Up and coming rapper Pop Smoke, has been shot and killed this morning (Feb. 19) in what appears to be a home invasion robbery, according to TMZ.
According to law enforcement officials, the rapper was in his Hollywood Hills home when 2 men wearing hoodies and masks, broke in and began firing multiple shots around 4:30 AM. Ambulance rushed him to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in West Hollywood.
So far the suspects have not been caught or identified but were seen fleeing the scene by foot.
Pop Smoke was only 20 years old at the time of his death. He released an album in July, and is best known for his song “Welcome to the Party,” and “Gatti” with Travis Scott.
BROCKHAMPTON released a music video for their album Ginger’s single “Sugar” last December. Since it’s release “Sugar” has gone gold and became a dance meme on Tik-Tok.
The video is brilliant, violent and sexually explicit, as it opens up with footage of a couple engaging in intercourse. The couple is then disturbed when an alien shoots the male in the head leaving him dead, and the female screaming. The guys are all dressed in orange jumpsuits, and we see Matt Champion take a trip to hell, and frontman Kevin Abstract covered in green slime.
Warning: Video contains explicit footage.
Yesterday, the boy band released a much more G-Rated and calmer second music video for the single, that is also directed by Abstract. The group and Ryan Beatty perform in a light tan backdrop filled with a few props like a mirror, chair and ladder. The new video, is definitely bland compared to its predecessor, but nonetheless still great.
Tyler, the Creator appeared at a Q&A in London this past weekend for the Converse’s Creative All Stars Series. During the conversation, Tyler broke the hearts of many Odd Future fans when asked about a possible reunion for the rap collective.
Tyler, who is the creator of the Golf le Fleur* line and a Converse ambassador took the stage to speak about his music and partnership with the brand. The conversation took an interesting turn when a fan asked him “Are we ever gonna get another Odd Future Tape?”
“9 times out of 7, no,” Tyler quickly responded. “Look I would be open to it, but I think everyone’s kind of past that. And I think some people base it off nostalgia rather than like ‘would it actually be good?’ Like you don’t always need a Bad Boys 5.”
If you were a die hard Odd Future fan growing up like I was, then this answer definitely left you disappointed. Fans have been asking the question about a possible reunion for quite some time now. Although many of the members still remain friends, the group seems to have disbanded as they are all focused on their own personal musical careers.
Tyler then goes on to explain that the mixtapes weren’t even all that amazing, and that he doesn’t think all their musical styles would align today in 2020.
“Honestly the OF tapes weren’t that good,” Tyler said. “It was just a fun time, but musically, its like, ‘Uh Coulda did better.’ But, for the time it was tight… I don’t know if the styles would will mesh much for a good cohesive thing. I don’t know if the styles would mesh much with everyone. But, who knows, this could change in six weeks.”
Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All, better known as OFGWKTA, or simply Odd Future, has left a huge legacy in Alt-Rap. Their music and style has left a major impact on Hip-Hop music and culture today. The rap collective has helped many of its members like Tyler, Earl Sweatshirt, Frank Ocean, Syd, and Matt Martians establish successful musical careers.
Last weekend I had the pleasure to attend The Link Up presented by Sloopy Vinyl, where I had the change to experience some of the best performers in the New Jersey Hip-hop scene. Gathering in the upper level of the Hollywood Blue Ribbon Restaurant, in Hillside, NJ, Sloppy Vinyl offers a platform for both upcoming, and veteran artist to perform not only in front of an amazing audience but also for a chance to earn three uninterrupted hours of recording time at the Sloppy Vinyl recording studio, and a placement on Sloppy Vinyl playlist. Each artist must perform 2-3 songs or a 10-minute mix for their set.
Sloppy Vinyl offers not only an amazing opportunity to make your music stand out but also a chance to record in a professional environment, under the Sloppy Vinyl brand.
Before the show started I had a chance to sit down with 100KPak and Pearl before their big performance:
“I am relaxed right now, I like the stage, I like the vibe, I am excited to show them what I got,” said Pak.
So you’re new to the scene, how long have you been at it?
“I’ve been doing this since 2014. Legitimately,” said 100KPak. “My sound, I grew around the time of Big Sean, Wiz Khalifa, [and] Mic Miller…. So I found a lot of lyrics in my stuff. But I also caught that little trap wave early. So I was bouncing around finding my style.”
When it comes to finding her style and voice, Pearl has a more unique way of finding her rhythm:
“I was feeling really good I was nervous with soundcheck,” said Pearl about her time getting ready, but when it comes to her music she knows where it all comes from, “I swear it comes from when I get dressed at home. My outfit, my dress, [if] I look good it pumps me up!!” said Pearl.
Pearl alongside Polo Gotti performed a duet that combined both their unique styles, along with their fun energy.When asked how long they started to perform together, Polo had this to say:
“That was like the first song me and her [Pearl] did together, and then we did a second. I like the vibe so we kept going, me and her [Pearl] have three songs dropping.”
The crowd quickly gathered to watch these performers take the stage, and the atmosphere was out of this world, everyone felt welcome, the crowd cheered welcoming the singers to the stage. One of the performers lighting up the stage was The RealTsunami, here flow and strong stage presence came from knowing that she is always being looked after by her family and loved ones:
“One of my first inspirations is the music, and how it flows out of me, so natural, is like it feels like I was born [with] it… my inspiration is my cousin Shantee, who recently passed,” The RealTsunami continued, “They [family and friend] give me the inspiration to make it litty on the stage, to make it live!”
It wasn’t just the voices of New Jersey that were attracted by the opportunity provided by Sloppy Vinyl. Polo Gotti hailed from Ohio, and I set down with him to see how his passion brought him all the way to Jersey.
“I am from Cleveland, Ohio, so when I came to Jersey I got the vibes, I was like alright my sound is completely different from everyone else.” Polo Gotti continued talking about what made his voice different coming from Ohio. “I am very country so when I came here everybody called me country so I guess how I rap is completely different from everyone else… and [I] can get in a whole different beat, I can change up a lot.”
Representing the Bronx was Sledge Dibiase, a veteran of the game. He took the stage not only as a special guest, but also to promote his first album, the combination of a long journey that he was happy to share with me:
“This is my first album, I dropped mixtapes in the past, I dropped singles, but this is the first full album… We started this thing called Brasco Music, I also have my company T-Reps Forever, we in the come up, everything is coming together, it is looking beautiful.”
That sounds like one heck of a journey.
“Man, I’ve been doing my thing for 10 years or more, I mean taking my thing seriously I would say ten years or more. So for any young artist out there you just have to stick to it, getting better keep improving yourself, keep mastering your craft.”
Sledge Dibiase first full album Fly and Wonderful is coming in March, with the lead single “Alright,” dropping February 18 on all platforms, Spotify, Tidal and anywhere music is available. Keep an eye out.
Shahivioney another twenty-plus year veteran took the stage to show love to the roots.
“It’s been a minute, but this is the spot, Sloppy Vinyl is like headquarters for me,” said Shahivioney.
You have a brand, a website, I see you perform, you have it made, how is it like chasing the dream?
“Chasing the dream you know, trying to make that dream a reality.”
If you want to learn more about Shahivioney, you can find him with his company 5tatentllc.com
There is no doubt The Link Up presented by Sloppy Vinyl is the hottest ticket around for up and coming artists looking to start and make a name for themselves. Not only as a way to get discovered but also as a way to meet other veterans of the game, all chasing the dream.
You can follow all of this artist on Instagram: @pak100k, @americanjawn, @therealtsunami, @polokeepit600, @Sledge_Dibiase, and @Shahivioney (5talentllc.com)
German DJ and Producer Boys Noize released two new singles over the weekend. The first “Girl Crush” features “Countin’ Up” rapper Rico Nasty, and the second is “Buchla 100.”
Boys Noize, is best known for being half of the EDM act Dog Blood with Skrillex, and has been named by Rolling Stone as one of the “Top 10 DJ’s Who Rule The World.” Boys Noize has collaborated on Frank Ocean‘s 2019 single “DHL,” A$AP Rocky‘s “Babushka Boi,” and had a grammy nominated single this year with Skrillex and Ty Dolla Sign, “Midnight Hour.”
“Girl Crush” is gritty and dark, and features a driving bass with a heavy pulsing electro-house beat on top. Rico Nasty’s voice is almost trance like as she sings about having a crush on another woman, and is seductively suggestive in the track’s opening “oooooh, ahhh’s” showing us another side of her from her usual rapping. It’s a track that will surely be a club hit, and will find it’s way into many festival sets this summer.
“Buchla 100” is an “electro-house” instrumental track. The single reaches ecstasy with a recording from a rare 1960s built Buchla 100 Modular synth system.
Somewhere between R&B and soul, the singer-songwriter Dashana recently released her new single, “Life”. In the song she expresses herself and how she’s been feeling lately. She’s tired of being surrounded by the BS and stress, aren’t you?
Photo taken by @Iamdp_
We can’t always control what goes on around us and that’s okay! In this song the Brooklyn queen goes on a journey to finding her inner harmony and peace. She stops questioning herself why and takes a couple of hits and sips to clear her mind. Shout out to the producer UrBan Nerd Beats, HeyIndo on the engineering, Jack Arnold on the A&R side of things & OnlySuave on the cover art. This record is such a mellow vibe! Chill out, roll a fat Backwood to this and keep an eye out for Dashana and her upcoming releases. Make sure to follow her Instagram @Epicvibeee and ours @Sloppyvinyl for more updates.
