Tag: new releases 2023

Watch Classified’s video for track, ‘People’

Prolific award-winning Canadian rapper CLASSIFIED releases a powerful new single ‘People’ via HalfLife Records / Big Story Entertainment and available via all streaming services.

Written and produced by Classified, ‘People’ is a commentary on the selfishness, divisiveness, and lack of empathy in society, suggesting that humanity is collectively responsible for the problems we face and that everyone needs to come together and unite as one. In the track Classified emphasizes the need to focus on the commonalities among people, rather than dwell on irrelevant differences.

“People was a difficult song to write, but I believe that its message needs to be talked about with the current state of the world,” says Classified. “I see so much separation in society stemming from arguments on race, religion, gender, orientation – and at the same time, so many bigger problems in our world being ignored because we are caught up in these differences. One day, I was just like ‘I’m sick of everybody’ and started writing this song. Even though it might come off as negative, I believe that people who actually pay attention to lyrics will understand that this song actually delivers a POSITIVE message, and I HOPE that it brings people together.”

The video for ‘People’ was shot in Classified’s hometown of Enfield, NS by Brothers Boyd (Classified and his brother Mike Boyd). Like the song, the video is evocative and emotionally resonant and urges for a change in perspective and a greater sense of unity for a better future.

‘People’ is the first release in a new partnership between Classified’s HalfLife Records and Big Story Entertainment. Based in Toronto, Big Story Entertainment is dedicated to providing a platform for unique voices in the music industry.

In 2021, Classified released Retrospected, an acoustic hip hop album covering his greatest hits and fan favorites. Retrospected turned into a 40-date sold-out tour across Canada, a win for Artist Innovator of the Year at the 2023 East Coast Music Awards, and a 2023 JUNO Award nomination for Rap Recording of the Year. Classified also launched his autobiography Off The Beat ‘N Path, which shot to No. 1 on Amazon’s Pop Biographies chart.

As one of the most influential hip-hop artists in Canada with over 250 million streams globally, the multiple JUNO Award winner hosted the 2014 JUNO Awards and has a combined 30 nominations and 10 wins between the MuchMusic Video Awards, JUNO Awards, and East Coast Music Awards.

Check out the compelling video for ‘People’ below…

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Indie dance duo Midnight Mystery Club return with single,’Eyes Closed Tight’

It’s been awhile that indie dance connaisseurs MIDNIGHT MYSTERY CLUB have graced the blog … now I’m so pleased that the Winners of the 2018 Independent Music Awards in the Electronic/Dance Producers of the Year have return with their brand new single, ‘Eyes Closed Tight’ – their first single in three years.

A following up their previous two studio albums, that are still growing in popularity and singles ‘True Love’ and ‘Keep a Beat’, which generated over seven million streams, ‘Eyes Closed Tight’ continues with the chilled and swanky feel, offering up a balearic vibe.

‘Eyes Closed Tight’, is from their third album, Aesthetics Vol.1’, to be released next year. Have a listen below…

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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…

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Belau drops new single Faraway ft. Hien before their third LP

Rising dreamtronica duo BELAU is back with a new single called ‘Faraway’ featuring Vietnamese alt r’n’b artist, Hien.

The dynamic pair shed some light on their new single: “It’s a milestone in a person’s life when you are able to separate what really serves you from what you want. it is an operation that reflects such human greatness that paradoxically leads to the convergence of the two. through pure letting go, something will be at our service if we do not want it to be ours. ‘Faraway’ is a correlation of two people who live in each other’s hearts, but one or the other lives cyclically under anxiety – once and then again. it is not clear why the contradiction cannot be resolved despite their will; their relationship is eternal, bound forms. they always affect each other, distance has no influence. the idea comes to fruition in the next songs of the upcoming full-length”

Belau are currently finalising their third LP called ‘Apriori’, coming out on 27th of October. Hungary’s No.1 musical export good, Belau will continue their European tour in 2023 included some clubs shows and summer festivals in France, Belgium, Denmark, Poland, Czech Republic, Serbia, Slovenia, Slovakia, and Romania.

Check out the video for ‘Faraway’ below…

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K-Riz drops video for ‘Middle Finger U’, a track for naysayers

K-RIZ makes a quick return with a new video for track, ‘Middle Finger U,’ an ode to haters. Served over succulent beats, ‘Middle Finger U’ is one of many standouts from his highly-anticipated third full-length album, One Way Ticket, released last Friday (15th September) via Birthday Cake Records.

Directed by Sergei Subbotin and Jason WH, and featuring cameos from Edmonton hip-hop artist Moto and Mexican rapper La Tytan, the video radiates with optimism as an act of resistance, while highlighting various locations from K-Riz’s recently adopted city of Calgary.

“The video is a representation of joy and being carefree,” says K-Riz. “It’s that feeling that no matter what people say, or how they feel about it, we’ll be out here having fun in the world. It’s very unapologetic.”

Opening with the crackling of vinyl and cuts courtesy of scratch DJ Fatrok, ‘Middle Finger U’ nods to the golden era’s most rousing boom-bap rhythms. On the track, K-Riz offers a message to the naysayers who oppose the musical life path he’s chosen: “There’s no ceiling/Only space above me to occupy.” All the while, wishing cynics well in his eternal quest towards self-betterment (“Don’t Judge”), and lifting up the next generation of unsure artists (“Be Great”). Exposing the loneliness of making art when others don’t support you, he offers some words to live by to anyone aspiring for more: “They may tell you that you can’t be great/So tell them you already are great/You’re just on your way,” he raps on “Be Great.” Indeed, it’s a statement of true growth and gratitude for the gifts that life has given him, and his sense of obligation to give back to others like him.

Check out the video for ‘Middle Finger U’ Below…

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