Posts tagged with "Hip-Hop"

Jordan Ward

On the heels of his buzzing debut album, FORWARD, R&B standout Jordan Ward unleashes the funk-influenced banger, “FAMJAM4000.” The song, named one of Rolling Stone’s “Songs You Need to Know,” evokes that classic 1970s R&B sound but adds a fresh contemporary feel courtesy of the track’s top-tier producers, Lido, Nascent, and Zach Ezzy. The carefree vibe translates to the song’s music video, featuring Jordan reveling in his Black boy joy in his hometown of St. Louis.

Keeping the momentum going, Jordan Ward also proudly announces his first headlining tour, The FORWARD Tour. The trek begins May 3 in Atlanta and includes shows in some of the biggest music markets, including Brooklyn, Chicago, Los Angeles and his native St. Louis. Fans will also have many more chances to catch Jordan on the road this spring. He’s currently supporting JID and Smino on their Luv Is 4Ever Tour, which wraps March 29. Days later, he’ll take the stage at the legendary Dreamville Festival in North Carolina (April 2) on an all-star lineup featuring J. Cole, Drake, Summer Walker, Burna Boy and more.

The new announcements cap a milestone week for Jordan Ward and FORWARD, which has earned widespread acclaim. Okayplayer celebrated the album’s “refreshing” sound and highlighted Jordan’s “knack for unique sounds is also showcased on this well-produced compilation,” while Vibe praised, “the newcomer asserts himself as a force to reckon with.” Billboard called the album cut “PRICETAG/BEVERLYWOOD” the “Freshest Find” of the week as the No. 1 most exciting track among the newest R&B and hip-hop releases.

FORWARD delivers on the promise that has made Jordan Ward one of the most encouraging and anticipated breakthrough acts of 2023. Drawing influences ranging from old-school funk, alternative rock and hip-hop, FORWARD sees Jordan Ward elevate and expand the genre and all its potential. Album highlights include the Joony collaboration “IDC,” hailed as an “utterly relatable funky anthem,” “WHITE CROCS,” with rising rapper and fellow St. Louis native Ryan Trey and the flirtatious “CHERIMOYA,” which Complex spotlighted and acclaimed, “Bringing words to life through music is a special talent, which is why you should be paying attention to Ward.” The 14-track album is executive produced by Lido, whose credits include collaborations with Ariana Grande, Mariah Carey, Chance the Rapper, Ella Mai, Halsey, Smino and more.

FORWARD, too, holds layers of significance for its creator. “FORWARD, not only pushing our sound and creativity, but pushing to evolve and break cycles” Jordan says of his album’s name. “FOR WARD, a dedication to my family and our future. FOUR-WARD, my fourth project, but also a FOREWORD in my story being the debut album!”

DJ KHALED – GOD DID

GLOBAL ICON DJ KHALED NOMINATED FOR SIX 2023 GRAMMY® AWARDS

IN TOP CATEGORIES SUCH AS “BEST ALBUM OF THE YEAR,” “BEST RAP ALBUM,” & MORE

NEW ALBUM GOD DID OUT NOW

Another one! Global mega-star DJ Khaled has once again risen to the top of the game with six nominations at the 2023 GRAMMY® Awards. He has earned a total of 10 nominations throughout his career to date. The 2023 GRAMMY® Awards airs live from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA on February 5! He has also notably tied Future for most rap category nominations this year.

Leading across categories, he picked up three nods for “GOD DID” [feat. JAY-Z, Fridayy, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, & John Legend], including “Song of the Year,” “Best Rap Song,” and “Best Rap Performance.” His most lauded work to date, GOD DID, also snags a nomination for “Best Rap Album.” He scored a nod in the category “Best Melodic Rap Performance” for “Beautiful” [feat. SZA & Future]. Plus, he emerges in the biggest category of the night, garnering a nomination for “Best Album of the Year” for his contribution to Mary J Blige’s Good Morning Gorgeous [Deluxe].

Stay tuned for more from DJ Khaled as always!

Earlier this year, Khaled captured #1 on the Billboard Top 200 with his thirteenth full-length studio album, GOD DID [We The Best Music Group/Epic Records]. It stood out as his fourth career #1 debut on the Top 200 and fifth straight #1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart.

Get GOD DID—HERE.

The album has arrived as a cultural milestone in its own right. Stretching past the eight-minute mark, the title track “GOD DID” [feat. Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, JAY-Z, John Legend, & Fridayy] has sparked an important conversation. As part of a special report for MSNBC, Ari Melber host of The Beat broke down JAY-Z’s four-minute verse as a cogent and cohesive analysis on the failures of the prolonged generational drug war framed through the icon’s own journey embodied in the rhyme, “cocaína into champagne.“ However, it didn’t stop there. Khaled, JAY-Z, Melber, and journalist Rob Markman engaged in this discourse publicly on Twitter Spaces. JAY-Z went one step further and uploaded Melber’s initial report as “HOV DID” on all streaming platforms. Rolling Stone and People have chronicled this chain of events, and the conversation continues. However, it all started on “GOD DID.”

Meanwhile, “Use This Gospel (Remix) [feat. Kanye West, Emimen (prod. by Dr. Dre & The ICU)] bowed at #1 on the Billboard Hot Gospel Songs Chart and Hot Christian Songs Chart—Khaled’s first #1 entries on the respective charts. Additionally, he notched 10 entries on the Billboard Hot 100, including “God Did” at #17, “Staying Alive,” which is now RIAA Certified Gold, at #21 (Greatest Gainer/Streaming), “Beautiful” at #29, “Big Time” at #31, “Use This Gospel (Remix)”at #49, “Juice WRLD Did” at #55, “Keep Going” at #57 “Party” at #66, “It Ain’t Safe” at #77 “No Secret” at #78 and “Let’s Pray” at #86.

Beyond posting up over 800 million cumulative streams and views, GOD DID finds Khaled everywhere. GQ spoke to him as part of an in-depth profile and proclaimed, “Sixteen years after his star-studded debut, 2006’s Listennn… the Album, many of its same guests showed up for God Did, and getting these now-giants to answer the call today is even more of an impressive feat.” Meanwhile, Elliott Wilson and Brian “B.Dot” Miller of Rap Radar chatted with him for an all-encompassing podcast. Plus, he took the stage at the MTV VMA to present the award for “Best Collaboration” to Lil Nas X and Jack Harlow for “Industry Baby.”

He celebrated the rollout with an unprecedented deluge of videos, including, “Big Time” [feat. Future & Lil Baby], “It Ain’t Safe”[feat. Nardo Wick & Kodak Black],“Party All The Time”[feat. Quavo & Takeoff], “These Streets Know My Name”[feat. Skillibeng, Buju Banton, Capleton, Bounty Killer, & Sizzla], “Keep Going” [feat. Lil Durk, 21 Savage, & Roddy Ricch], “Beautiful” [feat. SZA & Future], “Way Past Luck” [feat. 21 Savage], and “Jadakiss Interlude” [feat. Jadakiss].

Delivering the hip-hop event of the summer, he welcomed an A-list cohort of friends to join him for his latest magnum opus. For the first time ever, he collaborates with none other than Dr. Dre and The ICU in addition to joining forces with Eminem, Future, Kanye West, SZA, 21 Savage, Lil Wayne, Lil Durk, Roddy Ricch, Travis Scott, Latto, City Girls, Kodak Black, Quavo, Takeoff, Gunna, Bounty Killer, Sizzla, Buju Banton, Skillibeng, Capelton, Fridayy, Don Toliver, Jadakiss, Nardo Wick, Vory, John Legend, and the late Juice WRLD. Of course, he also reunites with longtime brothers Drake, JAY-Z, and Rick Ross, while his sons Asahd and Aalam guest and co-Executive Produce once more. Check out the full tracklisting below.

He notably set the stage for the album with “Staying Alive” [feat. Drake & Lil Baby]. It has already amassed over 185 Million audio streams and 50M views for the music video. Plus, it bowed at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100, holding strong on the chart.

The anthem king has returned with GOD DID, and he delivers his biggest, boldest, and best body of work to date.

Last year, Khaled unleashed his twelfth full-length album, KHALEDKHALED [We The Best Music Group/Epic Records]. It arrived as his third #1 debut on the Billboard Top 200, sixth #1 on the Top Rap Albums Chart, and fourth #1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart. It also reached platinum status.

Two words say it all, GOD DID.

RED BULL SYMPHONIC: RICK ROSS × Orchestra Noir

RAP ICON RICK ROSS AND ACCLAIMED

ALL-BLACK SYMPHONY, ORCHESTRA NOIR RING IN U.S. DEBUT OF RED BULL SYMPHONIC IN ATLANTA

Award-Winning Violinist Mapy and Soulful Southern Ensemble Sainted Trap Choir Kicked Off the Show with a Medley of Hip-Hop Hits, followed by Rick Ross and Orchestra Noir Performing Songs from Ross’ Indelible Catalog

On Friday, November 4, Red Bull Symphonic—an unprecedented collaboration of hip-hop and classical symphony—made its stateside debut in the cultural mecca of Atlanta, Georgia with rap icon Rick Ross performing with the all-Black symphony, Orchestra Noir. The sold out, standing room only event, held at the prestigious Atlanta Symphony Hall, delivered a once-in-a-lifetime celebration of music, community, and Black excellence.

After Maestro Jason Ikeem Rodgers led the Orchestra in a traditional symphony overture written specially for the evening, award-winning Parisian violinist Mapy took to the stage to perform a medley of hits, including Rihanna’s “Rude Boy,” Beyoncé’s “Crazy in Love, Sister Nancy’s “Bam Bam,” and Usher’s “You Make Me Wanna.” Next up, acclaimed ensemble Sainted Trap Choir blessed the crowd with a soulful set of hip-hop covers that paid homage to the spirit of the evening.

The biggest boss himself, multi-platinum superstar and rap icon Rick Ross, then brought the house down with an hour-long set of 26 of his greatest hits, including “Aston Martin Music,” “Devil is a Lie,” “I’m a Boss,” “Hustlin,” and “Stay Schemin,” which he dedicated to late rapper Takeoff. With DJ Sam Sneak on the tables, Ross had the crowd on their feet all night, concluding with an epic version of “God Did” that included an appearance by both Mapy and Sainted Trap Choir.

ABOUT RED BULL SYMPHONIC:

Merging classic with contemporary, Red Bull Symphonic is a groundbreaking spectacle that brings together today’s most exciting and influential artists with a full-scale symphonic orchestra. The show celebrates Red Bull Symphonic’s first-ever debut in the U.S. and pays homage to the heritage of hip-hop and the excellence of Black musicianship in the city of Atlanta. For over two decades, Red Bull has supported artists and local communities worldwide through festivals, workshops, and artist collaborations, with Red Bull Symphonic adding to a successful history of events in Atlanta (previous Atlanta-based events include: Red Bull Culture Clash 2018, Red Bull Music Festival 2019, Red Bull Zeltron World Wide 2020 and Red Bull SoundClash 2021).

MALACHIII – HOW TO BE A STAR

Singer-Songwriter Malachiii releases new single “How To Be A Star” featured in MADDEN NFL 23 GAME & Soundtrack, and Malachiii‘s Debut EPThe Ascension is out now!

ABOUT MALACHIII:

Malachiii knows joy. Over the last few years, the singer, songwriter, and producer from Southern California has demonstrated an affection for elastic flows, buoyant rhythms, and melodies lit by a magic-hour glow. This ecstatic energy has made his take on pop, hip-hop, and R&B infectious, but what makes it most special is his willingness to engage in heavy themes with a maturity and grace that belies his age, delivering grinning verses while pondering big questions. He’s come to understand that while his ultimate goal is to emit love, light, positivity, and good vibes, it’s most important to stay true to the real depths of his experience, even if it’s not always sunshine and rainbows. Malachiii grew up with the urge to perform, but it was after going on tour with GRAMMY Award-winning composer AR Rahman at the age of 14 that he felt inspired to write and produce his own music. His ability to translate relatable emotions into hooks earned him a publishing deal with Electric Feel (Post Malone, Iann Dior, 24KGoldn), which only bolstered his writing and producing efforts. Now, Malachiii is stepping into the spotlight in his own right with the recent release of his debut EP, The Ascension [Motown Records]. The EP’s breakout track “Hold Me” and his new single “How To Be A Star” are both featured in the Madden NFL 23 video game, only proving that he’s here to create a lasting impact within music and culture.

Hit-Boy × 24hrs × Devin Morrison

Today, 3x Grammy Award-winning producer/recording artist/songwriter Hit-Boy returns with his new single “SCHOLAR.” The track comces with an accompanying music video directed by thirdeyeraz and produced by Nu.Wav Productions featuring 24hrs and Devin Morrison. The visual arrives with a special cameo from Jabari Banks (of NBC Peacock’s reboot of Fresh Prince of Bel Air) as the leading star.

“SCHOLAR” sees Hit-Boy ascend from behind the boards to school his contemporaries in the art of getting fly. From foreign silks to Cartier frames, class is in session and Hit-Boy is the teacher, providing a step-by-step guide on how to be the best dressed. Whether they’re living the high life, or providing a small glimpse into Surf Club’s chaotic world, Hit-Boy and 24hrs let everyone know that math is the only subject that matters and knowing how to “add up every dollar” is essential.

Hit-Boy continues to take Hip Hop by storm with more new music. Ahead of his forthcoming EP due for release this fall, the iconic beatmaker is leaning heavily into embracing all aspects of his artistry. Since announcing his partnership with UnitedMasters to launch their Beat Exchange marketplace, Hit-Boy has shown no signs of slowing down, landing an instrumental role in Madden 23’s global campaign for their official launch.

About Hit-Boy:

As one of the music industry’s most sought out hip-hop producers, the California-bred Hit-Boy has more than earned his moniker. Born Chauncey Hollis, the 34-year-old, 3x GRAMMY Award-winning multi-hyphenate artist from Pasadena and the neighboring Inland Empire, boasts an impressive roster of credits, from wielding pop smashes for Beyoncé, Rihanna and Ariana Grande to producing hit records for Jay-Z, Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, Travis Scott, and more over his thirteen plus years in the industry. As a rapper and songwriter in his own right, Hit-Boy has recorded and released seven mixtapes and three collaborative albums. Recently earning a GRAMMY for Nas’ King’s Disease (Hit served as an executive producer on the ‘Best Rap Album’), the super producer has earned his first-time GRAMMY nomination for the ‘Producer of the Year’ category. He has racked up several additional accolades, including ‘Producer of the Year’ at the 2021 and 2020 BET Hip-Hop Awards, ‘Producer of the Year’ at the XXL Awards, ‘Outstanding Producer of the Year’ at the 2021 NAACP Image Awards and Complex’s ‘Best Hip-Hop Producer Alive’ of 2020. He recently served as executive producer for Nas’ King’s Disease (GRAMMY winner) and King’s Disease II, Big Sean’s Detroit 2 (debuted No. 1 on the Billboard 200) and Benny the Butcher’s Burden of Proof.

Yung Gravy – Betty (Get Money)

Strutting back into the spotlight, multiplatinum hip-hop phenomenon Yung Gravy returns with a brand new single and video entitled “Betty (Get Money).” Listen to “Betty (Get Money)”—HERE.

“Betty (Get Money)” pops off as a generation-bridging banger of the highest order produced by Dillon Francis, Dwilly, and Popnick. On the track, Gravy reignites the classic chorus of Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up” (and its iconic synths). In between, he ignites one clever and catchy bar after another until he turns up on the hook, “Never take a L no more, never take a damn thing slow, all I know is chase this dough and get money.” Directed by Adriaan Kirchner, the 80’s inspired music video finds Gravy surrounded by beautiful synchronized dancers in elaborate settings as he dons fresh white suiting, a fur coat, and hard bottom shoes.

About the single, he commented, “With every project I’ve done, I’ve always had a continuing narrative with MILF names. This is like the eighth name. ‘Betty’ is a dope one. It’s inspired by Betty White, RIP. I reserved the title for one of my favorite songs.”

It paves the way for much more music to come from Gravy very soon.

This year alone, Gravy has only accelerated his meteoric rise. He co-headlined a massive tour with Dillon Francis and unleashed the Cake & Cognac EP. Additionally, he played to packed arenas with the legendary Limp Bizkit. He has also churned out a series of RIAA certified platinum and gold bangers thus far. These include the platinum “Mr. Clean,” platinum “1 Thot 2 Thot Red Thot Blue Thot,” gold “oops!!!,” gold “Magic” and gold “Whip A Tesla” with bbno$.

ABOUT YUNG GRAVY:

Only the best things get better with age—wine, whisky, cheddar, beef, 401ks, and the list goes on. Yung Gravy gets better with age too. For all of the swagger and style he exhibited upon his arrival, he somehow got even smoother since introducing himself back in 2016. The jewelry is more expensive, the outfits are more ostentatious, the hair is longer, and the flows are harder. Of course, the multiplatinum Minnesota-born MC is still the kind of guy you keep away from your mom (if you don’t want a new stepdad). 2018’s Snow Cougar EP blessed the world with the RIAA certified platinum singles “Mr. Clean” and “1 Thot 2 Thot Red Thot Blue Thot.” His 2019 full-length debut, Sensational, yielded the gold-certified “Magic” and gold-certified “Whip A Tesla” with best friend and longtime cohort bbno$ (pronounced “baby no money”). Alongside bbno$, he dropped the Baby Gravy EP and its follow-up Baby Gravy 2 EP. Meanwhile, Gasanova put the pedal to the metal with gold-certified “oops!!!.” He joined forces with Dillon Francis for the Cake & Cognac EP and a blockbuster co-headline tour. He’s the rare force of nature who can shut down arenas with Limp Bizkit or co-star in a music video with a cast member from Vanderpump Rules. Manifesting his dream collaboration, he wound up sharing the screen with Martha Stewart in a commercial for her frozen food line shown in theaters nationwide. After streams in the billions, packed venues, and “side missions” with Martha Stewart, he stirs up his tastiest sauce yet on more music to come in 2022.

Yung Gray artist image via Republic Records Media for use by 360 MAGAZINE

YVONTI × MVRE

Electric Dance music phenomenon YVONTI has caught the attention of countless for their distinctive take on concealing their identity. Though mask mandates have slowly been lifted in the year 2022, YVONTI keeps themselves hidden by wearing a mask. That’s right; this artist’s true identity has been kept completely secret.

So, why exactly do they do it? Why did this choose this route for their career?

YVONTI decided to hide their identity to take a stand in opposition to societal norms, forcing audiences to throw away preconceptions revolving around race, gender and sexuality. In hopes to remind audiences that it doesn’t matter who you are or what you look like, the true matter at hands matters is the music that is being produced. An artist unlike any other that we’ve seen modernly, YVONTI continues to break boundaries.

Adding in the likes of Swedish Dance Pop Music producer/artist MVRE, we see the two powerhouses collaborate on YVONTI’s latest single “Looking For Me” with a fresh remixed track. The track is full of modern, reimagined pop and dance music influences, showcasing the duos true mutual power.

MVRE, too, stands up for what is truly important to him through his musical endeavors. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, MVRE has continued to voice how he often grew up with no other artists inside of the Electric Dance music category that he truly connected with. Speaking on such important topics has cemented himself as an advocate within the musical realm.

The 360 team had the opportunity to chat with both YVONTI and MVRE about their artistic careers.

When speaking with YVONTI, we were able to learn more about their reasoning behind the choice to conceal their identity, their musical inspirations and so much more. Let’s dive in.

Q: When did you know that you wanted to pursue a career in music?

A: Music has been a key part of my life for as long as I can remember. In my teens I discovered Electronic Dance Music and fell in love. After that I started producing and realized I wanted to pursue a career in music.

Q: What artists do you look up to the most?

A: I feel quite connected to bands like The Beatles when it comes to my message but musically my inspiration comes from artists like Avicii, Swedish House Mafia, Marshmello, among others.

Q: Tell us a little more about your decision to mask your identity as an artist, and when did you make that artistic decision for your brand?

A: I believe that many uprising issues in the world revolves around preconceptions about colour, sexuality, gender, etc. and I’ve seen it affect the music industry as well. I want people to judge me for my music not judge me for the way I look or the way I act. People are different and if there was more acceptance around the differences there would be fewer conflicts. Strong forces are clearly trying to polarize our society and have so far succeeded since friends/families now can become enemies solely based on different political views. Though I understand that emotions are powerful in questions like these, it shouldn’t ruin those important relationships. I want to be a force to counter the polarization that is connected to preconceptions by letting people judge my music not my person. My plan is to reveal my identity in the future to prove my point.

Q: What type of artist would you describe yourself as? What genres are your favorite to create for?

A: My roots come from the EDM genre but recently I’ve enjoyed producing more pop-like music as well as hiphop.

Q: What does music mean for YVONTI?

A: When I was young, music took me to another place where I could escape reality for a while. I believe that many people feel the same as me, an example is when we’re on a bus or plane and we plug in our headsets and listen to music to escape the less entertaining reality. It’s a way to ”capture the moment” even when the moment isn’t the most enjoyable one. In these situations (and everywhere else) you can choose music after your current mood in order to make yourself feel the way you want to feel. Music is powerful, it can help people in all kinds of situations and my goal is to play a part in my listeners life by creating music that connects them to their emotions.

Q: Will YVONTI’s identity ever be revealed?

A: As noted above I will reveal my identity in the future and if you pay attention you might notice when I start dropping clues on who I am.

Q: What’s next for YVONTI?

A: We’re soon revealing my next release which I am really excited about and more news will follow shortly after. Stay tuned!

360 then got to speak with MVRE about their early beginnings, what LGBTQ+ representation truly means to them and about diversification in the electronic music scene. Let’s take a look at what they had to say.

Q: What was it like growing up in a small town with a lack of diversity and inclusion?

A: I guess you never think of it much as a kid cause all you know is your hometown, but as I got older I slowly started to realize that I didn’t relate that much to the people around me and that there were a few too many that I didn’t share views or values with. Anything that stood out in any way wasn’t really received or accepted particularly well amongst (not all but) most people. I do love my hometown and growing up there, but as with all small towns, however charming, people have a tendency to become cut off and conservative in a way. It’s very sheltered if you don’t actively venture out to see and experience “the real world”.

Q: Did you admire/look up to any artists while growing up that have influenced your artistic career?

A: I think Blink 182 were my first idols going into my early teens and pop punk was the first genre that I really fell in love with. I think I picked up a lot of my way of playing guitar from pop punk, something that I’ve carried over into my EDM productions. I always try to incorporate at least some guitar! Justice was a huge inspiration for getting into electronic music and still holds a special place in my heart and I’ll never forget the first time I heard Swedish House Mafia or Skrillex. I think that speaks a lot for how varied my productions can be, I really take inspiration from most music I like in some way.

Q: When did you decide to pursue creating dance pop music? Did you grow up listening to the genre?

A: No, not really. Like I mentioned, I got into Pop Punk early and from that more Punk and Metal as I started to play in bands. It wasn’t until High School when I heard Justice and similar acts that I started to dabble in making electronic music, though I knew nothing about how to do it. At the end of High School I had gotten into more House music and Dubstep as well and I had my first few DJ-gigs at small clubs. I practiced my productions and my sound started to slowly move towards the Dance Pop-ish sound it has today and 10+ years later here I am, still learning haha! MVRE didn’t come around until around 2017, which was when I decided that I wanted to get more serious about my music.

Q: How important is it for the youth, specifically LGBTQ, to see themselves in the people that they look up to the most?

A: I think it’s very important! It’s about feeling validated, that you belong and knowing you can achieve your dreams, the way you want, just the way you are. Seeing someone “like you” that you look up to can mean a lot.

Q: Do you think that the electronic music scene is making steps towards diversification, or do you think that there’s a long way to go?

A: Yes I do, I think that it’s moving in the right direction. You see more female DJs and artist-producers now than 10 years ago, and more LGBTQ representation too. The mainstream EDM scene is still very “straight-male” dominated, but again, I think it’s moving in the right direction. The more diversity in any genre or field, the more vibrant and meaningful the experience can be for everyone and we all learn and grow from it.

Q: What does electronic music mean to you?

A: I think it’s such a wide and interesting span of sounds, emotions and expressions. You can go deep and vibey, dark and distorted, uplifting and melodic and everything in between. To me I think electronic music is both freedom and constraint at the same time. I can express myself really freely and genuinely, but I also want to make you move, to dance, and that keeps me grounded in a way.

Q: What can we expect from MVRE in the future?

A: A lot of new music, I’m really excited for the projects coming up! Also it would be really fun to get out and start playing shows again. Nothing is in the books yet but who knows what the future holds!

Lute – Gold Mouf Deluxe

After crafting an entrancing debut, headlined by his gripping issues with anxiety and self-doubt, North Carolina MC Lute quenched fans’ thirst for more music with his deluxe release of Gold Mouf, including “Luther’s Freestyle,” “Run It Back,” and “Like Wine.” The latter receives the visual treatment from 12VY as GRAMMY-Award winner DJ Drama bolsters Lute’s lyrical exercise with his braggadocios adlibs. Standing in front of a fleet of cars, including a cherry red BMW, Lute’s confidence reigns supreme as he barks at his detractors with a series of jabs: “Shit, so fuck who ain’t believin’ me/ Can never say I’m wack, ’cause you rap niggas never seein’ me.” “Like Wine” comes on the heels of Lute’s recently released videos “Eye to Eye” and “Changes.” Check out Lute’s latest offering HERE.

The GRAMMY-nominated rapper’s newest project is just one of many exciting developments in recent weeks. Lute performed at the long-awaited return of the annual Dreamville Festival last month, with his set praised in a shoutout from Complex. He also joined his labelmates for two cuts on the D-Day: A Gangsta Grillz Mixtape compilation, which debuted in the top 5 of Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and Top Rap Albums charts.

With Gold Mouf Chronicles, Lute gets vulnerable about his battle with anxiety, and the toll it had on his family. He also shares his bout with open-heart surgery that left his future up to fate. While the procedure was successful, Lute’s experiences have a lasting mental and physical impact. But rather than succumb to his fears, Lute valiantly wears his vulnerabilities on his sleeves, advancing his skills as an MC and deepening his connection with his fans

SK8 – Taylor Gang

The Grammy Awards

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Sunday, April 3, the 64th Grammy Awards were held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Trevor Noah hosted the esteemed award show where looks were turned on the red carpet, performances were given and winners were crowned.

A good number of awards were bestowed before the telecast commenced, including The Best Rap Album award won by Tyler, the Creator’s Call Me If You Get Lost. The Grammy’s have had a longstanding history of opposition with hip-hop dating all the way back to 1989. A pattern of not broadcasting or platforming hip-hop has grown to be infamous with the Grammy’s, hinting as to why many artists in the genre were not in attendance and have even boycotted the show.

Of the most captivating performances of the night included Olivia Rodrigo, who walked away with a stunning three Grammy Awards by the end of the night. She took to the stage while performing her breakout 2021 hit, ‘Drivers License,’ which ultimately won the Grammy for Best Pop Solo Performance.

Other noteworthy acts included Billie Eilish’s rendition of her hit ‘Happier Than Ever,’ and Lil Nas X joined by Jack Harlow to perform fan favorite ‘Industry Baby.’

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy sent in a pre-taped message to the Vegas showing in which he spoke on the significance of music and support for Ukraine right now. While words were spoken, John Legend took to the stage to perform “Free,” with Ukrainian artists Siuzanna Iglidan, Mika Newton and Lyuba Yakimchuck.

Zelenskyy began his speech, stating, “The war doesn’t let us choose who survives and who stays in eternal silence, […] Our musicians wear body armor instead of tuxedos. They sing to the wounded in hospitals. Even to those who can’t hear them. But the music will break through anyway.

“We defend our freedom. To live. To love. To sound. On our land, we are fighting Russia which brings horrible silence with its bombs. Fill the silence with your music. Fill it today. Tell our story. Tell the truth about the war on your social networks and TV. But not silence.”

One of the most touching moments of the night came from Jazmine Sullivan‘s superb acceptance speech as her album was named the R&B Album Grammy winner.

Sullivan spoke to the inspiration of the piece, and how the album embodied a voice for Black women, while stating, “I wrote this project to deal with my own shame and unforgiveness around decisions I made in my 20s that weren’t favorable. But what it ended up being was a safe space for Black women to tell their stories, for us to learn from each other, laugh with each other, and not be exploited at the same time. That’s what I’m most grateful for. Shoutout to all Black women who are just living their lives and being beautiful.”

We also saw Doja Cat and SZA receive their first wins for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for their collaboration on “Kiss Me More.” Their acceptance speech rung more lighthearted, with both artists cracking jokes about Doja rushing to the bathroom prior to the announcement. SZA teased, “Bro, you went to the bathroom for five minutes. Are you serious?” to which Doja replied, “I have never taken such a fast piss in my whole life.”

The pair continued to thank express their gratefulness to each other and those around them, to which Doja showed emotional rawness while raving, “I like to downplay shit, but this? It’s a big deal. Thank you, everybody.“

See the full list of 2022 Grammy Award winners.

Record of the Year

“Leave the Door Open,” Silk Sonic

Album of the Year

“We Are,” Jon Batiste

Song of the Year

“Leave the Door Open,” Brandon Anderson, Christopher Brody Brown, Dernst Emile II and Bruno Mars, songwriters (Silk Sonic)

Best New Artist

Olivia Rodrigo

Best Pop Solo Performance

“Drivers License,” Olivia Rodrigo

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

“Kiss Me More,” Doja Cat featuring SZA

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album

“Love for Sale,” Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga

Best Pop Vocal Album

“Sour,” Olivia Rodrigo

Best Dance/Electronic Recording

“Alive,” Rüfüs Du Sol

Best Dance/Electronic Music Album

“Subconsciously,” Black Coffee

Best Alternative Music Album

“Daddy’s Home,” St. Vincent

Best Contemporary Instrumental Album

“Tree Falls,” Taylor Eigsti

Best Rock Performance

“Making a Fire,” Foo Fighters

Best Metal Performance

“The Alien,” Dream Theater

Best Rock Song

“Waiting on a War,” Dave Grohl, Taylor Hawkins, Rami Jaffee, Nate Mendel, Chris Shiflett and Pat Smear, songwriters (Foo Fighters)

Best Rock Album

“Medicine at Midnight,” Foo Fighters

Best R&B Performance

“Leave the Door Open,” Silk Sonic

“Pick Up Your Feelings,” Jazmine Sullivan

Best Traditional R&B Performance

“Fight for You,” H.E.R.

Best R&B Song

“Leave the Door Open,” Brandon Anderson, Christopher Brody Brown, Dernst Emile II and Bruno Mars, songwriters (Silk Sonic)

Best Progressive R&B Album

“Table for Two,” Lucky Daye

Best Rock Album

“Medicine at Midnight,” Foo Fighters

Best R&B Performance

“Leave the Door Open,” Silk Sonic

“Pick Up Your Feelings,” Jazmine Sullivan

Best Traditional R&B Performance

“Fight for You,” H.E.R.

Best R&B Song

“Leave the Door Open,” Brandon Anderson, Christopher Brody Brown, Dernst Emile II and Bruno Mars, songwriters (Silk Sonic)

Best Progressive R&B Album

“Table for Two,” Lucky Daye

Best Country Duo/Group Performance

“Younger Me,” Brothers Osborne

Best Country Song

“Cold,” Dave Cobb, J.T. Cure, Derek Mixon and Chris Stapleton, songwriters (Chris Stapleton)

Best Country Album

“Starting Over,” Chris Stapleton

Best New Age Album

“Divine Tides,” Stewart Copeland and Ricky Kej

Best Improvised Jazz Solo

“Humpty Dumpty (Set 2),” Chick Corea, soloist

Best Jazz Vocal Album

“Songwrights Apothecary Lab,” Esperanza Spalding

Best Jazz Instrumental Album

“Skyline,” Ron Carter, Jack DeJohnette and Gonzalo Rubalcaba

Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album

“For Jimmy, Wes and Oliver,” Christian McBride Big Band

Best Latin Jazz Album

“Mirror Mirror,” Eliane Elias With Chick Corea and Chucho Valdés

Best Gospel Performance/Song

“Never Lost,” CeCe Winans

Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song

“Believe for It,” CeCe Winans; Dwan Hill, Kyle Lee, CeCe Winans and Mitch Wong, songwriters

Best Gospel Album

“Believe for It,” CeCe Winans

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album

“Old Church Basement,” Elevation Worship and Maverick City Music

Best Roots Gospel Album

“My Savior,” Carrie Underwood

Best Latin Pop Album

“Mendó,” Alex Cuba

Best Música Urbana Album

“El Último Tour Del Mundo,” Bad Bunny

Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album

“Origen,” Juanes

Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano)

“A Mis 80’s,” Vicente Fernández

Best Tropical Latin Album

“Salswing!,” Rubén Blades y Roberto Delgado & Orquesta

Best American Roots Performance

“Cry,” Jon Batiste

Best American Roots Song

“Cry,” Jon Batiste and Steve McEwan, songwriters (Jon Batiste)

Best Americana Album

“Native Sons,” Los Lobos

Best Bluegrass Album

“My Bluegrass Heart,” Béla Fleck

Best Traditional Blues Album

“I Be Trying,” Cedric Burnside

Best Contemporary Blues Album

“662,” Christone “Kingfish” Ingram

Best Folk Album

“They’re Calling Me Home,” Rhiannon Giddens with Francesco Turrisi

Best Regional Roots Music Album

“Kau Ka Pe’a,” Kalani Pe’a

Best Reggae Album

“Beauty in the Silence,” Soja

Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical

“Love for Sale,” Dae Bennett, Josh Coleman and Billy Cumella, engineers; Greg Calbi and Steve Fallone, mastering engineers (Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga)

Producer of the Year, Non-Classical

Jack Antonoff

Best Remixed Recording

“Passenger” (Mike Shinoda Remix); Mike Shinoda, remixer (Deftones); track from: “White Pony” (20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)

Best Global Music Performance

“Mohabbat,” Arooj Aftab

Best Global Music Album

“Mother Nature,” Angelique Kidjo

Best Children’s Music Album

“A Colorful World,” Falu

Best Spoken Word Album

“Carry On: Reflections for a New Generation From John Lewis,” Don Cheadle

Best Comedy Album

“Sincerely Louis C.K.,” Louis C.K.

Best Musical Theater Album

“The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical,” Emily Bear, producer; Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, composers/lyricists (Barlow & Bear)

Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media

“The United States vs. Billie Holiday,” Andra Day

Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media

“The Queen’s Gambit,” Carlos Rafael Rivera, composer

“Soul,” Jon Batiste, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, composers

Best Song Written For Visual Media

“All Eyes On Me [From Inside],” Bo Burnham, songwriter (Bo Burnham)

Best Immersive Audio Album

“Alicia,” George Massenburg and Eric Schilling, immersive mix engineers; Michael Romanowski, immersive mastering engineer; Ann Mincieli, immersive producer (Alicia Keys)

Best Immersive Audio Album (for 63rd Grammy Awards)

“Soundtrack of the American Soldier,” Leslie Ann Jones, immersive mix engineer; Michael Romanowski, immersive mastering engineer; Dan Merceruio, immersive producer (Jim R. Keene and the United States Army Field Band)

Best Engineered Album, Classical

“Chanticleer Sings Christmas,” Leslie Ann Jones, engineer (Chanticleer)

Producer of the Year, Classical

Judith Sherman

Best Orchestral Performance

“Price: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 3,” Yannick Nézet-Séguin, conductor (Philadelphia Orchestra)

Best Opera Recording

“Glass: Akhnaten,” Karen Kamensek, conductor; J’Nai Bridges, Anthony Roth Costanzo, Zachary James and Dísella Lárusdóttir; David Frost, producer (The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; The Metropolitan Opera Chorus)

Best Choral Performance

“Mahler: Symphony No. 8, ‘Symphony of a Thousand,’” Gustavo Dudamel, conductor; Grant Gershon, Robert Istad, Fernando Malvar-Ruiz and Luke McEndarfer, chorus masters (Leah Crocetto, Mihoko Fujimura, Ryan McKinny, Erin Morley, Tamara Mumford, Simon O’Neill, Morris Robinson and Tamara Wilson; Los Angeles Philharmonic; Los Angeles Children’s Chorus, Los Angeles Master Chorale, National Children’s Chorus and Pacific Chorale)

Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance

“Beethoven: Cello Sonatas – Hope Amid Tears,” Yo-Yo Ma and Emanuel Ax

Best Classical Instrumental Solo

“Alone Together,” Jennifer Koh

Best Classical Solo Vocal Album

“Mythologies,” Sangeeta Kaur and Hila Plitmann (Virginie D’Avezac De Castera, Lili Haydn, Wouter Kellerman, Nadeem Majdalany, Eru Matsumoto and Emilio D. Miler)

Best Classical Compendium

“Women Warriors – The Voices of Change,” Amy Andersson, conductor; Amy Andersson, Mark Mattson and Lolita Ritmanis, producers.

Best Contemporary Classical Composition

“Shaw: Narrow Sea,” Caroline Shaw, composer (Dawn Upshaw, Gilbert Kalish and Sō Percussion)

Best Instrumental Composition

“Eberhard,” Lyle Mays, composer (Lyle Mays)

Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella

“Meta Knight’s Revenge (From ‘Kirby Superstar’),” Charlie Rosen and Jake Silverman, arrangers (The 8-Bit Big Band featuring Button Masher)

Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals

“To The Edge Of Longing (Edit Version),” Vince Mendoza, Arranger (Vince Mendoza, Czech National Symphony Orchestra and Julia Bullock)

Best Recording Package

“Pakelang,” Li Jheng Han and Yu, Wei, Art Directors (2nd Generation Falangao Singing Group and the Chairman Crossover Big Band)

Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package

“All Things Must Pass: 50th Anniversary Edition,” Darren Evans, Dhani Harrison and Olivia Harrison, art directors (George Harrison)

Best Album Notes

“The Complete Louis Armstrong Columbia and RCA Victor Studio Sessions 1946-1966,” Ricky Riccardi, album notes writer (Louis Armstrong)

Best Historical Album

“Joni Mitchell Archives, Vol. 1: The Early Years (1963-1967),” Patrick Milligan and Joni Mitchell, compilation producers; Bernie Grundman, mastering engineer (Joni Mitchell)

Best Music Video

“Freedom,” (Jon Batiste); Alan Ferguson, video director; Alex P. Willson, video producer.

Best Music Film

“Summer of Soul,” (Various Artists); Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, video director; David Dinerstein, Robert Fyvolent and Joseph Patel, video producers.