tools, and connections that are crucial for success in the evolving music landscape and inspire fans with the incredible talent of the region.

Notable speakers include Roger Brown and Liza Levy of Salt Lick Incubator in Boston, Jason Jet of Grindhaus Studios, Gar Ragland of Citizen Vinyl in Asheville, Gregg McCraw of Maxx Music, Micah Davidson of Midwood Entertainment, Lonnie Davis of Jazz Arts Charlotte, and John Tosco of Tosco Music.

View fullsize

Performers include Oceanic, Natalie Carr, Dane Page, Creekbed, Mercury Carter, the Couldn’t Be Happiers, Reuben Vincent, Arsena, Jason Scavone Band, and more.

“The mission of Confluence is to inspire, connect, elevate, and celebrate the music community of Charlotte and the Carolinas,” says Rick Thurmond of Charlotte Center City Partners and Music Everywhere CLT, the producers of Confluence. “It will be a hub for emerging artists, established industry professionals, and music enthusiasts to come together to share their passion, learn, exchange ideas, and pave the way for the future of music.”

Tickets for Confluence 2023 are now available for purchase on the event's official website, ConfluenceCarolinas.com. Early bird pricing and exclusive packages are being offered for a limited time.

**Key Highlights of Confluence 2023**

• Engaging panel discussions and thought-provoking keynotes featuring industry experts.

• Diverse and dynamic performances by regional and local artists in independent venues that power the scene.

• Unparalleled networking opportunities with fellow attendees, artists, and music industry leaders.

Confluence 2023 is produced by Charlotte Center City Partners and Music Everywhere CLT. Confluence is a recipient of support from the Infusion Fund, a partnership between the City of Charlotte, Foundation For The Carolinas and generous donors to support the arts and cultural sector. In addition, Confluence would not be possible without the following sponsors: Charlotte SHOUT!, Eventbrite, Bold Music, Summit Coffee, Midwood Entertainment, The Comedy Zone.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit ConfluenceCarolinas.com.

J1 Presents Jeezy With the Sirius XM/Pandora Hip Hop 50 Pioneer Award | J1, Jeezy and Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens Talk Hip Hop, Politics and Atlanta

Grammy-nominated artist, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and now New York Times best-selling author Jeezy, sat down with Sirius XM/Pandora Vice President of Music Programming Josh “J1” Raiford and special guest Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens.

The trio discussed Jeezy’s new book Adversity for Sale Ya Gotta Believe, 50 Years of hip-hop, and politics. During the event, Jeezy discloses a conversation he had with T.I. nearly 20 years ago where T.I. told the Snowman, “You can’t do music and be in the streets.”

In the video, Jeezy discusses the ability to utilize hip-hop music as a tool to grow personally and professionally. Andre Dickens stated that hip-hop means freedom and how a person can transfer ideas and ambition into a physical result.

At the night's end, J1 presented Jeezy with the Sirius XM/Pandora Hip Hop 50 Pioneer Award. “I’ve known Jeezy for 15 years. He’s as solid and genuine as they come. I’ve witnessed his evolution and how he’s expanded beyond music into business, politics, philanthropy, and now a New York Times best-selling author," said J1, "He is a trailblazer on so many levels so it was only right to present him the pioneer award.”

Attendees included DJs, college students, fans of Sirius XM and Pandora Now, social media influencers, and brand company representatives.

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Joshua ‘J1’ Raiford was born and raised in Harlem, NY. He was highly influenced by the ‘Bad Boy’ movement and closely followed labels like OutKast and Death Row Records. At the age of 14 years old, he interned at a small record label and knew he wanted to work in the industry from that point forward. In July 2020, J1 successfully helped program and launch “Uninterrupted Radio” on Pandora in partnership with LeBron James and Maverick Carter and was promoted to Director of Hip Hop Curation & Content. He was named on Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players List in 2021 and 2022. He’s the current Program Director for Pandora NOW on SiriusXM. Follow him @posterchildj1.

Review: "Human Nature" EP by Mikebøi

Experimental electronic producer Mikebøi confounds all expectations on the emotionally charged “Human Nature” EP. In a hybrid series of styles, there are an endless number of angles that are pursued. Pop, dubstep, noise, hip-hop, broken beats, and brittle textures reign supreme.

The EP’s six tracks explore the idea of near collapse. Beats have flexibility, with elastic grooves stretched far beyond any reasonable comfort zone. Change is the only constant, as Mikebøi makes sure to tear apart their arrangements, rearranging them in confounding, complex, and startlingly unique ways. Even at their most experimental, Mikebøi maintains a degree of vulnerability that can be found in the melodies to the nimble, ballet-like rhythms.

Nods to the latest wave of avant-garde meets the club emerge throughout the duration of the collection. Arca’s maddening twists and turns prove to be one touchstone of the overall aesthetic. On the heavier side of things, the glitch cacophonies that reassemble repeatedly draw upon early Oval, as there is that same level of dissonance mixed with beauty giving it that sweetness. The physicality of the pieces, the fragile and the frantic, incorporate lessons learned from Four Tet. Among all these different aspects one thing remains true – that Mikebøi manages to sculpt a sound very much rooted in the here and now.

Stuttering electronics fall apart with the fantastic opener and title track “Human Nature.” A longing aspect comes into focus, as the beats briefly flirt with EDM. Lumbering bass runs through “Never Stay”, featuring SRU with the inclusion of vocals adding a fine touch to the emotional tenor. One of the catchier pieces, the longing of the work has an intrinsic bliss, with the chopped-up vocals for the finale a fine touch to an already visceral piece. Industrial aesthetics on “Elevate” goes for the unhinged. “I Know a Ghost” has a beat-down expressiveness, allowing for chords to ring up to the sky. Gleeful abandon rushes through as “Dimension” clips samples down to mere milliseconds. Strangely hopeful “Φ૱Φ૱Φ૱” has an origami-like aspect, bringing things to a grandiose close.

“Human Nature” has an endearing, lovely sound as Mikebøi offers a stream of consciousness that is equal parts atmospheric as well as emotionally moving.

Stream and Share “Human Nature”

Big KRIT, The Cool Kids, and More to Join 'Made In Durham: A Little Brother Block Party' on October 7th

The legendary Hip-Hop group Little Brother released their seminal debut album The Listening on February 25th, 2003. All year-long, Little Brother co-founders Phonte and Rapper Big Pooh have been celebrating the masterwork's 20th anniversary, starting with a four-city tour back in March. Last week, they took to social media to announce that the year-long celebration would be brought back to its roots on October 7th with "Made In Durham: A Little Brother Block Party". The duo has revealed the show's full lineup with a parody of Wrestling legend Booker T's infamous N-word slip in a 1997 WCW promo. Starring Phonte as Booker T and Rapper Big Pooh as Stevie Ray-- known as Harlem Heat, one of wrestling's greatest tag teams of all time --the two deliver a spot-on reenactment of the moment that segues into the show's lineup.

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Hosted by comedian Sam Jay, "Made In Durham: A Little Brother Block Party" will be headlined by Little Brother, with supporting performances by Big KRIT, The Cool Kids, and Zo! & Tall Black Guy. DJs Hourglass and Wally Sparks will be on the ones and twos. The festivities kick off at Noon, and the performances will begin at 3PM. The event will take place at 310 East Main St, Durham, North Carolina 27701.

Purchase tickets here.

Ranked among Rolling Stone's "200 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums Of All Time", The Listening helmed a pre-social media era where Alternative Rap found its audience through online message boards. As pioneers of "grown man" or "every man" Rap, Little Brother was rightfully placed among Billboard's "Greatest Rap Groups Of All Time".

The group's new documentary May The Lord Watch: The Little Brother Story will arrive later this year.

MORE ABOUT LITTLE BROTHER:

Little Brother is a critically acclaimed hip-hop group from Durham, North Carolina. Credited as one of the first buzzing rap acts in the pre-streaming era of online message boards, Little Brother emerged during the new millennium renaissance of alternative rap in the early 2000s. The group helped pioneer "grown man" or "every man" rap, relating to the working-class and everyday person. The group’s members-- rappers Phonte and Rapper Big Pooh --formed as college students at North Carolina Central University in 1998.

Over the course of their illustrious careers, Little Brother has worked with some of the biggest names in music: Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Lil' Wayne, and many more. Pooh currently manages Dreamville artist Lute, and DJ’s under the moniker RPM. Outside of his work under Grammy-nominated soul outfit The Foreign Exchange, Phonte has written music for Sesame Street, AMC's Sherman’s Showcase, and VH1's The Breaks. He also co-hosts the Questlove Supreme podcast alongside Questlove of The Roots.

Connect with Little Brother: Website | Instagram | Twitter

Experimental Electronic Producer Mikebøi Drops His New EP "Human Nature"

Mikebøi is a 22 year old experimental electronic producer based in Mexico, who began producing at 12 years old. His new EP, ‘Human Nature’, is a futuristic mix of experimental electronic, trap, hyper pop and PC music.

Mikebøi looks to bring his culture from Mexico to the future of electronic/PC music as there is little current representation for futuristic music within this community. He has reached some major musical milestones in his young career, including his most popular track, ‘Missed’ which has reached a total of +60 million plays on all platforms. This, along with his other releases, has enabled Mikebøi to appear on several different labels such as Trap Nation, Trap City, Actuation, Tribal Trap, Future House Records, Trap Town Records and many more.

This particular project, ‘Human Nature’, is inspired by Mikebøi’s belief that human nature is very different to what we humans are today, as we commonly do not adapt to the place where we live, but we fill it with comforts that destroy or completely change the natural habitat that nature gives us.

Through these tracks, Mikebøi asks the question of do we really belong to this planet or come from the outside. Trying to capture everything he feels about this philosophy in his project, Mikebøi tries to convey that we have a certain connection with nature that makes us enter into a balance where there is destruction, connection and ultimately, renewal.

Listen to “Human Nature” below, stream it on your preferred music service, connect with Mikebøi on IG and be on the lookout for our in-depth EP review and interview, both coming soon!

Stream and Share “Human Nature”

Connect with Mikebøi: Instagram