Nigerian born, Toronto-based artist TOBi drops his brand new single and visualizer “Flowers” via Same Plate Entertainment/RCA Records – click here to listen/watch. The guitar-driven track allows TOBi’s undeniable bars and effortless flow to lead the way for this genre-blending song. This release is the first single off of TOBi’s forthcoming album coming soon. Recently, TOBi released his elevated COLORS performance of “Flowers” and his song “Move”was featured on Netflix’s buzzing new movie release Do Revengestarring Camila Mendes (Riverdale) and Maya Hawke (Stranger Things).
TOBi on “Flowers” and his forthcoming album:“This is one of my favorite songs I’ve done. The definition of unapologetic soul music. I wanted to tell a story of what it meant to be a man, growing and learning and dealing with my vices. Protecting my peace, while navigating the challenges of life. This song is a turning point in my mental journey. Addressing fears, seeking therapy, paying homage to those who are living.. its a lot to unpack in the verses but at the end of the day it feels so good to be alive and creating and I’m grateful for every moment.”
Nigerian-born, Toronto-based recording artist TOBi is the winner of the 2021 JUNO Award for “Best Rap Recording of the Year” for his latest project Elements, Vol. 1. Elements blends hip-hop, R&B, soul, grime & Afrobeats and features some of TOBi’s favorite producers and musicians worldwide, embodying the sounds and music that have influenced his artistry. Prior to this album, TOBi released his debut STILL in May 2019, exploring themes of vulnerability, post traumatic growth, self-reflection and masculinity in his time emigrating from Nigeria to Canada.
Voted by Complex Magazine as “a top artist to watch” TOBi has received critical praise from Interview Magazine, Pitchfork, Vogue, Teen Vogue, L’Officiel, Paper, Billboard, Rolling Stone, Clash, OkayAfrica, Flaunt, Exclaim!, Refinery29, Essential Homme, COLORS, and many more.
In 2020, TOBi signed with Same Plate Entertainment/RCA Records and in 2021 his single “Whoa” with fellow Torontonian rapper Jazz Cartier was released to critical praise. “Whoa” follows a slew of tracks released over the summer including “Off The Drugs” with Mick Jenkins, “Come As You Are” featuring Baby Rose and “Don’t Touch!,” which was praised by Complex for its “smooth production…elevating [TOBi’s] empowered musings on the hairy side of the Black experience to new heights.” TOBi, who was nominated for the 2022 JUNO Awards, has continually released music including his Shall I Continue? bundle, Too Hot (Maxi Single) bundle and single “That’s Alright” this past year. Most recently, TOBi dropped the single and video for “Before We Panic” – a prelude that set the tone for his new music. Now ready to share that music with his fans, TOBi shares “Flowers,” the first single off his forthcoming album coming soon.
Friday September 9 btw 11pm-2am in NYC, Mercer + Prince kicked off fashion week in New York with Mercer + Party a night of whiskey and music hosted by A$AP Rocky.
Living between the intersection of art and culture, Mercer + Prince embraces the cutting-edge style and sophisticated taste of co-founder A$AP Rocky with a focus on celebrating creativity in all forms. Mercer + Party exists to bring this lifestyle into fruition.
The evening was full of impromptu performances and unforgettable moments, starting with a surprise performance by Thottwat. The night continued with music by Iceywat and A$Ap Lou. Additional guests: Rihanna, Tremaine Emory, 40oz Van.
ABOUT MERCER + PRINCE
Born at the intersection of art and culture, Mercer + Prince is a Canadian whisky that is defying the traditional rules surrounding the whisky industry through co-founder A$AP Rocky’s cutting-edge style and sophisticated taste. Distilled, aged, and blended in Canada complemented by a minimum of 4 years aging in American White Oak barrels, Mercer + Prince has a complex profile driven by fruit, vanilla and caramel balanced with a combination of light and toasted oak, layered with intense hints of baked apple and cinnamon from the Japanese Mizunara oak. Named after A$AP Rocky’s favorite New York City cross streets, Mercer + Prince is for cultural tastemakers that push boundaries consistently. Mercer + Prince’s artistic yet functional design is created to stand out on any surface, with two cups built in yet hidden to the naked eye. Consumers can immediately open the bottle and pour a drink for themselves and a friend, celebrating creativity in all forms. Mercer + Prince will be available in retail this summer at the suggested retail price of $29.99.
To learn about Mercer + Prince, follow @mercerandprince on Instagram or visit HERE.
Today, Houston rapper Maxo Kream links with Anderson .Paak for new single “THE VISION,” visit HERE to listen. This follows the release of Maxo’s new track and video with Benny The Butcher for “FOOTBALL HEADS” last week (visit HEREto listen, HERE to watch) and “JIGGA DAME” that came out in May of this year (visit HERE to listen, HERE to watch).
All three singles will be on the deluxe of Maxo’s critically acclaimed album WEIGHT OF THE WORLD set to be released July 27th via Big Persona/88 Classic/RCA Records. Recently, Maxo hit the road on his Big Persona Tour, where he stopped in major cities including Austin, Atlanta, New York, his hometown of Houston and more. During the tour, Maxo was also a part of various festivals includingCoachella andSXSW, the later in partnership with NPR for his first-ever NPR Tiny Desk.
Listen to “THE VISION” featuring Anderson .Paak HERE.
Watch “FOOTBALL HEADS” featuring Benny The Butcher HERE.
Previously, Maxo shared his highly anticipated and critically acclaimed albumWEIGHT OF THE WORLD (WOTW), which had major features including Tyler, the Creator, Monaleo, A$AP Rocky, Freddie Gibbs, and Don Toliver. It garnered press attention from The Fader, Stereogum, Paste, Complex, Brooklyn Vegan, Uproxx, Spin, Flood, Houstonia, and received an 8.0 on Pitchfork. WOTW has a distinctly more serious and purposeful tone than its predecessor as it details the events that have happened after the tragic passing of his brother, Mmadu Biosah. Maxo starkly pours his experiences and grievances throughout the album, detailing the ups and downs of a new life without his late brother and overcoming many obstacles.
Since his debut in 2015, Maxo has evolved into one of the rap’s most acclaimed and respected emcees, earning a reputation as a storyteller for his detailed accounts of his dark past. His 2018 album Punken earned ‘Best of 2018’ plaudits from Pitchfork, Noisey, The AV Club, FACT Mag, and more. Then, he released his critically-acclaimed major label debut Brandon Banks in July 2019 which broke the Billboard 200. What continues be a mainstay and one of the most prominent things about Maxo is his raw bars and storytelling abilities as he grapples with different circumstances that happen throughout his life.
Listen to “THE VISION” featuring Anderson .Paakand stay tuned for more Maxo Kream music coming soon.
Today, genre-bending artist GASHI returns with the release of his latest single, “Gasoline,” out now via RCA Records. His first taste of new music in 2022, “Gasoline” comes ahead of GASHI’s anticipated forthcoming album, due out later this year.
Opening on a chorus of dark synths and echoing vocals before kicking into a seductive, pulsating beat, “Gasoline” is a six-minute track that showcases GASHI’s undeniable lyrical flow and soulful melodies. The latter half of the song kicks into a slick freestyle, highlighting GASHI’s musical prowess as he spits boastful bars about his life and career to date.
About GASHI
Born in Africa and raised in NYC, GASHI spent much of his young life as a refugee, moving from country to country. His family eventually settled in Brooklyn, where he was introduced to music at a young age. GASHI absorbed a melting pot of musical influences throughout his youth, resulting in the formation of his unique sonic palette. His dynamic sound has allowed GASHI to collaborate with a wide range of talents, including Chris Brown, Travis Scott, Sting, Dua Lipa, and more. GASHI continues to defy and bend genres throughout his discography and has trophied countless global anthemic hits as well as critical acclaim.
Today, GASHI is the only male Albanian artist to chart on multiple Billboard charts. In the last few years alone, GASHI has released two studio albums – including his 2021 hit album 1984 – sold out venues across the globe, and accumulated over 1 billion streams with over 300 million video views worldwide.The New York Times cited GASHI as “the trap Phil Collins” and received co-signs from peers, including Travis Scott and A$AP Rocky, who affirmed GASHI as “one of the dopest artists to come out of New York.” A trajectory that is supersonic and an impact that is undeniable, this is GASHI.
Rising Harlem rapper from the A$AP Mob collective, A$AP TyY announces a collaboration and pop-up event with streetwear brand Global Warning. Click HERE to view the collection. On the collection, A$AP TyY said, “Creating the ‘A$AP Lifestyle’ collection is something I had wanted to do for a long time. To be able to release this collection during Paris Fashion Week Just made sense timing-wise. I partnered up with Global Warning and my brother Yam’s foundation ‘A$AP Foundation’ to bring this collection to life.” Jesse Koch, the co-founder of Global Warning, added, “The collaboration between our brand and A$AP TyY came naturally from our longtime working relationship with TyY. I met TyY in 2016, and he has been a huge supporter of our vision ever since.”
The limited-edition collection features six unique pieces personally designed by TyY and the Global Warning team. The designs are heavily influenced by TyY’s street and bike fashion, and the embodiment of the A$AP Lifestyle. A percentage of each item sold will benefit the A$AP Foundation, whose mission is dedicated to providing young people with accessible and realistic education about substance use and abuse.
The A$AP Foundation shared, “The Always Strive and Prosper Foundation is extremely thankful for A$AP TyY‘s consistent dedication to the culture, unending encouragement of the youth, and his consistent commitment to helping us to continue to spread drug safety awareness and community care.” For the first time since the pandemic, TyY will return to Paris during Men’s Fashion Week to host the day-long pop-up shop with Global Warning where fans have the first chance to purchase the limited-edition collection items. The pop-up will take place on June 25 at 216 Rue Saint-Martin in Le Marais from 1-6 pm.
A$AP TyY is next up out of the infamous Harlem collective and he’s bringing back grit and hard-hitting rap sounds back to New York. TyY recently released his latest single “Street Gospel” with a project on the horizon this summer.
He continues to establish himself as a style icon, delivering everything from a goggle collaboration with KidSuper and a recent partnership as the face of KSUBI GOLD, to walking runways at fashion weeks in Shanghai, Paris, and New York. He is also an avid BMX bike and quad rider, where he rides the streets of Harlem daily. Stay tuned for more music and news soon.
Pro Music Rights (“PMR”), one of the world’s largest music licensing companies, is pleased to announce that it has granted the well-known video service TikTok a license that will allow its users to create videos that include music from Pro Music Rights’ extensive repertoire.
The agreement will enable TikTok to offer PMR’s more than 2,500,000 works to its users. Jake P. Noch, CEO of Pro Music Rights, said that he is pleased to enter into the relationship with TikTok. “I think that TikTok is a wonderful platform and will be an outstanding online venue to expand the audience for our music, since it is routinely used by millions all over the world.”
Things are heating up ahead of Ibiza’s most anticipated season to date as The Night League, the team behind Ushuaïa Ibiza, announce their latest headline show from the titans of the electronic music world—Swedish House Mafia. The trio make a welcome return to Ibiza’s most iconic outdoor stage to perform an exclusive show on Sunday July 17th, ahead of their impending Paradise Again World Tour, adding to a long line of legendary Ibiza performances from the band.
Together as Swedish House Mafia, Axwell, Steve Angello and Sebastian Ingrosso‘s contribution to the electronic music world is nothing short of historic. From their formation in 2008 the trio conquered the world with their unique sound, defining the era with stadium-filling hits such as “Don’t You Worry Child“, “Leave The World Behind“, “One” and “Miami To Ibiza“. The trio topped the charts the globe over, won numerous industry awards and performed headline shows at the world’s biggest festivals and concert arenas.
Now ten years on from announcing their split, the Swedish House Mafia are back with a brand new album, Paradise Again, which marks the first new music from the group in eight years and features lots of towering tracks like album standout “Heaven Takes You Home“, throbbing basslines, and exuberant vocals, including collaborations with The Weeknd, A$AP Rocky, Shake 070, Ty Dolla $ign, Sting and many more. With a world tour headlining the biggest stages in the world, including their recent momentous performance at Coachella, the trio looks ready to write a new chapter of electronic music history and continue their meteoric success.
The electronic music supergroup’s last performance at Ushuaïa Ibiza was one of the most memorable shows in the club’s history, so as they continue their long-standing history with Ibiza’s #1 open-air club this summer, the trio’s return to Ibiza is a landmark occasion not to be missed.
Ushuaïa Ibiza is known across the globe for creating world-class music experiences featuring the biggest artists on the planet alongside mind-blowing production, avant-garde visuals and a powerful sound system. When paired with the all-conquering sounds of the Swedish House Mafia, it will be one of the most unforgettable nights of the summer. Ticket on sale now, get yours before it’s too late.
2022 has proven to be nothing short of eventful with only one month under its belt. Below, we discuss and highlight the leading news stories for the month of love, February.
Rihanna pregnant with first baby
Esteemed musical artist, fashion and business icon Rihanna is expecting her first child with boyfriend A$AP Rocky. She debuted her baby bump for the first time while out in New York City – you’ve seen the photos; Rihanna looking effervescent in a long, pink jacket strolling through the streets of Harlem.
Whoopi Goldberg suspended from ‘The View’
The announcement of Whoopi Goldberg’s suspension from ‘The View’ came the evening of Tuesday February 1 following her stating that the Holocaust was “not about race.” She argued that both the Nazis and Jews were white on the programming, later apologizing for these comments.
Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, was invited to the show on Tuesday where he told Whoopi, “There’s no question that the Holocaust was about race. Literally, the first page of ‘Maus,’ the book you were talkingabout yesterday, Whoopi, opens with a quote from Hitler, and literally it says, ‘The Jews undoubtedly are a race, but they are not human.’ Hitler’s ideology was predicated on the idea that … the Jews were a subhuman race. It was a racialized anti-Semitism.”
Whoopi extended her apologies, stating, “So yesterday on our show, I misspoke… “I said that the Holocaust wasn’t about race, and it was instead about man’s inhumanity to man — but it is indeed about race, because Hitler and the Nazis considered Jews to be an inferior race.”
She continued, “Words matter, and mine are no exception. I regret my comments, and I stand corrected. I also stand with the Jewish people.”
US to deploy troops amidst Russia/Ukraine conflict
February 2, the Pentagon announced that United States President Joe Biden authorized the deployment of 3,000 US troops to Poland, Germany, and Romania. This repositioning of US military persons comes from the suspicion of a potential invasion of Ukraine initiated by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
This skepticism comes from the growing presence of Russian military near the borders. Which has caught the attention of Ukraine and fellow NATO allies. A total of 3,000 troops will be moved, with 2,000 leaving directly from the US and 1,000 troops already in Germany planning to relocate to Romania.
Pamela has voiced her disapproval of Pam & Tommy, while Tommy has been in support of the new show. An insider communicated that the robbed home video devastates Pamela and is a topic she does not wish to be rehashed.
The insider stated, “It was a violation having this tape taken. This was a very traumatic time in her life. And it’s shocking that they are recreating it.” They continued, referencing Pamela when saying, “apparently doesn’t deserve privacy because she’s a sex symbol. It’s a sad reflection of how far we’ve not come as a society. Where are the apologies owed to Pam?“
Tommy talked about the portrayal of their history, stating, “I think a lot of people would think that it’s one thing, but it’s really about privacy and how things got crazy then and there’s different laws now.” He continued, “It’s a cool story and people need to know. It’s cool. I’m stoked.“
Satellite images depict increasing Russian military presence in Belarus
Amidst the growing suspicion of a potential Russian military invasion into Ukraine, new satellite images from February 5 show an increase in intensity in Russian military sites in locations like Belarus. The images are assumed to be connected to combined efforts with Russian and Belarusian exercises.
Although these images may add to the rising awareness of Ukraine and NATO allies, further imaging also depicts camps being set up closer to Ukraine’s borders, far away from where the Russian/Belarus practices are set up.
Euphoria renewed for season 3
As the dramatic second season of the blockbuster HBO series Euphoria continues to air throughout the course of February, the show has been confirmed for a third season. As one of the most encapsulating series airing modern day, there was no question as to if the series would come back for a third series, but nonetheless this announcement gives us that reassurance we all were anticipating!
Peloton enlists new CEO and removes 2,800 jobs
Popular fitness company Peloton announced the removal of their former CEO John Foley for his replacement Barry McCarthy. McCarthy has worked for the likes of Spotify and Netflix as the brands chief financial officers, now taking on the title of CEO and president of Peloton on Wednesday February 9.
Peloton, too, announced their elimination of around 2,800 employees amidst new brand operation plans. Further projects include the limitation of warehouses that the brand owns and making the switch to broadening delivery arrangements with more third-party sources. All these changes come to amass a whopping $800 million saving in annual expenses.
The company also announced that their official first factory in the United States is almost ready to open in Ohio. The production of the factory, like the other changes to the company, aims to lessen costs and save around $60 million for Peloton.
12-year-old Black swimmer almost excluded from swim meet after wearing a ‘Black Lives Matter’ swimsuit
A 12-year-old Black swimmer was nearly disqualified from a Wisconsin swim meet for wearing a ‘Black Lives Matter’ swimsuit. The Duluth Area Family YMCA, who was in sponsor of the February 6 meet, stated an independent volunteer official tried to ban the student from the meet, asserting that the suit went in opposition to a USA Swimming rule that bans political language.
Sarah Lyons, mother of Leidy, argued that her daughter wore the suit to show her unwavering support for the Black Lives Matter movement, as it is in an important cause to her. Lyons stated, “She is very passionate about social justice. She has been through a lot already at a young age. It’s a big part of her, which I think is wild at 12,” she told CNN affiliate KBJR.
The YMCA overrode the threat from the official to exclude Leidy from the swim meet. They further issued a statement that read, “The Duluth Area Family YMCA is committed to being an anti-racist organization and stands with BIPOC communities throughout the Northland and throughout our country. We know that Black Lives Matter and we will continue to work to educate ourselves, to stand against inequality, and to strive to be active allies in the ongoing fight for diversity, equity, and inclusion.”
Book bans swarm US school libraries
The United States has reportedly seen a rise in the number of book bans, increasing from the end of 2021 to mid-February. Differing book bans in various places across the nation have been argued due to the contents of such books. Often, the books under fire contain some type of content relating to topics including race, gender and sexuality.
Local school boards and librarians have faced scrutiny and potential criminal charges from concerned parents. Bills in states such as Oklahoma have been created to outlaw public school libraries from housing books that had subject matter surrounding sexual activity/identity or gender identity. Another instance that had the nation, and Whoopi Goldberg, talking followed the exclusion of the ‘Maus’ from an eighth-grade module as voted on by the McMinn County Board of Education. The removal of the crucial Holocaust novel came due to “nudity and curse words.”
These book bans have been rather controversial due to the US’ protection of free speech under the first amendment. While conservative activists have been pushing for the restriction of books that delve into the US’ history of slavery and racial oppression, liberal activists have urged against books that may contain racist or insensitive material.
NYFW captivates NYC
New York Fashion Week commenced on Friday February in New York, New York. The week full of fashion commenced on February 11 and closes on February 16. An array of designers showcased at the shows in February, all elevating the world of fashion as we know it.
Shooting following Justin Bieber concert in LA
Saturday February 12, a shooting broke out at an afterparty following a Justin Bieber concert apart of the “Homecoming Weekend.” The shooting occurred on the outside of Beverly Grove restaurant. Police are still searching for the gunman who put at least four men in the hospital. Rapper Kodak Black was reported to be among the injured from the shooting.
Super Bowl LVI
February 13 at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, CA, the hometown Los Angeles Rams triumphed over the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20. Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Dr. Dre, Eminem, and Kendrick Lamar all performed during the halftime show.
Bitcoin surpasses tech stocks by an average 12%
Though Bitcoin has suffering throughout the course of 2022, a substantial turnaround has been observed. Data in accordance with Finbold shows that as of February 13, Bitcoin outperformed leading tech stocks by an average return on investment (ROI) of 12.24%. Bitcoin surpassed six of the upper tech stocks, even including Amazon.
Sarah Palin x The New York Times defamation trial comes to an end
February 15 a Manhattan jury in the widespread Sarah Palin defamation trial against the Times ruled against the former Alaskan governor. This decision came following the judge’s decision to dismiss the suit on February 14. His reasoning stemmed from the fact that he believed that there was not enough suitable evidence to prove that the Times’ 2017 editorial in question defamed Palin.
Scientists may have a potential HIV cure
A New York woman may have been cured from HIV following an intensive stem cell treatment process. The treatment entails that patients must have a terminal cancer or condition that allows them to receive the full procedure.
While involving the use a radiation, the aim of the stem cell treatment is to replace the existing immune system with a new HIV resistant stem cells. This procedure has been proven effective in a total of three men, and a potential other two women.
Jasmine Kennedie Comes Out As Trans
Jasmine Kennedie, a contender on RuPaul’s Drag Race season 14, recently came out as trans on Untucked. Untucked is a companion show to Drag Race, where you get to see the competitors after they’ve received critiques from the judges and before the two queens to be eliminated are announced. The queens will discuss their performance, and whether or not they think they will stay within the competition, among other things.
During episode seven of the series, in a tear felt confession, Jasmine Kennedie says that she was going to begin hormones before entering the competition, and after seeing fellow trans contestant Kerri Colby, she felt the need to come out.
Russia-Ukraine Offensive
Russian leaders announced that they have approved a full-scale attack on Ukraine, after Putin announced that the neighboring country poses a threat to them. Putin believes there is aggression near the country’s border. Russia’s embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, has been cleared out. Putin delivered a fiery speech in which he declared that Ukraine had no right to exist, most likely based on the fact that the country gained its independence after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
Russian troops are continuously added to the country’s border, and The Pentagon has stated that the attacks might occur at any time.
Ukraine President Volodomir Zelenskyy stated that Russia has no reason to believe Ukraine poses any threat to them, and asked for a call to Putin, which was denied. Ukraine has now issued a State of Emergency and is preparing for the invasion. Many national leaders are deeming invasion imminent. Sanctions have been placed on several Kremlin officials as a warning. Vice President Kamala Harris stated the US response to Russia would be “swift, severe, and united.”
New South Park Episode
South Park is releasing their newest episode, “BACK TO THE COLD WAR,” at 8 PM ET on March 2nd via Comedy Central. In the episode, a lot is riding on Butter’s ability to crush the competition in the all-important dressage championship.
All-New Season Episodes will be Available to Stream in HD HERE and HERE, and the Comedy Central App post-premiere. Comedy Central’s South Park the series launched on August 13, 1997, and is based on the VHS-shared, animated short entitled “The Spirit of Christmas.” Trey Parker and Matt Stone are the co-creators of South Park. Parker, Stone, Anne Garefino and Frank C. Agnone II are the Executive Producers of the Emmy® and Peabody® Award-winning show. Eric Stough, Adrien Beard, Bruce Howell and Vernon Chatman are Producers. Christopher Brion is the Creative Director of South Park Digital Studios.
Press Room Bar and Alamo Drafthouse
For movie lovers, an elegant theater is tucked away in Lower Manhattan. We went for a private preview held by Press Room Bar and Alamo Drafthouse for signature cocktails, hip treats and typographic activation. The highly anticipated Liberty Street is the third location of the New York metropolitan area.
With 36 locations throughout the country, it was established in 1997 by the contractor and producer Time League. The home to both blockbuster and classic films, featuring a dine-in American cinema with seat-side service.
It was discovered earlier today that global superstar Rihanna is pregnant with her first child. Her baby bump was revealed when she was photographed with boyfriend A$AP Rocky in his hometown of Harlem. At the time, the couple was seen holding hands, with Rihanna wearing a long pink puffer Chanel jacket adorned with jewels over her stomach.
The couple went public in November of 2020, and have grown closer since the pandemic after being friends for several years. Both have separately talked about wanting kids together at some point, with Rihanna suggesting she wanted kids before she turned 42. According to MSN, she once stated, “I’m a Black woman. I came from a Black woman, who came from a Black woman, who came from a Black woman, and I’m going to give birth to a Black woman. It’s a no-brainer. That’s who I am. It’s the core of who I am in spirit and DNA.” No other information on the pregnancy has been released.
About Rihanna
Rihanna is a Barbadian superstar and singer, known for songs such as Diamonds, S&M, and Shut Up and Drive. She’s also a businesswoman, with her makeup line Fenty Beauty and her clothing line Savage x Fenty. She’s also an actress, having appeared in Home, Battleship, and Bates Motel (the series.) Her ninth album is expected to be released in the near future.
About A$AP Rocky
A$AP Rocky is a rapper and musician. His debut track, Peso, was leaked online and quickly received airplay. He’s a member of the A$AP Mob, which is where he received the moniker.
Strick, American rapper and singer, recently released his new album “Strick Land.” As a North Carolina native and an affiliate to Young Thugs infamous label Young Stoner Life, the artist wanted to paint a picture behind his album’s influence. If you’re already familiar with the “For Sale” rapper’s past, then you know the result is an eventful evening at an intimate boujee venue. For this specific album, Strick and his team held the party at a beautiful private art gallery in West Hollywood (known as Linc) and produced by The P.M. Firm. The ambience was unmatched with two rooms with varying vibes for all personality types. The initial reaction walking into the venue was refreshing. The first room had one section where women were embellished with paint across their bodies, while the other room displayed the new merch drop.
360 Magazine had the opportunity to sit down with the producers behind the new line, Jelani James and Jessica Raven (of companies JW Capital & Holding and Amber James), who worked directly with Strick.
“This is a family thing.. tied in through Young Thug’s dad, Big Jeff. There is no third party. It’s direct to manufacture. Strick has been really involved in every step of the process – making sure that his designs are in line with the album and the fits hit right. He wants to make sure everything has a certain aesthetic before being released.”
Nostalgic to say to the least. A room with vintage Pac-man, arcade style basketball and lemon pepper wings brought back memories of those middle school days.The real climax was when the DJ started playing songs from “Strick Land” with guest appearances from Nav, Metro Boomin and Asap Rocky. It’s safe to say this was a night to remember.
More on Strick:
Strick is a robust and multifaceted recording artist hailing from North Carolina and currently splitting his time between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Best known for honing his skills as a clever wordsmith and adept songwriter, Strick has garnered a reputation for tapping into his diverse professional background both in business and in the U.S. Air Force to elevate both his business acumen and genuine creative output alike.
After relocating to Atlanta in 2012 and founding his own branding agency for aspiring musicians Foundation 86, Strick moved to Los Angeles to pursue his own career as an artist. He then landed his first official placement on Kanye West and Juicy J’s “Ballin’,” leading him to work with artists such as Travis Scott, Jeremih, K. Michelle and Wiz Khalifa. In 2016, Strick earned his first platinum record “coordinate” off Scott’s Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight album, further igniting his hunger to continue developing his skills as a songwriter. That same year, he went on to join Young Thug on several tours, including the Hi-Tunes tour (2016) and the Hi Horse’D tour (2016/2017). Later, he was invited to join Young Thug and J. Cole on the K.O.D tour (2018), and Young Thug and Machine Gun Kelly on their co-headlining tour (2019). Most recently, Strick partook on the Justin Bieber Big Tour (2019).
In July 2017, Strick dropped his debut EP, Risk=Reward. In 2018, he released January’s Risk=Reward 2 and April’s Pairadice, going on to ink a deal with YSL Records and 300 Entertainment. He appeared on Young Thug’s 2018 Slime Language compilation, with their collaboration “STS” going on to be streamed in the millions. Making his label debut in 2019 with See You When I Land, followed by The Machine mixtape series and “Yacht Club” with Ty Dolla $ign and Young Thug.
He appeared on Young Thug’s 2018 Slime Language compilation, with their collaboration “STS”. “Moonman” featuring Kid Cudi and Young Thug is featured on the Billboard #1 album Slime Language 2. Additionally, single “WokStar” feat. Skepta is featured on the Billboard #1 album Slime Language 2. Next up, Strick is preparing for Strickland, a full-length album to be released in 2021. With features from Young Thug, Ty Dolla $ign, Gunna, Swae Lee + more, this album paints a holistic image of who Strick is and what his world looks like through his eyes and ears. Strick is a college graduate, veteran, and corporate executive turned artist who is eager to present you his unique experiences through music.
