Blackheart 39

A few years ago, my contributing writer Sir Julien conducted an illuminating interview with super-producer Swizz Beatz’s son Note Marcato, where he spoke about his upbringing and undeniable love of music. Now, I am proud to present the visual for his first official single entitled, “Blackheart 39.”

Co-produced by Jordan XL, BL$$d and Marcato himself, the infectious banger could serve as a sonic backdrop for an ominous scene in any coming of age story. Brimming with metaphors, Prince Nasir’s (yeah, that’s his government name) tune persuades listeners to become more of their authentic self. “The symbolic meaning behind the Blackheart represents not losing yourself, amongst the masks. Reminding people that they are not heartless,” he says to The Fader.

Be on the lookout for Note Marcato’s EP Beach Bum Limbo, which is slated to drop this summer via Epic Records. For now, check out his music video for “Blackheart 39,” below: 

If you haven’t read Marcato’s first ever interview on FRNDY LMRN, click here. 

Leader of The Delinquents

“Cudi: hmmmm, Everyone: this nigga spitting!” Aw man, the jokes about Scott’s immaculate hums never gets old! In his latest sonic offering, “Leader of The Delinquents,” Mr. ‘Beautiful Morning’ kicked off the track with his infamous low, steady continuous sounds, which eventually led us to some equally potent (and revealing) lyrics. 

The cello-filled tune is Mescudi’s first solo single in a whopping four years!  Although “Leader of The Delinquents,” dates all the way back to 2012, it is easily relatable to our current reality. In one bar he spits, “gotta smack em with some shit before the world ends.” 

Dot da Genius, Cudi, Frendy

The world is far from ending, but we certainly are shifting into a new paradigm. What an exciting time to be alive! With that said, check out Cudder’s latest bop below: 

Boiler Room In The Living Room

Hello everyone, it’s Goldie and I’m back at it again with a new article. I hope you are all well! Remember to stay safe and prioritize your mental health by doing things that give you joy and peace. Something that has personally helped me feel a sense of serenity during this time has been watching past Boiler Room DJ sets on YouTube.

Prior to the pandemic, I would occasionally go out to the Bushwick hotspot Lot45 to dance the night away with my closest friends. There, we would be a part of this massive sea that was made up of beautiful and eclectic bodies that moved and grooved to the lit sounds that the DJ so gracefully played. I felt a sense of freedom and I could tell that everyone who was there felt the same way.

Who would have known that things would have changed so soon? 

Since we all can no longer go to our favorite bars or nightclubs, I decided to revisit Boiler Room’s YouTube channel. Yes, it’s different in the way that I can no longer physically share the same space with my fellow club-goers, but it is the same in that I get to listen to a dope DJ set and get turnt….even if it is in the comfort of my living room. 

My relationship with Boiler Room started approximately six years ago. I started listening to more alternative, less mainstream artists that I discovered from Tumblr and randomly searching on YouTube. The first DJ set that I watched on Boiler Room was Kaytranada in Montreal. I loved his set and how it moved the people for 42 minutes straight! To this day, I still admire his original and upbeat sounds that always gets me dancing.

This week, I’ve been binge watching Boiler Room DJ sets to keep me motivated, moving, and inspired. Here are some links to my current favorite sets that include the likes of JadaLaReign, Pi’erre Bourne, and PHONY PPL:

● https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCyDSqPeKrI  

● https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMPwrzQtY0M  

● https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlA8ThSQBlE    

● https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_VlLp-BA7E  

● https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpLba-JKsrg  

● https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6770-7YggH0  

● https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECfxP6OpsNU  

● https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAGMDqLPTOg

Also, on Boiler Room’s website there is a new series where DJs are streaming from Isolation. I know that I will definitely be tuning in. Happy Dancing!

Written by Goldie Lemorin

2020 Quarantine Mix

Hey everyone! It’s Goldie and I’m back with a playlist that’ll guarantee to lift your spirits from what’s been currently happening in the world. Music has the magical ability to help us heal from any situation and through this playlist, I aspire to pour out love, light, and high vibrations to your ears during this trying time. 

This playlist is categorized in three parts. The first part consists of Spring Feels. The first six songs invoke a gentle and sunny feel to the heart, making you feel lighthearted and airy. The second part of the playlist is called Reclaiming your own power. These three songs all have a common message: You are capable of accomplishing any dreams or goals you have. Nothing can stop you. Lastly, the songs that follow are Songs that make you move. You deserve to enjoy yourself even in a time like this and these songs definitely remind you of that. 

I hope you all feel empowered by my musical recommendations. We are in this together. 

Written by Goldie Lemorin

Love Is The New Money

“We got love, love, love. You better believe it.”

There’s nothing more soothing than an incredible song with an equally powerful message. Teyana Taylor’s “We Got Love,” is a clear example of such riveting tune.

The minimalist track, rightfully produced by the Kanye West we all adored, was initially scheduled to appear on Teyana’s sophomore album K.T.S.E, but didn’t make the cut due to clearance issues (The chorus features a sample of The Younghearts). Fortunately, there are rumblings that the song will find a spot on the Harlem songstress’ forthcoming project The Album (yes, that’s the name of the...you get the drift), which is due for release in early 2020.

Ye and Tey actually shot a video for this scorcher last year, yet it is nowhere to be found. Hey, at least we can still rock out to it with our lit sage on deck.

Listen below:

Yummy

It’s only right that my very first article of 2020 goes to the King of Bop, Biebervelli himself, the Don of Songs (I don’t even know what that really means, but it sounds dope), Justin Bieber. 

After a much needed sabbatical from the music industry, Canada’s prized product is ready to chew up the charts with “Yummy,” his first solo single since releasing the Purpose album in 2015. 

Not only did Justin release a certified, stick-to-your-noggin’ banger, the multi-talented singer also announced his forthcoming tour and a new Youtube docu-series titled Justin Bieber: Seasons. As you can see, the boy is back and he ain’t taking no prisoners!

“Yummy,” is found on Bieber’s next studio LP, which will arrive later this year. For now, enjoy the catchy chune below: 

Location

Your favorite journalist’s favorite storyteller is back! I apologize for my lack of articles, but I most certainly needed a break from writing. This was actually the very first time in a whopping 10 years that I’ve taken an entire month off from creating content. It’s truly important to have your spirit, mind and body aligned and that’s exactly what I did during my rest period.

Speaking of time away, rising British spitter Dave released a bangin’ tune that perfectly compliments an enjoyable getaway in the form of, “Location.” Found on his debut studio album Psychodrama, the UK platinum single, featuring the African Giant himself Burna Boy, is co-produced by Fraser T. Smith, Jae5 and Dave.

The video for “Location,” was aptly shot abroad in Ibiza and displays BTS footage of Stormzy’s #MERKY festival, which was co-headlined by Stormzy, Dave and Fredo. Burna Boy appears in the clip, alongside a slew of cameos including British funnyman Michael Dapaah and beautiful songstress Jorja Smith (jheez).

Check out the festive, Kaylum and Dave-directed visual below:

Woah

Woah!! I didn’t expect this kind of song from Rich The Kid at all.  Maybe that’s the real meaning behind its title.

Showcasing the smooth crooning of Miguel and Ty Dolla $ign, “Woah” is a surprisingly heartfelt single from the Rich Forever Music CEO’s sophomore studio album, The World Is Yours 2, which was released on March 22.  The 16-track project features a star-studded cast including Big Sean, NAV, Lil Pump, NBA Youngboy, Tory Lanez, Offset, Gunna, Young Thug and more.

I’m not going to front, none of Dimitri’s songs (yeah, I just wrote his government name) are saved on my personal Spotify playlist or downloaded on my Iphone, but this one definitely makes the cut and will serve as the new soundtrack for my *clears throat* lusty nights.

Check out the Bobby Hanaford-directed music video for “Woah” below:

Lingo

When three young gunners hop in the booth, fire always ensues. West London’s very own Jevon capped off an outstanding 2018 with a rejuvenating single entitled, “Blossomed/Mercy,” which celebrates a fresh start in his promising music career. With a polished slate, the 24-year-old polymath kicked off the new year in high gear with a banger, assisted by UK-based Nigerian spitter Kida Kudz and Diggy.

“Lingo,” produced by Jevon himself, showcases how three distinct flows can co-exist in one scorching, afrobeat-influenced track. “The idea of the song came from us teaching each other our ways of saying stuff—each other's lingo—as we're all from different places: Diggy from NYC; Kida from Lagos; and me, from London. Three artists from different backgrounds and continents working collectively on a vision,” says Jevon to Complex.

Fittingly, Lingo’s accompanying visual was shot in London and The Big Apple. Check it out below:

Q & Cudi Are Dangerous

Kid Cudi can effortlessly body a hook whether he’s had a ‘beautiful morning’ (exemplified on Kanye West’s “Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1”), or woke up on the wrong side of the bed.  Scott clearly showcased the latter on Schoolboy Q’s menacing, Crash Talk standout cut, “Dangerous.”

The single, which lasts slightly above two-minutes and thirty-seconds, starts off with Cudi doing what he does best, singing: “I’m feeling dangerous/I’m feeling nauseous. Road left me crazy, soaring, I wanna….” Man, Q had to think that crooning was phenomenal since he let him kick off his own record.  The TDE vet accented its despondent vibe with his somber, yet poetic delivery.

Check out Dangerous’ ominous music video, directed by Alexandre Moors below:

Octavian Is Feeling It

Skyrocketing British spitter/singer Octavian has been on a roll this year. After releasing a scorching string of loosies (“Bet”, and “Lit”), the Virgil Abloh-approved artist—he just walked in Louis Vuitton’s Men’s SS20 PFW Show—recently released his much anticipated sophomore mixtape entitled, Endorphins.

If you haven’t heard Octo’s initial project, Spaceman, please do so to comprehend his ability to flex his raspy vocals on a number of diverse, middle-of-the-song-beat-changing bangers (I’m still rockin’ out to “Party Here” til this day!).

On paper, Endorphins seems like an actual studio album as it features a slew of high-profile collaborators, such as A$AP Ferg, UK legend Skepta, Abra, and others. One of my favorite cuts from the sonic body of work is an 80’s-inspired dance anthem called “Feel It,” assisted by the lanky, London lovin’ crooner himself Theophulis London.

Check out its visual, shot by the fellow Haitian homie Gerry in Los Angeles below:

They’re Made For This

Drum roll please! Famed Hip-Hop magazine XXL has finally unveiled the rookie rappers who made their coveted 2019 Freshman List.

The worthy young spitters include: Blueface, Gunna, Megan Thee Stallion, DaBaby, Rico Nasty, Tierra Whack, Lil Mosey, Comethazine, Roddy Ricch *sings “Racks In the Middle” hook* (RIP Nipsey), YBN Cordae, and YK Osiris.

Even if these names don’t ring a bell, they surely deserve all the respect for aligning themselves to their desired destination.

Read the full 2019 XXL Freshman Class article HERE.

Playboi Carti x The Fader

“We ain’t got to ball, D. Rose/I don’t give a f*ck bout none,” mumbles Playboi Carti, as he starts skating on Tyler The Creator’s IGOR stellar cut, “Earfquake.” Though admitting his carefreeness, the 22-year-old Atlanta native is very scrupulous about his method of releasing music, and even uploads on social media. Fortunately, The Fader was able to track him down for their Summer 2019 cover story which provided us with just a peek into his reclusive rockstar life.

During the lengthy sit-down, my fellow Virgo—Carti was born one day after me, that explains our majestic swag. Feel me?—spoke of his hotly-anticipated second studio album Whole Lotta Red, forthcoming project with super-producer Metro Boomin, private relationship with Iggy Azalea, and more.

You can read the informative interview HERE. Speaking of insightful conversations, be on the lookout for my 30th Original Story!

Photographed by Micaiah Carter

Haiti Babii

Are you ready to hear a freestyle that’ll rock your socks off?  In fact, Haiti Babii’s *clears throat* musical stream of consciousness is so otherworldly, it might make you take those same socks and try to make paper planes out of them.

“I Challenge myself.  So it was basically me promoting every song that you’ll hear in the future in one outlet,” says Haiti of his cutting edge outburst on a recent video interview with Hypebeast.  The 21-year-old Stockton, California raised rapper became an internet sensation after appearing on Los Angeles radio station Real 92.3, where he showcased his multiple personalities on one instrumental.

Beyond the theatrics, Babii was actually spitting flames! Case in point, his Chance The Rapper-approved bar: “I woke up on top of a mountain I was feeling real high!”. Chrissy Teigen and even music’s highest paid woman herself, Rihanna, appreciated the third generation Haitian’s (shout out to all my Zoes) unique talent! Since his shining moment, Haiti has repackaged the freestyle into an actual song called “Blue Dragon,” which is currently doing numbers on digital streaming platforms.

Check out Haiti Babii’s third eye opening performance below:

Purple Emoji

Ty Dolla $ign has unleashed a new song in the form of “Purple Emoji” featuring the newly crowned...feature king—sorry I was not able to articulate that in a fancy term—himself, J. Cole.

Despite its presumptuous title, the single is “R&B” in every sense of the word, as it finds the multi-talented Beach House crooner pouring out his soul to a lover who’s on the verge of dippin’. “I need you, more than eveeeeer, ooh yeah ooh yeah,” he sings.  Who knew the sound of desperation could be so dope? Cole’s potent bars is a superb addition to the track’s emotional essence.

Contrary to Purple Emoji’s somber tone, its accompanying visual, directed by Olivia Rose, displays real life couples who are unabashedly tongue wrestling their blissful lives away.

Get in your feelings bag by watching the clip below:

Don Toliver Has No Idea

Most of us are familiar with the popular idiom: “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” but in the case of Travis Scott and Don Toliver, the tree we’re talking about is actually a Cactus. I’m not insinuating that Scott’s’ Cactus Jack signee is his “son” in any shape or form—they just share similar tones, and a superb knack for conjuring up mesmerizing hooks.

Last year, Toliver absolutely murdered his guest appearance on “Can’t Say” from his label mate’s mega-successful album Astroworld, which left us wanting more.  Fortunately, we were blessed with a new track from the rising spitter in the form of a guitar-laden lullaby entitled, “Best You Had,” earlier this month. Now, he’s back with another chune that’s even better (in my humble opinion), rightfully called “No Idea” because, apparently, we have absolutely no clue how good this kid really is!

The Wondagurl-produced single is a dark, yet bouncy bop which spotlights Don’s smoother-than-a-baby’s-bottom flow and surprising singing range.  Check out its Grant Singer-directed visual below:

Ye

Bap, Bap! Call me late and what have you, I don’t give a sh!t because this Burna Boy banger is way too fire for me to not write about.

Simply titled “Ye,” (don’t worry, it has nothing to do with Mr. West), the genre-bending jam is from the Nigerian superstar’s third studio album, Outside.  It was coined as the biggest song of 2018 by many prestigious Nigerian publications and the honor alone eventually led him to become the country’s biggest artist of that same year. "Ye is a song that essentially shows the unrelenting nature of Nigerians (where I’m from). We thrive despite the leadership and circumstances,” writes Burna Boy in an email to The Fader describing his hit Afro-fusion chune. “Everyone has big dreams that logically may or may not be achieved; Aspiring to have a Bentley, G-wagon regardless of their current situation. ‘I can’t come and kill myself’ is an expression that means, you can’t dwell on things that aren’t working out or looking good, you only have one life after all.”

Not only does “Ye” slaps, it’s also inspirational! Check out the song’s ballerific visual below:

Imported (Remix)

“Hi, my name is Frendy/And sometimes people call me Friendly.” Damn, I really disliked when that happened back in the day, but I’ve grown accustomed to it. Furthermore, the nickname describes my personality pretty well so there's really no harm done. R&B star 6LACK certainly goes through the same situation and, just like me, doesn’t mind the public butchering of his name because, as he states in Jessie Reyez’s Imported (remix), “they stubborn and my bank account is looking mighty fine.”

The talented Toronto crooner’s slightly tweaked single is from her highly anticipated debut album.  "You don't really know what songs are going to touch people, but I remember a day after releasing the original song, I did a show and everyone was singing it”, she says of the sultry banger to MTV News.  "It was mad cool that people only had a day to learn the song and it hit them already, you know? So to be able to put somebody as talented as 6LACK on it and be able to give the song a new life, is a sick opportunity."

You think she said “Black” or “Six-lack” during the interview? *Laughs*.  In any case, check out the tune’s intimate visual below, and be on the lookout for Jessie’s sonic body of work, which is slated to release later this year via Island Records.

Canada Isn't Going To Like This

My congenial Canadian friends: if getting a high number of “likes” on Instagram makes your heart sing, then be prepared for it to drop all the way down to your ass. Facebook Inc’s infamous photo-sharing app is playing a suspenseful game of peek-a-boo with the testing of eliminating likes *Gasps*.

The experiment, starting this week, will hide the total number of likes on not only photos, but also your Red camera shot, one-minute Insta movie clips (my fault for the sarcasm).  Furthermore, the little hearts on Instagram will be removed from the permalink pages, profiles, and main feed. “We are testing this because we want your followers to focus on the photos and videos you share, not how many likes you get,” stated an IG rep at Facebook’s annual developer conference on Tuesday.

What’s extremely confusing though is that users will have the ability to see how many likes (or lack of) their post has acquired.  So, wait, people who usually feel bad about getting low number of likes are still going to be experiencing some sort of disdain? Moral of the story, don’t give a f#ck about what anyone thinks or say about you, and life will be that much easier.

Move Me

I thank God everyday for giving me the strength to maintain my platform.  It’s been a long road, as many of my loyal supporters know, but I’m still here pumping out original inspirational work.  When the dust settles, people only remember you for how you made them feel, so it’s truly my duty to leave a lasting impression on those who’ve met me in person or stumbled across my site.

Speaking of moving content, allow me to present a banging tune, aptly titled “Move Me,” from one of my favorite producers in the game Mura Masa.  The genre-bending song, featuring fast rising British rap star Octavian, was released back in 2017 and I still can’t get it out of my mind.  One of the greatest perks of having your own website is that you can post whatever you want—even when they’re slightly dated. (Then again, impeccable creations are timeless.)

Check out the riddim’s equally captivating visual directed by Yoni Lappin below: