Neek Bucks is an emerging artist from Harlem, New York with a unique sound. He is truly where R&B meets gangsta rap, as he ties in elements from where he is from to where he is going to create an original sound. Neek Bucks just dropped a new project February 17th (out today) titled Blessed to the Max produced by the one and only producer, Hitmaka.
The Listening Session
Remixd Magazine was on site for the exclusive listening session for the new project which took place on Feb. 6th in Hollywood, CA. It was an intimate setting including his team, a few guests and some celebrity appearances that ,included; Tink, Seveyn Streeter, Wiz Khalifa and of course Hitmaka himself.
The energy was high as we sat and listened to the 14-track set list with features like, 2 Chainz, Wiz Khalifa, Tink, Benny the Butcher and Raekwon, Vory, Ivory Scott and Ceelo Green. The whole project was a banger with head-nodding up-tempo beats that everyone will be listening to all 2023. Neek said that the project is personal to him as the music video for “Used To” documents his journey throughout the making of the project.
Hitmaka is excited about the endorsement of Neek Bucks and this upcoming project saying, “When Billy first brought me Neek, I was super excited. He has a real east coast feel to him…dealing with artists that I work with I just want to give every resource possible…because I have played in all fields. I’ve been the artists, I’ve been the producer, I’ve been the executive, so I just wanted to bring great people… and showcase great talent”.
Wiz also chimed in saying, “A lot of people don’t know me and Hit and I go back and some of the other fools in here. Bro let me sleep on their couch before Kush & Orange Juice and all that s***. So when [Hitmaka] called me and said I got a record for you… I’m like ya, the records hard and I’m going to spit some heat on it. Its family, y’all n****s can get anything from me anytime, bro real s***t”.
Sounds like Neek Bucks has a great team around him that doesn’t plan on putting the breaks on this train anytime soon. So keep your ears to the street and your eyes on Neek because he is coming for the top spot. Check out Neek’s new project that dropped today on all music platforms.
Neek Bucks sitting next to Wiz Khalifa. Photo by: Karats Alexander
Stream Blessed To The Max here:
Brand new project by Neek Bucks available for streaming here.
Muni Long brought all the seductive and flirty vibes for the lovers, singles, and sneaky links on Tuesday night. The sultry songstress performed at her sold out, “The Love Cafe” show, on Valentine’s Day at the Echoplex in Los Angeles. Along with her angelic band and lively dancers, Muni Long provided a show that was seductive, enticing, and overall a good time. Remixd Mag was there to capture all the love in the air.
The Florida-native has been soaring since winning Best R&B Performance for her 2021 smash-hit, “Hrs & Hrs”, at the 2023 Grammy Awards. “The Love Cafe” was an intimate gathering for Muni Long’s (previous stage name Priscilla Ranea) day one fans to celebrate with her. The packed out venue awaited the singer/songwriter to arrive on stage as a violinist performed a mesmerizing solo. Muni Long glided onto the stage in a red gown as she opened up her set with, “Crack” off of her Public Displays of Affection: The Album. The crowd shouted the lyrics along with her.
Muni Long engaged with her audience throughout the night. She performed love melodies such as, “Midnight Snack”, “Time Machine”, and her own rendition of Usher’s “U got It Bad” and “Lovers and Friends”. Things even got steamy on stage as she brought her husband to the stage for a playful lap dance.
JoJo and Amber Riley help Muni Long blow the house down
The highlight of the night was when she brought out two vocally gifted and powerful singers JoJo and Amber Riley to help Muni Long sing their rendition of Whitney Houston’s “Heartbreak Hotel”. The three of them on stage each taking turns with their fierce and vigorous voices served as a powerhouse.
“We got a Grammy bitch!”
The night couldn’t end without Muni Long closing out her set to “Hrs & Hrs”. Prior to singing, Muni Long gave a backstory as to how the song became what it is today. The song first appeared on her 2021 EP Public display of Affection, and was also added to the album of the same name. Muni Long spent years behind the scenes helping notable artists (Mariah Carey, Rihanna, and Ariana Grande) achieve musical success. However, 2021 was her year to step into the spotlight.
The song skyrocketed to No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 after gaining popularity on Tik Tok. In a recent interview with Billboard, she shared, “I want my legacy to be that I never give up. I never quit. That I’m for the people. And I’m for women who look like me. You know, brown girls breaking barriers.”
Her show was the perfect way to spend lover’s day.
It’s only right to get acquainted with the Grammy award winner. Stream Muni Long’s music below!
Bronx, New York rapper Hxtra (@hxtra) has a sound that could take over the game. He greatly increased his stock in 2022, by dropping two singles, “Honest 2 U” and “Hoes Understand Me”. Even though his discography isn’t massive, in the few songs that he has dropped he has shown that he’s been running laps around lots of other artists. Aiming to reach a certain level of dominance, he recently released his new EP titled MARAVILLA.
“This EP speaks about everything I’ve gone through in the last year, just talking about all my thoughts and experiences I’ve had.” – Hxtra on MARAVILLA
From start to finish, this 4-song offering packs a big punch. Even though Hxtra is based out of New York, he didn’t allow it to dictate how he should sound. On this EP, I could hear some influence from other legends all across the country and not just in New York. For example, on a track like “Stripper Snow Angel”, melodically, I could hear traces of Chris Brown and Justin Timberlake. But once he starts rapping as he did on the lead single, “Stripper Snow Angel”, he reminded me of Future as he was oozing with toxicity. All-in-all, I left this project feeling fulfilled, and it is something I would say is worth checking out for its originality.
SXNTYLR, (pronounced Sean Taylor), is giving listeners something to dance and vibe to with his new video “Pull Up”. The Bronx, NY based recording artist is on a mission to have listeners experience his music in a way that not only feels good, but also challenges one to dare to be different. SXNTYLR’s unique approach to music is heavily inspired by his Jamaican culture, and his overall love for music. The sound he’s introducing is fresh, nostalgic, and overall creative.
About SXNTYLR’s Sound in “Pull Up”
“Pull Up” samples and is reminiscent of the 2000 song “Danger (Been So Long)” by Mystikal, however there’s an Afrobeat twist. SXNTYLR refers to his whine-worthy sound as being “classentic”. “I call my sound ‘classentic’ which is a portmanteau of the words ‘classic’ and ‘authentic’. It is a fusion of R&B, Dancehall, Hip-Hop, and Black American Music (BAM) formerly known as jazz.” SXNTYLR tells Remixd Mag. SXNTYLR also adds his own flavor to the sound with his exceptional trumpet playing. The song, featuring HG Locks, is a transcendental single reflective of his eclectic style.
After listening to SXNTYLR and “Pull Up”, you can’t help but want to go out and have a good time. “ What inspires me is dancing, love, all of my relationships (past and present), personal experiences, other people’s experiences, nature, and God…Music connects with all of these things. Music immortalizes memories and moments in time.”
What’s next for SXNTYLR
As for what SXNTYLR has in store coming up this year, he plans on releasing a new single, “Joe Grine”, in April, and also anticipates to release another project. He is definitely an artist to keep on your radar.
Keep reading to learn more about SXNTYLR.
What city are you from/ Where are you based now?
I am from Uptown Bronx (Wakefield), New York City and I am still based there.
How did you get your artist name?
My artist name is SXNTYLR (pronounced Sean Taylor) and my real name is Sean Taylor. I got my artist name by coming up with a creative and unique way to represent my name since I have a common name.
How would you describe your sound to readers who may not be familiar with you?
I call my sound “classentic” which is a portmanteau of the words ‘classic’ and ‘authentic’. It is a fusion of R&B, Dancehall, Hip-Hop, and Black American Music (BAM) formerly known as jazz.
What’s one reason you are passionate about music and what inspires you?
I am passionate about music because music is life and music is the universal language. What inspires me is dancing, love, all of my relationships (past and present), personal experiences, other people’s experiences, nature, and God. You can have a relationship and that be just it. On the other hand, you can have a relationship and connect it to a song which makes it far more meaningful. Music connects with all of these things. Music immortalizes memories and moments in time.
Who are some of your main musical influences?
Michael Jackson, Jackie Wilson, James Brown, Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong, Clifford Brown, Mavado, Vybz Kartel
Tell us the name of the project you are currently promoting? What inspired this project?
I am currently promoting my latest single “Pull Up” featuring HG Locks and my EP entitled “More Fire”. What inspired the “More Fire” project was to pay homage to my Jamaican culture while honing the classentic sound; specifically the ‘dance’ approach to the classentic sound. I want people to dance when they vibe to it!
Dancehall is the heartbeat of this project yet there are R&B melodic approaches, some rapped verses, and live instrumentation which features my trumpet playing, and other instruments such as the tenor saxophone (played by Jason Arce) and keyboards (played by Densen ‘Meighstro’ Curwen). This is the Black American Music (BAM) influence here; formerly known as jazz. This is what makes me different and unique! There is a nostalgic familiarity to my music of various genres/songs/artists that people may already know BUT … I am bringing my own cultural and musical influence in the mix which is new, fresh, and captivates listeners’ interest. This is essential to the state of music right now while moving the needle forward!
Date that this project dropped or is set to drop?
The EP “More Fire” was released in May of 2020 and the single “Pull Up” featuring HG Locks was released in February of 2022.
What is this project about in your own words?
The “More Fire” project is about paying homage to the greats that paved the way for me while staying true to who I am and channeling that energy. If I could sum up the project in my own words it would be “It’s Just A Vibe”. The single “Pull Up” samples ‘Danger(Been So Long)’ by Mystikal featuring Nivea and is driven by an infectious afrobeat production. When experienced, most people may not be able to classify my music as a specific genre but that’s because it’s not supposed to be. It’s meant to feel good and that’s what it’s all about.
What’s next for you? Are you working on any upcoming projects we should be on the lookout for? Include some dates if you have them.
What’s next for me is that this year I’ll be putting on a host of concerts through my company “Respect The Musician”, releasing new merch, and working collaboratively with other dope creatives who take their passions seriously. Also, I’m gearing up to release a new single in April entitled “Joe Grine”. I’m super excited about it! I’m proclaiming it to be the song of Summer 2023! Also, I’m working on an EP entitled “Ocean Floor” which is a follow up to my single of the same name. That project personifies the ‘mood’ approach to the classentic sound where R&B is far more present while the dancehall heartbeat is still felt with a slower tempo. A lot of great things are in the works and I’m ready for the journey!
What message do you hope fans take away from your music and from this project?
I hope my fans aka “Shining Stars” takeaway that music is meant to be felt and not just heard. Music is meant to be experienced and not just listened to. I hope they understand that it’s okay to dare to be different, it’s okay to be original, and to stay true to who you are.
Where can we follow you on social media? Include links.
A lot of rappers don’t have what it takes to make it, but Guap Taranatino is not one of those rappers. Regardless if Guap was signed to Future’s imprint, Freebandz or not, he was going to find a way to make dope music. In the eyes of Atlanta, Guap Tarantino can do no wrong, and he surely didn’t disappoint his hometown with the release of his new mixtape, 1262.
This project allowed Guap Tarantino the opportunity to showcase his impressive talent on full display. Trap music as a whole prides itself on high-quality production, so it was only right that Guap worked with some of the best in the game for his new release. With big names like DB, DYKrazy, and YungIcey from 808 Mafia lending their talents, everything came together like a perfect recipe. More importantly, Guap created a project that’ll be able to withstand the test of time due to its endless replay value.
Lucky for RemixdMag, we recently got the chance to break bread with my fellow “Atl-ien”, Guap Tarantino, and be able to pick his brain. You can read all about it below.
First I want to say congrats on your new release, I saw you posted that you half a million streams on Spotify, it’s prob way higher now. But how are you feeling so far, two weeks in?
I’m just glad everybody like it right now. The album is the state of mind, that I am in. When people say they like it, that means they like the mindset that I’m in right now.
What is the meaning behind the album title “1262”?
One of my best friends, who passed a couple years, died the day before Future brought me out at Rolling Loud, back in 2018. He passed while I was on the way to RL. So we made “1262”, it was just me and my brothers. It’s like a code. And over the years, it’s always been a code. But also over the years it turned into a planet for me. When i’m at the studio, it feel like I’m on another planet. Like I’m not on earth, even though I’m just in the studio. That’s how I turned it into the name (of the project). That’s why the stars on the (“1262”) mixtape cover, are actually a couple of my cousins who passed. That’s why you see their names, kind of like the Big Dipper. They help create this idea, in a way.
And not to get too negative, you lost a good friend of yours with Lil Keed late last year. And even going back before then, R5 Homixide. Which I just found out from a rewatch, also made a cameo in your legendary “Churches Pepper” MV. So my question for you is how do you stay positive losing so many friends in the industry?
I just stay in the studio and stay working. This is where I’m at. This is my sanctuary. The studio is the best place. Work keeps me distracted. Instead of talking to people, it’s easier for me to talk about it in a song.
I know you from Atlanta,specifically Decatur. what made you take music serious, like was there a certain artist that inspired you?
Growing up I always wanted to be like Michael Jackson. (Especially)seeing n*ggas like Andre 3000, sh*t like that. And then when my cousin, Pluto(Future) made it, I was seeing but it was (more) hands-on. Because I already knew that he was on that type level. He wasn’t finna be no rapper, that was just gonna fall off. I already knew that as a kid. So seeing it hands-on, right there, it’s different than watching it on tv.
I peeped you finna be out in Texas for SXSW with the YSL so I have to ask as an artist what do you fuck with more? Performing or Recording?
Definitely recording and making music. But performing lit though, fasho! I love performing because I like being with the fans and shit. But making a song for the fans, I like that better. Because it’s like a surprise. Performing, they already know what’s finna happen. Mixtape they don’t know what’s gon happen. I could drop one tonight and they gon be surprised they’ll be more happier. But they (still) be happy as hell to see me too. Have you ever thought of it like that?
Nah. To be honest, never. To me, performing always seemed very nerve wrecking.
That shit cool too. When I’m on stage it be lit. Before I was an artist, I used to be watching Michael Jackson. I just wanted to be on stage. Being on stage is lit, (especially) the energy. The way I look at is, I’m putting in all this work to drop this album. Then performing, the job well done. When I’m on stage, that muthaf*cka so packed, and the crowd going crazy. All I can do is just sit there and smile, and have a moment. Those be the best moments out of this shit.
So you never went through a time where you had stage fright?
Hell nah! I been on stage and performing since I was little at church and sh*t. My mom and them shook that stage fright and nervousness out of me early. But I was never type of kid anyway. My mom said they always knew I was gonna be like this.
They could tell that you didn’t have a lowkey personality?
Hell yeah! Fasho.
You got one of the homies/one of my fav producers, DB, to produce a couple of songs on this project. Can you explain to me how you decide and what you look for when it comes to production to your music?
DB that’s lil bro right there. He go crazy. ATLJacob be knowing where to find them. DB go hard. That’s how I met him, through Jacob, in person. I be looking for different vibes. I don’t just look for one type of sound. I just be doing whatever I feel like doing. It don’t matter. It depends on who play the beat, and if they know what to play. I don’t never just look for certain type beats, like drill beats. I wouldn’t even know how to decipher the name of beats. All I know is like south type beat or up north type beat. I know (beats) from an old-school way. I don’t know these new-school genres. (Guap chuckles) I can rap on all genres. My beat selection go off my moods.
My fav track gotta be “No Rest”, especially bc you got two heavy hitters with 1504 Mute Baby & Lil Double 00. Can you speak on how that song came to fruition?
DYKrazy put that together. He had called me up to the studio. And anytime he call me to the studio, I pull up. When I got up there, (Lil) Double 0 and Mute(1504 Mutebaby) was already up there. And Mute from the Eastside. We been knowing each other, since forever. We locked in and did the song. We actually did a couple songs that night. But we end up liking no record. And DY was like that shit hard. Let’s shoot the video. So I was like yeah, we can shoot the video, just call me whenever you’re ready. He was like I’m ready, let’s shoot the video tomorrow. I was like just call me and we’ll pull up to shoot it. ShotsByWolf shot that sh*t so quick. That sh*t crazy.
We going to eventually hear them other songs you did with 1504 Mutebaby, or y’all scrapped them?
Hell nah. I don’t really scrap songs. Because all my sh*ts be hits. I just don’t know when it’s gonna come out. But don’t sh*t get scrapped. Shit get made, I don’t make scraps. (Guap laughs)
Can we expect a deluxe for “1262”?
Fasho. I’ll probably going to drop a deluxe, just cause that’s what the industry doing now. And that sh*t easy, just dropping new songs. I’m definitely dropping a deluxe. I don’t know when, but it’s definitely gonna be ASAP. Because I ain’t finna be dwelling on “1262” mixtape too long. I was just giving y’all my planet. I got other sh*t to show y’all. But I’m def giving y’all a deluxe, in the next couple weeks. I don’t do all that waiting. When I say I’m dropping, I’m dropping.
My last question for you, is what else can fans expect the rest of 2023?
Just expect Guap. It ain’t nothing else to say for real. Just expect Guap. G.U.A.P. That’s why that was was the first song on the mixtape, it’s the capital.
Rapper and singer Vic Mensa describes his musical influences, Chicago roots, and confirms new music is on the way in an exclusive interview with RemixdMag’s Hayley Tharp. His latest release and first single of the year, “Strawberry Louis Vuitton” is a taste of what’s to come. Inspired by designer Virgil Abloh, the music video is bold and daring much like his own style.
“I think I understand my creative process perhaps better than I did when I was younger,” he shares with RemixdMag. Mensa has a career spanning over a decade and has garnered a cult following across his platforms. His tenure in the industry has given him a different approach to his art, describing, “A lot of people I’ve heard in interviews and conversations have this idea that if you get stuck, just take a break, go live life. I think for me, I’ve always had to write my way through whatever’s happening in my life.”
Wearing his signature leather jacket and dark shades, he provides an introspective account of his mindset while also reflecting on his goals. This year, the artist plans to give his fans more new music, but also re-release his 2013 project Innanetape for streaming. “It’s been awhile since I did a full length album so this is my first one in quite a few years. That’s coming up,” he continues, “My initial project [Innanetape] I’m gonna be putting that on streaming platforms for the ten year anniversary.”
With the anniversary of his debut mixtape approaching, 2023 will be a big year for Mensa. He is focused and has fine tuned his creative process for his modern style. He is eager to give fans more new music and enjoy his previous releases, while also showcasing the evolution of his music and style.
