Top Boy star shares new single, ‘Can’t Box Me’ + Video

Known for his role in Top Boy as Aaron, HOPE shares his single ‘Can’t Box Me’ and accompanied video, both released last Friday (19th May).

Hope says of his new single: “Can’t Box me explores the frustration of being ‘boxed’ into one medium and not taken seriously when branching out. Artistry can be expressed in multiple ways. For me I’m an actor who branched into music who can still be successful in both.”

Hope is a Rap/ R&B artist as well as an actor who is well known for his role in Top Boy as Aaron. His musical influences stem from the likes of Dave, Drake as well as 90’s/ 2000’s Hip Hop and R&B. Hope’s first single ‘Stop the Rain’, amassed an amazing 2,404,069 streams.

Can’t Box Me is the first single from his forthcoming, unannounced self-released EP, Mirror Man, out 8th September. Check out the video for the smooth single below…

Watch Cilla Raie’s Video For Latest Track, ‘Livin’

After grabbing the Song of the Day hotspot with latest single ‘Livin’ back in June, British songstress CILLA RAIE makes a sultry return with a brand new video for the single, produced by grime producer Treble Clef.

Blending in her delicate soulful vocals with the smoothest grime influences, ‘Livin’ is about embracing who you are and living your life to the fullest despite what people may say. The three-and-a-half production features Cilla in various photo sessions, living her life without a worry in the world.

‘Livin’ is out now across various music platforms…why not check out the video below…

Von Marlon Is Back With A Second Release, ‘Save It’

Following his Song of the Day debut on the blog with neon-electro single, ‘Together Forever’ back in April, VON MARLON releases brand new single, ‘Save It’, which encompasses his underground trademark of Ambient, Hip-Hop and dance.

Documenting the anticipation and patient longing for social interaction with loved ones when things return to normal, ‘Save It’ is an uptempo piece compared to previous, releases ‘Together Forever’ and ‘Closer’, as it possesses soulful-ish funky bass, reminiscent of 90s dance music.

With this hope of the world reopening, Von Marlon is looking forward to booking some more shows
around Berlin later in the year along with a newly anticipated EP in November.

Check out the lyric video to Van Marlon’s ‘Save It’ below…

Song of the Day: Afro – IThinkThatsRio

Introducing up and coming UK artist ITHINKTHATSRIO with his debut single ‘AFRO’! The melodic rap track comes six months after the London native burst onto the scene late last year with his ‘Prayer’ freestyle that caught the scene’s attention. ‘Afro’ sees IThinkThatsRio waxing lyrical about having the freedom to do what you want, whether that is with your hair or with your career.

Speaking about the inspiration behind ‘Afro’ and how the song came together, IThinkThatsRio says, “creating ‘Afro’ was such a vibe. I was in the studio with TheLifeOfKG when this Grossgod beat came on, and the first thing that came out of my head was ‘take out my braids, just roll with an afro’, and the rest came together from there. As well as the track just being a vibe, I believe the message behind it, which is that we should be free to make our own choices, without fear of ridicule or judgement from other people – in my case, it’s how I wear my hair sometimes”.

Originally from Chadwell Heath in East London, IThinkThatsRio has always had a passion for music, but he has been on course to become a professional footballer for a good few years, but after turning 20 last year and realising that music had the power to help him express his feelings, and how that made him feel, he began taking music seriously, and quickly charted a new course from a footballer to a musician.

Check out the accompanied music video below, collaboration between IThinkThatsAfro and burgeoning London-based visual director and photographer EazyVisuals (Ebenezer, B Young, Ryan De La Cruz, Michael Ward).

5omerset Releases Single, ‘Lakeshore Ave’

After debuting on the blog with single, ‘Talk About Love’ last month, Toronto’s singer-songwriter and multi instrumentalist 5OMERSET shares single, ‘Lakeshore Ave’, which sums up what we’re all feeling for the past year. The euphoric synth pop offering reflects the yearning of those nights out on the town with friends and loved ones before the Covid pandemic came into play.

Why not check it out 5omerset’s ‘Lakeshore Ave’ below…