Fantasies

What’s going on, everyone? I'm happy to present a blazing new song submitted by rising West Coast artist Kyle Banks, featuring the incredibly soulful Eric Bellinger. 

Titled, “Fantasies,” this Meez & Louie Ji produced single encapsulates a poppin’ night out on the town, filled with unadulterated fun and romance. Kyle describes it as an exploration of carefree city life: “Overall, the message of the song is having fun in the city. We’ve all caught feelings for a dancer before.” Shiii, T-Pain ain’t the only one who fell in love with a stripper now!

The musical collaboration between Banks and Bellinger mirrors the synergy of the former Golden State "Splash Brothers" on the court, with Kyle acknowledging Eric as a significant influence on his journey. Their partnership produces a track that feels fresh while honoring R&B's roots. Bellinger’s impact on the West Coast R&B scene is undeniable; with over a decade of experience, he skillfully blends contemporary sounds with traditional influences, crafting hits that resonate widely.

Check out the visual for “Fantasies,” directed by Koby below: 

ATTN

My friend ISHMAEL, previously known as Ishmael Raps, recently dropped a genre-bending new single that highlights his impressive rapping skills, guaranteed to catch your attention.

Titled "ATTN," the lyricist hailing from Rochester, NY, takes listeners on a tongue-twisting lyrical journey reminiscent of Hip Hop legends like Busta Rhymes and Twista. In its accompanying music video, ISHMAEL, sporting an eccentric outfit and a spiky pink hairdo, stands out among the regular "suits," emphasizing his unique style in every aspect.

I’m incredibly proud of the homie, man. He's truly made significant strides since I first featured him on the blog almost a decade ago. If you've ever wondered why I continue to write, it's for moments like these. Check out what ISHMAEL had to say in a 2014 interview with NYU Local:

Enjoy the video for, “ATTN” below.

Circle

Sensational crooner Isaia Huron prefers not to be labeled as an “R&B artist,” yet after listening to his soulfully silky tone one would certainly suggest otherwise.

After a year-long hiatus, the Greenville, South Carolina native has released a blazing new single titled, “Circle.” Trust me, the song clocks in at just 90-seconds, leaving you craving for more—like seriously salivating (pause).  Isaia's talent for crafting intricate melodies is simply out of this world.

In an interview with Rated R&B, Isaia stated that the song was made three years ago in the baptism room of his dad’s church. Now that’s what I call an immaculate conception! Its official music video, directed by Caleb Ward, find a *clears throat* stunningly proportioned Nubian queen showcasing her moves while Isaia sings his heart out in a dimly lit studio. Talk about vibes…

Enjoy the clip below:

Birds Don't Sing

“The birds don’t sing, the birds don’t sing, they screech in paaaiiin,” Aww man, I know I’m not the only one who can’t stop listening to the unreleased Clipse scorcher featuring John Legend.

Premiered during Pharrell Williams’ Spring/Summer 2025 Men’s runway show for Louis Vuitton, the beautiful yet somber track finds Pusha T and his beloved brother Malice intricately rap about their parents death. Its official title, “Birds Don’t Sing,” derives from Maya Angelou’s book, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings. The orchestra-filled single is a far cry from the group’s drug-infused lyrics and I’m truly here for it. 

“We went through all the ‘cocaine rap’ complaints, the stigma of, ‘All they talk about is coke,'” said Malice in a recent interview. “You get tired of it. Then you realize the people who only look at it that way aren’t even listening to the music correctly.”

Huge love to Push and Malice, man.  They are undeniably two of the nicest individuals I’ve ever come across during my years at NIGO’s former NYC workshop.

“Birds Don’t Sing,” is said to be off the brothers’ upcoming album. Shii, I just hope they drop the complete project sooner than later. For now, enjoy the Skateboard P-produced banger below:

Reese Channels His Inner Cam'ron

If for whatever reason legendary rapper Cam’ron stumbled upon this article, he’d probably think its title was somewhat pause-worthy. I can imagine him now saying in his potent Uptown accent : “wow—inner is wild.” Hopefully the header would intrigue him enough to fully dive into the write-up and eventually realize the caption was perfect for the situation at hand (...that was kinda crazy, ngl).

Earlier this month, ATL Rapper/Producer Reese LaFlare released a single commemorating the Harlem Diplomat entitled, “Pink Range Rover.” Featuring Foggie Raw and PM FRVR, the joint is inspired by Cam’s 2002 Billboard hit, “Hey Ma.” Its music video depicts Reese and his comrades talking their sh*t while remaining fresher than ever.

LaFlare’s Rated R Superstar LP is coming soon. For now, check out the visual for his Slade Da Monsta-produced tune below:

A Boogie Caught A "Body"

The Bronx’s lyrical bomber A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie recently linked up with fellow boogie down artist Cash Cobain to deliver a wavy new tune in the form of “Body.”

Its accompanying music video, directed by Phil Meyer, mirrors the song’s chill-yet-tantalizing vibes showcasing the two artists on a poppin’ night in NYC, which ultimately leads up to them longing for a sensual one-on-one sesh with a special shorty. 

“Body” is found on A Boogie’s latest album Better Off Alone. Released earlier this month, the star-studded project features Mariah The Scientist, Fridayy, Future, Lil Durk, and Young Thug, in addition to the aforementioned collab, across 21 tracks.

Shout out to my guy Dave and his partner-in-crime Vince of 4G for styling A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie with the Chrome Hearts drip which is seen throughout the visual. If you haven’t done so, check out my interview with him HERE.

Open (Remix)

If you didn’t know by now, I’m an R&B thug! Yeah, I admit it.  Don’t get me wrong, I love a multitude of genres in the music sphere (Hip-Hop, Jazz, Pop and everything else in between).  It’s just that soulful sounds have the uncanny ability to take me into a higher dimension filled with colorful ideas. Shit, I don’t even really listen to rap while I’m working out. A sentimental R&B jam invigorates me harder than, let’s say, a boisterous DMX banger, because all I’m thinking about is…*clears throat * (nah, mean). Such a beautiful juxtaposition right?

In any case, one of my favorite smooth cuts right now comes from a rising singer based in Toronto named Dylan Sinclair. The talented 21-year-old newcomer linked up with fellow Spotify 2023 R&B Artists To Watch crooners Destin Conrad & JVCK JAMES to deliver a head-bobbing remix for his standout single “Open,” which is found on Sinclair’s breakout EP, No Longer In The Suburbs (Deluxe).

“This new ‘Open’ remix for me was about collaborating with two of my favorite up-and-coming artists who inspire me,” says Dylan in an interview with Rated R&B. “Destin being from LA and Jack being from London, this track is just about having fun and making something that gets people moving.”

Check out the groovy chune’s The Fang Group-directed music video below. And if you like what you heard, make sure to check out Dylan’s commendable discography.

So Bad

Valentine’s Day is less than a month away and I know a lot of you are dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s on your romantic plans. If for some odd reason the playlist for y’all *clears throat* make-out sesh isn’t complete, allow me to suggest a tune that’ll enhance the mood for such intimate experience.

Aptly titled, “So Bad,” by multi-talented musician St. Panther, the song is dedicated to the lovers who cannot go one day without seeing each other. No cap, that was the case for me and my first love. I saw her every…single…day during the summer we first met (honeymoon phase much?).

There’s not much to say about this song because its heavenly vibes are so profound.  St. Panther, whose real name is Daniela Bojorges-Giraldo, showcases her hypnotic, soulful tone over an equally captivating beat which provides all of the feels.

Indulge below:

On God

On God I'm happier than a mothaf#!^% to be writing for y’all again. Yes, it’s been a few months since I’ve delivered an article, but your boy has been living—experiencing enlightening *clears throat * situations, which, quite honestly, made me appreciate life so much more. The recent conversations I’ve had with many industry legends (don’t ask me how) have inspired me to continue on my creative journey. With that said, allow me to present a new music video from a person who I’ve known since my BAPE days, Spence Lee.

Titled, “On God,” the introspective tune showcases Spence’s knack of captivating listeners with his potent lyrics and undeniable melodic flows. The single, produced by B-Rackz, is his initial release since partnering with artist collective 88Rising and Mike Will Made It/Ear Drummer Records. In a recent interview, Lee stated :

“the song is a motivational song written through positive affirmations, almost like a prayer. It reflects on my story, which gives me hope in the present and faith in my future. On God means I’m standing on God as my foundation. And every line is true, hence the term “On God”.

Check out the talented, New Jersey-bred spitter’s latest visual directed by Jason Ano below:

Star Trak x Hidden NY

N.E.R.D’s “In search of…” album has had a profound impact on many of today’s thriving millennial artists. This year it turns 20, and to celebrate, the triumphant trio alongside Star Trak Entertainment has teamed up with Hidden NY.

“What could they have possibly conjured up?” you might ask.  Well, wait till you get a load of this.  The legendary funk rock band and record label collided with Hidden NY to create a nostalgic capsule consisting of co-branded hoodies, shirts, hats, totes and mesh shorts just in time for the summer.  Furthermore, the popular archival streetwear brand account reimagined N.E.R.D’s historic debut album cover art featuring none other than Shae Haley. In this iteration, Shae is wearing standout threads from the collaborative collection. Shout out to photographer Sam Hayes!

The pieces were initially available to subscribers of Hidden’s newsletter on June 15th, with general release on June 16th via its website. Hopefully you were able to cop something!

Whole Time (Freestyle)

What’s good, everyone? I hope all of you are having a wonderful week thus far.  Earlier this month, news broke out that BAPE’s downtown NYC location has officially closed for good. It’s not such a huge shock for some, but for the OG BAPE heads, this might have caused some disarray due to all of the epic memories they’ve made there.  As I’ve stated on Instagram, as long as I’m here, the magic that NIGO’s former SoHo workshop once provided will never fade away!

Speaking of memories, one of the most talented individuals I’ve met during my time at the shop just dropped a music video for his latest freestyle titled, “Whole Time.” ISHMAEL, formerly known as Ishmael Raps, was just a teenager trying to find his way in the lyrical lane when I met him more than five years ago.  I’m extremely happy to see him come into his own with ease as he’s constantly sharpening his craft.

Check out the Itenji-shot visual from the rising Rochester spitter below:

Deep Reverence

“F*ck writing, I’m a SoHo Legend!” My bad, I got a little carried away after hearing Big Sean’s introspective single entitled “Deep Reverence,” featuring the late, great Nipsey Hussle.

The Hit-Boy produced banger, found on Detroit 2, finds Sean shedding light on his most personal happenings including a battle with anxiety, reconciliation with fellow wordsmith Kendrick Lamar, family issues and many more.  “I said things on here I thought I’d never say publicly, but realized that u gotta live and own your truths, cause u can’t always count on that opportunity to be there,” he writes on Instagram. If you thought that wasn’t deep enough, Nipsey came through to deliver a compelling verse stating nothing but the truth concerning his own legacy.

Watch the West Coast reppin’ visual for “Deep Reverence,” below:

Infrunami

Valentine’s Day was less than two weeks ago, yet I’m pretty sure most of you lovebirds have already fallen out of your cozy nests.  Have no fear, Steve Lacy is here to help y’all pick up the broken pieces of your pretty little wings and heart.

Titled “Infrunami,” Lacy’s emotional number is filled with soul-piercing chords that’ll tame the wildest beast in any detrimental relationship *gasps*. The song is just under two-minutes, and quite honestly, incomplete but it will undoubtedly fulfill its mission in unification. “Girl you’re the one I want / You’re the one I need / I’m begging you, please? / Can you come back to me / ‘Cause I was blind to see / That you were right in front of me,” croons the 22-year-old multi-hyphenate musician.  There are certain sections of the jam that are vocal-less so you can get your sh*t off.  From rapping, singing, all the way down to scatting you have the opportunity to show your mate why she/he/they need to be in your world. Make it count!

“Infrunami,” is found on Steve’s self-produced, Garageband app-made collection of unused songs dubbed as The Lo-Fis (pretty impressive right?). Check out the demos on Soundcloud.

21C / Delta

Ever since I began my journey at Delta last year, I started noticing how much it is loved by an assortment of rappers. I initially was pleasantly surprised when Portland’s own Aminé gave the thriving airline a huge shout out in his Limbo standout cut entitled, “Shimmy,” where he unapologetically stated: “just ‘cause you bought that vintage Margiela/ don’t change your flight from Spirit to Delta.” The latest potent lyricist that has decided to totally sh*t on Spirit Airlines, and big up the Ed Bastian-led company is Jack Harlow.

Found in the Louisville-hailing spitter’s stellar debut album That’s What They All Say, “21C / Delta” deals with Harlow’s romantic encounters. In Delta, specifically, Jack witfully compares his b- *coughs* fine specimen of a woman *coughs* to, yes you guessed it, Delta Airlines. “She ain’t flying in Spirit, she’s a Delta b*tch not the kind with the pyramids,” he playfully raps. I don’t know what it is, but Spirit has to step its flying game up (saw what I did there?).

Speaking of traveling, shout out to all my peeps who’ve stopped me at Terminal 4 in JFK. It’s always a pleasure talking to y’all even if it’s just for a minute. Shoot, let’s get some pics going so I can start the airline version of my Bape couch pics series. Let’s call it:  #FlyingWithFrendy (haha).

In any case, listen to Jack Harlow’s “21C / Delta” track below. Make sure you check out the remainder of his album as well—you won’t be disappointed.

Magazines

This site is slowly but surely turning into an R&B blog...and I don’t mind one bit (duh, it’s mine). Music is something I hold near and dear to my heart and whenever I stumble upon a track that penetrates my soul, there’s no choice but for me to share it. Fortunately, we have similar upper echelon taste in sounds so it’s a win-win situation. With that said, meet Emanuel.

The rising Toronto-based crooner recently released his sophomore EP titled, Alt Therapy Session 2: Transformation, and like its title suggests, will alleviate any stress caused by this year’s pandemic lockdown. Consisting of four sincere songs, Emanuel’s latest project follows his stellar debut, Alt Therapy Session 1: Disillusion, which was released only five months ago. “I equate the sessions to my seasons in life,” he tells Atwood Magazine. “Titles like ‘Disillusion’ and ‘Transformation’ represent the obstacles and triumphs of this testimonial. I think the end goal is to really have an alt ‘therapy session’ with the listeners. Telling my story as best as I can with the hope of connecting and for it to be something people can relate to.”

Session 2 is all about self-love and empathy. My absolute favorite track from the incredible compilation is “Magazines,” which showcases Emanuel's smooth buttery tone as he displays his affection for a shorty he’s in a toxic relationship with. “So in that dark place, I was trying to iterate the way that I felt, while still talking from that foolish-heart perspective and just going with the flow and allowing things to unravel in a negative way.” Can you relate?

Listen to its awesomeness below: 

Manny's Mirage

Mannywellz is a young legend in the making. His soulful tone, sincere lyrics and ethereal melodies will undoubtedly cause you to have butterflies...even if you’re not infatuated with someone.

Born in Nigeria, the Maryland-based native’s latest EP, Mirage, consists of seven songs showcasing his take on love. “I feel like sometimes when you’re in a relationship, or like when you’re in love (it doesn’t even have to be with a person), you’re usually in a world of your own. An optical illusion—in your own space—and that’s what ‘Mirage’ really means to me,” said the multi-talented 26-year-old musician to 247HH.com.  “I’m just reflecting on different times of my life where I was in my own world feeling good and bad.”

Wellz’, whose real name is Emmanuel Ajomale, ‘dreamy’ body of work is 22 minutes of sonic bliss. The singer, songwriter and producer is known to incorporate R&B, Hip Hop, Pop, Jazz and West African vibes in his music. In this particular project, Manny continues to blend genres producing a concoction any listener would love. Shit, the songs are so damn good you’ll end up having the EP on loop all day without even knowing (*clears throat* it’s not like that happened to me). As the old saying goes: “time flies when you’re having fun.”

I’ll stop my blabbering here so you can have a chance to fully enjoy Mannywellz’ breathtaking chunes as well. Below is one of my favorite tracks from Mirage titled “Floating,” featuring fellow Nigerian rising stars VanJess.

Studying Abroad

What’s good everyone? I know, I know it’s been such a long time (roughly five months) since you’ve read a brand new, satisfying article from me but your boy needed a break— especially with this pandemic. 

Since entering the airline industry last year, I planned on traveling as much as I could in order to enhance my level of artistic offerings. Unfortunately, Covid hit us pretty hard so all of my wild excursions were placed on hold. Despite all of the “darkness”, my spirit remained intact and my creativity blossomed. I recently released my super reliable #FrendyTote—cop here—and even conjured up a slew of other fresh FRNDY LMRN apparel. Another artist that stayed afloat during the worldwide travel ban is Masego.

“I feel like the lack of travel [during the pandemic] kind of made me lean into travel because that’s when I was my most creative,” says the multi-talented instrumentalist as he explains the inspiration behind his latest EP to Apple Music. What’s the name of the project, you might ask? Well, it’s called Studying Abroad (double entendre, don’t even ask me how). The EP, consisting of six eargasmic tracks, intertwines Masego’s past relationships and affinity for flying.

Be sure to listen to Studying Abroad during your next visualization session. For now, peep the video of my favorite song from the playlist featuring Cactus Jack’s own Don Toliver below. Oh, and don’t forget to renew your passport!

Gassed Up

The homie Dayne Carter has taken the phrase “no days off,” to an entirely new level as he’s been consistently pumping out potent content throughout this extended quarantine. In addition to his fiery #BedroomBars series on Instagram, “Mr. Carter,” took it upon himself to release the music video for his latest sonic offering, “Gassed Up.”

Directed by A1vision, the visual finds Dayne holding his own in a world that seemingly undermines his raw talent. “Revenge of the most slept on / thought that we would fall off, always knew we would get on,” he emphatically raps on the song’s first verse. Despite all the hate, Dayne never falters on the road to glory. 

Enjoy the clip for “Gassed Up,” below: 

P.S  If you haven’t read my incredible Original Story on Dayne, click here.

Shimmy

“Just ‘cause you bought that vintage Margiela / Don’t change your flight from Spirit to Delta.” Wooo! This has to be the hottest bar of 2020 thus far. Alright, alright maybe I’m a little biased since I actually work for the more prominent airline, but you’ve got to admit, it’s hard. 

The aforementioned lyrics are from Aminé’s first loosie of the decade, rightfully titled, “Shimmy.”  The potent Portland spitter has all the power to do his little dance because this marks his comeback to music after a nearly two-year hiatus!  Co-produced by a slew of scorching maestros (Nik D, OZ, Pasqué, Maneesh, Vinylz and Boi-1da), the boisterous track features Aminé shitting on his contemporaries, flexing his impeccable rapping ability and affluence.

“Shimmy,” is inspired by Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s (RIP) 1995 mega-hit “Shimmy Shimmy Ya.” Hopefully we’ll hear more heat rock from Aminé later this year. For now, check out the music video below: 

Homegirl

All of the greatest songs on earth are inspired by real life situations. Whether they’re filled with joy or sorrow, these captivating tunes are like arrows that strike you right in the heart, inducing a bloody outpour of emotions. When you have a crooner kicking one off with: “that ain’t my bitch, that’s my motherfuckin’ homegirl,” it’s sure to be fire!

With that said, rising Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter Leven Kali has a banger on his hands with “Homegirl.” Despite its bluntness, the Smino and Topaz Jones-assisted track is a colorful groove, which stimulates couples to resolve any quarrels in their *clears throat* situationships. “…We’ve all gotten the ‘Oooh who’s that?’ accusation of someone who’s just a friend and nothing more. This song is an answer to that,” says Leven to Fader magazine.

“Homegirl” appears on Kali’s latest outstanding studio project, High Tide. Peep the single’s visual below: