Music News: Jadakiss Co-Signs Yung Rackz | Music Discovery XO

MILESTONES
HIP HOP NEWS
02-12-2020 12:31 GMT

JADAKISS CO-SIGNS YUNG RACKZ

Music industry update | North Carolina, USA | Indie artist, Yung Rackz

In today’s overcluttered music industry, with so many up-and-coming artists emerging daily, and major record labels now signing on average two new artists every day in order to maintain their market share and eliminate the risk of being toppled by indie labels and independent artists and bands, it could be very difficult to get heard or even make a name in the business independently. But the same rules apply now as decades ago - and consistency is key. Anyone can make a hit record but very few can do it over and over and over and over till the point where it looks easy and everyone thinks they can do it. Of all the genres and subgenres of music, hip hop seems to have taken the biggest blow in terms of clutter and competition. There are more emerging hip hop artists than in any other genre, and consequently its main stage could potentially be the most overcluttered. But amidst all the madness and the cut-throat competition that exists there are still a few artists that are single-handedly making a name for themselves. North Carolina’s Yung Rackz has been blazing a trail independently for several years now, during which he made his name as one of the South Eastern region of the United States’ most highly revered underground rappers. He also has more underground club and chart-worthy records than many emerging hip hop artists in the US as a whole according to many critics. Since the release of “Back In The Day”, the track that put his name on the map back in 2012/13, he has returned with consistently better and better records and stayed in a lane of his own with his unique blend of melodic, mildly melancholic rap and introspective beats. After several years thriving underground, it’s common for many rappers to bow to popular demand and change to a more “pop” sound for mass appeal, but not Rackz. His style is so exciting and unique that when his career peaked at an all time high back in July when he announced that his new album, “Trapademic” was being hosted by rap legend Jadakiss of the popular ‘90s hip hop group, The L.O.X, his sound and style were just as pristine as they were when he made his debut. Just over 3 months after the release of the album, Jadakiss has announced that he’ll be co-signing the Winston-Salem underground hip hop star and taking him under his wing. “Trapademic“, the new album with Jadakiss is available to stream and download on Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal, Amazon Music, Deezer and all popular digital music retail, download and streaming services; as well as selected independent music and mixtape promotion platforms like Spinrilla.

Explicit.

Music News: 1 Million | Music Discovery XO

MILESTONES
COUNTRY POP NEWS
29-09-2020 18:17 GMT

1 MILLION

Music industry update | California, USA | Indie artist, Christie Huff

Following suit with the previous year, which marked a very remarkable turning point in her career, 2020 has been an amazing year for Christie Huff. Christie’s new sound is hitting all the right notes with fans, critics love it, and the music industry is very excited about it too. Back in March 2019 her single, “Black And White” went viral after being streamed over a million times on Spotify in just over 3 months, something which is not only very rare for fully independent artists but almost impossible. Many knew it would happen, and she has done it once again. Her June 2020 single, “Halfway Fell” has crossed over the million mark just over 2 months after its release and is still going strong. Her latest single, “Turn Around”, a duet with independent Los Angeles folk pop singer, Matt Koelsch, which was recorded back in January at the iconic Capitol Studios in Los Angeles was released to critical acclaim on the 25th of August and is poised to follow suit. 

Music News: Boomerang | The Indie Music Press Release Board | Tamara Bubble - New Music (Hip Hop)

NEW MUSIC
HIP HOP NEWS
07-04-2020 03:33 GMT

BOOMERANG

Music industry update | New York, USA | Indie artist, Tamara Bubble

The second season of BET Network’s television series, Boomerang premiered on the 11th of March. It featured the brand new record, “B.O.S.S” by Brooklyn, New York independent hip hop star, Tamara Bubble who has enjoyed a fair number of licensed music placements on the network over the past couple of years. Tamara's fan base has grown and continues to grow almost exponentially since the release of her critically acclaimed album, “Your Favorite Rapper Is A Girl” which was released back in 2017. It was an album that has changed the way real hip hop music connoisseurs look at and listen to female rappers till  today. Sure, she is a hundred times more creative and a hundred times more talented than the majority of the femcees out there according to critics and fans, but Tamara has proven to male hip hop fans and the US hip hop community as a whole that female rap music is not all about fake butt implants, fake boobies, really long eye lashes, slow banana eating and Barbie doll antics that are more annoying than sexy. “B.O.S.S” was also featured on Season 2, Episode 6 of Hulu’s series, Shrill. Watch Boomerang and Shrill video clips below.

Explicit.

Music News: "Black And White" Hits 3 Million | The Indie Music Press Release Board | Christie Huff - Milestones (Country Pop)

MILESTONES
COUNTRY POP NEWS
06-02-2020 13:48 GMT

"BLACK AND WHITE" HITS 3 MILLION

Music industry update | California, USA | Indie artist, Christie Huff

Hailed as California’s favorite country girl, Christie Huff cemented her name in the history books with the release of the critically acclaimed single, “Black And White” in the spring of 2019. The single hit the 1 million mark on Spotify in just over 2 months, but it didn’t stop there. Several months on it is still a fan favorite and officially reached the 3 million mark just over a week ago. Christie’s gigging schedule has doubled if not tripled since the release of the record at a time when she was already gigging at an all-time high. The Los Angeles indie sensation continues to make her slow and steady rise to country music superstardom as her fan base grows almost exponentially with every new release.

Music News: Bentley Records Signs Yung Rackz | The Indie Music Press Release Board | Yung Rackz - Milestones (Hip Hop)

MILESTONES
HIP HOP NEWS
23-12-2019 13:07 GMT

BENTLEY RECORDS SIGNS YUNG RACKZ

Music industry update | North Carolina, USA | Indie artist, Yung Rackz

North Carolina is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the United States; the oldest State University; the Wright Memorial where the Wright Brothers made the first successful prototype of the aviation machine we know as the airplane today; High Point - which is hailed as the Furniture Capital of the World; Cherry Point - the largest US Marine Corps air base; and the Core Sound Decoy Festival which is held every December. It was also said to be a frequent stop for the infamous British pirate, Blackbeard, from Bristol, UK who frequented Beaufort Town which was also known as "Fish Town", back in the 1700s. It has brought us definitive musical acts like singer songwriter and civil rights activist, Nina Simone; and singer songwriter and producer, The Dream; and has a rich culture deeply rooted in colonial times.

Hailing from Winston-Salem, the third largest urban area in North Carolina, Yung Rackz is an emerging artist who quickly made a name for himself as the state’s next big hip hop star to watch. Making his mark back in 2012 with the release of the critically acclaimed single, “Back In The Day”, Rackz quickly gained popularity in the region and his music spread exponentially across the US over the coming years. He is now ranked as one of NC’s top hip hop acts and is being looked upon as one of the United States’ next big hip hop artists. Offering a bigger sound, and more mass appeal than his already exceptional repertoire, his last single, “Opp Town“ which was released on the 11th of November marked a new high in Rackz' career. This week we were able to confirm that he has signed an artist development deal with Bentley Records Red and has released his first album, “Prophet of the Streets” with the international Wall Street, New York record label. “Prophet on the Streets” is available to stream and download on Spotify, Amazon, Google Play Music, Apple Music and all popular digital music streaming and download platforms, as well as selected indie music promotion and distribution platforms.

Explicit.

Music News: 5000 Miles Later | The Indie Music Press Release Board | Trevor Ohlsen - Milestones (Pop)

MUSIC INDUSTRY
POP NEWS
20-11-2019 23:07 GMT

5000 MILES LATER

Music industry update | Michigan, USA | Indie artist, Trevor Ohlsen

Being a recording artist is a tough job that never really gets easy - at least not unless your aim is to have a shrinking fan base throughout your music career, and you haven't set unachievable goals to keep you on your toes every step of the way - like selling more records than The Beatles (that's over 177 million), playing more concerts in 24 hours than The Flaming Lips and Jay-Z (that's 8), or getting the mosts music video views on YouTube (that's 2.08 billion - "Gangnam Style"). Or if any of those seem too far-fetched how about getting the most dislikes on YouTube (that's 2.5 million - Justin Bieber) or being the most searched pop star on Google for riding on hotdogs and licking Everything as in the case of Miley Cirus (that's a lot of hot dogs).

Performing live isn't as easy as it seems even though many of the greats make it look like so. Entertaining a million fans with a new record released on Spotify and Apple Music isn't the same as touring internationally and entertaining those same fans live in concert. Touring is a big eye opener, and just one of many for budding musicians who are excited to take their show on the road once they've finally made that big hit song. Surviving that first tour is often a milestone many will never forget, well that and everything that comes afterwards if the tour is successful of course, which, if nothing else at all, is guaranteed to be more than ten times more gruelling.

31 days, 16 concert halls, 5000 miles from home and one big state later, Michigan, US indie pop sensation, Trevor Ohlsen and his new manager, Skip are back home in one piece after a monumental experience to remember. Trevor's first official tour is complete, just over a month after signing with his first manager, Skip. The two are already making magic together and are already proving to be a duo that the music industry needs to keep a close eye on. Trevor isn't one of those artists that comes around every decade or so, he is one of those that comes around once in a lifetime. From his songwriting style to the way he plays and even his demeanour, he stands out from the crowd and is always sure to please fans whether live or recorded. His latest full length project, the sensational 16 track album "Trevor Ohlsen" put him on the watch list of every self-respecting indie pop fan and critic locally and he is being hailed as Michigan's next big star. All eyes are on him now anticipating what his next move will be now that he has proved he can not just make a great song but also move the crowd on stage as well, not to mention go without sleep as required.

Music News: Collidge's Mississippi Hip Hop Award | The Indie Music Press Release Board | Coolidge - Milestones (Hip Hop)

MUSIC INDUSTRY
HIP HOP NEWS
29-10-2019 13:29 GMT

COLLIDGE'S MISSISSIPPI HIP HOP AWARD

Music industry update | Mississippi, USA | Indie artist, Coolidge

He has held the title as one of the most exciting new rap artists to emerge from the Southern region of the United States in a very long time and Drevo Coolidge has made it clear that 2019 is his year with back to back hits that just keep coming. This week he was celebrated for his achievements at the Mississippi Hip Hop Culture Awards where he received the award for New Wave Artist Of The Year. Hosted at the Alamo Center in Jackson, Mississippi, the awards ceremony was a collaborative event by the Atlanta Hip Hop Awards and the Hood Idol Tour. The event was held on Saturday, the 26th of October from 5 PM till 10.

Explicit.

Music News: Your Favorite Rapper Is Still A Girl | The Indie Music Press Release Board | Tamara Bubble - Milestones (R&B)

MUSIC INDUSTRY
R&B NEWS
15-09-2019 16:30 GMT

YOUR FAVORITE RAPPER IS STILL A GIRL

She's had New York's highly competitive underground hip hop scene at her feet since the release of "Your Favorite Rapper Is A Girl", one of the most highly rated underground hip hop albums by a female rapper on the East Coast this decade, and Brooklyn artist Tamara Bubble has kept the heat coming, hotter and hotter with every single release. The album gained the attention of not just underground hip hop fans but mainstream music fans and insiders, and press outlets as well, and it has seen to it that she is now one of the most celebrated emerging hip hop artists in the region. She continues to be hailed for keeping the genre's core values alive. Tamara has enjoyed several placements on mainstream television networks like BET, and just announced another big licensed music placement - an unreleased single which is featured in a new AT&T commercial. [Watch below]

Music News: Sixteen Bars | The Indie Music Press Release Board | Dorothy Milone - Milestones (R&B)

SKUNK RADIO LIVE
R&B NEWS
22-07-2019 15:39 GMT

SIXTEEN BARS

They're the pride of Washington, DC, one of the top emerging R&B groups in the US today and one of the most exciting new music acts to watch live. Starting out as radio hosts on their local radio show, The Dorothy Milone Show, multi-ethnic quartet, Dorothy Milone have shown nothing but improvement every step of the way since they made their debut just over 4 years ago. With a very compact but impactful discography they have managed to gain widespread recognition independently and not only share the stage with some of the world's top music acts but also performe at some of the US's most prestigious festivals including the Essence festival last year. This week they announced that the popular US clothing retailer, Sixteen Bars (The Mall in Columbia, 10300 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, MD 21044) has enlisted them as their brand ambassadors.

Music News: Saiah Celebrates 6 Years Of Acting | The Indie Music Press Release Board | Saiah - Milestones (Pop)

SKUNK RADIO LIVE
POP NEWS
18-07-2019 20:33 GMT

SAIAH CELEBRATES 6 YEARS OF ACTING

Pictured: Saiah with Lil' Kim after gig back in 2012

Making his mark on New York's highly competitive emerging music scene back in 2012 with the release of the critically acclaimed single, "VIP", a single that still receives a lot of radio airplay and DJ spins today and which saw to it that he opened a show for Lil' Kim in Albany, New York, Saiah has been hailed as one of the most exciting new family-friendly rappers to watch since Will Smith. He took up acting a few years after becoming a singer and has enjoyed an illustrious career that has seen him play prominent roles in popular television series, web series, films and commercials including "New Amsterdam", "True Crime With Aphrodite Jones", "Final Cut", and "Meet Mario", just to name a few. This week, we join him in celebrating 6 years as an actor.

Pictured: Saiah at Method Man and Mr. Cream's video shoot back in 2012

Music News: Christina Custode Nominated For 2020 Grammy Educator Award | The Indie Music Press Release Board | Christina Custode - Milestones (Adult Contemporary)

SKUNK RADIO LIVE
ADULT CONTEMPORARY NEWS
17-07-2019 15:41 GMT

CC NOMINATED FOR 2020 GRAMMY AWARD

In just under two weeks, Grammy-nominated independent Niagra Falls, New York singer songwriter, Christina Custode will begin her summer 2019 tour, the "Just In Case Tour", titled after her new single "Just In Case" which was released on the 13th of February. The 11 date North East US tour commences on the 26th of July in Englewood, Ohio, with venues in Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine and Vermont. Christina is celebrating this week after news that she has been nominated for another Grammy Award emerged. This time it's the Music Educator Award, which recognizes current educators who have made a significant contribution to the field of music education.

Music News: 1 Million Spotify Streams Later | The Indie Music Press Release Board | Christie Huff - Milestones (Country Pop)

SKUNK RADIO LIVE
COUNTRY POP NEWS
06-07-2019 17:48 GMT

1 MILLION SPOTIFY STREAMS LATER

Last month, independent Los Angeles, US singer songwriter, Christie Huff's latest single, "Black And White" officially reached 1 million streams on Spotify, just over 3 months after it was released to critical acclaime on the 22nd of March this year. This week she took to Instagram (@ChristieHuffMusic) to say a big thank you to fans and released this message:

"Never in a million years would I have ever imagined a song of mine would be heard a million times! This seriously means more to me than you know. THANK YOU for listening! I realized I moved to LA 5 years ago yesterday to begin this journey of mine at 19 years old. There have been many ups in this time and many downs. A lot of hard work and a lot of “I don’t know what I’m doing” moments. But it’s moments and milestones like this that keeps me working and continuing on my journey. I love music and the opportunity I have to tell a story. Thank you for listening to this song and this story.🖤"