After slamming his "TGOD Mafia: Rude Awakening" album with fellow Taylor Gang associate Wiz Khalifa and producer TM88, Juicy J returns with new music featuring Travi$ Scott.
The new song, "No English," crafted by TM88, comes before Juicy's to-be-released mixtape, "Rubberband Business 3," and Scott's forthcoming "Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight" album.
Watching the memorial service for Muhammad Ali broadcasted on ESPN, Jordan Montgomery's debut solo album plays in the background. Titled "Driving While Black," Montgomery's project is a coming of age story of what it means to be young and black in America.
Since Ali's death, many stories and quotes about his champion individuality and demand for respect amongst all humans echo from the people the boxer touched. "Hating people because of their color is wrong. And it doesn't matter which color does the hating. It's just plain wrong," Ali said.
Paralleled by the day of remembrance and recognition for the heavyweight champion of the world, Montgomery's music raises awareness about a problem we still face in America and around the world, racial injustice.
The Pittsburgh resident, activist and rapper, a product of 1Hood, a collective of hip-hop artists who believe art is the best way to challenge inequity and unify humanity, presents an album inspired specifically by social and political issues, like police brutality, affecting the African American community.
Conceptually, "I wanted the album to serve as a time capsule. I feel like the sound and content represents how a lot of young people feel about the modern injustices that we've witnessed," Montgomery says.
From the heavy guitar chords DJ Thermos inserts in the song "Bodies in the Trunk," and declarations like, "This is pro-black, so black it make you nervous," which Montgomery says in "Black People," the rapper resonates with the frustration some Afro-Americans feel about their treatment. The track "East Side" illustrates the life-threatening possibility of being racially profiled and arrested by police.
Though "Driving While Black" travels through troubling times of the black community, it also offers a beaming light of hope for those who relate to the album's content. Montgomery's lyricism is revolutionary and celebratory. With bounce provided by producer Christo, the song "Only Thing" offers excitement and pride around black culture. "We the only thing I hear poppin', we them boys you can't stop us," Montgomery raps.
However, commercial, white audiences' adoration of black culture cannot cover up the lack of respect some people have towards its creators.
Jordan Montgomery's "Driving While Black" album makes listeners aware of the injustices some people face simply because of their skin color.
Via @pkdelay
Since speaking Stanley Cup prophecies for the Penguins into existence, becoming dad of the year every year, and trending, I would say Pk Delay's mood is pretty upbeat.
At the Pittsburgh rapper's Pretty Chill Kickback, a party at a hookah bar, he debuted a new track called "Mood Yah." He announced the song featured Foreverkool artist Choo Jackson, and that led to much anticipation for it to drop.
Prior to the single's official release, Pk Delay and his fans successfully got the song title trending on Twitter to reach a popular audience.
Available on Apple Music, SoundCloud, and Spotify, "Mood Yah" promotes PK Delay's new EP coming in June and spreads glee. The song will also draw attendees to a string of performances featuring Pk Delay and his The Company Only crew, like the one on June 11 at Boom Concepts.
Listen to "Mood Yah" below and learn about dad's life in the latest "Just Chilling" episode here.
Adian Coker
Hip-hop creates a foundation and paves the way for "everyone to understand race and identity," said Eddie Huang, journalist, restaurateur, and rap fan, to Hot 97 radio station.
While hip-hop's roots remain in United States cities like New York and Los Angeles, people around the world relate to its authentic, confidence-filling, personal narrative.
Speaking to identity, South London rapper Adian Coker finds his voice in his new extended play, "Connect."
Calling his music "rap with pop sensibilities," his new work is truer to himself than ever. "It's more accessible really... it's still as smart as it was, it's just I'm out a lot more and obviously, as an artist I wanna hear my tunes in the club if I'm there," Coker said to Underground Kulture blog.
The UK artist has relied on his lyrical ability in the past, using punchlines and metaphors to build introspection. But, "Connect" offers an identifiable side to Coker presented in a playful musicality where listeners can vibe off the melodies, flows, and production.
Mixtapes and tracks dating back to 2012 bolstered Coker to right now, but how will his new effort progress his music career and how much does The States' contemporary rap scene impact his output?
InTheRough's curiosities were relayed to Coker by tenletterPR at a press event in Farringdon, London for the release of "Connect."
Adian Coker: It's always about being consistent and putting more music out. As an up and coming artist, that's always going to be the key to progress.
ITR: Do you concern yourself with contemporary rap in the U.S.? If so, who influences your sound?
Adian Coker: Yeah of course. It's the soundtrack to every club I go to pretty much. When I'm making a record though, I try to stay away from listening to anything in my genre that's current. As hard as you might try, it always ends up influencing the sound - I never want a project I make to sound like a replica of something else.
ITR: What is your favorite record on "Connect" and why?
Adian Coker: That's tough. It changes daily at the moment. Currently, I'm listening to "Nothing New." It's a banger; I love the flow and the beat. "Iyamide's Son" is also a favourite of mine right now too.
"Have the Drake vocals arrived yet?" Yes.
You heard this question frequently from DJ Khaled on his Snapchat. The inquisitive phrase has been a major key in promoting the DJ's new song with Toronto and October's Very Own, Drake. Called "For Free," surely DJ Khaled anticipates the song to hit anthem status, and it comes as the first single off his upcoming Major Key album - release date to be announced. Listen below.
