Recently DMV artist GRXZZLY has dropped his “GoldMxnd Freestyle” Visual which proves to hip hop fans that lyricism is still alive.
The visual begins with a recording of a phone call of someone explaining to GRXZZLY how the scene has become oversaturated with rappers who are producing a lot of less than great music and how unimpressive this music is. The person on the phone then tells GRXZZLY to give the people something serious to listen to, and with this freestyle that is exactly what he does. With this freestyle, GRXZZLY gives amazing delivery paired with witty punchlines that will resonate with true hip hop fans. GRXZZLY stated that “this is a representation of his penmanship and mindset as of right now. Some people claim that lyricism is dead in the DMV, well I disagree 100 %”
Def Corp artist Rari, who is arguably one of the best lyricists in VA, shocked us all with his lyrical abilities months ago on his song “Rari Effect” is now back with a new release entitled “The Realest”.
The song is produced by Blasian Beats and gives a deeper look into the artists struggle, how he overcame obstacles and his determination to make it in the game. Rari is one of many creatives who is a part of the Def Corp collective which is led by High Def Razjah, the mastermind behind songs such as “Take It Or Leave It” by Rae Sremmurd as well as “Let It Go” by ASAP Ferg. The collective is planning many things for the upcoming months, the release of “The Realest” being the first.
$inbad is Virginia underground artist from Fredericksburg, Virginia who is one of the most noteworthy artists to come from his area. The artist, who recently had the opportunity to open for Yung Pinch, took time to chat with us for #MeetTheArtistMondays and gives us a little background on who he is as a creative. Check it out!
Q. Where are you from?
A: I’m from Fredericksburg, Virginia. Born/raised and will probably never leave.
Q. When and How did you discover that you had a passion for music?
A: I guess you could say I was about 13 when I found my passion for it, except I never really perused it. My oldest brother Michael AKA “Millz” (rip to the realest) used to make music in my parents basement, I would sit around and watch him and friends write rhymes and search beat pages and YouTube to record over, it always made me wanna go for it but being so young I was stupid and wanted to go out with friends instead.
Q. Who do you consider to be your biggest influences?
A: Slim shady ofcourse is my main influence, but besides that, I take influence from bones, pouya, germ, Black Smurf, Xavier wulf, Chris Travis, a lot of underground legends in my eyes. I could go on forever really. Music is just an influence in general.
Q. What has been the hardest thing for you to overcome as a creative?
A: Strictly worrying about myself. That’s a hard thing to do when there’s no many other creatives around you. The more I gained in music, i really started to relax about it and stopped giving a fuck.
Q. What do you think is your biggest accomplishment thus far?
A: Definitely working with some of my favorite artists, in example; Chuuwee, Black Smurf. Also opening for some of my favorite artists and continuing to do so. I’ve opened for Chris Travis, Xavier wulf, Yung Pinch, I was supposed to open for Jgrxxn and Omenxiii but the show kinda went south, so next time on that one, But yeah I think those are some of my biggest accomplishments, also being in the “industry” for maybe a little over a year, and gaining well over 100k plays on soundcloud, gaining close to 1k fans, and just watching my progression, when I stepped in to this “game” I didn’t ease into it, I took the steps others didn’t take for years.
Q. What upcoming projects do you have in store for this year?
Q: I have a main project I’m working on, not speaking on that quite yet. Other than that, I’ll have another EP dropping this year, and also a project with a good homie of mine and a rad artist known as VOHRTEX. So yeah keep a lookout, I dropped an ep earlier this year called PITCH BLACK. So ima just keep it going heavy.
Q. How do you feel about the underground scene? Do you feel as if it is too oversaturated and unoriginal?
A: If anything, I think in the music industry as a whole, the underground is the only original thing we have anymore. I keep up with underground artists more than tmz keeps up with Kim K. Lol
There’s a few that I think are unoriginal, that bite other smaller artists style because they have a higher “clout” but I just ignore em. Can’t get away from clout chasers in 2018, gotta look past em.
8. What qualities about yourself do you feel separates you from other artists?
A: My drive to work hard, and to try and perfect every single syllable I say. Artists now a days will be lazy on a song just because they see other artists get away with it. In my opinion, I’m trying to bring my “mainstream” lyrical sound to the underground and show the underground it doesn’t have to be all about layers and vocal pitches and weird voices to sound cool. BUT IM NOT HATING, I LOVE WEIRD VOICES AND LAYERS IT JUST AINT FOR ME TO TRY haha most of the artist I listen too are what I just described lmao
9. What was your biggest failure as an artist and how did you over come it?
A: Straight up only L I’ve seen myself take so far was getting scammed on a verse by another underground artist that I really fucked with, i won’t say no names, but they know what’s up. I don’t take many Ls tho, I try and stay low key.
Q. What advice do you have to upcoming artists who want to make a name for themselves?
A: Enjoy what you make, cause if you don’t enjoy it; then what makes you think someone else will? Gotta show that you’re passionate. That’s really it.
Keep up with Sinbad on his social media at the links and handles below.
With his appeasing aesthetic and new wave sound Antny Rome, singer, visual artist and creator of Romaniatic visual art platform, is a talented young creative whose whole persona embodies the word “innovation”. His most recent piece of creative work is showcased in the release of his single “Fade Now”.
The sing-songy single has a very dreamy, smooth sound compared with vocals that are comparable to Trippie Red. The track is produced by Pagano and combines entertaining vocal effects, nostalgic lyrics and a very mysteriously inviting delivery resulting in a uniquely crafted track that listeners are sure to love.
Follow Antny Rome on Instagram @antnyrome as well as his art platform @Romaniatic and Check out “Fade Now” here!
In an industry where authenticity is scarce, we love artists who are completely and unapologetically themselves 100% of the time. An artist who does a great job of keeping it real and displaying such individuality is 1 Pump.
If you follow this artist on Twitter or if you’ve heard any of his songs such as Beater Up or Sneeze on a Bitch (which features Ugly God) then you know that a filter is something he does not possess. In addition to proving that he doesn’t give a damn, the cyclops shades wearing rapper has also proved that he’s definitely an artist you want to keep your eye on. He’s even landed himself a shoutout from No Jumpers own Adam22 (CLOUTY). We recently reached out to the artist with a few questions to help viewers learn a bit more about the man behind the cyclops shades. Check out his responses below.
1. Where are you from
VA BEACH, VA
2. When and How did you discover that you had a passion for music?
I STARTED PLAYING THE DRUMS AT 2, MY BROTHER WAS THE RAPPER THO I ALWAYS THOUGHT ID PRODUCE BUT GETTING HIGH AND FREESTYLING TURNT ME INTO WHAT I AM TODAY
3. Who do you consider to be your biggest influences?
MICHAEL JACKSON – THERE IS NOBODY ELSE IN THIS WORLD THAT CAN MOOKWALK LIKE HIM… MEECH HITS DEM FOLKS BETTER DEN THEN ORIGINATOR. MJ THE ONLY ORIGINATOR THAT IS UNMATCHED … RIP
4. What has been the hardest thing for you to overcome as a creative?
OPINIONS, IF I LIKE IT DEN DAS ALL THAT MATTER… ITLL TOUCH SOMEONE SOMEWHERE, WHEN ITS SUPPOSE TO.
5. What do you think is your biggest accomplishment thus far?
MAKING RACKS FROM SNEEZE ON A BITCH, S/O UGLY GOD
6. What upcoming projects do you have in store for this year?
I GOT HELLA VIDS IN MY VAULT I GOT HELLA SONGS IN MY VAULT.. A #SLAYENT TAPE IS ALSO IN THE VAULT… AND A SLAY WEBSITE IS UNDERWAY
7. How do you feel about the underground scene? Do you feel as if it is too oversaturated and unoriginal?
IDK I DONT PAY MUCH ATTENTION TO ANYTHING, BUT ITS MAD RAPPERS AND ARTISTS THAT SOUND THE SAME BUT THATS ALWAYS GONNA BE A THING… LET THE CREATIVES CREATE TIL THEY DECIDE THEY DONE
8. What qualities about yourself do you feel separates you from other artists?
MY CYCLOPS SHADES OF FUCKING COURSE & MY GENUINE PERSONALITY
9. What was your biggest failure as an artist and how did you over come it?
GETTING SCAMMED OVER AND OVER AND OVER….. I STOPPED SPENDING ON ANYONE NOT ON THE HOME TEAM..
10. What advice do you have to upcoming artists who want to make a name for themselves?
I AINT SHIT SO IF U DONT LISTEN TO ME I WOULDNT BLAME YOU, BUT THIS SHIT, IN MY OPINION, IS 30% MUSICAL TALENT OR MUSIC & 70% BRANDING… SO BRAND YASELF
D-Pow – Snapping 101
Zae K feat. D – Pow – If You Gon Rob Me Then Shoot Me
A project that perfectly contrasts an artists dialect about internal conflict with crazy lit beats paired with insane animation and intricate storytelling to bring the subject matter to life is always appreciated. Throw some top notch production in the mix by producers such as DEIPSET and Yung Kifo in the mix and you’ve got Rashad Starks newest project “Playing With Fire”
The project does a wonderful job of tackling the artists feelings regarding suicide, depression, anxiety, being a college drop out and feelings of low self worth while at the same time displaying the artists motivation to overcome these feelings and be a “greater man”. The project opens up with “With Fire”, On which the artists gives pretty much a run down on what the whole tape is going to be about. The artist also showcases his singing abilities on the opening track as well. On “No Ls” he features Dell Fargo and speaks on his desire to persevere and keep grinding. On DRIP, another “turn up” song the rapper adds a feature from menacing rapper Hooks Ventura, adding to the eerie, dark effect of the track. In contrast to the “most lit” theme he goes for in the previous tracks, Stark flips the script and discusses very dark thoughts on “Fahrenheit 451” where he speaks on his feelings of depression, alcoholism and suicidal thoughts. On “Amen”, a more upbeat song, the rapper speaks on his feelings on religion and closes out the tape with a prayer asking God to help him to be a more appreciative, focused man.
Quality, artistic visuals are always an appreciated bonus when it comes to songs we love. A dope visual takes songs that are already our favorites and not only adds a “face” to the sound but also gives a deeper look into the personality and aesthetic of the artist. Nicholis’ release of his “Had To” visual does just that.
The video for the bouncy track is shot by OGVISUALS ( @000.og ) and provides viewers with a wavy, unique display to accompany the track. The song itself features producer Chet’ Atlas and combines animated delivery with relatable content and a catchy beat for an overall well put together track perfect for bumping on your spring playlist.
Check out the exclusive release of the “Had To” visual here!
