Hip Hop Blog

Her backstory, growing up in The Bronx, the birthplace of hip-hop, and around the influences by her Puerto Rican roots, Rose's musical mindset has formed an armor to withstand a world and an industry that isn't always welcoming to women holding a mic. Rose, a SXSW fave, has graced stages across the festival spectrum with her signature blend of humility and barrio flow, appearing on stages with Pardison Fontaine, Andy Mineo, Christon Gray, and Oswin Benjamin.
Rose's Unstoppable is a 7-track effort led by "Not A Monster" and filled with bouncy beats, quick-witted lyricism, and her soulful trademark hooks lace the tracklist, featuring anthems such as "7 Gold Chains", that can be taken to the party or on a transformational journey. The standout, "Angels," demonstrates her divine belief in the protection she's felt journeying through the insular storms of her life.
Rose's foundation of the same title was recently honored by FEMA for its philanthropic efforts and youth outreach programs. This Spring, you can catch Angie Rose performing at the 25th Annual 100 Hispanic Women gala, spreading her inspiring message of unstoppable resilience. For more on Angie Rose, follow her on Instagram.

Lyrics:
Son shine in the desert
I aint talking bout the weather
I’m down for whatever
I am make it better
Shawty with the east side glow
Certified peace halo
Tell a hata please stay close
We know who run the game tell the sleep stay woke
Alive in the wind it’s hidden calypso
My temperament get fire to dip low
I never been the type to depend no
I’m independent came for the win
Alive in the wind it’s hidden calypso
My temperament get fire to dip low
Oooo I aint playing it safe tonight
Oooo no devil horns just the halo right
Oooo I’m gonna get what I want in the world
Cuz I fight like a man, but I love like a girl
Ima represent for the girls
That never ask permission to take what is theirs
Ima make a merger with greatness
​Show em the king til they know we related ayy

 I am 23 years old rapper from Portland, Maine. My stage name (middle name) is Sim Lakia (Lakin) which means, hidden treasure that was found. I based my whole artist figure off from my life growing up in the shadow of my demons. I was born into the streets, and watched my father and mother go in and out of jail. I went through a foster home where I was abused, physically and mentally. The woman's name was Rose. I put a tattoo of a rose on my neck to show that you can overcome anything, and grow, pain only makes you stronger. Like a sharp Rose, beautiful but dangerous. Demons is a song that represents my personal memories, anxiety, and depression at it's finest. I have struggled with trying to figure out who and what I wanted to be. Always holding music close. Since the age of 8, I have been producing, Singing, rapping, and building my image. The way I see it, my pain drives my hunger to be the best I can. To go further than ever, and to show people that anyone can make it. Poor, rich, big, small, it doesn't matter if you work hard and push past

Conway The Machine's Drumwork Music Group signee 7xvethegenius absolutely bodies her new single "Break Soul."

Conway The Machine is one of the game's most prolific artists, and with his upcoming Shady Records album God Don't Make Mistakes in the pipeline, the Griselda lyricist has set his sights on building up the next wave of emcees. Enter his Drumwork Music Group imprint, on which rising rapper 7xvethegenius has been putting in work, most recently delivering a standout verse on Conway's "Crack In The Nineties."
Now, she's come through with another bar-heavy single in "Break Soul," a glimpse at what she's been cooking up. And for those who enjoy lyricism, there's plenty to enjoy on this one. Over a hard-hitting boom-bap beat, 7xvethegenius (seemingly pronounced Love The Genius) weaves together dexterous schemes as she lets fly relentless punchlines. "Speak to my n***a every day but it ain't on that phone," she spits. "he know they listening / a loose lip, six feet deep, socially distanced / trying to do different like let's see how that is hittin / ended up dead, the news said he only missin'." 

Right away, what intrigued me the most about this single was the title. “Ballads” sounds so grand and angelic – yet the cover art features a mystically dark forest, with two hollowed out lids glaring at you like a black cat’s eyes at night. 
The only light that appears on the cover art is found from these two outlines of eyes. We can infer this image may be symbolic of JID and Conway the Machine’s energy remaining steady like a torch, despite the shadows and demons trying to demolish it. 
The word “Ballad” is defined as “a poem, or song narrating a story in short stanzas. Traditional ballads are typically of unknown authorship, having been passed on orally from one generation to the next as part of folk culture. “
The beat itself takes on the form of the unknown, the most high. The instrumentation is both haunting and whimsical – acting as a premonition to the story JID and Conway the Machine are about to tell. JID starts the single off acapella, as the piano keys follow his voice like a ghost.
Both MC’s allude to their darker days of surviving homelessness and hunger. The folk culture that can accompany a ballad is pronounced in the way both rappers tell their stories of not only survival, but their gateway to success – passing it down orally to their fans as if they were talking to their grandchildren. 
JID looks upon himself as a student to the rap game and the MC’s that came before him – while still illuminating the originality he has contributed to it as well. He regards himself as the ultimate archetype to hip hop. His lyrics reflect a sense of both historical and spiritual knowledge that has led to him fulfilling his prophecy. 

He spits, N****, I’ve been hungry; for a time I was homeless. I honed in my skill, sharp sword swings along for the moment. Atonement in my tone, ownership is the only shit I’ve been voyaging. Voices in my head and then I go record it. I’ve been ordered by the lord.”
It’s no secret that JID has become a master of his craft. It’s evident in the individuality of his flow, rhyme schemes, and obscure beat choices. He has somehow been able to take inspiration from his idols while remaining grounded in his own unique purpose.
On the first bar, he references what his life looked like before the music took off. His endurance to flourish out of poverty came to him like the strength of a deity. JID’s music is a way for him to not only tell his story, but to rewrite the narrative as well – the messages behind his lyrics come through in the form of clairvoyance. 
The last line JID spits before Conway the Machine makes his dramatic entrance to his upcoming verse is, “And we rejoice when real n***** lift their voices for the voiceless.”

The songstress is the latest to be featured on the web series to talk about all things cannabis.Jay-Z launched his very own cannabis brand under the MONOGRAM banner at the tail end of last year. Along with launching the brand, he debuted a new High Tales web series, which aims to bring funny weed-infused stories from all your favorite pop culture figures who dabble in the green. The last episode of the series featured Queens-bred rapper N.O.R.E. where he explained his relationship with cannabis and its impact on his creativity. The third episode of the series features none other than Tinashe, who spoke about growing cultural acceptance of marijuana and the overall social experience of smoking weed.

“It’s been interesting to see how weed culture has changed over the past few years,” shares Tinashe in the video. “How we get our weed and talk about it has definitely evolved since it became legal, but at the end of the day, good weed still sets a special vibe."
She continued, "Whether it’s bonding with strangers at a concert or freestyling in the studio, I’ve always loved the way it brings people together.”

Swizz Beatz and Timbaland suggest Wu-Tang Clan's Raekwon & Ghostface Killah might go hit-for-hit on the next "Verzuz."

Last night, we witnessed a true celebration of music. D'Angelo & Friends was more of a concert than your typical Verzuz battle and it was incredible. D'Angelo brought out a slew of friends including Method Man & Redman as well as H.E.R., among others. The Internet continued raving about the event but for Timbo and Swizz Beatz, it was back to business.

Each event they host gets better. We've received some incredible moments in hip-hop, from West Coast celebrations with E-40 and Too $hort, and down South, Jeezy and Gucci Mane made amends after roughly 15 years of beefing. In the world of R&B, they recently brought together Ashanti and Keyshia Cole (finally). So, how do they raise the stakes for the next edition?
Wu-Tang fans rejoice as Swizz Beatz and Timbo have hinted that we could expect Raekwon & Ghostface Killah to pair up with each other in the Verzuz arena. During the post-show IG Live, Swizz Beatz and Timba went through classic Ghost and Rae joints before Swizz suggested that they will be going hit-for-hit. "Hol' on, hol' on, hol' on. Raekwon verse Ghostface. Hol' on bro," said Swizz before turning the music back on.
This wouldn't be the first time a Wu-Tang member appeared on Verzuz, of course. RZA previously faced off against DJ Premier as one of the first Verzuz battles.
Check the clip below. How do you feel about Ghostface Verzuz Raekwon? 

Cardi B has another viral hit on her hands with â€œUp”. The track has inspired a frenzy of TikTok challenges and has inspired delivery drivers across the country to get in on the action.
In a post shared by The Shade Room on Friday (February 26), various drivers from the likes of UPS, Amazon, FedEx and the Postal Service are seen jumping out of their vehicles or in warehouses getting off their best dances moves to the Yung Dza, Sean Island and DJ SwanQo produced track.

The Bronx natives latest single is her ninth Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. When it debuted at No. 2 on the chart on February 24, it became the highest-charting debut for a solo woman in rap since Lauryn Hills "Doo Wop" in 1998. The other history Cardi shares with Lauryn’s breakthrough solo work is her  "Bodak Yellow" and  "Doo Wop" are the only No. 1 solo rap songs in the history of the Billboard Hot 100.

Although "Up" has given Cardi yet another song to take over TikTok and earn an extended shelf life, she’s been quick to shut down any conversations about whether or not she's making music strictly for the powerful social media platform, or taking credit from how fans have taken the songs and made their own challenges.

"My videos been A1 from start!" she tweeted on February 8. "They got better the bigger of an artist I got soo the budget is going to double up. At first I only had 15 hours to shoot a video now I get two days. Killed it wit money & did choreography ever since Please me & press & never stop since.
She continued, "Dont try to play me like I just started this shit cause of tiktok. My last 4 videos I gave choreography & at award shows as well. Please me, press, wap & up was my last videos. EAT IT UP!"

Ava Max was born Amanda Koci, to Albanian-immigrant parents in Milwaukee. When she was eight, her family moved to Virginia. Her mother was an opera singer; her dad played the piano; her uncles were in bands. She was a Britney Spears fanatic who wanted to pursue pop music. Max also has an older brother. In 1991, her parents fled Albania after the fall of communism in the country and lived in a church in Paris for a year. While in Paris, they encountered a woman from Wisconsin and were given passports by her before immigrating to the United States to reside in Wisconsin, where Max was born. During her childhood, Max often saw her parents struggle to earn an income, as they each worked three jobs without speaking English. Her mother was a classically trained opera singer, while her father was a pianist.Max signed with Atlantic Records in 2016, where she released the song "Sweet but Psycho" in August 2018. It became her breakthrough single after peaking at number one in 22 countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, and New Zealand. The song also peaked at number two in Australia, and number 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Max released her debut studio album Heaven & Hell on September 18, 2020.

TheRa11n (formerly known as Kara Jade) is an emerging Plains Cree Femcee who was born and raised in Winnipeg, MB and has origins in Moosomin First Nation in Treaty Six Territory, Saskatchewan, Canada. Her sound has been described as a futuristic blend of hip hop style lyrics over uber urban beats. Anything from pow wow step to dancehall to trap TheRa11n has something for you!
From a very young age The Ra11n knew she wanted to be a musician with inspiration stemming from artists such as Aaliyah, Left Eye, Missy Elliot and Foxy Brown. As a pre teen she used to record herself singing over tapes on her boombox and make dance routines with her childhood friends after school.
At age 15 she was faced with difficult personal trials and tribulations dealing with the loss of her father. Her dad was her musical influence, biggest supporter and always pushed her to pursue her talents. In the time that followed the loss of her father she immersed herself in writing songs and poems as a way to deal with the pain she felt.
After signing a modeling contract and having her first born son at the age of twenty she was well on her way to making a name for herself in the modeling industry but deep down she knew music was her real calling.
Fast forward to 2015 and Kara decides to put down her heels and pic up the mic to be heard instead of just seen. TheRa11n came out as “Kara Jade” (also known as Metis Monroe) in 2015 with her first track titled “Original” which was a play on the word “Aboriginal” and an ode to her people and the struggles they endure.
In 2016 she released her debut EP “Levels” which she recorded half in Toronto, Canada and the other half in Mandeville, Jamaica. Levels was received with critical acclaim in the first nations music scene, hip hop circles throughout the 6ix and broke through the dancehall video charts in Jamaica.
Since then she has re-branded herself as TheRa11n and has been doing numerous performances across Canada and Jamaica. In particular her 2019 headlining performances at the Pride Parade Toronto and her Yonge and Dundas square performance for indigenous history month garnered significant attention from her growing fanbase.
2020 started off with a bang for TheRa11n, charting her first number one single on the Indigenous Music Countdown Top 40 and #3 on the Jamaican dancehall CMP DJ’s Top 10 with “Whine Fi Mi Baby” featuring Jamaican dancehall star Sikka Rymes. Performing at the Royal Ontario Museums “ROM After Dark” Sisterhood Series and the International Women's Day Music Summit which showcased the female talent of the 6ix. Headlined the Red Revue at the Horseshoe Tavern presented by ANDPVA. She released the hit early 2000’s inspired summer anthem “Outside Ft. FB$” which peaked the Indigenous Music Countdown at #8 and hit 11k views.
During the Covid-19 pandemic TheRa11n has taken her performance online. She was selected for the RBCXMUSIC Emerging Artist Showcase and was also re-selected as a featured artist for Indigenous Peoples Day. She has hosted four Covid-19 support watch parties for ANDPVA and headlined the online Brock University Pride Festival.
Despite the circumstances 2021 is also looking like another productive year for TheRa11n being nominated for Hip Hop single of the year, Video of the Year and Female Artist of the year at the 1st annual International Indigenous hip hop awards in Winnipeg, MB. At the time of this writing she is set to release her new single “Butterflies” right on time for Valentines Day. This year will also see the release of her highly anticipated sophomore album.
Interview List
www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/cultural-appropriation-panel-youth-artists-1.4478461
https://www.pressreader.com/canada/now-magazine/20190620/281883004865430
IG & Twitter: @thera11n
Facebook: Kara Jade
Contact: [email protected]
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/KaraJade/featured