by Anne Carlson Grammy-nominated gospel artist Deitrick Haddon is focused on Christmas already with his new single, “Christmas Prayer.” And we’ve got your first, exclusive look at the music video. The song has a little bit of a different sound from what Haddon is typically known for. This time around he collaborated with the father of trap music, himself, hip-hop producer and P.K. (“preacher’s kid”), Zaytoven. The 38-year-old has worked with some of hip-hop and R&B’s most popular acts, like Usher, Future, Nicki Minaj, and Christian rapper, Lecrae. The single is a lyrical prayer that shows Haddon’s true heart for the season, that those who are lonely, homeless, hungry and in unfortunate situations find comfort, love and God in their situation. The video accompanies the lyrics by showing Deitrick and Zaytoven in inner city environments helping those in need. “This is my Christmas prayer, that love be in the air. Let the lonely know you care. This is my Christmas prayer.” The two have been teasing snippets of them working together onThis partnership isn’t the first between Haddon and Zaytoven. The two also came together to do work on Usher’s “A” album. It’s also not the first of it’s kind between the gospel and hip-hop/trap music world. Remember Erica Campbell‘s “I Luh God” (2015) or Lecrae’s whole last album Let the Trap Say Amen (2018), which was completely produced by Zaytoven. The fusing of the two genres can even be seen as far back as Kirk Franklin‘s “Stomp” in 1997, and this blending together of genres is not going anywhere. The Grammy award-winning producer and founding pastor of Hill City Church will be dropping their joint holiday album entitled, Zaytoven & Deitrick Haddon Greatest Gift on December 7. “Christmas Prayer,” “Good Christmas,” and another viral hit, “Make Love” (which the former reality TV star states is for married couples only) are set as the lead tracks on the seven song EP. Zaytoven produced the entire album, while Deitrick wrote three songs. ATLANTA, GA – NOVEMBER 18: Zaytoven attends ‘A Seat at the Table with Zaytoven & Friends Family Day’ on November 18, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Marcus Ingram/Getty Images) “This is my favorite project of all time because I’m such a Deitrick Haddon fan,” said Zaytoven about the album that came together in less than a week. “This has always been a dream of mine to break into the gospel world. Most people don’t know that I grew up in the church and I still am a musician at my church Life Abundantly Christian Center.“ Watch the video Here!
New Music From Mr. Play featuring Demarco and Adekunle Gold
by Anne Carlson British DJ and fast-rising artist-producer Mr. Play taps the vocal talent of Jamaican dancehall star Demarco (of “Love my life” fame) and Nigerian singing sensation Adekunle Gold on his new groovy single titled “You Decide”. The fun-filled record is a blend of dancehall and Afro-pop styles that fit both vocalists. The record is infectious with lush keys, steady groove and the catchy melodies from the pair and as Mr. Play puts it “No matter your age, gender, or background, everyone can relate to this track. It’s fun but emotive at the same time“. Mr. Play has definitely delivered a huge dose of summer feels on this sun-drenched record which is his first as an artist, after conquering the party scene from behind the wheels of steel. Read more at https://earmilk.com/2018/11/08/mr-play-bring-back-the-summer-vibes-with-demarco-and-adekunle-gold-on-you-decide-premiere/#8ijLaOx7GB9wfsbY.99 We caught up with Mr Play to discuss his new release and here is what he had to say: “MY FIRST ever track as an artist-producer is officially out! You Decide featuring Demarco & Adekunle Gold was released on Friday (Nov 9) and it’s been a long time coming and is the first track from my new music project. What can I say, I feel abundantly blessed and thankful that I’ve reached this milestone. It’s literally been a dream come true and has been a helluva journey. You wouldn’t believe the hurdles I had to jump to get here and I can genuinely say, throughout I’ve been growing as a person and It’s taught me the serious lesson of patience, and most certainly timing. My faith and trust in God has been foundational and will continue to be throughout my journey. So, let me tell you more about You Decide – it celebrates the vocal talent of Jamaican dancehall star Demarco (of Love my life fame) and Nigerian singing sensation Adekunle Gold, and is a blend of dancehall and Afro-pop styles that fit both vocalists.” Watch the Music Video Here! Listen/download Mr Play feat. Demarco & Adekunle Gold debut single ‘You Decide’ https://ffm.to/youdecide
YFN Lucci’s ’Hit Em Up’ Drops Tonight!
by Anne Carlson YFN Lucci drops his latest project with TIG Records and Warner Music tonight on all platforms. To celebrate the release of ’Hit Em Up’, TIG threw a listening event for Atlanta’s premier Djs and tastemakers at Stoddards Range and Guns near Atlantic Station. Special guests included Bigga Rankin, Dj Plugg, Dj RootsQueen, Dj Kash, Dj Kutt Throat, Dj Blak, dancehall sensation, Demarco, My Mixtape CEO, Juan Duenas, Wilton Wallace of Warner Music, Co-Founder of Familiar Territory Records, Roland Williams, and many more. Lucci gifted the Djs and influencers with free range time, custom faux bullet proof jackets, and bullet-shaped USB drives with the new music already loaded. The Djs already foresee the self-titled track, ’Hit Em Up’, produced by Turn Me Up Josh, as the star single. ’Hit Em Up’ drops everywhere at 12 am midnight, so be on the look out for it on all major platforms. The “3” pack is a precursor to his upcoming release “Wish Me Well 3”
Happy Birthday American Gangster!!
JAY-Z’s tenth studio album American Gangster was originally released November 6, 2007. It’s not difficult to see how Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter would see parallels between himself and Frank Lucas, the “self-made” kingpin who ruled atop the United States’ drug empire during the 1970s as depicted in the film American Gangster. Jigga came up under O.G.s like Big Daddy Kane and Jaz, only to see them get jerked by the industry. Along with Dame Dash and Kareem “Biggs” Burke, he built his own empire in the form of Roc-A-Fella Records, and achieved so much success that he in effect ended up “ruling” rap music. However, unlike Lucas, JAY-Z did manage “to quit while he was ahead,” enjoy his brief “retirement,” and served as President of Def Jam Records, the label that agreed to distribute Roc-A-Fella and helped launch his career into the stratosphere. But before long, he returned to his recording career to reassert his dominance. JAY-Z officially returned from his self-imposed hiatus with Kingdom Come (2006), his first attempt to spend the majority of an album tackling “mature” subjects. He talked about his personal growth as he lived and worked through his thirties, the issues he faced as a rich Black man in the United States, beefs he had with various rappers, and social issues facing Black people throughout the country. Though Kingdom Come initially sold well and was generally well-received, the album ranks in the lower half of his discography. Most of the singles still hold up, and other tracks feature JAY rhyming with renewed hunger. However, Kingdom Come also features some of the worst songs in his entire catalogue (see “Anything” with Usher and “Hollywood” with Beyoncé). He quickly bounced back, released his tenth solo album American Gangster less than a year later. A decade after its release, it’s still the best “post-retirement” album by JAY-Z, and probably in the top three or four albums that he’s ever recorded. This was also JAY-Z’s attempt to re-assert himself as one of the top artists in hip-hop. Just a couple of months before his “little brother” Kanye West released Graduation on Def Jam, and was basking in the glow of its massive success. Fortunately, JAY-Z didn’t try to emulate Kanye’s sound, opting to return to his roots, spinning vivid tracks about dealing drugs over soulful loops. Except this time, he focused it through the prism of the American Gangster film.
20 years ago today Juvenile dropped his classic album “400 Degreez”
In the fall of 1998, a 23-year-old rapper named Juvenile had erupted out of nowhere — or, more specifically, out of the CJ Peete housing projects in New Orleans — with a song so profoundly, overwhelmingly Southern that it felt like a transmission from some other, much funkier alien civilization. Over a beat that sounded like an evil robot’s spicy-food-before-bed nightmare, Juvenile, his New Orleans drawl a mile deep, mercilessly clowned some mysterious, all-pervading “you.” The “Ha” of the title wasn’t a laugh. It was a James Brown grunt, a simple verbal emphasis: “You brought our tape with a check, ha / You wearin’ a vest, ha / You tryin’ to protect your chest, ha.” The song’s music video, from director Marc Klasfeld, turned Juvenile’s New Orleans into a whole world unto itself. It’s a visual tone poem, a meditation on snakes and boarded-up houses and above-ground graveyards and neon-color Porsches and ambulance lights and air-conditioner sweat and yellowing eyes. Juvenile wears crispy white clothes and stands in puddles, staring the camera down. The video shows such a collision of money and desolation that your brain can get whiplash just watching it. It’s fascinating and immersive and overwhelming, and it remains one of the best music videos ever made. In the 20 years since its release, rap music has internalized all these anarchic regional trends, and it’s harder for someone like Juvenile to come along and shock the world. But in the moment, that’s what he did. Juvenile was a compelling figure with a homegrown sound, a new-to-us accent, and a whole lot of urgency in his delivery. He made a great album, and he changed everything.
Takeoff Releases Featureless Solo Debut, ‘The Last Rocket’
Takeoff’s 12 track debut solo album, The Last Rocket is out now on all streaming platforms. It is interesting to note that the project has no features and serves as an impressive display of the Migos members rap prowess. Following the release of Quavo‘s Quavo Hunchoproject, Takeoff recently revealed the release date of his debut solo album, The Last Rocket. Taking to Instagram, the Migos member posted cover art and a teaser trailer accompanied by captions that count down the hours to the drop of the album. It is interesting to note that the artwork for The Last Rocket was done by Chicago-based artist Hebru Brantley, who looked to express Takeoff as one of his signature goggled characters. Although not much is known about Takeoff’s solo project, we can definitely expect a host of notable features and ad-lib-anchored infectious tracks.