Posts tagged with "St. Louis"

BoyWithUke via Brian Ziff for Republic Records use by 360 Magazine

BoyWithUke Tour

Positioned for a major breakthrough this year, singer, songwriter, and producer BoyWithUke will embark on a much-anticipated global headline tour this spring. His headline tour begins on April 19th at Heaven in London; then he will visit multiple countries across Europe and conclude the tour in the US on May 10th at The Roxy in Los Angeles and May 12th at Bowery Ballroom in New York. Tickets will be available HERE on Friday, February 11th at 10am local time. BoyWithUke’s headline tour will be followed by a slew of dates supporting AJR on their upcoming North American tour this summer, which kicks off in May and includes shows in Nashville, Chicago, San Francisco, Las Vegas, and more. Check out the full list of upcoming dates below.

BoyWithUke‘s most recent single “Long Drives” continues to gain traction. Not only has it amassed over 7 million Spotify streams, but it has also racked up over 10 million YouTube views on the music video. Ones To Watch recently raved, “with his face hidden behind an LED faceplate, we may not know who BoyWithUke is, but one thing we know for certain is that he’s poised to be the next big thing.” Indie Shuffle noted, “the sadness of this track is electric, it surprises and enthralls,” and added, “‘Long Drives’ makes melancholy easy to listen to and utterly impactful in the space of alt-pop joy.”

Meanwhile, the success of his viral smash “Toxic” has translated across mediums. It continues to climb the Alternative Radio Chart, currently claiming a spot in the Top 20 at #16. Not to mention, its global streams have exceeded 548 million and counting. This week alone, it reached #60 on the Billboard Global 200 Chart and vaulted into the Top 75 on Spotify’s US Weekly Top Songs Chart and Top 25 on Spotify’s Global Weekly Top Songs Chart. He has also attracted north of 3.4 million followers on TikTok. SiriusXM and Amazon have both pegged him as a 2022 “Artist To Watch,” and Ones To Watch crowned him “One of the most delightful surprises of the year.” Recently, BoyWithUke performed the track for Genius’ Open Mic–watch the performance HERE!

BoyWithUke 2022 Tour Dates

April 19th – London, UK – Heaven*

April 20th – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Tolhuistuin*

April 23rd – Berlin, Germany – Gretchen*

April 23rd – Munich, Germany – Hansa 39*

May 10th – Los Angeles, CA – The Roxy*

May 12th – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom*

May 27th – Detroit, MI – DTE Energy Music Theater^

May 28th – Indianapolis, IN – Ruoff Music Center^

May 29th – Nashville, TN – Ascend Amphitheater^

May 31st – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre^

June 1st – Kansas City, MO – Starlight Theatre^

June 3rd – Chicago, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre @ Tinley Park^

June 4th – Milwaukee, WI – American Family Insurance Amphitheater^

June 5th – Minneapolis, MN – The Armory^

June 8th – Omaha, NE – Baxter Arena^

June 11th – Salt Lake City, UT – USANA Amphitheater^

June 12th – Nampa, ID – Ford Idaho Center^

June 14th – Seattle, WA – White River Amphitheater^

June 15th – Ridgefield, WA – RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater^

June 17th – San Francisco, CA – Concord Amphitheater^

June 19th – Irvine, CA – Five Point Amphitheater^

June 21st – Phoenix, AZ – Ak-Chin Pavilion^

June 22nd – San Diego, CA – The Park at Petco Park^

June 24th – Las Vegas, NV – The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan^

* Headline Show

^ Supporting AJR

About BoyWithUke

What do we know about BoyWithUke? If you quickly scan TikTok you can figure out he is a musical artist who writes and produces all of his own music, creating songs in his dorm room on GarageBand while hiding his face from the public with his now signature glowing mask. Take a deeper look and you’ll see he frequently posts “minute long songs,” many times written in response to requests from fans. His biggest hit to date was written after a fan commented “make a song about toxic friends plzzzx,” and the response was the song “Toxic.” The song describes how it feels when you realize all your friends are terrible people (people you’d probably be better off without), but the thought of being alone makes you feel even worse. The song has taken over the Spotify charts: hitting Top 10 and Top 15 on the Global & U.S. Spotify Viral Chart, Top 20 on Global Spotify Chart, and peaking at over 2 million streams per day. The song follows his previous full-length projects Melatonin Dreams, Fever Dreams, Trouvaille EP, and his latest Faded EP (featuring numerous songs created from his TikTok “minute long songs” project). We don’t know much about BoyWithUke yet, but we do know he’s an artist everyone is talking about.

Handcuff art via Allison Christensen for use by 360 MAGAZINE

HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN THE UNITED STATES

Human trafficking can be defined as “a crime that  involves the exploitation of a person for labor, services, or commercial sex.” 

The illegal ring of human enslavement primarily for sex acts has been a problem in the United States for quite some time. The popularity of social media combined with the ongoing stresses from the COVID-19 pandemic have only furthered the presence of human trafficking in the country.

Human enslavement has been a rampant problem often stemming from the Midwest, expanding through the rest of the country. The Midwest serves as the epicenter for trafficking endeavors for several reasons. First off, the number of federal interstates that are common make it easier to transport victims. Commerce tends to be high in areas such as St. Louis and Chicago, simplifying the traveling process of victims. The Midwest has, too, been regarded as a safe part of the country, which masks the existence of human exploitation in this part of the country.

Although servitude of humans has great linkage to the Midwest, it has an intense correlation to the Black community, specifically Black woman. According to the FBI, 53% of all children involved in juvenile prostitution arrests are Black.

This linkage stems back to the racism and oppression prevalent in US history, combined with sexualization of people of color. The Center on Poverty and Inequality generated a study to investigate this point, and found that adults generally regarded Black girls as “less innocent and more adult like than white girls.” Black women continue to be targeted, predominantly by white men. A 2012 research study found that about 85% of people who purchased sex online were white men.

These prejudices impact perpetrator motives, as they are statistically more likely to go after Black girls/ women. A two-year review of alleged enslavement occurrences found that 40% of sex trafficking victims were Black women.

The pandemic and the rise of social media, too, has played its factor in the rise of human subjugation. With many individuals suffering from economic and social deficiencies, trafficking systems have grown exponentially. The victims tend to be vulnerable, often children, in search of some form of attention. Victims often are coerced into enslavement with false promises of jobs or stability.

The growing commonness of human trafficking in the US is alarming and must come to a stop. One of the key problems that prevents victims from being identified is that they often do not believe they are victims. Victims cannot comprehend or see what they’re going through to be considered exploitation, as they often form trauma bonds with their abusers, are hidden in plain sight.

Common signs that can help us identify human trafficking:

  • Physically appearing malnourished
  • Physical injuries
  • Avoidance of eye contact, social communication; primarily with law enforcement
  • Rehearsed replies in social communication
  • Lack of identification documents
  • Staying at hotels/motels with older males
    • Victims refer to males as boyfriend or “daddy” – street slang for pimp
  • Young children serving in family restaurants
  • Individual not allowed in public alone, often spoken for

Trafficking cases continue to grow in numbers, with victims regularly becoming younger and younger. A North Carolina woman was recently sentenced to over 19 years in prison for sex trafficking a 13-year-old girl. This NC proceeding provides insight into common patterns that occur in human enslavement circumstances. It highlights the dominance of social media used in trafficking acts, the susceptibility that victims face and how perpetrators are typically somewhat close to victims.

Authorities were made aware of this case on January 1, 2020, when a 23-year-old girl was a believed victim of sex trafficking. They were able to uncover that from December 2 to the 25 of 2019, Simone McIllwain had been sex-trafficking the young girl in the Charlotte area.

The girl met McIllwain through a shared relationship, when McIllwain started advertising the girl online for commercial sex. She arranged that the 13-year-old girl would perform sex acts in her own hotel room, while she obtained segments of the profits.

She pleaded guilty of sex trafficking of a minor in April 2021, when she was placed in federal custody. Now, she has been sentenced to 235 months in federal prison and 20 years of supervised release.

National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1 (888) 373-7888

SMS: 233733 (Text “HELP” or “INFO”)

Website: http://humantraffickinghotline.org/.

Written By: McKinley Franklin 

sza album cover for use by 360 magazine

SZA – I HATE U

Top Dawg Entertainment’s multi-platinum selling, chart-topping and award-winning recording artist SZA, officially releases “I Hate U” today at all DSPs via TDE/RCA Records.

Produced by Rob Bisel, Carter Lang, thankgod4cody and Dylan Patrice, “I Hate U” emerged as a fan favorite after being posted on Soundcloud in August as an “experiment.”

“I Hate U” comes nearly a year after SZA released “Good Days” on Christmas 2020. Grammy-nominated for Best R&B Song, “Good Days” quickly became SZA’s greatest gainer solo single release, peaking at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and marking her first time in the chart’s top ten as the main artist.

About SZA

Born in St. Louis and raised in Maplewood, NJ, genre-defying recording artist SZA released her major label debut album Ctrl (TDE/RCA) in 2017. Revered for its raw and honest lyrics, it landed at No. 1 on Billboard’s R&B Albums chart, No. 2 on the R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart and No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart, according to Nielsen Music. The RIAA-certified 2x Platinum album received five Grammy nominations in 2018 and more than half the songs on Ctrl are now certified Platinum and Gold. Her hit song “All the Stars” with Kendrick Lamar from Black Panther: The Album, Music From and Inspired By, earned her Oscar (1) and Grammy (4) nominations in 2019. SZA has won various awards since the release of Ctrl including Billboard Music Awards’ Top R&B Female Artist, BET Awards’ Best New Artist, Soul Train Music Awards’ Best R&B/Soul Female Artist and Best New Artist, MTV Video Music Awards’ Best Visual Effects for the “All The Stars” with Kendrick Lamar and NAACP Image Awards’ Outstanding New Artist in 2018. In 2019, she won NAACP Image Awards’ Outstanding Duo or Group for “All The Stars” with Kendrick Lamar and Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation for the Black Panther Soundtrack. SZA also received Billboard’s 2019 Women in Music Rule Breaker award.

In 2020, SZA released the hypnotic track “Hit Different” featuring Ty Dolla $ign along with the stunning visual that took the internet by storm. To close out the trying year, SZA gifted fans on Christmas Day with the hopeful track “Good Days,” followed by a trippy visual released in March. Grammy-nominated for Best R&B Song, the single quickly became SZA’s greatest gainer solo single release, peaking at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and marking her first time in the chart’s top ten as the main artist. To this day, SZA continues to set the standard on creativity and break records with over 7.2 billion streams worldwide across all platforms. Ctrl remains on the Billboard 200 chart since its release in 2017 (over 207 weeks) and holds the record for the longest run for any Black female artist’s debut album.

Black Music Month via Alex Bogdan for use by 360 Magazine

Jordan Ward – Remain Calm

Following the release of his first single, “Lil Baby Crush,” St Louis polymath Jordan Ward unleashes his new EP Remain Calm. The five-track effort proves to be an evocative showcase by the budding singer, who eyes unyielding love and happiness. Established in standout records “Standards” and “Thrive,” Jordan’s buttery vocals and gentle energy are supple enough to keep listeners enthralled for the long run. After a successful trek as an opener on Duckwrth’s ‘A SuperGood Tour’ last month, Remain Calm is the next step in cementing Ward’s leap into stardom. In honor of his new EP, Ward held an intimate release party in Los Angeles to celebrate his journey, where he treated attendees to a live performance.  Listen HERE.

Within the last several years, Jordan Ward has emerged as one of R&B’s rising stars. Developing an affinity for music and dance at a very early age, Jordan polished his skillset after first trying his hand as a choir member before transitioning into musical theatre. His influences include a diverse roster of music luminaries ranging from Marvin Gaye, Donny Hathaway, Stevie Wonder, Lauryn Hill, Kanye West, Tupac, The Notorious B.I.G., Nas, and more. After first experimenting with rap, Ward later focused on singing and dancing. By 18, he moved to Los Angeles and joined Justin Bieber’s Purpose Tour in 2016. Ward’s precocious dance abilities earned him gigs as a dancer for Janet Jackson and Beyonce, as he appeared in the singer’s Homecoming documentary for her epic Coachella performance.

In 2017, Ward began his musical quest after releasing his EP, A Peak at the Summit. It wasn’t until 2019 that Ward’s breakthrough became the talk of R&B. His debut album Valley Hopefuls was propelled by his single “Okok (Hibachi)” and “Sandiego,” which was produced by singer Arin Ray and music producer heavyweight No ID. Now, Ward’s silky croons and elevated songwriting abilities are at peak form as he readies his journey into universal acclaim in the R&B world.

Spiral Tour Admat via RCA Records for use by 360 Magazine

Rezz Spiral Tour

DJ/producer Rezz announces North American headline dates for her “Spiral Tour” which kicks off on February 5th, 2022 in Vancouver, BC. Tickets go on sale this week starting with Spotify pre-sale on Wednesday, September 29th at 10am local time (Password is Spiral) and tickets for the general public go on sale starting Friday, October 1st at 10am local time. Check out the tour dates below and tickets can be purchased HERE.

Rezz will be releasing her new single “Let Me In” with fknsyd along with the music video this Friday, October 1st. You can pre-save it HERE.

Rezz says, “I’m so excited to announce the Spiral tour as it will feature the biggest production I’ve ever had by far. “Let me in” with fknsyd is one of my favourite songs I’ve ever worked on , her voice & song writing is so incredible I can’t wait for you to hear. 

“Let Me In” with fknsyd follows “Chemical Bond” with DEATHPACT. Both tracks will be featured on Rezz’s fourth album spiral which is set to be released this fall via Rezz Music/RCA Records.

“Spiral Tour” Dates

Feb 4 – PNE Forum, Vancouver, BC 

Feb 18 – Masonic Temple, Detroit, MI 

Feb 19 – Navy Pier, Chicago, IL 

Feb 25 – Armory, Minneapolis, MN 

Feb 26 – Factory, St. Louis, MO 

Mar 4 – Terminal 5, New York, NY 

Mar 5 – Terminal 5, New York, NY

Mar 11 – The Met, Philadelphia, PA 

Mar 12 – Echostage, Washington, DC 

Mar 18 – Riverworks, Buffalo, NY 

Mar 19 – Express Live!, Columbus, OH 

Apr 1 – Bayou, Houston, TX 

Apr 2 – South Side Ballroom, Dallas, TX 

Apr 30 – Frost Amp, Stanford, CA 

Over the summer, Rezz teamed up with Dove Cameron to release “Taste of You” which was declared “…the best electronic collaboration of 2021 to date” by EDM.com while Billboard stated, “Their combined efforts make for a catchy, fairly traditionally structured but nonetheless punch-packing track that demonstrates the skills of each artist…” Earlier this year Rezz released “Sacrificial” feat. PVRIS along with the video. Watch HERE. Alternative Press praised the track by calling it “…the perfect blend of both artists’ strengths and distinct artistry.”

About Rezz

26-year-old Canadian DJ/producer Isabelle Rezazadeh AKA Rezz has racked up tens of millions of streams, sold out legendary venues and headlined top festivals around the world. She oozes originality and produces genre-bending electronic works, striking a sharp balance between bass-heavy and minimal tech compositions. Her first independent project – the adventurous Beyond The Senses EP – was released in 2019 and garnered praise from Alternative Press, SPIN and Billboard who called it “her most impactful project to date” and went on to receive The JUNO Award for Electronic Album of the Year in 2020. She graced the cover of Billboard’s 2019 Dance Issue and has been attributed as being at the forefront of the dance and rock music crossover. 2020 marked a banner year for the producer who released her first single through RCA Records “Someone Else” with Grabbitz which has garnered over 50 million streams worldwide and reached #15 on Alt Radio in the US and #1 in Canada. Alternative Press praised the song upon its release, including it as the lead track in their weekly playlist. They called the video “another high point in Rezz’s canon,” saying, “…the song evokes a sinister groove that will appeal to dance music devotees as well as industrial rivetheads…Rezz is heavily featured in a documentary called “Underplayed,” available on Amazon Prime Video, which highlights the current issues female DJs face in the dance industry.