 Late Night Oatmeal. Download here.
When does the recognition come for putting in the 10,000 hours? To anybody that knows the game, knows that you got a hell of a lot more time to put in. So until then, the grind continues. And in the words of Jay-Z, "I can't leave rap alone the game needs me!". Along this journey, I've met a lot of dope individuals, one of those being a producer that has created his own lane and has dropped classic collab projects with the illest rappers from the town. Just listen to Snackin With Flavor, 1st Name, and Dr. No, just to name a few and you will see why dj noname. will go down in history. So when dj noname approached me about a tape that he put together for Tulsa Lines, it was an honor. And with that being said I have the honor of giving you the tape called “Late Night Oatmeal”. To download click here.
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WHO YOU LISTENING TO? I always get the question. What new artist am I listening to? To be honest this is usually a hard question because it can come down to a matter of what mood I'm in. Sometimes I want to hear conscious rap. sometimes I want to hear trap rap. But if you would ask me as of recently, I think the answer would be an artist I recently discovered by the name of, Chip Kip. His video "Legit". Was a fresh sound and his ability to switch up flows proved that he had been perfecting his craft. Just looking at his discography most notably his recent album titled "Best in the World" was a bold statement. I think that bravado is what makes his music really good. The album showed a boldness and a successful formula that has helped his music continue to evolve and get better. His latest song "Pound Man" is another evolution in the artist Chip Kip!
Hit em with the sauce,
What strikes you first about the track is definitely the production. The production has a bounce that reminds you of Detroit drill music that evolved from the Chicago drill scene. The ingredients are all there. The snares and the tempo of the track create that bounce that the 808 drum comes in and punctuates. The howling Spanglish singer adds a soft layer for Chip Kip to fit his complex trap lyrics into which creates tightly packaged bars that are all perfectly to scale. Chip Kip has a distinctive vocal inflection when he raps which gives his bars more emotion. At times it's as if he's just having fun. And other times it's as if he's spittin' commandments that he lives by and will let no one disrespect. It can't be overstated how much Chip Kip has quotable bars. Some of the lines are like the perfect comeback for anybody thinkin they can talk shit. And it’s also clear that Chip Kip can talk that shit. He’s the Pound Man!
Checkout Chip Kip's new single "Pound Man" below:  The top is always lonely. Steph Stove tells just how lonely it is with the release of his single "Lonely At The Top". The swank track is like a 1st person view from an artist that has weathered the storm. Which he is in an actual storm, in the video it shows Steph Stove walking around a snowy downtown Tulsa in his Jordan Retro 3's. Some sneakerheads may be thinking the audacity of him to rock his J’s in the snow. But that’s exactly the type of confidence that’s needed to be at the top. That includes not caring what people think and most importantly doing things the way you want. If you listen close you can tell that this confidence has carried into his lyrics, even his tone and his delivery convey an artist that knows his path and could care less what you think about it or as he says, “I knew that the top was lonely yet, I didn’t give a fuck!”. Steph Stove’s bars come at you quickly like jabs from DJ Khaled. Just when you think you heard the last bar there comes. Another one! Also interesting about this track is his presence. His voice creates a cadence dices through the track’s hard hitting bass and keeps the listener's ears occupied while waiting for the next bass drop. This is definitely him at his best. Sometimes artists make songs to show off their song writing abilities, I think this is that song that for Steph Stove. No chorus. No auto-tune. Just a beat and 2 minutes to show why your at the top. Is he at the top? Only time can tell. But as the beat ends you see one name . Steph Stove. Watch me give this nigga 16, Checkout Steph Stove's video "Lonely At The Top" below: Go follow Steph Stove on social media: Instagram: @stephstove Twitter: @stephstove YouTube: Stephon Stoven 
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.  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 |
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