MeatSpady, born & raised in North Philadelphia, is an independent artist/songwriter and lyrical mastermind. His stage name is an abbreviation of his birth name in its entirety, Demetrius Spady-McBride. His very first encounter with music was watching Snoop Dogg perform on an awards show where he can remember his older brother telling him to guess the last word of every line, which is how he was able to know the song. That was the initial thing that made him want to rap. Aside from that, it was him competing with his cousin who could rap at 11-12 years old. That's when he began studying the Culture, really listening to what the artists were saying and asking questions about it. The first emcee to ever influence him was Nas. He loved his versatility and seen no flaws in any area. Then it was artists such as Eminem, Lupe Fiasco, Joe Budden, J. Cole and his latest influence from another side of the game, the late Nipsey Hussle.

What makes Spady's style unique is his ability to paint a motion picture with his verbiage. All of his content is drawn from real life experiences, be it his own or someone else’s. He doesn't make music to be better than anyone else, to stand out or for accolades, and the irony of that is what makes him stand out. His brand was named after his most vulnerable project that he released in 2018. "The Beautiful Letdown" is a brand founded on acceptance of self, which to Spady is the highest form of love. It’s for everyone, as we all need to have self-acceptance and acceptance of others. That makes his targeted audience everybody, from all walks of life. Support the movement by visiting thebeautifulletdownstore.com

Spady's first project "Surrounded by Negativity" was released in 2009 on datpiff.com. His latest project entitled "Perception" was released in November 2021. The project itself has a very unique story behind it. Most of the song titles are polar opposites of each other, purposely to challenge the listener to hear it how they perceive. So whatever you take from each song is subjected to you and your own thinking, not so much about what he is saying. You’re going to have to listen to this project multiple times to have that “aha!” moment. Spady has collaborated with Meek Mill early in his music career and more recently another Philadelphia-based artist, Chill Moody. Chill Moody is featured on Spady's newest hit single titled "DarkLight," with a must-see music video paying tribute to the late Trayvon Martin. This video is available now via YouTube. He has also worked with another dope artist/producer out of San Diego named Roy Dean. Spady has ties with Bankwitdadank, which is a forever collaboration. Some other great collabs have been with Young Two4, The Art Dealer, Dee Blaze The Pyro, and Mynd Of My Own, a group of collective artists & producers also out of Philly.

Spady cherishes the moment his friend Staylo gave him a picture framed performing at his first concert, as well as his friend Maria who made him a mug with a variety of pictures of him on it. Those are awards to him; genuine support from people who show him that they are proud of him as an artist and a person. Spady is doing a Proud2Pay campaign for Perception. He is currently on a mission to sell 5,000 copies independently with his record label BankNdSpady Entertainment. The future is all the way up for Spady as he continues to uplift the community and share his gift with the world.

"Thank you to Only The Dopest Artists & Ent. for shining the spotlight upon me. I love and sincerely appreciate what you all are doing for independent artists like myself. Support the Proud2Pay movement at meatspady.com, engage with me on social media platforms via direct message or the comment section. Interactions with the believers are essential to me. I'm trying to move away from calling people fans and supporters."

MeatSpady's DJ Shoutout: "Shoutout to DJ DiBiase/Uncle Dibbz and DJ Sensi."

• Published May 1, 2022
• Written by Elizabeth Marie

JoeKane The TracKilla (Bryan Fields) is a Southern independent artist/lyricist born in Fort Valley, Georgia, & raised in Marshallville, Georgia, a small town with a population less than 20,000. JoeKane's style of music was influenced by some of the best hip-hop artists in the industry. One of his biggest musical influences growing up was 2Pac, who he considers The Greatest ever. He influenced JoeKane to be diverse and to reach all Cultures. Nas, who he considers the only emcee on 2Pac’s level, influenced him with lyrics, style, and originality. Rapper T.I. influenced his aggressive style. Jay-Z made him want to be a hustler and outsmart his competition. And his newest influence is Lil' Baby because he delivers the best verses, which fits JoeKane precisely, hence the name “The TracKilla.” That’s what he feels he does himself, kill tracks.

What makes JoeKane's music most unique is the authenticity. You can fact check and cross reference his content from album to album which keeps his music verifiably authentic. His supporters can attest that his delivery is unlike any other and the dedication to his craft is unmatched. JoeKane has professional collabs with Caine (The Life Ent.) and Pastor Troy. His very first and most meaningful project was entitled “I AM R.O.S.S. (Rolling On Still Surviving) dedicated to Damon Ross, a late best friend/brother of his that passed away. They started their own Label “M.O.B. Muzik Ent.” and a studio together back in 2009. He decided to name his project after him to let him know that not even death could stop them and he would keep his name alive in everything that he does. One of his biggest songs is titled “Because I’m On.” The song came from growing publicity in the area, performing over 50 times in various clubs in Middle Georgia.

In 2013, JoeKane was nominated for Male Hip-Hop Artist of the Year. In 2014, he was the first hip-hop artist interviewed on Twisters Music for his musical accomplishments. In 2016, he was inducted into the Underground Hip-Hop Legends Hall of Fame. That was his most prized award. This year marks the 10 year anniversary of his Charity called “Still Doing Good In The Hood,” a charity based on helping the less privileged all year round. It was created to show people that there are positive Black males really helping the community and being role models to the youth. They wanted to show the world that they're different. In 2018, they held the largest charity event they had ever done in Atlanta, Georgia. Feeding over 300 people, they had help from everyone including some of the Military, youth basketball coaches and teams, other artists and even "The Black Ms. Georgia” came to lend a helping hand. That still means a lot to him because he would love to do another one, even bigger some day soon.

What's next for JoeKane is his upcoming new project, “All Or Nothing” which is about 50% finished. He is also working on the official website for all of his merch, so if you'd like to support, orders are being taken through email: JoeKaneOfficial1@gmail.com. JoeKane would like to shoutout his Record Label All 4 One Ent., his Manager Darius 'Da Boss' Ross of RBM Management, his Engineer Travo Audio, and everyone in #TeamJoeKane for never giving up on him - "I GOT US NOW, KILLA!"

JoeKane's DJ Shoutout: "Shout out to DJ Shae D in Seattle, Washington, probably played more of my music than any other DJ. He introduced my music to a totally different audience and they really embraced me, so shouts out to him. Bruce Lenzi and Jere Perry also showed me and my movement a lot of love throughout Florida and North Carolina. Shouts out to my brothers." 

• Published March 31, 2022
• Written by Elizabeth Marie

Chris 'Revalation' Figueroa (Rev) is an Independent Hip-Hop Artist/Emcee residing in New Bedford, Massachusetts, by way of Bronx, New York. Rev lived in The Bronx until he was about 10 years old, and then moved to New Bedford, MA where he has lived the majority of his life. One of his biggest influences as a child was his Abuelo (Grandfather) who was a singer in a Doo-wop group in his youth. He never released a record but the group used to perform around the city, and he was always singing around him and playing old vinyl records. As Rev got older, his Uncle put him on to Hip-Hop. He played everything from KRS-One, Rakim, Public Enemy, De La Soul, ATCQ, Redman, Wu-Tang Clan, Onyx, Boot Camp Clik, Biggie, 2Pac, Outkast and more. His name "Revalation" was a name he gave himself based on the Bible. He grew up Catholic but more so, he was strongly enamored with that section of the Bible and what it depicted. It was "the beginning of the end," such as a reset, and that is exactly what he wanted to represent in the game, a fresh start.

Revalation has always been an Independent Artist. While attending college, he met his crew, a New England rap collective called Experimental MindState (EMS) with fellow members M-Dot and Mayhem. They pride themselves on doing everything on their own from recording, engineering, mixing/mastering to graphic design, booking shows, and more. As time went on, they built their team up to 7 members and also linked with their long time friend DJ Workshard (Own Lane Music) to up the ante for their promo game and releases. They've toured Europe and built a niche fanbase organically through hard work and an endless hustle. Rev has collabed with the Mic Murderers as well as some of his favorite artists including Kool G Rap, Ras Kass, Sha Stimuli, Joe Scudda, Termanology, REKS, King Magnetic and many more. Rev's sound is self-described as Golden Era inspired Hip-Hop with a twist of New School Flavor, balled into one cohesive package.

Rev has released several projects in his music career with his earliest being "This The Rev-Mix" mixtape in 2008 to his latest being "RevILLutionAries w/GoD iLLa" album in 2021. Rev is multi-talented with a degree in Acting and enjoys doing so when given the opportunity. He also does graphic design, engineering and promo work for artists such as press releases, EPKs, website design, DJ blasts, and more. Rev was recently featured on M-Dot's extraordinary new album "Dining in Dystopia," released in January 2022. Currently, he is working on a new project called "Emergency Broadcast" produced entirely by M-Dot and will be out this year in 2022. He is also working on a couple of projects with his other crew, the Mic Murderers, which will be out in the future. You can count on Rev to always be authentic, raw and unfiltered no matter the song or situation. His genuine character will keep him rising to the top. Follow Rev on all social media to get in tune with his latest updates, to get to know his crew, and to support another dope emcee for the love of Hip-Hop.

Revalation's DJ Shoutout: "Shoutout to DJ Premier, DJ Eclipse, DJ Wonder, Trackstar the DJ, Sway, Chuck D, DJ Chris G., DJ Jazzy Whut, DJ Glibstylez, DJ Modesty, DJ Supreme, Flip The Script Radio, U3Radio, Jus Jase, Craig Mosher, DJ Jason D, DJ Enyoutee, DJ Hullewud, DJ Schame, DJ Ronsha & G Zon, DJ Asburd & so many more. I can't name them all but thank you to every single one of you that have supported us over the years."

• Published March 8, 2022
• Written by Elizabeth Marie

Nova The Rebel was born & raised in Cleveland, Ohio. Growing up watching his brothers rap, he became intruiged by their skill, and started rapping & freestyling on his own which led him to make low quality tapes on his karaoke machine around the age of 7. He spent much of his time studying the hip-hop culture and jamming out to some of his favorites being Pete Rock & CL Smooth, A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Nas, Bone Thugs N Harmony, and Biggie Smalls.

Nova gave himself the name "Nova the Rebel" not only because he loved the name Nova (an exploding star) but also because of his leadership mindset. This made him come off as a rebel in many ways, so he combined it all and it fit him perfectly. Nova is unique in his approach to creating records by remaining authentic and has created a lane for himself with his witty punchlines and eclectic wordplay. He makes sure the delivery in his messages are knowledgeable with a heavy combination of realness.

Nova became an official artist when he started to get paperwork done on his name, and once his Manager, Rod J, put him in touch with The Life Ent. (TL) (established by Krayzie Bone of Bone Thugs N Harmony) the rest was history. In 2004, Nova released his first mixtape "Underground Rebel" followed by "Underground Rebel part 2" in 2005. He has consistently released new projects throughout his career with his latest being his "Remember To Live" album (produced by Wes~Nile The Genius) released in the Summer of 2021. This album includes it's first single "Heroes Never Die" which is a tribute to his father's passing, and created for anyone who feels like they have lost their hero. The song has a powerful message to help people cope with the reality of the loss of their heroes as they transition to the other side.

Nova has collaborations with some heavy hitters in the industry such as Krayzie Bone ("Leaves of Legends" album) and Layzie Bone ("Annihilation" album) to name a few. With Nova's career on the rise, he has won Lyricist of The Year, Man of The Year, with his latest award being Elevation & Dedication (2021). He expresses gratitude for some of the most dominant relationships built throughout his career including DJ Shonny Mac, DJ Ryan Wolf, Mz LeeLee, and DJ Logic. Nova is continuously building his brand, keeping his supporters up to date with the latest Nova wristbands, tees, snapbacks, album hard copies and more. His merch can be found online at The Life Aparrel website (for shirts) and he also does direct sales, so his DM is always open for those who would like to support.

Nova holds his loyal fans and supporters dear to his heart who are devoted to staying a part of his music movement and beyond. Since the pandemic began, he put together 2 different concerts on Instagram live which was a major success. Outside of rapping, he dreams of one day getting into production and possibly podcasting. As for 2022 & thereafter, stay tuned for his new single on the way titled "Stupidity," which is an absolute banger dropping 3/4/22. Nova is not letting up as he plans to release new singles all year, staying in grind mode and persistently achieving new levels of greatness while remaining solid.

• Published March 1, 2022
• Written by Elizabeth Marie

Seven "The Mixologist DJ Se7en" Holland is an all-around entertainer born in the Bronx and raised in Brooklyn, New York. He currently resides in El Paso, Texas. Seven developed a love for music at a very young age, specifically 80’s/90’s breakdancing music, hip-hop, R&B, reggae, house music, and mix shows on the radio (Red Alert, DJ Ace (Crowd Motivator), & Chuck Chillout). Some of his favorites & biggest influences were Boogie Down Productions, Juice Crew, all Krush Groove artists, A Tribe Called Quest, J. Dilla, DMX, Jay-Z, DJ Screw, Bun B, Biggie Smalls, & Tupac.

Seven became a DJ at the age of 9 by simply watching his father DJ. When his father would leave home, he would sneak and practice on his turntables. He actually blew his amps one time. His first DJ name was “DJ All Day Burt.” His DJ names evolved a few times throughout his life as his second name was “Groove” (from Smooth and Groove), DJ Mr. Knix because he worked for the New York Knicks and DJ'ed parties for them, then finally “The Mixologist DJ Se7en,” which stuck. He used “The Mixologist” from one of his favorite DJ’s “The Mixologist DJ Chris Love” and also “SeVen,” a nickname that his parents gave to him as a baby. Aside from his father, he was also inspired by other DJ's throughout his life such as Kid Capri, Tony Neal, & DJ Mell Starr.

His first professional DJ gig that he worked besides weddings, block parties, house parties, and community center gigs was with the New York Knicks at A-list events including the BrideWaters where they would set up some time for him to play in front of hundreds of party people as a teen. His unique crowd-motivating voice, high energy & work ethic quickly set him apart from the rest, dazzling crowds no matter the event. His career really took off when he got booked to DJ for quite a few celebrity artists such as Snoop Dogg, Ruff Ryders, Yo Gotti, Murder Mook, Chalie Boy, & many more he met through concerts and studio sessions. He has also DJ'ed for generally all comedians from the 90’s. Some of his comedic inspirations are Michael Blackson, JP Justice, Capone, Rob Stableton, Grant Cooper, Imagine, Angelo Lazada, and Soul Joel. He is a member of the USADJ’s, Coast 2 Coast DJ's and Cornerstone Entertainment DJ's.

Seven has quite the resume. From 1994-2000 he worked as an Equipment Manager for the New York Knicks. NBA Player Anthony Mason was highly encouraging and uplifting to him during this time. Seven joined the Air Force and then the Army a little over a year after graduating High School. Because of his Military status, he was only able to do guest appearances at radio stations where he was stationed, but was able to promote and DJ his own events everywhere he was stationed or lived. After retiring from the Military, he decided to become an Entrepreneur and work for himself full-time. He attended the Institute of Audio Research to learn Audio Engineering, Post Production, and The Music Business. He has received many awards & credits for working on bands/artists music. He is the Founder/CEO of Realm Task (formally known as ABM Marketing Enterprise) where he provides services to clients by putting together successful events and creating catchy graphic design visuals. His unique way of promoting and reaching out to the community has made his business a major success and continues to excel. His stunning graphic design work can be found on his website listed below.

You can catch Seven on the 1s and 2s during his Weekly Mixshow called "The ShakeDown" on Wednesday's with Old School Hip Hop/R&B, on Friday's with AfroBeats, Reggae, & Dancehall and on Saturday's with the Party Mix, all at 7:00pm (MT). All shows are aired and streamed live on iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Gaana Podcast, Mixcloud, Twitch, Twitter Live, Podomatic, Audacy, YouTube Live, and Vimeo. He has Mixes on Podomatic, The USADJ’s Radio, The Coast 2 Coast Mixtapes website, Chill Lover Radio, Remixer Podcast and Talk Radio. All links can be found via his Realm Task website. Some of his post-production work can be found on his TikTok page. He is also skilled in photography which can also be found on his website.

Seven is commited to raising awareness on fathers who suffer tragedies and are too embarrassed to seek help or counseling. He educates both fathers & mothers on ways to deal with the aftermath of loss and the grieving process; especially fathers who are expected to be strong at all times and are sometimes treated with less sensitivity. He has hopes that sharing his experience will help others. Learn more about his personal experience by going to the "Awareness" menu of his website. Realm Task Apparel aims to have you looking fly with a wide range of mens/womens clothing providing you sneakers, t-shirts, beenie hats, & masks and continues to grow. You can support by going to the "Merch" menu on the website.

There are many more things in store for Seven that supporters can look forward to as he is currently working on his very own Talk Show “The ShakeDown One on One” and "Reality Dads" Youtube Show. He has truly made his mark in all aspects of entertainment from underground to mainstream, and extensive history working with Superstars and NBA/NFL players has shaped him into one of the hottest DJ's in the nation. Through it all, he remains humble with a warm personality & positive attitude that we all essentially respect and will cherish forever.

• Published February 15, 2022
• Written by Elizabeth Marie

DJ Qball is a multi-talented DJ born & raised on the Westside of Chicago. His first experience in entertainment was his appearance on the Bozo Show while he was in Grammar School. He knew he wanted to be a DJ at the early age of 12. This came about during one Summer while out attending a Block Club Party. He became mesmerized and stuck watching DJ Derrick Alexander making 2 songs sound like one. It truly blew his mind as he wasn't paying any attention to the kids activities surrounding him. That Christmas, he asked his parents to buy him a set of turntables and a mixer. His mother told him she couldn't afford it but surprised him on Christmas day. He got one turnable and a mixer, then incorporated his father's wooden record player to create his new set. This was the beginning of history in the making. In the 80's, Qball got a job DJ'ing at Hot Wheels, the local skating rink off Chicago Ave & Pulaski Rd. He was able to get some practice in and remembers being completely comfortable with crowd control; not a nervous bone in his body. He was truly in his element and doing what he was destined to do.

Qball is well-known for being the DJ for the Chicago hip-hop group Crucial Conflict (Wildstyle, Kilo, Coldhard & Never). He was around when the original group members were Wildstyle, Kilo, Smooth Lil T, and Lil Jeno. Before the group name came about, he along with Wildstyle & Kilo were playing around with beats at Rocky G's house, a friend of Wildstyle. While pondering on a new group name, Rocky G came up with "Crucial Conflict." In 1993, the group debuted with an EP titled "Crucial Times." After Smooth Lil T & Lil Jeno were replaced with Coldhard & Never, the group got signed to the Universal label and released their debut album "The Final Tic," in 1996. This album included the hit singles "Hay" & "Ride The Rodeo." Qball is credited as engineer and background vocals on many of their projects. In 1990-1991 while still in High School, Qball landed a role in the basketball documentary/movie "Hoop Dreams," cast alongside his locker mate & friend, young Arthur Agee. In 1998, Qball and Crucial Conflicts career were at it's highest after being cast in the classic movie "Belly," starring Nas and DMX. Not many people realized that Qball was working a regular job at the Cook County Hospital for 26 years, while simultaneously shooting films for movies and climbing to the top in the music industry.

Within the year of 2017, Qball founded his own Independent record label called the CRS Music Group, LLC (Control Room Studios Music Group or CRSMG) where he currently manages his artist, Singer/Songwriter Shannon Clay. He is also the CEO and Chief Engineer of CRSMG Studios - now open for booking studio sessions in Chicago. In November 2018, Qball was initiated into the Core DJ's Worldwide, the world's largest and influential DJ Organization. This came about after an invite by his close friend Core DJ KingRobb at the Core Retreat 29 in Atlanta. While attending a draft, Qball's name was called by DJ KingRobb to become a new member of the Core DJ's. Qball was completely oblivious and filled with excitement about his new journey awaiting him. Since then, Qball has traveled to many different cities with the Core DJ's putting in work, which in turn has taken his DJ career to astounding new levels.

You can catch Qball in the mix on several FM radio stations worldwide, including his own CRSMG Radio in Chicago "All Music All The Time - You've Never Heard Radio Like This" where he is the Program Director. The station was launched in April 2021. Download the app from your Apple App Store or Google Play Store to tune in 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Sunday's are grown folks, where those old school classics we all adore are played for the entire day and night. He recently started Mixtape Monday, where he is playing independent artists music from noon-1pm CST. During this time you can also watch him spinning live from his Twitter account. You can also catch other DJ mix shows on CRSMG Radio throughout the week, bringing a variety of flavor for every listener.

Other FM radio stations where Qball's mixes are blazing the airwaves each and every week include WNOV Milwaukee on Wednesday's at 10pm, Power 109 Denver on Thursday's at 9pm, 98.7 The Beat Charleston, West Virginia on Friday's at 11pm, Digital Dope Atlanta on Saturday's at 4pm, and The Blaze 927 Houston on Saturday's at 7pm. (Central Standard Time) Tune into The Blaze 927 on their user-friendly website, whereas all other radio stations can be listened to via the TuneIn Radio app. You can expect to hear brand new hip-hop hits and club bangers in the mix as well as music from independent artists. In 2021, Qball launched his own segment called "Conversations with Qball" which is livestreamed via the Power 109 Radio app as well as on his YouTube channel where you can watch the guest artists & DJ's converse with Qball in real time. Stay tuned for the 2nd season schedule.

In May 2020 shortly after the pandemic began, New Faith Baptist Church International (NFBCI) in Matteson, Illinois began to sponsor live online shows for a few select Core DJ's. Qball was one of them, where he formed a virtual weekend party spinning R&B classics and old school funk for the very first time in his DJ career. Qball's R&B Dance Party was broadcasted live on the Periscope app and instantly became a success. The party brought people together for a chance to unwind and enjoy good vibes during quarantine every Friday night from 8-10pm and Saturday night from 7-9pm CST. Loyal partygoers soon began to build a virtual bond, tapping the screen to give regular hearts or super hearts as a way to share support, and this brought on the Tap Squad. Eventually, the Periscope app came to an end and was shut down, but the party didn't stop. It migrated to Twitter Live, where Qball also added the show to CRSMG Radio. At the end of 2021, NFBCI ended their sponsorship for all DJ live online shows as life had started to return back to normal. Since the party had become such a big hit, Qball made sure he and the party people could still vibe together so he picked up the show on CRSMG Radio. The weekly party is still going strong to this day at show #150 and is still streamed live from Qball's Twitter account with over 10K followers & counting. Tap in to become a member of the Tap Squad - it's free to join.

Shortly after the early start of Qball's R&B Dance Party, SixHundred&EightApparel by Bliz Gee (in our Artist Spotlight) created a limited supply of black t-shirts displaying Qball's catch phrase & hashtag #QballYouGoingCrazyJoe with a trendy turntable logo. This hashtag is officially trademarked, defines Qball's mixes and is the ultimate way to find everything Qball all across social media. Qball constantly stresses the importance of the relationship between the Artist and the DJ, and he is the perfect example of what can manifest when building that rapport. In August 2021, Qball released the hit single titled "Kill 'em With Kindness" featuring Shannon Clay and Black Magic TuddaDirt, where the lyrics tell his story. He went the extra mile by putting up billboards all across Chicago showcasing the new single. The song is available on all digital streaming platforms under DJ Qball.

Core DJ Qball has had quite the journey in his entertainment career where his dedication to his craft & hard work never goes unnoticed, as he continues to elevate. He remains humble while simultaneously applying pressure and going crazy breaking records on more & more radio stations. A true inspiration for any aspiring entertainer in all aspects. Qball is #TheDigitalFlyJock and forever a highly regarded Chicago Legend.

• Published February 8, 2022
• Written by Elizabeth Marie

Bliz Gee is an independent rap artist/lyricist born & raised in Madison, Wisconsin. At an early age, he took on a major interest in the hip-hop culture. Some of his favorite artists were NWA, Ice T, Eric B. & Rakim, and Wu-Tang Clan. He became especially intrigued when he discovered sounds from the Sox Park Mob mixtapes. Around this time, he was heavily influenced by Psychodrama, Snypaz, Triple Darkness, Crucial Conflict, and Do or Die. Seeing those groups making noise made the dream of music seem possible being from the Midwest. This peaked his interest in the entertainment industry and he knew the sky was the limit from there. He began writing and created his own unique style of rhyming.

Bliz got a start in his music career by appearing on multiple mixtapes from 2005-2009. He released the singles "When It Rains" featuring Psyde FX of Psychodrama in November 2012 and "Say Wut" in June 2013. He also made an appearance on Chilla of The Snypaz solo album "Round 2" with his song titled "Let's Go." After gaining an early momentum on the rap scene, Bliz's career was put on hold due a four year custody battle for his son. In turn, his son is also the reason for his motivation to continue pursuing his dream. He was able to showcase his talent and rock the mic at the Chi City Cypher Vol. 29 in August 2020, which is the largest cable syndicated Cypher in the Midwest, based out of Chicago.

Bliz has collaborated with a variety of notable artists such as Psychodrama, the Snypaz, Chicago Dbo, Chef Boy Ching, D. Star, Original Breeze, and Bo Beezy, to name a few. His music can currently be heard daily/weekly on radio stations worldwide, such as CRSMG Radio in Chicago, WNOV in Milwaukee, Power 109 in Denver, 98.7 The Beat in Charleston, West Virginia, Digital Dope Radio in Atlanta, The Blaze 927 in Houston and more! He gives much credit and many thanks to the legendary Core DJ Qball for keeping his records spinning in his mixes.

In June 2021, Bliz received a DRT Certified Plaque for his single titled "W.A.R. (Building 7)" featuring Bobby Kennedy, for charting at 100 on the DRT Global Top 150 Independent Airplay Chart. This smash single and his latest single "The Real" are currently available on all digital streaming platforms. Links are below. The future is looking bright for Bliz as he is currently working on a couple new singles and an EP with Chilla of the Snypaz, as well as a solo EP. His official merchandise company is called SixHundred&Eight Apparel (608 being the area code of Madison, WI) which was created to spread a little of his turf all over the world. Support the movement and Bliz Gee by shopping at www.so608.com

• Published February 1, 2022
• Written by Elizabeth Marie

Jalen “Jay-Doggz” Hemphill aka “The R&B-Boy” and crowned The Prince of Hip-Hop & R&B/Soul, is a Hip-Hop/R&B recording artist, writer, actor, model, dancer, and an occasional DJ from the South Bronx. Raised in the birthplace of hip-hop culture, Jalen spent his early childhood enjoying the sounds of music. Singing before he can talk, at the age of 2, Mary J. Blige became the reason why he fell in love with music and his biggest inspiration of all. He heard a lot of soul music in his home being raised by a single mother who was also a lover of music along with his younger sister. His love for hip-hop started at the age of 9 when he attended his first block party/park jam in Harlem one hot summer day in August. He witnessed the DJ’s, the b-boys & b-girls, and watched legends such as The Treacherous Three and Doug E. Fresh perform as well. He was instantly drawn to the vibes and influenced by what he saw. That gave him the spark to want to be an entertainer forever. Jalen grew up performing in talent shows, acting in plays, and thoroughly enjoyed singing and dancing.

At the age of 19, Jalen did his own research and digging about the hip-hop culture which helped him get a much better understanding of it. This helped him create his own style and identity as an artist. Developing an “around the way” 1980’s b-boy style, Jalen stood out from the rest of his peers while singing R&B. Jalen was first discovered by his mentor Vera Edwards, a director and writer, who invited him to a movie audition that led to his first acting gig. By 2017, he was signed to Urbaan House Records, a Brooklyn based label of talented Hip-Hop & R&B artists, making him the label’s first official male R&B artist signed to the label - Altogether with 7 singles, 1 EP and a remix EP. He's made cameos dancing backup and doing guest appearances in music videos, as well as acting in 2 independent movies called “PPRESSED” & “A Teenage Story” available now on YouTube by Street Line. Jalen gained an audience and a well-respected amount of love & support by his peers for his originality, unique style, and loyalty to the Hip-Hop culture. His deep love, connection, understanding, and knowledge for Hip-Hop and his b-boy style combined with R&B/Soul singing got him crowned “The Prince of Hip Hop” by another important Hip Hop Scholar/Photographer/Fashion Designer, Zulu Queen Michele, a Philly native. His debut EP, “A New Love: The Love EP” & its remix version, “A New Love: The Remix EP” were both released in March and June of 2021, marking Jalen’s debut year. That September, Jalen went from being an 8X nominated artist to a 2X winner of The 3rd Annual 2021 Star Soul Fame Awards for “Album of The Year” & “Best Album Promo” by a male artist.

Almost reaching 10K followers on Instagram and then having to start over again, Jalen is currently at the highest he’s ever been, busier than ever before with rebranding and rebuilding, shooting new music videos, creating and working on a new clothing line/merchandise, and co-writing a book with a friend. He is slowly starting the creative process towards working on his second album, and joining his label mates on a 4 month tour this spring to mid summer. 2022 is a year of self-awareness for the Hip-Hop & R&B prince. After proclaiming the importance of self love, he is sticking to his personal spiritual journey towards healing himself and being a better him every day by leading and being an example to those who watch and follow him.

• Published January 25, 2022
• Written by Elizabeth Marie

Lisa 'Kitty' Valadez (originally named PrettyKitty by Pantha tha Gunsmith) is a soulful singer/songwriter and MC born & raised on the Southside of Chicago. While growing up in the Hyde Park neighborhood, she became interested in learning about the hip-hop culture, where her knowledge and passion for singing had landed her many gigs at shows, and signed to a record label called Godfather Productions. There she became part of a group with Tyson Smith aka Lyrical.

After leaving Godfather Productions, she was signed to CWAL and became part of a group called Third Shift. They worked with the Legendary Traxster and were label mates with Twista and The Snypaz. She was also part of the DramaWard crew and Fiyaman Productions (FMP) which was an extension of DramaWard. Her being married to DaWreck, one of the creators of DramaWard, is how she got introduced to every one. There they dropped 2 mixtapes.

Kitty has collaborated and rocked the mic on stage with a variety of Chicago Legends such as Buk of Psychodrama, DaWreck of Triple Darkness, Belo of Do or Die and Sweet Juices. Stay tuned for her upcoming album with features including DaWreck, Alyze Chicago, Tricey Larrieux, Kei Lyrix, and Queen Prophecy.

You can find her music on various digital streaming platforms such as ReverbNation, Spotify, and Amazon Music. Subscribe to her YouTube channel for her music content, as well as her newest addition of read-aloud storytime for children. Link is below.

Kitty created the Just a Girl from Chicago event, which happens annually with an all-female lineup. If you'd like to show the ultimate support for Kitty, check out her Just a Girl from Chicago clothing line that was created to empower young girls and raise awareness for children with autism. Support the cause at www.justagirlfromchicago.com

• Published January 18, 2022
• Written by Elizabeth Marie