TheBasement Series brought the heat back to Los Angeles this week (April 26) as they brought out some of Hip-Hop & R&B’s hottest emerging artists in the game. The LA-based concert series teamed up with Amazon Music Rotation to host another live and intimate event, hosted by DJ Asia Shabazz.
Jayson Cash (@uknowcash), Alex Vaughn (@alexvaughn), TraeTwoThree (@traetwothree), Journey Montana (@journeymontana), and Superstar Pride (@superstarpride) all brought the vibes to the stage performing some of their hits, and RemixMag was there in attendance to capture their performance, and interview the artists.
TraeTwoThree
Opening up the show is an artist hailing from the city of Los Angeles, TraeTwoThree (@traetwothree). His high energy really got the crowd going as he started his set with “Three Mix (We Can Freak It)“
He performed some singles off of his latest project, Long Story Short. He shares about the inspiration behind the album, “Long Story Short sonically sums up who I am as an artist. I got some great collabs from Pleasure P, Kalan.FrFr, and Sevyn Streeter. Even down to my roots, we come with the Afrobeats too, so it’s a blessing to put it out and everybody gets a part of who I am.”
TraeTwoThree is fresh off the “Future Superstar Tour” which powered by his labels (Ncredible / Art@War / Atlantic Records). TraeTwoThree shares that the overall experience was amazing, and delves deeper into his relationship with Nick Cannon. “It’s everything to me. Nick Cannon is like a big brother to me. Before the music, he’s been a big brother in so many ways. I love Ncredible.”
TraeTwoThree has more up his sleeves as he plans on releasing more visuals to his latest project. He also has plans to release another project later this year.
Journey Montana
Coming straight from Harlem, Journey Montana (@journeymontana) was next up to hit the stage. This songstress really brought that pretty girl vibe. Journey Montana has a sound that is soothing yet powerful. She opened up her set with, “Looking For Love”, and the crowd was blown away. With the runs she was hitting at the end of the song, Journey Montana gave us a show. Her performance was overall fun as she exudes “that girl” energy.
The Harlem songstress also debuted her single, “212”, which is set to release on May 5th. Journey shares more insight of the song, “It’s like a homecoming type of song. It represents my homecoming of coming back to New York… If you know me, you know I’m from Harlem, you know what I represent, and what I love.” “212” represents Harlem’s area code, and is an homage to the place that made her the artist she is today.
Jayson Cash
Known for his “authentic rhymes and soulful melodies”, Carson’s very own Jayson Cash (@uknowcash) really brought that West Coast energy to the stage. The crowd proudly rapped along with the artist as he performed his hit single, “All I Know”, as well as his “Selfish” off of his Read the Room album. Jayson Cash’s stage presence is overall gravitating yet humble as he made it a point to shout out Del Amo, the people in the audience, and JFK Beatz (who was playing the keys on stage).
“I don’t wanna just get big everywhere and not matter at home. I wanna matter at home. So I feel like it’s important to acknowledge the community.”
When asked what he wants listeners to take away from his music, he shares, “That it’s okay to be you. I rap about shit that I’ve been through. Working a job, losing jobs, and relationships. I’m not trying to pretend to be no tough guy, I’m just a man. I just want to provide a platform for anybody listening to me to know you don’t have to look like me, dress like me, talk like me. Just be you. It’s cool to be you.”
Jayson Cash is an artist that stays consistent with dropping heat, so be prepared for more music as he’s finishing up his next project right now. In the meantime check out his latest projects Read The Room which features LA-natives Dom Kennedy, Blxst, and Kalan.Frfr and Some More Of It, which is a preview of what’s next to come from Jayson Cash.
Superstar Pride
Sardis, Mississippi rapper, Superstar Pride (@superstarpride), also hit the stage and got the crowd jumping to his music.
Known for “Painting Pictures”, which went viral on TikTok in 2022, Superstar Pride has been on his journey to greatness. The single earned him his first-ever Billboard Hot 100 entry, and and continues to garner millions of streams.
Alex Vaughn
Singer/songwriter, Alex Vaughn (@alexvaughn), shut the stage down as she closed out TheBasement series. She arrived on stage performing “Keep That Energy” from her 2022 album, The Hurtbook. She blew the house down with her powerful vocals, and the crowd really soaked in her presence and charisma.
“Performing is my favorite aspect of being an artist and I really love being in intimate spaces where I can really feel direct energy between myself and the audience.”
She then went over to the keyboard and performed, “IYKYK” off the album, and closed out her set with “So Be It”. Alex Vaughn’s voice is overall enticing and moving. When asked about how it feels for her to be one of the top emerging R&B vocalists out, she states, “I’m just doing the Lord’s work. I’m glad that he gave me this gift and this vessel and I’m just gonna keep doing what he tells me to do. And just do what I feel and see where it takes me next.”
She’s definitely on her way to greatness as she continues to push herself to be vulnerable with her artistry, as well as grow and evolve from her experiences. All along with the gift of being able to put all of that into her music. She shares, “I want listeners to know that I’m a human too. I am figuring it out just like the rest of us and I’m not trying to gate keep any information to get into that next level… I want us all to channel and tap into our superpowers. And have a good time…. The process can be beautiful, and you’re not in it alone.”
Alex Vaughn has no plans of stopping any time soon either as she plans on releasing another project by the end of the year. “Of course I will never stop breathing music, that’s inevitable.” She also plans on tapping into all of her creative bags this year unafraid of what’s new to come.
In the meantime listeners can check out her latest project, The Hurtbook (Homegirl Pack), which is the deluxe version of her 2022 album that features today’s R&B heavy hitters, Ari Lennox, Muni Long, and Summer Walker.
Founded by Ericka J. Coulter, TheBasement Series is responsible for shedding light on the likes of Blxst, G Herbo, BabyTate, and Kaash Paige. TheBasement Series continues to serve as a safe haven for rising artists. In a recent interview with HypeBeast, Coulter shares, “TheBasement Series is a stage for artists that are making strides with new music and building an organic fanbase. This room is to help bridge the gap and continue to tell the story.”
