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Times Are Changing in Hip Hop Music, and She Real is NEXT!!!!!

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She Real: “I Don’t Rap About My Pussy” Album Review     In this Hip Hop Culture, and the Hip Hop Music within it comes a lot of layers that many don’t understand of why an omega talented artist would struggle or rather go through a very not needed difficulty of process to make a successful career. Also, for Female MC’s like our guest and featured artist whom now has a Triple Headed monster to deal with all because “She Don’t Play The Game” or just flat out doesn’t allow her immensely high level talent to be compromised with tomfoolery and fluff just for the sake of appeasement, and down right mediocre effort being rewarded. The L.A. transplant native by way of HARLEM, NYC (Born and Raised majority of her life) was rippin’ the NYC Independent Circuit, and I’ve met her during my early years in Media around 2014. The fact that NYC didn’t push her as much as we should have is blasphemy AF, and just downright awful to make the things difficult for her. Unfortunately, the case for a very talented MC like her to go through a litany of tomfoolery and fukery that would make the average person crash out and just give up on their dreams entirely. She Real took her talents west to L.A. and since that time continues to lace the culture with her presence and overall impactful skillset.  I have a sit down with her about her upcoming project, and 9th Studio Album; “I Don’t Rap About My P_ssy!!!” How do you feel about your brand and music so far in 2024, and how do you want to close the year? SR: My brand voice is both deeply personal and empowering, focusing on resilience, transformation, and using music as a channel to overcome pain. I use musical storytelling to share a narrative of personal struggle and recovery, aiming to inspire others facing similar challenges and connect with them on a personal level. I also strive to reflect contemporary issues and highlight the experiences of Black and Brown communities. Showcasing my natural afro hair is a defining aspect of my visual identity. My clothing style features a blend of Kung fu gees and Hip Hop attire, merging cultural influences with urban aesthetics. I do believe I am Hip Hop’s the last dragon like Bruce Leroy lol. My reputation is built on my dedication to my craft and work ethic. I’m here to uplift my people. My values shine through in my commitment to inspiring others and openly sharing my journey. As I wrap up the year, I plan to uphold and showcase my brand through my relentless hustle and dedication to my music. I aim to demonstrate that women deserve a prominent place in the conversation, showing that we can craft compelling stories and deliver impactful messages with exceptional lyricism and captivating cadences. Not all women need to resort to hyper-sexualization to succeed in music!!! It seems in 2024, the switch that a vast majority within the Hip Hop Culture have been begging for occurs with Lyricists and Conscious MC’s coming out with bangers and high quality albums. What do you feel is the cause of this, and what part do you feel your contributions will take effect in this surge? SR: History often repeats itself, and the music industry has seen a surge in party-themed tracks that glorify the use and selling of drugs, sexual indulgence, and the pursuit of money at all cost. Yet, Hip Hop has always been the voice of the streets, reflecting the minds, hearts, and souls of the community. For the culture to thrive, Conscious Hip Hop must co-exist with more mainstream styles. We cannot rely solely on club anthems for sustenance; if we did, tracks like “The Message” by Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five wouldn’t have had such a profound impact. Recent examples, such as Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” reinforce this truth by demonstrating that culture will always take precedence over corporate interests. Regardless of what trends or commercial pressures emerge, we live and breathe Hip Hop every day. This enduring authenticity is evident in the success of albums like Killer Mike’s “Michael” which won Best Hip Hop Album at the 2024 Grammys, proving that the truth and the culture will always prevail. This is why my album is necessary for black woman in Hip Hop everywhere because we represent more than just our bodies. In “Consequences” what made you made to use so many of today’s modern “Vices” on the track? SR: I reflect my times. I pay attention to my people. I also watch what trends are promoted to us daily. “Consequences” would not be relevant without these “vices”. The entire story revolves around an age-old tale that continuously resurfaces in today’s times. Many men of power take advantage and manipulate women by physically and sexually abusing them. The “vices” assisted in painting the picture of revenge. Shoutout to the producer 1719 for crafting the perfect soundtrack to a story that empowers women everywhere, transforming their voices from those of victims into symbols of strength. One thing I can say about you, that you always have the knack of making your projects like the 90’s & early 2000’s with the skits, and just overall structure of the album. When it comes to the skits it seems that you enjoy playing the multiple roles on the track, did you ever want to act or be in movies prior to rapping? SR: Absolutely!!! I stated to God while creating these skits that I pray they will double as my audition tapes for voice over acting. I have always been greatly influenced by phenomenal women such as Cree Summer, Regina King and Anika Noni Rose that we too can thrive in an animated world. I’m excited to see how it all unfolds. For the record I have always wanted my own show like Moesha as well. Brandy was the first to inspire me to believe that as an

#rewindreview: Swizz Beatz ‘Hip-Hop Vol.2’ EP 2023

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  My listening experience with Swizz Beatz has been a rollercoaster ride for the last 25 years. Upon first hearing his production in my last years in high school, there would be moments where I liked it but more moments when I did not. It was an odd time because he was the backbone behind the success of D.M.X.’s first two albums and the production outside of the album was what I liked. Eventually Swizz Beatz would be the poster boy for the “fisher price keyboard beats” many criticized in the late 90’s and early 2000’s but by 2009 something about his production changed for me. The music started to feel like there was more “meat on the bones” and had kick to it that not only serviced the “fly by night,” only concerned with hits crowd but a traditional Hip-Hop ear audience as well. Fast forward years later and it’s time for Hip-Hop’s 50th anniversary which leading up to this celebratory year, it was announced by Mass Appeal records that a select few beat makers would be providing short EP releases featuring past and present rappers. D.J. Premier handled Vol.1 while Swizz Beatz took the baton for Vol.2. Swizz Beatz offering starts off pretty strong with an upbeat banger, ‘Runaway’ featuring Nas that would have seemed to been a “hit” if released a decade or so earlier. The Lil’ Wayne featured ‘This Sh*t Right Here,’ could have arguably been received in the same fashion as well. By track three Swizz Beatz reminds the audience he comes from HOP music with ‘Take Em’ Out,’ a hardcore New York banger featuring Jadakiss, Benny The Butcher and Scar Lip and samples the drums of Boogie Down Productions ‘The Bridge Is Over’ and a hook which borrows from Onyx’s ‘Throw Ya Guns.’ Swizz Beatz version of ‘Hip-Hop 50…’ series still has an expectation that as a hitmaker he would connect with the popular, current or younger acts. Those tracks hopefully serviced the crowd it was meant for as I was not made a new fan but it presents part of those “50 years” of Hip-Hop music. With a rare Jay Electronica feature to close out this release I was a bit surprised at what I heard from Swizz Beatz offering to the ‘Hip-Hop 50…’ series. It’s not known whether this idea has been lost and there will be more as initially reported but D.J. Premier and Swizz Beatz have set a good barometer for what fans should expect. What did you think of the album? Singles include: ‘Take Em’ Out’ Listen to QUANTUM LEAP RADIO every Saturday from 4-6p.m. CST & Thursday from 3-5a.m. CST on 90.1 FM KPFT Houston in HD2 Worldwide @kpft.org/listen (under “kpft in HD2”) Catch past episodes by searching and following @

“Music at the Height of Social Media: What Do We Stand to Gain and Lose?”

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Music in The Past I remember years ago when I was first introduced to Khia, the Philadelphia-born rapper with a lot to say about sex, clubbing, and independence. No matter how I felt about the content of the lyrics, it didn’t matter, I was 20 and the song had a catchy hook that reminded me I was young and carefree. In 2024 now a woman in her 30’s of course my outlook on music has changed but so has everything about the music landscape. Why do we not give grace to the 20-year-olds of today who enjoy music from Ice Spice, Sexxy Red, Glorillia, lotto, and Meg the Stallion? Have we become so cynical that we forget about artists like Lil Kim, Foxxy Brown, Khia, Adina Howard, and many others whose music was sexually charged and liberating to women in the culture? What about the new school that’s not the same? Has the Ratchet sound become too dominating over all other types of music? And has social media influenced us to not care about album sales and only about the personality and relatability of the artist? What About Album Sales? Let’s dive into some numbers and a bit of history. In 1996, Lil’ Kim released her debut album, “Hard Core,” which sold over 5 million copies worldwide and earned a double platinum certification from the RIAA when she was just 22 years old. In contrast, Ice Spice, at a similar age, sold around 28,000 units with her debut album, “Y2K!” Social media has had a profound impact on album sales, how music is marketed, consumed, and perceived. One major change is that artists who take advantage of social media now have access to global audiences with a single swipe. Artists can promote their music directly to millions of fans, so why are album sales so low? In theory shouldn’t it be higher? While physical sales have decreased, digital sales have skyrocketed replacing the need for physical copies. Without the help of social media Lil Kim sold 5 million physical copies with her debut album, yet Ice Spice streamed 90 million in digital streams through DSPs like Spotify. It’s impossible to know how many streams Lil Kim would have racked up for her debut album, but something should be said about the hard work required to sell 5 million physical copies. What’s Changed? Social media has drastically transformed the way we consume music in several keyways. Social media has brought changes that would have been unimaginable decades ago. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter have made discovering new music quicker and more effortless than ever before. Artist can share snippets of their latest tracks, which can go viral within hours. TikTok has become especially influential with many songs gaining massive popularity thanks to user-generated videos and dance challenges. Ice Spice for example gained her fame from posting a TikTok video to the “Buss it” Challenge in 2021 that went viral, she used her newfound internet fame to launch her SoundCloud song “Bully” and that fostered her deal with Capitol Records. Lil Kim’s career began after meeting Notorious B.I.G on a street corner where she performed an impromptu rap. No followers, no frills just a talented artist at the right place and right time. Direct connection with the artist is one of the most significant changes brought by social media. Back in 1996, unless you were invited into spaces that allowed you to have a more personal experience with the artist, there was no way to know what the artist did behind the scenes. Through platforms like Instagram Live or Twitter Spaces, we can feel way more connected to the artist without having to purchase anything or attend live events. Next, we must discuss Streaming and Playlists with the integration of social media. This transformation has made it so easy to hear new music, download it, share it with friends, and even use it to create your social media content. We all discover new music without really having to invest time in searching for it. Has this impacted our level of excitement for new music even from our favorite artist? Before social media there was so much anticipation for that latest single or album from an artist. With the music industry being so concentrated with new music on our algorithms, it’s hard to tell what new music we should be excited about. The Pros and Cons Although music has changed, we still have a lot to gain from utilizing social media like increased accessibility and exposure to global audiences, direct artist-fan interaction, viral marking opportunities and campaigns, real-time feedback on projects, and collaboration opportunities. On the flip side, there are downsides to music streaming and the social media influence, like short attention spans, the decline of album culture, buying physical albums and owning  intellectual property, the pressure artists are under to constantly produce content, and the authenticity of the artist, when everything is for the approval of social media how do we know when we are getting the real version of the artists or some sort of manufactured industry pleaser? Social media has undeniably changed the scope of the music industry offering many benefits but also presenting challenges that can impact artistic integrity and the traditional music experience that we have grown up with. There is a balance that can be reached, so let’s give grace to the new artist and the seasoned professionals attempting to navigate these unpredictable times. Sources: Lil’ Kim: Biography, Rapper, Musician Ice Spice Reacts To Her Debut Album ‘Y2K!’ Sales (rap-up.com) TikTok has changed music — and the industry is hustling to catch up : NPR Britney Cherry is a multimedia journalist, personality, producer, and radio host based in Chicago. She is the host of “The Social Media Rewind” on 104.3 Jams Chicago and serves as a media host for Digiwaxx. With a passion for storytelling and connecting with audiences, Britney covers a wide range of topics from entertainment to lifestyle, bringing her unique perspective and

#rewindreview: Slum Village ‘F.U.N.’ 2024

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  Slum Village, a name that has been synonymous with truskool Hip-Hop, musicality and feel good music in Hip-Hop for the last 25 years, continues their mission on ‘F.U.N.’ With so many changes due to members passing over the years, one would think that Slum Village is just a shell of it’s former self at this point. What ‘F.U.N.’ does is establish that the name is bigger than the personnel and that as long as the mission is still the same, the out come will remain or “FUc& ya’ll Ni&&as.” The album features a slew of guest like Cordae, Eric Roberson, The Dramatics and Larry June but it does not sound all over the place. In fact what ‘F.U.N.’ manages to do is treat the guest like they are a symbiosis called Slum Village. Production is mainly handled by Young RJ who has been an official member of “SV” for at least the last decade, along with Karriem Riggins, Co Producer Mason and Abstract Orchestra. They all manage to keep this album cohesive and not stagnant in the music, while keeping the energy and sounds the audience has come to love from ‘Fantastic Vol.2 to the self titled album of 2005 but with a 2024 flavor. The biggest issue with this album is awareness. Slum Village has created a piece of art music that should be heard by not only their core audience but wider. It doesn’t seem to be enough promotion of this album for the caliber of music provided. ‘F.U.N.’ has only been out for a couple of months at the time of this typing and hopefully their will be more promotions before the end of the year. Slum Village has delivered once again and with a the year of 2024 providing some of the best HOP music from our veterans it would be criminal for this release to not be celebrated along with them. What did you think of the album? Listen to QUANTUM LEAP RADIO every Saturday from 4-6p.m. CST & Thursday from 3-5a.m. CST on 90.1 FM KPFT Houston in HD2 Worldwide @kpft.org/listen (under “kpft in HD2”) Catch past episodes by searching and following @

#rewindreview: Bhramabull ‘Evolution 5’ EP 2024

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  Enter Bhramabull a beat maker, producer from Los Angeles California who QUANTUM LEAP RADIO was introduced to though Digiwaxx’s ‘New Music Wednesday’s.’ His production has a vibe for those cruising down highways but also ready for the ear that loves music from the Griselda camp but with drums for that thumping feeling. To display his production, Bhramabull has a series of EP’s called ‘Evolution…’ On Part 5 of these releases the audience can get a true feeling of Bhramabull’s style along with some current heavy hitters in HOP’s underground. Expect to find verses from Big Twin, Raz Fresco, WateRR and The Musalini who is featured on ‘Fly,’ a song indicative of cruising down said highway mentioned earlier. Bhramabull is building his stock up and one should be ready to see his name featured on future releases from a myriad of artist in the HOP. Check out ‘Evolution 5’ and ponder who you would think he should collaborate with. What did you think of the album? Singles include: ‘Rents Due’ & ‘Dust’ Listen to QUANTUM LEAP RADIO every Saturday from 4-6p.m. CST & Thursday from 3-5a.m. CST on 90.1 FM KPFT Houston in HD2 Worldwide @kpft.org/listen (under “kpft in HD2”) Catch past episodes by searching and following @

#rewindreview: Mitchy Slick & Sir Veterano ‘Everybody Hates Mitch’ 2023

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  If you don’t know who Mitchy Slick is, it’s ok. He’s only been doing this “rap thing” for over twenty years now and among some of the biggest and most impactful names in the industry. I first heard the San Diego M.C. with Strong Arm Steady who also consisted of Krondon, Phil Da Agony and original member Xzibit. Mitchy Slick was clearly West Coast no matter what type of beat was on and it sounded like someone you would literally meet on the streets as opposed to just another “rapper.” In 2023 he linked up with Sir Veterano, a producer from the West Coast as well, who is very versatile in the production he creates. On ‘Everybody Hates Mitch’ it is clearly a West Coast affair with lush kicks and snares from Sir Veterano while Mitchy Slick takes listeners thru some “Dago nights” with narratives of street activities, partying and pimping. This might sound like standard “rap ideas” but the two create an audio atmosphere that puts listeners on the “left coast” of the country and not feeling overwhelmed with content. This is a straight forward album that is clearly not preachy, has catchy songs and a simplicity that keeps it in the same range as predecessor tracks like Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us.’ It was one of my favorite albums for 2023 so listen up and understand why ‘Everybody Hates Mitch’ because he is not like the rest of them. What did you think of the album? Singles include: ‘In My El Co,’ ‘Dago Nights,’ & ‘Keep Gettin’ Money’ Listen to QUANTUM LEAP RADIO every Saturday from 4-6p.m. CST & Thursday from 3-5a.m. CST on 90.1 FM KPFT Houston in HD2 Worldwide @kpft.org/listen (under “kpft in HD2”) Catch past episodes by searching and following @

#rewindreview: Black Milk ‘Everybody Good?’ 2023

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  It is crazy to think that Black Milk is a veteran at this point, as he has always had a young spirit since he’s debut album ‘Popular Demand’ in 2007. Before that I first heard him on 2002’s ‘Dirty District’ compilation presented by Slum Village. In 2023 the rapper/producer provided ‘Everybody’s Good?’ which if one was just hearing Black milk for the first time would think he sounds like a new upcoming act. In the past my biggest issue with Black Milk was his obvious influence by Jay Dee a.k.a. J-Dilla on production and even rhyme style. This latest album truly finds Black Milk in his own bag and providing a refresher course on how HOP music can sound innovative and take risk with music. As a concept the album title asks is “everybody good” while tracks like ‘Yeah Really’ examine how often people might seem like everything is good but going through struggles. The genius of this record is how in totality it is a dark album but the music masks that somber tone, giving it a reason to initially be intrigued by the sounds but on repeated listens understanding through the lyrics why the album ask the question. Black Milk really establishes his production strength on ‘Everybody Good’ and keeps the features smart and to a minimum. You will only find Mick Jenkins, Quelle Chris and one of the most talked about lyrics from Phonte on this album on ‘No Wish. As well as vocal harmonizing from Rapheal Saadiq and Brandom Myster. This was my personal favorite album of 2023 and really had me asking what if Black Milk did an album for “…insert whoever’s name here.” ‘Everybody Good?’ is a new beginning for Black Milk in my opinion, that will possibly put him in higher regard for bigger acts in the future as well as recognition. What did you think of the album? Singles include: ‘Yeah Really’ Listen to QUANTUM LEAP RADIO every Saturday from 4-6p.m. CST & Thursday from 3-5a.m. CST on 90.1 FM KPFT Houston in HD2 Worldwide @kpft.org/listen (under “kpft in HD2”) Catch past episodes by searching and following @

#rewindreview: Benny The Butcher ‘Everybody Can’t Go’ 2024

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  Leading up to the latest album from Benny The Butcher was the anticipation of this being his first Def Jam release and only beats by The Alchemist and Hit-Boy. On paper this looks to be a classic in any year where “record labels” matter. The Alchemist has a specific sound and crowd that he pleases while Hit-Boy’s stock has grown exponentially as a premier beatmaker in the last few years among multiple genres of HOP listeners. While ‘Everybody Can’t Go’ is a solid release and doesn’t leave much room for folks to complain about “Benny” being stuck in one sound, it does not create the effect previous albums have had for the rapper. Benny The Butcher keeps the album to the point and straightforward like he is known to do which is an asset for the M.C. On this album he has a bit more features but they do not feel like they invade the record. Snoop Dogg, Stove God Cook$, Lil’ Wayne, Jadakiss and new comers like Babyface Ray and Peezy make appearances. While also leaving slots to Benny The Butcher’s Griselda and Black Soprano Family members Westside Gunn, Rick Hyde, Armani Caesar and Conway The Machine. Benny provides energetic tracks like ‘BRON,’ ‘Back Again’ and ‘How To Rap’ but there seems to be an underlying feel of something holding this release back. It’s probably just me and still living off the effect of his 2020 album ‘Burden Of Proof,’ cause ‘Everybody Can’t Go’ is not a bad album at all, especially if you are just wanting HOP music with no additives or preservatives. It reminds me of albums released in the year 1997 where many were solid releases but lacked a certain energy but at the same time a few of those albums ended up aging much better over time. Hopefully within that time we all “can go” and appreciate the album more. What did you think of the album? Singles include: ‘Big Dog,’ ‘One Foot In,’ ‘BRON’ & ‘Back Again’ Listen to QUANTUM LEAP RADIO every Saturday from 4-6p.m. CST & Thursday from 3-5a.m. CST on 90.1 FM KPFT Houston in HD2 Worldwide @kpft.org/listen (under “kpft in HD2”) Catch past episodes by searching and following @

The C.U.T.S. Podcast Welcomes Ray Daniels: A Deep Dive into the Music Industry

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  In an electrifying new episode of The C.U.T.S. Podcast, host Reemo Meerak 🎙️🎙️🎙️🎙️chopp’d it 🆙🆙🆙🆙🆙 with music and entertainment industry titan; Ray Daniels, a visionary music executive known for his uncanny ability to spot and cultivate talent. The conversation was an impactful experience about music industry insights, with Daniels sharing anecdotes from his storied career and offering advice to aspiring artists and executives. A Journey Through Music Ray Daniels’ career is a testament to perseverance and vision. From his early days navigating the complexities of the music industry to his current status as a top mogul, and a successful Podcaster (The Gauds Show). Daniels’ journey is marked by a series of bold moves and strategic decisions. In the podcast, he recounted his beginnings, emphasizing the importance of resilience and learning from failures. Here’s a clip with Episode 142 of The C.U.T.S. Podcast: Unveiling Industry Secrets One of the highlights of the interview was Daniels’ deep dive into the mechanics of the music industry. He broke down the intricacies of artist development, the evolution of music consumption, and the pivotal role of digital platforms. His insights into the changing landscape of the industry were both enlightening and practical. Also, have some intriguing insights upon the Hip Hop Purists continuing and contracting gripes within the Hip Hop Culture. “Today’s artists need to be more than just talented,” Daniels explained. “They need to understand the business side of things, how to market themselves, and how to leverage social media to build a loyal fanbase.” Stories from the Trenches Daniels regaled listeners with stories of his time working with some of the biggest names in music. From navigating high-stakes negotiations to managing creative differences, his tales offered a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to succeed at the highest levels of the industry. “I’ve had the privilege of working with some incredible artists,” Daniels said. “Each experience has taught me something new about the power of music and the importance of staying true to one’s vision.” Advice for Aspiring Professionals Throughout the podcast, Daniels sprinkled valuable advice for those looking to break into the music industry. He stressed the importance of building a strong network, staying adaptable, and always being willing to learn. His words were particularly resonant for young professionals eager to make their mark. “Surround yourself with people who challenge you and push you to be better,” Daniels advised. “And never stop learning. The moment you think you know it all, you’re done.” Looking Ahead As the interview drew to a close, Daniels reflected on the future of the music industry. He expressed optimism about the opportunities that lie ahead, especially with the continued growth of digital platforms and the democratization of music production. “The future is bright for those who are willing to innovate and adapt,” Daniels concluded. The episode with Ray Daniels is a must-listen for anyone interested in the inner workings of the music industry. His wisdom, experience, and passion for music shine through, making for an engaging and informative conversation. The C.U.T.S. Podcast continues to deliver high-quality content, and this episode is no exception. For those looking to glean insights from one of the best in the business, this episode is an invaluable resource. Ray Daniels’ journey, stories, and advice offer a roadmap to success in an ever-evolving industry. If you want the full EPISODE 142 w/ Ray Daniels, then click here and {{SUBSCRIBE}}: As per usual, ON TO THE NEXT…#MyCreatives  

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