D’Shaun drops the #4 iTunes charting album ‘CRWN’

Backed by only one single, ‘S’mores & Rumchata’, D’SHAUN comes crash landing at #4 onto the iTunes top 40 Hip-Hop album chart and right back into your music libraries with CRWN.

The highly anticipated project lived up to expectations on the first day of its release as it also entered yet another chart on iTunes. CRWN peaked at #88 on the top 100 albums in all genres chart, sitting comfortably and confidently above Elton John’s Diamonds. This incredible accomplishment doesn’t happen without D’Shaun and the RYLTY crew’s hard work and dedication to creating an album packed with 12 playable and enjoyable records that each bring a different sound and vibe when stimulating your brain.

D’Shaun continues to put Converse, Texas, on the map as he showcases not only his talent but the talents found within his circle. From Austria to Detroit to Houston, he credits the artists around him for helping provide the “spacey yet quintessential Hip-Hop but with a new school sort of feel” sound that he believes his latest body of work entails. This album not only incorporates Hip-Hop but it also throws some dashes of rap, pop and R&B, adding some more seasoning to the recipe we already knew D’Shaun brought to the table. He’s dabbled in those genres before but with CRWN he brings them altogether in a cohesive manner, letting each live and grow with one another as they flow beautifully the more and more you run the project back. For him, CRWN is set to “change the whole landscape, the city and the state, the lives of each of these young men in RYLTY”. Those changes begin with track number one titled ‘Nonstop’ which is fitting for the vibes that you continuously find yourself emerged in.

Between track one and twelve you’ll find up tempo hits meant for the radio in ‘Chalice’, ‘Notice’, ‘S’mores & Rumchata’ and ‘Alright’. You’ll also hear the artist slowing things down a bit with ‘4U’, ‘LoveSICK’, ‘Virgo Season Interlude’ and ‘My Way’. Pure raps are expressed within the previously mentioned ‘Nonstop’ along with ‘Gentlemen’s Club’, ‘Sprite Zero’ and ‘Waver’. If there was a sound that D’Shaun didn’t think was fun or didn’t fit the wave he was gearing towards then it simply didn’t make the cut, the artist says that CRWN “is more fun and shows what wearing the crown is like” when comparing the project to its predecessor KNG.

Four years separate both albums and in between those four years we’ve heard how highly D’Shaun has spoken about the trio of albums he had been planning on releasing with all being companions to one another. With two down and one to go the one man band artist has been growing and maturing within his sound and will only continue to do so. He showcases that behind each verse, chorus, ad-lib, snare, kick or high hat he decides to incorporate into this world where creativity never ends. We can call this world “RYL” and here we’ll find the king at his throne wearing a crown meant for only him, exuding royalty the only way he knows how.

Have a listen to D’Shaun’s chart-topping album below…

Must Listens: Nonstop, 4U, Notice, S’mores & Rumchata, Gentlemen’s Club, Sprite Zero

A Quick Chat With…Showtime Ramon

Earlier this year Sacramento very own rapper SHOWTIME RAMON made an impressive debut appearance on the blog with EP, ‘Venom Dripp’, which claimed the blog’s Album of the Month title last month. I caught up with the fiey wordsmith to discuss the EP and his plans for the rest of 2023.

NLM: Hey, thank you for taking part in an interview with NEW LEASE MUSIC. How is your summer going? Any gigs?

SR: Whatsup, it’s a pleasure thank you for having me. My summer honestly hasn’t been the best this year, I’ve been dealing with chronic migraines, I missed a few shows because of this but I’m back on my feet, no gigs until I get out more music.

NLM: You released your EP, ‘Venom Dripp’ back in May. What is the public perception on the project so far?

SR: My feedback has been positive, everyone has liked my beat selection. Every song from the EP has been mentioned to be, it surprises me how much people pay attention to the details within my music and wordplay.

NLM: How would you describe the EP’s sound to potential fans?

SR: I would say Venom Dripp is kind of gritty, gloomy sounds hard bass and dope lyricism. I like to bend the rules of hip-hop, I spit dope shit over dope ass beats.

NLM: What inspired you to produce the EP?

SR: I wouldn’t say anything really inspired me make the EP, I just always feel like I’m holding my music back because I really do, I barely release any of my music.

NLM: What is/are your favourite single(s)from the EP and why?

SR: Spin Cycle and Hyperspeed are the two that I listen to the most, Rip Hamilton is 3rd. Spin Cycle has that spooky sound and hard dirty drums that I like within the production, Its to the point and I said some dope bars. I think Hyperspeed is the best song on the EP though, I spit 32 bars for that track and its fast paced. The lyrics for Hyperspeed start out more personal than I usually am, I wanted my fans to feel me.

NLM: What message would you like the listeners to take away from your EP?

SR: I wanted to put together a small collection of different sounds and lyrical topics for my fans to relate too as well as show my progression as an artist. I’m only going up and those riding with me are on the same journey I am on.

NLM: If you had to feature one mainstream artist on the EP, who would it be and why?

SR: would get Rome Streetz on my EP because lyrically it would make me step my game up and I welcome any challenge. Rome is currently my favorite artist, he would sound dope on a track with Showtime Ramon.

NLM: So what plans do you have for the rest of 2023?

SR: I have a lot of music to work on along with new music videos. I have a lot of unreleased music that will be released before 2023 is over, I’m just excited for the world to hear the music I’ve been holding back. It’s my best music by far.

NLM: How can potential fans find you?

SR: Fans can find me on instagram @ShowtimeRamon . I always tell people to google Showtime Ramon because from there you can access my music however you prefer.

NLM: Finally, any special shoutouts to those involved in the production of ‘Venom Dripp’?

SR: Yes, Kieron Lee did the cover art for me his instagram is @chirondesigns . Hyperspeed was produced by Gadgett, Spin Cycle was produced by The Soul Monsters.

Listen to ‘Venom Dripp’ here

Album Review: Audiocity – Rayne Storm

Harlem NYC’s own RAYNE STORM is back with his latest eclectic rap album ‘Audiocity’. Within a month of its release the album has gained over 60,000 Spotify streams, over 100,000 across all platforms with the momentum rising. AudioCity also reached #4 in Hip-Hop/Rap and #21 in All Genres on iTunes in the country of Bahrain off the strength of the single “Revenge” ft. Jarren Benton & Kony Brooks, a major milestone for the indie artist.

As with each of his albums, Rayne has released each song as a single with stand outs including the solo track “On My Own”, the party banger “Doin’ A Lot”, “La La La”, “Dogecoin” and myriad of other songs. Each track transitions smoothly into the next and takes you on a ride through the “Audiocity” soundscape Rayne has created. The album touches a multitude of corners in hip-hop with everything from the drill inspired song “Chill”, to lyrical story telling with songs like “Hip Hop Love”, “Dive Bar” and “Dirty 30”.

This project has something for everyone. The range of the music has a multi-generational, multi-stylistic approach and appeal. Its safe to say this is Rayne Storm’s best project to date, a well produced independent Rap/Hip-Hop album that could be a game changer for an artist who has been determined to change the game. Check it out below…

Must Listens:, Revenge, Dogecoin (Run it Up), Hip-Hop Love, La La La, Alone, Dirty 30

Album Review: Pinky’s Boy – DeShaunJay

Coming all the way from San Antonio, rapper DESHAUNJAY delivers his highly anticipated album, ‘Pinky’s Boy.’ Weighing in at a solid 16 tracks, the project saw no previous single releases as DeShaunJay gives fans the entire album in one drop.

Jay delivers solid rhymes and clever lyrics throughout the entire album over trap-esque arrangements that are often sinisterly dark coupled with chant-like overtones. The 29 year old artist shows that he could hold his own, as he takes on each beat with confidence and ease, flourishing from the first track to the one with different flows and topics, keeping the prospective listener engaged at all times.

All in all, DeShaunJay offers up dope rhymes mixed with dope beats creating the perfect feast for those who well and truly appreciate hip-hop. Have a Listen to ‘Pinky’s Boy below…

Must Listens: Reunion, Calvin Ellis, Acrobatics, Pray For Me, On The Line, Schemin

Album Review: L.I.F.E: The Cause – J.A.S.

I was sooo elated when South African rapper/producer J.A.S slipped me his latest album, ‘L.I.F.E: The Cause’ – it seemed ages since he grace his presence on this blog with previous project, ‘#Don’tSleepOnJAS’, which possesses electronic/downtempo soundscapes with infectious Trip-hop beats/bass.

With this latest album, J.A.S retains the same theme from the previous project, but delving further into the downtempo route with long-term collaborators, South African singers Palesa Blossom and Nevita, who both provide a pleasingly trippy experience with their alluringly soulful vocals with tracks such as ‘L.I.FE’, ‘Controlled’ ‘Moth to A Flame’ and ‘Scattered.’

J.A.S also adds another long-collaborator, South African acclaimed rapper, Sy’Defect to the impressive album’s lineup. Among the chilled vibes of the seven-track project, Sy’Defect injects such vibrancy with his semi-rapid flow to the delicate backdrop of tracks, ‘Controlled’ and ‘Scattered.’

Overall, ‘L.I.F.E: The Cause’ is a great escapism album to kick back with some friends and to forget about the great maze called life. Have a listen below…

Must Listen: Controlled, Words, Scattered.