Let It Go by Makai Keyes ft. Moses B

Makai Keyes’ music video for “Let It Go” doesn’t cut corners. Instead, it completely removes them and gives you a closeup and blunt perspective of Makai’s thoughts and views. It’s minimalistic, to say the least. Whether those views are being held upside down from outside of a window by two masked (white) thugs or sitting on a bench atop of a grassy valley. Visually, “Let It Go” is as warm and inviting as Makai’s vocal performance. His rapping is well-paced and versed with soft vocals from Moses B that slide the track from catchy to award-worthy. The two have managed to capture the essence of moving on, the frustration- and freedom.

Click here to watch “Let It Go” on YouTube.

A QUICK CONVERSATION WITH LIL SAD BOI

Lil Sad Boi lets his emotions flow, and puts all of that energy into his music. He takes situations and circumstances that leave many numb and allows them to channel into his art. His latest single “Naruto” mellows the storm of anxiety that many across globe feel each day. His goals seem set and his focus on simply creating music for those similar to himself have already carried him far. In this interview, I sought to understand what brings him the confidence to be emotional, vulnerable and honest while still maintaining balance and privacy.

Has music always been your passion?

SAD: No, basketball was my passion for the longest time from like 5/6th grade even thru high school. But everything changed my sophomore year when my cousins asked me if I wanted to make a song. I was like what you mean and they had a little studio setup in their room. We made a freestyle and after that day I wanted to keep making music. It was like my calling. So my cousin was friends with an artists named teammate markus from my hometown and I met him. I recorded my first tape at his house a couple months after making that freestyle.

As you’ve grown up, how have you and your style changed?

SAD: I’ve changed a lot. When I was first making music I was just rapping. I was listening too a lot of g Eazy at the time and I wanted to be just like him. Then as my music taste started to branch out, my style changed. I was always a big drake fan and I noticed how he’s like the best and why is that. Well he doesn’t just rap he sings too. Once I could see that that’s when my style changed. 


Is there a story behind “Lil Sad Boi” and why you chose it?

SAD: Well my first name was cole train and my cousins gave that too me. Then when I was starting to get more serious I changed it to 9 9wl (nine owl). I just wanted to be different and my name was inspired by 6 dogs. The music I was making wasn’t really fitting my name and I started to get inspired by peep a lot. And i want to make a big impact just like him. I was also very sad at the time and I was thinking of changing my name to lil anyways so I was like why not just change it to lil sad boi. 


How important is it, to you, to have support from your hometown?

SAD: It’s very important. It’s where I’m from. It means a lot. They’ve known and seen my grown since day one.


What do you want people to take away from your music?

SAD: What I want people to take away is that there not alone. I want to help them thru my music. Depression and anxiety or whatever problems you are dealing with, I want my music to help them thru those rough times. Although my music can be sad and dark sometimes I still want to spread good energy and love to my fans and the Haters. 

Can you share any details about your upcoming projects?

SAD: Right now I’m working on something. I’m making a lot of music with my bro gvrci. We’ve got a lot of music together so we might drop a collab tape. But I’m Working on a project tbh I’m just creating and creating tons of songs at the moment. 


What sub-genre of hip hop do you believe will be the next big thing and why?

SAD: Emo rap. It kind of already is the next big thing but what peep did was so impactful. Then juice came along and had a huge impactful as well. And I think the next big artist to do the same will be iann dior. I feel like I’m apart of the emo rap genre and it’s just so impactful to the people who listen. I love making music for myself because it’s my passion but I love making it for others.

Click here to listen to Lil Sad Boi on SoundCloud.

My Jetta by Seba Hara

“I just wanna drive, but I can’t step in my ride.” Seba Hara creates a calm and euphoric atmosphere in his newly released demo “My Jetta”. Seba performs over enchanting guitar chords and old school drums. His voice is coupled with a high-pitched mimic that brings a light tone to the track. Seba’s use of short soundbites and radio static resembles songs to the likes of Frank Ocean and Tyler, the Creator’s more recent work. Nonetheless, “My Jetta” pushes the mold for Seba Hara and alters what fans can expect from the young talent.

Click here to listen to “My Jetta” on Spotify.

A QUICK CONVERSATION WITH D’VYNE

D’vyne is an insightful and bright talent with the focus and determination capable of moving mountains. Her musical career is only at its beginning, yet there’s so much potential in every step she takes. She’s a teenage rapper, spoken word poet and black right activist with a number of skills to propel her towards whatever task she takes on. She’s steadily developing an audience via SoundCloud, Spotify and Apple Music, but she’s always searching for more. From Chicago, she’s determined to be her own boss. She’s produced and engineered a few of her own songs and she’s eager to learn more. It would have been unfortunate to miss the opportunity to speak to such a clear star in the making.

How has your family influenced your passions in music and activism?

D’VYNE:  My siblings are a huge part of this. Twins on my dad’s side of the family. My older brother was premature and he died before I got here. So to be blessed with little ones, who know and love me even when I’m far away... pushes me to do keep going to build a legacy. My mom...whew. That’s my whole backbone. Manager and all. She’s a very intense and intelligent woman who is for her people. Honest. So that rubbed off on me and I’ve just kept it going, extended the knowledge given with my own brainpower and research. My father, I got my music talents from him, hands down. He didn’t get to do what he wanted in life so as I said, building legacies are important.

How long have you making music; what gave you that initial push?

D’VYNE: I’ve been doing music since July 2018. I was 13. I had been through so much bad in life and I couldn’t find a healthy way to express it. Earlier that year I did little stuff like write and make 30-second beats, but it got serious then. If I didn’t have music, I probably would’ve lost my mind, no joke.

You’re young with plenty of potentials. Do you see yourself signing in a few years or staying independent? Have you given it much thought?

D’VYNE: I see myself staying independent. I actually had a whole debate with my mom over this. Everyone had their opinion but in my mind... I need to build myself. It’s God’s plan. Whatever happens, happens. If they put a contract in my face though, I’ma say smile, look and read, not go off of what they say.

Her family is a pivotal part of her career. They’ve impacted her morals, her expectations, and her goals. D’vyne gives all of her great qualities up to her parents, especially her mother and God. She has more self-awareness than most teens and uses it to her advantage, keeping herself outside of the box. Her music and expression exclude typical. She has her own ideas and creating is what helps her bring that to life and find balance in her thoughts.

What keeps you inspired and motivated? You don’t have the typical rap lyrics.

D’VYNE: My life keeps me motivated. The hustle. Keeping myself sane. I grew up around my mother, a hustler. She’s the goat. I don’t care to be in the crowd too much. I never been the crowd too much. It’s just I see these females and they sound the same. Anyone can write, put words together and put it on a beat, it’s the words being said to me. I want to be an artist where I got those that’s hype, but most of my songs are songs you have to look up and figure out the true meaning

What gave you the courage to become a CEO? Is it something you thought about or it just sort of happened?

D’VYNE: Wanting to have my own legacy. Build something for my future children and their children. It’s a beautiful thing to me and fuels my entire soul. It really just happened. It was a great investment and I love being a CEO, it’s hard work when you just got 2 people behind it but soon, it’ll be a whole team. I believe in the patience of hard work. Faith and Works.

If you could describe your musical journey so far, what would you say? What have been the ups and downs, especially working with a group?

D’VYNE: I would say Ups and Downs. There was a time where I almost quit and I made a song about me wanting to quit and why 😂. Then I was motivated all over again. That sense of self-worth came back to me. With Unapologetic, I just joined them around 5 months ago, somewhere in there. And they’ve fueled me even more. I could speak a book on all of them individually, but their love and support is everything to me, especially as all of us being youngins and me being the baby.

What can we expect to see from you in the remaining months of 2020? More shows? A project? New, unique content?

D’VYNE: So much you guys can expect! Album, “Black Heart: Reloaded coming very very soon! I have a show in Miami [July 25th] with @C2CLIVEEVENTS in the qualifying round for the world championship. Under 21 performing ONLY. 2020 is my year yo...I’m so excited.

YOUTH EP COMING SOON!

Photos Captured by a Catherine Elizabeth Patton

Click here to stay up to date with all of D’vyne’s music.