Three-time Grammy award winner Megan Thee Stallion made her return to SNL and pulled double-duty as both host and musical guest. Megan first made her SNL debut in October 2019, performing “Handsome” with host Chance the Rapper. The following year, she returned as the show’s musical guest and delivered a powerful performance of “Savage” along with “Don’t Stop” that advocated for the protection of Black women across the world.
Most recently, Megan launched her new website Bad Bitches Have Bad Days Too as a way to provide mental health resources for fans and followers seeking help and assistance, inspired by “Anxiety” an introspective track from her latest LP ‘Traumazine’. Watch Megan Thee Stallion’s performance on SNL below:
First-time host Megan Thee Stallion talks about the different names she goes by and her love of acting.
Atlanta rapper J.I.D has released an incredible six minute visualizer for tracks “Bruddanem/Crack Sandwich” off his critically acclaimed album, The Forever Story. Creative produced by J.I.D and directed by longtime collaborators Mac Grant and Chad Tennies, the video is a cinematic feat that brings to life J.I.D’s animated raps on the two fan favorite tracks. Watch the video below.
Last week, J.I.D announced brand new national headlining dates with R&B/Soul artist Smino which was widely received by fans. The tour sold out almost immediately during the pre-sale period with additional dates announced on the on-sale date. Aptly titled, Luv Is 4Ever Tour, the 32-city tour kicks off on January 22 at Paramount Theatre in Seattle, WA making stops across the U.S. in Los Angeles, Houston, Atlanta, and more before wrapping up in Nashville, TN at Marathon Music Works on March 29. Tickets are now on sale, purchase at www.LuvIs4Ever.com.
Santa Ana, California artist Tony Santana just released his latest single, “FAULT.” Following up on the success of his engaging previous single “RUFF”, “FAULT” showcases the many compelling elements of Santana’s music, as he pairs sharp songwriting with refreshing, hard-hitting sonics to create a sound that is uniquely his own, refusing to be put in a box at any point. Containing energizing, electrifying production centered around cathartic, gripping samples drifting atop immersive 808s and crisp percussion, as well as captivating vocals from Santana that blend influences from hip-hop and R&B, “FAULT” further proves that he is a new artist to watch.
Tony Santana has previously been featured in MTV as well as Lyrical Lemonade and has accumulated over 500,000 streams on all platforms. Having opened for the likes of Curren$y, Waka Flocka Flame, and Chief Keef, Santana has steadily carved a lane for himself with his idiosyncratic, enticing sound. His latest offering finds him at new heights sonically and creatively, providing an exhilarating, versatile listen.
Chicago rapper 3M Djayyhas shared a new album called GOING DARK, produced by Brav06. Across 9 tracks, the eclectic project brings in engaging sounds that draw from Chicago hip-hop stylings, as well as Detroit hip-hop and cloud rap. On GOING DARK, Brav06 lays down a series of atmospheric, silky instrumentals that are frequently emotive and layered, as 3M Djayy himself presents a strong performance that is candidly laid-back and humorous throughout, as he packs his verses with clever and ear-catching lyrics.
The album starts off in a strong manner with “light show”, a euphoric and elegant song that incorporates lush, silky strings laid atop a booming, immersive rhythm section. 3M Djayy delivers dynamic and poised verses with an intriguing sort of detachment, matching the beat’s unhurried, rich sonics. Then, there are songs like “tall hoes” which include a retro, 80’s-tinged bounce that makes the track purely addictive. “number one” provides an anthemic sound with its glowing, stuttering synths and charismatic flows making for an epic listen.
GOING DARK is the latest project from Chicago’s 3M Djayy and producer Brav06, and it finds the pair sharing natural chemistry that translates to an effortlessly stylish 9-track effort.
Soulful artist Muse L’Artise has stepped into the music scene with force.
From playing the piano at a very young age to creating her own all-female music powerhouse, the producer, singer, songwriter is here to stay. With inspirations from multi genres and a diverse musical background, Muse L’Artise has transformed her artistry into a creative impact. In 2021, she launched her own record label consisting of an all female roster. Her label, Powher Sound, is a play on words and was solely built around amplifying women in music.
“Our main focus is to develop powerful and progressive projects that increase opportunities and visibility for women in the industry,” she said. “We recently released the album ‘Herstory,’ the first multi-genre album entirely produced and performed by women from all around the world. It’s about celebrating women and sharing stories that people can relate to. That’s why I wanted this group of women to be as diverse as possible. Music is about connecting with one another and that’s what we’ve been doing.”
Muse L’Artise is someone who has a mission and is sticking to it. It’s clear in the music that’s being made. Throughout the Herstory project, listeners will hear quality beats picked with precision, matched with female vocalists of all ranges.
“Music is a two-way street,” she says. “We make music not only for us but for others and ultimately we want people to enjoy what they’re hearing, to enjoy the narrative. We want to connect with people. And if there are women and young girls out there who get inspired to embrace themselves and take action, then we all win.”
Muse L’Artise debut her first multi-genre album Herstory entirely produced and performed by women from all around the world with the purpose of connecting everyone with music. Check out Muse L’Artise’s full interview below.
What city are you from/ Where are you based now? I was born in Paris and now I spend most of my time between Los Angeles and the South of France.
What is your artist name? What is your real name? How did you get your artist name? My artist name is Muse L’Artiste and my real name is Jade Porter-Blake. My other half picked this artist name for me when I was in the process of reflecting about my artistry and reinventing myself.
How would you describe your sound to readers who may not be familiar with you? I always start by having a strong foundation when it comes to my sound. For me, getting these drums and bass right is extremely important, those are the heartbeat of my music. Then melodies are what’s connecting the music to someone’s soul and this is the ultimate goal at the end of the day. I’ve been playing the piano from a very young age so it’s one of these instruments that holds an important place. I also love the sound of the Rhodes piano.
My music naturally takes its roots in Hip-Hop, R&B and Neo-Soul. I’ve also produced World music, Afrobeats and EDM tracks.
What’s one reason you are passionate about music and what inspires you? I guess it’s in my DNA. Years ago, there was this music teacher in an attempt to help me get over stage fright, he told me “You are music.” Well now that’s a powerful thing to say. And I was not sure what he meant at the time, but eventually it made sense. Then I started building confidence. I never pictured my life without music and without making it. I grew up in a household where music was always playing either loud or in the background. Always there in one way shape or form to connect with one another, laugh or dance. My mom has always been very expressive and I could see how certain songs were literally hitting her soul. That feeling when there’s a chord change, when the beat breaks in a certain way, or an intro that’s so good that you have to restart the song again. That pride when you’re the one creating these feelings in others…this is where my passion lies. I live for these moments. Life experiences and looking at the world and the society, questioning it, seeking the truth and more justice, all of this inspire me. Who are some of your main musical influences? I’d say I have quite a diverse musical background. I’m influenced by different genres. My parents were born in Cameroon, so there was a lot of Cameroonian music in the house especially Makossa. Lots of French classics from the 60’s. My parents used to listen to quite a lot of Country music as well. My dad was an absolute fan of Sade, so all of their songs are literally running through my veins. He also introduced me to the greats, Marvin Gaye, Whitney Houston, Prince and so many others. And being a child in the 90’s, Hip-Hop and Neo-Soul had a massive impact on me with the likes of Mos Def, A Tribe Called Quest, Arrested Development, D’Angelo, Erykah Badu, Raphael Saadiq and the list goes on.
Tell us the name of the project you are currently promoting? What inspired this project? In 2021, I’ve launched an all-female label called Powher Sound which aims to amplify the role of women in music. Our main focus is to develop powerful and progressive projects that increase opportunities and visibility for women in the industry. We recently released the album ‘Herstory’, the first multi-genre album entirely produced and performed by women from all around the world. It’s about celebrating women and sharing stories that people can relate to. That’s why I wanted this group of women to be as diverse as possible. Music is about connecting with one another and that’s what we’ve been doing.
Date that this project dropped or is set to drop? Herstory was released on August 27.
What is this project about in your own words? The vision I had for this album was to bring different stories together and create a narrative out of that. I was looking to create an allegory of a Woman like different pieces that makes up a puzzle. I wanted all of this to make sense, not only to be a juxtaposition of songs randomly put together. This is an album that aims to celebrate women in all areas and encourage them to embrace who they are individually and as a whole as a driving force.
What’s next for you? Are you working on any upcoming projects we should be on the lookout for? The focus is on developing Powher Sound and make it as successful as possible. Working with artists, releasing more music, putting projects together that are innovative to create impact are all key objectives. 2023 is going to be a busy year.
What message do you hope fans take away from your music and from this project? Music is a two-way street. We make music not only for us but for others and ultimately we want people to enjoy what they’re hearing, to enjoy the narrative. We want to connect with people. And if there are women and young girls out there who get inspired to embrace themselves and take action, then we all win.
Hailing from all the way from Dallas, rapper LUCKY VII has been making quite a buzz since he made his debut in 2014. LUCKY hit the ground running with his project Legends Never Die. He followed up in 2018 with a new project, September under a different stage name (VII) but ultimately returned to LUCKY VII.
He followed the 11-track project up with a variety of single and releases including an EP called Where Did Everyone Go?. He’s back this year as he gears up to release another project in December called Bad Days Good Life.
In support of his rollout, Lucky unveiled the first track off the project ‘‘I Know What I Said.”
RemixdMag was able to catch up with Lucky about his influences, upcoming project release and what he has in store for his fans in the future. Check out the full interview below.
What city are you from / Where are you based now? I was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. Moved all over the city as a kid, moved schools more times than I can remember
What is your artist name? What is your real name? How did you get your artist name? My artist name is LUCKY VII, my real name is Regi. I’ve always had a love for the number seven and adapted it into VII, i just love the way it looks. LUCKY came from friends, I almost had no choice.
How would you describe your sound to readers who may not be familiar with you? I would say if you’re listening to a project of mine it’s going to be a combination of lush instruments that can turn into beautiful chaos at any moment. I love samples and rhythm, incorporating great singers into the hooks like back in the day. My sound is different and new but I hope to bring a sense of forward nostalgia that I feel is missing today.
What’s one reason you are passionate about music and what inspires you? I’m passionate by force, these records are diaries for me. The good, the bad, the ugly … it’s me putting my life and story in front of an audience. As Erykah said “I’m sensitive about my sh-t.”
I’m inspired by every day life and the places and people meet. I’m in awe of the world and all of its inhabitants to be honest. I write what I see, feel or want to feel… I can remember going out in Dallas and seeing the most beautiful crowd of Black women at an event, I instantly went home and wrote a song called “Black Woman,” I am only the messenger of my life. That’s how I feel sometimes.
Who are some of your main musical influences? Sade Adu as a writer is the main influence, journal type writing that made people connect through the generations of their families. HOV and Kanye share an equal influence in my music … they weren’t afraid to be wrong musically. Barry White and Lil Wayne are two of my favorite wordsmiths, I know it’s crazy to think of Barry White and Lil Wayne being in the same sentence but there are details in words.
Tell us the name of the project you are currently promoting? What inspired this project? I just dropped the first single to my new project! “I Know What I Said” feat. Milli Metoyer’ produced By Capshun. The name of my next project is ‘Bad Days. Good Life.’ The inspiration behind that project was really dealing with life at a fast pace and having to see how that affected people I loved and how it affected me. Those perspectives hurt sometimes the album is two halves, rap and R&B.
Date that this project dropped or is set to drop? We will see y’all in December. Can’t say a final date just yet!
What is this project about in your own words? Perspective! Perspective is a major thing in our industry and I think it’s really a key moment for us to start painting the way artist struggle to handle certain ways we’re viewed. So the inward message was there will be “Bad Days” but strive for the good life… but when you’re doing that, all the sacrifices we make in the name of “getting on” what does it look like to your family and friends?
What’s next for you? Are you working on any upcoming projects we should be on the lookout for? The first single “I Know What I Said” feat. Milli Metoyer (prod by Capshun). is out NOW! That’s the immediate focus, the video is coming VERY soon. What message do you hope fans take away from your music and from this project? Mainly, I want my music to be the place you can zone out and create your own reality or theme music to a moment you’ll never forget. We all need escape. I want us all to escape together.
Stream “I Know What I Said” ft. Milli Metoyer below.
