This week has been an explosive week for music, with Kanye West and Jay Z reuniting for a track on his upcoming album, Donda, to Lil Nas X trending for his latest music video, “Industry Baby.” Here are five projects you should be on the look out for this week.
Lil Nas X – “Industry Baby”
Trolling his audience and haters is nothing new for Lil Nas X, so of course he turned up his comedic instincts for his latest music video and single, “Industry Baby.” The single is already #1 trending topic on YouTube, and is worth the watch and listen.
Kanye West – Donda
After a tumultuous year of divorce, mental health issues, and a hiatus from music, Kanye West is back with his latest project, Donda. After a live-streamed listening party in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Kanye gave fans a chance to listen to the album in its totality before its release. With a features from Jay Z, Roddy Rich, Lil Baby and more, Donda is set to be released this upcoming week.
Normani feat. Cardi B – “Wild Side”
After the success of her last single, “Motivation,” and making an appearance in Cardi B and Megan thee Stallion’s “WAP” video, Normani releases “Wild Side” featuring Cardi B. The song samples Aaliyah’s “One in A Million” with new hooks and lyrics. The video cleverly pays homage to Aaliyah, with great choreography and visuals.
Pop Smoke – Faith
After the success of his last posthumous album, Pop Smoke’s team released his second posthumous album, Faith. With features from Chris Brown, Kanye West, Dua Lipa, and other artists, Pop Smoke’s Faith allows his fans to continue to celebrate his artistry and talents, while also wondering what he could have done if he had the chance to continue his journey.
Mariah the Scientist – Ry Ry World
Mariah the Scientist’s latest album, Ry Ry World,explores her creative storytelling and vocals with her new more mature, nuanced sound. With features from Lil Baby and Young Thug, Ry Ry World takes you into Mariah the Scientist’s love life and her sensual side.
Lil Nas X has released his latest song, “Industry Baby,” along with the music video – which comedically portrays Lil Nas being sentenced to “five years in Montero State Prison” after a day in court. On July 19th, Lil Nas X released a 2 minute trailer to promote the music video, which dramatically depicts his court date with Nike for selling his infamous Satan shoes.
The music video explores Lil Nas X’s fictitious experience in jail: working out in the courtyard, sporting a hot pink jumpsuit around his cell, dancing with prisoners naked in the showers, and eventually breaking out of the facility. Jack Harlow makes an appearance in the video to perform his verse on the song and helps Lil Nas X escape the prison.
The song, produced by producer duo, Take a Day Trip, and Kanye West, follows up Lil Nas X’s previous smash hit, “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name), which earned him his second number one hit.
Located in New Jersey, OnlyJahmez has been consistently releasing new visuals and singles for his fan base and growing audience.
After the success of his last single, “Thoughts,” OnlyJahmez is following up the single with upcoming release, “Demons,” set to be released on August 13th. Along with the “unofficial cover art,” which OnlyJahmez and his manager, Dino, shared via social media, OnlyJahmez released a small trailer for the music video on YouTube.
The trailer features some images from the video, starting with the camera lens zooming into OnlyJahmez’s eye and quickly sifting through visuals of the video. The chorus plays in the video, with OnlyJahmez singing, “I’ve been knocking out these demons” and “I’m on track to reach the ceiling, but for you I’d give it up.” The song details his trials and tribulations, from his love life to his career.
From executing music videos, cover art, to lyric videos, Corey Hallam, (a.k.a. WaveChange), is a videographer making artistic visions come to life in New Jersey.
Every video or idea starts with a creative vision, and WaveChange is making those ideas explode onto his canvases with every project he takes on. With his videos premiering on MTV, World Star Hip-Hop, and BET Jams, WaveChange’s work never goes unnoticed. His collaborators include comedian and rapper, FatBoy SSE, Sloppy Vinyl artists RnB Hunter, OnlySuave, OnlyJahmez, and Lawand, and countless other New Jersey acts.
What differentiates WaveChange’s work from other creatives in the New York/New Jersey area is his attention to detail, and his tactful directing and storytelling skills for each of his clients and creatives.
WaveChange on the set of singer Lawand’s “Controller” video.
Each of his videos tells a story – like Lawand’s “Controller” music video, which recently debuted on MTV. The music video tells the story of a controlling relationship, with Lawand proclaiming to her man that “you cannot control me.” The music video details their rocky relationship through dance “fighting” choreography, with both pushing and pulling away from each other with the lyrics, and close up shots of Lawand singing to the camera and detailing her situation.
With WaveChange’s directing and videography, the storyline comes to life with visuals, camera angles, costumes, lighting, and well-timed choreography.
Lawand’s “Controller”
Not only does this music video detail WaveChange’s directing skills, but “Thoughts” by OnlyJahmez also highlights WaveChange’s superb eye and knack for detail and storytelling.
The music video, set in Las Vegas, Nevada, explores the “thoughts” in OnlyJahmez’s head (as the song title suggests), making the song lyrics come alive through lighting, color schemes, animation, and vantage points. With sharp contrasts in color and animation effects such as fire blazing around OnlyJahmez in certain shots, WaveChange’s directing allows the audience to visualize the commotion of the lyrics through visual aspects.
OnlyJahmez’sMusic Video “Thoughts”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8M1HWDqSXx0
WaveChange is the go-to videographer and director for any project – music videos, lyric videos, cover arts, or any video concepts. Sometimes ideas just need visualization and proper execution to be great – and videographers are an essential part of the creative process.
Keep up with WaveChange’s creative projects on social media and on his personal website down below!
After Sloppy Vinyl launched the OnlyJahmez & Friends shows for the summer, the crowds went from small gatherings to large party atmospheres – even catching the attention of many eyes in the industry.
With a lineup of Afrobeat artists, trap artists, Jersey club dancers, and R&B singers, OnlyJahmez & Friends has been an enjoyable experience from New Jersey to Brooklyn, where their last show was held.
To showcase the growth and excitement of the show, Sloppy Vinyl’s OnlyJahmez has dropped a recap of the last show on YouTube for the show’s viewers to enjoy.
Even though the show features OnlyJahmez as a headliner, Sloppy Vinyl affiliated artists, such as singer RnB Hunter, performer Deja Destinee, rapper OnlySuave, singer Zel, performer Tinkaa G, and others have shined with their performances in the OnlyJahmez & Friends shows.
As the Afrobeat genre continues to rise in popularity within the United States hip-hop scene, new artists like New Jersey’s Deji Moscato are bringing a new flare to Afrobeat and hip-hop this summer just in time for cookout season. With Nigeria’s biggest act, Wizkid, blazing through the American music scene with summer hit, “Essence,” featuring singer Tems, new artists like Deji Moscato have a new space to integrate R&B, hip-hop, and Afrobeat into one style.
East Orange native Deji Moscato brings a sensual summer vibe to his latest Afrobeat track, “No Harm.” Deji Moscato combines his vocal flare with a fresh production style on the song, proving that Afrobeat artists are undeniably making their long-lasting mark in the music industry this year.
“No Harm” begins with a xylophone sounding instrument repeating the melody, as the high hats, 808s, and catchy baseline drop underneath Deji’s vocals. After the instrumental introduction, Deji Moscato belts the chorus, singing, “Babygirl it’s funny/ I just want your body/Whine up slow for daddy.” For the duration of the dance track, Deji Moscato asks the girl in the song to dance with him and proclaims how enticing her body is to him.
Deji Moscato’s “No Harm” combines an uptempo dance beat with playful vocals and lyrics, easily making this single a lively track to keep on repeat this summer.
