Chicago Producer Jason Griff Join Forces With MC Zilla For Latest Project, ‘Stacking Chips’.

“Yo, hacky sack liberal college rap, we don’t f*ck with that,” Zilla Rocca emphatically proclaims in his opening line of ‘Don’t Panic,’ which should be bold text on a welcome mat with this album cover on it.

‘Stacking Chips’ is the long-overdue collaboration between Philadelphia MC ZILLA and Chicago producer JASON GRIFF. The two are long-time friends, having met on MySpace in the mid-2000s, yet had not collaborated on a full album until now. This project, however, was definitely worth the wait. Featuring hardheaded, bass-heavy car music that salutes the influence of 90’s Queens and Southern bounce, with juicy hooks and incredible guest verses from artists such as SolarFive, Defcee, ShrapKnel, Milc, and even the great SKECH185.

Zilla and Griff set out to make an album full of end-of-summer bangers, and did just that. From the banned-from-streaming ‘Frank Castle,’ which questions American police officer’s love of The Punisher logo to the vibrant and bouncy, Andrew-assisted ‘Barkeep.’ The album consistently toes the line of aggressive and lighthearted at the same time as Zilla can flip between tales of canceling a date to watch a DOOM interview to dreaming of catching up with potential car thieves.

The album title is an homage to longtime friend, collaborator, and co-founder of Insubordinate Records, Lorde Jones Scorcese, whose voice can be heard throughout the album including his trademark acronym “Stacking Chips on Record Crushing Every Single Enemy,” among other resurfaced dialogue. The album concludes with a heartfelt tribute song ‘No Question’ featuring Alex Ludovico.

Stacking Chips also features guest appearances from Ace Cannons, Jesse the Tree, Alaska and ZeroStar. The album was mastered by C. Money Burns. Check it out below…

Must Listens: Nine Fifteen, A Note To Potential Car Thieves, Scott Summers

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Song of the Day: Anticipate – Xenia Manasseh

Introducing the Kenyan-born, Los Angeles-based XENA MANASSEH and her new single ‘Anticipate’ featuring fellow Kenyan artist Karun. The ethereal new single is imbued with 90s R&B sensibilities as the two artists unite, their hypnotic voices sizzling over a glittering, cinematic production. The single marks the latest taste from Xenia’s forthcoming much-anticipated 11-track debut LP Love/Hate Pt.1 slated for release on 1st September.

‘Anticipate’ appears alongside recent release ‘Temporary Love’ on Love/Hate Pt.1, the two singles marking an exciting taste of what’s to come from this ineffable debut. The beautifully curated album sees Xenia blend complex, intricate productions with appearances from the likes of Tay Iwar and Shalom Dubas.

Xenia Manasseh is a breathtaking global rising talent. Blending an eclectic offering of R&B shot-through with flavours of afro-soul, the emerging artist has already worked with the likes of Teyana Taylor, Burna Boy, GoldLink and more. With two EPs under her belt, 2019’s Falling Apart and 2022’s Maybe which includes the single ‘Love Me or Leave Me’ (1M+ Spotify streams) and support from Spotify (Xenia has been an ‘EQUAL’ and ‘RADAR’ ambassador), Xenia is making waves as an artist who blends stunning lyrical relatability with lush vocals and intricate songwriting. Have a listen to ‘Anticipate’ below…

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Gotts Street Park Share New Single + Video ‘Mountains’ Ft. Enny

Exacting their focus on 2023, rising Leeds collective GOTTS STREET PARK unveil their sultry new single ‘Mountains’. The track is the latest from their forthcoming debut album, ‘On The Inside’, releasing 13th October 2023 via label-home, Blue Flowers.

Close behind recent singles ‘Got To Be Good’ ft. Pip Millett and ‘Fuego’, new offering ‘Mountains’ sees Gotts Street Park deliver a remarkable rap-soul reckoning with ‘Peng Black Girls’ hitmaker, ENNY. A union from its early notes that submerges listeners into another cinematic Gotts Street Park experience.

Replete with their seamless grooves of reel-to-reel keys, guitars and snares, ‘Mountains’ doubles down on the rising trio’s mesmerising, moving and marvelously inventive sound. A sound that demands to be shared, while marking a milestone in the evolution of one of the UK’s most spellbinding collectives.

Debut album ‘On The Inside’ is a 12-track window into Gotts Street Park’s world. It’s a world that has been expanding since the group was formed in Leeds by Josh Crocker (bass, production), Tom Henry (keys) and Joe Harris (guitar). What began as an outlet for their shared love for sixties Motown, soon became a jewel in the Yorkshire scene’s creative crown, with over 65 million Spotify streams to their name and some of hip-hop and pop’s most exciting emerging voices requesting collaborations: Celeste, Kali Uchis, Yellow Days and Rachel Chinouriri are just a few of the acts the band have individually written/produced for. In 2021, the trio dropped Diego, a cinematic EP inspired by The Godfather and the works of Japanese auteur Yasujirō Ozu. After building legions of fans with velvety singles like Everything feat. Devon-born singer Rosie Lowe and Favourite Kind of Girl feat. Swedish talent Flikka, it was a cinematic curve-ball that underlined their impossible-to-pin-down energy.

Diego bolstered Gotts Street Park’s reputation as analogue-inspired visionaries carving something new from something old, with Loud and Quiet, BBC 6 Music, Clash and The Line of Best Fit among the outlets singing their praises.

Check out the suitably moody black and white video for ‘Mountains’ below, directed by Harvey Pearson.

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Listen To Skyline Sun & Mío Ma Enchanting Alt-Soul EP, ‘Hibernation’

Acclaimed producer SKYLINE SUN and captivating singer MÍO MA bring together their unique talents to create a mesmerizing release that explores the cycles within society, balancing introspection and vivaciousness through their new EP entitled ‘Hibernation.’

Drawing inspiration from the ebb and flow of life’s rhythms, ‘Hibernation’ delves deep into the multifaceted nature of existence. The EP navigates the introspective moments of solitude and self-reflection, symbolized by the concept of hibernation, while also celebrating the vibrant and socially vivacious aspects of human connection.

This release serves as a gateway to this compelling musical journey, enveloping listeners in a comforting embrace with its roots firmly planted in R&B and Soul while also showing a true and unhindered artistic expression from the duo. Skyline Sun’s impeccable production skills shine through, creating a lush sonic landscape that perfectly complements Mío Ma’s enchanting vocals. The result is a harmonious blend of familiar R&B elements and innovative, fresh sounds, born straight from the gut feelings of the two artists.

Commenting on the upcoming release Mío Ma said, “The entire feeling of the EP is that stomach dropping moment or breath just before you fall down from the apex of a rollercoaster. That sense of rising and falling within our own cycles, whether it be seasonal or societal is something everyone can relate to.”

Both based in Berlin, Skyline Sun is the musical moniker for producer and multi-instrumentalist Jarrah Dhyan, while Mío Ma is the moniker for multi-disciplined musician, actress, dancer and curator Sara Vidal Cabré.

Listen to the dynamic duo’s enchanting EP below…

Must Listens: Wee Hour, Stranger

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Out Today: Olaedo Ibe Releases Empowering Single, ‘Golden Skin’ ft. Rae Rae

London’s Gospel songbird OLAEDO IBE releases her brand new single, ‘Golden Skin’, out today (24th August) across various music platforms. Wrapped in a smooth Afrobeat vibe and R&B undertones, the single is taken from Olaedo Ibe’s third album also called Golden Skin, coming out very soon.

Featuring fellow UK gospel singer RAE RAE, ‘Golden Skin’ touches on sensitive topics such as colourism and skin bleaching but ends with a message of love, hope and self-acceptance. The single also makes a comparison between skin and gold, encouraging the listener to be happy the way they are. Olaedo Ibe’s favourite line of the song is bridge which says: “Whatever you were born in God has made a way for you to win.”

Initially, ‘Golden Skin’ was a source of self-encouragement for Olaedo and she sang to herself whilst working as a nurse. However, when she started working on Dermatology units, Burns and Plastic surgery, the focus of the single changed as she witnessed men and women use harmful products on their skin to lighten their skin tone. Her passion grew on this topic when she read a report by the World Health Organisation indicated that over 70% of Nigerian women use skin bleaching products, increasing the risk of skin cancer, liver damage, kidney damage and thinning skin.

‘Golden Skin’ is also used to create awareness about the British skin foundation to raise funds for skin research.

Born in London to Nigerian parents, Olaedo Ibe started out singing in church and local events from a young age and quickly found her forte in combining music with words of empowerment that’s relatable and touching to people, regardless of race, background and religious beliefs. Her crossover appeal gave her the opportunity to share the stage with Motown legend Peobo Bryson.

Olaedo Ibe released her debut EP, ‘Shine Like Gold’ in 2015, which gained a nomination for the MOBO Premier Gospel Music and Urban music award later that year. She followed up with her second EP, ‘Grow to Glow’ in 2018 which features ‘Lead Me’, ‘Good Life’, featuring Leke and Becca Folkes, and ‘Fill Us’ (a Children’s song). All three tracks from the EP claimed the top ten spot on the UK Christian Chart.

To date, Olaedo has accumulated over 100,000 combined views on her Youtube channel, over 80,000 combined streams on Spotify and over 53,000 combined streams on Soundcloud.

Out today (24th August) across various music platforms, ‘Golden Skin’ forms part of Olaedo Ibe’s third album also called Golden Skin, coming out soon. Check out the revitalising single below…

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T: https://twitter.com/Olaedomusic
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