video: T H R O N E, "OROCHIMARU"

October 20, 2020

music video on Youtube | track on Spotify
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Alternative hip-hop artistic couple T H R O N E present the music video for their new single "Orochimaru", produced by Jules Soledad. Currently residing in the Sandia Mountains of New Mexico, T H R O N E is the union of Charlotte native and globetrotter Hayatheus (hi-ah-theus), and YVHIKV (yuh-hey-guh), who hails from Mvskoke (Creek) Nation in Oklahoma. "This is the most ‘us’ song we’ve made so far," Hayatheus says of the track, their first release as a duo. "Multi-genre, no hook, complex meaning – but still a vibe. We made this song at 3:00 am, we heard the beat and immediately started recording. Doing each other’s doubles and adlibs, a mix of written and freestyled lyrics, this is skilled free form delivery, this is a jazz approach to hip-hop, this is a taste of what T H R O N E is bringing to the game."

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video: SIR VETERANO X MURS, "COCAINE RAP"

October 20, 2020

California producer Sir Veterano presents the music video for "Cocaine Rap" featuring California emcee Murs. The Marmo Films-directed clip is the newest visual from The Gathering, Sir Veterano's new album also featuring MC Eiht, Planet Asia and Mitchy Slick on first single "Reputable" (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. Growing up outside of San Francisco, 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. Murs has blazed trails on the independent underground hiphop scene since his days as a member of California collective Living Legends, then as a soloist, with collaborations featuring 9th Wonder, El-P and more. "Many of the great rappers have done and/or sold cocaine," Murs says. "Hip hop culture is all about expression and freedom. So if you've walked the walk, by all means talk the talk. This song is speaking to those fabricating a criminal past for clout. When I got the beat for Sir Veterano. I felt it was the perfect canvas on which it paint this message." The Gathering is out now on Fresh Yard Records.

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video: ACE BURNS, "BLACK BERRY WHINE"

October 20, 2020

Brooklyn rapper Ace Burns present the music video for "Black Berry Whine", Ace's self-produced "ode to my Beautiful Black Queens" featuring P5yckonomixxx. The track appears on Half-Caste: The EP (Spotify), which also features guest appearances from old school heavyweights the World's Famous Supreme Team as well as D.A.M.Y., YokeeGilla, Femi Nuga, Muyiwa Frank, Brain Rapper, Cassius King, Iam_danger and Bligen. Drawn to activism in the wake of George Floyd's death, Ace gained notoriety via a Fox News interview (article) which led to a terrorism charge, which he is currently fighting in court. "My father's origin is Nigerian from Calabar," Ace explains. "My grandfather is chief of the Esuk Atu people in Cross River, an Efik tribe. By contrast, my mother is African-American and I was born in Brooklyn. Not being considered full Nigerian in Nigeria, even though I'm a prince, and not being considered an American in America, even though my family goes back five generations, is why I call my first album Half-Caste." Half-Caste is out now on Koinda Records.

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AKWERIUS, "AMEN RA"

October 20, 2020

youtube.com/watch?v=5oJp4Tw50-k&t
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Ghanaian singer/songwriter Akwerius presents "Amen Ra", the lead single from Bright Side, his forthcoming album dropping soon on his Music Is Healing imprint. Claiming Boston as stomping grounds but currently residing in Mount Shasta, California, Akwerius has toured extensively in the USA and beyond, performing his original style called "Afro Roots Hop", a fusion of roots chanting and hip hop poetry over African drum-infused dubs. "Singing songs of praise is likely the most important thing human beings can do at this time," Akwerius says. It is written in the Scriptures that man is to put God first, in every endeavor, that all things may be added. There’s no better way for me to do this then write devotional songs like 'Amen Ra'. In them, there’s mourning and sorrow too, but there’s always gratitude, hope and consolation to lift you above it, into the Bright Side."

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single: MEGA RAN & DEL THE FUNKY HOMOSAPIEN, "PROTO CULTURE 2.0"

October 20, 2020

Nerd Rap hero Mega Ran presents "Proto Culture 2.0", his new single featuring Del The Funky Homosapien. Produced by DJ DN3, the song is an update to Del's 2000 track "Proto Culture" (Youtube), arguably called hip-hop's first love song to video games. Holder of the Guinness World Record of having the most songs to reference a videogame franchise, Phoenix New Times called Mega Ran "one of the most prolific and innovative rappers of the 21st century”. Del The Funky Homosapien has blazed trails in underground hiphop over the last 30 years as a solo artist and member of Bay Area crew Hieroglyphics. "I've been a Del fan as long as I've been a Hip-Hop fan," Ran says. "To be able to bar out with him about games is a bucket list moment. We both love games and hip-hop equally, so this was a dope time to pay tribute. I think our sub-genre wouldn't exist without this song. I'm glad to do my part in helping to make sure people never forget it." "Proto Culture 2.0" will appear on AGES, VOL 2, Mega Ran's forthcoming album set to feature Wheatus, MC Lars, E-Turn, Secret Agent 23 Skiddo and Jalopy Bungus, coming soon on Random Beats.

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