Following the release of his reflective new album The Rear View, Grammy-winning Hip-Hop legend DIAMOND D shares the official music video for the project’s celebratory standout ‘Live My Life’. Released yesterday (30th August) via YouTube, the Varras Tower-directed video plays out over sunny scenes of palm trees, beaches, and bikinis, which compliment the song’s warm production by Focus… and hook sung by Ashtin Martin.
“This song is about living in the present and celebrating the good life. It was written post pandemic when everything was shut down and morale as a whole was down globally. Rising out of that whole ordeal was the premise of this song. We should all live our lives to the fullest.” – Diamond D
South African artists SY’DEFECT and J.A.S (Just A Star) add a brand new track, ‘Goddamn’ to their ever-evolving collaboration, released last Friday (19th August), across all good music platforms.
The duo call upon rapper/producer Lobo Ladidadi to drop his smooth delivery, which moves at lightning speed, over echoic soundscapes paired with a piercing bass.
‘Goddamn’ is out now. This should start your weekend right…have a listen below…
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
South African hip hop artist FLVME returns with second single, ‘Prayers Up’, following the major success of his first release ‘Let Me Down’.
From landing the top position on a coveted South African hip hop chart on 5FM’s 5 Nights, to a national press tour that included interviews on top local stations, features in all leading South African music publications as well as TV appearances, the release of ‘Let Me Down’ catapulted the South African rapper into a household name as he paves the way to the 9 September release of his full-length project Germander II.
‘Prayers Up’, a song that just exposes my faith, belief and relationship with God. Living in the world and how it is today, I just feel like it’s only right to stay prayed up. It’s also about embracing myself as a flawed human being and understanding that the future is never promised. So it’s just me trying to find balance between all the high and lows, staying ready for any outcome and more importantly, living in the moment,” he says.
With a sound that looks to pay homage to the smooth and romantic sound of 80s era R&B, emerging artist ZARA SYKES has shared her latest heartfelt swoon ‘Excuse Me’, featuring producer XTOF.
Lifted from XTOF’s latest compilation album ‘Damian’, ‘Excuse Me’ perfectly encapsulates the warm and breezy textures, elevated by Skyes’ stellar vocal performance.
Speaking about the release, “This track is an ode to and paying homage to Zapp and Roger’s ‘Computer Love’. Both of us are children of the 80s who grew up listening to songs such as this along with the 90s R&B and hip-hop. We wanted to take a track like ‘Computer Love’ with all its technological prowess for its time, and to put a contemporary feel to it.”
Rapping/singing since the age of just ten, Zara has worked with Grammy nominated producer formerly known as Ecks music and has worked with various artists including KID the Artist, Raju, Cassie Rowe, Soundmasters, Redstarr and Superbamz. She also supported Jay Z & Kanye West’s Watch the Throne (Birmingham LG Arena) Tour in 2012.
In 2014 Zara Sykes received her first official award ‘Inspiring Entertainment & Achievement Award’ by Be Inspired Youth Award in association with Somewhereto and AJN’s Annual Gala.
After cutting demo tracks which were used by likes of R&B group Immature, Xtof – real name Christof Jennings – started his indie label SMOKINGSFORCOOLPEOPLE this year, where he released first single ‘Excuse Me’ and his first compilation album release, ‘Damian’ this summer. Have a listen to the epic track below…
