King Wess - Stop Dreamin

King Wess shares ‘good car vibes’ with new EP ‘Highway 101’

PORTLAND, OR – King Wess has always had a dream of moving to Los Angeles and making it big as an artist. It’s something he’s had in his head for as long as he can remember. When he was old enough, he took the drive along Highway 101 from Portland, Oregon to LA to visit the city and get a feel for what it would take to realize his dream. That one trip changed his life and put a fire in his heart that will be impossible to quench.

After returning from that trip in 2017, he spent nine straight months in the studio developing a unique sound and style that he could offer to the world. His first song “Touched” was a hit, and he hasn’t looked back since. And now he’s ready to release the fruit of his labors to the world through an eight-song EP he’s calling “Highway 101.”

“It’s a project inspired by the vibe I got driving from Portland to LA,” he said. “It’s one of those EPs that just give you those good driving vibes. It has smooth vibes sprinkled in with a couple of up-tempo head-boppers. That being said, I really think my music is different all around. I’m not too conscious with my lyrics and bore people, but I’m also not too simple. And I have singing abilities that a lot of other people don’t. I also touch really well on all aspects of hip-hop in a real organic kind of way.”

King Wess said he has always had a knack for music and was pretty good with poetry and writing while he was a younger student. He attributes his love for music to his mother who would also drive in the car with him listening to all kinds of old-school music. His father also introduced him to diverse genres of music – especially country. But as he grew older, his biggest musical inspirations where Nipsy Hustle, Drake, Kendrick Lamar and J.Cole, who he admits has probably had the biggest impact on his own personal style.

At the end of the day, King Wess said he hopes to make music that can be soothing to anybody – young and old. He tells stories from the things of life that he had experienced and hopes that those things will relate with others.

“I make music that’s for everybody,” he said. “I’m not too stuck in certain areas and every project I put out will have songs for everybody across all kinds of genres. A lot of different stuff on this EP shows that off, and people can see my progressions and the things I can do.”

King Wess said he’s just getting started on his career and that people can expect to get more music from him later this year. To listen to his music or to follow him on social media, please visit:

https://www.instagram.com/kingwess503/
https://mobile.twitter.com/KingWess503
https://m.facebook.com/KingWess503/?ref=bookmarks

Heuse - Wasteland

Indian artist fuses genres to create original new sounds

NEW DELHI, INDIA – One of the hottest new sounds in music today is coming out of one of the most populous countries in the world, and it’s coming from 22-year-old powerhouse Nakul Pai. Operating under the stage name Heuse, this New Delhi native is creating such unique sounds that he’s quickly becoming one of the most sought-after producers in the world and his new single “Wasteland,” which features NCS-artist Joseph Feinstein aka NUVILICES, is beginning to make major waves.

Like many artists, Heuse got his start as a young kid when at age 9 he picked up the guitar and found that he had a natural ability to learn music quickly. By his mid-teens, he had started learning other instruments, particularly keyboard, but came back to guitar by age 16. He remembers keenly one day when a friend told him about producing software that would allow him to control any sound he wanted. And when he began to experiment with production, it unlocked oceans of potential that he said he’s never looked back from since.

“I just try to portray what’s in my mind and I love that production lets you be in control of everything,” he said. “I try to make my own sounds and melodies from scratch. I guess that’s what makes me feel better. Anything can inspire me. If something happens during the day or there’s a song that I hear, or even the food I eat sometimes will inspire me. And when inspiration strikes, I have to go with it. There have been nights when I don’t even sleep because I love to process and sleep is like wasting time.”

Heuse said he’s never been interested in putting his face out there to the world and would prefer to let his music speak for itself. And he’s thrilled that the good music he’s creating is being embraced by so many others around the world – especially the ones that he considers to be “experimental” in their boundary-pushing new sounds and styles.

“Some songs connect in seconds and some don’t connect at all,” he said. “I’m trying to fuse genres in a lot of ways. Sometimes, I get really dark and put the guitar in it. Other times, I feel really inspired by soft things. That inspiration helps me make music with different kinds of moods, and I love the process of getting it out of my mind and sharing it with other people.”

To date, Heuse has released more than 60 individual tracks for multiple labels, including NCS, Warner Brothers, Sony ATV, Riotville and more. And he’s preparing to drop another single called “Broken Boombox” on April 25th.

To listen to Heuse’s music or to follow him on social media, please visit:

https://www.facebook.com/officialheuse/
https://www.instagram.com/heusemusic/
https://soundcloud.com/heuse/brokenboombox
https://open.spotify.com/album/09UblZ990V1xdtQTHKUrqK

Siciliano - Replay

Italian-American rapper Siciliano pays homage
to heritage with new album ‘Sunday Dinner’

RICHMOND, VA – Traditions and heritage are extremely important to Anthony Simonetti. Growing up in The Bronx among an Italian-American family, he remembers keenly the things that his friends and family would do that were homage to his Italian heritage. One of his fondest memories and something which he still participates in today is Sunday Dinner – the time every week when friends and family gather around the dinner table to share a good meal while connecting with one another. It’s one of those quintessential traditions that people all over the world can point to as a marker of the Italian heritage.

As a musician, Simonetti – who goes by the stage name Siciliano – wants to capture the emotions that come from moments like that and celebrate the elements of his Italian heritage that he loves and for which he is so proud. But unlike many from within the Italian population, he’s choosing to do it with hip-hop music.

“My whole heritage means everything to me, but hip-hop wasn’t a huge part of that type of community where I grew up,” he said. “But growing up in The Bronx, it is impossible not to hear rap music. It was something that was always around me, even in the very Italian area of The Bronx where I grew up. There were a lot of rappers coming from The Bronx and making it big and that drew my attention. When I started learning that there were people not far from where I grew up who were making it and repping who they are and their people, I knew it was something I also wanted to do for Italians. That’s when I started making my own certain rhyming scheme that’s kind of a mix-and-match style.”

That unique sound and style is displayed perfectly on his new album, “Sunday Dinner.” It’s a project that was born from his desire to capture elements of his heritage and pair it with sounds inspired by some of the greatest musicians along the East Coast. The album features a number of artists from Richmond, and even has two tracks on which Siciliano is more of a feature than the main artist. But bringing people together through music is what he wants to do with his career, not only because he knows it makes for great music but also because it’s a nod to what the Italian tradition is all about.

“That’s what ‘Sunday Dinner’ is all about,” he said. “That’s a huge thing for Italians. And the idea for me as a musician, especially with this album, is to find the best talent out there and bring them to the table. It’s never gonna be just about me. I’m always bringing other people to the table and making it more about good music than about me as an individual.”

The debut single on the album, “Replay,” features producer Keith Blvck who Siciliano said is one of his favorite musicians to work with. It’s a song that the two of them recorded in one studio session in one of those moments where everything comes together easily and “the magic just happens.” It’s a song about living his lifestyle and how the things of life are so good that you want to put them on replay and live them over and over again. A music video for the single is in the works and should drop by May. He’s also working on music videos for the singles “At The Party” and “Too Hard On Em.” Siciliano also said there’s a potential for a smaller EP to drop later this year but right now, he’s focusing on promoting “Sunday Dinner” and showing off his unique skills to the world.

To listen to Siciliano’s music or to follow him on social media, please visit:

http://www.officialsiciliano.net/
https://www.facebook.com/RealSiciliano/
https://www.instagram.com/siciliano_king/
https://twitter.com/SimonettiSource
https://twitter.com/SicilianoMusic
https://www.youtube.com/c/TheOfficialSimonettiSource
https://open.spotify.com/artist/5oVxzzrcHYSeIOpjKDLXuh?si=tjcwaDZfSFGuR7Ec9FQKRw

Money Boy 2K - On Business (Official Music Video)

Money Boy 2K - On Business (Official Music Video) Check out the latest music video from Chicago artist Money Boy 2k "On Business" Shot by: @SS_MCBEE  Follow money boy via social media:  Instagram: @MoneyBoy2k  Twitter: @MoneyBoy2k  Facebook: Moneyboy 2k   New project "Blood Of A King" due out November 14th!
 

D-Roc - Bankhead Bounce

Ying Yang Twins member D-Roc

drops solo dance anthem ‘Bankhead Bounce’

ATLANTA, GA – Back before D-Roc became a famous member of the hip-hop duo Ying Yang Twins, he had a budding solo career. In 1995, toward the beginning of his music career, he released a hit single called “Bankhead Bounce” that gained him accolades and was a hit with his fans. Now 24 years later, D-Roc is releasing an updated version of the song, and it’s quickly becoming one of the hits of the year.

In 1995, the song was a dance anthem that referred to bouncing one’s shoulders. The 2019 version is more directly aimed at women, though it still maintains that upbeat dance vibe that everyone wants to enjoy.

“It’s a twerk song,” D-Roc said. “It’s about bouncing that ass and having a good time. (Doing an updated version of the song) wasn’t anything I really tried to do, I’m just always recording all the time because I have a studio in the basement and when my brother launched his label, 2Lit Records, he asked me for a song. We have a producer that we were about to sign in-house for that label, and he sent me a beat and it just came to me. So it was nothing intentional, it’s just that God works in mysterious ways.”

D-Roc said fans of the Ying Yang Twins will love this single because it captures everything that D-Roc has been about throughout his career. He’s still rapping the person he’s been all these years and isn’t planning on changing who he is. He makes good music and he raps about anything he feels like – if he doesn’t feel it, he’s not going to rap about it. And this song is his way of expressing himself and doing what he loves doing, he said.

“The music we have made really does stand out and stand alone,” he said. “That’s what has had us out here working for so long. We made music that lasts forever, compared to music that’s just for the moment. I’m just trying to keep on making good music and let my fans know we love what we do and this is what we do. I love music. I’m not doing it for a buck. I make legendary songs that last forever.”

D-Roc said “Bankhead Bounce” is the first of many singles he plans to release as a solo artist under the 2Lit Records label. While he has no specific timeline for when those singles will drop, he did say fans can likely expect another single later this year. He’s also busy touring with The Ying Yang Twins “Millennium Tour,” which hit the U.S. this March. Other hip-hop mainstays on the tour include special guests Mario, Lloyd, Pretty Ricky and Chingy. The tour is produced by G-Squared Events in association with Omarion Worldwide, Hall of Fame Entertainment and Blvd. Music.

To listen to more of D-Roc’s music or to follow him on social media, please visit:

https://www.instagram.com/2lit_records/
https://www.instagram.com/therealatlyingyangtwins/
https://twitter.com/yingyangtwins

“Bankhead Bounce” (feat. Mr. Ball)
https://open.spotify.com/album/1UN7dUHTRBgWoNEo7Yjc5W
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/bankhead-bounce-feat-mr-ball-single/1458823146?app=itunes&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

Rachel Bailey - Pretty

Rachel Bailey offers open invitation to Bae-Gang
with new single ‘Pretty’

DENVER, CO – When people listen to Rachel Bailey’s music, there’s one message she hopes reverberates over and over again: Be yourself!

That single mantra is the backbone for Bailey’s music. And as more and more people join her “Bae-Gang,” that message of self-empowerment is growing like wildfire. Her new single “Pretty” is the perfect example of this. Serving as an anthem “for the ladies,” Bailey originally wrote it thinking she would mock the word “pretty.” But as the song developed, it became more of a song that empowers other women.

“There are a lot of men out there who will use the term ‘pretty’ as something that’s less-of or stupid or dumb,” Bailey said. “I say I’m pretty but I’m with the shit. You can think I’m no big deal, but I’m actually in this to win this. That’s what I was going for with the song. It’s for the ladies to have that confidence. There have been a lot of times where I’ve been insulted by being resigned to just beauty. As women, we’re not just pretty, we’re powerful.”
The song combines elements of R&B and hip-hop in an upbeat way that Bailey said will make people want to nod their heads. It also captures her unique sound and style, which is a combination of her multiple influences and the originality she’s developed over the years. What’s more, Bailey puts her film skills on display with the music video for the single, which she wrote and directed.

Bailey has been around music her entire life. Her father – who was in the military and moved his family all over the world – was a musician who once toured in Europe and brought his music back to the U.S. Because of his time in the military, however, he couldn’t take his music all the places that he wanted to.

While music was always in the hoe, it wasn’t until her teenage years that Bailey said music became something she was serious about. Bailey said she found salvation through music at age 13 when she went through a traumatic experience.

“I was in such a dark place at age 13 that I tried to commit suicide,” she said. “I got help and therapy, and my therapist introduced poems to me. I was told to write exactly how I feel without trying to think about it. So I just went for it and it was a wow moment for me. I hadn’t been able to express myself like that ever. I put my feelings into poetry and it changed my outlook on everything. Then one day, I started singing the poems that I wrote and I haven’t looked back. I’ve been doing it ever since.”

A few years ago, Bailey moved back to Denver, Colorado – a town near where her mother grew up and lived the majority of her life – and has been pursuing music professionally ever since. She said it’s fun to see more people join the Bae-Gang and she hopes to continue to inspire people to embrace their authenticity.

“What I believe in is something anyone can apply to their lives,” she said. “Everyone has something special and unique about themselves. What I want people to get from my music when they hear it is to be themselves. Don’t worry about people judging what you’re saying. Just focus on being you. Live your best life. If what you want to do sounds crazy to everyone else, who cares. Do what you love to do. That’s what it means to be part of the Bae-Gang – to be an example for other people to chase their dreams and shoot for the stars.”

To listen to Rachel Bailey’s music or to follow her on social media, please visit:

https://www.instagram.com/officiallyrachelmusic/
https://www.facebook.com/officiallyrachelmusic
https://twitter.com/OfficiallyRache

Ricky Styles - On Yo Head

Ricky Styles overcomes near-death shooting to
reinvent himself, launches new project ‘Troublemaker’

OAKLAND, CA – There’s one word that sums up Ricky Styles’ music: Energy!

The Oakland, California native makes turned-up music and his new single “On Your Head” is the perfect display of that energy. The debut track from the forthcoming album “Troublemaker” is the kind of song that gets people on their feet and motivates to take on the world.

“I’m producing energy,” Styles said. “I come with the energy. I go one way and then another. You can feel me and once you hear it, you get more of a picture of what it means when people say I have energy music. This new album is more about me and growing up and what I’m doing, and it’s all very upbeat. It’s more hip-hop than trap but it’s up.”

Styles said the album is a nod to the hip-hop of the 80s and 90s but when listeners get their first taste of his music they’ll know immediately that they’re in for a ride. His aggressive delivery and in-your-face lyrics are impossible to ignore. He pushes then he pushes some more, and with a catchy beat and hooks that beg to be repeated, fans all over the world will be hitting repeat.

It’s been a long journey for Ricky Styles to get to this point. Born and raised in Oakland, California, he always wanted to do music but instead struggled through the street hustle just to be able to provide for his family. Like many other young people growing up on the street, Styles hopes music would keep him out of trouble. He had a unique talent for rapping that by the early 2000s, he’d gained enough attention to make a business out of his music endeavors. He created Dollar Sign Records with some friends and family and together, they formed a conglomerate made up of producers, writers, photographers and rappers.

In 2011, his first mixtape “Blood In No Out” hit the streets. The debut single from that project, “Don’t Look at my Plate,” caught on quick and made its way across the entire U.S. He followed that up with another single called “I Do It” in 2012, which had some good radio play in several markets across the country. Then in the midst of his continued rise to stardom, something tragic happened. On May 31, 2014, Ricky Styles was shot in front of his home. The bullet shattered his femur and cut the femoral artery in his leg. He nearly lost his life, and it took four full years before he would recover enough to be able to pursue his dream of being a professional musician again.

In 2018, he made his return with the mixtape “Good Side Bad Side,” and immediately, fans knew he was back. The first music video from the project got 1 million views in a month and everyone was playing the record all up-and-down the West Coast.

Which brings fans to the present … Ricky Styles has nearly two decades of music experience under his belt. That coupled with his life-harrowing experiences gives him a one-of-a-kind point of view, and that’s all coming together in amazing ways with the new project “Troublemaker.”

To listen to Ricky Styles’ music or to follow him on social media, please visit:

https://www.instagram.com/rickystylesdsg/
https://twitter.com/RickyStylesDSG
https://soundcloud.com/ricky-tyles
https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/ricky-styles/833928709
https://open.spotify.com/artist/47IyKWM6V3RsnZukh7KXOT?si=x2nMhZq3TguKyesbtZArWg

“News” (Prod. Chris on the Beat) Dir. Carlo Catalan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFuxVOQ0kz4&feature=youtu.be

“On Yo Head” (Prod. Chris on the Beat) Dir. @Carlo.Catalan
https://youtu.be/jKWZJDRC3_g

Ethos - V: Parents

Ethos sparks debate with new album ‘Ten Commandments’

CLEVELAND, OH – It’s one thing to create music people like – music you can nod your head to and enjoy for a brief moment in time. It’s a whole different thing to create an experience that sparks debate and makes people think more deeply. Music like that becomes more than just a mere enjoyable background noise – it becomes the type of art that can change lives.

That’s the kind of music Cleveland-based artist Ethos wants to create, and his new album “Ten Commandments” is the perfect testament to that mission. It’s a deeply challenging look at life using the Ten Commandments from the Bible as a point of reference. Each song takes the idea from the individual Ten Commandments and uses that as a platform to challenge listeners’ preconceived notions about life, culture and society.

The first track is “Zealot” which Ethos describes as an indictment on how humanity has twisted the purpose of the church over time. While he doesn’t exactly say that man has gotten it wrong, he does nudge the listener to look beyond mere blind faith and question the reasons why belief is there in the first place.

He follows this up with “Idolatry” which is a song that he said takes a closer look at anyone who would be arrogant enough to portray themselves as an absolute answer to anything.

“There’s a lot of symbology in the video for that song,” he said. “Really, I’m pushing people not to have role models that they don’t know a lot about. Don’t blindly idolize things – like the church, or gang leaders, or politicians or whomever. Too many people decide to go one direction without considering other perspectives. Don’t idolize. Be yourself.”
A skit he has titled “Vanity” serves as the third track on the album and highlights the hypocrisy of today’s church leaders. This is followed by “Sabbath” through which Ethos challenges people to consider what they’re filling their lives with and how those things might be more negative than positive.

“A lot of people can’t even get the time they need to be themselves,” he said. “You can’t relax nowadays, and even if you try to, you still get hounded. This song is about learning how to put your foot down and be honest about what you want and what you want to do. If you want to keep your sanity, you need to take some time off – especially if you have children.”

“Vanity” is a bit of a break in terms of tone and sets the stage for some harder songs to come including “Parents,” “Murder” and “Adultery.” The first is a song that he said is a direct message to his birth mother, but which also encourages all other parents in the world to let their kids learn to stand on their own. “Murder” turns a corner in the album in terms of tone and subject matter. Ethos uses the song to call out anyone who follows a crowd for no other reason than that they want to belong.

“It’s about sheep and ‘Yes men’ on the front lines who don’t think for themselves, they just do what they’re told to do and people are dying for it,” Ethos said. “I’m trying to get the point across that we’re all brothers and violence isn’t the answer.”

“Adultery” is a song that Ethos said is very intense and is pulled directly from his own personal life experiences. It’s almost like he’s telling the story from his perspective, and he leaves no room for interpretation in what he’s saying.

“I’m telling the cheater that they’re an asshole for leaving, and it’s also an indictment on the person being cheated on because they’re afraid to try again,” he said. “If someone says that they love you, adultery is not a behavior you should do on someone you love.”

Ethos finishes off the album with two more songs and a skit. One song is “Klepto” which of course revolves around the idea of not stealing. But theft in essence serves as a metaphor for people who mooch off others to get ahead. Ethos said he can’t stand it when people are too lazy to get a job or get ahead in life and instead “steal” from others around them.

The skit “Married” follows that song and sets the stage for “Covet” which caps off the album. All of the songs come in under 30 minutes, and Ethos said it’s a project that is meant to be listened to from start to finish in order.

“I tried to make it as immersive of an experience and as deep of an experience as possible,” he said. “I tried to create a concept and make debate points, with things in the songs that can get crowd involvement whenever I’m performing live. Ultimately, I’m trying to create a debate in a neutral fashion with good music and to the best of my ability.”

To listen to Ethos music or to follow him on social media, please visit:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDT_EK8YwhZ94fZYe5j5DUw/about?view_as=subscriber
https://www.instagram.com/ethos_cleveland/
https://soundcloud.com/user-302115106
https://twitter.com/thetransistors