RAYL Reminisces Over The Perfect Love With New Single, ‘Summertime’

Just over a year after she burst onto the Canadian R&B scene with her critically acclaimed debut EP Romeo Must Die, emerging Toronto singer and songwriter RAYL is back to close out summer 2022 with the aptly titled ‘Summertime’ featuring fellow up-and-coming Toronto talent Erin B. Written by Rayl and Erin, and produced by Adam Josh, who has also worked with some of Toronto’s finest including Savannah Re, LOONY, and Yarah, ‘Summertime’ is the precursor to Rayl’s upcoming film project for her Romeo Must Die EP, which is set for release at the end of the year.

Inspired by Rayl’s fascination with love in the summer, ‘Summertime’ is a beautiful guitar-led R&B ballad about two lovers reminiscing about their perfect summer romance, with Rayl waxing lyrical about her insecurities in love, and wanting her man to take her feelings seriously, and Erin B professing his love, and assuring his leading lady that he is for real, and theirs is a love that’s meant to last.

Have a listen to ‘Summertime’ below…

Preyé Shares Her Seductive EP, ‘Don’t Look Down

Nigerian singer-songwriter PREYÉ delivers her much anticipated seven-track debut EP, ‘Don’t Look Down!’ – centred around love and self-discovery. The budding songstress is unburdened and carefree as she floats on every beat, teasing unique flows and using her honeyed vocals to sing us through the many stages of finding and loving herself and the people around her.

‘Don’t Look Down!’ achieves everything a solid R&B/Soul record should – head-nodding production, evocative storytelling and an attitude that reminds you that indeed, this artist is one to pay attention to.

To anchor the release of Don’t Look Down! Preyé enlists Nigerian rapper LADIPOE for the project’s lead single ‘Love, Today’ – a perfect end-of summer track. As the two artists exchange flows over pulsing 808 drums and a lingering guitar loop, we experience a genuine chemistry and connection.

On Preyé’s ‘Love, Today’, LADIPOE delivers one of his most personal verses to date, opening up about balancing the realities of his recent success with his continuous quest to find peace and never lose sight of who he is. Preyé’s enchanting refrain, “Don’t let them waste it, we got love, today .. we got love, today!” soulfully reassures her listeners that: although life can be unpleasant, there is always something to be grateful for. Preyé wrote this song after a period of feeling stagnant and her delivery is charged with the same sense of reassurance she herself needed at the time.

Preyé continues to show a level of mastery with her writing and vocals that is truly exceptional and highlights a star in the making. In June, Billboard listed her single single ‘Malibu’ as one of their Top R&B finds. She was also recently selected as one of six artists for Spotify’s Africa Month global campaign, Spotify Sounds of Africa, alongside LADIPOE, Zoë Modiga, Nomfundo Moh, Chris Khaiga and Nikita Kering. Have a listen to Preyé’s latest EP below…

Must Listens: Red Wine, Love Today, Malibu

Anisa Shares R&B Nostalgic Single ‘Deserve Me’ + Video

Nearly two years on from her debut single ‘Yalla’, which amassed over half a million plays online, and was championed by BBC 1Xtra, Reprezent Radio and FootAsylum, among others, and with superstar co-signs for her creative talents from the likes of Stormzy, Cardi B, and City Girls, British Somali singer, songwriter, and content creator ANISA is back with her brand new single titled ‘Deserve Me’. Written by Anisa, and produced by Edashman, pays homage to the ‘90s and early noughties era of R&B music that was pivotal to Anisa’s upbringing, and influenced her artistic journey.

‘Deserve Me’ also comes with a fun and creative music video, directed by Anisa herself, and shot on location across the city of London. Inspired by ‘90s era music videos that came with storytelling plots and creative acting, Anisa has put together a story-led music video for ‘Deserve Me’, which sees Anisa being grounded from going out with her friends, but as you’d expect, she pulls up to the party, where she sees her ex-lover, and is reminded of all the ways that he didn’t deserve her in the first place.

Check out the official video for the brand single ‘Deserve Me’ below…

OUT TODAY: K-Riz Shares Single, ‘Whatever U Like’; Announces New Album

Following a string of critically lauded releases, hip-hop artist K-RIZ returns with ‘Whatever U Like,’ the first single off his forthcoming album, One Way Ticket, arriving next spring on Mo Gravy Records.

The single finds K-Riz leaning into a newfound joy and another dimension to his multifaceted rap persona. Reuniting with JDats, the producer behind the blissful blend of jazz-infused samples heard on 2020’s The Room EP, ‘Whatever U Like’ hits with lashes of delirious dance-oriented beats, a reflection of Riz’s current state of contentment and openness to exploration.

One Way Ticket, which will also feature appearances by Toronto rapper Junia T, emcee/singer Ice tha One, and Calgary-based, Zimbabwe-born newcomer K the Chosen, represents the urge to move forward and embrace new experiences. The rapper permanently relocated from Edmonton to Calgary in 2021, and with that came new influences and a necessary shift in perspective.

K-Riz’s past efforts Peace & Love (2021) and The Room EP (2020) garnered rotation on CBC’s The Block with host Angeline Tetteh-Wayoe naming K-Riz as a Black Canadian artist you need to know. Those releases also landed him a nomination for Rap & Hip Hop Artist of the Year at the 2022 Western Canadian Music Awards. As part of the festivities

Look for more singles from K-Riz’s third full-length album, One Way Ticket, in the coming months. ‘Whatever U Like’ is now available on Bandcamp. If you like the track, purchase it on Friday 7th October for the next Bandcamp Friday when all sales go directly to artists. 

Rockness Monsta Teams Up With General Steele and Ruste Juxx For Track ‘Shark Tank’

Since making his mark in the ‘90s through the early aughts as a part of the legendary Boot Camp Clik and one half of rap duo Heltah Skeltah, Rock (also known as the ROCKNESS MONSTA) has been conservative with solo efforts– 2017’s Rockness AP remains his sole full-length solo album. But with a newly formed alliance between him and new label American B-Boy Records, the Brooklyn emcee has been gearing up for his sophomore project Ether Rocks for the better part of 2022.

Now, after releasing five album singles with accompanying visuals throughout the year, the late, great Sean Price’s former partner in rhyme taps General Steele and Ruste Juxx for the sixth Ether Rocks single ‘Shark Tank’, and finally announces the album’s official release date exclusively via Rock The Bells.

With guest appearances from Method Man, Steele of Smif-N-Wessun, Ruste Juxx, among others, Ether Rocks is produced entirely by Ron Browz (Nas’s “Ether,” Jim Jones’s “Pop Champagne”) and will release on all DSPs, CD and vinyl on 21st October via American B-Boy Records/Fat Beats. Check out the first taste of the album below