single: DAVID MAY, "LIFE DEBTS"

"Life Debts" on Spotify | lyric video on Youtube
Twitter @itsdavidmay @fashawn @mitchgeist
Instagram | Facebook | Soundcloud | nogalesnoise.com

Walnut, California rapper David May presents "Life Debts", his new Mitch Geist-produced single featuring fellow Cali emcee Fashawn. In 2012 Black Cloud released David’s debut album The Lifestyle Of A Dream Chaser and performed alongside Pac Div, Curren$y and joined The Road To Paid Dues Tour with Murs and Fashawn before following up with 2014's Video 94 EP (watch the music video for "Store Runs"). Since then David has released tracks with Fashawn and Trizz as well as several collaborations with California producer Huss (stream "That's Crazy"), alongside his work as a member of the One Step Ahead collective. "I made this song when I was thinking about all the people who are no longer with us," David says. "I thought about how close I've been to being gone and I let that sink in. I want to build a legacy and be remembered long after my time on earth is gone. I have no more time to waste."

ARMSTRONGWW - BUTTERFLY REVOLUTION

BUTTERFLY REVOLUTION

Houston-based creative ArmstrongWW is no stranger to tackling controversial topics in his music. His latest outing Butterfly Revolution criticizes himself and those who lay dormant while injustice runs rampant in various communities. This criticism does not come in the form of scolding, but a groove-heavy funk-inspired ballad entrancing listeners to bob their heads to every drum kick.  

Beginning with a shift in focus, ArmstrongWW starts Butterfly Revolution by speaking on his decision to pay less attention to sexual partners and more to improving the world around him. This inner conflict with the desires of youth has been a continuing theme in previous songs but seems to meet its end as Armstrong finds his purpose. He refers to this newfound direction as a “Battle” and suggests music as a possible solution if created with meaning. 

“Just as the Butterfly Effect says a small change can affect a much larger picture, the impact of music is limitless and can inspire change in the minds of many” - ArmstrongWW

More about Artist

Armstrong Orock (Professionally known as ArmstrongWW) is a multi-genre musician born in Cameroon, Africa, and based in the creative grounds of Houston, Texas. Starting his songwriting journey at the young age of 6, Armstrong has built a name for himself by creating music that resonates with absolute honesty. His inspirations include Kendrick Lamar, Mac Miller, Chance the Rapper, and instrumentalists such as the late Mort Garson who break boundaries in their respective fields. With a freshman album in the works and a passion for music, ArmstrongWW is an artist soon to change the world through sound. 

Photo Credits: LuzC (Luz Castilla) 

Butterfly Revolution produced by Stoic Beats

INSTAGRAM // TWITTER

MENACIN JOHNSON, "CROWN"

youtu.be/YS6g3CmrJIw
Twitter @menacinjohnson @moka_only @moshakray
Facebook | Spotify

Los Angeles emcee Menacin Johnson presents the Big Rif-directed music video for "Crown", his new single produced by Moka Only. Featuring vocals from Mo ShaKray, "Crown" will appear on Growth Season, his collaboration album with Moka Only, also set to feature guest appearances from DJ Ethos, Allen Casilla and Rain Bisou. Menacin's Brand New Headsets 2 album (Soundcloud) featured A-Plus of Souls Of Mischief as well as Menacin’s fellow Project Blowed representer Abstract Rude, and his Stargate Aquarius album with producer Duke Westlake features Slimkid3, Frank Nitty and Pigeon John. Constantly touring, he has performed alongside Aceyalone of Freestyle Fellowship, Tre Hardson formerly of The Pharcyde, X-Clan and many more. Menacin says the new single "is about rocking my crown, manifesting my vision and embracing the next chapter in my life while creating new vibes on my music journey and bringing it to the world for everyone to join my tribe and get down with us."

video: FASHAWN & SIR VETERANO, "THIS TOWN"

youtu.be/iDNWIG__Z0Y
Twitter @sirveterano @fashawn @freshyardrecord @ImYellowNguyen
Spotify | Facebook | Bandcamp | freshyardrecords.com

Central Valley, California producer Sir Veterano presents the Yellow Nguyen-directed music video for "This Town", his new collaboration with Fresno, California rapper Fashawn which will appear on their forthcoming Fresh Yard Records full-length All Hail The King, set to feature guest appearances from Aloe Blacc, eLZhi, Planet Asia and DJ Revolution (watch the music video for "All Hail The King"). Last year Sir Veterano released The Gathering (stream on Spotify), which featured singles "Reputable" featuring MC Eiht, Planet Asia and Mitchy Slick (watch the music video), and "Cocaine Rap featuring Murs (watch the music video) as well as appearances from Bishop Lamont, Casual, Ras Kass, Guilty Simpson, Phat Kat, Fashawn, K-Bizz, 4TWO7, M.E.D., Skillz and Supastition. Nas executive-produced The Ecology, Fashawn's recent album released via Mass Appeal. Fashawn also appeared on the 2010 XXL Freshmen cover alongside Wiz Khalifa, J.Cole, and Nipsey Hussle. Growing up outside of San Francisco, Sir Veterano worked with Ras Kass, Kool G Rap, Mad Skillz, Planet Asia and Slaughtahouse through the mid-2000s and early 2010s, releasing the Latest and Greatest Vol.1 mixtape, a doo-wop themed instrumental album in partnership with Dart Adam's Producers I Know brand, and a DJ series of West Coast funk with 2DopeBoyz.com, before putting his career on hold in order to focus on his personal life. In late 2018, Sir Veterano expressed interest in rejoining the music business to his music manager, Walt Liquor - aka 4Two7 - and Kwa Nguyen, owner of Fresh Yard Clothing and Fresh Yard Records.

Interview: YouWin

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Philadelphia rapper YOUWIN presents the Spacekidvisuals-directed music video for "Deckard", the Joshua De Mets and Nick Gmerek-produced new single from Eden, YOUWIN's forthcoming album set to feature an appearance from Unotheactivist. YOUWIN says his new single was created "after a few nights spent in an empty cathedral where my friend Slender Pimp lived. It was wild, so the intro to the song comes from there. The instrumental sounded something out of the Blade Runner soundtrack, so I decided to name the song 'Deckard; after Harrison Ford’s character." Eden is coming soon on Marsten House. (stream YOUWIN's previous single "Christopher Wallace" on Spotify)

How did you get your stage name?

Well, my name is Ewan, and people have always had a hard time saying it, so I used to say “Ewan, Like You Win the prize”. To help them remember it. When I started rapping in high school I didn’t know what to call myself, and my mom jokingly suggested “YOUWIN, Like you win the prize” and it stuck.

What’s the Philly vibe like these days, as a city and as a rap scene?

The vibe changes depending on where you go, I record in North Philly, there’s a lot of rap over here, but there’s a lot of metal and indie shit going on too. Kids on the come up are really hungry, there’s local talent like Poundside pop and producers that started here and blew up like Working On Dying. Philly has always been a rap city, I think everyone from the garbage men to the store owners could probably spit a 16. there’s always a creative energy in the city no matter where you go but I think the sound of Philly is changing. People like uzi, Kur, and Pnb have paved the way for people like me to make less traditional sounding music and still find success.

How did “Deckard” come to be?

My friend slender pimp lived in an abandoned nunnery in port Richmond. we used to call it “the cathedral” because it had a church inside and pictures of Jesus everywhere. Everyone would go there to freestyle and party. It got wild sometimes, and the first part of the song was inspired by those times. When my homie Josh sent me the beat, the opening melody reminded me of the movie blade runner, it was so spacey and cinematic. The beat kind of informed the lyrics, and I named the song after Harrison Ford’s Character in the movie.

What do you think makes you unique in the rap game today?

I can hold my own in any arena of rap, and I’m on my own wavelength. These days, it seems like the easiest way to get on is to sound like someone else. I’ve always just been me, I make music from what I’ve lived through and how I feel. I don’t adhere to any formula or any specific “sound”. I’m versatile, I respect the artists that came before me, but I wanna push boundaries with my sound as well. I could go from pop melodies to real lyrics all on the same project.

What’s the main lesson you’ve learned from the COVID pandemic?

The value of work ethic! A lot of artists I know just sat inside and did nothing when the pandemic hit. I was going crazy, I couldn’t do anything besides create. I was making music just to stay sane at first, but when I linked up with Dj Knick at Marsten House everything changed. My output increased and my music became more cohesive, my whole catalogue was recorded during this pandemic. I couldn’t really go anywhere besides the studio, which allowed me to be hyper focused on getting songs done. I think I put out 3 projects last year. I’ve kept the same mentality even though things are kind of going back to normal. I guess I’ve learned that there’s no reason to stop working, if you want success in music I think that has to be the mentality.