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
THE SOMETIMES ISLAND are a synth-forward pop band based in Los Angeles and Albuquerque. The exciting and highly visual live band is comprised of charismatic frontman Matt Blankenship Jr and anchored by drummer Nick Lopiano.
Their single, ‘Acapulco’ explores the excitement of beginning a new chapter of life, yet the contrasting sentiment that comes with it. Blankenship Jr states, “I wrote the song Acapulco to capture that listless ennui I was trapped under in Los Angeles, framing it with a fantasy of an ignored lover reaching their breaking point, leaving and abruptly buying a plane ticket.” The narrative almost ironically pairs with a dream-pop backing, harmonic rhythms, John Mayer inspired guitar riff and a truly contagious chemistry.
The accompanying cinematic music video for ‘Acapulco’ mirrors the song’s story, as we witness the demise of a relationship, where one party decides to flee and head for a better, more wholesome life.
Their forms of expression and musical ingenuity make The Sometimes Island ones to watch this year. With their previous EP Beverly & Barbara peaking at #2 internationally on Apple’s Alternative chart, rocketing past even the likes of Billie Eilish, the duo have also amounted over 800,000 monthly listeners, with streaming numbers in the millions. The Sometimes Island are becoming true pioneers of pop as we know it.
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…
A spiritual soul inspired by nature, life and her experience living as an Afrikan woman, listening to MUVA OF EARTH is like planting your feet in rich warm soil; blending spiritual mantras and conscious lyricism, her music is truly transformative. The South East Londoner invites us into her Afro-spiritual world with single ‘High’ as she announces her signing to Brownswood Recordings.
A thought-provoking and harmonic single lush with muva’s ethereal vocals and a chugging hip hop drum beat produced by Stephen Wesley Holmes, ‘High’ encapsulates a human’s ability to shape, transform and play with their own point of view – reframing nervousness into excitement and making the most out of a negative situation, resulting in a value-creating experience that demonstrates the power of manifestation.
Speaking on the single, muva of Earth says: “I wanted to make a song about being high on life. You may initially think that this is another song about DrugZ however my artistry will always intend to push my audience to new and greater ways of thinking…. I remember writing ‘High’ in my bedroom whilst hanging out with my sister Angel. I had the hook in my mind for a while and would continue singing and writing more lyrics on my bus journey’s, drawing from London and my own personal experience for inspiration”
Born in Brixton to Nigerian parents as Davina Adeosun-Bright (Davina, which originates from the word ‘divinity’, Adeosun pronounced A – de – o – shu is yoruba tongue and means ‘Crown of Ọṣun’ which is a dedication to the orisha and goddess of the river, Ọṣun), muva of Earth was raised to be strong and independent. Influenced by everyone from Beyonce, Sade, Alice Coltrane, Fela Kuti, Nai Palm, Andre 3000, Blood Orange, Princess Nokia, Little Simz and more, muva of Earth left home in Kent to move back to London in her teenage years to give her the freedom to immerse herself into her music – studying at college whilst gracing stages around London with her soulful tones. By connecting to her Yoruba roots, muva of Earth’s music explores the complexities of identity, the self and human connections over a bed of afrofuturistic rhythms and atmospheric horns.
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
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