{ARTIST TO WATCH Q&A} Zacchaeus tha’ Great | @MKULTRAZACCHAE

Artist to Watch Q&A: Zacchaeus tha' Great 

I'm big on getting to know artists that I like listening to. Therefore I created a basic Q&A form for artists that will allow their followers to get a glimpse of the artist behind the music.

I get reached out to by a lot of artists. Few rarely take the time to actually check out my work or try to get to know what I do. Not only did this artist show interest, he filled out the interview request on The Underground Artistry site without even being directed to do so. I knew then this artist had drive that was one to be matched.

His single, "Ran Off", produced by Nard & B, is in regular rotation on Platinum Radio and is available on all major streaming sites: Google Play, Apple Music, Deezer, and more. Listen to the single below:


So, without further ado, get to know the artist in this week's featured Q&A: Zacchaeus tha' Great below:

Q: What's your name & email address?
A: Zacchaeus tha’ Great - bookztg@gmail.com

Q: What is your genre of choice?
A: Hip-Hop/rap

Q: What prompted you to want to do music? And how long have you been singing/songwriting/recording?
A: I fell in love with Hip-Hop as a child growing up in Virginia Beach. My parents always played all genres of music so I guess my artistry comes from an influential standpoint. Once I started doing random freestyles & it turned into me recording them a cappella on my radio shack boombox with the microphone built in. But it wasn’t till an old friend of the family showed me how to actually count bars that I began curating my own original songs. The subject matter changed once my day to day habits did. But it was more of a way to express myself. Then it expanded to actually wanting to learn the business to pursue a career. So all in all I’ve been writing and recording since 10 or 11 so I would say 16 or 17 years.

Q: How old were you when you wrote your first song? Do you still remember the title?
A: Yooooo, I actually do. And this was before I learned how to count bars and everything. The song was entitled “I’m Mean”. It’s crazy because I was like 10 or 11, and I was still in elementary.

Q: What’s your top 3 inspirations for your music?
A: It would have to be three genres of music that inspires me to create. 1. R&B, this genre helps me with melody. I’m not the ol’ melodic trying to out harmonize singers, but I do understand that it helps with yo flow and tone on the beat. 2. Reggae, hands down some of my favorite musicians are dancehall artists like Buju Banton, Sizzla, and Capleton. And of course Bob Marley but they have a way to speak for their people. They represent and echo the sentiments of the people were they are from. 3. Hip-Hop from the 90’s and early 2000’s when they focused more on lyrics and the flow sonically.

Q: What are some of the musical greats that inspire your music?
A: Artists like Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye, Jay-Z, Wu-Tang Clan, T. I., Ludacris, Buju Banton, Sizzla, Capleton, Bob Marley, and I cannot forget my all time favorite Mrs. Mary J. Blige!

Q: What would you tell younger generations pursuing music as a career?
A: 1st you gotta love to do it. If you're gonna do music [bro/sis] it gotta come from the soul and you gotta deliver it. Learn the business. Get ya paper work right in order to be who you say you are. Go in the booth & make magic!

Q: If someone needed to contact you for a performance, how can someone book you?
A: bookztg@gmail.com or you can get in touch with my manager Mr. Brown .

Q: What do you feel makes you different from other artists?
A: The fact that I’m not afraid to be

Q: On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate The Underground Artistry?
A: 10

Now that you've gotten to learn a bit more about the artist behind the music, you can #TuneIn to Platinum Radio to listen to his track, "Ran Off". You can also request the song by calling 616-841-5253. And be sure to follow the artist on Twitter , Instagram & Facebook to stay updated with his music. And don't forget to follow & stream his music on Spotify. You can stream his top tracks below via Spotify.

Got questions of your own for Zacchaeus Tha' Great? Sound off in the comments below & he'll answer them for you!

Well, that's all for this Q&A. Thanks for stopping by & checking out the new content. I hope you enjoyed it. If you have any questions or comments, sound off below. If you'd like your own Q&A on The Underground Artistry click on the big blue button at the top of the page & fill out the questionnaire, easy as 1-2-3.

Until next time...

Enjoy the music? 
Support the artist. 

xoxo, 
Rachel Marie
Founder/Owner/Content Specialist, The Underground Artistry

Follow the Blog & the Writer:

The Underground Artistry on Instagram/Facebook

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*Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. No copyright infringement intended. ALL RIGHTS BELONG TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS*

{MUSIC VIDEO} Mark Battles Drops the Music Video for "What" on his Birthday | @markbattles317

Mark Battles Drops the Music Video for "What" on his Birthday

2018 has been an amazing year for hip-hop. All the new albums, EPs, rising artists...wow. And hip-hop fans are ecstatic as rising star, Mark Battles drops the music video for "What" on his birthday. "What" is the fourth track off the recently released Fortunate EP. Filmed by Vasi Films & produced by Money Montage, Battles took a break from the game and came back with a vengeance. His Fortunate EP is the deepest set of lyrical ingenuity since J. Cole released KOD. If you want the scoop on the EP, get that here.

Moving on to the track of the day, "What"...there's a lyric that I agree with 1,000%: "...I ain't in ya top 5, that's a good joke...". Battles is deserving of placement in your top 3, and I'm here to help sway your opinions.

So, without further ado, here's the video of the day from the birthday King, himself:

Follow Mark Battles:

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

YouTube

Below are a few of my favorite Mark Battles projects, click the links to preview them:

Vasi World

Lost in Reality

Numb

Day 2

Shelter Food

Preseason

Until September

Broken Silence

Black Einstein

Saturday School Series

Thank you for visiting the blog and I hope you enjoyed the song, the video and the artist. There's more to come from Mark Battles & I am here for it. Stay tuned & I got you! 

Until next time...

Enjoy the music?
Support the artist. 

xoxo,

Rachel Marie

Founder/Owner/Content Specialist, The Underground Artistry

Be sure to visit the sister channel new review blog, Raez of Light Reviews. 

*Connect with The Underground Artistry on #MusicLinkUp here*

You can find The Underground Artistry on Facebook & Instagram and follow the writer on Twitter , Instagram and Facebook as well.

*Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. No copyright infringement intended. ALL RIGHTS BELONG TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS*

{ARTIST TO WATCH Q&A} Moe Carter | @MoeCarter107

Artist to Watch Q&A: Moe Carter

As a fellow radio host on Platinum Radio, I'm constantly in search of great music to play on my show. I had no idea who Moe Carter was when one day my fiance was playing his song, "Neighborhood" from SoundCloud and I was like, 'Who's that?'. He told me & I was locked in. I asked if he could reach out to him and one thing led to another and he's now in our network of indie artists. *happy dance*

With an interview on Platinum Radio Online & a live interview with fellow host, Bruce Anderson during the Platinum Midday Grind, I felt it only right if I get in on the action & interview him, myself, because I'm interested in how he got started musically due to his lyrical ability being so eclectically impeccable.

However, in today's world there's not many indie artists that have completely free schedules so I simply sent him a list of interview prep questions to get the ball in motion & you can expect a live interview with me & this artist on my show, Rise and Shine with Rae in the upcoming weeks. Check out his Q&A below & be sure to follow Moe Carter on Twitter & Instagram. Also, check out his official website & sign up for his mailing list to remain updated on all things Moe Carter.


Q&A:

Question: What's your name & email address?
Answer: Moe Carter. moeknowswede@yahoo.com

Q: What is your genre of choice?
A: Hip-Hop/rap

Q: What prompted you to want to do music? And how long have you been singing/songwriting/recording?
A: Simply it's just where my heart is at, CM big stars that I looked up to do it made me want to emulate that my own way. I have been song writing for over 15 years and I have been recording for roughly 3 years.

Q: How old were you when you wrote your first song? Do you still remember the title?
A: My first written and recorded song was named Off My Block featuring a local friend of mine that took place in another friend's uncle's basement. Ever since that my pen has been steady in motion.

Q: What’s your top 3 inspirations for your music?
A: I like the fashion it is one of the pillars that holds the artist together, appearance is everything. Flow is almost everything to me it's what gives me the urge to pickup the pen and write ASAP, wordplay makes up a huge percentage of my songs. And "recycled originality" which in my explanation is by studying the greats that give me drive, do it my way and pay the homage when I do it to the fullest

Q: What are some of the musical greats that inspire your music?
A: Biggie, The Lox, G-Unit, Lauryn Hill, Missy Elliott, Jay Z, It is way too many Greats to name maybe I'll write a short book about this topic one day.



Q: What would you tell younger generations pursuing music as a career?
A: Learn and invest in your career most importantly this music is your life in your hands. And don't chase the bag right away that takes some time until perfect your craft and follow the dream all facts.

Q: If someone needed to contact you for a performance, how can someone book you?
A: My Email Is moeknowswede@yahoo.com or simply just dm me on Instagram at sgmg_mc. I also can be found at my personal site which is MoeCarterSGMG.com

Q: What do you feel makes you different from other artists?
A: My mindset in an artistic way; I got a knack for adapting to beats and mood patterns. My songs are a little off-beat but eye-catching, I give off diversity that you rarely see in the rap game these days.

Q: On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate The Underground Artistry?
A: 10

And that concludes the Artist to Watch Q&A; but, stay tuned, because in the upcoming weeks, you'll be able to listen to so much more during the audio for the live interview. So hit that follow button to the side & be sure to follow Moe Carter on all his social platforms, as well as SoundCloud. You can enjoy Sour Bunga & Neighborhood, two of the singles from Moe Carter, via SoundCloud below.

As always, if you're feelin' the song, drop your comments below & let me know what you think. Hit that share button. Follow the blog. Also, click the hyperlinks herein to be directed to Moe Carter's other channels. Thanks for visiting, reading, supporting. I love you guys & I hope you enjoyed the content!

Until next time...

Enjoy the music?
Support the artist.



xoxo,

Rachel Marie
The Underground Artistry...another site, not just another blog.

If you'd like more from this writer, visit her official Facebook page here & The Underground Artistry on Facebook here. You can also follow her on Twitter here.

*Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. No copyright infringement intended. ALL RIGHTS BELONG TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS*

{ NEW ALBUM } @RaeSremmurd Releases SR3MM on May 4th

 SR3MM: Third Studio Album from Rae Sremmurd Dropped May 4th

SR3MM is probably one of the American hip-hop duo's most anticipated album releases, yet. They came onto the scene as two young brothers from Tupelo, Mississippi trying to make it, when P-Nazty, producer & Tupelo, Mississippi native, took notice and then introduced them to multi-platinum producer, Mike Will Made-iT.

Impressed by their sound and their energy, the brothers were signed on the spot & now here we are vibin' to their 3rd studio album from Ear Drummers Records.

Oh...a little insight...in case you didn't know: their name: Rae Sremmurd is their record label spelled backwards --Ear Drummers-- just thought I'd tell you. 

I was like, what! Ha!

See, this is what the industry's been missing: originality. Though their sounds are similar, their style is all their own. And the vibes you get when you hear their music is unmatched.

Striving for a higher pinnacle, their initial debut landed them at number 6 on the Billboard chart with over 7 million streams worldwide. The triple-release is made up of 2 solo albums & one collaborative: Swaecation & Jxmtro & SR3MM.

The two are amazing together.

Are you ready for their solos?

Stream SR3MM on Spotify below & let me know in the comments which song you want them to release as their next single. For which track are you most likely looking forward to the video? Leave all your comments below & if there's any upcoming albums you'd like me to do a review post on, let me know & I'll get it done!

Be sure to follow Rae Sremmurd on Twitter & Instagram & in the meantime, click below to get your own copy of SR3MM!

As always, I hope you enjoyed the content.

Until next time...

Enjoy the music? 
Support the artist. 

xoxo,
Rachel Marie
Entertainment Blogger, The Underground Artistry 
Senior Publicist, Platinum Sound Promotions

Want more from this author? You can find The Underground Artistry site here & on FaceBook here; and you can also follow her on Twitter & make sure you show your support by following her writer's page on FaceBook here.




*Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. No copyright infringement intended. ALL RIGHTS BELONG TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS*

{ARTIST TO WATCH Q&A} Sarah Breeding: @sarahbreeding #Twitter

As the host of Rise and Shine with Rae on Platinum Radio, I am constantly searching for new music & candid artists for my listeners to experience & enjoy. Well, as a Jhene Aiko admirer & supporter, I was searching to see if she had any new music available in the dj pool I could add to my show's track line-up. Fortunately, she did...however, I also came across another artist in the midst of my searching for Jhene Aiko music: Sarah Breeding.

Get Ease Your Mind on iTunes

Now, if you look up her single: Ease Your Mind via YouTube, you'll find it listed as a Jhene Aiko track uploaded by Eardope. However, in the description you'll notice the real artist singing is a young singer/songwriter listed as @sarahb via SoundCloud. Then it links you to her SoundCloud account where you can listen to the song via its original artist.

Now, I will admit I was kind of disappointed towards the uploader because it seemed like click bait where someone had uploaded her song under Jhene Aiko's name to get clicks...but when you hear Sarah's voice...and you actually listen to the song...you'll see that it was just a mere promotional tactic because her artistry is worth that connection...because the similarities are there. And, I'll be honest, I actually thought I was listening to Jhene Aiko there for a split second. And I was feelin' it, therefore I wanted to read the description...which led me straight to Sarah.

And I'm not complaining.

Her voice is smooth & sultry...seductively soothing, if I must label. The lyrics just flow like placid lakes. The vibe is mood music.

As a new admirer of her artistry, I--naturally--wanted to include her within the loop of The Underground Artistry. And due to the fact she's somewhat new to the scene, stating she's "un-managed", means she's truly independent and considered underground.

So, I reached out to her via Twitter; you can find Sarah on Twitter here.

And I was candid with her; I told her how I came across her music, how much I liked the song and that I'd like to interview her for The Underground Artistry. She obliged. However, she's in the midst of graduating high school--like I stated: she's a young singer/songwriter--so, she's experiencing a few time restraints at this moment, yet she mentioned she'd "love to". So, I typed up & emailed her a list of interview prep questions: a simple Q&A. She answered & emailed them back, which you can find below.

Q&A:

Me: What's your name & email address?
Sarah: Sarah Breeding @ sarahbreedingmusic@gmail.com

M: What is your genre of choice?
S: R&B

M: What prompted you to want to do music? And how long have you been singing/songwriting/recording?
S: I've always had a passion for music since I was a little kid. I always sang along to the radio when I started talking & my parents realized that I actually could sing. They put me in choir in 4th & 5th grade & I began to grow my appreciation for music. In 6th grade, I started band & played sax. I'm about to graduate high school now & I'm still in the band! My middle school conductor, Mr. Divers & my high school conductor, Mr. Caldwell really helped me grow an appreciation for all types of music aside from the genre I sing.

I started recording about a year ago when I did this song called, Front.

Get  Front on iTunes

My friend, Keezy, asked if he could throw a verse on it & put it on his album. The people in my city went crazy over it. In August [2017], I recorded my first single, Ease Your Mind & I didn't release it until Valentine's Day this year [2018] because I felt like people wouldn't like the song. But, I was proven wrong!

I had so much support from people all over my city & different states and even people in different countries. So that definitely motivated me to keep writing and recording.

M: How old were you when you wrote your first song? Do you still remember the title?
S: My first song I ever wrote was called, Take it Back. I was about 14 or 15. I performed it for a Key Club benefit talent show that raised money for families in need in Africa. The second time I performed it was at a Relay for Life Walk-a-thon. Both shows had pretty big crowds; the second one had 1,500 people, so that actually helped me with getting over my little stage fright phase.

M:What are some of the musical greats that inspire your music?
S: Jhene Aiko, H.E.R., Kehlani, Ariana Grande, Khalid, Sza, Rihanna, PartyNextDoor, 6lack, Bryson Tiller. All of their voices are so soothing & they all have a story or meaning behind their music. They make the type of music that hits your soul when you take in the lyrics & that's exactly how I want people to feel when they hear my songs.

M: What would you tell younger generations pursuing music as a career?
S: If you feel like this is your passion, go for it. Figure out what you need to do to start on your career and do it. If music is the only thing you see yourself doing in the future, then go after it...but be patient!

M: If someone needed to contact you for a performance, how can they book you?
S: I'm currently un-managed, since I'm new to this and just turning 18, so if anyone is actually interested then they can contact me through email or any of my social media accounts.
[Twitter/ Facebook/ SoundCloud]

M: What do you feel makes you different from other artists?
S: I put my entire soul into every song I write. When you're listening to my songs, you're actually listening to my heart speak & you're hearing all the emotions that I had to let go of when I was writing the song. Writing songs is the only true way I can vent & let certain things go that weigh on my mind. I never hold back anything I'm feeling because I know there's someone out there who's going through the same situation. I just want people to know that everyone has heartache and trust issues, but I wanna make music that can relate to those people's situations so every time they're going through it, they'll pick up their phone and start playing my song to feel better.

And that concludes the Artist to Watch Q&A; but, stay tuned, because in the upcoming weeks, you'll be able to listen to so much more during the audio for the live interview. So hit that follow button to the side & be sure to follow Sarah on Twitter & SoundCloud. You can enjoy Ease Your Mind, the first single from Sarah Breeding, via SoundCloud below.



As always, if you're feelin' the song, drop your comments below & let me know what you think. Hit that share button. Follow the blog. Also, click the hyperlinks herein to be directed to Sarah's other channels. Thanks for visiting, reading, supporting. I love you guys & I hope you enjoyed the content!

Until next time...

Enjoy the music?
Support the artist.



xoxo,
Rachel Marie
The Underground Artistry...another site, not just another blog.

If you'd like more from this writer, visit her official Facebook page here & The Underground Artistry on Facebook here. You can also follow her on Twitter here.

*Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. No copyright infringement intended. ALL RIGHTS BELONG TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS*

{ NEW MUSIC } "BANKROLL" by @BCole206

B. Cole's New Single "Bankroll" Sets the Bar

Photo Cred: JennThePR

B. Cole dropped his latest single, "Bankroll", on April 8th. And even before he released the full song, fans & supporters were retweeting, regramming, reposting everything "B. Cole" & his new song, "Bankroll". This single is definitely one to be in your hip-hop playlists & is getting more traction by the second. With over 10k plays on SoundCloud, it's setting the bar for upcoming hip-hop releases. With one of the lines from his new song: "If you fuck with us, you fuckin' with the winnin' team" being an absolute statement, B. Cole's "Bankroll" is defining how you 'win'. 

Following the release of his prior single, "F'N Wit You"--which, by the way, is still getting major play, the popularity of "Bankroll" is growing rapidly & if you haven't heard it then you're definitely missing out on one of the hottest releases to date. 

Nonetheless, I'm pretty sure it won't be long before you do with so many people sharing it, for one of your friends is probably already adding it to their mp3 playlists as I type. But I'm going to help you out a lot, for you can listen to it on SoundCloud below:

You can follow the journey below:

B. Cole on:

Twitter 

Facebook 

Instagram

And don't forget to follow his #SoundCloud when you get there.

As always, I hope you enjoyed the content. Be sure to follow the artist & support their grind; and in doing so, you help the underground become the new mainstream! And be sure to follow the 'photo cred' link under the photo to read the another post on B. Cole written by JennThePR. And be sure to leave a comment & let me know what you think about the new song.

#SupportTheUnderground

Enjoy the music?
Support the artist.

xoxo,

Rachel Marie

The Underground Artistry

If you want more by this writer, you can follow her main page on Facebook here & you can follow The Underground Artistry on Facebook here.

*Copyright Disclaimer: Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for the "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be considered infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. No copyright infringement intended. ALL RIGHTS BELONG TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS.*

{NEW MUSIC} Alone by @halsey {ft. @BigSean & @stefflondon}

Photo cred: Directlyrics

So, do you guys remember the "You Need to Know Artist", Halsey, post from January?

[you can check that post out here]

Well, she's one of the electrifying artists whose music just sticks with you. And she's finally released her new single, "Alone" off her Hopeless Fountain Kingdom album.

There's the original: which I love...and then there's the remix that features Big Sean and

Photo cred: w3livenews

Stefflon Don, which I love even more. I'm not 100% sure if I entirely love the addition of Stefflon Don's part, but I absolutely love that Big Sean was featured. I'll allow y'all to make up your own minds on that because I'll post the video for both the original and the remix and you can leave your comments as to which one you prefer.

Alone: ORIGINAL 

Hopeless Fountain Kingdom on iTunes & Amazon

Alone: REMIX: Official video with Big Sean & Stefflon Don:

Get the single: "Alone" on iTunes & Amazon

Halsey has been very active with having songs with The Chainsmokers, G-Eazy and then her current world tour, which by the way has her in Nashville on July 18th at the Ascend Amphitheater along with Jessie Reyez at 8pm. If you're in or around the area & want tickets, go here. 

And don't forget that Halsey will be at the Summerfest artist showcase in Milwaukee on June 29th along with Logic & numerous others. You can get your tickets for that show here. These tickets will sell out so be sure to get them early!

Photo cred: HipHop24x7

So, which one do you like the most? The original? Or the remix? I have encountered on numerous occasions where the remix was actually better than the original. I'm not 100% sold on this remix. I don't exactly know if adding the other artists was a good idea, however it's getting a lot of traction thus far because the video is already over 140k views and it was just released on April 6th.

But you can leave your ideas in the comments & let me know what you think. Also, be sure to click the 'photo cred' links to check out the other articles on Halsey's "Alone" remix with Big Sean & Stefflon Don & leave a comment stating you got there from here. 

As always, I love you guys. 

And be sure to follow Halsey on Twitter & Facebook to stay updated. Subscribe to her YouTube channel & click the 'bell' to get the updates for new videos.

Enjoy the music? 

Support the artist.

xoxo,

Rachel Marie

The Underground Artistry

If you want more from this writer, visit her official Facebook page: Rachel Marie, the Writer. And be sure to like The Underground Artistry on Facebook as well & you can also follow this writer on Twitter .

*Copyright Disclaimer: Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. No copyright infringement intended. ALL RIGHTS BELONG TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS.*

{ YOU READ IT HERE FIRST } Coach Snoop: New Netflix Exclusive Begins 2/02/18

Snoop...the D-O-double G...the coolest west coast hip-hop artist to ever hit the scene. Well, in this new documentary that airs on February 2nd on Netflix, you'll get to see a different side to the nationally acclaimed & accomplished rapper. Adding to his repertoire of greatness, he's mentoring young athletes to allow them an opportunity to reach their goals despite the odds against them.

Coach Snoop: New Netflix Exclusive Begins 2/02/2018

Hailing from Long Beach, born Cordozar Calvin Broadus, Jr. on October 20th, 1971, Snoop emerged under Dr. Dre in the early 90s. With infamous platinum selling albums such as "The Doggfather" & "Doggystyle", he quickly became a household favorite in the world of hip-hop. He was, along with artists like Dre, Biggie, 2Pac-- among a vast majority of others-- the face of the hip-hop industry. His music captivated hip-hop heads and the like ridiculously fast as his songs topped charts and won him numerous accolades, including --but certainly not limited to-- Best Video award for "Drop it like it's Hot" (featuring Pharell) and more Grammy nominations than I have space to write about. His music was --and still is-- on everyone's hip-hop playlists. Undoubtedly a legend that paved the way for many of today's artists, including --but not only, the ever so talented Kendrick Lamar, whom featured Snoop on his album To Pimp a Butterfly. 

Coach Snoop airs February 2nd!

Moving into a new era and expanding on a new endeavor, Snoop moves from your stereos to your television sets this February as a mentor & football coach for at-risk youth athletes. 

Add Snoop being a Steelers fan and Snoop's business partner being a Pamona, California native, and it gives a nice ring to the name of the team: the Pamona Steelers. 

Drawing upon his own childhood struggles, he is striving to make a difference in the lives of these kids. The daily struggles of some of these athletes range from deceased parents (one or both), incarcerated fathers (or mothers), recent gang activity, and more. 

Just to touch on some of the success Snoop has had as a youth football coach for going on 15 years, I cannot fail to mention the fact that one of Snoop's former players currently plays for the Denver Broncos --Ronnie Hillman-- and went on to assist his team in winning the Super Bowl in February 2016. Not to mention, his own son, Cordell Broadus, actually plays for UCLA.

A Boss on the field displaying leadership

Going from a cheering parent in the bleachers & selling out multiple football stadiums, to coaching on the sidelines, Snoop has definitely made an impact on and off the field. This show is going to touch all the heart strings. And I am so here for this. I love seeing people with statuses such as his make a difference and give back. There is nothing more genuine. And Snoop has always given us the real. So tune in THIS FRIDAY to the exclusive premiere of Coach Snoop on Netflix and then come back and drop your comments and thoughts below. I'd love to hear what you think about the show. Don't be the only one not watching. You can watch the trailer for the series below. Want to learn more? Follow the links to his social media accounts to stay updated on this show & more. 

 

FOLLOW SNOOP DOGG

Facebook~*~*~*~Twitter

As always, thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed the content. You're awesome. Be sure to share. Spread the word. Follow the blog for more hot topics & hot artists. You can click on the tabs under the title of the blog to be directed to my Facebook pages. Don't forget to leave your comments below; let me know what you think. 

Until next time...

xoxo,

Rachel Marie

*Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. No copyright infringement intended. ALL RIGHTS BELONG TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS*

{ YOU NEED TO KNOW ARTIST } @halsey

Have you ever came across an artist that you just cannot stop listening to?

I'm literally ADDICTED to this week's YOU NEED TO KNOW ARTIST, Halsey. She is one of those artists. Her songs are electrifying. Her lyrics seep into your soul and drag you kicking & screaming to her vantage points only to find out when you get there, you don't want to leave.

She makes you feel what she's feeling when she sings. A pop sensation, she's featured on numerous artist's tracks, such as "Closer" with The Chainsmokers, "Him & I" with G-Eazy, "The Feeling" with Justin Bieber & more. In 2015 she was named "Rising Star" by Billboard; in 2016, she received a nomination for Billboard's Women In Music alongside other female artists like Shania Twain & others.

Thus, Halsey is definitely leaving a mark where ever she lends her vocals and whenever she releases a single or an album.

Her music is literally so aesthetic it's almost surreal. I honestly do not know how I didn't know about her until now...I'm like, what? 2 years behind?

Well...now that I know...YOU NEED TO KNOW!!

So...here's some quick facts about this week's featured artist: 

Her birthday is September 29th. She's a Libra by the way...for the zodiac followers. She performed live for the first time at The Wiltern in Los Angeles. She was born in New Jersey; and she says she relates her stage name back to a street name in Brooklyn, which is actually an anagram for her REAL name: Ashley. 

And at 23 years old, she's definitely taking the music scene by storm.

If you placed Alanis Morissette, Fiona Apple, ZZ Ward, & Rihanna in a blender... you'd get Halsey.

That's just my recipe for this beyond amazing artist...you can let me know yours in the comments.

My favorite song thus far...and that's hard because I actually like her entire album-- Hopeless Fountain Kingdom...the album is just beautiful. Yet, in choosing, I'd pick "Bad at Love" and "Now or Never" off of this album. Definitely a tie for my fave from that album.

Now, her first album-- Badlands...I'd have to say "Castle"--which is also on the soundtrack for The Hunstman: Winter's War. Tied with "Gasoline" for my favorites.

If you'd like to see her perform this year, she's destined to be performing at this year's Summerfest on June 29th at 7:30PM!

You can get your tickets here from Ticket Master starting NEXT FRIDAY on January 19th!

In addition, you can also pick up BOTH of these albums & follow her on ALL of her social platforms below. And--as always--let me know in the comments what you think about this week's YOU NEED TO KNOW ARTIST!

FOLLOW HALSEY:
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
YouTube
SoundCloud

And you can subscribe to her mailing list HERE.

And if you like her music, then support her...you can purchase her latest album, Hopeless Fountain Kingdom from iTunes HERE --if you'd prefer Amazon, you can pick it up HERE.

If you like Badlands, you can pick that album up on iTunes HERE --or on Amazon, HERE.

And those lead you to the DELUXE version of each album.

Enjoy the music?
Support the artist.

In conclusion, Halsey is destined for bigger & better. There's no doubt in my mind she will be here when our kids are grown & when their kids fall in love with certain artists, Halsey will be one of those artists. Her music transcends the boundaries set forth by the labels. And her music, in essence, will transcend time.

I hope you enjoyed the content. Please leave a comment to let me know...do you like this week's choice? Did you know of her before now? What's your favorite Halsey song? Let me know below. Don't forget to go FOLLOW the artist on her social platforms & pick up either/or --or BOTH-- of the albums featured in today's post.

I'm going to leave you with the video for this week's YOU NEED TO KNOW ARTIST's latest single "Bad At Love". Enjoy. 

#ThankMeLater

As usual, if you would like to know more about the writer behind the blog...you can visit my Facebook page HERE and while you're surfing Facebook, head over to The Underground Artistry--the page that supports the blog-- and leave a like & a review of my work.



Until next time...

xoxo,
Rachel Marie
The Underground Artistry
Another site...not just another blog.


*Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. No copyright infringement intended. ALL RIGHTS BELONG TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS*

{ YOU NEED TO KNOW ARTIST } @queennaija_

Let me start off by saying HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!! I hope you all had a great eve & enjoyed your holiday breaks.

Okay, I'm just going to jump right into this post with the first YOU NEED TO KNOW ARTIST of 2018: the Michigan native, Queen Naija.

Appearing on the eighth season of American Idol, she made it to the Hollywood round but did not make the cut. Nonetheless, she used that platform to catapult her success on social media and now has over a million followers on Instagram, over 930k on YouTube, 8k on Twitter, and 5k likes and 6k followers on Facebook. I have to say she's definitely on the way to making herself a household name and fan favorite. {click the links herein to follow her platforms}

She just dropped her latest single, "Medicine", on YouTube on New Year's Eve & it is definitely one to relate to if you've ever been the one being taken for a fool in a relationship, been cheated on, etc. This is one of those songs.

A lot of her followers know her from her channel with her significant other, Chris Sails, whom she has a son with. Conveniently titled "Chris & Queen", this song was quickly linked to his infidelities, but I will not be speaking on this song in reference to that topic, because in all honesty I don't know. I just know that I like her new track and I wanted to share it with each of YOU!

She also has covers of numerous songs on her YouTube channel where she showcases her love and talent of singing. Songs such as "Selfish" by PnB Rock {video below}, "Rise Up" by Andra Day and more.

She also has videos where she is featured on other YouTuber's covers of songs, such as the Ar'mon & Trey's mashup of some of the hottest R&B songs {video below}. Awesome singers on their own & rising stars in their own right, but she made this mashup better than if she wouldn't have been featured on it; that's just my opinion, however.

In conclusion, Queen Naija is definitely an artist to watch. I cannot wait to see the day when she gets the acknowledgement she deserves. Her voice is so amazing. I can listen to her sing all day.

Unfortunately, her song, "Medicine" is not available for purchase just yet but I will update this post as soon as it is & you can pick it up.

As always, I hope you enjoyed this post. You can follow her channels by clicking on their respective links listed throughout this post. What do you think about her new song? Leave a comment below to let me know what you think & if you agree/disagree/like/don't like/etc...be sure to #Share #Subscribe #Follow #plus1 #PinIt #TweetIt #FacebookIt

Make sure you check out & like & follow #TheUndergroundArtistry on Facebook and #RachelMarieTheWriter on Facebook. Stay tuned to a new You Need To Know Artist by the end of the week and if you have any suggestions, ↓↓↓ drop your comments below!

"Poetically crafted PR + the underground's hottest artists = a blog worth reading" 

Let's converse.

xoxo,
Rachel Marie
The Underground Artistry


*Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. No copyright infringement intended. ALL RIGHTS BELONG TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS*

{YOU NEED TO KNOW ARTISTS} TRIPLE FEATURE @torikelly @rhyonbrown @HaleySmall

Okay, so I missed yesterday because I was caught up doing other stuff...and I won't be posting tomorrow because I will be too busy with my family. So, with that being said: I have a TRIPLE FEATURE for today's YOU NEED TO KNOW ARTIST. 

Tori Kelly

Rhyon Brown & Haley Smalls

YOU NEED TO KNOW

TRIPLE FEATURE

TORI

RHYON BROWN

HALEY

This post is going to be a bit different. I am going to overwhelm you with three underrated gems of the underground.

If you didn't know, now you do. #ThankMeLater

First up, the multi talented Tori Kelly. She's a singer, songwriter, record producer, voice actress, and adding more to her repertoire as I type.

Her last album was "Unbreakable Smile" that featured songs such as "Where I Belong", "The Art of Letting You Go" & "Talk". She also has two released EPs titled "Handmade Songs" {2012} & "Foreword" {2013}. There are two songs that she has that I am absolutely IN LOVE with: "Unbreakable Smile" off her first studio album & "All In My Head" off her "Handmade Songs" EP . There is a line from her "Unbreakable Smile" song that goes, "Maybe I'll be able to sell out shows without taking off my clothes; God made me sexy, I don't care if only I know"...there are so many female singers/rappers/artists in general that rely on their sex appeal to get them famous...well, I can honestly say that this girl has pure talent. 
Watch the videos below to see for yourself. 
Be sure to leave your thoughts on this artist below in the comment section. 

"Unbreakable Smile"
Unbreakable Smile Album
iTunes
Audio CD: Amazon 
MP3 Album: Amazon

"All In My Head"

Handmade Songs EP

iTunes
MP3 Album: Amazon

You can follow Tori Kelly on FACEBOOK, TWITTER & INSTAGRAM
And you can also visit her official website HERE
Enjoy the music? Support the artist.

Next up: Rhyon Brown.
I was searching for songs I haven't heard on YouTube and I just happened to stumble across this talented songtress. She definitely has the makings of a superstar. From the beauty to the pure vocal ability to move you to emotion, she's definitely an underrated shining star.

The song I first heard by this artist was "Gone" from her "Pretty Girl" album. This video has samples from Blackstreet & the dancing...well, let's just say she's a professional. I over-love this song & I am super stoked to showcase it to you. 

I also scrolled through her YouTube channel & discovered she's from Cali. And she has a song conveniently titled "California" that was just superb. It should really be the state's anthem! Ha! I haven't seen or heard much about her so I decided to add her to my triple feature trio today so you all can tell me what you think about her. 

I'm going to leave you with the same videos that made me a permanent fan: 

"Gone" & "California". 

Be sure to let me know what you think about this artist in the comments section.

"Gone"
Pretty Girl Album
iTunes
MP3 Album: Amazon

"California"
Also from the Pretty Girl Album

You can follow Rhyon on FACEBOOK, TWITTER & INSTAGRAM.
She doesn't have an official website, yet, but you can subscribe to her YOUTUBE.
Enjoy the music? Support the artist.

LAST but DEFINITELY not LEAST...
Haley Smalls

A Toronto artist, all I can say is...she's the unconventional love child of Mya & Rihanna. Ha!

I was like "She reminds me of Mya when she first came out"...then I heard her sing another song and was like "Oh, dang...now she sounds like Rihanna". 😅

I honestly didn't know what to think. I just know I liked her music. And that's why I'm adding her to today's trio of you need to know artists alongside Rhyon & Tori.

She has two albums: This is Me {2015} and Heart of Gold {2017}. However, the song that drew me in was her single "Broken". That's the song that made her a playlist staple. And I'm still going through all of her music on YouTube in order to see which ones I like the best.

So, who's your favorite? Mya or Rihanna? Well, with this artist you get a 2 in 1, ha!

Now, I'm going to leave you with the two songs that made me want to add her to this talented trio...
Her single, "Broken" & "Catch Me" from her Heart of Gold album.

Broken, single
iTunes
MP3: Amazon

Catch Me (feat. Dice Ailes)
Heart of Gold Album
iTunes
MP3 Album: Amazon

You can follow Haley Smalls on FACEBOOK, TWITTER & INSTAGRAM.
She doesn't have an official website just yet but you can subscribe to her YOUTUBE
Enjoy the music? Support the artist.

Alright....I hope you enjoyed today's trio of YOU NEED TO KNOW ARTISTS!!! Please leave some comments below to let me know what you think about each of them. Be sure to pick up their albums/singles and follow them on their social platforms so you can stay updated on future endeavors.

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As always, thank you for taking the time to view, read, like, comment, etc...I love all my readers and supporters. You guys are amazing! Be sure to check out my Facebook >> Rachel Marie, the Writer and follow me on Twitter @rachelmzmarie ! 

Thank you once again & remember: another site, but not just another blog. 

The home where we bring you artists with flavor and stories with substance: The Underground Artistry.

I need for you to hit that SHARE button & don't forget to FOLLOW! 
Let me know what you think below!
Thanks for visiting!
Until next time...

xoxo,

Rachel Marie

The Underground Artistry

Find the official fan page for The Underground Artistry on Facebook here.

*Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. No copyright infringement intended. ALL RIGHTS BELONG TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS*