Six years ago, Lance Mijares was sitting in the laundry room of his daughter’s apartment, recording a hip-hop podcast between paying gigs. Now, he’s on the airwaves of Denver and has a following that rivals national artists.
Americans express concern about all five kinds of misinformation, but they feel the greatest anxiety over fully made-up news and altered videos designed to mislead. They also believe they have the biggest responsibility to reduce this type of news.
The Terri Green Project’s “Turnt Up Tonight”
The Terri Green Project fuses classic soul with today’s rhythm and blues on this latest release. The team has enlisted the help of vocalist Randy Hall to add a sultry and sensual vibe to the song. The result is a record that will definitely please the dance floor. The original, extended and Georgie B Remix are available for download on all major platforms.
Washington DC native, singer/songwriter/producer/musician Terri Bjerre aka Terri Green found her groove with composer/ arranger and saxophonist Torsten Abrolat (aka Toddi Reed) and created the music group The Terri Green Project. The duo has been soaring on the UK Soul Charts and US Indie Soul charts with their #1 single Night to Remember and their #2 album What a Feeling. Their next release Sneaking Out is a winner that features the N.W.O Horns’ Lenny Harris, a veteran of the jazz and soul scene who has worked with the likes of Gladys Knight, Sybil and Gilbert Pryor.
The slick strings and 70’s inspired piano lead the way for Terri’s unique vocal. The song’s lyrics tell the story of a relationship where one person feels that their partner is sneaking around and not being completely honest with them. The repeated line “keep on running out on me” reflects the emotional strain that can occur in such situations.
A pair of soulful remixes have been delivered to compliment the original version. Newcastle’s secret weapon Frank Star, who has worked with names like Sybil and Steve “Silk” Hurley delivers a sophisticated Philly-esq rework that gives the song new life. He’s aided by bassist Fontaine Burnett who brings a real groovy feel to the record that will keep the dance floor moving all summer.
Last but not least is a smooth and soulful mix from producer Jochen Mueller who really shines on this tune with his radio edit. The Austrailian based producer (The Veronicas, Stafford Brothers) has added a touch of contemporary R&B to this record that will please the current radio taste. The remixes will be released on all major streaming platforms tomorrow and will be followed by a full digital package this fall.
PNB Rock’s “Trapstar Turnt Popstar”
PNB Rock is a popular rapper from Philadelphia who rose to prominence with his hybrid blend of smooth, even-keeled trap beats and auto-tuned R&B crooning. Multiple mixtapes ratcheted up his profile, culminating in 2017’s critically-acclaimed debut studio album Catch These Vibes. Two years later, PNB is back with his sophomore effort, Trapstar Turnt Popstar, a 17-track double album that’s been hyped to be a major milestone for the rising star.
Trapstar Turnt Popstar finds PNB exploring his musical evolution – he still delivers the trap music that made him famous, but his sound has expanded to include more melodic elements and catchier hooks. He’s also become more introspective lyrically on tracks like “Middle Child” and “Nowadays,” where he reflects on his struggles with depression, heartbreak, and growing up in shelters.
While PNB’s evolution is impressive, the album feels very familiar at times. The production adheres to the aural boundaries established over the past four years, and it’s easy to spot his influences on every track. Unfortunately, almost everything else on the album sounds generic and formulaic — similar to what we’ve heard from countless other artists over the past few years.
The lead single titled “Dreamin” is a perfect example of this. The song opens with a banging 808 bassline that’s complemented by some sharp hi-hats and choppy distorted vocal effects. PNB sing-raps in a cadence that’s reminiscent of Ty Dolla $ign or Choker, and the result is an infectious dance record that’s perfect for your next road trip or club night.
Another standout is the ballad titled “ABCD (Friend Zone).” The track is powered by a soft, emotional synth melody, and features both PNB and A Boogie Wit da Hoodie singing about their love life. The duo’s passionate delivery and anti-romeo s**t lyrics are a welcome change of pace from the bragging and reckless sex talk we normally hear in hip hop today.
Roscoe Dash’s “All The Way Turnt Up”
Roscoe Dash exploded onto the hip hop scene in 2009 with the club anthem “All the Way Turnt Up!” Mixing the party rap sound of his hometown Atlanta with an indie attitude, the singer/rapper became a local phenomenon. Originally known as ATL, the rapper started his music career at age 12 when he formed a four-man rap group with his brother and high school classmates in Mill Creek. By his senior year, the group had a significant following in their community and he was well-known around Mill Creek High School for his basketball talents and rapping skills.
After releasing his first mixtape, Get Money Entertainment (led by CEO Young K) signed ATL to a recording deal. The singer was introduced to rapper Soulja Boy Tellem and began to record at Arrogant Music Studios in his home city of Atlanta. In 2009 he recorded the track “All the Way Turnt Up” which would become his debut single.
When the song came out, people began to think that it was Travis Porter’s song because he had a verse on it credited as “Travis Porter featuring YT and ATL.” The singer quickly realized that this was not good for his image so he re-recorded the song taking out Travis’ verses and adding some from Soulja Boy. The new version was released and it exploded in popularity within a few weeks of its release.
Despite the setbacks, ATL kept his head down and continued to work hard in the studio. Soon, he was getting offers from major labels and the singer decided to sign with Interscope Records.
He is currently working on his debut album and hopes to release it sometime in 2014. In addition to being a rapper, Roscoe is also a DJ and has done work for various radio stations in Denver. He has worked with artists such as Waka Flocka Flame, DJ Drama, and Fat Joe. He has a passion for rapping and says that it has helped him through some rough times in his life. If you are interested in hiring Roscoe Dash to perform at your next event, contact us now!
Talib Kweli’s “Turnt Up”
The Brooklyn wordsmith’s fifth solo album finds him battling the shopworn label “conscious rapper.” That’s a tag that’s been attached to him since Mos Def and Kweli released Black Star in 1998. On the 15-track Prisoner of Conscious, Kweli aims to remain true to his lyrical style while staying creative in music choices and relevant in hip-hop conversation.
That’s a tall order, and the result is an album that’s good but not great. Its most glaring flaw is its lack of clarity and cohesion. While the rapper has always been keen on addressing the political, cultural, and social climate in his lyrics, that’s less obvious here. The lyrics are often convoluted and hard to follow. And the production is all over the place, with some tracks feeling like they’re aimed at a contemporary audience while others feel more like a continuation of his post-Ear Drum work.
Kweli’s trademark rapid-fire rasp is still intact, and the lyrical content is still thought-provoking. But he doesn’t seem to know what to do with these elements, or how to present them in a way that appeals to the rap zeitgeist. That’s a shame, because he would’ve been wise to embrace some of the trends that have been bubbling up in hip-hop and try something new.
The album’s best moments come when he’s working with a guest artist who’s capable of delivering some strong verses. On the Miguel-featured “Come Here,” for example, the singer’s smooth croonery and the African drums set the tone for a strong diss against one of the city’s most infamous hoodlums.
Sadly, when the collaborations don’t work out, the record suffers. The production isn’t bad by any means, but it feels like Kweli tried to take on too many things at once and ended up with a mess. Listening to the LP alongside Acid Rap, for instance, shows that Kweli is at a plateau where he needs to make some significant changes. He’s got the talent to do better, and he knows it. But it’s going to take some time and patience for him to get there.