California emcee Murs & Texas beatsmith Wiardon present “Flowers For Guru”, a 7/17 birthday dedication to late Gang Starr emcee Guru and the lead single from the forthcoming deluxe edition of Murs & Wiardon’s speak n spell EP, which adds several unreleased cuts as well as remixes from ProducerTrentTaylor and Balt Getty. The original version of the EP dropped last spring, spearheaded by the “Starting Lineup” single featuring Larry June and ICECOLDBISHOP (stream on Youtube). Murs is a trailblazer of first the West Coast then the global underground hiphop scene, going from selling cassettes of his music around the world with Living Legends to releasing albums with Warner Music Group, Def Jux, Rhymesayers, Strange Music and Dame Dash to name just a few. On October 13, 2016, Murs set a Guinness World Record for rapping for 24 hours non-stop during a live stream on Twitch. At age 16, Austin-based rapper/producer Wiardon broke wide on the music scene at age 16 with his debut release NUMBA1VIKTIM which took Soundcloud by storm. Wiardon says “I met Murs as a fan when I was super young and he followed me on social media and watched a lot of my growth as a musician so to be able to link up and do this project is special to me – shoutout murs and tim for reaching out and letting me be a part of this one.” Mid90s has set the release date of speak n spell: deluxe edition for August 11 – hip-hop’s 50th birthday.
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.
Following its Boiler Room debut alongside song producer Trey Kams and ScHoolboy Q during Kal Banx’s TDE presented LA set, Yakiyn aka Yak The Mack unloads his self-directed music video for “Petty.” If the Dallas native looks familiar it’s most likely because photos of him modeling Kanye’s Yeezy Season 3 collection made it to the front page of GQ a few years back; fast forward to today and he’s premiering his first single of 2023 and I can assure you it was well worth the wait.
Reconnecting with Trey Kams, instrumentalist for Burna Boy and Doechii, the track finds the fashion-forward Alternative Hip-Hop act guiding fans through a tantalizing musical journey rooted in righteous fun. The ultimate soundtrack for those looking to ignite their night with passion and allure, “Petty” is an irresistible invitation to indulge in the nonchalant side of life.
“The song embodies freedom with my words and gives an introduction to my current head space. You can be the superhero, but in someone else’s eyes you can be the supervillain and that’s okay because I’m only trying to be me. It’s me coaching myself – the only competition I see is myself. I’m only worried about what I’m on,” says the Texas triple-threat when speaking about the record’s significance in a press statement.
Born and raised in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Yakiyn’s journey from an unknown talent to a burgeoning star is as inspiring as his music itself. His remarkable musical talent but also his commitment to pushing artistic boundaries compelled audiences worldwide to tune in to his 2022 release “STFU” which garnered 425K+ Spotify streams and landed him in DSP editorial playlists with over 1M+ listeners as an independent artist.
He is a fearless innovator, constantly experimenting with new sounds, production techniques, and visual aesthetics- gaining the approval of notable creatives such as Leon Bridges, Smino, and Monte Booker. This willingness to explore uncharted territory has earned him a rapidly growing fan base and the respect of peers within the industry.
Watch the Cordell Jomha & Mitchell Dolphin-filmed visual for YTM’s “Petty” as well as stream the official audio on your DSP of choice below via BMR / The Orchard.
Artist Joéllen is an R&B singer-songwriter hailing from Toronto, Ontario. Drawing inspiration from her personal experiences and a diverse range of musical influences, Joéllen creates soulful and emotionally charged music that resonates deeply with her listeners.
Her latest EP, Stay In Luv, is a captivating and introspective musical journey that delves into the complexities of love, relationships, and self-discovery. Through a seamless blend of smooth R&B melodies and heartfelt lyrics, Joéllen’s EP showcases her velvety vocals and impeccable storytelling abilities, evoking a sense of vulnerability and authenticity.
“It was about the life and death of a relationship, and everything in-between,” says Joellen. “The perspective of love and relationships from a woman coming into her own. Stay In Luv was a coming of age project for me.”
Stay In Luv explores various aspects of love, from the euphoria of new romance to the challenges of navigating heartbreak and resilience. Each track is a heartfelt reflection of Joéllen’s personal growth and journey through love’s highs and lows, making the EP a relatable and touching experience for her audience.
With its soul-stirring melodies and relatable themes, Stay In Luv establishes Joéllen as a rising star in the R&B scene, leaving a lasting impression on listeners and promising a bright future for this talented artist.