{MUSIC NEWS} Ella Mai Drops Her Self-titled Album October 12th and Everyone is Ready | @ellamai

Ella Mai Drops Her Self-titled Debut Album October 12th & Everyone is Ready

I have been a fan of Ella Mai since I heard her song "A Thousand Times". However, she's new to the masses of individuals who've been under a rock when it comes to real R&B music because she recently has gained traction as one of the top charting female artists for her single, "Boo'd Up". There's not a song by this artist I won't listen to; she speaks to my soul. And I'm pretty sure that's why she's acquired so much attention over the past few months because all of her songs are like that: melodic, soulful, relatable; she's just so f&%$ing talented! And gorgeous is just icing on the cake. Ella can sing her a$$ off! And her songs are so laid back with that neo-soul vibe that you can listen to all day...night...forever. She will remain a #playlistpermanent artist for myself and others who enjoy true R&B. 

For the record, her self-titled debut album drops October 12th and everyone is ready for it. The world is ready for real music and I am overly ecstatic that she's finally getting the recognition she so unapologetically deserves. Her natural beauty shines through her music with her unrelenting virbratto that just works. And she's not stopping at the number one spot on the Billboard...with over 1.3 million followers on YouTube, 1.8 million on Instagram, 239k on Twitter & those numbers continue to increase daily...she's taking over the world!

And while everyone is replaying her newest single, "Trip", I'm still vibing to her single, "Naked", which was released in February. It didn't gain as much traction once "Boo'd Up" hit the airwaves, but it's an amazing song with an even more amazing sentiment. Just because I care about your musical preferences--lol-- I'll leave you with the video for #Naked as well as her latest, #Trip. And you can #ThankMeLater.

Now, go pre-order her upcoming album so you can be the first to have it on replay while the rest of the world is still sleeping.

Her latest single, Trip:

And the bonus video I told you I was going to give you, Naked...#ThankMeLater

 

PRE-ORDER HER ALBUM NOW! 

iTunes | Apple Music

Follow Ella Mai 

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Official Website

Enjoy the content? Follow the blog on Facebook & Instagram. And you can get all the updates firsthand by following me on Twitter. 

Until next time...

Enjoy the music?
Support the artist.

xoxo,

Rachel Marie

Founder/Owner/Content Specialist, The Underground Artistry

Content Specialist, Platinum Sound Promotions

*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*

Cover Songs: How to Properly License a Cover Song for Distribution

Cover Songs: How to Properly License a Cover Song for Distribution

Music rights are complex. There are a lot of factors that go into play when it comes to licensing music and other creative works, such as covers of songs.

Covering a song is actually not as complex as it seems, yet it's not as clear cut as you may think, either. The legality behind creating or authorizing one, is often convoluted. However, in this post, I'll break down exactly what it means to cover a song & what you would need to do to legally release a cover of a song on platforms such as iTunes, Spotify, SoundCloud, and YouTube.

What is a cover song?

Simply put, when you cover any song that doesn't originally belong to you: you didn't write it or originally record it, you are creating a 'cover song'. You are 'covering' someone else's creative work & you need to get permission to do so.

What is needed before releasing a cover song?

Short answer? Get the proper licenses. The type of license you will need to release the cover song will depend upon how you release it: just an audio release through platforms such as iTunes, SoundCloud & Spotify? Then a mechanical license will suffice. However, if you plan on adding YouTube videos to the mix, you'll need, both, the mechanical & the synchronization license.

Mechanical Licenses

Mechanical licenses grant you the rights to reproduce and distribute copyrighted musical compositions. They allow you to distribute through platforms such as iTunes, Spotify, Tidal, SoundCloud, and others. You can secure a mechanical license through the Harry Fox Agency (HFA) and Loudr, or go directly to the song’s publisher and simply ask about securing a mechanical license for your cover.

You can either secure the licenses yourself, or you can let HFA or Loudr do that for you. Yes, you can also register your own compositions with the HFA or Loudr so they can manage issuing mechanical licenses and collecting royalties for covers of your original compositions.

But what about music videos?...you ask.

Synchronization Licenses

This license grants you rights to sync (see where it got its name from?) unoriginal music to a visual output. Simply put, you have the right to use the cover song in a video you create & enables you to upload the video to platforms like YouTube or Vimeo.

These licenses don't have a concrete fee structure and depend upon many factors, such as song popularity, length of the song & how it will be used among many other factors.

Synchronization licenses can be secured directly from the publisher.

Still don't get it?

Copyright infringement is a serious infraction and can land you some pretty hefty fines and even jail in habitual circumstances. More times than not, indie artists aren't equipped with the legal defense to assist them in navigating the waters of rights management.

My advice?

If you are questioning it, then ask beforehand. Also, do your research. There is a wealth of knowledge at our fingertips and no one utilizes it because copyright infringement is STILL a thing.

But, nonetheless, have questions for me about releasing a cover song? Or maybe about copyrights in general? Let me know in the comments!

Until next time...

xoxo,

Rachel Marie

The Underground Artistry

Another site...not just another blog.

Want more from me? You can find The Underground Artistry on Facebook here. You can also follow me on Twitter and Instagram. And my official writer's page is here.

{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 NEED TO KNOW ARTIST } H.E.R. @HERMusicx

Who is H.E.R.? 

Despite how grammatically incorrect that sounds, if you were like me when first hearing this artist, you did not know who it was. You knew you liked the songs. You knew you were addicted to her voice. You knew you couldn't live without one or all of her songs on a playlist. You knew you had to have her album. You knew you wanted to hear more. You knew all of that. Except her name.

She literally took over the world with her first self-titled EPs, H.E.R.: Vol 1 and now she's stealing new hearts and making old fans fall in love all over again with H.E.R. Vol 2: The B Sides. Named in Forbes list of 30 Under 30: Class of 2018 & named "Artist to Watch" from Pandora, she definitely is leaving her mark on the industry...and the world. Her tours are sold out. Her singles are being downloaded at alarming rates. Her EPs are outselling some of the biggest albums of the year. Not to mention, there's a lot of people who still do not know H.E.R. name.


Ready to learn about the artist behind the moniker? Gabi Wilson is the name behind the silhouette you see on her covers. There was speculation after a few weeks. The vocals were similar, the vibes were remembered, sooner or later true fans were bound to put one with the other and find out who this mysteriously talented beauty was and how to let the world know just whom they were listening to.
H.E.R.'s debut project bolted to the No. 1 spot on the iTunes R&B chart. Not to mention, it's been streamed more than 12 million times on Soundcloud. Spotify? Up to 1.6 million MONTHLY listeners. All this without any real promotion of her project or pushing it to radio.
In earlier interviews, the woman behind the acronym said that music isn't listened to "for what it is" anymore and people are always so worried about who the artist is, what they're doing, what they're wearing, who they're friends with, etc...she said she just wants to let people judge the music for what it is without having to deal with the other part of the industry, which is the ever so annoying paparazzi wanting to record and photograph your every move. Nonetheless, she covers her face in photos to keep the mystery going & allows people who listen to H.E.R. to feel the emotions behind the music.

With her velvety tones, dynamic harmonies, soul snatching lyrics, and heart stealing melodies, this artist--whether you know her real name or not--will be the force that awakens real R&B and brings back the music we used to love.

Her latest: "My Song" off Vol. 2: The B Sides, released January the 2nd, is climbing the R&B charts and ever so gracefully showcasing her beloved talent. {audio video below}

Follow H.E.R. by visiting the Links Below:

Facebook

YouTube

Twitter

Official Website

You can purchase your copy of the album {both old & new} as well as her latest single by following the links below:

iTunes: H.E.R. Vol 1 :Amazon

iTunes: H.E.R. Vol 2: The B Sides :Amazon

iTunes: My Song {the single} :Amazon

Well, as usual I appreciate you visiting the blog and reading the content. I hope you enjoyed this week's You Need To Know Artist. Leave your comments below to let me know what you think about the artist and the music.

And...as you know:

Enjoy the music?
Support the artist.

Until next time....

xoxo,
Rachel Marie
The Underground Artistry

Find me on FB here and Twitter here! Be sure to visit & leave a like on The Underground Artistry's FB page 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*

{ 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.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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*

{YOU NEED TO KNOW ARTIST} JoJo

Okay, let me take you back for a second...who remembers the movie RV? With Robin Williams? Remember the daughter? That is how long I've known about today's You Need To Know Artist! I actually owned her first self-titled studio album, which features one of my favorite songs to date by this artist: "Leave (Get Out)". [cover: right] Now she's got songs with Remy Ma & the list keeps growing. She is so underrated. I cannot believe how many people I come across that do NOT know who she is and have never heard of her music. I quickly pull out a playlist full of my faves & let them listen. Insta-fans just like that! It literally blows my mind how many people that I hang around on a daily basis that don't know who she is. They're like "JoJo? Who is that?" Ha! Well, keep reading because you're about to find out!


Her latest studio album "Mad Love" [right] features songs: "F.A.B" with Remy Ma, "F*ck Apologies" with Wiz Khalifa, the title track "Mad Love" and many others that I'm sure you'll love.

And how do I love this artist...she really gets her fans! Anyone still own a record player? Well she's got this on VINYL and when you purchase the vinyl you get the digital copy for free. And you can check that out here.

She has progressed so much over the years and I am overwhelmed by the amount of GREAT MUSIC she has. She has the R&B tones to the pop-rock melodies, she has it all. She can sing ballads, she can sing pop, she can sing R&B, she can sing rock...she's so versatile and her range is just unfathomable.

Here's her video for "Say Love"...













This song comes off her album III-Single [above] that features 3 expansion songs:
"Say Love"
"Save My Soul"
"When Love Hurts"

All three songs are ones to own. You can pick those up individually by the iTunes badges below.

"Say Love"

"Save My Soul"

"When Love Hurts"

You can also pick up the entire 3-song expansion here if you'd rather do that. How about another video? Here's her video "F.A.B." featuring Remy Ma. {explicit content}

This song comes off her "Mad Love" album, which you can pick up here. {And that's the link to the DELUXE version...you're welcome!}

Okay, I think I'm done doting. Haha. I can't help it. She's awesome! And I love putting people up on artists they had no clue about.

Be sure you follow & support the artist. She's so underrated. Help get her the recognition she deserves!

You can follow her on all of her social accounts by following the links below:
Facebook

Twitter

Official Website

YouTube

Enjoy the music. Support the artist.

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.

xoxo,

Rachel Marie

The Underground Artistry

For more on this blog, find it 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* 

{YOU NEED TO KNOW ARTIST} @MsNikkiFlores

Sunday was the TOP 10 vol 2 of "Rise of the Underground: Artists to Watch"...so I didn't post a "You need to know Artist" on Monday. However, Tuesday is a new day & I am picking a new artist that you may--or may not--have heard of: the ever so gorgeous Ms. Nikki Flores.

I found out about this songtress in 2015. She's been making hits left & right. I found her on YouTube after a break-up. Her songs "Let It Slide" & "Erase You" were on repeat since the day I heard them. Now I'm falling in love with her new vibe.

She's got that R&B feel with strains of pop in the background. Her vocals are versatile with the soprano undertones & falsettos, she's definitely an artist to watch.

Her latest (above) XII XV EP, is available now! {Click the badge to listen &/or purchase}



You can also preview it here.




Here's her "How to Love Her" audio video from her EP.

If you like what you hear, you can find more on her YouTube channel. Make sure you subscribe while you're there.

Here's her other platforms:

Nikki Flores on Facebook

Twitter/IG/Snapchat: Just search @MsNikkiFlores

Got Spotify? You can stream her EP by following this link>> XII XV EP

Want more? Come back tomorrow for Wednesday's pick of YOU NEED TO KNOW ARTIST. Like this artist? Follow the links provided to show your support. Comment below to let me know what you think of this artist & if you have any suggestions of who you think should be featured, drop a comment.


Don't forget: be sure to #Share #Subscribe #Follow #plus1 #PinIt #TweetIt #FacebookIt

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


Enjoy the music. Support the artist.

xoxo,
Rachel Marie
The Underground Artistry
For more on this blogger, you can follow her Facebook & Twitter pages. You can also find this blog on Facebook @TheUndergroundArtistry. 

*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*

Rise of the Underground: Artists to Watch Vol 2

Hey, hey, hey! It's your favorite blogger here & I have been thinking and playing LOTS of songs lately...and guess what? I'm coming back with another TOP 10!!! This time I went with a specific genre: HIP-HOP! Okay?  

In no specific order, take a moment to listen to some of the HOTTEST underground hip-hop artists I've come across over the past few months.

They're lyrical. They're beat slaughterers. They're inspirational. They're real. They're raw. They're HIP-HOP!

This is going to be your new favorite playlist! #ThankMeLater

Okay, so a few of these you've heard of if you're into this genre...others may be liquid heroine that you haven't yet experienced. Well, I'm about to be your drug pusher as I drop these artists & put you up on some of the hottest and most underrated in the loop right now.

Be sure to LIKE, SHARE, FOLLOW, +1, Pin this, Tweet this, FaceBook this when you're done. If you like this post, there's more to come; drop a comment to let me know what you'd like me to cover next. I got you.

Let's get to the music shall we?!

JOYNER LUCAS --Okay, so you've probably--by now--heard his controversial "I'm Not Racist" track & have seen the video. Well, I'm not here to give you that one. But, if you haven't check out his YouTube for that one. TODAY, I'm bringing you his "I'm Sorry" from his 508 project. Be sure to follow him on Facebook here and Twitter here. You can also preview & purchase this single on iTunes below. Drop your comments below to let me know what you think about the song. #pressPlay

JOEY BADA$$ --I literally went through soooooooo many songs trying to find the best one. This artist is so legit & consistent. He progressed from his earlier songs & it's evident in every recent track he's put out. I'm just going to give you the entire album: All Amerikkkan Bada$$ {AABA}. Be sure to follow this artist on Facebook & Twitter & pick up his latest album AABA today! #pressPLAY

BURGA -- I'm very picky when it comes to certain types of music that I will listen to. When I heard this mixtape, I played it all the way through--no skipping--and just vibed. Yet another artist that has the storytelling technique in a lot of his songs. One of my favorites off his mixtape, "R.E.A.L: Realize Everyone Ain't Loyal" titled "Reminiscing". Be sure to follow him on Facebook & Twitter & pick up this single & more by Burga on iTunes. #pressPLAY

JARREN BENTON --Straight out of Decatur, GA, this artist has been in cyphers alongside Cyhi, also on this list. He's definitely underrated and once you listen to him, you'll agree. He has so many different freestyle videos and cyphers, but this is his original "The One" featuring Demrick from his LP "The Mink Coat Killa". Let me know what you think in the comments & don't forget to slide over to his Facebook & Twitter & hit that follow button. You can pick this song up on iTunes now. #pressPLAY

100 PROOF --Another artist my fiance brought to my attention, this artist will be on every playlist you create from this day forward. We came across this artist on Facebook & have been playing his songs ever since. He definitely deserves more credit and acknowledgement. This is his original "Pull Up & Flex" off his "Keep It Hot" album. If you look to your right, you'll find the media player for this album. Be sure to pick up this album on iTunes below. Don't forget to support the artist by following him on Facebook & Twitter.
#pressPLAY

HOPSIN --A Los Angeles artist with undeniable talent; he's also a record producer, director & actor. His latest album, "No Shame", has 17 tracks and one of my favorite is "Witch Doctor". With 52 ratings between 4 & 5 stars, this album is one to own. Be sure to support this artist by following him on Facebook & Twitter. And don't forget to pick up his new album on iTunes (left icon) or you can pick up this single only (right icon). Without further ado: #pressPLAY

BIG K.R.I.T. --Yet another storyteller, this is a southern artist that is severely underrated. And I am pretty sure you have heard of him. If you haven't, I'd say you've lived under a rock for the past few years. With tracks like "Cadillactica" and "Keep the Devil Off", from his earliest to his latest, he stays consistent and ALWAYS brings his A-game. This song comes from his latest album "4eva Is a Mighty Long Time" titled "Get Away". Be sure to go support this artist by following him on Facebook & Twitter. And don't forget to pick up his new album on iTunes (left icon) or you can pick up this single only (right icon). #pressPLAY

CYHI THE PRYNCE --Once again, if you haven't heard of this artist you've been hibernating for the past few years and have been musically deprived. I'm serious. Hailing from Stone Mountain, he is a playlist permanent. You know... those artists that get put on EVERY playlist? He's one of those. I don't think I've heard a song I haven't liked by this guy. The song I chose for this top 10 is titled "Closer" off his new album "No Dope on Sundays". You can pick up his new album on iTunes (left icon) or you can pick up this single only (right icon). And don't forget to follow him on Facebook & Twitter to stay updated. #pressPLAY

FUTURISTIC --This artist has a versatile style. He has his club hits then he has those songs that make you want to vibe out & just chill. He has the ability to flip the script and tell a story that you can relate to. He is definitely an artist to watch. Underrated is an understatement. Here's his video "Get it Together". Be sure to support this artist by following him on Facebook and Twitter. And don't forget to pick this song up on iTunes: available now! #pressPLAY

NF --Alright, I'm going to be honest with you here: I don't know a lot about this artist. I literally JUST came across him like two days ago...literally. I cannot fathom why I haven't came across him sooner, because I am always searching for underground artists with the lyrical abilities of some of the the greats. What I do know, he's been doing this for a while. Something else I know? He's another playlist permanent. Here's his song "All I Have" from his Mansion album. Be sure you support this artist by following him on Facebook & Twitter. And don't forget to pick up his Mansion album (left icon) or this single only (right icon) on iTunes below. #pressPLAY

And that rounds off this week's Top 10. 

These are my picks of storytellers & lyricists that people need to watch for. In my opinion, that's what hip-hop is missing right now. The storytellers. The lyricists. The true artists that paint vivid pictures with their words. These artists are definitely the Picasso's of our time. I hope you enjoyed the artists I chose. Drop your comments below to let me know what you think about my selections. In addition, be sure to follow the links in the text to visit their social media sites; also don't forget to preview their music through the iTunes icons made available to you.

Do you have a suggestion for the next top 10? Leave me a comment to let me know. Top 10's will be posted EVERY SUNDAY & will be full of new & exciting artists. If you like this post, then be sure to share this with your friends. #SharingIsCaring

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.

Enjoy the music. Support the artists.

#ThankMeLater

xoxo,
Rachel Marie
The Underground Artistry
**If you'd like to see more by this writer, visit her Facebook & Twitter. Also, you can visit The Underground Artistry on Facebook.**


*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*