Cuban Rain - Know You

 

Multi-Talented Cuban Rain Commands Mastery On New God 

Cuban Rain is more than a rapper. He’s more than a writer and more than a director. Even more than an entrepreneur… Cuban Rain is a polymath; his accomplishments span a variety of different fields. The cover art for his latest album New God calls to mind Michaelangelo’s The Creation of Man. “My earlier material was all different styles,” said Cuban Rain. “But I’m musically very versatile. I felt like this album was anointed or blessed by God. I was touched by God to release it.”  

Captivated by music at the age of 7, Cuban Rain recalls how his brothers influenced him. “I was just watching my brothers and following in their footsteps,” he said. “I went through some hard times in my 20s. But at 28, I was able to save up enough money to pay for my studio time.” Prior to launching his music career, Cuban Rain worked in both the medical and the security industries. In his spare time, he found intern positions that allowed him ground-floor access into the music business. “I’ve done a lot of promoting for labels,” he explained. “Bad Boy Records’ street team, G Unit’s street team… That put me in touch with the likes of Slim Thug and Big Tuck.”

 

Not content to let life pass him by, Cuban Rain keeps his musical craft sharp with a daily regimen. “I look at my recording as everyday work,” he said.  “I have been recording nearly every day for the last 3 years. I never want to let more than maybe 3 or 4 days go by without recording.” Cuban Rain credits his time volunteering with street teams as critical to his success. “I learned that it takes hard work to get anywhere in any company,” he said. “You gotta be goal-oriented. You have to know what you want. I always wanted to be the artist, the producer, and the label owner. To get there, I never stopped learning.”  

Cuban Rain doesn’t limit his artistic assets to music. He also owns 6 Vision Productions, a video production company, as well as a record label called Yasah Entertainment. “I wanted to take care of the video side, so we started a production company.  I also write and direct short films.” Cuban Rain has several film and television projects in the works. “I have a short film called Necro, which will be released soon. I’m also working on a reality TV series called Making It Dallas, which follows young artists competing for a recording contract.” 

 

Never comfortable being still, Cuban Rain is always working and constantly making art. His next album will be a companion soundtrack to a film. “I have a lot of material coming up in ‘21. Stay posted. You’ll see my work. I won’t be so in the background.”  

Stream Cuban Rain’s New God and follow his social media channels for more information.   

https://www.instagram.com/kingyasah/ 

https://www.facebook.com/solomonrainyasah 

https://twitter.com/KingYasah 

 ”New God” 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kaBHzx2hgPbGPGdksnZKWYHh63jwDUuZ8 

Amschel - Die

Veteran producer Amschel breathes new life into Trap Soul and Trap Music 

We all want to leave something behind. We want a legacy, something that endures beyond us. We yearn to create something that will last. From the time Amschel (AKA “Kon”) discovered music, he knew exactly what he wanted his legacy to be. Amschel’s passion for rhythm began when he developed an interest in percussion. “I’ve been in a band since the second grade,” said Amschel, “and I started playing drums in high school.”  

Amschel established his own record label, Woo Records, and officially began his production career in 2001. “There was a relative of mine who would cry ‘woo,’” Amschel explained. “That stuck with me, so I wanted to call the label that.” In his production style, Amschel is a zealous devotee of Reggaeton, Trap, and Trap Soul music. Or as Amschel himself put it, “I am the original founder of Trap and Trap Soul Music.” 

Amschel’s previous work includes producing early tracks for Chris Brown. “I was there when he [Brown] and T-Pain signed their deals with Jive Records.” Amschel said he has also written and produced for artists like Jagged Edge, The Weeknd, Trey Songz, Bryson Tiller, and Lil Baby. “I first met The Weeknd at Lancaster City College in 2012,” Amschel remembered. “That’s before he blew up.”  

But Amschel’s artistic repertoire isn’t just limited to the recording console. “When you listen to those background vocals on some of H.E.R.’s tracks,” Amschel recalled, “that’s me singing those background vocals.” Spotify users can find a complete list of Amschel’s discography via the “Amschel’s Hits” playlist.  

His latest track, “Die,” features FRVR Friday on vocals. “Die” is a Trap Soul fan’s fantasy made into reality. It has a mellow, dreamy air that sets the listener at ease while FRVR Friday and Amschel provide somber, echo-laden verses. Toward the end of the song, attentive listeners will notice a subtle sample from the classic 80s film The Goonies. “I put it in there because it says, ‘die,’” Amschel said.  

“Die” is the beginning of a new era for Amschel’s career. FRVR Friday also lent his vocal musings to an additional Amschel-produced song called, “My Way.” PARTYNEXTDOOR, IV Music, MIKExAngel and JSOUL will also be involved in his upcoming projects. Amschel said he has tracks in the works featuring the likes of Jacquees, Trey Songz, YNDR, Mikey100k, KREW$, AlmtyCeez. Furthermore, he is always seeking artists to work with. Whether they are rising stars or veteran acts, Amschel is interested. “I’m currently looking for artists to work with,” said Amschel. “I have a ton of beats.   

“Die” will be available across all streaming platforms on Feb 11. 

“Die” Spotify Pre-Save Link 

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/amschel/die-frvr-friday 

 

Stream Amschel’s music, or follow him on social media, here:  

https://www.facebook.com/realamschel  

https://www.instagram.com/realamschel/ 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-QG-_vl70qRorB1tbAC6Mg 

https://open.spotify.com/artist/73clAYTonlqaLwpN8qDNwv?si=VAE7ypwtQDyGf-qY6Pca0Q 

The Stewarts - His Door Is Open

 

Gospel Pop song from timeless greats holds spot in Top 20 for 12 weeks 

CINCINNATI, OH – The hit Gospel track from brothers, Del and Garry K Stewart continues to resonate with people all over the world, and has held a spot in the Top 20 of the Top 300 Emerging Song Charts for more than 12 weeks. “His Door Is Open” reached as high as No. 5 on the chart, and it has also made its way onto some prominent playlists on Spotify, including: Mixed Up Mondays, Throwback Tuesdays, Game Day, and Fresh Off The Press playlists. The brothers have also been listed on Spotify as one of the hottest unsigned recording artists of 2020.  

That’s quite a year for two brothers who have been in the industry for nearly five decades. They started their career in 1975 by releasing their first single, “How Far Can Our Love Go,” which led to a chance meeting with Motown songwriter and producer Hal Davis. They auditioned for him at the Downtown Cincinnati Playboy Club, and other opportunities soon followed. By 1981, they were working with Midwest producer and owner of CounterPart Records, Shad O’Shay, who helped create their first hit record, “Get Down, Get Down.” That success continued over the years with other regional hits and singles that found their way to audiences all over the world. And along the way, these two brothers have never lost sight of who it is that makes all of this possible. 

“We are very, very thankful and grateful, and we know that God is blessing us,” Del said. “We give all praise to God. And we just pray that God will lead us to the right people so that our music can make an impact.” 

One part R&B and one part Gospel, “His Door is Open” is like Motown-meets-modern-day-Soul, with some Pop vibes thrown in for good measure. It’s the perfect song to continue the legacy of these two brothers and the uplifting messages they’ve been passing along through music for the past 45 years.  

“We feel our sound is Christian Pop,” Garry K said. “We’re incorporating old school with new school. That comes with a softer sound that’s bringing positive lyrics. A lot of songs out there right now are more profanity-driven and don’t have any type of a strong message. The message we’re trying to convey is a strong message about Christ our hope and not giving up on your dreams. We’ve been around since 1975, and that should attest to other people that whatever dreams you have are never over until God says they’re over. If you decide to quit, then you’re giving up on your dreams and sometimes you gotta fight for your dreams.” 

The brothers plan to ride the wave of success from their latest single by releasing more hits in 2021. For starters, they’re going to re-release their song “Faith” which originally dropped about five years ago. According to Garry K, it’s a song that is right on point for things that people are dealing with around the world right now. 

“We believe people should hear this one,” he said. “It’s a good next step from ‘His Door is Open.’” 

The Stewarts are also working on a new original called “Stand,” which should be ready for release by this summer.  

To listen to their music or to follow them on social media, please visit: 

https://vm.tiktok.com/JLYmcTA/ 

“His Door Is Open” 
https://youtu.be/X01cvkFZHx4 

https://open.spotify.com/album/0H34hQTt5kMuxEWbYJP4xi

Vi City - OnGod (Official Music Video)

 

Chicago Artist Vi City Delivers A Visual For Rising Single "On GOD"

One of Chicago’s very own, Vi City, originally from the 'Wild Hundreds' area of the southside. He's back on the music scene with a brand new visual for "On GOD" tune in!!

 

Follow Vi City
Instagram: @IamViCity​
Twitter: @IamViCity​
FB: @IamViCity
TikTok: @ViCity​
SoundCloud: @IamViCity​

Rev KJ Blane - This Time

Rev. KJ Blane offers soul-stirring songs on new album ‘Lyrical Faith

Newport News, VA – Touching souls and changing lives… That’s the passion behind the music from Christian rapper Rev. KJ Blane. And his new album “Lyrical Faith,” which is available across all streaming platforms, does exactly that. Taking the approach of a preacher using music to pass along God’s message, Blane brings the thunder with insights into God’s Words and inspirational licks that are sure to motivate people all over the world.

“You don’t have to put on a suit and tie to dress the part with this album,” Blane said. “You can keep your street clothes on and ride in your car and let the Word marinate in your soul. This is a project that will inspire people that no matter what they are going through, it can and will get better. It’s songs to get you through anything, and uplifting songs, because God is the one who uplifts our souls.”

Since its release on Nov. 27, 2020 – the birthday of his late brother, Daniel Blane Jr. who died from cancer early last year – the album has received some high praise — cracking the Top 100 on iTunes in his genre, and going as high as #2 on Amazon’s Digital Charts for Contemporary Christian new albums. Austin Radio DJ White Brutha (Todd Engle, owner of Insanely Gifted Radio) called the album a “marathon of all (Blane’s) sermons combined.”

“If you don’t get inspiration from listening to these songs, then something is wrong with you,” White Brutha said. “The quality of this album exceeds most of the albums that have been released (in 2020). This is a solid listening opportunity to expand your taste and get familiar with the Christian outlet from an authentic lyrical artist who sets the tone effectively throughout the project. Impressive. I almost wished there were more tracks to listen to. Even if the ‘message’ is overlooked, the music and the vibe will keep your attention just as well.”

That’s high praise for a debut album from an artist launching his first project in his mid-30s. Rev. KJ Blane has been in the Army for the past 10 years and is currently working on his master’s degree with intentions to become an Army Chaplain. Originally from Bartlett, Texas, he is the son of Pastor Daniel Blane who has been preaching at Mt. Ararat Missionary Baptist Church for more than 25 years. Church life has always been a part of Rev. Blane’s life, and he recalls playing the drums and singing in his father’s church from a young age. He began to rap in high school as a fun outlet with friends but soon discovered that he had a natural talent for it. He dropped his first mixtape, “It’s My Turn,” in 2011, one year after enlisting in the Army, but music took a back seat to his career and his family, and it wasn’t until he lost his brother at the age of 35 on July 21^st, 2020 that he returned to music as an outlet for his emotions.

“Music has always been a way to vent and I know I can use music to reach larger crowds to get God’s Word across,” Blane said. “When my brother died, I went to a dark place. What got me through that was picking up the notepad and starting to write. The first single and video that released was “This Time”. Blane takes us into that one on one conversation with God asking Him to show up in his time of need. The opening track on the album, ‘Devotion’ opens like a church service. I utilize my preaching, Scripture, and prayer, along with my lyrics at the start and I close the same way. It’s like you’ve literally come to a Rev. KJ Blane’s church service. When you hear a song from me, you’re going to actually get Scripture or at least a breakdown. You might call me up afterward and say that felt like Bible study, which is great because I want my music to use those Bible verses and help you understand it through song. Bible verses are what got me through dark times, and they can for you, too. At the end of the day, it’s songs to get you through anything.”

To listen to Rev. KJ Blane’s music or to follow him on social media, please visit:

https://linktr.ee/RevKJBlane
youtube.com/RevKJBlane

facebook.com/RevKJBlane
instagram.com/RevKJBlane

https://open.spotify.com/album/4m05hrRCcZ4XpXGaaW8iLd?si=fFaA0ovJRZCBPaUVfla_uQ
https://music.apple.com/us/album/lyrical-faith/1541166321?ls
https://www.amazon.com/Lyrical-Faith-Rev-KJ-Blane/dp/B08NXBF14S/ref=zg_bsnr_195246011_74?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=YGHHCKKDQGG9Z4ZHFQES

Tony Beyond - Light Em Up

Midwest artist Tony Beyond offers versatile mix of sounds on new album ‘A Spark In The Dark’ 

CLEVELAND, OH – Tony Beyond is an artist who blurs the line between good and bad. Embracing the power of theology, numerology and astrology, this young artist from the Midwest offers a unique brand of music that deals with depression, chaos and dysfunction while also mixing in ideas of happiness, peace and love. Those ideas come to play across the songs on his new LP “A Spark in the Dark,” which is slated to drop across all streaming platforms on February 6. 

“This is a project that represents the culmination of everything I’ve been working on the last couple of years,” he said. “It incorporates the different elements I want – duality and shedding light on situations and elements of my life. I think of it as offering pillars that help others see what direction they want to go in. That’s why I touch on a lot of different topics, from having a sense of identity to finding love that isn’t immediately reciprocated, to having things you want that you know are going to take a long time to pay off. There’s a little bit of softness with roughness around the edges, which captures this sense of duality. In some ways, it’s about focusing on a specific turning point in your life and that waiting period when you’re looking for something to change. You want the process to keep going where you’re improving and have things come full circle, and this project represents that time when you feel alone and start looking deep within yourself.” 

Tony said his signature style is one that he brought to the music industry long before any other artists were mixing Soul with Hip Hop. Though today’s brand of Hip Hop has more Soul and mixes singing with rapping, Tony was one to explore that style in the early 2000s. In the years since, he’s been able to perfect that style, and the blend of soulful, traditional Hip Hop, with bits of R&B thrown in, is something truly original. 

Born and raised in Cleveland, Tony found out very early on that both sides of his family were musically inclined. He started off freestyling on any request whenever he would hang out with his father, especially when his friends were around. By middle school, he was writing his own verses and hooks, and started a binder filled with song ideas and lyrics. In high school, he developed a reputation as “the rapper” and would often get caught writing lyrics in class instead of taking notes. But as he graduated from high school and tried to balance his creativity with a life lived on the street, he often found himself living the very yin-and-yang lifestyle that he now sings about in his music.  

“Ultimately, I want my music to be known for versatility,” he said. “You can get every kind of vibe from it. I enjoy making romantic love songs but I also like to go with traditional hard core Hip Hop. I want to be the type of artist who any other artist making music will recognize as being good at his craft and a good person to collaborate with. I can delve into any topic or jump on any type of vibe. I also want to be known as someone who is a lyrical, melodic storyteller. I like to set scenes and paint a picture for you. I want to send you down a journey to see things for yourself. I like to be the person who brings a picture to the forefront and gives you something to visualize as you’re listening to the music.” 

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

https://soundbirth.lnk.to/TonyBeyond 

https://www.instagram.com/tonybforever/ 

https://twitter.com/TonyBForever 

‘A Spark In The Dark’ 

https://unitedmasters.com/m/asparkinthedark

BFunkN - King James

Funk master BFunkN drops upbeat anthem with new single ‘King James’

LOS ANGELES, CA – Like everyone else around the world facing the hardships of 2020, the National Basketball Association limped its way toward a championship. Its star player, LeBron James, also limped his way to a national championship – literally. In fact, at one point in the year when he got hurt, many critics of the game started counting him out. He already bore a label as a player who crumbled under the high pressure of the NBA finals. And now with an injury, it seemed inevitable that his team, the LA Lakers, would struggle and fall. But Lebron shut the mouths of those critics and led his team to victory. It was an impressive performance from one of the best players of all time, and that energy is something that people all over the world are wanting to tap into.

West Coast artist BFunkN has captured a little bit of that energy with his latest single “King James (No Shame in My Game).” Inspired by LeBron’s season last year, the song talks about how he heard everything everyone was saying about him and used it as fuel for his drive to win. The song has major swag and an upbeat energy that serves perfectly as an anthem for anyone else in the world who has a goal in mind and needs a little motivational push to get going. It’s also a song laced with Funk – something BFunkN has become known for over the course of his career.  

Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio – raised in the Walnut Hills neighborhood that is known for its Funk music – BFunkN started his own band at a young age. They had the opportunity to work with Joe Tex for a while before moving out to California and expanding on their success. In the years since, BFunkN has dropped singles and worked both as an actor and producer on Hollywood films, and has developed a reputation as someone who can drop some serious Bass on a track at the drop of a hat. 

“I bring that Ohio Funk that mixes with Hip Hop and R&B,” he said. “Not too many people out there today can pull that off. You can hear the Funk, but you can also hear the Hip Hop flavor. But more than anything, I’m known for my Funky Bass. That goes way back to when I first started getting serious with music and I played the Bass for people and they told me I’d be funking with the Bass. That’s how I got my name, and it stuck after I started doing a lot of underground Hip Hop stuff. I became known as the guy who could drop straight beats with a hard bassline, and I’ve just reinforced that over time.” 

Today, BFunkN is known as a 3D artist who uses all three dimensions of Hip Hop, R&B and Funk equally well. It shows on “King James” and it will continue to shine on his follow-up single “Say It Loud,” a remix of the popular James Brown song that is slated to drop in February as a tribute to Black History Month. 

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

www.facebook.com_BFunkn-876519862370284 

“King James (No Shame in My Game)” 

https://open.spotify.com/track/7M4cjENnabtgNCbGmt1Rvd?si=xNXpkO3jQBK4LCOkEiE_pw