Browsing Tag

Eminem

Interview: Plainview’s Money Mike Sandberg shows us into the Reflection

Posted on 2 February 2023

We had the chance to sit down recently with Money Mike Sandberg and he guides us through his busy life in Plainview, New York. Showing love for his family, Eminem and more, we get further insight into his career.

Q: Please let us know where you’re based today and what a typical day in your life looks like for you.

A: I am based out of Plainview, New York. I am a special education teacher who works in Brooklyn. I teach technology this school year, and I incorporate reading and math skills into my instruction using various programs.

Q: Your flow is honest and drops some genuine lyrics about changing perspectives. Where/when did it all start in the music game for you?

A: I really appreciate the feedback. I get my inspiration from artists like Eminem, Logic, and NF. Their lyricism, cadences, and rhyme schemes have influenced my craft to become a better writer.

However, I give credit to my family for their support every day. I dedicate my successes to my mother Debra, father Jon, and brothers Robert and David who have helped develop me into the person I am today.

Q: Please tell us more about your previous release and if you have new music on the cards in 2023.

A: My previous music release of “Reflection” in 2021, is about grabbing control of your environment through reflection. The message of the album is a call to branch out from societal norms and to take more time for reflection in order to discover and grow together as a society.

Q: What’s it like being an indie music artist in this industry?

A: It’s difficult to be visible in the music industry as an indie artist. However, by being true to myself through my music, I hope to get music opportunities in the future.

Q: Which local underground venues should we check out when in your local area?

A: I haven’t been involved in the local underground scene recently, as I’ve been trying to develop my own music.

Q: How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard a song before?

A: My music speaks for itself. It represents my character and humility. Everything I express is what I hold true to my heart.

Q: Finally, what hopes do you have for the future of humanity?

A: Wow, that is a loaded question. To begin answering that question, you can refer to my “Reflection” album. This will start the conversation.

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Hear this fine song on Spotify. See more on the IG music page.

Interview by Llewelyn Screen

Tiana Dean Interview: Classy vocals and a new EP to feel rejuvenated with

Posted on 28 November 2022

We sat down with the wildly talented Tiana Dean recently to chat all about her new EP and more. Full of life and so much passion, we find out more about this dynamic musician and her current mindset in this challenging world.

Thanks so much for speaking with us today, Tiana. We love your fresh music vibe with such honest lyrics. Let’s start with this. Where do we find you today and how did you get started with music?

Tiana: I can be found at Tianadeanoffical on Instagram and Facebook and Tiana Dean on all streaming platforms and YouTube.
I’ve always been in music. I often tell myself it just runs in my veins. Singing, dancing and writing have always been something I did to past the time as a child. I grew up singing in my church choir as well as early childhood school years.
I was shaped by what I heard around me. The gospel and jazz from my mom the Michael Jackson, Jacket Jacket, and Mariah Carey from my dad. Ciara, Destiny Child, and Eminem, from my oldest sister , to Maroon Five, All American Hero’s, Arvil Laverine from my younger sister and everything rap, Luda, Wayne, Jay Z from my brother. I just always liked what I like and was drawn to certain sounds. I spent hours making up my own beats in my head and writing verses and choruses in my room.
I’ve been recording/releasing music for about 7 years now and fell in love with it the first time I ever recorded a song. It truly is a magical experience.

What core elements do you feel are needed to make the music scene better long-term?

Tiana: Making it more about the music and less about the glitz and glam and who you know. I see a lot of talent and a lot of hard working independent artist trying to make it in a world that’s designed around how desperate people are to be popular and liked. The best music comes from the heart, from emotion and feelings, passion and experiences.

Please explain all about the exciting process to complete your debut 5-track EP and who was involved?

Tiana: The process was rigorous lol. I went through so many songs and so many ideas. I had thoughts of not dropping anything this year and waiting. I was so focused on trying to make a project I thought people would want to hear I wasn’t making anything I liked. I came across a beat off YouTube during the time I called myself giving up and created my single “Lovin It Here” off the “Dear Diary” EP. After being sparked by lovin it here and being able to tell my story that way in a song I was sold on making whatever I was going to drop as a project a pop project.
I found a producer off YouTube named Vshy and literally every beat he had was perfect for the sound and vibe I was going for. I recorded the entire EP at Halfspint Productions Mixed and mastered. There are no features on the project so everything is written by me. All the songs on the Dear Diary EP were written this year within months of the release of the project. Literally my entire project scratched and recreated within months of an album release date because I was inspired by a whole new feel and vibe. Something that was more me.

To release the project and debut the EP a “Night With Tiana Dean” was presented by BlackDolla in Cincinnati Oh. I was accompanied by a live band, The Vault, as well as three amazing opening acts, Siri Imani, Jade Alexis, and Young Reese Rude. It was truly A night to remember and a great introduction into the first project dropped by Tiana Dean.

When you close your eyes and imagine being on a massive stage with fans cheering, what does it feel like?

Tiana: For me, it feels breathtaking. I often imagine how a show will go before it happens and the feeling that overcomes me is overwhelming. Almost too much to handle. I honestly can only imagine what something like that would really feel like! One day though, for sure.

Cincinnati, Ohio. How is the music scene doing and do you feel like the whole local industry is thriving again?

Tiana: I think the music scene in Cincinnati is growing. From where it was when I started to where it is now, it has grown tremendously. I see a lot of artists here getting recognition and getting outside the city. Artists are investing in themselves and working together. It’s a lot of love going around the city, from what I see. So many opportunities are around for artist to be able to express themselves and get their name out there.

Who or what inspires you most in the world?

Tiana: My parents inspire me the most. They are two of the most hardest working, selfless people I know. They were my first examples of what success looks like, what discipline is. I dedicated a lot of life just to make my parents proud and I believe they are.

Where can we find you live next at a show?

Tiana: I’m currently booking for the year 2023. You can follow me on my website and subscribe for notifications regarding upcoming events, new music releases, merch, and shows!

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Listen up on Spotify. See more vibes on IG.

Interview by Llewelyn Screen

NY rapper and producer, Jon Harris is rich in lyrical gold after his latest hip hop release, Great

Posted on 1 November 2022

NY rapper, songwriter and producer Jon Harris tore up the rulebook in his latest old-school-meets-nu-skool single, Great. After a cinematic intro that will speak to the senses of any Tarantino fan, the single moves into more familiar hip hop territory through Harris’ down-to-earth versing style, inspired by the visionaries, Eminem, Kanye and Jay Z, while the instrumentals work melodic magic in the background.

With bells chiming in place of the usual 808s and plenty more ingenuity written into the rhythmic works, Great is an arresting feat of urban innovation. And that’s before we get to the cutting wit that puts all of the wannabe rappers in their place with solid lines that get stronger with every repeat hit of Great. Which is everything it says on the tin.

Every lyric is quote-worthy, but “I’m the bad guy for trying to speak up, constantly telling me to shut up and stick to music, well, guess what bitch, now you gotta listen to it”, may just cut slightly above the rest.

The lyric video for Great premiered on October 22nd. Catch it on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

 

It is all in the hooks in XRick SaenzX’s latest pop-rap earworm, Trust No Thotty

Posted on 23 August 2022

Hip hop got infinitely slicker with the drop of XRick SaenzX’s audaciously infectious new single, Trust No Thotty, which comes with a beast of a chorus and enough charisma to rival his influences, Dre, 50 Cent and Eminem.

Hardened by the streets of LA, XRick SaenzX started his rap career aged 13 when he started writing rap bars. In 2019, he dropped out of college to peruse his passion; on the basis of his latest single, he’s more than got what it takes between his commercial appeal and unique magnetism. Few new urban sonic signatures are bolder than this.

Trust No Thotty is now available to stream on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Milky – a deeply personal and honest debut with ‘I Miss You Mum’

Posted on 26 June 2021

Rising Brighton-based rap artist Milky has taken a bold step with releasing such a poignant, personal, and utterly confessional track as his debut single, but what a track it is; from the beautiful opening vocal courtesy of hometown friend Amy Owens, to the opening stanzas of Milky’s storytelling lyrical poetry (‘…those doctors can go fuck themselves/Yeah, I cut myself/It fuckin’ helps…’) ‘I Miss You Mum’ is just raw, open, and honest, and beautifully put together.

Released on We Are Not Saints records, a not-for-profit label and promotions company which works with musicians in recovery from alcoholism and drug addiction; Milky is, himself, a recovering addict, a theme addressed within the lyrics alongside the narrative of the loss of his mother when he was aged just seven years old.

It’s a stunningly powerful track, truthful and honest without being maudlin or melancholic, hopeful rather than downbeat. On the basis of this, there’s a lot more to come from Milky.

Listen to ‘I Miss You Mum’ on Spotify – follow Milky on Facebook and Instagram.

Review by Alex Holmes

Kouta attacks injustice in the Middle East with his latest hip hop single, ‘Fall’.

Posted on 31 May 2021

For his latest single, ‘Fall’, up and coming Colorado born and raised hip hop artist Kouta used his platform to speak out about the injustices in the middle east. Given that so few people are willing to speak out about the conflict, Fall leaves you utterly floored as familiar thought starts to resonate.

Kouta proves that you don’t need to pick a political side to demand an end to destruction and devastation. Standing alone one song won’t change the world, but it can cause a positive ripple effect of positive and progressive change by opening up minds and making sure the conversation stays fixed on subjects that we need to address.

Fall may leave you with a lump in your throat, but it’s an emotional rollercoaster worth riding. It hits just as hard as Eminem’s Toy Soldiers. Kouta uses music as an outlet, but by the time it hits the airwaves, it has the potential to work as everyone’s means of catharsis. It’s a much-appreciated olive branch of connection when it is so easy to feel isolated by your anger and anxiety.

Fall is now available to stream via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Social activist and hip hop artist FONZO will show you the Power of Your Mind with his second single.

Posted on 15 March 2021

Last year, Tracy California-hailing artist and social activist FONZO dropped their debut single, ‘For the Kids’ and introduced the world to his socially aware approach to hip hop. Their sophomore single, ‘The Power of Your Mind’, created in collaboration with Yung Ricc, is the second hit of FONZO’s infectiously upraising style, and the timing couldn’t be better.

As the mainstream media sells us depression and hate breeds on social media, Power of Your Mind switches the narrative and acts as a powerful mindful reminder that dreams only come true if you follow them. The simple message is made all the more convincing by the energising beats which blast beneath FONZO’s forcefully friendly bars.

Many artists attempt high vibe music only to end up selling themselves as wolves in sheep’s clothing but there is an empowering sincerity in Power of Your Mind, assuring you that FONZO followed the advice he offers in the anthemic mix.

Power of Your Mind is the second single released from FONZO’s upcoming debut album, ‘High Gravity’; any fans of 2Pac, Eminem and Ice Cube will want FONZO on their radar before it drops.

Power of Your Mind is available to stream via Spotify. You can check out FONZO’s debut single and connect with the artist via Facebook and Instagram

Watch the official trailer to the video:

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Throw away your saviour complex under the direction of 3HRE’s resounding RnB Hip Hop single ‘Save Me’

Posted on 11 January 2021

Up and coming US Rap artist 3HRE premiered the music video to their latest single ‘Save Me’ on December 15th, ‘mindful and conscious’ Hip Hop may be in trend right now, but 3HRE raised the bar with his conceptually perception shifting hit which has the capacity to seismically shift your attitude around salvation.

It allows you to see most of the people who claim to be drowning as people who waded into the water themselves. With the female vocals crying out for sanctity from themselves along with 3HRE’s Rap bars offering lyrical gold such as ‘Don’t put your trust in another human being because they will never save you’, describing Save Me as a powerful single seems like a criminal understatement.

The artist’s proclivity to lend inspiration from gritty and convictive artists such as Nas and Rakim along with optimism-inspiring Christian Hip Hop artists allows you to experience the best of both worlds. Additionally, save me is as stunning in sentiment as it is in sound.

You can check out the official video to Save Me by heading over to YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

RYN SCOTT delivers white-knuckle rapid flows in their latest Hip Hop track ‘WHAT’S POPPIN’

Posted on 9 January 2021

Detroit-based trailblazer RYN SCOTT may not share the same acclaim as the likes of Eminem, Tech N9ne, Busta Rhymes, or Twista (yet), but one thing he does have in common with the aforementioned artists is their ability to wax lyrical.

Lock into RYN SCOTT’s rap bars in the remix of their fervent track, ‘WHAT’S POPPIN’, and you’re in for a white-knuckle ride as the relentlessly rapid bars roll through their witty ingenuity. With lines as heavy and poignant as ‘so many people wearing a mask over the ones they already have’ and the sheer volition projected into the production, hitting confirms that RYN SCOTT is one to watch.

You can check out the official music video to RYN SCOTT’s latest release by heading over to YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

DYYNVMIC delivers meta mindfulness with their standout single ‘Three Wives’ featuring Girls Like Girls

Posted on 11 November 2020

While some Hip Hop artists are out there writing ‘love’ songs for their side pieces, Californian artist DYYNVMIC is adding perspective-shifting nuance to the soundwaves with his single, ‘Three Wives”, which shines a mindful light on the dark side of addiction.

Three Wives is just one of the singles which you’ll find on DYYNVMIC’s distinctively alluring 2020 EP, ‘Road Work’, which is heavily influenced by the 00’s era of Hip Hop. It serves as the perfect introduction to their unique perspective and tonally-indulgent approach to production. That’s all before mentioning the authenticity in DYYNVMIC’s smooth, steady and sobering Rap bars.

Three Wives is raw, tender and transfixing right from the intro through the addition of Girls Like Girls’ vocals which ooze sincerity and vulnerability. A simple harmonic whisper of “How did we get this far” before running through a series of conflicted emotions is all it takes for your mood to fall perfectly in line.

Each ‘wife’ serves to explain a different facet of addiction, something which the artist has witnessed plenty of. With the meta-narrative style, he offers powerful emotion while never letting the stigma of addiction lace the soundscape.

Three Wives transcends typical lyrical narratives while achieving an atmospherically cinematic vibe. Any fans of Drake, Kendrick Lamar and Schoolboy Q’s sound and Eminem’s lyrical approach are definitely going to want to delve in.

You can check out Three Wives by heading over to Spotify where you can also check out their Road Work EP in full.

Review by Amelia Vandergast