OUT TODAY: check out Kalada’s track Feasting ft. UK rap royalty Ashley Walters

Taken from his debut project ‘Thinking Out Loud’, KALADA joins forces with UK rap, TV and film royalty ASHLEY WALTERS on new single, ‘Feasting’. With its catchy instrumental and contagious energy, ‘Feasting’ is guaranteed to get you popping bottles with your friends. This track combines elements of UK rap/hip-hop to create a unique sound that will have you hooked from the chorus.

Released alongside the single, ‘Thinking Out Loud’ is Kalada’s first full body of work, and boasts productions from Fumez the Engineer, Victizzle and Ro, as well as collaborations with Namesbliss, Bookez and a second record with Ashley Walters.

Kalada is a British rapper, songwriter, lyricist & performer from North West London born to Nigerian parents. With music from rap legends such as 2Pac ,DMX, The Notorious B.I.G., JAY-Z & Nas shaping his early years, Kalada officially kicked off his career in 2014 with a song titled ‘Somebody That I Used to Know’. Since then, he has remained active in the UK rap scene with singles such as ‘Summertime Fine’, ‘Jasmine’ (which got added to Rap UK official playlist). Kalada has shown his versatility by exploring genres such as Rap, Trap, Afroswing and Rndrill, and has collaborated with artists and producers such as G Maffiah, namesbliss, Lexi Banks, Beats By Mantra, JRD’N. and more. Some major highlights of his career include performing at ILUVELIVE; getting featured on radio stations such as KISS FM & BBC 1Xtra; an article feature in the Voice Newspaper, and getting verified on Instagram. Despite all his achievements, Kalada intends to continue challenging himself and showing off his intentionality and talent. It is evident he will remain prominent in the scene for a long time.   Have a listen to ‘Feasting’ below…

Song of the Day: IT’S UP – Mya Craig

Emerging as a formidable force in the contemporary R&B scene, MYA CRAIG is ready to take the music world by storm with her enchanting melodies and soulful vocals with latest single ‘It’s Up’.

After garnering accolades for her 2018 single, 4AM, Mya caught the attention of none other than Dreamville’s own first lady, Ari Lennox. Pinned as an ‘artist to watch’ by BBC Radio Leeds & Nada’s Link Up TV, Mya has delved into the world of music, experimenting with various sounds and taking inspiration from an eclectic array of artists, including legendary producer Rodney Jenkins (known as Darkchild), Brandy, and Mariah Carey.

‘It’s Up’ sees Mya effortlessly gliding between sultry verses and powerful, uplifting choruses, delivering a performance that is both soulful and incredibly fun. Her vocal range is on full display, and you can feel the genuine passion and emotion behind every word she sings. Her journey, infused with emotion and a hint of nostalgia, has led her to craft a unique sound that captures the essence of R&B’s golden era while infusing it with a modern twist.

Speaking on ‘It’s Up’ Mya says “I just want to make people feel good again! ‘It’s Up’ is all about celebrating oneself after feeling down for a period of time. Prepping yourself up even when times or life can get hard, this song is supposed to remind myself and others that something greater is coming on the other side. A big emphasis and ode to self realisation and power, something no one can take away from you”.

Mya has created an exciting buzz from teasing her new music on TikTok, she has garnered over 800,000 views and an impressive 80,000 likes in a short space of time. What sets Mya Craig apart is her ability to evoke a sense of nostalgia while simultaneously delivering a fun and wistful style.

Her music is not only a testament to her incredible vocal talent but also a reflection of her deep passion for the art form. With a sound that fuses nostalgia and modernity, Mya Craig is set to leave an indelible mark in the music industry. Check out the video for ‘IT’s Up’ below…

LA genre-bender Asha Imuno unveils single, ‘DID I CALL AT A BAD TIME?’

LA-based genre-defying newcomer ASHA IMUNO unveils his newest single ‘DID I CALL AT A BAD TIME,’ released via Guin Records. The celebratory offering reminds listeners of Imuno’s place in the landscape of hip-hop while championing his unwavering ambition, painting a vivid picture of a feel good, summer night vignette. The combination of sharp, textured co-production by Asha and Zach Ezzy and the feature by Atlanta native Rizz Capolotti (co-signed by Monte Booker, Metro Boomin) sees the creative collision of hip-hop’s most exciting new faces. ‘DID I CALL AT A BAD TIME’ can’t help but lock you into a bouncy groove, as Asha and Rizz exchange verses from their respective sides of a long night out.

“This single captures me feeling confident and ready to pop out and celebrate. It’s about the feeling you get after seemingly getting to the other side of all the bullsht, and finally being able to feel yourself and flex on it all. We was just having fun with this one – people haven’t heard be talk my sht like this in a while, so I’m pretty geeked.” – Asha Imuno on ‘DID I CALL AT A BAD TIME’.

‘DID I CALL AT A BAD TIME’ is the second single from Asha’s forthcoming debut album Pins & Needles. It follows his introspective hip-hop/r&b single ‘PUSHING BUTTONS,’ which according to Asha, serves as the “inception point” for the album, born from a period of profound introspection as he reckons with the impermanence of life.

Asha is an absolute self-starter, having built his music career from the ground up. Boasting an impressive 552k+ monthly listeners on Spotify, his cult following continues to expand upon each new release. Asha’s innovative spirit has led to recent career milestone moments, including performances at both the 2023 Culture Creators Brunch and A Toast To Black Hollywood during this year’s BET Awards, as well as being asked to create his own rendition of Kendrick Lamar’s GRAMMY-winning hit “i” for GRAMMY’s Hip-Hop Re:Defined. He is a member of the POC-led artist community KOGO (home to CONNIE, Alé Araya, Curtis Waters, KOAD & more), and has earned co-signs from the likes of Jordan Ward, Diddy, and Hitboy alongside collaborating with buzzing upcomers like Aaron May and AG Club. At this rate, 2023 is sure to be the year Asha makes the jump from fan favorite to commanding superstar, as he continues his run of self-reflective art. Check out ‘DID I CALL AT A BAD TIME’ below…

Song of the Day: No Rush – Rucci

Described as the UK’s best kept secret, London born RUCCI has been working with long-term producer Dr Vades to drop his highly anticipated debut single, ‘No Rush’. With his captivating harmonious baritone vocals, Rucci glides across the Ja Rule ft Ashanti ‘Wonderful’ sampled production creating an unforgettable listening moment.

Having started taking music seriously in 2016, Rucci has been perfecting his craft, teasing some of his records. Going viral on TikTok with the single, it has attracted interest from some of the UK’s hottest artists including Central Cee and Headie One.

The visuals give off the essence of a summer party vibe that seamlessly transitions between two iconic locations – the stunning island of Bermuda and the bustling streets of London, creating a visual journey that celebrates the fusion of cultures and music.

Everything Rucci does revolves around music, noting his sound as ‘unpredictable’, you never know what sound you will get from him. One thing that sticks though is his undeniable talent and determination to succeed. Check out the video for ‘No Rush’ below…

Song of the Day: Better Day (Wax Roar Remix) – 5 Weeks

Hailing from Brighton, 5 WEEKS has released an EP titled ‘My Psalms’, out now across various music platforms.

Covering themes of love, breakups, female empowerment and community unity, paired with a warm glow of nostalgic 90s-esque soul that runs fluent throughout the collection, The EP includes the previously released single, ‘Believe It’, which was well received from radio stations across the UK.

Alongside the release of the EP, 5 Weeks has also unveiled the remix of the fourth soulful offering from the EP, ‘Better Day’. 5 weeks has teamed up with Brighton’s producer Wax Roar to turn the single into an immediately infectious old-school dance banger. “Wax Roar was an absolute vibe,” Alexandria said about her time working with the producer. 

5 Weeks started out as a duo, consisting of DJ Outbreak and soul singer Alexandria, who shared a mutual respect for Reggae, Hip-Hop and rare groove. After DJ Outbreak left the group to concentrate on some personal challenges, Alexandria took time out to deliberate the future of the band which also allowed her time to complete the first year of her PHD in Criminological Social Work/ Policy.

Alexandria decided to front 5 Weeks, completing the EP alone. Recorded at Audio Mango, where Alexandria said she had the time of her life recording the project with Wax Roar, ‘My Psalms’ EP kept in line of the act’s modern twist on 90’s – esque soul, where she takes inspiration from the likes of Karen Wheeler, Lisa Stansfield and  Mica Paris, Moonchild, VanJess or Allen Stone, Tom Misch and Anita Baker.

Being brought up in a musical family, many influences came from her mum being in a reggae sound system in the seventies and eighties, Alexandria has been singing and songwriting from a young age and later picked by Sony for a publishing deal.Alexandria’s undeniable passion for music is makes up a fraction of her multifaceted life. Now a PHD graduate in Criminological Social Work/ Policy, she is a lecturer in health and social care, and an advocate for young people specifically in harmful sexual behaviour. As a prominent member of the community in her hometown in Brighton, Alexandria took part in Brighton’s half marathon to raise money for Sickle Cell. Alexandria is also donating 30% of the proceeds from My Psalms EP to BARCO, a Brighton-based charity that fights against anti-racism.‘Better Day’ (Wax Roar Remix) and ‘My Psalms’ EP are out now on various music outlets.

 Check out ‘Better Day’ (Wax Roar Remix) below…

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