There is a special energy created when a rapper and stellar producer have an undeniable synergy. Sydney/Eora based Young Franco and US based rapper Pellare becoming an international duo that perfectly tap into and reflect the power of collaboration, now releasing their 4th collaborative effort “Like That” alongside fellow Perth raised, Berlin producer Jafunk. Listen HERE.
Sonically, Young Franco and Jafunkcombine to create a track that reflects the golden era of club driven rap music, pioneered in Virginia by production greats including Pharrell, The Neptunesand Timbaland. Its bounce-ready percussion runs perfectly with quickly strummed guitars and a slapping bass line. On the top line front, Pellis in no rush to get his slick bars off, gliding over the beat with an elegance and class before riding it out with an infectious hook its final third.
Young Franco and Pellhave a track record of creating successful musical outings. Their first outing, Juice spent 9 weeks at the #1 position on Spotify’s flagship indie playlist Front Left, BBC Radio 1 Spins from Annie Mac and Molly King, as well as featuring as Zane Lowe‘s ‘Next Wave’ artist on Beats1. Then followed Fallin’ Apart alongside Denzel Curry, which featured as the soundtrack for an Apple Airpods campaign, which was viewed over 4 million times. It also sat at #1 on the US Shazam discovery Chart for 4 weeks and has seen over 5 million likes on TikTok and 700 million views.
Jafunkenters the equation with distinct swagger and energy. The Perth raised; Berlin based producer has become renowned in local circles for his funky & soulful take on traditional house music. His remix of Set Mo‘s Chasing Forever has achieved over 5 million streams, with his follow up songs receiving millions on plays being hosted on tastemaker channels including Majestic Casual, The Sound You Need and Selected.
Young Franco‘s past two years have been his biggest yet. He’s currently sitting on over 135 million streams across all singles to date, with over 1 million monthly listeners on Spotify. In that period of time he sound tracked the new-look Australian Football League, and has received global sync’s for brands including Apple, Starbucks, Topshop and Kia. Currently, he’s touring the United States and has locked in massive festival slots at Lollapalooza, Falls Festival, Spilt Milk & Lost Paradise.
Rock The Bells, the global lifestyle brand and preeminent voce for classic and timeless Hip-Hop founded by LL COOL J, announces it has partnered with New York native street artist, Jay Shells, for a special Rock The Bells Festival themed edition of his viral “rap quotes” project.
The project first launched in 2013, where multi-disciplinary artist, Jay Shells, began installing over thirty street signs with lyrical references to Hip-Hop songs at their appropriate NYC location. The project helped highlight Hip-Hop’s deep rooted connection to the streets, places and neighborhoods that fueled the creativity and lyrics behind the music. Over the past 9 years, the Rap Quotes project has expanded to other Hip-Hop hotbeds featuring iconic quotes from rap legends across Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Houston and Atlanta.
Last week, Jay Shells brought the “Rap Quotes” project back to New York City, in celebration of Black Music Month and the forthcoming Rock The Bells Festival, where he will post iconic quotes from the full Rock The Bells lineup which includes MC’s LL COOL J, Ice Cube, Rick Ross, Lil’ Kim, Cam’ron, Jim Jones and Juelz Santana from The Diplomats, Fat Joe, Remy Ma, Jadakiss, Scarface, Trina, N.O.R.E, Ladybug Mecca & Butterfly Digable Planets and Roxanne Shanté. The Rap Quote street signs can be found across New York City, while they last.
“The Rap Quotes campaign has become a creative journey that’s allowed me to discover a deeper understanding and connection to some of my favorite Hip Hop artists by providing additional context to their lyrics,” says artist Jay Shells. “I’m excited to be working with Rock The Bells during Black Music Month to celebrate the festival lineup and showcase their lyrics around New York City. As long as Hip Hop artists keep making new music, this public art campaign will never be done, and I’m excited to bring it to life in new and unique ways with partners that share the same vision.”
Rock The Bells Festival is a day-long celebration of Hip-Hop culture taking place Saturday, August 6, 2022, in Queens, New York – the week of Hip-Hop’s anniversary (August 11th). The experience will feature live performances, interactive experiences, art exhibits, food, fashion and much more.
Tickets for the ROCK THE BELLS FESTIVAL are available for purchase at HERE. For every ticket sale, Rock The Bells will donate partial proceeds to the Universal Hip-Hop Museum in the Bronx whose mission is to celebrate and preserve the people, artifacts, and stories that echo from 1973 to the present.
ABOUT ROCK THE BELLS
Rock The Bells is a global platform elevating Hip-Hop culture from its roots to modern-day. Founded in 2018 by LL COOL J, Rock The Bells focuses on content, experiences, and commerce that honor the timeless elements of Hip-Hop (MC’s, DJ’s, B-Boys and B-Girls, Writers [aka graffiti artists], etc.) that drive mainstream culture today. Visit HERE, stream LL COOL J’s Rock The Bells Radio on SiriusXM (Ch. 43) and follow @RockTheBells.
On “Just Hit Me,” pristine synth melodies are buoyed by a bouncy bassline and percussion deeply rooted in the West Coast rap tradition. DJ handles the first verse, spitting smoothly about the privileges his lifestyle affords him. “They let me look up in the back when I can’t find things,” he raps. “Wearing shit up out the store ain’t gotta iron these.” Jeeezy Obama, for his part, also celebrates his ascension to a life of luxury, detailing all the perks that such a rise entails. It’s another reminder of the casual brilliance of BlueBucksClan’s stylish bars.
Directed by LewisYouNasty, the video for “Just Hit Me” features shots of the California duo performing before rapturous crowds and hanging in fancy cars. It’s all tied together with inventive editing, which underscores how surreal the scale of their success can feel. Above all, the clip is a showcase of their effortless camaraderie and well-earned confidence.
With “Just Hit Me,”BlueBucksClanbuild on the momentum of recent projects like See the Difference and Clan Virus 2. The praise for the latter was overwhelming with Pitchfork calling them “L.A.’s best duo.” Complexand Billboardalso recently hailed them as “Rappers to Watch.” BlueBucksClanhave now amassed more than 177 million streams in the US alone – a number that’s sure to only grow with the arrival of singles like Just Hit Me.
Today, rapper, singer, songwriter and producer SAFE shares his new single “Paradise” (Bando Recordings/RCA Records). Over a minimal beat, SAFE’s angelic falsetto delicately sings “nothing I would ever trade for you, your love is paradise.” Produced by Jahnei Clarke, listen to the new single HERE.
SAFE stated the following about the new track, “This song is about deserving a love that is true and from the soul – a love that embraces our spirit and makes us feel like we’re in paradise.”
Earlier this year, SAFE released the first installment of his new EP Get Home SAFE (Part 1) which features Kaash Paige on “By My Side” and Kiana Ledé on “Contagious.” The 8-track EP unlocks a unique sonic space, creating a delicate balance of contemporary R&B and hip hop. He received praise from NPR, Billboard, Teen Vogue and Uproxx , receiving comparisons to Drake and Brent Faiyaz. Listen to Get Home SAFE (Part 1)HERE.
About SAFE:
In 2016, the then 18-year-old SAFE became Toronto’s secret weapon, working closely with Drake and Oliver El-Khatib. SAFE came up through the Halal Gang collective, consisting of Mustafa The Poet, Puffy L’z and Smoke Dawg. On June 30, 2018 Smoke Dawg was killed, sending the city into a state of shocked mourning. “He was the voice of the streets,” mentioned SAFE in an interview with Vice. After the tragic loss, SAFE took some time to himself and relocated to New York. Since then, the city of Toronto has been waiting to hear what’s next. In 2019, he released “Paid In Full” featuring Playboi Carti. Pitchfork reviewed the single, stating “his light and buttery melody shines over the gloomy instrumental.” Additionally, SAFE was a writer, producer and vocalist in Polo G’s platinum selling album Hall Of Fame and Hall Of Fame 2.0. Now in 2022, SAFE is looking to elevate. The impact he made in Toronto back in 2016 still remains and he is looking to spread that impact to the rest of the world.
Back with another insane visual, buzzing Louisiana-born and Houston-based rapper and producer Autumn! presents the frenetic music video for his next single “Everything!.” It sets the stage for the track’s arrival at all digital platforms this Monday, April 25 via Victor Victor/Republic Records.
The clip unleashes a barrage of explosive vignettes. Against static-y filters, Autumn! rips through the hyper-charged production with a magnetically melodic flow. The clip jarringly jumps from psychedelic moments into digital chaos. It perfectly mirrors the track’s push-and-pull.
It also bulldozes a path for the release of his anxiously awaited new mixtape Antagonist! on April 29. Pre-order/pre-save HERE.
He set the stage for the project with “One Way!“, “Bentley Bentayga!“, and, most recently, “Jumpin!” The tracks have already generated tens of millions of streams and counting. “Jumpin!” incited critical applause immediately. Lyrical Lemonade raved, “His personality is always showstopping, while his flows are very intricate and unique, and that is no different in his song ‘Jumpin!’,” and Our Generation Music christened him, “definitely one of the most versatile artists rising out of this new scene.”
To celebrate the arrival of the mixtape, he’ll take over Gramercy Theater in New York City on May 1 for the Antagonist! Release Show: tickets are available HERE. He’s also on the bill for Lyrical Lemonade’s Summer Smash in Chicago, IL on June 17.Autumn! alchemizes otherworldly sonic architecture and emotionally charged melodies, stretching the boundaries of hip-hop in the process. Originally hailing from Louisiana, he initially bubbled up as a producer under the name of TwinUzis, deftly manipulating synths and bass into a fascinating sonic framework of his own. Establishing himself as an artist, he unleashed music on Soundcloud at a prolific pace with the Solitary EP, Golden Child, Chapter 1, Not Much Longer EP, and Not Much Left EP in 2021. “Nina!” generated 2.44 million Soundcloud streams, while “Still The Same (Remix)” feat. Lil Tecca popped off to the tune of 3 million Soundcloud streams. Signing to Victor Victor in 2021, it’s about to be Autumn! season as he readies more music soon.
Today, New York City drill star Kay Flock drops “Shake It,” an energetic new anthem for the Boogie Down Bronx. On “Shake It,” Kay Flock recruits Dougie B, Bory300, and the one and only hustler Cardi B to round out the Bronx quartet. They combine their styles fusing raw lyricism over a rapid drill beat to create a track that echoes the spirit of their hometown.
The RingRing Visuals and Jochi Saca directed video was filmed across their neighborhood’s staple City Island and includes a cameo from fellow drill rapper B-Lovee. Listen to “Shake It” HERE and watch the video HERE.
Kay Flock kicks off “Shake It” unleashing his signature gruff as he glides across the Elias Beats-produced beat. Dougie B and Bory300 join the mix adding their own drill flavors trading off bars in the confident chorus Cardi B takes the crescendo verse, letting loose emphatic bars challenging any would-be rivals. She mandates “Try to play me, you know I perform.”
The hasty “Shake It” visual channels the tenacious bond and pride of the Bronx residents. Dougie B, Bory300 and Carid B collectively rally their borough dancing by City Island’s Firehouse deli in a night-out celebration. The video includes a mural of Kay Flock along with cameos from his friends and family.
Last year Kay Flock released his critically acclaimed debut project The D.O.A. Tape, which featured standout tracks from G Herbo assisting on “Being Honest” to “Is Ya Ready,” which was named one of The New York Times’ best songs of 2021. The accolades continue to rack up for Kay Flock with Billboard, Pitchfork, XXL, HotNewHipHop, No Jumper, and more labeling him an artist to watch. To date, Kay Flock has amassed over 250 million streams
About Kay Flock
Kay Flock’s vision of drill music feels raw and free-spirited with an unburdened, electrifying take on his city’s sound. The New York rapper has spent the last couple years making tracks that bring some of the movements strongest future stars together while amplifying his own, pitching drill as collaborative, energetic, and most of all, alive.
His raps, captured in street smashes like “Brotherly Love,” featuring fellow Bronx MCs B-Lovee and Dougie B, demonstrate the thrill of the ecstatic genre. Every bar is spit with the pedal pressed all the way to the floor. In ways, his rise is similar to other New York drill artists, climbing from humble beginnings to the verge of the mainstream, but Kay Flock hails from the Bronx, a neighborhood that hasn’t so far produced the genres stars. He grew up in a rugged environment he describes as “dangerous” and, as a teenager, found escape in Brooklyn drill as well as the music of Chicago rappers like King Von.
In the Bronx, Flock made lifelong friends in B-Lovee and Dougie B who, in 2020, introduced him to recording. Almost immediately, you could recognize Flock’s unmistakable talent and his city did. Early singles like “Being Honest” and “Is Ya Ready” put Kay Flock on the map. Now, Flock has emerged as the Bronx’s and arguably New York City’s hottest new rapper. Even as Flock’s star rises, and the co-signs roll in from The New York Times, Pitchfork, No Jumper, Billboard, XXL and artists from Cardi B, G Herbo, Lil Tjay, Meek Mill, Fivio Foreign and he doesn’t plan to switch up. He’s staying true to himself.
Rising Houston-based rapper Guapo has mastered a new flow full of punchlines, quotables and Instagram captions that is just simply above par. He recently shared his new single “SRT” feat. OTB Fastlane. Listen to “SRT,” produced by 100Keyz, HERE and watch the video, directed by SpxrkStudios, HERE.
About Guapo
A Houston act so early in their career has never had such prolific strides quite like Guapo, who many have come to also know as “Lil Guap”. The young upstart’s name truly does speak for itself as the 20-year-old rapper has captured the attention of what seems to be the entire city of Houston in such a short matter of time.
Beginning around his senior year of high school, Guapo was introduced to rap one day by the encouragement of his brother and the people around him. This past year, Guapo has played a pivotal role in being at the forefront of Houston’s newest faces by delivering consistent buzzing material such as his leading single, “Mr. Put It On.”
A new lingo, new swagger, and a fresh face are all things Guapo has used to his advantage while rising to the top of Houston’s budding music scene with co-signs from Lil Baby, Future and Young Thug.
Released in September, “Mr. Put It On” was Guapo’s first breakout single, reaching over a million views within days while sparking a new trend of style, TikTok moments, and social media lingo. Since then, Guapo has been gearing up to release his debut mixtape.
Guapo is now currently in the final stages of wrapping up his first solo mixtape with some notable features from big names across Texas. There’s no telling what surprises Guapo has in store for his promising debut, but it is safe to say that it will be one of the most highly anticipated projects coming out of the South by a new rap artist this year.
On Saturday, April 9, Grammy-award winner, Meek Mill, took the stage at Drai’s Nightclubfor the first performance of his Drai’s LIVE residency. His sold-out dynamic full-length concert featured some of his biggest hits, including “Dreams and Nightmares,” and “Ima Boss”, as well as “Hot” and “Sharing Locations” from his most recent album Expensive Pain. Mill’s performance also brought out stars including Jhay Cortez, Mia Khalifa, Fabolous, Captain Munnerlynand Caleb Farley. Drai’s presented singer Jhay Cortez a custom table, oversized photos of his face, and a cake to celebrate his birthday alongside his girlfriend, Mia Khalifa. Drai’s also gifted former football cornerback, Captain Munnerlyn, an engraved bottle of 1942 to celebrate his birthday. Artist Fabolous was spotted kicking it in Mill’s section.
The legendary artist will return to Drai’s during their epic Memorial Day weekend lineup, taking over the Drai’s Nightclub stage on Friday, May 27, and at Drai’s Beachclub for a daytime performance on Saturday, May 28. Tickets are available for purchase now on the Drai’s website.
Drai’s Beachclub is now open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday – Sunday through April and will open daily starting in May. Drai’s Nightclub is now open from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. Friday – Sunday. The upcoming Drai’s Beachclub • Nightclub lineup can be found HERE.
Found 11 stories high surrounded by breathtaking views of the Las Vegas Strip, the sweeping 35,000-square-foot Drai’s Beachclub is famous for unforgettable pool parties, luxurious cabanas and bungalows, and live performances. In addition to two full-service bars, Drai’s Beachclub offers more than 75 luxurious VIP tables under an awning of towering palms. The upcoming Drai’s Beachclub lineup can be found at HERE.
Drai’s is the only nightclub in Las Vegas that offers full-length concerts by today’s top-charting artists. Every weekend, the Drai’s LIVE concert series brings big names like Rick Ross and 2 Chainz to the rooftop of The Cromwell, with banner performances set to the stunning backdrop of the lights of the Las Vegas Strip. The upcoming Drai’s LIVE concert lineup can be found HERE.
Other special requests are available by emailing info@draislv.com.
About Drai’s Beachclub • Nightclub
Drai’s Beachclub • Nightclub takes entertainment and nightlife to new heights in an unmatched setting – 11 stories high on the rooftop of The Cromwell with dazzling views of the Las Vegas Strip at the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Flamingo Boulevard. Drai’s Nightclub is a 30,000-square-foot palatial, multi-level club with an expansive dance floor, massive LED lighting systems, and modern technology featuring more than 7,000 square feet of the most state-of-the-art high-definition LEDs in production, including a towering 80-sided LED disco ball – the only one of its kind. Drai’s Nightclub is home to Drai’s LIVE, an unprecedented concert series that provides fans with the opportunity to see full-length performances by top performers like Lil Wayne and Lil Baby in an up-close setting unlike anything else in the world. Drai’s is located at the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Flamingo Boulevard. Drai’s Beachclub is a 35,000-square-foot oasis with multiple pools shaded by eight towering palm trees, a variety of cabanas and bungalows, a full-service gourmet kitchen and two full-service bars. The legendary Drai’s After Hours has solidified itself as the ultimate late-night, see-and-be-seen party destination for more than two decades.Drai’s After Hoursis a sleek, sexy lounge where DJs play chart-topping songs of today, including top 40, Latin and hip-hop music. In addition to bottle service, Drai’s After Hours is one of the only spots on the Strip to offer hookah nightly. Drai’s After Hours is open from midnight to close every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. More information, including reservations, tickets and hours, is available at DraisGroup.com. Follow Drai’s on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram – @draislv, @draisbeachclub and @draisafterhours.
Leading global talent, entertainment and sports company UTA has signed next-gen media company RapTV. UTA will work on expanding RapTV’s footprint through forming strategic partnerships, booking talent collaborations and tapping into new mediums in the ever-changing media landscape.
With a combined 36 million followers across social platforms including @Rap, @bars and @steez, RapTV has become one of the world’s largest digital communities. The company is focused on tapping into the zeitgeist through compelling news coverage, original content, and cultural relevancy. Founded by 28 year-old Daniel Snow, the digital empire boasts nearly 1.8 billion monthly impressions.
With his finger firmly on the pulse of today’s latest music news and growing popularity from rap fans across the globe, Snow has established the company as a primary outlet for record labels to share artist news and releases. RapTV has already partnered with every major record label including Columbia, Interscope, and Atlantic. The outlet also covers topics outside of hip-hop and has collaborated with top brands such as BMW, McDonald’s, and Chipotle. Most recently, the RapTV team launched content partnerships with TikTok and Facebook to showcase upcoming talent in the hip-hop industry.
“RapTV is one of the most forward-thinking media companies in the business and we are excited to partner with them to amplify their vision,” said UTA’s Akhil Hegde. “We are looking forward to bringing in new opportunities that continue the expansion of the RapTV brand while simultaneously elevating our hip-hop clients in the news.”
“We are thrilled to work with UTA, an industry leader in talent management,” said Snow. “Our focus at RapTV this year and beyond is centered around original content programming and we are confident that UTA will be a huge part of our success with this initiative. We are lucky to call them our partners as RapTV looks to become the number one hip-hop music and culture outlet on the internet.”
About RapTV
RapTV is a next-gen media company that has built one of the world’s largest digital communities. RapTV is focused on continuing to push the culture forward through relevant news coverage, original content, and being at the heart of what’s relevant. With a rapidly growing following, RapTV is poised to continue taking over the industry. Along with growing popularity from rap fans across the globe, RapTV has become one of the primary outlets for record labels to distribute information pertaining to their artists. RapTV has also begun covering relevant topics outside of hip-hop and has had success collaborating with brands such as BMW and Chipotle. In this sense, RapTV is on its way to becoming much more than a digital community, but a global driver of culture.
12AM revealed the official video directed by Logan Meis (Trippie Redd, Dax, The Kid Laroi, Polo G). It’s a high contrast, moody, and cinematic experience in itself. “Showgirls” peeks into a late-night burlesque show gone awry. The night manifests into a master scheme of kidnapping, robbery, and murder. While corrupt wealthy men put their guard down for some debauchery, they’re clipped of their wallets and prized possessions. The lights go off and the show concludes, leaving the club patrons in the dust. In the end, 12AM (aka the club owner) and the showgirls meet Tyla and Pressa (12AM and the showgirls’ partners in crime) at the hideout. Watch now HERE.
The single follows the success of “come over,” the lead track from 12AM‘s latest After Midnight EP that has amassed over 5 million streams. While After Midnight served as a redefinition of 12AM’s sound, “Showgirls” takes 12AM back to his Toronto roots incorporating melodic R&B that is distinct to the 6. Additionally, with 12AM boasting over 26 million streams on Spotify alone, plus Tyla and Pressa’s combined 5.5 million monthly listeners on the platform, “Showgirls” is set to become an instant hit and reach an array of hip-hop, pop, and R&B lovers.
12AM states, “Tyla and I were working on his album in his crib for like 2 weeks straight. I was basically living there and I played him music I was working on. When he heard the hook on Showgirls, he instantly hopped on it. There were a ton of people over and everyone was going crazy over it. Then a year later, I was in the studio with Pressa. Same story, he heard the song and instantly hopped on it too, so we knew we had one when everybody had the same reaction like “this is a hit.'” On his upcoming music, 12AM adds, “I wanted to treat my upcoming album like a full body of work, no fillers, just the best music possible. I’m spending time creating an experience and a world through the next record.”
The future looks incredibly bright and 12AM’s repertoire is only at its inception. Prolific in his dexterity, 12AM is consistently writing for other artists as well as himself. He can be seen frequently working with Elijah Woods and Omer Fedi (Kid Laroi “Without You,” 24kGoldn & Iann Dior “Mood,” and Lil Nas X “Montero”), and on After Midnight he collaborated with TheHxliday on “Voices.” Touring accolades include shows with Internet Money, Iann Dior, Jez Dior, 24kGoldn, Jutes, Trevor Daniel, and Souly Had. No stranger to media coverage and acclaim from tastemakers, praise has rolled in from industry key players such as Complex, Elevator Mag, idolator, Lyrical Lemonade, and Vice’s Noisey. 12AM also appears on Spotify’s coveted ‘New Music Friday’ and ‘tear drop’ playlists, as well as Post Malone’s ‘posty’s playlist.’
Reflecting on his work, 12AM says, “My main focus is just to help people. That’s why I make music. When I get messages from fans saying I’ve helped them through depression or whatever they are going through it means the world to me, I can’t really believe it. That’s what I do this for. Whenever I play a show and fans are singing the lyrics back and when they meet me after the show, I just want to have a positive impact and be there for them, because they are all that matters in this music industry.”
