Day: February 23, 2022

Jacques Laine’s “Piano Riff” is, without a doubt, one of the smoothest and most lyrical rap singles to come from a rising artist, and it became apparent within the first few seconds of his opening verse. After starting “Piano Riff”off with a soothing piano ballad, the beat switches into a head-thumping production as Jacques Laine drops groundbreaking bars. This artists’ authenticity and self-awareness are on the front line as he uses his mature tone, rooted in his Newburgh, NY background, to create refreshing music that is nothing like anything mainstream. If you are looking for an artist with substance, Jacques Laine should be one to add to your playlist.
Jacques Laine is a prodigy realizing his potential right under most people’s noses. “Piano Riff” manages to overlap the multiple influences of hard-core rap and impeccable story-telling, providing a dark yet mysterious tone that is apparent from the beat to the song’s overall message. “This track was inspired by the pace at which time is moving. I often have to take a few minutes to think and reflect,” he says. “When you’re on a journey of chasing a dream, you sometimes forget to enjoy the journey itself. By the time you look back, you realize how many moments fell through your fingers.”
Authenticity spews from every track Jacques Laine touches, creating exciting and worldly productions with lyrics that stick with you after each listen. This artist is the perfect combination of street smarts and book smarts as he is also a recent graduate from the University of Pennsylvania. After graduating, Jacques has already accomplished sold-out shows and a growing fan base across the country since taking his music career seriously. With influences stemming from Nas, Jay-Z, Biggie, Kanye, Andre 3000, and J. Cole, there is no wonder he is a true lyricist with fresh ideas and beats that take you into another world. His entire catalog is equally worthy of praise.
“A lot of times, the music I make is a reflection of a place in life I was at previously but was able to get past. It’s tough being vulnerable as a black man, but I think the things we’re able to get through set our stories in stone and allow us to share them to help someone that’s going through the same thing hopefully.”Be sure to stream Jacques Laine’s newest single “Piano Riff” out now on all platforms.https://linktr.ee/jacqueslaine https://7962738a-cd24-411f-a069-bcc0d1b703b4.filesusr.com/html/db9376e69cfa487ea0fa0b912ae51a4f_v1.html

The Milipitas-bred multi-dimensional artist just dropped off his newest single and visual “Benz Truck.”

In Frame: Kayebands (Centre)
What do Nipsey Hussle and Dom Kennedy have in common? The two California based artists were alluring hip hop artists, businessmen, community-driven individuals, and ambassadors of independence – values South Bay-Area artist Kayebands embodies and carries along with him innately. He brings a raw energy and talent to the music that he produces, and his latest release “Benz Truck” ft. Avenue Swift is no different. Accompanied along with a visual, directed by Digital Avnue, the video matches perfectly to the overall vibe of the song. It’s a high quality release that showcases Kayebands skills and talents on all levels.
“My main goal is to continue to structure a solid team of individuals that can stand by my product. Continuing to create and inspire and never push low quality content. To live up to my name. Kayebands.” he tells us of his aspirations musically.
His name Kayebands stems from his actual name, Kenneth Cross, and his capability to be pro-active in whatever he sets his eyes on.
“My artist name is Kayebands. My biological name is Kenneth Cross. I came up with the name when I was engineering records for artists. They would call me “Kaye” instead of Kenneth. The “bands” comes from being the only individual in the group to invest in our craft acquiring the equipment to produce records” says the ascending creative.
Kayebands has been consistently making music since 2014 on both ends of the spectrum, whether it’s engineering his own or friends’ productions, or being the face of it – he has it all – and this came into manifestation after the dexterous artist decided to follow his musical pursuits after conquering BMX biking on a national level hither to.
“Before I pursued a career in music, I was racing BMX bikes across the United States. After receiving the title being the best nationally in my age group, I realized I couldn’t progress anymore with my bmx career. Therefore leading to me starting my music career.”
The forward-thinking artist who celebrates muses and front-runners such as J Dilla, Mf Doom, D-Savage, Dom Kennedy, Nipsey Hustle, Lucki, and RBL Posse would then focus on his craft but it wasn’t until he met his friend, visual confidant, and director – Digital Avnue – who could visualize Kaye’s imaginative world, that he would start to take music seriously in 2019 – something he even goes as far as benchmarking as a personal career highlight. “As of currently my highlights as an artist is creating a dedicated team that believes in my craft and pushes me to be creative. Having a dedicated group of individuals that can backup my work and push it is a blessing. Having a reliable videographer on demand rolling around with me like paparazzi is a key to keeping my content up to date for the followers” he believes.
With internet singles such as “Said I’m Sorry”, “Ghost Lick”, “Thrax” and more under his belt, he is gearing towards a busy 2022 starting with the “Benz Truck” featuring Avenue Swift produced by Jason Broyles record he is currently promoting, rallying fans to get behind this mammoth record he has created.
“The name of the song I am currently promoting is named “Benz Truck ft. Avenue Swift” Produced by Jason Broyles. This track was inspired by a fast money lifestyle and G63’s,” he teases. “This song is all about staying on your hustle and creating your own path. “I’m the type to wake up go and take that” referring to taking all the precautions to achieve what it is you set out to get.”
Setting the stage for what is an enormous release going by the music videos snippets on his Instagram, the artist that credits the niche movements in the Bay Area such as the “jerk movement”, realized that there is an open door for pariahs like himself who would not conform to mainstream sounds, and latch on to their own understanding and authenticity – it was his way or the highway – if he would venture into music.
“Being raised in the Bay Area surrounded by the “jerk movement” and “hyphy scene” I realized I had a place in this industry. This surrounding is what ultimately inspired me as an artist to dedicate myself into a music career and create a different sound and lane” he tells Remixd Mag.
With a project slated for the third quarter (summer), Kayebands who also delves in fashion (he designs custom clothing for VIP’s) is brimming with new sounds, budding with excitement, and gracing the year with a forward momentum bringing to fruition the numerous plans he has been working on for a while now.
Watch his most recent music video for “Benz Truck” below:

Casted as a role player in Toronto’s ever somber, ambient, and moody music scene – AD22 born Ahmed Ismail, is one of the city’s enamored acts to be emerging from their buzzing music scene.

Promising Toronto rookie AD22 released his brand new single “Night Shift,” — out now.
His second offering of an already busy 2022 is his single “Night Shift” that arrives in the wake of his “Oasis Interlude”, a slightly uptempo dance song that features his laidback vocals, and piercing lyrics that permeate through our hearts and minds immediately raising racy thoughts and feelings irreversibly.
His latest gift however comes with expectant promise as the Egypt-born creative announces, “this will usher in a new era” for him and his legion.
“(Night Shift is) an introduction to a more vulnerable and real AD22. ‘Night Shift’ is the first of a new series of singles where AD22 opens about suppressed experiences from his past.
“Night Shift” signifies a major shift in direction for AD22 as far as context and sound — audiences are in a for a treat as they listen to his newest track.
“In terms of instrumental, subject of lyrics, and energy… ‘Night Shift’ is the start of a new era,” AD22 says. “This single is really about expanding the range of listeners, being able to appeal to a broader audience, and slowly unfolding the layers to who AD22 really is.”
From the larger-than-life OVO roster, to the likes of underground emoters Ramriddlz, producer Stwo, Frank Dukes, juggernaut and multi-platinum producer Boy1da, River Tiber to the frontal mega superstars in The Weeknd and Justin Bieber, Toronto has it all – and their latest star-in-the-making is none other than reserved impassioned record producer and songwriter, AD22.
The music maven’s razor-like voice allows him to cut through the mellow and euphoric ambiance instrumentals as he spews heartfelt tales of his past, his ambitions and a cohort of love-themed poetry spilling all over the dark, wintery and snuggling chords.
So far, he has been able to put out a catalogue of impressive records such as “High Fashion”, “Vibe With Me”, Till We Die”, and “Down For You” that have been able to muster him a fan base, and as grateful as he is, his eyes are perched to the future as he aims to be as big as his idols such as Jay Z, Nipsey Hussle, Drake and UK’s Santan Dave, whom he has personally met and exchanged a few words with.
“I’m an avid listener,” he says. “I enjoy listening to music from a lot of different genres.”
“I found that listening to genres outside of the framework of the music that I create to be really inspiring and a good way to maintain originality,” he continues. “Some of my major influences that drove me to pursuing music were Jay Z, Nipsey Hussle, Drake, and Santan Dave who I had the pleasure of meeting, where he provided me with motivating advice.”
As his mission to transcend his sound and continue carving out his much-destined lane in the music industry, look out for his “Night Shift” single that will further stake him among the greats despite still in the infancy stages of his highly touted career. The song will take us on an infinite journey of what “the grind” can feel like.
“It’s about capturing the energy of what a typical night out for me is like. It is a combination of different stages throughout my life, reflecting on times where I would work long hours throughout the night, making records, making money. Through the mellow, calm sound that encompasses me as an artist, I created a record that people who always strive to achieve more can relate to. In simple terms, ‘Night Shift’ is inspired by the grind.”
Check it out below:

Stay tuned, and make sure to follow him on all his social media platforms:
Instagram: @ad22livehttps://instagram.com/ad22liveSpotify: Ad22https://open.spotify.com/artist/3mkBY0Yu528snSQsbI3USZ?si=m8yaflENTaC9mgHsvMta1Q&nd=1Twitter: @ad22livehttps://twitter.com/ad22live?s=20TikTok: @ad22whoArtist Website: www.ad-22.com https://www.tiktok.com/@ad22whoYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkN1TAU504fxGgrDhElCoPQ