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Author page: Jesse Vargas

Bruh November 7, 2019
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Why Drake joining the cannabis league is just another thot move

Drake is the biggest thot in the music industry.

There’s no debate his actions in the past 3+ years have been questionable.

The quickest of flings with big names like J.Lo and Serena Williams. Then keeping his child Adonis and porn star baby momma on the hush, I just have a hard time not describing Aubrey as a classic thottie.

Now, as he launches More Life Growth Company, Drake’s capitalization on our love for his bullsh*t is finally apparent. 

 

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@morelife

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Since when did this dude even f*ck with bud?

I understand his fame-factor is through the roof, so just about anything he says or does sells, but we gotta’ wake up.

No one even talks about Kurupt, former executive VP of Death Row Records and now co-founder of arguably the most potent strain of marijuana that’s ever hit the market: Moon Rocks.

Instead, we see Drake post some obscure video to IG featuring his new company’s logo and we lose our minds. 

That’s just some thot sh*t.

The only “real” information I’ve seen is his partnership with Canadian cannabis corporation Canopy Growth in which their stake is 60/40, respectively. Mark Zekulin, CEO of the corporation, seemed pretty excited about the newfound clout.

“Drake’s perspective as a culture leader and entrepreneur combined with Canopy Growth’s breadth of cannabis knowledge will allow our new company to bring an unmatched cannabis experience to global markets.”

AKA, Bread + Bread = Super Bread.

Despite all the hype surrounding this collab, I think this is probably some of the least interesting news to hit the airwaves. It doesn’t suite Aubrey, this marijuana steeze. He said,

“The idea of being able to build something special in an industry that is ever growing has been inspiring. More Life and More Blessings.”

I just want to know HOW? How can Drake, the tropical sound connoisseur, the feature GOAT, and OG king of getting the male population in their feelings, create a strain even worthy of our support? 

He can’t. He won’t. He’ll throw the money in, toss his name on the label, sit back, and watch it sell out nationwide. Just his newest, inventive, thottie-esque idea that’s gearing up to hit the streets. Good job, Aubrey.

And to answer a question probably that’s probably bugging you all: Yes, I’m a Meek fan.

20k visuals October 2, 2019
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Finally Focused: Here are 7 photographers to look out for in 2020

Let me just start by saying, there are too many dope creators to even begin with. From city to city, coast to coast, I’ve personally seen the talent firsthand and it’s just plain old inspiring.

No one ever had anything handed to them and everybody moved with the same confidence and poise while executing their projects. In no particular order, here are seven of the hottest shooters to look out for in 2020.

CAM KIRK

 

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Straight outta’ the A, Cam Kirk has already inspired kids all over his city. The versatility in his hustles, being a shooter and a businessman, is exactly what the world needs in young creatives.

It’s apparent, too, as his studio space, Cam Kirk Studios, is one of the most booked studios in ATL. Moving from Maryland to college at Morehouse, Kirk has since transformed his life into monthly workshops, installations, music videos, and studio sessions. 

 

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LOUIE KNOWS

 

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If you haven’t heard of Louie yet, just wait.

As far as efficiency goes, he’s got it. At 28-years-old, he’s managed to work with some of the hottest artists of this generation like NBA YoungBoy, Trippie Redd, and PnB Rock, while stepping up his own branding at the same time.

Furthermore, he offers internship opportunities for young creators on the West Coast. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/B0HTwESAQx7/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

I had the chance to work side by side with Louie throughout PnB Rock’s “Catch These Vibes” tour and the man’s a straight-up workhorse. Whether it’s taking flicks during the day, or shooting a video at night, he’s always working.

As he heads into 2020, there’s no telling where his work will take him.

ADALBERTO RAMOS AKA ACE OF LA

https://www.instagram.com/p/B26EBBgngnN/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Now, you can’t mention LA photography without Ace.

For those who haven’t peeped the first issue of “Finally Focused,” the moment Ace touched down in LA, all the way from Florida, it was the beginning of the rest of his life. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/B205UjrHtJ8/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Like many other shooters, Ace actually keeps his face out of the spotlight and only showcases his work. From lifestyle shoots, model portraits, to even brand concepts, he’s done it all.

Still, the one thing that draws people to him is the fact that his experiences were similar to so many other creators in this industry. His work is the definition of inspiration.

DANA SCRUGGS

 

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Before I knew who exactly Dana Scruggs was, I knew her work graced my IG feed too many times for it to be a coincidence.

After I did a little dive into her world and started paying attention, I saw the hungry, young shooter she was. Every time I went to her page, she broke a new barrier for herself and it was motivating to watch.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BrnFyJwA-mW/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

From the pits of Chicago to becoming the first black person who shot a Rolling Stone cover? Now, that’s work ethic and, most importantly, focus. As a black woman, most don’t comprehend the invisible obstacles. They can’t. 

As a shooter, Scruggs is truly in love with the human form. Going through her work, I genuinely got a look at her vision. The way she paints the standard portrait is the opposite of average, and now, some of the most well-known publications see it too.

All it took was time.

If you haven’t yet, you’ll see Scruggs kicking in 2020 with her next hottest project. 

MICHAEL BURROUGHS AKA 20K VISUALS

 

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I feel like 20K has been on everyone’s radar now for some time, but not too many know about “Yung Mike,” the face behind the movement.

With a big Meek Mill co-sign, there wasn’t much in the way of Mike’s goals. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BftuAZIhljP/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Artists love this dude and they love working with him.

Between Future or Meek taking turns flying him out or building the 20k brand to be one of the hottest collectives of shooters on the East Coast, it’s crazy to think he’s still transitioning to greatness. I know he has plenty of fire content just waiting for the new year to drop.

TOR DERRICOTTE AKA ESTWST. PHOTOS

 

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On my grind ain’t no slowing down.. 📸: #estwstphotos

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With the hallowed QC co-sign, Tor has been on a steady rise ever since he directed his first video for Lil Baby, “Freestyle.”

Since then, he’s been on multiple tours and worked with artists like Rick Ross, the Migos, and Gunna. Still, one thing that I’ve noticed about Tor is his diligence. Regardless of where he’s been or where he is, the content has always been consistent.

 

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Global 🌐 🎥: #estwstphotos

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I feel like sometimes creatives get into the habit of putting more effort into their work for a “hotter” artist, versus putting the same energy into everything they do.

Tor is a prime example of why NOT to do that. Even before he got paired with Quality Control’s up and coming, new artist, Lil’ Baby, he was going full steam.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bxhm-pAAn_-/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Turning your life around from graphic design and marketing for brands like Pandora and Moxie to your very own global production company “ESTWST. PHOTOS” is no small feat.

I know anything he has coming up in 2020 will definitely solidify him as one of the hottest shooters in the game.

LEX AKA APEX VISIONS

https://www.instagram.com/p/BuuPv5kH2Jk/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Apex Visions set her name apart some time ago when artists realized they didn’t need to see a tag to know she shot the photo.

Like Ace, Apex doesn’t feel the need to even show her face on social media. She had separated her work and created a unique style for herself that other shooters couldn’t match. 

Honestly, she did what each and every one of us as shooters should do… Pave our own lane.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B0HxbziHfz9/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Growing up in Canarsie, deep in BK, she had to go out and find her opportunities – they didn’t just come to her. 

Apex Visions didn’t just sit back and shoot what she was comfortable with, she reached out to people and ended up shooting some of the biggest names in music like Dave East and A Boogie.

The more I’ve watched her grow, the more I became aware of the dedication she put into her craft. I feel like the 20s are going to be her break out years and personally, I’m here for it.

You should be too.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx5Qm1EHtRm/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

This group of seven is going to make noise next year and that’s a FENDI. Considering all of them are already growing their following to some pretty decent numbers.

Still, this isn’t all to say ‘look how much better these shooters are.’ Yes, these are some talented people, but digging into each of their stories, it’s easy to see they all started where we once were. 

No one rigorously studied photography in school, and for anyone that does, they’re just some things you can’t teach. Regardless of the difference in photos or videos between these shooters, the work ethic and focus are transparent throughout them all. 

My only hope going into 2020 is that we can all finally focus up and get this bag, doing what we all love to do — create.

ace of la September 12, 2019
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Finally Focused NY to LA: How photographer Ace of LA found the perfect angle

So maybe for those of us on the East Coast or just not in tune with our creative side, have you ever heard of Ace of LA? Let me just say, here’s one shooter who has completely transcended what we all think makes up the word “photographer.”

We got an exclusive chance to talk to Adalberto Ramos, or “Ace” for short, about his methodology behind photography, and generally what he thinks about a lot of common “shooter-esque” questions.

I personally know that starting out with my first camera, all I could think about was the fact that everyone’s equipment around me looked so much better. Forget talent or hard work. There were thoughts that I’d simply never be able to create something as great as some of these shooters with my little Canon Rebel T6 that plagued my mind on a day-to-day basis.

@aceofla

Ace was genuine in his answers and gave a perspective similar to so many shooters around the world, including myself.

“Cameras are like relationships. Some mean the world to me and some… I just don’t even think about them. I feel like cameras represent a time period as relationships do. So to say what the first camera I owned was like describing my first relationship – A MESS!

Now how many of us can relate? Ace continued:

“And it’s easier just to say “hey, I’m a photographer” versus “I really don’t know what I’m doing with this camera. I just know it feels right… I’m just simply enjoying moments.”

If that wasn’t you starting out, then I don’t know man, do you, but this to me is just too accurate. How many of us starting out in photography just wanted to shoot artists, models, or anything else, but couldn’t?

@aceofla

It’s always comforting knowing someone ahead of you experienced the same difficulties in the beginning.

“You have to understand, I didn’t go to school for this. I learned as I experienced life. Which lead me to figure out the camera. But it’s not the camera that makes you capture great moments because it’s just a camera…”

“It’s what you experience and what you want the world to see when you press that button. The pain, the beauty… you name it.”

He makes the best point here. The greatest aspects can’t be taught, they’re acquired. Everybody’s photos generally look the same, mostly because of editing, but once you scratch that, what’s left? Each and every shooter’s outlook on life.

For most of us, we find ourselves living life through a lens – Once you take that step back, and actually live what you experience, you might see your perspective change.

“My biggest challenge was allowing myself to see what I am experiencing.”

@aceofla

The Mexican American lensman has made strides within his craft and not for one second did he let his ethnic background or racial identity stop him from accomplishing his photographic goals. That’s the type of focus I’m talking about.

As we talked, we got more in-depth about working and really making photography more than a hobby. A lot of us have the talent, but just haven’t yet found the right outlet to make it sustainable.

“People pay for what they want. But free work is still work. That’s the biggest misconception people who just started ‘creating’ don’t get. You have to give in order to receive… If you do good work, people will pay for your good work. You’re only as good as your last job.”

It’s true really. We’re so quick to get the bag, that we forget the process. Sometimes expanding horizontally is just as beneficial as vertically. Another big point Ace of LA made surrounded preparation for shoots, and just maintaining focus.

“If you don’t love the subject then there is really nothing to focus on. So you must love the subject. As corny or as stupid that may sound. But it’s the truth.”

@aceofla

Ace explained that “when you love something, there are no distractions.” As a direct result of diving headfirst into his craft, “he’s able to ignore the world.” These emotions help bring lighting and composition to the world each photographer is trying to create.

It happens too often for young shooters either taking on a task they have zero interest in or too much to handle. Nonetheless, if you love and appreciate what you’re shooting, there won’t be a failure. Allow your senses to kick in and shoot your experience.

Everything we talked about was so relevant especially to this new generation of shooters worldwide – Even extending to creators, everything was relatable. As far as any last bits of knowledge, he said it best.

“Attitude determines what you capture. What you capture is what you focus on. What you focus on develops who you are.”

Thanks, Ace, and remember, young photographers, stay the course.

@aceofla
art June 24, 2019
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How 5-year-old King Singh’s fight with cancer brought love and art to the NYSE

Meet King Singh, the five-year-old beast from Queens, who after three years of constant chemotherapy can still laugh in the face of cancer.

Our squad at Kulture Hub had the amazing opportunity to talk to King and his family about the love that’s recently been pouring down on him.

King Saladeen, Sue Tsai, Ruby Sneaks, and Trippy Pins were just some of the big supporters King had around him at the New York Stock Exchange. King’s father Michael Singh told us how grateful he was for the support:

“That’s why we’re so happy that we met all these artists because through art, there’s a way he found to escape the pain — escape the daily struggle of taking chemotherapy every single day.”

King isn’t just your everyday kid. He was diagnosed with G6PD at the age of two, then while monitoring him on a daily basis, he was found to also have Leukemia. For those who don’t really know how detrimental these diseases can be, get ready.

G6PD is an incurable blood-enzyme deficiency that’s only delayed by constant blood transfusions and rest. After being diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in the high-risk category in 2016, things were looking grim for King and his family, midway into the second year of his life.

Although this was treatable with chemo, G6PD created some critical complications.

“The chemo is given to him everywhere because blood cancer could travel to any organ in the body and the brain… He had to rehabilitate himself at the age of 3 and learn to start walking and talking again,” said Michael.

Vincristine toxicity, from chemotherapy, made him unable to walk for months. Neuropathy left nerve damage throughout his body as well as leukoencephalopathy which made his brain swell.

These are just some of the complications this kindergartner has had to deal with. He spent the rest of 2016 and the majority of 2017 hospitalized and isolated, but King never stopped fighting.

His father was with him every step of the way, while his mother carried the financial burden on her shoulders. Being a Leo, it was already written in the stars he’d be a fighter, but no one knew his own strength, besides himself.

He had to re-learn how to actually walk and communicate again from being bedridden for months, essentially without being given any real hope.

After an absolutely ridiculous amount of blood and platelet transfusions, lumbar punctures, chemotherapy infusions, and so much more, we think it’s safe to safe King is one of the most inspirational people we’ve ever met.

Now, at 5-years-old, he’s being recognized by some powerful people at the NYSE, as well as being one of the biggest childhood cancer and blood advocates of the generation. See our video with King below. 

Against all odds, King’s also a crucial participant in an experimental study that helps newly diagnosed kids in the future. Quick sidenote — his dream is to meet Drake and we think a kid as unstoppable and determined as King should have no problem linking with another GOAT.

Even if it’s not in our immediate family, everyone should be aware of how these diseases are tearing families apart, around the nation and across the globe. Information is power, and if there’s any way you can help the next family by paying it forward, get out there and make a difference!

Check out King’s website for more information about his life-threatening disease and make sure you support his journey to recovery on GoFundMe.

Everything counts.

10K80 February 27, 2018
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Inside the PnB Rock movement: How his whole team bossed up with him

We all know how it feels to be low in life.

But greatness is all about how you’re able to bounce back from that low point and rise above it. The biggest key is having the right team to push forward.

Everyone wants to move up to that boss status but it takes hard work that no one will ever see. Artists like PnB Rock might make it look easy, flexing their chains and cars, but most of his fans don’t have a clue how he got there. It goes way deeper than streams, downloads, and tours.

The beauty behind success is really within the journey — how you did it and who you did it with. Since joining Rock and the New Lane squad on tour, I’ve learned a lot about the man PnB Rock is and the movement he’s created.

Vargas Visuals

Rock was one of four siblings and is genuinely one of the least selfish people I’ve come across. Most everybody he brought on tour came from his block in Philly and now that’s the same team that surrounds him as he takes the next big steps in his career.

He looks out for everyone before himself and makes sure there’s good vibes around no matter what he’s going through.

I experienced this a little over two weeks ago on one of the first stops of the Catch These Vibes tour when Rock went trudging out in the snow just for some medicine. He was already exhausted from performing and sick to the point his voice was basically gone, but still wanted to get it himself instead of just sending someone else out. That’s real, a lot of artists wouldn’t do something even as small as that.

Vargas Visuals

The photo shows Rock’s “little” cousin Nahmir, PnB Rock, then DJ Stacks (from left to right) walking side by side as if they were brothers.

Everyone on tour plays a role and the underlying theme is family, bottomline. And that’s what separates PnB Rock from a lot of artists, he treats everyone that way. We didn’t even end up getting the medicine Rock needed because he wanted to get drippy on skates real quick, and of course blessed everyone’s passes.

You get the feeling that PnB Rock is genuinely grateful for what he has and that motivates him to spread his success. Most people in his position might end up letting their ego get the best of them, but Rock just won’t let himself get there. In every city of his tour, he’s made it known that he was once HOMELESS and in prison. Now look at him. That’s what a strong work ethic and staying humble does for you.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bd5TzWiBreg/

There was no hope. There was no plan. Rock worked with the hand he was dealt and came out victorious. And even more than that, put himself in a position to build his homies up too. I talked to one of his closest boys, PnB Leemo, who was in jail during Rock’s rise to fame. I asked him how it feels being where he is now versus being there even before the music.

PnB Leemo told me,

“All of this is a new experience to me, like everybody knows I just came home from doing 6 years so everybody knows I missed when Rock was a struggling artist to the point where he is now. But everything’s a blessing; it just feels good to be home and seeing a n*gga I knew came from the mud, a n*gga I seen come from nothing, come from being homeless. Now to see where he is now, it’s just a blessing and I know he’s going to open doors for everybody – he’s going to open doors for the whole gang.”

There was nothing but gratitude when we spoke, which told me a lot about what Rock even means to his crew. He’s more than family — he’s someone who’s single handedly changed their lives and for that, they’re all grateful. And they show it with their loyalty.

Everyone with Rock now was with him before the fame, before the money, and before he even had a place to stay. Now, every city chants his name when he steps in the building — and his team’s right there with him like they never left.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BfZ3WmUHuWb/

Like I said, we’ve all experienced the struggle, but how you bounce back is what defines you. With his back against the wall, PnB Rock made no excuses and created something special for himself and his team.

Now he’s uplifting his entire city in Philly and inspiring his people. It’s something not many artists can accomplish.

Rock’s career isn’t just solidified because of his music, but because the love and respect people have for him. No one’s going to forget about the artist that came from nothing and put an entire city on his back, and this is only the beginning.

These are the stories we remember forever.

Vargas Visuals
catch these vibes February 14, 2018
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More than just a rapper: Why the grind never stops for PnB Rock while on tour

For the entirety of PnB Rock’s Catch These Vibes tour, the Philadelphia artist has managed to blow the roof off every stage.

PnB has sold out multiple shows in the week since his CTV tour started and has similar plans for the rest.

The grind isn’t stopping anytime soon for the Philly native who just set off on a massive nationwide tour, hitting the biggest cities around the country.

The hustle and dedication Rock has showed throughout the entire process has been crazy, the energy in the crowd is palpable, with both artist and audience feeding off of each other. And the thing is… The show never stops for him.

PnB is taking his art on the road with him with a fully functioning recording studio onboard his tour bus.

Going city to city, coast to coast, trying to spread that unique sound while producing his own beats, surrounded by his entire team is a pretty intense undertaking – even just to keep focused. But Rock manages to make it look easy.

There’s nothing stopping his vision to be the best at what he does and now that his life completely switched up from rags to riches, he won’t hesitate to let you know either.

IDK Why ppl hate on me… Maybe it’s because i went from bein homeless, to now residing at two different homes 🏡…. maybe it’s because i went from nothing! To now owning NOT ONE but THREE businesses that are thriving and growing everyday 🏦…. Maybe it’s because i went from stealin and sharin clothes, to now me drippin in all the latest designer shit 👟…. maybe it’s because i went from scraping up money to hop on the bus, to now everywhere i go it’s in a Foriegn whip 🏎… maybe it’s because i went from starvin everynight, to now eatin at the best restaurants there is to offer…. OR maybe it’s because They just MISERABLE and bitter at heart & ain’t got nothin better to do than sit on they ass and think of hateful shit to say on social media…. Honestly IDK wtf it is but I’m just keep SHININ && GLOWIN on EVERYBODY that ever HATED on Me… OR ever DOUBTED me 🖕🏾🖕🏾🖕🏾Fuck em all ! Ima #TrapstarTurntPopstar

A post shared by TrapStar Turnt PopStar (@pnbrock) on

But what makes him that much different from the next artist is his success as an entrepreneur in addition to already being able to body the music game.

He’s bossing up, raking in bread from his own label New Lane Ent., as well as his very own club/bar Galaxy Live. Just peep his IG caption above and you’ll see just how far Rock has come.

All of his businesses are based in Philly, as he gives back to the city that shaped him.

There aren’t many artists that care that much about where they’re from to genuinely want to make hometown money moves like that.

Rock does it all and more, down to making each venue pop as if it were Philly, bringing his team, but moreover family, on the ride of their life.

The PnB experience is one of a kind, and that’s to say the least. The look on the crowd’s face as soon as you hear that distant, “Oh Yeah” is something that really can’t be explained, only felt.

After going to the shows myself, I can unapologetically say that the connection Rock has to his fans is completely natural. And no, not natural like “regular” or “average” – natural like this man was born to do this. He’s a natural entertainer and no one can take that away from him.

From the beautiful melodies in “Selfish” to the hard-hitting bangers like “Horses”, fans are just mesmerized by his stage presence. The shows have been so explosive that by the time the CTV tour is over, everyone’s going to be riding his wave.

Music January 10, 2018
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Who is Phora? The 23-year-old rapper who created a multi-million dollar empire

So we all have those people in our heads that we think can be compared, but in reality you just can’t.

Take Kendrick and J. Cole or LeBron and Kobe for example — they’re all GOATs in their own right, but it’s hard to confine them to the same boxes. The real question is where will that next “great” come from?

Meet Marco “Phora” Archer, the lyrical genius who is already building his own music empire. With so many artists carving out their niche in the industry right now, you won’t find one that sticks out like this dude.

Straight outta Anaheim, CA, Phora’s grind and dedication to his art and fans is pretty special, and he’s probably one of the most down to earth artists you’ll come across.

For a 23-year-old artist, especially in this day and age, you’d think the materialistic things would be all he cares about, but it doesn’t seem to be the case, as his life in AND outside the studio promotes positivity and love.

In an exclusive interview with Steryo, Phora opened up about his growth as a person throughout the stressful process of being an independent artist at the time, while still maintaining his strong personal values. When asked how his fans can use his lyrics to improve their lives as well as others, he responded,

“The power of the voice is an EXTREMELY influential thing. The voice, MUSIC in general, can be so much. Therapy, a scapegoat, it can even be used as a weapon. For the fans out there listening to my music, I would just say take those words, and aim them towards you. I’m speaking to you. DIRECTLY to you. Any of my music would be some of the same things I would say to certain people in certain cases in person.”

And you’re not gonna catch him going back on his word either.

Phora takes his own experiences and creates an inspirational type of sound that you don’t hear much these days. You can truly feel the emotion and reliability in his voice, whether he’s rapping or even finessing a smooth hook.

This man has so much potential, it’s wild. After he dropped his latest album Yours Truly Forever at the end of last summer, his ascent to stardom was solidified.

It was his first project after getting signed by Warner Bros. back in April and it gave him a chance to show the world what he’s really about. It even includes a resonating part 2 to the hit “Sinner” from his 2016 rap chart-topping project With Love.

Phora’s on a whole other level, and that’s just to put it lightly. According to Genius, he recorded his first track with his father — at age SEVEN.

He started his own label, Yours Truly, in 2011 and with it came even more success. But we already know it’s mo’ money, mo’ problems so it’s always been an uphill battle for the rapper on the rise.

He survived being stabbed, and even getting shot multiple times while driving with his girlfriend. You won’t see a person with more of a will to live than Phora.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BYSQNeVBEdZ/?hl=en&taken-by=phoraone

When talking with LA Times, Phora made it clearer than ever exactly how he feels about his loyal fans that have held him down since day 1.

“I feel like all types of music definitely helps people, but music that specifically and especially covers topics such as suicide — and that can be a very touchy topic — but songs that cover suicide, depression, family issues, even abuse, things like that, I feel like that’s very important, most of all to make people not feel like they’re alone.”

He’s maintained this vision for his art since his first project Still a Kid at age 17 and of course expanded it into his own label, which has grown into much more — a brand that pushes his vision to the next level.

Phora leaves mark on everything he touches, growing from a tattoo artist to budding superstar. From some of his own artwork on his clothing brand, the creativity and messages directly attribute to his growth as an artist as well as a wildly successful businessman.

Forbes had a lot of big things to say about the young phenom, including the $2.2 million revenue the Yours Truly Clothing brand raked in during their most recent 24 hour Black Friday sale and placed the company’s earnings at around $100,000 – $150,000 a month.

“I have goals and aspirations with the music that money can’t buy… like getting a Grammy or wanting J. Cole or Pharrell to appreciate the music I make.”

With Phora, it’s not about the money, and he’s right on track with creating the legendary music that will get him recognition within the game. When he posted the Forbes article on his IG page, Phora went off and explained how big of an honor it was for him saying,

“My ultimate goal is to motivate and inspire people like me, people who started with nothing. People who grew up with a broken family. People who had nothing handed to them. People who went through their entire lives being doubted.. the reward I’m looking for is NOT monetary, and my end goal is not to be rich in wealth, but to be rich in soul.”

Yours Truly Forever is an album that takes listeners on an emotional trip through real, crazy experiences fans can actually relate to, no matter how down they may feel. George Orozco, who’s directed almost all of Phora’s videos and one of his closest friends, commented on Phora’s image saying,

“His story’s not fake… He had a bad hand given to him, but throughout it all, he made that negative energy and converted it to positive energy… [Fans] see themselves in him.”

Bottom line, 2018’s gonna be Phora’s breakout year, and y’all better get ready.

To top it all off, he’ll be joining G-Eazy in February on a nationwide tour showcasing his new album and spreading that message he’s been pushing since the jump.

The days of mumble rap are slowly, but surely coming to a close and giving way to artists like Phora, Logic, and Kendrick to get their messages of positivity to the world.

From a local West Coast legend, Phora’s grown his following to over a million fans on social media and I don’t see his momentum stopping anytime soon. He’s carving out his spot in the industry, and soon the whole world’s going to know his name.

Listen to Yours Truly Forever here on Spotify:

Music January 9, 2018
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PnB Rock is throwing two shows in one day for a wild homecoming in Philly

By now you might think you have a good idea of who PnB Rock is.

But what you might not know is this dude is an ABSOLUTE workaholic, and he’ll do anything for his fans that got him this far.

The Philly native has made it his business to personally grow his own stardom over the past few years, dropping hit after hit and traveling to different venues in Cali, Chicago, NYC, and everywhere in between to blow the roof off of every venue he steps in.

He’s one of the most promising young musicians in the industry today and Drake has even credited him for bringing melodies back to modern hip-hop.

You’d think an artist with as much success as him would just be coolin’ now that his album dropped. Instead, PnB Rock is going city to city, coast to coast, bringing that same energy on his record to fans at live shows. Even before all that, he’s throwing two homecoming shows in Philly in one day to show his love to the local fans.

I had the privilege of attending his sold out show at Gramercy Theater in NYC back in December where everybody’s eyes were glued to the stage. PnB’s stage presence, despite being a new artist in the game, is that of a seasoned vet.

What hit me the most was beyond his own presence, his boys backed him the entire time he performed. I also had the chance of chopping it up with Rock’s manager after the show, and he really explained what the word family meant to the New Lane.

It’s not all about getting stupid lit making it to the top on your dolo. New Lane is all about building their family and bringing everybody to the top. Fab said it best, “Find what you bring to the table and pull up a chair.” Everybody grinds together and that’s why we’ve seen these results.

PnB embodies what it means to have a real family in an industry that thrives off the fake — they treat their fans as if they were the sole reason Rock’s successful, but really that’s the key right there.

It’s a simple concept that’s taken for granted on the daily within the entire music industry, remembering your roots. And on top of all that? There’s that much less doubt from fans on the artist when the label works as a unit, offering support from all different places, so I’d say Rock’s doing it right.

PnB wants to go ahead and become Philly’s #1 fan favorite, putting on TWO shows in one day January 13th for the big homecoming, calling it PnB Rock Day.

Who else is really doing this in Philly right now? He’s performing an entire show at 4pm, then another at 8pm like it’s nothing! I guarantee he’ll make it wavy too, knowing him and, like always, New Lane got his back.

We all know as fans, we can get overwhelming — we’re pretty judgmental and rarely satisfied. So you really notice when an artist goes out of their way to make us happy. Rock pays his respect to his listeners, and we respect him for it.

He’s even giving out the wildest prizes just for copping tickets and showing support!

The first show’s already sold out, which shows how much fans are really pushing. But you still have a chance to cop tickets and turn up for the second one. Rock’s putting on for his city so it’s no wonder why he’s gaining so much traction.

Like he’s said, PnB is a movement and it’s not fizzling out anytime soon — this is still just the beginning of the journey, especially after announcing his Catch These Vibes tour with Lil’ Baby only three days ago.

We can expect big things from the New Lane Entertainment crew coming soon and just like you, we can’t wait to see what’s next.

Cop your tickets here, because you won’t want to miss this!

10K80 January 4, 2018
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How to turn your small college budget into a cryptocurrency fortune

If you’re like any other normal person, I’d assume you’re going into 2021 with hopes like “becoming successful,” “getting in shape,” or any other aspiration that you and I both know probably isn’t gonna happen.

And don’t get me wrong, that’s nothing against you, but how often does someone tell you their New Year’s resolution and mean it 110%?

The road to success isn’t as long as it used to be anymore — and it’s honestly not as hard either. I know one reason behind why that “becoming successful” resolution isn’t really working, and that’s due mainly to a simple lack of knowledge.

Don’t lie telling yourself you can get rich off something you have no idea about, unless you’re a fluke king, so it’s time to really talk about the mini gold rush our generation could be missing out on — cryptocurrencies.

So imagine all the stupid things you wasted your paycheck on this past year. The hundreds of dollars that you don’t even remember having and spending until you need the next “thing.”

Now imagine you threw a couple hundred in just a couple of these cryptos… How you’d be feeling going into the New Year with real bread, not just the crumbs.

This past year, Bitcoin (BTC) seemingly took the nation by the throat and forced us to be locked in, watching. I’ve never seen such a clear, blatant representation of Westbrook’s tunnel vision until I heard what people had to say about Bitcoin.

And the problem wasn’t as much the talking strictly about Bitcoin, but the fact that I’d never hear any other coins said besides maybe Litecoin (LTC) and Ethereum (ETH).

Quartz

Sure it takes money to make money, but $100 looks like it’ll get you started just right too based on these growth charts. Quartz gave us some insight into how some of these comparisons work.

While Bitcoin does perform a bit better when compared with other cryptocurrencies (tokens with their own blockchains), it’s NOT true in comparison with ICOs – initial coin offerings that exploded this past year.

Quartz

Basically, these ICOs support big changes in the world, meaning the “tokens” they offer represent their way of funding huge projects through investors big AND small.

It’s very similar to a stock IPO (initial public offering) in the sense that the general public are the investors, not just the guys on Wall St.

Like I know you remember good ol’ Jordan Belfort introducing Steve Madden and taking his company public – how big of a step that was towards real money.

Leonardo Dicaprio Reaction GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

All I’m saying is 2018’s the year.

In market terms, “bull” refers to a market rise and “bear” refers to the fall, and it seems we’re in the second longest rising market of all time.

It’s not about having thousands of dollars to stow away for the possibility of a random pop in the market – do your research.

Read about the development teams, the essentiality of the token, and evaluate the whitepaper, which has all the info needed about the project and ICO.

It’s time for our generation to stop watching everyone else’s moves and make some moves of our own. You’ll be surprised what you’re capable of with just a lil’ knowledge.

drake December 27, 2017
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Who is PnB Rock? The versatile Philly artist with superstar potential

Cop your tickets to PnB Rock’s ‘Catch These Vibes’ tour here.

So I know you’ve heard “Too Many Years,” or better yet “Selfish” by the lanky light skin that’s seemingly taking over the charts — PnB Rock.

That was a while back, so by now you’ve definitely peeped his “Unforgettable” remix that we can’t get out of our heads or maybe even his second studio album “Catch These Vibes” that just dropped late last month.

All I know is this man is next up — you tell me the last time you heard an artist this versatile with the same finesse as Drake?

Rakim Hasheem Allen, better known as PnB Rock, isn’t just a music genius. He’s a Philly bred fashion icon and future star in the game.

He’s a trendsetter — the reason behind when you hear “Louis X Supreme” your next thought is “that’s limited edition” and why your girl is pressing you to be selfish all the time.

Now Rock’s always had that sound, since day one, but what we don’t know is how he developed it to become the idol that so many are looking up to today.

I swear I haven’t seen another artist rap AND sing with the same quality as Drake, since DRAKE. And these two aren’t even comparable.

Whether it’s a smooth cuffing melody or some authentic trap music, Rock’s got hands in them all. Out of his three songs that made the Billboard charts, how do ALL THREE give you different vibes?

“Everyday We Lit” is a soul-hitting track featuring PnB Rock that gives you no extra energy other than to be successful. I want to hear the struggle and I want to hear the outcome, and he makes sure to leave listeners with all this in mind.

There are 10,080 minutes in a week, and besides being lit, I think we all have an idea how he spends ’em to be one of the hottest new artists out.

I don’t think I have to say much about this song besides the fact that ya girl sings along to it weekly. The same way Bey had girls going wild after Lemonade, Rock had girls wishing they had a man that was everything he talked about being in “Selfish.”

What’s unique about PnB Rock is that he genuinely addresses all the obscure, real issues people deal with, especially in his more melodic songs about women. It’s not all Trigga Trey “Slow Motion” and not all Chris Breezy claiming “these hoes ain’t loyal.”

Rock gives a sense of authenticity that’s pretty rare these days in this industry of mumble rap. For starters, you can’t classify him to a single box — he’s way too versatile.

You can’t say much about a rapper/singer that talks about everything from the struggle to the come up, and stardom. Some artists move out the hood and never look back, but it’s different for Rock.

In an interview with Atlantic Records, they put PnB Rock at the center of attention answering some questions about his life. When asked where he got the name “PnB” from, it was simple:

“PnB stands for Pastorius and Baynton, it’s my block in Germantown. Pretty much everybody around my neighborhood got PnB in front of their name.”

He’s not in it for the brand new lifestyle of fame and doesn’t want to leave his day ones, which isn’t just respectable, but admirable. Think about how many A$AP Mobs there are out there, because it’s uncommon. Drake talking about “No New Friends,” but the only Canadians we see him with are the Weeknd and Nav.

According to The Fader, Rock was raised in and out of shelters with his single mother and four siblings.

His father wasn’t around so he looked to his uncle for that foundation, but after his murder, 15-year-old Rakim quickly hit the streets. A couple years later, he was locked up for about 33 months for selling drugs and robbing people, but that was just the beginning.

If you can imagine the scene from “Notorious” when Biggie was locked up, we got to see and understand the time progression and how much effort he really put into songwriting on his dolo. It was the same for Rock, spending his time tirelessly writing tracks inspired by the life he once lived as a kid roaming the rough streets of Philly.

When he got out of jail, he caught a buzz dropping two tapes, but got roped back in by the system around 2014 when he broke probation for leaving his halfway house without permission.

What gave him a lil’ more than “just a buzz” was his video for “My City Needs Something” being aired on MTV while fans rallied, starting the #FreePnBRock trend on social media.

The video depicts Rock with his crew backing him in his Philly territory. He talks about having no help from the cops because they were doing more bad than good, and even shows a kid getting shot playing ball. He put it simply:

“People were dying, people were getting killed by the cops… If I listen to that song, I’ll cry.”

According to Complex, Rock flexes his PUMA partnership, Billboard Hot 100 hits, and a sweet spot on this past XXL Freshman Class.

“We’re going to have our time. PnB is like a movement, a whole movement is going on.”

On top of his latest hot album, “Catch These Vibes,” Rock’s a smooth fashion icon in the making, if not already. In the weeks and days leading up to the release of the album, he posted wild flics wearing the flyest brands.

A post shared by 2017. (@pnbrock) on

But that doesn’t knock him too far base from his roots. He constantly references his home in Philly and leaves everything on the track with “Pressure” off his latest album.

He reminisces about his brother who was killed, his boys who got caught up in the system, his mom, and his daughter Milan, giving listeners a real taste of the real him.

He prides himself on authenticity and that’s what’s lacking in a lot of artists these days.

It gives him a relatability unlike most other people, let alone artists. He puts his heart and soul into his art and that’s why he’s made some Hip Hop and R&B hits that will stay in your playlists for years to come if we’re being honest.

We need more artists like Rock willing to use their voice to educate the youth, by relating to them and showing by example what happens when you put your grind first.

I don’t think we could ask for a better message for the youth right now. Rock knows exactly what this generation goes through which is why they rally behind him.

Lyrics aside, Rock knows how to connect with us on this insanely personal level by being exactly who he is. He manages to essentially succeed at life while dealing with the constant pressures that society puts upon him all while never changing who he is.

Peep Catch These Vibes here:

The way he’s giving love back is even more lit, going city to city covering both coasts, stopping by schools and turning up with college kids.

The tour kicks off this February with up and coming artist Lil’ Baby so you already know I’m hype to see what PnB Rock has in store for us and you definitely should be on the lookout too.

Cop your tickets here.

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