Part of the post-NW.An explosion of California gangsta rap, Above the Law, came out of the eastern Los Angeles suburb of Pomona; leader Cold 187um, aka Big Hutch (born Gregory Hutchinson), was joined by KMG the Illustrator (born Kevin Dulley), Go Mack (born Arthur Goodman), and DJ Total K-Oss (born Anthony Stewart). Mixing '70s vintage funk and soul samples with live instrumentation (Hutchinson had studied jazz while in school, the group signed with Eazy-E's Ruthless Records and issued its debut album, Livin' Like Hustlers, in 1990; split into violence- and sex-themed sides, it was co-produced by Dr. Dre (before N.W.A's…

Introducing Ariel J., an electrifying force in the realm of contemporary music. Born and bred in the vibrant cultural landscape of Los Angeles, Ariel's journey into the world of music began at an early age, fueled by a passion for storytelling and a love for melody. Drawing inspiration from a diverse array of influences spanning pop, R&B, and electronic music, Ariel's sound is a captivating fusion of soulful vocals, infectious rhythms, and introspective lyricism. Ariel J. Online: Apple Music:    / ariel-j   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0KVhK... Instagram:    / arielj.music   TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@imarielj?_t=8... Facebook:    / arieljmusic    

Since first exploding onto Soundcloud back in 2014, Brixton-born Hertz has become a darling of the bedroom producer generation, thanks to his knack for blending soulful electronica with upbeat r&b. Billboard described his breakthrough 2017 EP, Night/Daze, as "a collection of calming antidotes for the stresses of daily life," and Complex noted that it "oozed both talent and creativity in abundance."    

She's new on the scene and with only one song right now, but showing a lot of promise: songwriter, storyteller, sound innovator, bassist, and vocalist. Hailing from the south, ZURI is a 19-year-old music artist from Atlanta, Georgia. With influences from contemporary jazz, neo-soul, & and R&B, her sound is uncommon and a fresh find you didn't even know you needed to hear. She specializes in writing songs everyone can connect to and feel.    

From an early age Norman Sann has had a shine. The backdrop of his beginnings is all too normal these days, but Norman was built differently. Norman Sanchez was born in Houston, Texas to a single mother. His father was serving time in jail and his older brothers were busy making moves in the street. For Norman, the music called louder than the streets. Norman's mother, despite struggles, sought to enroll Norman in acting classes and spent her time introducing him to all creative cultures. He was quickly enamoured with music. The storytelling of country music spoke to him, the…

Beginning with his classic debut, Illmatic (1994), Nas has stood tall as one of New York City's leading rap voices, outspokenly expressing a righteous, self-empowered swagger that has endeared him to critics and hip-hop purists. Whether proclaiming himself "Nasty Nas" or "Nas Escobar" or "Nastradamus" or "God's Son," the self-appointed King of New York has battled numerous adversaries, none more challenging than Jay-Z, who vied with Nas for the throne left in the wake of the Notorious B.I.G's 1997 assassination. Such headline-worthy drama has informed his provocative rhymes, delivered with a masterful flow and a wise perspective over beats by…

One of the most revered and prolific rap producers of his generation, the Alchemist crafts sample-heavy, tough, yet detailed beats suffused with soul. His extensive discography, dating back to the early 1990s, includes tracks by the likes of Dilated Peoples, Mobb Deep, Nas, Ghostface Killah, Lil Wayne, and Kendrick Lamar, and he's so valued as a collaborator that he has been behind joint albums co-billed with the likes of Prodigy (Return of the Mac, 2007), Oh No (including Gutter Water, the duo's first album as Gangrene, 2010), Curren$y (Covert Coup, 2011 and again in 2022 with critical favorite Continuance), Freddie…