We haven’t done an Artist Insight for a minute, but it’s back and this is a good one. Our latest upcoming R&B maestro to be featured is Gallant, the 21 year-old crooner who is starting to gain considerable, deserved attention for a slew of tracks he’s released over the last year or so and his upcoming Zebra EP. Read on!
Alternative R&B has become more and more popular over the last few years, with loads of artists having a spin at replicating what has made people like The Weeknd so successful. Few have managed to pull it off in an original and unique way but LA-hailing Johnny Rain seems to have the formula. The talented singer/songwriter/producer has been gradually garnering critical acclaim and tons of fans with a string of high quality projects and only at 19 years of age.
Hit the jump to read and hear more from the artist.
This guy has been popping up everywhere, lending his soulful vocals to some of Hip-Hop’s best current talents like Kendrick Lamar and Chance the Rapper but who is BJ the Chicago KiD? Read on to find out more about the artist.
A self-taught musician, singer, songwriter and producer… and only 22 years old, this prodigy from the West Coast has an almost undefinable sound that is ready to be heard. Iman Omari has been steadily churning out material since his debut Energy in late-2011 but has also been lending his hand in production to the likes of Dom Kennedy, Mac Miller, California rap trio Pac Div and most significantly earning production credits on Kendrick’s Section.80 (Chapter 10). Omari himself describes his sound as “vibe music” which is spot on, listen to his single Energy, the title track from his first EP:
“Phony Ppl is real yo” – phonyppl.com
Straight out of Brooklyn, this collective of rappers, singers, producers and musicians are generating a lot of heat for their cutting edge Hip-Hop and this is only the beginning for the 8-piece band.
It’s near impossible to put a finger on this group’s style as they combine neo-soul, hip-hop, jazz, R&B, funk and live instrumentation giving them a fresh, mature but youthful sound like no other. You’d think these guys were seasoned industry veterans like The Legendary Roots Crew, just look at this live studio performance:
Keep reading for more on Phony Ppl.
The UK music industry is a tough place for male artists, with few lucky to experience a long stint at the top. One of the most promising talents making waves this side of the pond at the moment is Shakka, a multi-dimensional singer from London. With his hands in all kinds of pots (singing, songwriting, production and rapping), Shakka has original written all over him and it shows in his material.
Having made his way up thanks to a number of well received EPs (Foolishness Vol.1, and The Shakka Crown Affair), his ‘Shakkapella’ video series of fresh mashups on YouTube and now in the charts with Wretch 32 on Blackout, the only way is up. Check out his creative Shakkapella refix of Frank Ocean’s Thinkin Bout You and click to read on.
Eclectic Relaxation 