In one of the most bizarre trade aftermaths in recent history, the Boston Celtics, currently in the playoffs, managed to snag the top pick in the NBA Draft Tuesday night, because of a high profile trade a few years back.
The Celtics were able to be in contention for the pick, because of their trade with the Brooklyn Nets in 2013 when they shipped Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Jason Terry for three first round picks. A strategic trade clause gave the Celtics the option to swap first round picks with the Nets, the worst team in Basketball, and they did.
To add injury to insult, the Celtics hold the rights to the Nets’ first round pick for next year. The Celtics are the first team to finish the top of their conference, and hold the first overall draft pick since the ‘82 Lakers.
The bizarre scenario had Paul Pierce, retired, former Celtic, trolling the Celtics on Twitter.
“And look what I leave behind for the Celts on my way out (number one) pick,” Pierce said.
Looking ahead, the Celtics are in prime position to establish a dynasty in the coming years if they play their cards right. Currently, they’re playing for a chance to make it to the NBA finals, but if they don’t they’ll be able add the necessary pieces this year, and next as we don’t expect the Nets to significantly improve.
As for the Nets, a high risk/high reward trade for aging greats at the time has set the franchise back for the foreseeable future (Where’s Jay-Z when you need him?)
And, that’s how most conversations with your drug dealer goes (don’t lie, you’ve tried it at least once). After research, we found “Ten Questions You Always Wanted to Ask a Drug Dealer” thanks to ur friends at VICE.
A ten-question interview with an actual drug dealer named Stephen, the questions are essentially what’s on every customer’s mind when meeting up with theirs.
Here’s some of the questions that stood out to us. First, of course, everyone wants to know how their dealer got involved in this business. According to Stephen, he was once a customer, and consumed so much his dealer invited him into the other side.
While every dealer’s path is different, our takeaway is this is the path for the majority of dealers. Segwaying into the next question: do dealers cut off clients once addicted? Surprisingly they do, or at least Stephen does.
While you may or may not agree with Stephen’s career choice, like all humans, he does possess emotions, and can show compassion. But, then again, it’s Stephen’s fault that his clients are hooked in the first place.
To round things out, the last question that stuck out was what Stephen hated most about the job. Well, besides it’s illegal, Stephen said his business hours are crazy. According to Stephen, there’s no set schedule with every day feeling like a Monday, but Friday being the business (pay day?). Stephen said he doesn’t sleep some days.
All in all, the perspective of a drug dealer is an interesting one, but if there’s so many unreasonable variables pertaining to the job perhaps Stephen, and all dealers should switch careers. Then again, that wouldn’t solve anything as new people would assume their roles, and lucrative business.
To find out the full extent of a drug dealer, read more here.
Rumor has it, Google, American multinational technology company, will make Google Assistant available on iPhone, Apple’s Smartphone, as early as the end of the month.
Initially, Google will do a limited test run of the assistant at the I/O Developers Conference taking place May 17th-19th. If all goes well, hopefully Google can open up the service to all of the masses.
The implementation of the app on iPhone will come in the form of a free app which will have the capability to work and coincide with the Google apps previously installed on the user’s phone.
As of right now, the assistant is only accessible on the Google Pixel Phone, and the Google Home smart speaker. If released to the masses, Google’s assistant would follow in the footsteps of Amazon’s assistant Alexa, Apple’s Siri, and Microsoft’s Cortana.
While this is all speculation at the moment, the potential power move for Google is twofold for the technology company. Not only would Google be penetrating Apple’s market, a competitor, but it’d also help establish Google’s brand pertaining to tablets and cellphones which it looks like they, Google, are trying to do in the coming years with the release of the Google Pixel phone.
iPhone didn’t comment on the potential partnership.
There are two types of people; those who live out their dreams, and those who watch the aforementioned people as they go by, wishing that was them. Durrell Hospedale, aka MakeWonders, is living out his dreams for all of us to see. His photography delivers clarity, emotion, and style akin to some of the most notable photographers around today. MakeWonders has been coast to coast, following music tours, artists, and capturing some of the most memorable moments of people’s lives. We sat down with the man who’s documented much of Philly’s rising music scene, and so much more, to see what all the hype was about. (Spoiler alert, he’s the real deal!)
Q: Where did the name “MakeWonders” come from? What was the inspiration behind it?
A: “So MakeWonders actually came from basketball, back when I was in high school but before I was on the ball team. My dad worked at St. Joe’s so I used to ball with college kids on the regular, and I would go up there and compete a little bit, make some crazy moves. It wasn’t a big public thing or anything like that, but myself to my homies I was like, ‘yeah I’m the kid MakeWonders’. So when I made an IG page for Photography, I was trying to play off of my [nicknames]; first it was D-Nasty then Nastiness, but I needed something more marketable. So I just thought back and was like, ‘oh I had that name MakeWonders, that was pretty dope’. And it just started meaning more to me, so yeah, that’s where I got it from.”
Q: What pushed you to leave school and dive fully into Photography?
A: “It was always a passion, throughout my whole life; I loved taking pictures. Actually three years ago, May 2014, I did my first photo shoot with a model, my friend Whitney. [We took them] after classes were done at St. Joe’s for the year and it was really good. So the whole summer I started grinding out. Then, actually December 2015, after my first semester of junior year I dropped out of St. Joe’s to really pursue this thing. So about two years ago I really tried to make a driving force with it.”
Q: What were you in school for at St. Joe’s and did it influence your decision to leave at all?
A: “I was in school for criminal justice. I liked [photography], I was just gonna do it on the side, but originally I was going to be a cop. I was losing a love for criminal justice [because of] all of the police violence that was going on. All the good cops being killed for the bad cops. Even though I want to help people, I wanna help people and avoid conflict in every way. I want to try to prevent conflict in general, but through art, and spread love like that. I do wish I could be a cop in another life maybe, but if I only have one, I’m gonna do art with it.”
Q: Have you met anyone that you were star struck by?
A: “The only person I was really star struck by was Tyler, the Creator, who I met twice. First time I didn’t have my camera and I was being really awkward. That video is on my Facebook, so awkward, but it was hilarious! The second time, this past November, [my brother and I] went out to L.A.; I’m like ‘Yo we gotta go to Fairfax, that’s where Tyler [the Creator] hangs out at.’ Got out of the car, first people I saw were Tyler, Jasper, and the big dude…I was star struck both times, he’s one of my favorite people ever. Then again, actually, the Kanye picture that I took at Summer Jam, I literally dropped my camera. It was on my neck but it still kinda hit the floor a little bit because I was like, “Oh my gosh, that’s Kanye West!” I took it, saw it, and was like, “OH MY GOSH! This is a hot picture of Kanye West!” I didn’t actually get to meet him, but that was definitely something crazy. I almost shed a tear at that moment, it felt legendary.”
Q: You work a lot with Philly artists such as Aleana and Shawn Smith (formerly Young Savage). Is staying local something that’s important to you?
A: “So with MakeWonders Productions, I kinda wanna take Philly and spread it. So it’s all about being local, but it’s all about taking this local and moving it. I just see a lot of talent in the area, there’s so much homegrown talent it’s just easy, I see it. [There’s] no way it’s not here. It’s all about supporting the local but at the same time it’s about getting it out, moving it around just to bring it back to the local.”
Q: Your brother, E-Hos is a pretty successful rapper. How much has his success and career influenced you?
A: “He’s definitely [my] number one or number two [influence]. He doesn’t do any of the camera stuff but he just does music, and he’s into the same stuff I’m into. Knowing his way around the game, he tells me a lot of stuff; what to do, what not to do, learning from his mistakes. He kinda paved the way for me to kinda know what I was doing a little more when certain stuff came about. He’s definitely my right hand man; he’s the one I’m working with on the tour, helping me with a lot of the logistics and booking, he keeps me on point.”
Q: What inspires/fuels your photography? Music, art, culture, etc.?
A: “The thing is, most of my art is all about music. I don’t really watch a lot of movies, or TV. I watch a lot of cartoons, Cartoon Network, Family Guy, American Dad, stuff like that, and basketball. I watch Walking Dead too, that’s my show, that’s one show I watch like religiously! I watch TV here and there but I’m really a music guy. I’m always looking for new music, underground music, I always wanna hear something new. I know deep down I’m a musician at heart but I’d have to be inspired, I’m not just gonna make music because it’s hip, yahmean? I have some local photographer inspirations, Ant Beale, he does music and he’s from Jersey. He doesn’t do photography anymore though, but I remember when I saw his stuff I liked his photography a lot. Actually Hall and Oates inspired me last summer, Kenny Loggins, stuff like that. Last summer I dug into the oldies. I was doing like 70’s, 80’s, they definitely inspired me. That music was so deep, and the way they [talked] and [worded] things was so different, so lit, and so deep but still simple sometimes.”
Q: If you could go back to any era, which era would you go back to?
A: “I was just watching “13th” on Netflix, so I definitely don’t wanna go back too far; life was so hard for Black people back then! I’d probably go to 80’s or the 90’s, maybe 70’s at the furthest. I really love fashion, 70s, 80’s, all the fashion was lit, but I definitely loved the 90’s for the Urban Wear. Everybody wears 90’s clothes, I wanna be in the midst of the 90’s; the stuff we like now, that’s just the basic 90’s clothes Let me show you the hot 90’s clothes. Then again the 80’s was lit for music, and the 70’s too, but I’d go with the 90’s, for fashion.”
Q: Capturing moments is something our society has placed high importance on. In your words what’s the significance of capturing a moment?
A: “I think it’s extremely significant; that’s why I do what I do. I love doing freelance photoshoots and stuff like that but at the end of the day I really do love shooting weddings and stuff like that because it’s an important moment. They want this picture to represent the rest of their life, so it’s a lot of responsibility on the person behind the camera to really capture that. They’re not gonna be calling out what kind of shot they want, you gotta really trust your judgement, and they’re trusting your judgement. It’s a big responsibility, so it’s something to take in stride and really do it right.”
Q: Describe your photography style in 3 words.
A: “I’m gonna base it off of what people say because I don’t really know my style. Clean, dynamic; I’m gonna say dynamic because unique is kinda corny, and swag; I like swag for myself.”
Q: What does the next year hold for MakeWonders?
A: “I’m working on an art show tour. I plan on hitting seven cities in seven months, so one city per month. Starting in July in Brooklyn, and ending in January for my birthday show in Philly. I’m still working on some cities; Detroit, Baltimore, DC, LA and Atlanta. In Atlanta I wanna do A3C, I wanna get in with A3C so that one’s gonna be the hardest one probably. Actually I’m trying to throw a festival next summer in Fairmount Park, like a day festival. I’m trying to throw ‘Wonderfest’, that would be lit! I wanna do that and drop the magazine I’m working on at the festival, that’d be dope to do hand in hand. We’re gonna see, that’s what the next year is looking like.”
According to The New York Times, Lyft and Waymo have signed a joint venture deal that aims to expand the market for self-driving cars and technology. Although the details are stark, the partnership is the best way to compete against their competition: Uber.
The deal comes days after a lawsuit filed by Waymo alleging that Uber acquired a self-driving truck start-up called Otto to take Waymo’s self-driving secrets.
But aside from the lawsuit, Waymo released a statement showing excitement for the new partnership: “Lyft’s vision and commitment to improving the way cities move will help Waymo’s self-driving technology reach more people in more places.”
Nintendo’s Zelda is coming back! But, for smartphones.
But, don’t jump to quick, it is still a rumor, but still a good one. This rumored news comes via an unnamed source who talked to The Wall Street Journal.
According to reports, the game will be released following the upcoming mobile version of Animal Crossing, which is set to arrive sometime this year.
Nintendo CEO Tatsumi Kimishima announced last month that the company plans to release two or three new smartphone hames by the end of March 2018.
This news alone will get the franchise fans excited, nevertheless.
Don’t panic, but it seems as if Frank Ocean may be reverting back to his old, old ways.
Just a few weeks ago, critics were praising Frank Ocean for stepping out of his legendary shell to provide fans with more material over the last nine months than he has in his entire career. On the slate of releases: Blonde, Endless, “Slide,” and several songs debuted on his Beats 1 show Blonded Radio, we believed for a moment that he was officially back for good this time.
Ocean also seemed to be opening up on the performance end too with a slew of major festival performances scheduled throughout this summer. Then, at the beginning of May, he canceled his headlining appearance at Sasquatch:
In both instances, the reasonings behind the cancellation was due to “production delays beyond his control,” which could mean a number of things.
In the past, we’ve received more explicit and detailed statements when Ocean canceled or postponed performances. A scheduled New York performance in 2011 was dropped after Ocean got sick and couldn’t shake the illness that affected his voice. In 2012, he canceled a number of European dates in an effort to rearrange his schedule, which he described as a “tough decision.” When he canceled his Australian tour in 2013, it was de to a tear in a vocal chord. Now, this is all speculation of course and the underlying reasoning is still unknown.
So what exactly could this “production delay” be? Some have guessed it could mean opening his schedule for a solo tour, while others believe it may be an opportunity for him to work on new music. The first prediction seems like a long shot, and if it’s the latter, that would make sense if he was in fact churning out more music these days. But at the cost of dropping multiple major appearances and a shit load of cash? Doesn’t add up to be honest!
Let’s face it, going ghost is nothing new to Ocean, who’s notorious for disappearing after scheduling something major. Revisit the canceled performances above and go back two years to the infamous Boys Don’t Cry project.
Sasquatch and Hangout were a mere two of the festivals Ocean was slated to appear this summer. If he cancels his next performance at Primavera Sound Festival in Barcelona Spain in late May, then the answer is yes: we should start to worry about his remaining schedule which includes Northside(Denmark), Parklife (UK), Panorama (NYC), and Way Out West (Sweden).
This is not to criticize Ocean, but from a loyal fan’s point of view, canceling performances is not a good way to build trust. Let’s face it, artists don’t owe us much, but at very least, their word.
DJ Ecool is probably one of the most multi-faceted DJ’s taking the urban industry by storm. Along with being an impeccable turntablist, you can also refer to him as an accomplished Producer, Actor, emcee, as well as a Comedian.
His music endeavors have led him to collaborate with the likes of artists including Ludacris, Doug E. Fresh, D’Banj, WizKid, and many others.
Traveling across the nation, and even overseas to connect with different masses and showoff his notable technique for blending Afrobeats with Hip-Hop, Pop, EDM, & top 40, Cool can successfully say he’s been quite busy this year. His social media following has increased his presence online, bringing more fans who catch wind of DJ ECool’s vivacious sound to the dance floor where he’s currently rooted– Atlanta, holding residencies at Lions Lounge, Elleven 45, & Eden Lounge. Recently, he dropped of a collab featuring Caribbean artists Danagog and Selasi titled “Give Dem”. The vibe is very reminiscent of his native roots and has been making noise in the Spotify playlists.
HYPFRESH’s own Niyah Nel had the opportunity to chat with DJ Cool and get a little deeper into his artistry. Tune in below for their dialogue:
Where are you originally from and how did your environment influence your creativity coming up?
I’m originally from Nigeria and my environment is a big influence in my music because i was raised there and it molded my musical tastes and ambitions over the years.
Was music something you’d say you gravitated to early on, being that you’re more than a DJ?
Yes, mainly because my family is musically inclined. I knew it was something that I was going to be involved in from an early age; the music industry as a whole rather than just being a DJ.
Talk about your roots and how you approach your music because of it.
My upbringing is based heavily on culture and as an African, culture comes way before anything else which in return creates the richness of the music and finds culture playing heavily into the sounds.
What are some of things that people would say are distinctive about DJ ECool and his sound?
I’m a very vibrant person. I love to exert a lot of energy when I work. When people hear my music, including the new single “Give Dem”, they know it’s built around high energy.
How does social media impact your craft?
Social media is a major factor for me. Social media allows you to stay on top of and insert yourself into trends happening online which I in turn use to elevate my career. I’ve actually created my own trend recently which is the check it out!
What type of music genres do you blend and how do you interact with your audience through that sound?
I pretty much blend all genres…I love diversity, whether it’s hip-hop, pop, rock, afro beats, dancehall, reggae. It all gives me energy and I transfer that energy to the people.
Talk about your latest track “Give Dem” featuring Danagog x Selasi
“Give Dem” is pretty much an Afro-Caribbean merge. The record was originally supposed to be DJ ECool feat Danagog but then I thought to record the song in Selasi’s studio. Everyone vibed in the studio, one thing lead to another and Selasi was on the song.
Can we expect more music from DJ ECool the artist this year?
Yes you will be hearing more very soon. I’ve been back in the studio working.
Shad Moss, a.k.a Bow Wow, continued his Growing Up Hip Hop Atlanta promo tour this week with an appearance in Hot 97’s Ebro in the Morning. And to our surprise, Moss addressed this week’s private jet incident and subsequent jokes in the form of the #BowWowChallenge. According to Moss, everyone should be able to gain some insight on the incident by watching his upcoming We TV series.
During the interview, Moss states, “I took the Greyhound here this morning,” joking at the top of the interview. When addressing the private jet confusion, Moss suggests that there’s more than meets the eye. “I love it because people don’t understand the scientific method to my madness,” he said. “They really don’t understand the scientific method to my madness. Number one, I’m about to have the biggest show on We TV, period. Period. I’m saying that right now.”
But to fully understand the this “tactic,” Moss alludes to viewing his new show. “You gotta just watch the show,” he said. “Everything is for the show.”
As for the jokes and memes Moss is unbothered. “It doesn’t affect me, it doesn’t affect the women, it doesn’t affect the bank, it doesn’t affect anything,” he said. “I feel like people who react to certain things, I feel like that’s how they would react if it was on them.” Moss credits his tough skin to the “relentless” group chat jokes with Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa, so being the subject of jokes doesn’t bother him.
The series Moss is promoting, Growing Up Hip Hop Atlanta, premieres May 25th. Stay tuned for more updates and to get a good laugh, check out the best memes from the #BowWowChallenge.
The fascination surrounding Jimi Hendrix continues to stick in popular culture to this day. His radical rendition of “Star-Spangled Banner” alone remains a staple in the rock genre, while the rest of his catalog is regarded as a medley of new styles and innovative musical techniques. Not only did this lay the foundation for a number of new music genres, but Hendrix’s music also encouraged audiences to think about the role race plays within music.
In 2013, director John Ridley released Jimi: All is by My Side, a biopic that explored the guitarist’s life and reignited the love affair music fans have with him. Just last year, Jimi Hendrix even received his own slot machine in the NetEnt Rock’s Trilogy, which also includes Guns N’ Roses and Motorhead installments.
Online casino operator bgo hosted an intimate West London concert to celebrate the release of the Jimi Hendrix slot, complete with iPad stations featuring the game on their site. Tribute acts from around the UK came together to perform Hendrix’s best and most beloved tracks at the bgo event in front of a large audience, which just goes to show how popular the musician remains.
Jimi Hendrix’s impact on the world is so significant that it is easy to forget that his career only lasted four years. Still, to become one of the most influential guitarists in history in such a short amount of time is an achievement in and of itself. Hendrix pushed music further in four years than any musician before him, and it seems that it all came naturally to him.
Even the equipment he used throughout his career was unorthodox yet groundbreaking, and it wasn’t long before the wah-wah and Octavia guitar pedals gained popularity. Hendrix managed to transform classic blue riffs into dreamy, cosmic melodies like those in “Purple Haze” and “1983… (A Merman I Should Turn To Be)”, inspiring the likes of The Edge of U2 and Jack White. In fact, many current hard rock musicians still regard songs like “Voodoo Chile” as unprecedented pieces in their genre.
Still, his influence is by no means restricted to rock as Hendrix has even been credited with the invention of rap. He was the first to ‘scratch’ a vinyl record, which can be heard in 1967’s “Are You Experienced”, and then in 1969 he released “Doriella Du Fontaine”, a 13-minute spoken-word poem featuring Jalal Mansur Nuriddin. By the late 60s, Hendrix was single-handedly deconstructing boundaries between black audiences, black musicians and rock, cementing the idea that anyone was free to sound like or enjoy any music they enjoyed.
By the end of his career, Hendrix had become a true rock star. He played guitar with his teeth, he smashed his instruments in the middle of sets and even set them on fire. The era of rock had well and truly begun, and Hendrix was the one pulling all the boundaries around him down.
Now, decades after his death you will still hear Jimi Hendrix’s music played and praised everywhere from clubs to festivals. You can watch the numerous documentaries exploring his short life, or play his NetEnt slot at spingenie where you can get 50 free spins or at magical vegas, home to well over a hundred slots. Truly, Hendrix is a legend that will continue to live on for years to come.
In this cover story, writer Marlon Bishop and photographer Rose Marie Cromwell meet “The King of Bachata,” Romeo Santos — one of the most influential musicians in the Western Hemisphere and CEO of Roc Nation Latin.
Santos discusses his multicultural upbringing with first-generation Dominican and Puerto Rican immigrant parents and creating a revolutionary and internationally recognized sound born out of his love and loyalty for bachata. He talks about refusing to assimilate into U.S. pop culture or stick to Latin Pop, and his plans instead to create something in between and entirely new.
On his cultural identity:
“I’m just a Latino that’s very Americanized, that’s the best way I have to word it. I feel like I don’t speak perfect English, I don’t speak perfect Spanish. But when I’m able to mix it as Spanglish, that’s the closest to perfection for me.”
On first hearing bachata music, and revolutionizing its aesthetic:
“I just fell in love with the production. I was like, ‘Wow this is dope.’ At that time, bachata did not have a great reputation. If anyone liked it, it wasn’t cool to brag about it. But I didn’t know that. When I got that information, it was too late, I was already in love with the genre. We came with a different vibe. We had Yankee hats. Before people even listened to our music, they said, ‘These guys aren’t bachateros, they are rappers or something, what is this?”
On becoming Romeo Santos to overcome his insecurities as a teenager:
“I couldn’t even speak to the crowd, that’s how shy I was. I was so skinny, I guess puberty didn’t kick in the way it should have, and I had a total lack of confidence. One day I realized that if I didn’t become a different person on stage, it just wasn’t going to work. I just used what I knew what I had to offer, and my friends always said I was funny. So I created this character, who was this funny, seductive guy, who could maybe come across a little bit arrogant. Latin men get that label a lot, the seducer. To some extent I feed people what they want to be fed, and it works for me.”
On his advice to artists:
“I tell artists they need to do what’s real to them. I do bachata. When I worked with Usher or Drake, I brought them into my world. I’m sending the message I’m not interested in crossing over. I want you to cross over into my world.”
Think Adele’s pop appeal, mixed with Maxwell’s crooning soul and a dab of nostalgia that brings you back into the 80’s Alt-Pop scene. This 24-year-old artist is unique to say the least, and his music is certainly a reflection of his personality. ARLO represents the very authenticity we love from artists; amid the grime and trap influences we’re used to hearing form the UK these days, ARLO provides a refreshing change of pace. Fueled by his songwriting and vocal abilities, his affinity for storytelling is what posits him as one of the greatest artists this generation will experience.
He just released his first single, “Ivory,” back in April and it already has nearly 60k plays on Soundcloud. When asked about the underlying message of the track, ARLO states that “Ivory is about the feeling of constantly being let down and disappointed. It’s me promising myself that I won’t be heartbroken any more – “you won’t find my heart at home anymore”.
Now only a month later, he’s back with his appropriately titled follow up single, “Shake the Room.” Even if you’re not a fan of Pop, ARLO’s incendiary sounds will be sure to make a believer out of the most reluctant of listeners. Don’t take my word though, hear what the man himself had to say about his music, the state of the industry, and his love for Roast Lamb…
Q: Your vocals are unique and gripping. How did you come to find your voice?
A: I’ve always had a weird voice. My actual talking voice is weird my friends say I sound like a cross between Marge Simpson and Kermit the frog. Luckily it doesn’t sound like that when I sing. I discovered my singing voice quite late – I’ve always had a passion for music though.
Q: If you could describe your sound in 3 words, what would they be?
A: Honest/ Heartfelt/ Goes straight for the Jugular.
(No one ever actually answers in three words, but we’ll take it!)
Q:Are you a believer in genre bending? It seems to be happening a lot these days.
A: I think it’s so hard not to these days. We listen to so much music and we’re influenced by so much. I like to think I make pop-alternative music but I’ve got a soulful voice – so I’m crossing three different genres with one record.
Q: What was your reaction to how well “Ivory” was received? You dropped it not even a month ago and it’s already creating a buzz.
A: It’s been great. It’s been really well received. The feedback has been really positive. It’s a real honest track and I’m glad it’s resonating with people.
Q: What is the concept of the track?
A: “Ivory“ is about hiding your heart away. It’s me making a pact with myself that I won’t allow myself to get hurt anymore.
Q: What artists influenced your music the most?
A: Adele, Adele…did I say Adele? She can do no wrong in my mind. I’ve loved her since I heard her on Myspace. I’m a big Tears for Fears fan. I love Terence Trent D’arby. “Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D’Arby” is a work of art. Even though I wasn’t alive when the album came out. I feel like it’s the soundtrack to my life. I [also] love Kanye West and Coldplay.
Q: You seem absent from social media? What’s the story behind your absence?
A: No reason. I’m not the biggest fan of it. I’m a very private person. I prefer meeting people in person. I do like observing things on social media – it’s a good way to keep tabs on people!
Q: What was the moment like for you when you decided that music would be your career?
A: Liberating – I’ve always been super passionate about music. I guess I was probably scared to put myself out there.
Q: Do you have any talents outside of singing?
A: Hmmmmm. I make a mean roast lamb!!
Q: What’s in store for the rest of 2017?
A: More Music! My first live show!
Q: Any advice or tips for upcoming artists?
A: I always say the buck starts with you. You have to be that match to start the fire!
ARLO describes ’Shake The Room’ as being about, “losing confidence in yourself, not trusting your gut and allowing others to control your future”. His poignant lyrics outline this point with a laser point accuracy, showing his defiance, singing, “I don’t need your reverence, I don’t need your approval”. Both singles, “Ivory” and “Shake The Room” are simply teaser tracks for what he’s going to be releasing over the summer. Look out for new music and keep up with ARLO on Soundcloud, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
On May 3rd, The Heineken Green Room welcomed South Carolina native Nick Grant, signee of Culture Republic and Maryland raised /Brooklyn based rapper, singer and producer KAMAU to perform at Philadelphia’s Kung Fu Necktie alongside DJ Kitty Cash. Nick Grant’s affinity for lyrical content, storytelling and authoritative vocal delivery is unparalleled in todays rap scene. But, one of the phrases he insisted for his call and response was “Real Hip Hop.”
During an interview with the South Carolina native, Nick Grant defined what real hip hop was to him.
“Real hip hop is talking about your neighborhood and the conditions of your neighborhood. Real hip hop is having a message in your music. Real hip hop is caring about the basic principles, including the DJ’s, MC’s, beatbox, graffiti. Caring about the elements, caring about the culture, caring about Big Daddy Kane, caring about those that came before you. By all means, I’m not against the idea of having fun. I love rap and I fall victim of the rhythms too but real hip hop is caring about the culture and being passionate. Its all these things man. That’s what I embody. So that’s the reason I got into this business. The day I don’t do that, then what’s my purpose? If I’m not trying to be the greatest. And to be the greatest you have to know all the stuff. You have to do the research, you have to do everything, so that’s my job as an artist and that’s what real hip hop is to me.”
Music critics would agree that hip hop took a turn from the initial blueprint and the underlying basis of it’s origins, but Nick had a slightly different perspective of hip hop’s evolution.
Its always been trends, it’s just at an all time high right now. We know what this thing is based on. Its not even that it made a turn because to be at the top and at the tipping point of this culture, you have to talk about something. Kendrick Lamar who is at the tipping point and selling all these records, is one of the ones with the most influence but he’s also a real MC. Same with J Cole or Big Sean. Same with all these guys, Jay-Z, Nas, they are all at the tipping point of this culture. I hate not to put Nas and Jay-Z in the same sentence, but at the end of the day, they represent real hip hop. They are a heavy influence because they care about the graphics, their culture and what’s around them.
Speaking of some of hip hop’s all time greatest artists, when asked which artists inspired him, Grant expressed that he would attribute his inspiration to some of the hip hop’s ground breaking artists that still hold the crown to this day.
“I wouldn’t say Kendrick and Cole inspired me because at the time I was coming up they didn’t exist, but I mean, they inspire me now. In regards to who inspired me on my rise, it’s fair to say we all had the same influences coming up, including Jay-Z, Nas, 2Pac, Biggie, Andre 3000, Erykah Badu, OutKast, Rakim, Lauryn Hill, Stevie Wonder, and the list goes on.”
While speaking to him about hip hop’s evolution and asking him what his feelings were towards modern rap artists including people such as Lil Yachty, Grant again took a different approach and expressed his outlook stating, “I love Yachty, I love Uzi. I don’t even know why people go so hard on them. I love all of them. I mean we know what this thing is based on and I just say let them have fun man, leave them alone and let them enjoy their success. They are feeding their families and all doing different things for themselves, and I can only imagine because at some point you just begin to sound like a hater and that’s something that I’ve never been. I know what I grew up on and I love that, I prefer that, but they aren’t speaking to people that’s not their age. They are speaking to people who are their age and going through the same things as them. So I mean, just let them kids live, let them have fun.”
In terms of his own career, Nick Grant gave some powerful insights on the entire structure of the rising process of an artist, stating, “slow and steady wins the race.”
“I think I have a smooth sailing career. I have come to terms and grips with that. When everyone else is high, my incline is still on the way up but it’s a slow pace. I look at it as an elevator versus taking the stairs. You take an elevator, you get their faster, but there’s no foundation. If the elevator drops, its over with. But with the stairs, if I fall down one flight, Im cool. I can get right back up and climb right back up because there is foundation there. So for me man, that’s how I look at it. I mean even though its slow paced and I get frustrated at times, its like I know they are nowhere near better than me, and that’s just the MC in me, but I can never say what this man or this person deserves, I just have to work, live in my truth and keep working so I can be number one. Because I’m going to be here. Ima stand the test of time whether anybody knows it or not. “
Lastly, the MC, Nick Grant shared with us what we should expect next from him.
“I’m working on two projects. One with DJ Drama and Gangsta Grillz before my album drops. I’m dropping another album called Sunday Dinner on Thanksgiving. I’m working on Thanksgiving but we will see”.
If you don’t know, you know now. Listen to Nick Grant below!
HYPEFRESH GOES LIVE WITH ITS SIXTH WEEK OF IT’S MUSIC VIDEO COUNTDOWN FOR 2017.
Week 6 is a collaboration between Hypefresh’s “H Radar” to feature our top 5 best emerging/independent artists ranging in various genres. Jacob Latimore, G4SHI, Jessie Reyez and more.
