Posts tagged with "Detroit"

BIG SEAN × DETROIT PISTONS

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The Detroit Pistons announced hip-hop icon and Detroit-native Big Sean will become the organization’s Creative Director of Innovation. In this role, Big Sean will provide creative counsel and strategic guidance on a variety of Pistons off-the-court initiatives, including team merchandise design, in-game experience, co-branded community, and social responsibility activation, and more.

To kick off the partnership, Big Sean has added his Don Life logo to the Pistons practice jersey. Photos of the jerseys are attached.

“Sean is an accomplished artist, philanthropist and entrepreneur. Having spent time with him and his family I know how deeply he cares about the city of Detroit,” said Pistons Owner Tom Gores. “We share a common desire to use the power of sports and entertainment to improve our community and make a positive impact on people’s lives. I’m excited to see what we can do working together.”

Central to the partnership, the Pistons and the Sean Anderson Foundation will work together and engage Detroiters through future community initiatives and programming. The six-time Grammy nominee will also curate music for Pistons in-game entertainment, including halftime performances and DJ playlists. Additionally, Big Sean will participate in creative sessions and spearhead collaborations with the Pistons design team to launch custom merchandise line extensions.

“It’s a dream come true and a real honor to get to work with the iconic Detroit Pistons,” said Big Sean. “I grew up in the city, which naturally made me a fan of the Bad Boys. I would later have a Grant Hill poster on my wall and then, against all odds, would watch the ’04 Pistons go on to win the Championship, inspiring the whole city of Detroit. I look forward to creatively finding new ways to contribute to their legacy and continue their dedication to the community through sports, art, and, of course, music.”

Detroit Pistons Chief Business Officer Mike Zavodsky lauded the addition of Big Sean and sees the partnership as a natural fit for the Pistons and their newly launched D-Up brand campaign.

“Big Sean embodies everything the Pistons organization and our D-Up campaign is about – creativity, hard work, and the people of Detroit,” said Zavodsky. “Big Sean and the Pistons are both a part of the fabric of Detroit, and we look forward to this partnership reflecting the culture of the city we both call home.”

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EMINEM’S MMF

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EMINEM’S MARSHALL MATHERS FOUNDATION TO RELEASE EXCLUSIVE DOWNTOWN BOXING GYM COLLAB ON BLACK FRIDAY

Just in time for Black Friday, the Marshall Mathers Foundation is releasing a limited-edition line of clothing for a good cause. The designs also make a nod to “Stan” and the 20^th anniversary of The Marshall Mathers LP.

The Marshall Mathers Foundation x DBG #Stan #MMLP collab on Carhartt gear will raise funds to help the Downtown Boxing Gym (DBG Detroit) knock out COVID-19 related learning loss. DBG is a free academic and athletic program on Detroit’s east side that’s working around the clock to prevent students from falling behind during the pandemic.

“We’re facing a crisis like we’ve never seen and we’re doing everything we can to support our kids and help them make it through,” said Khali Sweeney, DBG’s founder and CEO. “To have Eminem and the Marshall Mathers Foundation step up during this time and help raise much needed funds means the world to us. This is what we do in the D. We take care of each other. And we are truly grateful.”

Royce Da 5’9”, Director of Community Engagement and Social Justice Initiatives for The Marshall Mathers Foundation, said: “I’ve experienced firsthand the discipline, commitment, and focus that boxing training instills in young people. I’m passionate about the sport, and I’m passionate about the role that DBG plays in our community. We need to make sure the important work they do continues.”

The t-shirts and hoodies sell for $30 and $60 and are available online at the Eminem Store (shop.eminem.com) while supplies last. 100% of the proceeds will support DBG’s tutoring, mentorship, enrichment programs, college and career prep, social-emotional skills building, and basic needs support like transportation, meals, and more. Learn more at dbgdetroit.org.

The Marshall Mathers Foundation is a charitable organization dedicated to disadvantaged and at-risk youth in Detroit, Michigan and its surrounding communities. Our mission has expanded to stand as an ally in the fight against social injustice and for racial equality nationwide.

After being featured on ESPN’s UFC 257 creative for the last month, Eminem will debut his new music video for “Higher” during ESPN’s UFC 257 Countdown: Poirier vs. McGregor 2 at 2 p.m. ET this Saturday, January 23 on ABC. The video will also re-air on ESPN just prior to Saturday’s main event.

The song comes from the latest Eminem release, Music To Be Murdered By – Side B (Shady Records/Aftermath Entertainment/Interscope Records), which was released on December 18, 2020 and is the expanded edition of Music To Be Murdered By, his 11th studio album released January 17, 2020. The music video prominently features footage from ESPN’s UFC coverage and centers around Eminem inhabiting roles as both a musician and a world-class athlete, drawing allusions between the way a musician creates and prepares to perform and how an athlete trains and prepares for competition. The video, featuring cameos from Dana White and ESPN’s Michael Eaves, will revolve around Eminem’s most important battle: the one against his own demons.

“We have always been interested in fostering the synergy between music and sports and along with ESPN we have created many great moments together,” says David Nieman, VP, Sports and Gaming for Interscope Geffen A&M. “Working together to amplify Eminem’s artistic vision in such a unique way for this highly anticipated UFC event is absolutely a high point.”

“It’s always been amazing to be able to work with Eminem for promotional and programming content on various ESPN properties over the years,” said Kevin Wilson, ESPN music director. “To be able to work on this video together with his team – not only featuring our team’s great UFC coverage but also debuting it exclusively on ABC, is just invaluable.”

Eminem has been featured in a number of promotional and programming content for ESPN recently, including UFC 248, UFC 246, a spot with a custom remix and the tease for this year’s College Football Playoff National Championship, featuring him narrating the introduction and more.

Kash Doll – Bossa Nova × Tee Grizzley

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Unloading one banger after another, Kash Doll unveils a new single and animated video for “Bossa Nova” feat. Tee Grizzley today.

Listen and watch “Bossa Nova” feat. Tee Grizzley: HERE

On the track, Tee Grizzley launches into a fiery verse before Kash Doll gets fierce with one razor sharp bar after another. She also dropped an equally feisty animated video to accompany the track. “Bossa Nova” is a preview of what’s to come from Kash Doll including new music, but she is also moving into the next phase of her career. She is expanding her repertoire into more acting and solidifying herself as not only an entertainer, but a major businesswoman. 2021 will be the year of Kash Doll. Stay tuned for updates.

Kash Doll recently teamed up with DJ Infamous for “Bad Azz” feat. Mulatto & Benny The Butcher. Right out of the gate, it attracted widespread acclaim. In addition to plugs from Pitchfork and Brooklyn Vegan, UPROXX claimed, “Her comeback single shows she’s unafraid of the moment and knows just how to capture the public’s attention,” and REVOLT christened her “one of the most consistent emcees in the game today.”

Kash Doll continues to make waves. Receiving critical acclaim from Vulture and Marie Claire, Essence praised, “If there’s one rapper who can teach us a thing or two about remaining confident, it’s Kash Doll.” Meanwhile, she guested on “Friday Night Cypher” from Big Sean’s chart-dominating Detroit 2 and joined forces with HoodCelebrityy for “So Pretty.”

Kash Doll had an amazing 2019 releasing her debut album Stacked. She received a 2019 BET Award nomination for “Best Female Hip-Hop Artist,” toured the country with Meek Mill and received critical acclaim for her album from Billboard, MTV, UPROXX, BET, Forbes, Nylon and more.

ABOUT KASH DOLL

Detroit native Kash Doll has impacted the music industry with a commanding force, dropping street-earned truths with her throwback wordplay and powerful bars. The one-two combination of spirit and sass announced her as fiery female force in 2019 after quietly amassing 30 million-plus on-demand streams, garnering the BMI Social Star Award and “Issa Wave Award” at the BET Social Awards, securing a new management deal with Title 9 Productions and inking a recording contract with Republic Records. An unbelievable story brought her to this point. Losing her dad on just her first birthday, she always held down multiple jobs to support her mom and siblings. And at 18, she started investing in herself eventually opening two beauty bars and funding her own music career. She made waves on the 2014 independent debut mixtape, Keisha Vs. Kash Doll.

Following 2016’s Trapped In The Dollhouse, she developed a presence as a touring force and earned coveted co-signs from Drake, Big Sean, Rick Ross, Remy Ma, and many more. The 2018 The Vault mixtape captured #1 on multiple mixtape sites as her debut single for Republic Records “Ice Me Out” and its 2 Chainz-assisted official remix clocked 85 million-plus total streams. Last year, Kash Doll also released a project solely for her fans titled Brat Mail to thank them for all their continued support. The project garnered over 30 million global streams and features the break out single “Check.” Shortly before Brat Mail, Kash released one of her biggest singles to date, “For Everybody,” which racked up over 101 million YouTube/VEVO views independently. Outside of music, this boss runs Kash Doll Enterprises and does charity work around her hometown. Her city bestowed the “Spirit of Detroit” Award upon her.

FOLLOW KASH DOLL

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Graffiti Art: Hobby, Art, or Political Statement

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It is perhaps deliberately that this has been framed as a loaded question, is graffiti art considered to be art? But this takes us directly to the heart of the matter, what constitutes something being art is very truly on the eye of the beholder. But some serious debates are surrounding this topic.

Terminology

The term graffiti itself is problematic. Consider this article about prominent Chicago artist Dont Fret, he is referred to as a street artist. This distinction offers a more constructive spin on the entire artform, as street art is a more creative and acceptable term. You can see how celebrated the artist is from the article as he is lauded by a city official.

Criminality

Should we be considering graffiti, or street art, a crime? Well, technically it is, but only in some circumstances. The crux of the matter comes down to permission. If you paint, draw, or write anything on a surface without permission of the property owner, then by the letter of the law, it would be considered illegal vandalism. Would this result in prosecution in reality? This mainly depends on the owners’ attitude since much of the art is done either with permission or in abandoned spaces, the level of prosecution these days seems to be low in most areas. What of art on publicly owned buildings? This is a subject of hot debate as it brings politics into it (more on that later).

Should we Encourage it?

Is it an art form that should be encouraged? You could encourage young people to use it to express themselves. Take an art class, equip them with some Dang Paint and find an area to let them give it a go. Many art schools and colleges have whole courses on graffiti art as a legitimate medium. Reputation still holds it back for some more conservative folks, but it is steadily gaining momentum as a serious and respected medium.

Part of the City

In many places, grafitti art has become a defining feature of the city and its culture. High-quality street art can be stunningly beautiful and show much of the culture and history of a place when done well. Take the series of stunning murals in Glasgow, Scotland that is now a famous feature that residents and visitors to the city rightly marvel at.

Politics

Politics often, but not always, plays a big part in street art or graffiti art. Take the world-famous Banksy, no-one even knows who he or she is, but many of the pieces are political, showing a real flavor of social commentary. These pieces have sparked more social debate in the last couple of decades than any traditional artform as they reach ordinary people who would never have considered visiting an art gallery. Other more overtly political examples can be seen in communities with a much more overt political struggle, the murals on display in Northern Irish communities, on both sides, are excellent examples.

Stomp Wars Virtual Homecoming Experience

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Stomp Wars, the celebrated national stepping competition and cultural institution, insisted the show must go on for 2020, and that’s exactly what’s going to happen!

In order to engage, rally, and uplift students, the Stomp Wars program announces a historic first with the launch of The Stomp Wars HBCU-KNOW Virtual Homecoming Experience on September 26 – October 28. The event will be powered by The Thurgood Marshall College Fund and broadcast live from stompwars.com, with a live simulcast on Facebook and YouTube. The Top 2 Step Team Winners will go on to compete in the World Of Dance Championships.

Now on the event’s 13th year, on-air personality Rock-T returns as the host. In this latest installment of the program, The Collegiate Edition will celebrate the HBCU community by showcasing incredible stepping by the Greek organizations Divine 9, HBCU-KNOW Battle of the Bands, HBCU-KNOW Cheerleaders, HBCU-KNOW Majorettes, and more.

Since its inception, Stomp Wars has consistently inspired generations to graduate high school and pursue higher education. To date, more than 10,000 students have been galvanized by the event as the initiative rewrites the rules and brings us one step closer to the eradication of social injustice and systemic racism. For 2020, the core messageTomorrow can be better than today will be transmitted to the online audience.

Check out the impactful message for yourself by watching the virtual Stomp Wars.

About Rock-T:

Rocky Turner is an American Radio-TV Personality, Host, DJ, Producer, Sports Announcer, Author, and entrepreneur. Known to listeners as Rock-T and currently a member of the phenomenally successful Rickey Smiley Morning Show, Rock-T reaches 7 million listeners daily through this nationally syndicated show with markets that include Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Detroit, Miami, Philadelphia, and Orlando. He is also a member of the wildly popular TV show, Dish Nation and Rickey Smiley For Real.

Rock-T is also the founder and creator of Stomp Wars, the most successful stomping competition in the country. As Rock-T’s vision for these disenfranchised youngsters continued to grow and expand, as did the reach of the event. Today, Stomp Wars is not only an annual sell-out on the campus of the University of Texas Arlington, it is also a hit with thriving teens across the country teaching students about the power of perseverance and diligence.

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TMG Fre$h × Tee Grizzley

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Recording artist TMG FRE$H releases his newest single this week titled “Champagne Cry“, featuring Detroit rapper, Tee Grizzley. FRE$H brings his synthy vocals and parabolic lyrics about seeing his kindness being taken as weakness to the Audi produced after hours track.

“Champagne Cry” stands as the first collaboration between TMG FRE$H and Tee Grizzley. The pair take to the 808 heavy beat to show out for the harsh truth of the champagne lifestyle.

“We’re both very laid back – almost reserved. I think we both sensed that integrity in each other and we’ve been good friends ever since.” says FRE$H about meeting Grizzley and recording their first single together. “This single came about while we were playing different records and when I played Champagne Cry Tee’s eyes lit up. He was like, ‘Bro, let me jump on that.’ Everything else was history.”

With FRE$H’s melodic vocals and Grizzley’s hard-hitting raps, the duo perfectly bounce their styles off each other in this single celebrating the hustle of holding true to your principles, rising to every occasion and to keep on shining!

“Champagne Cry” drops months after FRE$H debuted his single, “Anybody”, earlier this year. The accompanying music video, directed by Chancellor Warhol, racked up over one million views and became an instant digital hit. TMG FRE$H has successfully positioned himself as “one-to-watch” for the remainder of 2020 and doesn’t plan on slowing the momentum in his music career anytime soon.

Courtney Bell – “Say You Wanna”

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COURTNEY BELL RELEASES A SINGLE FOR THE LADIES IN “SAY YOU WANNA”.

LISTEN TO SAY YOU WANNA HERE

Detroit native, Courtney Bell is back to deliver a message for the ladies. While slipping into his smooth side over the Noc produced beat, Courtney takes materialism out of relationships. The retro, melodic and synth-heavy production allows Courtney to show off lyrical strength while reminding us he’s “nothing like your last one.”

Showing no signs of slowing down, Courtney Bell has a message of enlightenment to deliver to the masses. Earlier this summer he kicked off with a freestyle visual, “Pride”depicting his flow versatility, talking about the complexities of having pride. He followed up with single, “GB4″ Furthering his mission to empower marginalized communities as well as bring spirituality to the streets, Courtney delivers water to Flint residents monthly while sharing his personal experiences of his life.

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More about Courtney Bell:

Courtney is a spiritual man and often follows the Torah as he resides in Detroit. His daily routines include meditations and calisthenics at least twice a day. During the winter time you can find Courtney plowing snow for low income communities and the elderly. He’s rooted in uplifting the people around him and bridging the gap between the conscious community and the hood. Through his music he is dedicated to bringing “spirits and souls into the light.” Courtney’s music was featured in media outlets such as: Hot New Hip Hop, The Source, Detroit Times, RapRadar & Fake Shore Drive. In the past he’s opened for notable hip hop acts like: WS Boogie, Dave East and Eric Bellinger.

Jayla Darden – “Demonstration”

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EMERGING R&B SINGER-SONGWRITER/PRODUCER JAYLA DARDEN RETURNS WITH “DEMONSTRATION”

With a beat inspired by the works of Timbaland and Missy Elliot, this song is about needing action over words and promises. “Demonstration” which was written, produced and engineered by Jayla herself will be the first of many glimpses into Jayla’s Quarantine Creations.

This single will be released with a visualizer and will continue to feed the marketplace and establish her as an artist. The 21-year-old singer, songwriter, producer, and engineer is bold on the soulful track as she reclaims her love and needs in a partner. With a sound all her own, Jayla’s R&B language is a combination of today’s alternative soul with an aura of 2000s R&B.

Listen to it HERE

Lyrics like “Lately my interest is fading/ separate locations / I’m losing
patience,” are worthy of an IG caption and remind us what’s to come
from the rising singer-songwriter.

Raised in Detroit, Michigan, Jayla blended her love for music with the wonders of technology to teach herself programs like Ableton, GarageBans and ProTools but also master instruments like the guitar and keyboard.

A musical diet of gospel and contemporary jazz, vocalists like Destiny’s Child, Aaliyah, Brandy, Jhene Aiko, Frank Ocean, and beat smiths like J. Cole, Missy Elliott and Key Wane, helped shape Jayla’s understanding of her sound: heavy drums, soft melodies, and a positive slant on love and everyday life.

Since 2015, Jayla has built up a SoundCloud fanbase with short releases—including her cover of Drake’s “Jaded” which garnered 350,000 streams. She’s also found fans in the form of music startup Soulection and Grammy-winning artist H.E.R. In May, Jayla joined H.E.R. for her ‘Girls With Guitars Series’ on Instagram to sing her single “On To Something” and a beautiful cover of Aaliyah’s “I Don’t Wanna.” You can watch Jayla’s next performance at The 13th Annual Roots Picnic Virtual Event in partnership with Michelle Obama on Saturday, June 27th.

“Demonstration” comes after the release of her sultry EP Onto Something, which dropped in late 2019 with fan favorites like “Be Your Girl” and the title track, “Onto Something”.

For more information, please visit HERE

Jayla Darden’s “Demonstration” eSingle: Retail

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Tee Grizzley – Payroll

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MULTI-PLATINUM SELLING RAPPER TEE GRIZZLEY RELEASES NEW SINGLE + VIDEO FOR “PAYROLL” FT. PAYROLL GIOVANNI + TO BE FEATURED ON NEW PROJECT THE SMARTEST TO DROP THIS YEAR

WATCH HERE

Today, rapper Tee Grizzley releases a new single and music video for “Payroll” (WATCH HERE) featuring fellow Detroit native Payroll Giovanni. With an assist from Payroll Giovanni, Tee Grizzley taps back into the streets of Detroit going bar for bar over the thunderous beat. Exclaiming “Looked up to Payroll growing up, look b***h I’m from the D” setting the tone for the rest of the track. This release comes with the announcement of his new project The Smartest which will include fan-favorite “Red Light” produced by Hit-Boy, his viral single “Satish” dedicated to his late aunt, along with a range of other guest appearances.

KEEP UP WITH TEE GRIZZLEY:

instagram / twitter / youtube

Queen Naija – Butterflies Pt. 2

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Preserving unprecedented momentum from a breakthrough 2019, platinum-certified R&B singer and songwriter Queen Naija officially shares her new single “Butterflies Pt. 2” today. Get it HERE via Capitol Music Group. It stands out as the sequel to her recently platinum-certified 2018 single “Butterflies.”

Earlier this week, she teased out the track on YouTube with a “Memory Video.” View it HERE. The clip impressively neared 1 million views in less three days. It intercuts intimate real-life moments between Queen Naija and her boyfriend Clarence White. Cycling through actual Facetime chats and iPhone video, it seamlessly reflects the vulnerability of the track itself. Over acoustic guitar-laced minimal production by Rice N’ Peas [Kiana Ledé, Bazzi], emotion shines through the verses as she confesses, “I still get butterflies.”

“Butterflies Pt. 2” sets the stage for an even bigger 2020 as she readies her anxiously awaited full-length debut album for release very soon.