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call of duty September 19, 2019
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Press Start: How Sims player Keeyuh made gaming her full time gig

The world of gaming is a vast universe with tons of personalities. But one person you should know in the realm of streams is Keeyuh. With over 200k subscribers on YouTube and nearly 400k Twitch views, 26-year-old Kia from Newark, New Jersey is thriving. I got to talk to Kia and ask her about her growing platform.

Kia has been gaming since she was a kid. Her father bought her and her sister a Playstation when she was five and her grandmother got the fam a Nintendo.

“The first game(s) I found myself glued to were Parappa the Rapper and Frogger. Me and my sister would play for hours after school! On weekends the go-to game was Mario Party at grandma’s house though! We used to fight over that game fasho.”

After being convinced by her friends of her skills in the game, her first-ever upload to YouTube was “Call of Duty Ghosts.” She had been playing for years but felt that she failed as a Call of Duty player for a few reasons, mainly because of the diminishing interest in the game on YouTube.

“Plus I’m a BLACK GIRL stepping into that lane. So that definitely didn’t work out BUT, I’m still a beast at Call of Duty. LOL”

It had been a while of consistent gameplay before Keeyuh’s platform really exploded. Like I mentioned in a previous article, Kia’s tweet of fan fave sim, Olivia, dying went viral. I asked the simmer how she felt when she became Twitter famous.

“When the Olivia Tweet went viral I was shook. That’s the only word I can think of… SHOOK. It went viral FAST too! Literally OVERNIGHT. I was so excited though. I cried I smiled, I felt the love.”

But how did she start really gaming? Kia told me her passion became her job when she used her free time to build something she loved.

“I wasn’t working at the time at all”

Kia’s experience goes to show that you don’t necessarily need a traditional source of income to pursue your ambitions. Money does not equal ambition.

 

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Quick story: MY ANALYTICS PREDICTED I WOULD HIT 200K ON JUNE 6TH, 2019. I WAS HELLLLA WIT IT! 😎 ON APRIL 30TH A BURGLAR STOLE MY JACUZZI ON THE SIMS 2 & IN RETURN I GAINED (NOW) 18,000 NEW SUBSCRIBERS. ON MAY 9TH, YOUTUBE DEMONETIZED MY CHANNEL 😳 WHAT A COINCIDENCE(: AND TODAY, REGARDLESS OF THEM ADS, REGARDLESS OF THE FOUL MOVE MADE AGAINST ME, LOOK AT THE WORK. LOOK AT MY CHANNEL. CLICK ANY VIDEO. YOU WILL LAUGH AT AT LEAST 5 JOKES OUT THE WHOLE VIDEO. 5 JOKES LATER, YOU CLICKED THE SUBSCRIBE BUTTON. THAT HAPPENED 200 THOUSAND TIMES. 📝 200,000 PEOPLE DECIDED THAT THEY FWM. 🤷🏾😎😂 I LOVE YALL 💯 & If you hating… you could swipe for the COLD HARD FACTS 🤷🏾😛 lmaooo, THANK YALL FOR 200K 💙 SUPER LITTTTTTT , I LOVE ALLLLLL MY SUBSCRIBERS! 😭 I WANNA THANK MY MOMMA, MY DAD, MY SISTER, MY FINE ASS MAN, MY BROS. AND THE ENDLESS SUPPORT FROM MY VIEWERS OOOOOMG, I LOVE YALL !! 🎉💙🗣 . . . . #ad #thesims4 #youtube #twitch #subscribe #follow #simstagram #MILESTONE #200k #missionaccomplished

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But what does Kia do when hitting a gamer’s block? Gaming is fun but too much of anything can bring feelings of boredom and lack of motivation. What then? Kia shared that to stay consistent during those times she creates a random new objective.

“Every time I try to do an actual Sims 4 challenge it’s so boring. So instead, I download crazy mods. One of my go-to mods is Extreme Violence, I know for a fact whenever I download that we are bound to have fun!“

Kia’s favorite video since her start is a recent one called “Olivia Gets Married.” For anyone who follows the Olivia saga, you know that Olivia is not in a committed romantic relationship with her baby daddy which made the video outrageously genius and engaging.

Kia tricked her subscribers into thinking Olivia married her non-committal baby daddy, who she’s been broken up forever.

“I played my gameplay as I usually would but a few things were off about it and if you follow the story, you instantly notice something isn’t right.”

Fans saw Olivia getting married to Marcus Flex with her parents who are known to be dead attending the wedding. Other hints that something was up included the celebrity children being helpful and cleaning despite usually being extremely spoiled.

“Turns out, Olivia had a bad dream! So yeah, it was fun for me because I know all my viewers were scratching their heads.”

The video is a perfect example of Kia’s master storytelling skills and creativity. Because of her growing artistry and uniqueness in the industry, I asked her what advice she would’ve given herself at the beginning of her journey as a YouTuber and Twitch streamer. She emphasized uploading regularly to give people the entertainment they look forward to.

“Be consistent. Consistency is really the key to this.”

 

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Casey Veggies: “Young Winners” 🔑

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Speaking of consistency, Kia vows to keep being herself despite however large her fan base and supporters become. And being herself means keeping her more mature content despite younger fans watching her videos.

She told me she doesn’t condone young girls watching because it’s not kid-friendly and they just can’t relate to her. Her target audience is adult gamers.

“There are people 21+ that play video games and carry on the same way I do. That’s my target audience. Grown people who enjoy grown gaming/commentary.”

So what will grown people be playing in the future? Kia thinks that the future of gaming is in virtual reality.

“VR is optional right now but I imagine a whole new level of being immersed in the future. I imagine all games will have VR for sure or some kind of AI technology.“

Keeyuh recently just completed a year as a Twitch partner and has over 400k twitch views. Kia knows that her supporters genuinely love her and want to see more and that’s why they stay.

“I use my platform to promote being yourself and so many people appreciate it so I feel like I appeal to them in a good way and I will continue to be me even when I get 1 MILLION SUBS! I hope to see more people come along for the ride.”

Kia recently started streaming story games including “Beyond Two Souls” and “Heavy Rain.” She also announced that she’ll be streaming the “Walking Dead” during the spooky season. So look out for some more fire content.

killer mike September 17, 2019
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Killer Mike’s politics prove that Black and Brown communities can prosper

The legacy of Nipsey Hussle was about Black and Brown communities organizing and dominating economically in order to fulfill generational success. Still, there are others that preach and inspire the same sentiments.

One of those people continuing the marathon is Killer Mike aka Michael Render and his political views are important to consider.

The Panel

On a recent panel for REVOLT TV made possible by mogul Mr. Sean Combs, Killer Mike struck a chord with Black audiences tired of the political reality of America.

After a very polarizing conversation between the conservatives and liberals on the panel, discussing disappointment and anger towards the democratic and republican parties respectively, Killer Mike stepped in.

“What y’all are seeing right now are free people arguing over who got the best master.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xX1ZbBgRntU

Killer Mike’s Politics

Killer Mike has always expressed his interest in uniting the Black community and using successful past strategies to do so. His knowledge of history especially that which pertains to Black, Brown and Native History in the U.S. provides a solid base for his political thought.

As a staunch anti-gun proponent, his pro-gun views actually make sense. Despite the very logical understanding abolishing gun ownership, the anxiety is that giving away a right would affect the safety of Black communities first.

His controversial (and subsequently diluted) interview on NRA TV created a rift with progressives who are often anti-gun persons.

The Plan

But Michael Render is not a talking head for conservatism, neither is his support for Bernie Sanders based on democratic allegiance. Killer Mike’s message has been reiterated in interviews, in his songs, on his Netflix show Trigger Warning, and finally clearly laid out on the REVOLT TV panel.

Do your research. Act as a unified group. Create an agenda.

Require government powers on the local state and national level to contend with that agenda. Vote, support and engage civically with that power. It all seems vague, but if you dig deeper into Killer Mike’s political views there are specific ways in which this economic and political power can be wielded.

artist journey September 17, 2019
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Clout vs. true creativity: How Princess Nokia stays true to her craft

Destiny Frasqueri made her mark on hip hop culture with her first studio album 1992 Deluxe in 2017. Her second release was in a different genre, disappointing some fans and deeply affecting others.

After much anticipation, Miss Destiny returns to hip hop with her latest single “Sugar Honey Iced Tea (S.H.I.T.)” Princess Nokia journeys creatively for a reason. The reason is art.

The rise

The 2017 project 1992 Deluxe rose amidst a powerful time for female rappers and expanded on her 2016 mixtape 1992. Miss Destiny had long been making creative media with her Metallic Butterfly album in 2014 and several short films videos released on YouTube.

Still, 1992 Deluxe struck a powerful chord among young women and hip hop male fans alike. Her lyrics were both striking and expertly metaphorical. During interviews, the Tomboy showed us her feminine side, making it extremely clear that she (and women specifically, and people in general) could appear and exist in multifaceted ways.

The other side of Tomboy

Her many podcasts brought fans closer, as well as gave the public insight into Destiny’s spiritual journey which in part informed the creation of the song “Brujas.”

Destiny still often talks about Afro-Carribean culture and spirituality. She brings specific practices of healing, self-love, and self-actualization to the forefront, keeping things equally realistic and spiritual.

Since the success of 1992 Deluxe, the Gemini creative released A Girl Cried Red. The album was a complete departure from her popular hip hop sound and acted as an ode to her punk rock and emo youth.

Nokia said during a fundraising event for Puerto Rico in September 2018 that the album and the spaces she wanted to create were for girls to feel free and comfortable moshing, and during that event they did.

A Girl Cried Red received misdirected criticism due to 1992 fans expecting another fire rap album. The album instead touched those that Miss Destiny was intending to reach, teens dealing with dark feelings of depression, suicide, bullying and the overall shittiness of adolescence.

But shouldn’t artists create as they see fit? You shouldn’t need to wait for three to five studio albums in a genre that made you popular, in order to explore other creative routes.

Nokia’s creativity is vast and becoming a clout queen is definitely not her style.

That said, being true to your creative self does not mean that one forgets about securing their bag. Known for her fly street style Princess Nokia appeared in several commercials for North Face, Calvin Klein, and others and as well as a spot on Timbaland’s inspirational Erase the Hate commercial.

Princess Nokia appeared since the 2018 album, on her YouTube channel. Fans became more obsessed with her through mutual fangirling over Harry Potter and thrifting. But what hip hop fans were waiting for Destiny gave them on September 16.

The other-other side

Princess Nokia dropped the song and video for “Sugar Honey Iced Tea (S.H.I.T.).” The track will undoubtedly become a cult favorite much like several tracks off of 1992. The video departed from the visuals of Tomboy Nokia and relied on the diversity of beauty.

The video expertly placed Destiny in a beauty pageant for its entirety. Miss Destiny described the visual concept beautifully.

“My video concept is based on Santeria and the Matriarchal lineage of Afro-Carribean Women.”

This was Nokia’s response after an artist claimed she copied the idea after she only saw the 7-second clip trailer.

Speaking of haters, the lyrics spoke to the shit-talkers from the A Girl Cried Red era of criticism, making it clear that Nokia is still lyrically, musically and creatively superior. The New Orleans bounce influence is pretty well executed as well.

The ending brings everything back to Princess Nokia’s most important message and that is that you are beautiful. Of course, we want more and if Princess Nokia’s work and determination is any indication of more drops, we’ll definitely be here for it.

Bruh September 17, 2019
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Cuddle up fam: Will cuffing season defeat the Hot Girl Summer?

Thanks to Hot Girl Meg, hot girl summer gave a name and a boost to the mentality that everyone aspires to every summer. But will cuffing season put an end to it?

Hot girl summer had everything going for it: weather, outfits, being free to have fun and be yourself. The cold is fastly approaching and while you can still have some fly fits, the winter blues can easily put a halt to your carefree attitude.

Plus, without a boo, it can get pretty cold out there when you’re trudging thru the winter type single.

;

Every fall the once summer single masses go looking for a bae. Whether it’s a fuck buddy, a friend with benefits or a traditional monogamous relationship, this is usually the time where everyone gets cuffed up one way or another.

People go out less in the cold which usually means people socialize less. So, your chances for romantic fun are lowered with those odds. But will cuffing season reign supreme this year? Or do we have enough technology and grit to avoid the tundra without a significant other?

There are thousands of apps available to constantly meet people. And the closer you are to a large city, the more there is to do and see despite the cold.

Tinder, OkCupid, CoffeeMeetsBagel, Hinge for the hookups based on Facebook friends. Tastebuds if you want similar music tastes. Her specifically for the women who love women. And all the different variations of Grindr.

Even with time constraints, young people more than ever know how to and are making full schedules work. So, if you’re back at school in the fall and have a part-time job, you still somehow are still able to make time for a social life.

If you’ve got more than one gig you already have the skills to juggle more. Don’t feel the pressure to find one person for the sake of the seasons. Your options are still plentiful.

So, will you let the cuffing season win or is it a hot girl year?

10K80 September 12, 2019
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The Brokeboi Mentality: How to embrace under spending to get ahead

Ever have that one friend who always says they’re broke but somehow have money for big moves like a car or an extended vacation? They’re tapping into and holding on to that broke mentality.

The broke mentality is acting like you’re at a lower income level than you are. In other words, as your finances grow you spend the same and save the rest. The best way to make this work is to not view those extra zeros as spendable at all, think of them as untouchable.

Accepting the broke mentality can also mean realizing that money won’t always get you where you want to be in the long run. So while it’s true having a consistent paycheck is great, it’s also true that if you have no plan in place to make sure that pay grows over time you’re pretty much fucked.

That’s where accepting the broke mentality comes in. You get accustomed to spending less, and then you’re free to quit your dead-end job and pursue your passions full time for a few months to a year.

But in order to effectively use the broke mentality, you need to do it right.

Set Up a Time Frame

If you plan on quitting your job, shifting careers, or pursuing your passion full time put a deadline on that shit.

Make sure you know you have at least 6 months to make as much money as possible in your current position. Then give yourself a deadline to quit or reduce your hours if part-time is an option.

And actually sit down and write out what you want to accomplish after you’re free from your current restraints. Do you want more time for your craft? Are you planning to collab with others? Are you aiming to network more?

Stop Spending

Image result for futurama money gif

Cut out any spending you don’t need. If you want a frame of reference, think back to a time where you didn’t have a steady income. You survived then and you can survive on the minimum now.

We spend so much time wanting that bag and every time we get some funds, we spend it on status symbols. That needs to stop. Sure, you can gift yourself something every once in a while, but if you’re trying to reach that goal of investing in your craft or overall future, that spending is going to just prolong the process.

Invest

If you do decide to spend that money should be an investment. Whether it’s for new equipment for your craft or tickets to a networking event in your desired field, make your money an agent for your success.

You can even go old school and invest in stocks, but if you’re going to do that (and you should) do your research.

Stick to the Broke Mentality

Image result for think gif

When you end up having more time and some savings that’s when things need to go into overdrive. You need to stick to your plans. Respect your time, this is for you and your future. Make short term and long term goals.

Ask yourself what you’re doing each day to get closer to your goal. What are you doing each week? Each month? What milestones are you hitting?

Remember. There are 1,080 minutes in a week. How will you use yours?

age of diaspora September 10, 2019
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Age of diaspora: How travelling artists can elevate their creative identities

Nigerian-American artist Jidenna recently released the album 85 to Africa, inspired by his trip back to the Motherland. The “Classic Man” artist came back with a new perspective on identity and political and social organizing.

“I came back with a new type of power…”

It’s been done before

It’s not new for American artists to venture out to the other continents and formulate a new perspective on the Black and Brown experience.

Dave Chappelle left the Chappelle show, rejecting a $50 million deal and went to South Africa. The move was to get away from the constant and hurtful media speculation.

“I was just another dude.”

Other artists travel for the sake of just getting out of the U.S. for a little while and expanding their view of the world.

Will Smith’s family was in Cartagena Colombia and it was obvious that the visit was filled with good food, music, and culture. Everything a person needs to just reset their creativity.

What can come of it

Image result for unforgettable french montana gif

Kendrick Lamar toured in South Africa in 2014 and expressed that that was when he realized he made it.

“You feel it as soon as you touch down. That moment changed my whole perspective on how to convey my art.”

We wouldn’t have the same Black Panther Album without the trip, but the next album he made after the visit was To Pimp A Butterfly. Jimi Hendrix along with Bob Marley visited Morocco in the late 60s, opting for small-town Essaouira rather than the tourist-filled Marrakesh.

French Montana regularly visits Uganda for philanthropic reasons but also to refresh his music. Without the trips, we wouldn’t have Unforgettable featuring Swae Lee.

Alicia Keys visited South Africa in 2012 for the first time with MTV’s Staying Alive, an HIV prevention and awareness initiative.

“The trip gave me a new purpose.”

Steve Harvey recently took an emotional trip to Ghana and encouraged others to do the same. Even Charlamagne Tha God also went to South Africa and did the same.

How to do it right

Image result for will smith travel gif

The U.S. can oftentimes be quite suffocating in its spaces for Black and Brown creatives. The only way to make room for Black and Brown expression is by setting out to places where you are the majority.

It’s important to not just change the scenery but to actually immerse yourself in the perspectives of the place you’re visiting. Actually go to the less touristy attractions, visit a village, befriend locals, learn the history and contemporary politics. Become a citizen of the world and everywhere is home.

Artists often promise to go out to other continents if convinced by enough fans. But in reality, they should be visiting for themselves. Jidenna’s perspective is a powerful one. Once you realize that you are in fact the majority in the world, you move differently.

You move with the strength of knowing that there’s another way to achieve success, one that gives and takes from a broader tank of resources.

Athletes September 4, 2019
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Could Carli Lloyd be the NFL’s first female kicker? Here’s why she’d crush it

In a recent Q&A with NYPost, two-time World Cup champion Carli Lloyd expressed her interest in kicking in the NFL.

She explained that despite being a woman in an all-male sport, her soccer skills and overall athletic training are enough to qualify her as a kicker.

How serious is she? Here’s a video of Carli at a recent joint Eagles-Ravens practice nailing a 55-yard field goal like it’s nothing. Impressive stuff.

Why is this important?

Women often have to prove time and again that they are equal to men on a basic level. In the physical realm, it can be very difficult to do so because of the continued understanding of average strength differences between the biological sexes.

Anti-Equality advocates use these differences to justify wage gaps between the genders, and more specifically to justify paying women less.

Sports is a key as part of the conversation of gender wage discrimination. We’ve heard time and again that women just aren’t “made” for high-intensity sports, and they don’t really reach the levels of sports like men do and therefore deserve less money.

This isn’t new

Women in sports showing female strength time and again with challenges both announced and secret. Serena Williams won a championship while pregnant. Billie Jean King won against Bobby Riggs in Battle of the Sexes.

Kathrine Switzer entered the Boston marathon when those in charge still barred women from running because experts claimed that distance running was damaging to women’s mental and more importantly reproductive health.

Carli Lloyd and the rest of the US national women’s team have won several Olympic medals while the men’s team fails to even rank.

Changing the perspective one challenge at a time

It’s no surprise that effectively kicking in the NFL, an all-male league, would have a similar effect. And she’s got some support. Tom Brady weighed in saying,

“I think if you’re good enough to do it and teams wanted to explore that than everyone should have an opportunity.”

Giants kicker Aldrick Rosas also voiced his support for Lloyd. He said:

“I saw the video of her kicking the field goals and she looks good, really good. It is impressive to see her kick like that. I have been following her and she is a great soccer player. I can’t wait to see her continue her career in whatever path she chooses.”

Not only that but teams have actually approached the two-time Olympic gold medalist, two-time FIFA Player of the Year after her 55-yard field goal that went viral. Plenty of teams, like the Jets, are in dire need of a kicker. Carlie spoke to NFL.com and said:

“I’m not trying to be a running back or a quarterback, that would be an epic fail, but I do know that I can kick a ball very well and I pride myself in my technique.”

If Carli Lloyd got into the NFL she would join the list of female athletes disproving the ‘frailty of women’ myth and add to the mountain of straw that will hopefully one day break the camel’s back.

Dounia September 3, 2019
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Dounia’s ‘SPECIFIC’ proves there’s more to her than ill beats and glamour

R&B chill hop queen Dounia dropped a visual to accompany the song “SPECIFIC” off of her latest mixtape THE SCANDAL. Reminding us that there’s more to her than ill beats and glamour, Dounia provided visuals with lyrical focus.

Visuals

Dounia describes the video as “Lyric Video Thing, This Song Just Goes Hard.” And she’s right. The visuals are in black and white with Dounia as the main focus, her face rapping to the beat Breakfast N’ Vegas produced, letting the bars stand for themselves.

Lyrics

“I’m just a wholesome girl
Barely cut out for Hollywood
I don’t be getting how they move
I don’t see how I ever could”

The opening lines of the song intro us into Dounia’s shift in mindset about the music/party scene. Her time in Hollywood is somewhat at odds with her new priorities. The hardcore party scene just doesn’t fit with her message.

A “wholesome girl” referring to her avoiding drugs and alcohol for more chill vibes and good times outside of vices. But the rest of the song makes sure to remind us that she’s still THAT bitch.

Changing Perspective

“I’m just here for the vibes
If Dounia’s involved, it’s gonna be a good night, no doubt”

Her change of perspective on the party scene comes with a renewed sense of spirituality. The song mentions her religious views and accompanies them with the intent to focus on her success rather than a love interest.

“Halal shorty, wallah shorty
Up all night talking to Allah shorty”

 

“Yeah I guess I want a lot
That list don’t involve no shorty
I don’t need nobody”

Still THAT Bitch

The rest of the mixtape also has similar themes of rejecting the parts of her life that are no longer beneficial or that never were. The first song on the tracklist is GLASS WALLS produced by Dounia herself.

The song expresses the realization that the singer and rapper deserve positivity and recognition for her work and talent that’s worthy of a house with glass walls. Many songs on the tracklist including LOWKEY GIRL, UP 4 AIR, COCKY, ROYAL emphasize Dounia’s earned confidence and calm demeanor about being at the top of her game.

And Fans are loving the back to back bad bitch anthems. Dounia also recently features on songwriting duo Marian Hill’s “Take A Number” still in line with the Dounia bad bitch vibes.

https://twitter.com/dounia/status/1165025116394283009?s=20

Will they stop sleeping on Douns? Only time will tell.

calmatic August 29, 2019
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How ‘The Vince Staples Show’ is challenging the way artists drop singles

Vince Staples delves into the world of storytelling from a new angle. On August 22, the rapper premiered the all-new original series The Vince Staples Show.

Each episode will complement a new stand-alone single. The trailer for the show depicts Vince giving a serious pep talk to two kids before sending them off to sell candy to (white) passersby at a “Green Mills” grocery store.

So What?

The first episode titled “So What” comes with a single of the same name. The episode begins with Vince receiving a call from his manager asking if he’s interested in performing for Malia Obama’s birthday.

Vince emphasizes that he’ll do it for a bag.  Staples mentions “I want some of that Netflix money” perhaps hinting at his interest in creating a project for the streaming giant and following in the steps of the likes of Kid Cudi.

The real climax to the episode and true embodiment of the song comes towards the second half of the nearly four-minute show.

Vince is visiting a new barbershop down in Pasadena. He asks the barber if he can keep his wired headphones in while he gets his cut. Vince quickly peeps two dudes staring at him and decides to put the volume up on his music.

Then a kid comes up and snatches his headphones and Vince’s Crip music blasts in the shop. The two menacing dudes – obviously Bloods, start fighting Staples.

The rest is a real-life anime fight between the rapper and his foes, complete with unexpected flip kicks and gravity-defying strength.

Innovating Music Visuals

The influence of Vince’s dark sarcastic humor and co-writer and director Calmatic’s outrageous perspective within realistic settings is clear. Staples’ mastery of the internet cannot be ignored. Despite his repeated hate for it he knows how to manipulate into successful ventures.

“I’ve never liked the internet.” – Vince Staples, “Vince Staples vs. The Internet”

But what’s innovative with this project is releasing a web series attached to new songs. Staples is creating a deeper and different connection to the art, and showing us there’s always more to music. The Vince Staples Show airs new episodes on YouTube.

Music August 28, 2019
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Start the fall with WESLEE, the bi-coastal duo giving R&B a new sound

Bi-Coastal singer-producer team WESLEE recently dropped their latest single ‘Something Bout You.’

You’ve probably heard other singles by the duo, like “Bathwater,” “Boy Like You,” and “Tongue Tied.” Their last hit “Sweat Dreams” got over 1.7 million streams on Apple Music alone.

Who is WESLEE

WESLEE’s music is lowkey electro, high-key r&b, and 100% vibey. The duo is made up of London born vocalist Emma DD and Kansas native producer Josh Grant.

You can tell immediately that Emma and Josh are songwriters. In an interview with Grammy, their philosophy is to keep doing what they love which is making music and writing songs and the rest will follow.

“Overthinking is the death of creativity.” – Emma

And so far the rest has followed. Their critically-acclaimed debut track ‘Gassed’ still puts them among industry heavyweights. The track received the prestigious ‘Hottest Record in the World’ accolade from BBC Radio 1’s Mistajam.

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WESLEE 3D coming 2025

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WESLEE is an international music act at heart with 26 million streams. Their last EP 9F generated over 809,000 Spotify streams to date and made it into Jamz Supernova’s ‘Top 5 Eps’ on BBC Radio 1Xtra. They’ve performed on the mainstage of Brooklyn’s Northside Festival.

WESLEE just headlined at the KCRW Summer Nights in L.A. and their second EP will be released early next year. For now though, with Emma DD’s sumptuous vocals and producer Josh Grant’s minimalist beat, ‘Something Bout You’ is the perfect chill-out vibe. The slow jam is a departure from the playfulness of previous single ‘London Love.’

It also comes at the perfect time as the summer comes to an end and cozy fall vibes are around the corner. The song is definitely on our end of summer playlist.

The WESLEE SoundSystem

WESLEE frequently creates their own playlists as well. The WESLEE ‘SoundSystem’ is jampacked with bops, bangers, and instant classics, showing you their music’s influences are in good company and that there’s more to music.

Whether you’re getting ready to go out, or spending the night in with some candles and good wine this coming September, ‘Somethin Bout You’ should be an addition to your own playlist.