 Back in the days when I was younger. That song still plays in my head as I roamed the halls of McLain High School for Science and Technology. Memories of friends, prep rallies, school dances, but what I don’t remember is a record company, or rather a music curriculum. McClain has this and it’s helping talented students express their creativity, while also teaching them the business behind the art they love. This past Thursday, we got the opportunity to see this class firsthand during their concert release party for their sophomore album “The 49th Floor”. Let’s talk about it. I can’t say enough about what Steph Simon has done with this group. The Tulsa King has taken all he’s known and has poured it into these students. During the performance, he stood below the stage like a college coach, which he draws parallels with, since he has to manage new students coming into the program as well as existing star players leaving to either transfer or go onto the next level. And like a college coach, Steph Simon called plays during the performance and stood proud at the end watching all the hard work his players went through now translate into a great performance. Steph Simon, you are doing amazing work, and you deserve your flowers. But let’s get into the music. The students. If I were to compare this concert with the one from last year, I would say the key difference was confidence. The returning students had more confidence which comes with experience, like a varsity player does. Even the freshmen artists surprisingly had confidence that came with the support of the team as well as being just being naturally talented. Another point of interest from this concert was the range of music on display. There were so many different genres. From rap to R&B, these were expected, but then there were pop songs, duets, just a variety of influences. One of the early singles was from artist Jinko Nwena and her song “No Lie”, which is a soulful pop record with high energy and a dance that solidifies its virality. No Lie. TMC Records has always been able to make music. That’s never been a doubt, but what has set this year’s concert apart from last year's, I believe, is the performance. Not only were there props like desks, chairs, and a band, but there was also dancing. For example, during one of the performances, artist Rita Pita rapped her song "Dont Be Afraid" as three background dancers performed in synchronized movements, which added an extra layer to the performance. On another performance, artists Letre Mason and Robin performed their song “Decisions” as a duet and with some choreography. The song alone makes you want to move, and the choreography gave the audience permission to. Getting back to the desks. During J.U.V,’s track “I Ain’t No Dumb Rapper”, students were making beats on the desks while he rapped. It was a feeling of Public Enemy with a mix of Nipsey Hussle and the ultimate middle finger to the person who commented in the Tulsa World article that we could be teaching these kids more than just music. Even Mayfest was chanting, “I Ain’t No Dumb Rapper”. BabbyBuzz and Izzy D are students who transferred for their senior year and left a mark as soon as they stepped on campus. The dynamic duo reminds you of some the best in the game to ever do it, Kobe and Shaq. Jordan and Pippen. Durk and Sosa? The last one might be for a laugh, but you can’t deny that they just make hits. They came out the gate with their hit single “Drip Talk”. The song is infectious, even in the video, they have that swag, that rizz. And it’s more songs to come from the two, like “We Ballin” which is another high-energy song that’s sure to be a hit when it drops. Whether you like it or not, these two are well on their way to being stars. For the past three years, females have been running the rap game. This was also shown in TMC Records' performance as artists such as Rita Pita continue to be a standout artist with a commanding presence and a familiarity with the stage. She’s a star and she knows it. Another female artist that’s proving she has what it takes to be a star is Unique, who had a unique performance as she remixed Boston Richey’s hit single “Help Me”. The whole crew helped shine a light on her, literally, by surrounding her with their cellphone lights as she commanded the stage. Robin, the freshman of the group, is like that star recruit who came in the game getting buckets. She has versatility to rap, sing, and dance, and was featured in numerous songs throughout the night. One of the dopest things to see that night was seeing the faculty including the principal fan out to all the performances. The principal was one of the loudest champions of the performance and was at times taking videos and pictures and also waved his phone in the air with the flashlight on. To say these faculty supports these students would be an understatement. They were there extra hours afterwork. If that ain’t dedication, I don’t know what it is Also, if you've ever been to a TMC performance than one of the angelic voices that you've probably heard is Laryaha. She has an amazing voice and is also a great songwriter from what I've heard. "Sunny Dayz" which features her, Tink, Rita Pita and Robin is known single, but for this performance felt remixed with a little bit of a different sound and new faces. The singers of the group can still sannnggg. There were a lot of great performances of the night that I didn't get to capture like TK GZ, KGZ, and J.U,V's song "Aye Brother". But I'm sure I'll get the opportunity to see them perform again soon.
Last but not least is the support staff. I gotta give it up to the people behind the scenes like Jayla the stage manager who did an amazing job getting people to the stage and passing out mics. KyKy who is the content manager and engineer who also works with Tay who is also a content manager and is also a camera crew member. Also Producer & Composer $uave Donny also helped with as the sound engineer. Together TMC Records is gonna go viral. And tell Steph Simon if they know any writers/bloggers, let me know. TMC Records isn’t just another record label. It’s so much more than that. It’s a pride that’s being instilled in the school. It’s an outlet of creative expression. It’s a program that can teach kids how to get into the music business and not be used by the music business. This program isn’t just important to the students, it’s important to the school, to the community. It’s teaching you that you don’t have to leave Tulsa to be a star. Because Steph Simon said it best. “Tulsa Niggas Rule The World”. So, the next time you’re in class and you think that good music doesn't come from Tulsa, that student that's making the honor roll could also be the one you're listening to YouTube or Spotify.
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The best things about being an uncle is that you don’t have to perfect, You don’t have to have to be compared to this standard that parents do. In short, you can always tell it how it is. UNCLE JAY is an artist that specializes in doing just this, and this time he's bringing dj noname, in for their project called UNCLE NONAME. UNCLE NONAME is a six-track project that dropped on 4/20, a day usually reserved for smokers, but surprisingly this wasn't the theme of this project. What was? We'll get to that later, but for now, let's talk about Track 1. Noname never disappoints on production as the first track “A STEP AHEAD” starts with the dj noname.’s signature use of a soulful sample of Black Ivory's single "It's Time To Say Goodby" sample, the producer has become a historian with his ability to pick timeless tracks, this time around it sets the stage for UNCLE JAY. "Visions through a prism, gifted with the difference to make, when distance was an issue, I had that Lemon Lemonade." UNCLE JAY has crazy wordplay and goes through a broad array of topics such as nautical skills, A.I,, education, and that's just the first 45 seconds. It's clear that UNCLE JAY can spit. Then we get to Track 2, You & I. Again, dj noname. found a timeless sample, and again it's from Black Ivory’s single “You And I”. The looping chorus sets the stage for Uncle Jay to rap a few bars and then let the chorus play as if it were a 60s r&b group where the lead singer moves back and forth from the mic while the background singers repeat the chorus. I would say that this is the love track of the album that is wrapped in not only emotions but also some slick bars that I found myself going back and rewinding them just because of the imagery, such as this one, “I inverted kiss from a mouth of fire, reversal foot than it turned to mine. “, even the cleverness of this bar that was in turn from this crazy set up from 2 bars previous, "should write my wrongs, on the wrong page". “I got the slice like katanas,
LISTEN is one of my favorite tracks. What I like about it most, is that it's like this lyrical gymnastics as UNCLE JAY’s bars show his skills like a triathlon athlete, he excels in wordplay, metaphors, rhyme scheme, UNCLE JAY attacks each bar like he’s going for gold. There also, so many quotables in just the first verse. "I got the slice like kutanas." BARS!! They like to think they Iron Man, until they lack J.A.V.I.S.” BARS!!! He really did pop his shit on this track. While also tying in a life lesson; to be confident in your gift, because no matter how much you might run from it, it's still going to find a way to shine. Lastly, it's with the third track that you also realize that dj noname. is using another Black Ivory sample, this time it was "No If's AND's OR But's". It's a dope track to bring into the 21st century and proves that this group was slept on.
The fourth track on this project is called DONT RUSH LOOKN 4 YA HALO. UNCLE JAY is a little more laid back on this one and shows his personality more, he also switches his flow by using a kind of mini-subconscious voice that's used by artists such as Kendrick Lamar or J. Cole, the voice brings a depth to the chorus. I think he should have brought it back on the second and third chorus, which sound more like an echo effect and is missing the first chorus's sound. What I do like about this track is that he is talkin his shit. He's an artist that is known for doing the work that other artists say you gotta do, and this is reflected from the very first bar, "This boat still needs rowed". followed up by, “The entrance of a wrestler, self-driven like TESLA." Just put the whole first verse behind glass because ain’t nobody touching it. Even in his second verse he continues to show his clever wordplay through use of alliteration in the bars that use of the word 'seen'. Y'all really got UNCLE JAY fucked up. "She say come talk to me ,
SEARCH & YOU’LL FIND you gotta shout out dj noname, his beat selection once again is impeccable. It’s just something about hearing horns on a track that lets you know that it’s about to be a dope, as he found another sample from Black Ivory and their song “I’ll Find A Way". The track sets the stage for luxury bars, “Be serious and willin, it feel like walkin with God, cause the mirrors in the storefronts won’t tell you, you fraud". This is the shortest track on the album, but it's also jam packed with bars and technical skill. I also like the way he flipped the words "pair" and " sight" in these two bars. “We weren’t concerned with parasites or snakes in the creeks, but this pair of sights, had a lot more to see." Again, y'all really got UNCLE JAY fucked up.
I always judge an album by its outro, and like an uncle, you’re judged by the last advice you give. BISON IN BLIZZARD is the final track on the album, and dj noname. dials up Black Ivory’s "Baby, Won't You Change Your Mind" its that outro beat forreal. Again, UNCLE JAY knows how to deliver as he uses the beat like soapbox to give his final advice of the album. He's literally spittin life experiences in these bars and giving game like an uncle would, Lastly and probably the most important is the love, the love he shows at the end of the track, cause that's what family does. UNCLE NONAME is a project that although it’s short, it’s straight to the point, it doesn’t waste your time, and it doesn’t give you any filler. UNCLE JAY just tells it how it truly is, just like an uncle is supposed to. I also have to give credit to dj noname.’s use of Black Ivory tracks, again this group was really slept on. dj noname. is a musical archeologist who can dig through thousands of tracks and find the one that can create magic. As far as the content of the album, UNCLE JAY talks to the audience like an uncle would to talk to his nephews and nieces. Sometimes that means you and your uncle in the backyard smokin’ a blunt while he gives you the game, it's an open-diaglogue and a reflection from life experiences. Because that's what uncles do. So, listen up, and go stream the album UNCLE NONAME: Go follow both UNCLE JAY and dj noname. on Instagram: UNCLE JAY's Instagram: unclejaymakesmusic dj noname.'s Instagram: nosamyrag 
51st and Peoria. The mighty Norf. The Nitty. That's where the video starts as Lawton rapper Too Fat Troub sits on top of a white sedan, dressed in matching black pants and jacket, as well as enough jewelry to buy one of the houses he's rapping near. In an unreleased track that hit his Instagram, Too Fat Troub is back with "Double Texting".
Ain't doin' no double texting.
This line starts off the track. It's a bold statement far removed from the R&B singers of the past like Keith Sweat who made a reputation for begging for love. But those are not YN tendencies. Maybe because a double text gives the impression that you care. And at the same time, I dance with the idea that in this song TooFat is using reverse psychology and at times avoiding the conversation by dropping lines about his trapping abilities. Then right before she is about to leave, he goes into his truth about missing her. "It feels like the ceilings been falling thru'" brings a depth to the trust and vulnerability he has with his woman.
Its' not always the about the destination, sometimes it's about how you got there. In this case it's how TooFat cleverly strings together bars, especially on this track. One example of this is in the chorus where in one line he talks about having a broken heart and then in a later line talks about turning it into a chrome heart. There is something very cinematic about the video itself. The vertical style draws in the audience as the 1 continuous shot is like a monologue where TooFat is breaking the 3rd wall and talking directly to you. This solo performance gives the viewer a deeper understanding of the pain that TooFat is conveying, expressed both in his tone and body language. Is acting in TooFat's future? For now, we'll enjoy the raps. Here are some of the bars that caught my ear.
It's not every day that an unreleased track moves me to write, but when it does, you best believe the pen moves. So TooFat, hurry up and drop "Double Texting"!!! 
A five-minute song?? Nobody drops five-minute songs! Well Rey Dollas isn’t just anybody. He’s a rapper from Tulsa that has been gaining traction for his lyrics and raw delivery. One example of this is his last release Shayonna Flo, a track that gained a lot of attention for its ability to immediately draw you in, it was so real and raw and with a visual that took you to his world. Rey Dollas is just getting started, his new single “Protect your Mana” looks to build on the success of his last record. Let's check it out. What does Mana mean? The title immediately sticks out. A quick Google search defined Mana as originating from Polynesian/Melanesian cultures, where it means spiritual/physical power, charisma, and reputation. These qualities are revered where Rey Dollas comes from. We gotta talk about the beat. Sounds familiar right? That soulful background voice is the legendary singer Mary J Blige and her hit single "My Life" which is also samples from the late Roy Ayers’s famous hit "Everybody Loves the Sunshine", his recent passing reignited this amazing single as posts popped up all over social, it's crazy to think that also over twenty-one songs sampled this song. Twenty-four, doing life,
Rey Dollas has this special gift. His words speak life with each bar. No matter straight forward the bar is. Sometimes it’s not about how many quadruple entende’s you can put in a verse. Like Kendrick said, “Fuck a double entendre, I want y'all to feel this shit”. And that’s exactly what Rey Dollas is doing. It reminds me of those early Nipsey tapes where he would jack beats, but his words spoke to you in a way that was just as prolific as the beats he jacked. Rey Dollas is spittin some PROLIFIC shit on here. The song isn't this structured two verse chorus song structure, it comes across more like a stream of consciousness where he jumps in and out on the track. During these streams he’s tying bars together and jumping from bar to bar but also letting it breathe. An example of this is when he talks about running so hard that his feet bleeds, to the fact that his woman wants red bottom shoes. There's just not a dull moment on this track.
I like also that he lets the beat breathe at the end. It reminds me of those old rap songs that would let the beat play at the end and everybody would freestyle on. My only bad critique about the track would be the last twenty-five seconds. The track just goes totally silent for twenty-five seconds. And in this world of short attention spans, twenty-five seconds, feels like forever. There you have it. "Protect your Mana" by Rey Dollas. It's a track that's breaking all the molds. First of all, It's five-minutes. Secondly, it's not the traditional song structure of chorus, verse, chorus. This is Rey Dollas stream of consciousness, or maybe stream of reality that draws you in. Lastly, it's a dope ass record. Rey Dollas has that "it" factor. Just listen and you'll know what I mean. Check out Rey Dollas new single "Protect your Mana". Now streaming everywhere!
Follow Rey Dollas on social media:
Instagram: @reydollas23 Twitter: @ReyDollas_ YouTube: Rey Dollas Spotify: Rey Dollas 
Hurricanes, Floods, Genocides, and Fires. It’s safe to say that if this is just January, then we’re in for a hell of a ride. People are just now getting over everything that happened in 2024. Then the TikTok ban. What else can happen in 2025 that already hasn’t? It's a world of uncertainty with bad news after bad news. The world needs something to look forward to. Something to dance to, something to get their minds off this godforsaken planet. AP=Chem is doing just that with the release of their EP Imed=3. AP=Chem is a collective of two collaborating songwriters from Oklahoma City. Anthony Mahon, who also was in the band "The Gentle Art of Floating". And Eric Gorman, who also was a band member of "The Gentle Art of Floating" and also the band "Trap Queen". They describe their music as Inexplicable Modern Existential Dread. They have released multiple singles as well as their two EPs "Imed=1 and "Imed=2". Get to know the band that's changing the way we experience music. Right out the gate, track one, The Golden Path takes you on this journey. It's the beat that grabs hold of you with its infectious high-energy. This eclectic guitar that just takes control of the beat, and the hard-hitting drum and high hats, the crash cymbals that give it that rock band feel. This is my Guitar Hero. A monotonic voice plays in the background sounding as if he’s doing some lecture that is luckily being drowned out by the music. The only thing that can save us from the politics and the classes. And although the voice tries to break through, its the music that grows louder and takes control. Because the music is the people! Slick Black Pools, that’s a hell of a title, and it's a hell of a track. Its electric guitar is bold and in your face. It takes me back to those early ‘80s Retro movies like "Weird Science" or "Nerds”, especially the talent show scene. Classic! I caught myself multiple times just bopping my head and just moving to the beat. That sensational retro 80s club music where everybody was doing coke. The synth machine is the star of the show as it gets its spotlight moment and produces these edgy experimental sounds combined with the drum pad machine, this sounds like some expensive equipment. Another noticable part of the song is the airy voice singing, but rather than singing a verse or chorus the voice wades in the background like an instrument that blends into the beat. This song is arranged beautifully. Track 3’s title breaks the rules of traditional spelling, Lumme which is a phonetic way of spelling the words ‘love me ', it feels like this hip-hop boom bap beat mixed with a melodic voice that repeats, “She don't love me.” This is more like a traditional vocal song complete with verses and a chorus. The track keeps you engaged with the different vocal effects such as the vocal filter that makes the voice sound like he’s yelling through a phone. Love will make you do that. Other times the voice sounds like it’s in a slow drug induced state that’s reminiscing about a relationship. Love will make you do that too. The EP takes a hardcore shift when it gets to the 4th track called, One Week in Japan. which is on par since Japan has a huge punk rock scene. Tokyo's iconic punk venues like Antiknock in Shinjuku, Earthdom in Shin-Okubo, or even Osaka with its own set of legendary punk venues, such as Fandango and King Cobra. This track fits perfectly in the Japanese punk rock scene. That guitar gives the track this dark eerie feeling, walking on the beat like Micheal Myers walking with a knife or maybe a samurai sword. This track is perfect for an anime intro. There’s this sheer gritty-rawness and one of my favorite parts is where they just rock out, and how it then transitions to this hard-hitting kick drum. This is one of those trips only the best of chemists could create. The last track on the EP is “We Loved a Lifetime’s Worth”. It feels like this ultimate crescendo of sounds as this piano and staticky bass hold its elongated notes, mix that with a crying guitar and you've got yourself a soundtrack. The synthesizer comes in like an 8-bit Zelda mission and creates this hero effect. Or maybe it’s this album that is the Hero. Each bar is taking you through the hero's journey that ultimately ends with nothing short of triumph. Let the end credits roll. Because this is the way you end an album. It’s only January. The world has seen so much. But what’s gonna get us through this year is being free, and that’s what AP=Chem is showing us with their new EP Imed=3. It’s a freedom to not be bound by anyone’s expectations. You can do rock, you can do rap. You can take everything you love and create a something that’s for the people, because Imed=3 is for the people. The feeling that you get from this album can not be faked or made with AI, it's a music that can only be created through feeling and experiencing. That's what this album is. So, dance, laugh, and love for a lifetime. Because this is what the world needs now more than ever. Make sure you stream the EP Imed=3 from AP=Chem and let us know what you think. Make sure you follow AP=Chem on their social media: Instagram: @apchemband Facebook: AP=Chem Spotify: AP=Chem YouTube: AP=Chem BandCamp: AP=Chem SoundCloud: AP=Chem  I'm not a producer. But I am an artist, and I'm sensitive about my shit. I've always chosen to be a writer, from those early days of printing off lyrics at the Rudisill Library to writing 10 page essays the day before they were due. We talking about high school and college papers, and I got an A. But that's enough writer flexing. There was a small period of time where I was also a producer. When I was in the 7th grade, my mom had got me a PlayStation 1, and I had purchased a demo disk with 9 free games that played the demo version of games. This particular disk had a game called "MTV Music Generator". It was the first time I had been able to produce. My first studio. And I had beats. But I also realized I didn't have the patience to sit and listen to a metronome while I looked for the perfect sounds. I wanted the finished beat now. Fast forward years later and the Stem Player by Kanye West is just that. It’s the finished product that allows you to re-finish/re-make the song the way you want it to. The Stem Player is an audio remix device by Kanye West. What can’t Ye do? Well, it's not all Kanye West who built this device, actually it was a collaboration with Swedish company Teenage Engineering. Their minimalistic and often retro modular style has built a reputation on quality, innovation, and looking damn good doing it.
The late Vigil Abloh first introduced Kanye to this company that was revolutionizing studio equipment. But like I said, I'm not a producer. But the Stem Player changed that. Stems. Stems are defined as a type of audio file that breaks down a complete track into individual mixes. This allows you, as a creator, to control each of the particular mixes for your production. Stems tend to break down into four tracks, usually covering the melody, instruments, bass, and drums. The Stem Player appeared with Kanye doing a concert, then an interview with Big Boy but never was generally available, that's until some YouTubers found a closet with thousands of them and some Grammy’s in a storage locker in Hollywood. The plot thickens..... So I copped one. My first impression is this thing is small, but it’s tight as hell. Its design is small and sleek and retro, with a modular feel as it incorporates manual sliders for you to manipulate the different stems. The buttons have the feel of Steve Jobs first iPhone where even the smallest detail had a quality feel to it and was initiative. The side rocker is one of those features that ergonomically feels good and smooth when you use it. The only other comparison is the Orbo and the Kano player which we will talk about in another session. Let’s get back to this version. Don’t let the Stem Player’s small form factor fool you. This device packs a punch and is louder than I thought it would be. Like I couldn’t believe how loud it got. Also it's not just loud, it also has really quality sound. The device literally fits in the palm of your hand and can be used with just one hand. But I’m ambidextrous with this device and I like using it with both hands. I turned it on. That’s when the magic began. And even though it only you can only play one album on it, Kanye's Jesus Is King, I found out that the album is actually fire... when I make it. I say this because I feel like some of the tracks are overproduced. I found myself turning down certain stems during playback. Maybe it was removing certain sounds altogether, maybe it was speeding up certain parts, or looping parts of a song. For the first time I got to be better than Ye at making music. Did I mention that it didn't come with any instructions! But to my luck the internet has all the answers including some videos to show you everything you need to know.  One example is on the track “Use This Gospel”. Crazy song with The Clipse and Kenny G. But the one thing I would didn’t like about it was that it felt overproduced. When I removed the dinging metronome like sound it sounded perfect. And when I isolated Malice’s stems it felt like The Gospel. This song also made me learn about the power of loops as I created a simple loop at the end with part that repeats “Work”, I could create a whole song off just this looped bar. And this is just in the simple mode. You heard that right, there’s more than 1 mode, actually there’s 4. Simple, Advanced, Simple Midi, and Advanced Midi. Also it has Bluetooth!!! Yep. No display but Bluetooth pairing capabilities. This little device? Yes, in this little device. Advanced mode, which is the second mode, takes all the things from Simple mode and puts them on steroids. The grey function button is everything in this mode. One of the cool things is that the buttons at the bottom when pressed with the function button actually have 4 different effects, and those 4 effects have 4 modes of their own. You have the filter, the chorus delay, distortion, and gate distortion (which is the only function you can do in simple mode.). It's like you can do everything you can in simple mode, but more. The isolation of loops and able to make them longer and shorter. All this in one simple device. My final thoughts would be that this is a revolutionary product. In an age of streaming where artists are getting pennies or nothing if you're a smaller artist, this device has the ability to create money and create a unique experience for the fans. Some people didn't like the $160-$200 price tag, put when you look at the price of the iPod when it first came out, it was $399. So this is even cheaper than that and does more. Obviously, this is for the super Kanye West fan, or the Tech Music fan, but I imagine this would be a way artists can take charge and drop something cool that is another price point item in their catalog. This device also brings back listening to albums. It forces you to sit with an album and it also added to the replay value of the album. In a world of streaming, this device forced you to listen to tracks over and over and the fact there is not a way to directly select a track and that you had to cycle through the album each time made me listen to tracks I never would’ve. I was going through parts thinking this would be a nice part to loop, or what if I isolated Ye’s voice on this track? So long answer yes, I say if you won't go into debt, then buy it. Here's the video that probably helped me out the most.  There’s been a video circling around the internet of rapper Richie Rich doing an interview on Sway’s podcast. What’s interesting about this episode is that Richie Rich tells how the industry is all about payola and that Lyor Cohen had told him that this was the reason why his record went number 1. Lyor even went as far as to say that because of payola he could have Rich’s grandma the number 1 artist in six months. This led me to think about LiAngelo Ball’s viral song “Tweaker”. Who is LiAngelo Ball? Some might say a mediocre basketball player who was promoted and marketed to the point that he made the NBA. But in actuality he only played 2 seasons for the G League Hornets team before moving to the Mexico’s Astros de Jalisco. He’s the middle child between Bulls guard Lonzo and Hornets guard LaMelo who both seem to be talented. Now LiAngelo wants people to know him by his new rap name G3 Gelo. Whatever you call him is up to you. ‘Tweaker’. Let’s be real here. The first play makes this sound like a blast from the early 2000s. It’s sound is dated that at best is a meme or funny background music. The song doesn’t sound mixed or mastered and times just has this unpleasing busyness to it, like I can’t concentrate because there are too many stacked layers. Usually I like a raw, gritty, unmixed track, but this one is bad. G3 Gelo also doesn’t really show any rap skills on the track. There are bars that are subpar and downright puzzling like, “Rest my Glock against her fuckin' waist, I got some pottery”. What the Hell are you talking about? What the song does have going for it is the catchy chorus, and melodies, like when he says “woooaaahhh, woaaaahhh,.” it brings you back to that New Orleans Cash Money vernacular that everyone was saying. I would say the best line of the song happens to be the last line “But I'ma keep it real, she lost respect when you said, "Follow me", "me”. This is just an OK literal bar, but like I said, I'm pretty much grasping for straws looking for something to like about this song. Lastly the song ends with this weird crescendo and 3 seconds of silence. This is your champion??? Hit songs are born by unnamed artists all the time, right? Not exactly. Most hits songs come from familiar people with a fanbase, Tweaker is LiAngelo's first published song. Also, his brother Lonzo is credited as a co-writer of the song, which is a no-no in rap. This song definitely isn’t “They Not Like Us”. But how did it get so big? PAYOLA!!!!! Payola is technically illegal. But this is America, and the lines get blurred pretty quick. The only time something would go this viral from a mediocre song is because of Payola. Payola happens when artists pay to get their music played. This line might get blurred because the way people market and promote songs aren’t necessarily only on radio these days. Enter the power of the influencers. Streamers like Kai Cenat with millions of fans, 'allegedly' were paid to play 'Tweaker'. Also, enter the fact that G3 Gelo has two brothers in the NBA that have lots of connects, and you get the new payola. So it's probably not a coincidence that basketball stars like LeBron James or Damien Lillard SOCIAL CURREN$Y. The cool factor that you get when you’re an athlete, rapper, streamer, or social media influencer. It’s with this social curren$y that is taking Tweaker to have millions of streams on Spotify. Add TikTok dancers and boom! A hit. And the industry fell for it. First, Rolling Loud, who announced that G3 Gelo will be performing on their Rolling Loud California stage on March 1. An new artist with just 1 hit song gets to perform in front of one of the biggest rap crowds? 1 song? REALLLYYY? He's never performed before but he gets to hit the biggest stage. Then there is Def Jam who has reportedly signed him to a record deal (including his own label) worth as much as $13 million, with 8 million upfront guaranteed. An artist with 1 song gets 13 million at a time when all the record labels are dying and downsizing. A&R's are clearly grasping at straws trying to make a star out of anybody, but in opinion, anybody but G3 Gelo. But I hope they get what the paid for. "woaahhhh". The real artists that have put in work and have done open mics with 10 people in the crowd, these are the artists who may never get an opportunity. These are the ones who deserve it more than anyone. The capitalist system that hip-hop has become has made it so that the real talent gets pushed to the side, while anyone with enough social curren$y can have all the opportunities and the riches. But who knows, maybe G3 Gelo will get better and sharpen his skills. and truly learn the craft that has saved so many lives. But until then I guess everyone will just " might swerve, bend that corner, woah" If you feel like you still need to listen to the song or watch the video. Here you go: 
Mike JC has been working. It’s the first of the year and he’s in the studio. Ya'll remember his singles “Higher” and “Ion got free time”? Well, 2024 was the Introduction. So, 2025 is the dedication. He’s showing the game that he’s dedicated to the art that we call hip-hop and just like his streams, he's going up! Look no further than with the release of his new single “Running”. Mike JC is an artist from Tulsa, Oklahoma who has a growing following. He’s also a supporter of the culture who pops out to numerous events and local businesses. And last but not least, is that Mike JC is a cannabis activist, his Instagram page shows videos and pictures of only the stickiest of the ickiest, so it’s no wonder that his music would emulate his life. Let’s get to the music. This beat. We gotta talk about this first. I don’t know if Mike JC called Juicy J, but this one. It has this high energy and hard-hitting bass that reminds me of 3 Six Mafia. I’m literally waiting for one of Juicy J’s iconic ad-libs to come blaring through the speakers. But you know I’m a student, so when I did a little reading, I found that producer G3NO was the one who deserves all the praise. The fellow Tulsa artist/producer has credits with Juke21, Phil Sosa, and the late 4Chianno. Basically, he is the producer people come to when they need a hit. Let’s get to the good part. The lyrics. This track has plenty of good ones. But let’s take a step back. The concept of the song, Running. Mike JC puts a spin on it in a way that is not what you think running is. Running in this song is more like when Wayne said, “I hate to see her go, but love to watch her leave.” But it’s more than that because Mike JC raps about his woman’s hustle and how he sees a side of her that she doesn’t show just anybody, also how he likes to have deep conversations with her. He bagged a good one. My favoite line from the song is, "I hate to see her leave, but I love it when she cummin, so every time she go, it feels like she runnin'." And the best of all its a line he repeats throughout the song. But also, let’s not forget his delivery. He stays on top of the track and finds these pockets that emphasize his words. Mike JC is rappin! You gotta respect a woman that hustles and that’s just what Mike JC does, he respects his woman’s hustle while also honoring her and making sure she’s satisfied. And the beat is crazzzzyyy!!! Like we said earlier, this is the year of dedication, and Mike JC is showing just how dedicated he is with Running, an ode to a once in a lifetime woman, Mike JC found a real one and isn’t afraid to tell the world, kind of how Fabolous went on that run where he made a lot of love songs and Fabolous is one of the most respected rappers out there, and Mike JC is well on his way to cementing his legacy. Until then, stream "Running". Make sure you listen to "Running" by Mike JC. Checkout the track below: 
I’m going going, back to back, to Atlanta, Atlanta. You see that’s not just a song I made up, I actually went to Atlanta for the first time sense my fifth-grade field trip. This time though I’m going as a grown man and even more curious to see how the city they call ATL has changed since my last visit. It was sort of a field trip this time also, just that this time I was there to go to one of the biggest black entrepreneur conferences in the world, Invest Fest 4! 
Invest Fest is an entrepreneur conference that is focused around black entrepreneurship that has been held in the city of Atlanta for the pretty much all four festivals. This year it was held at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, which is still relatively a new place and also a huge place. Invest Fest was created by the brothers of Earn Your Leisure, Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings, who have created one of the top-rated podcasts in the world that focuses on entrepreneurship. I was excited to be in Atlanta because it’s been a minute. Like right during the FreakNik years, but I was too young to see that much. And Atlanta is an expensive city. So to combat the cost a little, I decided to volunteer. The tickets were $250, so volunteering saved a little cash and it would force me to talk to people because if I’m being honest with myself, I’m reserved. There were also VIP tickets that ranged from $1000 to the lifetime VIP cost of $10,000, but my pockets are also reserved. lol. I flew out of Tulsa straight shot to Atlanta which was surprisingly only three hours. And as soon as I landed I played Killer Mike's Live version of "DOWN BY LAW" Let’s get to the reason why we’re here. How was it? It was BLACK! It’s how I imagine Wale writes his songs about black women. Black is Beautiful, Black is Gold. As soon as I walked down from my hotel elevator, I saw just how beautiful Black is. Men and women of all skin tones dressed to the nines. I mean dressed. From business suits to business casual, to Nike Tec jogging sets. No matter what people wore they, woorre it! This conference proved that not only Black Americans were there for information and networking, but all ethnicities were represented, and people from different countries flew to Atlanta to be apart one of the biggest Black entrepreneur conferences in the world. The meat and potatoes. That would be the conference sessions themselves. There were so many names that I could write paragraphs, Steve Harvey, 50 Cent, Ian Dunlap (I hate I missed his), Lauren Londen, X. Eyee (she stole the show, her talk on Artificial Intelligence really opened my eyes to it’s possibilities), Shannon Sharpe, T.I., those are just a few of the celebrity and standout people of the conference. But what I also found out is that the big names bring in the people, but it’s the smaller named entrepreneurs that are really in the trenches that really give you the ‘how-to’s’. It’s great to see a big name and see them talking and telling stories about their success, but a common theme that seemed to playout is that these entrepreneurs didn’t give you any game, just stories. But when you go to the small named entrepreneur, everyone had their pens and pads out because they were giving you step-by-step how to guides, they gave the game, they blessed the game, and surprisingly their sessions were packed. 
Circulate. That’s the only way I could explain the vendor marketplace. It was over 500 vendors all in this huge expo sized space all circulating money. There were health vendors, there were hair care vendors, there were Artificial Intelligence vendors, there were clothing vendors, every aspect of entrepreneurship needed to support your business was there. I promise you that it would be hard for you to walk through and not buy something. There also was the Earn Your Leisure booth that held their signature “Assets Over Liabilities” shirt. There was also The Marathon booth who actually bought the iconic Brinks truck. I always support The Marathon store, (their Black Friday deals are insane) so it was dope to see their Brinks truck and to be able to take a picture with it. And in All-Money-In fashion, they also gave away $100,000 Grant to a business, the business that won focused on juicing. 
Business in the front and a party in the back. By day the conference was all business and entrepreneurship. But at night that’s when you realized people didn’t come to just work, they were there to play as well. Invest Fest had a VIP Night that included a performance from T.I. and a private dinner. There was also an R&B Karaoke Night where that was cracking. Also, it was Atlanta. The night scene is whatever you want to get into, clubs, lounges, gentleman clubs, and everything in between. Atlanta is a city built on nightlife. My Final thoughts on Invest Fest. When you come, bring comfortable walking shoes. The facility is literally three football fields long, don’t sacrifice looking cool for comfort, you can do both. Don’t be afraid to go by yourself. I went by myself, my first solo trip, and as soon as I got there, I got nothing but inviting personalities all wanting to talk and network. Which brings me to my next point. Talk to people. People are there to network and you never know who will help you build your business or help take your business to that next level. So talk. Go to the small entrepreneur sessions. That’s where you’re gonna get the real cheat codes, the big names might get you to come, but the lesser-known ones are gonna give you the game because they are in the trenches. Have your elevator pitch ready, be able to describe your business because you don’t want to sound like that person who sells snake oil. Know your business and know it well. Spend with the vendors, the vendors have amazing products, I bought shirts, hair care products, took business cards, because it was truly a way to circulate and support entrepreneurs who took a risk and had amazing products and could tell you, and sometimes sell you on their products. Last but not least. See the city. I didn’t venture out to see all of the city but I felt welcomed to Atlanta. Should you go to Invest Fest. YESSSS!!!! 
Webster’s dictionary defines an interlude as; a musical composition inserted between the parts of a longer composition, a drama, or a religious service. From Drake and Omarion’s “Bria’s Interlude” to Kanye West’s “I Love Kanye”, or Summer Walker’s "Session 32", there’s nothing like an interlude. GOLDIELXCS knows this all too well and is showing the world what it means to live within the interlude with the release of her new EP called “INTERLUDE SHAWTY”. GOLDIELXCS is an artist from Dallas, TX who now calls Tulsa her home. She is a multi-talented artist, producer, and musician whose stage performance has been blowing crowds away. Her music blends into multiple genres making her sound unique and boundless. GOLDIELXCS has created a cult-like following and continues to see the benefits of being an artist who is just, being themselves. Check out her music! Interlude Shawty, the 4 track project clocks in at 6 mins. But don’t let that fool you, this project is packed with vibes. This is the ode to the Interlude! Starting with track one called “MOVED ON”. This track sets the vibe for the EP. Coming out the gate is the guitar that stands in front of the track like a protective barrier, shielding GOLDIELXS’s heart from a past relationship. It seems like at times the guitar gets out the words that GOLDIELXS is holding back from saying. But as soon as it seems like she was able to get those words out, the track ends. WE WANT MORE! Track 2 is called “THINGS GET DARK”. You can feel the dark soulful Kanye-like sample that feels similar to his style of sampling that uses a sped-up soulful voice as a prominent piece of the production. GOLDIELXCS’s airy vocals loop continuously, at times as she sings her heart out, hitting notes that convey a strong emotional pain and at the same time she expresses a message that is her embracing the dark times in anticipation for the brighter days ahead. Her voice floats on top of the beat and even at times extends beyond to a higher octave and stretching across multiple bars. She really shows her range and a vocal depth. “Lord Knows” is my personal favorite, it has this beat that makes me think of a Spanish city where GOLDIELXCS has taken a sabbatical to get away. Away from what? She doesn’t have to tell anyone why or the story, because ‘The Lord knows’, words she stands on and repeats throughout the track. She draws a line with this track by saying “how far I’ll go”, this too, she doesn’t have to explain and yet she still says soo much in this track. The interlude on this track is an implied understanding, and each Lord Knows becomes a reinforcement to her declaration that He knows and that's all that matters. The last track on the EP is called CALL ME WHEN YOU GET THIS, these words are repeated throughout, I think a lot of people will get this one as it is the most upbeat track on the EP. GOLDIELXCS lets the beat do most of the work as she sings “you should” in a non-committal tone that seems to insist but not make mandatory because you if you know what’s good for you, then you would. And this song is the SHOULD that you have to listen to. There you have it. INTERLUDE SHAWTY! Six minutes! It went by quick. But I enjoyed every minute of it. Interlude Shawty is an album that has amazing replay value, and I found myself going back and listening to the album multiple times and finding new things with each listen. I appreciate it's a vibe, especially when working, it’s hard for me to work and listen to music because I get caught up in the lyrics, and when I'm working, I can’t really focus on the task because I'm listening for that next crazy bar or quadruple entendre' (ask Kendrick, they do exist). But with this album you can have it on in the background and still concentrate on a complex problem, and still, most importantly, enjoy the music. While listing to the album there were times when I was deep into an issue and before I knew it the track had finished. It left me wanting more, and as an artist that’s what you want your music to do. Leave your audience wanting more, and only The Lord knows what more means for GOLDIELXCS, until then I’ll be listening to “INTERLUDE SHAWTY”. Make sure you go stream GOLDIELXCS new album called "INTERLUDE SHAWTY". Also follow GOLDIELXCS on social media: Instagram: @goldielxcs Twitter: @goldielxcs Spotify: GOLDIELXCS YouTube: GOLDIELXCS |
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