Benji Wild - Watch and Learn

Rap is used as a vehicle to improve one's surroundings. Much is the case for this artist from Cardiff, the capital of Wales.

26-year-old MC Benji Wild is a native of Cardiff's Splott and Tremorfa neighborhoods and uses the environments to inspire his progression and growth needed to succeed in his musical endeavors. Wild strives for positivity with the preparation of a new EP, A Wild Life Documentary, which comes after serving a stint in prison.

The first release in support of his project is a music video titled "Watch and Learn." Visuals and the song key in on the grey days people from the UK are so familiar with and matches with the gloom of the low-income area Wild tours through. "The song itself is aimed at the people I familiarize myself with, and I hope that it makes us take notice of how our grey world can be and give us the hunger and drive that is needed to prosper and turn our lives around," he said.

Thanks to bold statements and knowledge Benji Wild drops over the grime-laden beat, the musician is primed to turn his life around. See for yourself below by viewing "Watch and Learn."

Time Spent with Choo Jackson

Choo Jackson via Alex Young

Choo Jackson un-paused his game, Tomb Raider on Xbox One. The rapper by way of Vero Beach, Fla., Chambersburg, Pa., and, most present, Pittsburgh now maneuvered a battle-tested Lara Croft throughout the map.

The moment of leisure came one day before Choo released his first project of 2016, a nine-song mixtape titled Anime. The work is "journey of youth music," he said, inspired by the wacky and colorful Japanese cartoon. Choo has watched anime since his uncle showed it to him as a kid, and he made the music to, "explain my life in a different way."

In his debut album, Broken Hearts Make Money, Choo spoke on personal relationship heartbreak; he detailed how a breakup took away his cheer and left him in solitude. However, his newest record, Anime, helped drive him away from his melancholy. Anime is about, "fucking fun, being out of this broken heart rut, and me finding myself again through the music," he said. Executive producer Christo helped Choo craft the EP's cheery sound.

"I made Anime for me to have fun to. I wanted to make cool ass music to be raw as fuck to, and that other people could have fun to as well," Choo said. Now, the rapper is back on the market, and waiting to see the women that come out of the woodwork after he drops new music.

Along with rapping, Choo cites weed and his friends as the positive influences to bring his swagger back. Nigel, co-owner of Pittsburgh lifestyle brand Daily Bread, sat next to Choo on the couch while he played Tomb Raider. Daily Bread was one of the first companies to promote Choo and expand his creative image more thoroughly throughout the 'burgh. Another friend and Choo's roommate, Staxx, also known as Swing, is a producer who motivates Choo with his dedication and effort.

Currently, life is blooming for Choo Jackson, a valuable member of RememberMusic. Since releasing BHMM, "I am a grown man now. I know my vision, and I know what I want to do," he said. One of those desired accomplishments is to make "50 genuine albums" in his career. 

Choo Jackson and Nigel of Daily Bread

A sample of that catalog came from loud bass hits and various melodies that rung from upstairs in Staxx's room of Choo's crib. A tall recording mic stood at my left, and it became apparent Choo records music where he lives. He put the Xbox controller down and invited Nigel and me up to listen to some unreleased songs that detailed his next two projects. The first song he played was a sung freestyle, and the following was a diddly with the words, "stunt on you," repeated in the hook. Here he delivered sage advice, "there are some people that always need to be stunt on because there are some people that stunted on you and told you that you wouldn't be shit."

The most endearing aspect of Choo's music is its purity. He allows his fans to enjoy his heartache and his accomplishments. By being both vulnerable and prideful himself, Choo instills confidence in everybody who listens to him. He receives gratification from knowing his music has helped someone. Choo even calls his fans family, "but distant, though."

As Choo looks to the future of his career, he hopes to use his sharp ear to expand the roster of his Foreverkool Records label. While I visited his home, Choo alerted me to new artist Nav and a song by Lil Yachty, "1Night."

Most importantly, Choo Jackson wants his fans to remember him as somebody who sacrificed himself to help the good of many. "Imagine a candlelight vigil for me," he said.

Wiz Khalifa - Khalifa (Album)

Pittsburgh pride and joy Wiz Khalifa makes "Khalifa" a household name today with the release of his new album, Khalifa. Furthermore, coinciding with the music release is the public debut of his marijuana strain called Khalifa Kush, or KK.

Musically, Wiz's new project is a special representation of his Taylor Gang family. He sent a Tweet on Feb. 1 that said Khalifa is, "an album produced entirely by the n*ggas i started this with." The product is a homegrown, Pittsburgh sound thanks to people like Sledgren, ID Labs, Big Jerm, and Christo. Sample the song "Make a Play" for evidence.

Other highlights in the album are features by Ty Dolla $ign in previously released "Lit," and a lovely appearance by Sebastian, Wiz's son.

Listen to Khalifa in the stream below and download a copy on iTunes. Also, be on the look out for Rolling Papers 2, which Wiz said drops before summer. He told The Source, "we're gonna go on tour during the summer, so before the summer, we're gonna put Rolling Papers 2 out."

Flatbush Zombies - Bounce

Flatbush Zombies

Rap group Flatbush Zombies, of New York's Flatbush neighborhood, prepare to release their debut album, 3001: A laced Odyssey.

In doing so, the group drops the album's lead single today titled "Bounce." Also, beginning on March 24 the Zombies will be on tour with Remy Banks and A$AP Twelvy.

3001: A Laced Odyssey comes out March 11. Listen to "Bounce" below.

Source: HYPETRAK

Travi$ Scott - Tourist

Via @travisscott Instagram

In Complex Media's December cover story featuring Houston, Texas rapper Travi$ Scott, he describes Barbadian songstress Rihanna as, "creative," "inspiring," and "muse." I'm sure after last night's release of her eighth studio album, Anti, Scott will continue to sing the praises of his romantic crush.

Scott does so in a way today by dropping a new song, "Tourist," which was rumored to appear as a collaboration on Rihanna's new album. The track admits, "How many times the merry-go-round goes around you come around a whole lot of times."

It seems pretty clear that La Flame's heart has been lit ablaze by bad gal RiRi.

Listen to "Tourist" below and stream Anti here.