2021. We're all hoping that the new year brings new things and that we can leave the past in the past. But, everything that happened last year can't be bad. Some good did come out of 2020. One thing that was undeniable was the fact that there was a lot of good music coming out of Tulsa. It was a good year for the town. I should know. I had listened to all of it. Or at least I thought I did until I came across an artist by the name of Devon $.U.A.V.E. who dropped his project "Honey & Ginseng" at the very tail end of December. It was something different about this artist that made me press play.
Brands and Business is the 5th single on the EP titled "Honey & Ginseng". The track is a celebration of the G-Funk era of hip-hop that borrowed from the Tulsa sound made popular by The Gap Band and uncle Charlie Wilson. The track has so much old school flavor in it that even Charlie Wilson would be saying "What you know about that youngster?". His unique flow reminds me of the old school players that know the game and play it well. His luxurious raps paint a story of a player that dresses in fine linen and is unapologetic about the game and how it goes. While at the same time recognizing that this is a business and money is the name of the game. Here's one of the quotable lines off the track. Ima brand, Ima businessman,
Devon $.U.A.V.E. raps show that rawness that proves that he has a gift. As he continues to grow as an artist and invest more in his music I think he can only get better. Most importantly he’s taking steps in the right direction which includes his marketing of the “Honey & Ginseng” project. So check out the single “Brands and Business” below and give it a listen.
Make sure you follow Devon $.U.A.V.E. on social media:
Instagram: @_who_tf_ Twitter: @WhoTFisDEVON Spotify: Devon $.U.A.V.E.
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 With the legalization of weed all but imminent, many dispensaries can now relax. Their highly cashed-based businesses are no longer in jeopardy of being closed down by the Feds, or worst, facing serious federal time. But if you’ve ever ran a business before then you know that this couldn’t be further from the truth. Because business owners know that there’s always a fire to put out, and there’s always room to improve. And this is where ServiceGanja has been helping dispensaries take their business to the next level. ServiceGanja was launched in early 2020 by Shaun Simon, a black entrepreneur from Tulsa, Oklahoma who is keeping the Black Wall Street entrepreneur spirit alive and creating a new space for black entrepreneurship. The self-made serial entrepreneur has proven his knack for growing businesses and finding solutions to customer’s problems. When creating ServinceGanja he said:
So why would a dispensary buy a cannabis POS system? The answer is simple, because it’s a business. And since ServinceGanja specializes in this category, it only makes sense to buy a system that will keep you up-to-date with the ever-changing laws and compliances that a regular POS system can’t. ServiceGanja is the one-stop shop for everything you need to compete with the WalMarts and the Amazon's that are sure to enter the space shortly. It allows cannabis dispensaries to sell and manage their inventory by swapping out human error for accurate systems that save time and money. And who ain’t tryna save a dollar these days? The pandemic has made it more important than ever for businesses to find new ways to keep customers coming through the door. Speaking of customers. ServiceGanja takes the admin work out of maintaining customer information by creating profiles for each customer. This allows for capturing key metrics such as last purchase, birthdays, frequent purchases, and many more metrics to help collect key pieces of data for businesses wanting to know their customer base. This data can help create sales-generating campaigns like reward programs and loyalty programs that keep your customers in mind and coming back. ServiceGanja is creating a wave in the multi-billion dollar cannabis industry. But like any business, the success of a company often begins and ends with the CEO. It’s black entrepreneurs like Shaun Simon who are thriving no matter the economy. But as far as where ServiceGanga will be in 10 years, This is what he had to say: “In 10 years I see ServiceGanja as a Cannabis conglomerate that is competing in different business sectors. I built the software using an open-ended platform which allows us to continue to grow in the space and seamlessly roll out new functionality to our customers. Going forward, we want to continue to innovate as well as take advantage of every opportunity which may be in distribution banking, security, cloud, etc. The possibilities are endless. We’re truly in the Cannabis Revolution!”  Click here to get a free e-book
Also go to the website (Service Ganja) for more information and to request a demo. Follow ServiceGanja on Instagram: @serviceganja  Like a blind man drivin, I wreck. It's all about the Benjamins. Who could forget such a classic Ice Cube film that put Mike Epps on Hollywood’s radar as the next rising star. The scene that sticks out the most is the classic convenience store dialogue where Mike Epps shined. Nobody could do this scene better than Mike right? One Tulsa artist is looking to prove that not only can he play the same character, but he can add a little bit of Oklahoma style to it. The cowboy boot wearing desperado happens to be the artist named J. Friday in his new video "Roll Up". For anyone that has never heard a J. Friday song then this would be the perfect representation. He’s one of the most versatile artists around. From the beginning, you hear his melodic voice on the hook drawing you in. It’s at this moment that you realize that he also is a lyricist in the way he switches flows and his ability to contort words to fit a rhyming scheme created in a previous bar. The beat’s hypnotic sway is captured perfectly in the video as you can see J. Friday strolling thru a purple drank city that seems to insinuate that he’s been sippin that Texas Tea. One of J. Friday’s characteristics are his ability to let other people shine on a record also. And that’s exactly what J.A.Y. Pilotlife did. He’s able to match J. Friday’s energy as his verse slowly builds until it ends with a barrage of syllables that leave you thinking damn. He can really rap. You can tell his mastery and penmanship by the way he seems to always be in control of the track no matter how fast or slow he raps. Every word seems planned out and precise. My diamonds forever remind you of Hova, Checkout J. Friday's video "Roll Up" ft J.A.Y. Pilot below: Go follow J. Friday and J.A.Y. Pilotlife on their Instagram's:
J. Friday Instagram: @jfridaymusic J.A.Y. Pilotlife Instagram: @jay.pilotlife 
Few people have been as active as the rapper they call Yung Trunkz. The Tulsa artist has ramped up his musical output during a pandemic that left many artists on hold hoping for next year to be better. Yung Trunkz has went against this idea and has seen 2020 as an opportunity to do more. This past year alone he has been on a tear, releasing a collection of music ranging from singles, EPs, and albums. Not to mention the featured verses he’s been selected for where he has proven to hold his own. So when it comes to the last month of the year when the music industry is shutting down for the holidays, Yung Trunkz drops off a holiday treat. The single Trap Trunkz.
I been living in the future keep a mask on.
The countdown to self-destruction starts the track and leads into a car crash of high hats and 808 drums. The actual track plays out like a Three 6 Mafia influenced production that whose maniacal sound was the groundwork for psychopathic murderer influenced rhymes. This track’s production shows the evolution of trap music as the incorporated guitar symbolizes a hint of rock and roll ingredient. Yung Trunkz’s flow comes off as very macho and also braggadocios. But not too self-indulged to shouts out artist YungxHalloween in the track, "Yea my boy Halloween spittin fire like a drummer". Usually known for his use of autotune, it seems intentional that he raps without it. He wants you to hear every word and feel each bar, even the ones that sting. He seems to leave the chorus for his signature autotune use. The chorus becomes a chant that reflects just how far the genre has grown and is the moments’ breath from his fast paced lyrical assault. Yung Trunkz from the trap. In the second verse, he echoes the point about rappers copying his flow which he's stated on multiple occasions that artists like Lil Uzi Vert have been stealing his flows. But they can’t copy the Yung Trunkz from the TRAP!
Checkout Yung Trunkz new single "Trap Trunkz below: Make sure you follow Yung Trunkz social media: Instagram: @yungtrunkz_ Twitter: @yungtrunkz_ Spotify: Yung Trunkz 
Spotify Wrapped reminds us of who's the most streamed artists that we've listened to over the last year. For some that may have been Parris Chariz and for others that may have been Gang51E June. But hopefully, somewhere in that list, you have a female rapper that has been putting out just as many hits and is going bar for bar with their male counterparts.
Female Rappers are important to the culture. They’re the counterpunch needed in the battle for the throne. They bring a unique perspective and the same fight as male rappers. Bar for bar, there are some amazingly talented female mc's in Tulsa that hold their own on any track. But sometimes we fail to seek out knowledge because it's different. This is where the power of the internet has come into play. Social Media and streaming platforms have given fans the freedom to discover music. Unbiasedly and most importantly judgment-free. It's always dope seeing a person who never listens to Tulsa hip-hop see a female rapper performing at a bar or club. It's like they discovered a diamond in the cave of misconceptions about what Tulsa has to offer. Often times you'll see female artists get off stage and be approached by strangers who have become fans and immediately follow the artist on Instagram or Spotify. But even without these strangers, female rappers can bring crowds to shows in droves. They provide healthy competition and are a reason why anyone who thinks their king should watch the throne! But what if you don’t know where to find a female rapper? I would say you’re not looking hard enough because platforms like 20onDaTown, IndyPot, and of course Tulsa Lines have covered them extensively. But just in case you still need help look below we collected a list of Female Spittas. Also if you know of more to add to the list let us know! Hopefully you can see now that there are some dope female rappers out there and it’s plenty to choose from. Now who’s the best? That’s a whole nother post.
 Tis the season for the Spotify Wrapped for the end of the 2020 year. It’s been a year full of ups and downs but one thing that has been consistent is music. And like a trophy artists are posting their stats just to show how good of a year they had. Artists like Parris Chariz took to Instagram to share his astonishing 4.5 million streams! But what if you didn’t have millions of streams? Is it still worth it to post your stats?
Yes. Just from a micro-level just one stream should be enough for you to post your Spotify Wrapped. Take into consideration that people had millions of choices and they chose to take time out of their life, that they will never get back and decided to stream your music. So the post is sort of an appreciation to your fanbase. Secondly. You gotta see this as a measuring point. This was the bar set so that next year you can shoot for a higher number. Now is time to analyze what went right. Did you pay for ads? Did you reach out to websites? Did you reach out to influencers? Did you do a proper rollout? Did you post the song more than once? These are just a few of the questions that you should be also asking yourself so that you can hopefully build on the momentum tomorrow. Also. Posting your content may lead to networking opportunities. One artist may want to build their fanbase by collabing with you seeing that your music has been streamed in an area that they are trying to get into. Similarly, you can reach out to artists with more streams that posted their Spotify Wrapped and ask what they did. Also, note that reaching out for a feature from the bigger artists is a good way to get more listeners next year. Lastly. It’s a time to dive into the analytics and fully understand what they mean. Hopefully, by now you have the Spotify for Artists app. It’s a free app. Learn what the numbers mean and how to use them to your advantage. For example, tracking which city your songs are mostly streamed in or also promoting your tour or selling merch. If you don’t know how just google it! Spotify for Artists – Guide – Spotify for Artists So there you go. Post your Spotify Wrapped and let the world know the stats. And if you’re still second-guessing, remember that even Parris Chariz started with a single stream. What was the top 5 songs you streamed the most this year? Post your stats 2020 Wrapped below: 
Freestyle. The general consensus of a freestyle is that it is an improvised, unwritten, display of flow, and lyricism that occurs in one attempt. A song is generally more structured as opposed to a freestyle which can be seen as more of a stream of thought. But as time and rap have evolved the term freestyle itself has become more blurry. The freestyle track is now more of an unstructured song that has no chorus and a particular topic that it has to stick to. The freestyle track is still intended to let artist show off their skill as a stream of thought but if you need more than one take, that’s allowed now. If you need an example of this look no further than Parris Chariz's track called "Can't Hold Back Freestyle”.
When you're eatin raman,
The track appears on his latest album 2045 Deluxe: Airwavs which is the second helping to the 2045 saga. The track’s somber feel sets the stage for Parris Chariz to answer the question "Are you here?" He answers by giving the old hip hop heads what they want. Lyricism and bars centered around the classic boom-bap percussion. The track is jam-packed with quotable lines that make you double-take. His talent extends beyond the box that most gatekeepers try to put him in. Bar after bar come at the listener like a game of Guitar Hero, where the slightest break is given right before a string of back to back lines that grab your ear as your brain tries to decode and process before the next bar comes. Parris Chariz ain’t here to play. He repeats the last line. "I CAN'T HOLD BACK!"
Remeber when shorty said I'm her man, I played the zone.
Checkout Parris Chariz's single "Can't Hold Back Freestyle” below.
Go follow Parris Chariz on his social media below: Instagram: @parrischariz Twitter: @parrischariz Spotify: Parris Chariz 
Hustle Sold Separately two Oklahoma artists deciding to team up and drop a joint project. Which is not easy and is rarely executed well. Overall it has to fit musically. So when artists K.O. and Trip G dropped a joint project it was a surprise. Knowing that this would be a difficult thing to pull off I was skeptical. That was until I heard the first track which has to be the title track off the album called “Hustle Sold Separately”.
The track starts off with a maniacal beat produced by ADHD, who has been a long time collaborator with Trip G. The beat represents his signature tag line “ADHD Got This Bouncin Yea” with its hard-hitting bass and synthesized piano keys that seem to creep around the bass. I don't need approval,
K.O. is up first. The lyricist has built a reputation on intricate flows and clever bars having caught the attention of her peers, many have approached her to do features. On this track is no different as her skills are exhibited as if with ease. She starts out walking on the beat taking her time and making every word punctuated. But as she gets to the end of her verse she switches her flow to a faster pace almost as telling Trip G. Match Me!
I'm sucka free but you niggas some suckas
Trip G is not to be shown up. He proves from the beginning that not only can he match the pace but also that he can drop bar after bar, in sort of a lyrical sprint. Trip G’s verse is true to his style that can be described as more of a showman. He raps about staying on point because people will wait for the right opportunity and their plenty of opportunists. And Trip G is not afraid to call them out.
By the end of the track, both artists wait at the finish line not looking phased or fatigued. This is just the warmup. And most importantly this is the start to a great album. Checkout K.O. and Trip G’s single from their title track called “Hustle Sold Separately" below: Go follow K.O. and Trip G's Instagram's below: K.O. Instagram: @sheisko Trip G Instagram: @tripgofficial  Trappin Music ain’t dead and Cityboy Chop is proof that it’s alive and kicking. The self-proclaimed Cartier Don since the beginning has embodied what it means to be a trap rapper. Never to be counted out he’s shown his ability to stay on top and to thrive. Even with the changing times of the mixtape era to the now playlist era, Cityboy Chop has continued to have a loyal fanbase and respect from his peers while having a career that outlived some of the rappers that he came into the game with. In a time where the internet has given anyone the freedom to make music, it's important now more than ever to stand out from the crowd. And Cityboy Chop is doing just that by sticking to the music he knows best. Trap Music. He’s also continued to grow his fanbase and stay relevant by working with new artists, which is the case for his latest single that features Joey Organic called "Swear 2 Gawd". Swear 2 Gawd is the intro track off Cityboy Chop's new album "Drug Proceeds". Which is his 6th album to be released in 2020. That's right 6 studio albums released in 2020. Cityboy Chop has been releasing music at an unprecedented pace flooding the streets with dope music. This latest release proves that Cityboy Chop has plenty left to say. Send my bitch with the Cleo braids, The track is like a dope boy's oath where Cityboy Chop reflects on the rules of the game that he has pledged his life to. Things that he has stood tall on and never folded both in life as well as in his music. Staying true to this oath has given him a presence on the track that few can have, the reason being that his verses come from stories he’s lived as opposed to stories told through someone else's eyes. This goes back to the earlier point of how he stands out from the millions of artists. He’s lived it!. To build an empire you need help. For this track Cityboy Chop got Joey Organic to help deliver the message for Swear 2 Gawd. The hook singing Joey Organic is usually known as a rapper having released tracks of his own such as “No Hook Josè” that showed he could really rap. So to hear him singing is surprising yet not totally, having heard him sing backup for Youth The Vampire during his performances. His style complements Cityboy’s hard-hitting street lyrics as they both perform on the front steps of the Boston Avenue Methodist Church. The 2nd verse plays like a cumulation of all the lessons he’s learned, almost as to say, “I did this so that you didn’t have to” as Joey Organic sings “I Swear 2 Gawd”. Go listent to Swear 2 Gawd and let us know what you think! Checkout Cityboy Chop's video "Swear 2 Gawd" ft. Joey Organic below: Follow Cityboy Chop and Joey Organic on their Instagram: Cityboy Chop instagram: @iamcityboychop Joey Organic instagram: @joey_organic  "Bust a left, a right, I'm outta sight I'm throwed". Everybody remembers Yungstar's iconic line in the song "Wanna Be a Baller". The line has become bigger than the actual artist who rapped it. But this one line perfectly describes Houston car culture, better known as "swangin". For those who don't know swangin just put on Trae's song "Swang" ft. Big Hawk, Pimp C & Fat Pat. Just 500 miles away an artist by the name of Keezy Kuts would pay homage to this iconic line in his song "LnR". LnR is the latest single from Keezy Kuts who has had a relatively quiet year musically. He's taken most of the year to focus on becoming his own boss by opening his own barbershop suite, he's also been building his Pre-Rolled empire. "You know I'm Pre-Rolled". It’s only fitting that this be the first bar that speaks to the effort he’s put into his brand which he showcases in the video by wearing a Carolina blue Pre-Rolled hoodie, which has become a fan favorite. But also anyone who knows Keezy Kuts knows that he supports local brands such as the Northside sweater by Boss P, and the Black Wall Street t-shirt by Black Wall Street T-Shirts & Souvenirs that he also rocks in the video. And I'm goin up, This track has a fun bounce to it, it's a feel-good track that Keezy Kuts slides on. And yet it's all freestyling. Like the famous words of Lil Wayne where he stated that he doesn’t write his lyrics, neither does Keezy Kuts, but you can still hear the metaphors and double entendre's in his lyrics. I'm not much for comparison but Keezy Kuts's ability resembles Lil Wayne's. His unscripted improvised raps, sounds like a lyricist who has meticulously written out bars that are laced with clever lines and hidden messages. Yet Keezy Kuts does it so effortlessly. Or as he says it “Ima freestyle liaison”. LNR is a dope track that you can tell that Keezy Kuts had fun with. He definitely shines on the track, literally, peep the gold grill and gold watch in the video. So checkout the video below and let us know what you think, Checkout Keezy Kuts new video "LnR" below: Make sure you go follow Keezy Kuts social media below: Instagram: @keezykuts Twitter: @keezykuts Spotify: Keezy Kuts YouTube: Keezy Kuts |
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