The Hoodies Remake Classic Rock Hit ‘Summer of 69’ With New Single And Video

Canadian singer Bryan Adams released his hit single ‘Summer of ’69’ on 17th June 1985. On the heels of the Rock anthem’s 38th anniversary, the viral rap sensations known as THE HOODIES share their take on the original song’s concept. Released to all major digital streaming platforms on this year’s summer solstice (21st June), the new single finds brothers E-Class and Young Poppa claiming dominance ahead of the season with braggadocious raps over producer A2’s chopped sample of the original melody and famous guitar riff.

Hailing from New York, The Hoodies are brothers Eben “E-Class” Nettles and Umar “Young Poppa” Abrams. The duo’s name serves as a tribute to the unjust government-sanctioned killings of young Black men, reclaiming the often demonized symbol of a Black man in a hoodie. Together, older brother E-Class (25) and younger brother Young Poppa (17) embody the fusion of two disparate generations and, consequently, imbue Hip-Hop’s throwback era as well as its promising future.

Best known for their viral social media freestyle series ‘In The Whip’, the two young emcees have been honing their craft since the ages of nine and four respectively. With impressive wordplay matched by sharp flows and an unrivalled ferocity in their delivery, The Hoodies first became internet sensations in 2016 when a video recording of the two trading bars over Jadakiss and Styles P’s “One More Step” in the front seats of their mother’s car racked up over three million views on Facebook within a month. The clip eventually caught the attention of famous fans like D.L. Hughley, and even landed the two brothers on The Ellen Show.

Since then The Hoodies have gone on to release a full-length album (Blood Thicker) in 2019 and an EP (Where Should We Land) in 2020. They’ve also gone on to deliver electrifying performances for just about every online freestyle platform, including Hot97’s Funk Flex, Sway’s OVERTIME, Bars On I-95, and many more. Rap legends such as Black Thought, Fat Joe, 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg, Redman, Jadakiss, and Styles P have all vehemently co-signed the duo. With rightful comparisons to The Notorious B.I.G, Young Poppa’s talents extend beyond Rap and onto the small screen with supporting acting roles in shows like NBC’s The Last OG and Law & Order, Hulu’s Wu-Tang: An American Saga, and more.

Check out the video below, directed by Corey Hallam and Tiffany Abrams…

Alt hip-hop rapper 4KPHIL. drops new single, ‘Johnson & Johnson’

NYC’s pithy wordsmith 4KPHIL. releases his new single ‘Johnson & Johnson,’ solidifying the poet turned rapper’s place as the next left-of-center emcee.

Following a near death experience after being the victim of a shooting, 4KPHIL.’s perspective on life was forever changed; he decided that life was too short to not make music that made people feel. ‘Johnson & Johnson’ is an ode to becoming a new father – the rising artist recently welcomed his first child into the world. The self-produced, written and recorded track was made in 4KPHIL.’s home studio off the famous Dyckman street in upper Manhattan. Each verse attests to his authentic storytelling abilities, as his commanding bars float over the atmospheric production.

4KPHIL.’s lyricism is refreshing – with one listen, it’s clear that he doesn’t seek the limelight. Instead, he makes music that paints the soundtrack to his own life, providing listeners with vivid snapshots of life’s wins as well as his experiences navigating its trials and tribulations.

Listen to ‘Johnson & Johnson’ below…

Song of the Day: Anesthesia – Brasstracks (ft. Mandy Lee)

Brasstracks is the Grammy award winning project of New York based musician and producer Ivan Jackson. Over the years, Brasstracks has evolved from a hip-hop-jazz-big-band to an ever-morphing landscape where Jackson sets the framework.

The Brasstracks rap sheet runs for miles. The group scored two GRAMMY wins for their production work on Chance The Rapper’s seminal “No Problems” in 2017 (Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Album). They’ve also since been nominated for their work with Harry Styles during the 2021 GRAMMYs for Best Pop Vocal Album, ultimately taking home the Best Pop Solo Performance award for their work on “Watermelon Sugar.”

Brasstracks has appeared on Saturday Night Live, performing alongside Miley Cyrus and Mark Ronson, the latter of whom is a frequent collaborator. Other collaborations include Anderson .Paak, Khalid, Mac Miller, and BTS. Basstracks has also performed songs from their debut album on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.

The new Brasstracks era sees Jackson as an architect for this larger project of incubating artists and allowing them the space to grow.

The latest single ‘Anesthesia’ featuring Mandy Lee of MisterWives, is the second single from Brasstracks’ upcoming album. Lee soars as she sings, “Doppelgänger, I can’t hate you even though I know the grass is greener”, crooning a sneering congratulations to a nemesis who always seems to be one step ahead. The title itself is a nod to the numbness that accompanies this feeling. The vibrant single shimmers with oscillating synths and Lee’s velvet vocals, emitting an overall colorful and contagious aura. The playful track refuses to let listeners stay still, with fast-paced beats and layered instrumentation creating an all-encompassing atmosphere, captivating you from the very first second.

The upcoming album is a unique addition to the Brasstracks catalog: brimming with technical wizardry and maximal, brassy bombast, but intensely personal, rife with self-loathing and heartache. The album’s undeniable joyousness stands in unflinching contrast with its subject matter, and ‘Anesthesia’ is a microcosm of its ethos: a shimmering, groovy, soulful house record about, above all else, jealousy. The album weaves in and out of itself seamlessly, with ‘Anesthesia”’sampling Brasstracks’ previous FATHERDUDE + TOBi flanked single, ‘Nobody’s Fool’. Despite its seething subtext, ‘Anesthesia’ is a quintessential warm weather banger, and was a highlight of Brasstracks’ sold out, 6-show Blue Note run this March.

Have a listen below…

Song of the Day: Let It Fly – Rayne Storm (ft. Krizz Kaliko)

RAYNE STORM returns with single ‘Let It Fly’, featuring Strange Music’s own Krizz Kaliko. The melodic track serves as the second single off his upcoming album ‘Audiocity II’.

The production by Wyshmaster creates a riding bassline as the background for this introspective weed anthem. Krizz delivers with his classic midwest flow while Rayne brings it with a bouncy verse about getting away from the stress of daily life, in between puffs of smoke.

‘Let It Fly’ is a must for any cannabis enthusiasts playlist. Make sure you hit play on this while you light one up…

Check out Quincy’s Video For Track, ‘Face Off’

Taken off his Q Side B Side album, QUINCY returns and drops the striking visuals for track, ‘Face Off’ – check it out below!

Be sure to keep your eyes peeled out Quincy as part 2 of the video for single is coming soon…