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Riicch releases visual for “New Way”

After the successful release of his single “Sega Gen,” OVO affiliated artist Riicch is back with his latest visuals for “New Way.” The Toronto based hip-hop artist released audio for the track January 14th of this year, and reception has been impressive so far.

Performing in his classic “50 World” mask, Riicch brings a new flavour of R&B to the record. The song is quite spacious, and is clearly a meditation on his own mind as an artist who is constantly developing. As we move into 2022, Riicch seems to be on a “New Way”.

This marks the first release for Riicch in 2022. His 2021 was full of successful underground hits such as “On Roads” and “Sega Gen”, not to mention his debut EP, “God Don’t Sleep”. As Riicch develops as an artist, it’s clear he is becoming more and more versatile with his cadence and flow.

Rising Maryland standout Travy Nostra releases "Money Mitch"

Photo credit: Liz Lenses.

Continuing his recent run of success stemming from 2021, which saw not only Travy Nostra rebounding from recent incarcerations but returning with well-received music that helped grow the Maryland native’s name through the latter portion of the 2010s. To help build more momentum and continue garnering attention for his upcoming project release, Travy Nostra unleashes a trapped out for single “Money Mitch,” which is shot by Reggie Reg.

It follows his January drop ‘I Was On Vacation,’ which features fellow DMV rising star Joony that covered multiple topics, including mental health, street culture, and the black man’s struggle to live life.

Gritty and dark, Nostra recounts days of pure hustling over a bustling uptempo DMV style beat, produced by Juu2x and Jamil4x. True to his nature, Travy wanted a single that captured a portion of his and his area’s sound. However, in his upcoming releases, Nostra wants to showcase different sides of his artistry.

“Money Mitch” is an excellent place to start to show his talents, however, and his new single is on all DSPs. You can view the new visual on YouTube.

Billboard goes live on Twitter, highlighting rising black journalists in the music industry

In honor of Black History Month, Billboard highlighted Black journalists on the rise

On a quiet Tuesday afternoon, hundreds gathered eagerly on Twitter’s Spaces platform, awaiting what would be an hour-long discussion featuring young, black writers making an impact in the music industry’s editorial space. The occasion? ,Black History Month.

Hosted by ,Billboard and sponsored by Bacardi, the ,“Black Music Journalists on the Rise,” roundtable, kicked off a second week of celebratory events, highlighting the impact African Americans continue to have in the entertainment industry.

The unorthodox roundtable discussion, moderated by Hip-Hop journalist and Billboard editor ,Carl Anthony Lamarre, and featuring rising journalists ,Tallie Spencer, ,Nerisha Penrose, and ,Jordan Rose, would prove to not only be meaningful, but also inspiring.

“These guys have been able to accomplish a lot in the culture with their captivating stories and interviews, and I’m so proud,” Lamarre warmly shared. “Whether it’s seeing Tallie at ,Rolling Loud, Nerisha with her ,Mary. J Blige cover story, or Jordan breaking news on the Steven Victor, Donda story, they’re all really elevating,” he added.

Following brief introductions, the day’s speakers dove into deep conversation, recounting the stories behind their journeys and giving audience members a candid peek into their experiences, from college internships to career wins. Although their stories were unique with regard to their paths to success, they shared one overarching theme—a passion for the art of writing.

“My love for writing started with poetry. I used to be a slam poet, so I decided to merge my love for poetry and music together, to start writing more openly and freely about music,” shared ,Jordan Rose, an editorial assistant at Complex Magazine.

“Similar to Jordan, I also had a love for music,” added ,Remixd Magazine owner Tallie Spencer. “Writing has always been my strongest skill, and I found fulfillment in talking to different artists, learning their journey, and making a difference through the narratives,” she added.

In between mentions of vision boards, star-studded interviews, and career highlights, the budding journalists pivoted to brief moments of introspection, centering the conversation around career challenges, which for one journalist, included struggles with self-doubt and stress management.

“I had to develop tough skin and not be discouraged when I was being critiqued as a writer,” ,Elle Magazine’s Nerisha Penrose shared. “When I had to write the cover story for ,Mary J. Blige, pressure to be perfect, self-doubt, and imposter syndrome filled my head, but I really had to believe in myself, start seeing what other people saw in me, and make it happen,” she added.

For most black creatives, the inner echoes of self-doubt and criticism are familiar, especially in an entertainment industry where white males dominate much of the professional landscape, according to Spencer. Still, despite seeming setbacks, the panel of journalists remained optimistic, sharing valuable words of advice as the conversation drew to a close.

“For young music journalists trying to get into the game, I’d advise them to just start. Stay consistent. Start by interviewing and doing write-ups on local musicians in your area, and always stay consistent,” Spencer shared.

“Adding onto that, I advise that you network and constantly look for opportunities…When you get one, make sure you research your subjects and take the time to draw something different from their story,” Penrose added.