Emmy-nominated educator turned entertainer, Dee-1 (@Dee1music) addresses critics and fans alike in the official music video for the Danny Beats-produced single “Lines Drawn,” following his viral interview on Sway In The Morning centered around industry hypycrosy. Filmed by Tufts University‘s own Jalen Hill, a student enrolled in the New Orleans native’s “The Intersection of Hip Hop and Social Change” course, the timely track and its accompanying visual postdate Dee’s previously released album UNO. Serving as the first official leak from his forthcoming LP From The Hood To Harvard, the song is a beacon of light as unfavorable headlines engulf online media.

“I did this song as a response to the industry being so shaken by me drawing a line in the sand and saying that we need some accountability for the messages we’re glorifying inside Hip-Hop. This is part one, there’s more on the way. A shift is happening from a genre and cultural perspective,” says the National Social Emotional Learning Consultant in a press statement to Medium Creative Agency about the release.

Award-winning rapper. educator, host, activist, business owner, and keynote speaker are synonymous with Louisiana‘s Dee-1. The Nasir “Nas” Jones Hip Hop Fellow at Harvard University is a Billboard Top 10 charting, game-changing MC with a persona to match his penmanship. He’s transitioned from being a middle school math teacher in The Boot to a Hip-Hop heavyweight with much more to accomplish. He has released 10 albums and 21 projects thus far in his career. 

Dee-1’s music is part of a bigger lifestyle movement called Mission Vision, which centers around three core principles: Be Real. Be Righteous. Be Relevant. In 2020, Dee received the prestigious NAACP “Power of Influence Award,” highlighting his community activism and commitment to inspiring the youth. In 2021, he was nominated for an Emmy Award for his work on “The Manhattan Project,” but he lost to Michelle Obama. Later that year, Dee was appointed to the “Louisiana Council for the Success of Black Men and Boys” by Governor John Bel Edwards, making him the first rapper in Louisiana history to become a governor’s appointee.

Watch the HD clip for “Lines Drawn” on YouTube and stream the single via Audiomack below. For a limited time you can purchase an advanced copy of From The Hood To Harvard exclusively on EVEN, here.

Missouri mainstay Kye Colors‘, in conjunction with LVRN (home to Summer Walker, 6lack, Davido, Baby Tate, etc.), liberates the official visual for ‘POSSE ON BROADWAY,’ taken off his latest body of work ‘COLORMAN: GREEN.’ Serving as the final installment in the Kansas City natives’ ‘COLORMAN’ EP series, which includes previous projects ‘COLORMAN: YELLOW’ & ‘COLORMAN: RED,’ the five-song collection of songs is anchored by supporting singles “GLIDE” and “OVER FOR NOW.” Production for the EP comes compliments of Shaq Gonzoe, Pierre Mathieu-Lanca, Ethan Eadie, Issac Elsie, John Gonzalez, C$upreme, and Will Steller meanwhile Justice Davis secures the only vocal feature.

During a new exclusive interview with iHeart Radio the 2023 Kansas City People’s Choice Awards ‘Best Male Rapper/Hip-Hop Artist’ recipient reveals his thought process when creating the ‘COLORMAN’ EP series and its closing chapter:

“I feel like I’ve been thinking about it like a stoplight these past couple of years. I find myself taking these pauses whether it would be due to something being in the way or me being in the way of myself, even so when we started with RED. A lot of this music was recorded over the year or a couple of years. So when I put it out I was like, let me start by putting out something I’ve been holding on to so much. So that was what RED represented.

Now YELLOW is like, all right cool. We are out of the darkness. YELLOW, we are up now. It’s a different vibe. It has a brighter vibe than the RED one. Now we are on GREEN. YELLOW, I found the road, I found my path, but GREEN is where I’m just going nonstop taking whatever the good or the bad. But I can stop no more. I can’t keep taking these little pauses. It’s really been a real-time artist development thing.”

J’Kye Slatton PKA Kye Colors is a rapper and producer from the south side of KC. Showcasing his passion for music from an early age, Kye began writing songs as early as age 5, often using crayons as his instrument of choice. Today, Kye has evolved into a vibrant and innovative artist, weaving intricate stories and evocative melodies into each captivating cut. Following a sync on Peacock’s original series Bel-Air and his partnership alongside ATL music powerhouse Love Renaissance (@LVRN) in association with Wasteland Records (@wastelandrecco), the talented Hip-Hop act is poised to be your favorite artist’s favorite artist.

Check out the Kendu-directed music video for “POSSE ON BROADWAY” as well as stream ‘COLORMAN: GREEN’ in its entirety below via Venice Music.

Isaiah Rashad joins Windy City wordsmith Kembe X for his Hippie Sabotage produced cut “Rolling Stoned.” A thought-provoking masterpiece that cleverly disguises its depth with wordplay and ethereal Alternative Hip-Hop instrumentation, “Rolling Stoned” invites listeners to embark on a journey of hidden meanings and insights. Serving as yet another teaser to the Top Dawg Entertainment affiliate’s forthcoming ‘Sleep Paralysis’ project, it may initially appear as brash rap but the record unfurls into a profound exploration of personal growth, dreams, and self-discovery.

“When we made this song in September 2021 it felt like a reunion and an opportunity to show Hippie Sabotage, I’m not the same person who moved from Chicago to LA and crashed on their couch. It was a chance to demonstrate my newfound confidence in my creative abilities and a willingness to adopt a fresh approach to music. It’s not a reinvention of my artistry, but a shedding of old skin and a dreamy exploration of a new version of myself, deeply connected to my psychedelic discoveries,” shares the Chicago native in a press statement when asked about his “Pole Vaulting” follow-up.

Known for his work with artists such as REASON, Guapdad4000, Jay Rock, and Ab-Soul, Kembe X stands as a beacon of innovation in a musical landscape often mired in conformity. His music, with over 10M+ UGC views on TikTok and 5M+ views on YouTube, has ignited a cultural wave, resonating across platforms. Accumulating a staggering 30M+ Spotify streams, Kembe X’s tracks encapsulate the essence of his artistry.

Beyond mere numbers, Kembe X’s compositions, from the introspective depths of “Voices” and “Cozy Forever” to the bluesy contemplation of “Body Language” and “Anyway,” paint a poignant picture of battling depression, touching hearts and minds. His magnetic stage presence has left an indelible mark, from headlining the Hippie Sabotage Tour in 2016 to sharing the stage in the ScHoolboy Q CrasHtalk Tour in 2019, not to mention legendary performances at Rolling Loud Miami from 2014 to 2017 and Rolling Loud Los Angeles 2017, solidifying his status as a festival favorite.

Stream Kembe X’s “Rolling Stoned” on your DSP of choice via BMR / The Orchard and watch his live performance recap of “Pole Vaulting” at Red Rocks.