Lost by Sorry X

Lost is an explosive performance by Sorry X, continuing her reputation of letting go of all of her emotions when recording. Her vocals are polished, relaxing even with the booming bass through the mid-tempo beat. This single is the perfect selection for a nice car ride this fall. Though its topic may be a soft spot for Sorry X, Lost is sure to bring comfort from its already thousands of listeners.

Click here to listen to Lost on Soundcloud.

A QUICK CONVERSATION WITH ANT FLOW

Ant Flow is an up-and-coming artist with a talent that’s long in the making. His music captures that calming energy a lot of us are looking for when escaping life’s stresses. He works hard for his craft, but his listeners may not know much about the mind behind the magic. I asked him a couple question about how his beginning in music came about.

What was your first experience with creating music

ANT: My first experience with creating music was when that Drake and Josh movie came out. And I kept watching it over and over. And I remember asking my dad could he teach me how to write a song. And he did lmao. We used the same melody as the song in the movie “make me happy”. Shit was like crazy to me. It’s like my mind was exposed to another realm of creativity. I was just hungry for more.

How has your hometown affected your sound?

ANT: I think it’s the mysteriousness of how lowkey it is. Like Waldorf, Maryland is out the way. Not a whole lot going on but it’s definitely a vibe where we all hungry for something to happen. Like when we throw a show with little to no effort of promo people come out bc it aint shit to do. So when it comes to my sound, I get that chill vibey shit from the emotions that come from all the late night car rides and them moments where it’s just nothing but thirst for that chance to do something memorable for yuh city.

Does musical talent run in your family?

ANT: Yea music is definitely something that runs in the family. Shit my Dad played trumpet in high school, played congos for a gogo band and used to sing. My mom used to be in a church chior. She used to do competitions against Mary J Bladge’s choir back in the day. My lil brothers all play instruments too. And it’s a lot more people in my family that do music too.

Who was your first supporter?

ANT: I would say my first supporter would be my homie Kamal. Like when i first started taking my craft seriously he was the first one pushing me to be better. Like he was there when I dropped my first song and the shit was only playing in the left ear lol. I mean don’t get me wrong I had a lot of people in my corner but this nigga was a fan too. he was passionate bout my shit. so big s/o to Mally Mal.

Do you see yourself venturing into different genres?

ANT: 5. Yea as I continue to grow I tap into different genres bc I’m so open and inspired by different sounds. Like it’s crazy how comfortable I can be listening to something outta my comfort zone and instantly get inspired. And I feel as tho no great musician or artist sticks to one genre they whole career that’s boring lol.

Click here to catch up on Ant Flow’s music and journey.

A QUICK CONVERSATION WITH KIDSSYKO

SoundCloud always has a way of throwing out gems as soon as you were about to give up. That’s how I happened across KIDSSYKO, a young talent from the south. His latest single, In My Eyes produced by Nicholas Allan, is nearing 20,000 plays on SoundCloud only a month since it’s release. After filtering through his discography, I felt this guy’s fun, genre-bending sound and online presence are intriguing enough to dive deeper.

Where are you from?

SYKO: I’m from New Smyrna Beach Florida.

When did you first get into music?

SYKO: I first got into music almost 3 years ago. just wanted to do something different then what i usually do and really lil uzi made me want to rap

You recently transitioned from Stendo to Kidssyko, what does the transformation mean to you?

SYKO:  i wanted a more timeless name something i could stick with and something that no one had!

What inspires you creatively, especially when you have writer’s block?

SYKO: what inspires me is seeing people i love struggle it pushes me to keep going to try and get where i need to be.

What was that big moment for you that made you realize you could do this as a career, even for the rest of your life?

SYKO: when i did my first show and i had the crowd rocking with me i was like oh yeah it’s up from here.

Is there anyone who’s always been with you through this journey?

SYKO: yeah my boys grezy nightlen and 3.0

What can your listeners expect next form you?

SYKO: they can expect some crazy fucking music that is going to shock the world!!

Click here to listen to KIDSSYKO on SoundCloud.

Meet Lord Xan

Georgia always seems to brew up the next bing thing in music and entertainment, Lord Xan falls directly under that umbrella. The young artist from Lawrenceville is a part of the school of artist that took to SoundCloud to express themselves and generate a following from their art. Lord Xan decides to be personable in his music rather than vapid and money-driven like much of mainstream Hip Hop. His music bounces back and forth between somber and melodic and base-driven futuristic. His production is top tier for beginning artist. His writing is lyrical with a pop influence. Lord Xan’s versatility and ability to cater to multiple genres and audiences is what sets him apart from the rest.

Click here to listen to Lord Xan’s SoundCloud.

Tell Me That by Blossom Reynolds

Blossom Reynolds is back with an emotional hit. Tell Me That is a heart-wrenching  single about the back-and-forth that comes with love and developing feelings. He opens up about the pain that can be expected while building a relationship with someone who’s been hurt before, whether it’s them or himself.

Click here to listen on SoundCloud.

The Unprecedented Rise of Iann Dior

Iann Dior is a 20-year-old rapper from Corpus Christi, Texas. He began his musical career using part of his name, his stage name eliminated Michael from Michael Olmo. It wasn’t until approximately the beginning of 2019 that he began using the alias Iann Dior. His music first gained traction amongst gamers and streamers on Twitch, connecting him with big name streamers and producers such as FaZe Banks, owner of gaming group FaZe Clan and Nick Mira, one of the hottest producers with a futuristic, emotional influence to his beats. This proved to be a killer combination as Iann’s first official releases on SoundCloud skyrocketed by millions. Iann Dior’s developing success is like no other.

His music seemed to resonate with younger audiences immediately. His first track, Cutthroat, produced by Nick Mira, broke into the New & Hot list on SoundCloud only a month after being posted. His music exploded without traditional advertising or marketing. Instead, video game streaming led the way. Nick Mira often creates loops and tracks live on stream for other producers and fans to follow along with. From collaborating and creating in this way, and creating a Discord for his fans, Iann’s music was being pushed to their audiences in real time. Fans could get sneak peeks and incredible VIP access to the process. From there, the Internet did its thing and FaZe Banks and other members of the streaming community caught on, playing his new, somewhat unreleased tracks on their streams. This was the rapper’s first big break.

The Texas rapper made one of the best decision he probably could early in his career: working with one of the most influential executive producers and A&Rs of the new age- Taz Taylor. Taz Taylor, owner of Internet Money, has proven to have one of the best ears for finding new talent. It appears this trio cannot be stopped. Since the success of Cutthroat, Iann has released two visuals and a handful of collaborations with other Internet Money artists such as PradaBaby and Bernard Jabs. Obviously, there was something special to him as an artist as he quickly picked up a feature from PNB Rock on his song ‘romance361’ and later, possibly controversial, King of Emo Rap: Trippie Redd for ‘gone girl’.

At this point in his journey, Iann Dior’s path appears to be the future for underground artists. Promoting music directly to your audience provides an artist a bond that labels can’t create. His supporters could see each of his moves as they occurred. They know about all the hard work and engineering that went into each of his tracks, videos, and photoshoots. This relationship, between an artist and fans, gave pop star Justin Bieber his start over ten years ago via YouTube and manager  Scooter Braun. If Iann can keep up this momentum, there’s no telling where he’ll be a year from now.

Breezy Supreme Signs to Quality Control Music

Maryland rapper Breezy Supreme, also nicknamed “Maryland Manson” has earned himself a management deal with Quality Control Music. This milestone comes after years of hard work from the artist and a few independent songs that caught labels, and fans, eyes. His mistake recent project ‘Hell Raiser’ was the last nail in the coffin.

Internet by Lil Dude

Rapper Lil Dude, also known as Lil Dudeluciano via social media, released a brand new video last week for his single ‘Internet’. The video features text bubbles and of course beautiful women. The visual rolled out as preparation for his next mixtape ‘Trapnanana 2’. The new tape is set to drop sometime this month and is the follow to the fan-favorite original Trapnanana project. 

Click here to watch the ‘Internet’ music video. 

Double-O-Blvck by Pistol Pete and B-Rice

   Double-O-Blvck is the most recent collaborative project between rappers Pistol Pete and B-Rice. The two mirror each other’s energy well, creating the upbeat snare-filled track “Thunder”. Admitting they were never the type for school, the duo name this as their last opportunity, it’s all or nothing, in the track “Letsgetit”. B-Rice adds a dark energy to the EP while Pete tosses around punch lines and a message for their opps. Producers YungJuan and Ozz make an appearance on the EP, alongside several others talented producers, giving the project its unique sound. Each song branches a bit more into a new vibe thanks to the added variety. In the EP’s self titled outro, Pistol N Pete, the rappers stamp their names on the game and swear their return. They’re not here for the nonsense.

 Click here to listen. 

Breezy Supreme’s Hell Raiser

Breezy Supreme doesn’t seem to quit. Following the release of his music video for Maryland Manson on Halloween, the satanic artist dropped his long awaited project “Hell Raiser”. The rapper proudly chants that he’s the antichrist on its second track. Breezy is ushering in a wave of grunge and hardcore into rap. The project is well produced including features from Tankheas666 and Chxpo. Okay Cool may be the catches song off of the EP, toting high hats and a repetitive chorus that inspired the song’s title. This project is sure to please fans and award him with an even larger cult following.



LINKS

apple music: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/hell-raiser/1440357562
spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/7u5USxcBItJ4deBy88GST6

Artist to Watch: Khari Leone

Khari Leone is best described as an artist that has found his niche and mended perfectly into it. Khari’s sound is perfected and matured. He bounces between using small skits and long intros in his tracks, creating a mood and preparing the listen for what he has to say next. His flow is upbeat and very in-your-face, exactly what any rapper needs. As a young artist Khari has a seasoned style.

“Gang Killa”, the first song featured on his soundcloud, is the most telling of his capabilities. He himself claims his flow is like voodoo. His verses are confident and delivered expertly. His bars are just as boisterous as you’d expect from any chart-topping rapper. His remix to the 2015 number one hit Panda proves he is capable of going up against any other MC.

Khari Leone is a versatile artist to say the least. He generates club bangers just as much as he churns out R&B vibes. His album “Strictly for You Girl” is packed with songs that are almost polar opposites of his trap/drill influenced songs. His ability to entertain multiple audiences will surely prove beneficial in his career.

Overall, Khari Leone is a powerhouse performer. His discography is well thought out and he only releases quality projects. Even as an undiscovered artist his music is on the caliber of radio hits. It won’t be long until his original music rivals what we hear on the waves of today.




LINKS

apple music: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/khari-leone/1327858295
soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/kharileone/
twitter: @kharileone
instagram: @kharileone

MoneyMarr Releases New Project “Draco Vibes”

DC artist MoneyMarr has had a pretty good week. His song, Whip Out the Stick, was evidently on Ski Mask the Slump God’s Hollywood party playlist, bringing tons of new listeners his way. On top of that MoneyMarr released his newest project, Draco Vibes on all streaming platforms. The artist has been receiving buzz for months. It’s only a matter of time before he’s up next!

IDK Adds YungManny and Global Dan to World Tour

IDK announced Thursday afternoon that Maryland artists YungManny and Global Dan are joining him for select dates on his Very Bad Run World Tour. Both artists are featured in a handful of dates within the month of November. The tour touches down in DC November 21st.

New Clothing Brand - Your World's Orbit

Make same room in your closet. Local artist AlmightyHeezy recently started his own clothing brand called Your World's Orbit. The first clothing capsule features graphic tees with a variety of colors selling for $25. Heezy paired the launch of the website, yourworldsorbit.com, with a song titled Your World. Sizes and shirts are limited, we suggest you buy one for your own while they last.

Meet Lil Xelly

Photo via Shotsbymike_

Lil Xelly has been taking the rap game by storm these last few months. With his constantly increasing discography, his boost in popularity goes without saying. His work ethic is seemingly unrivaled at the moment and it's only a matter of time before he seals his first record deal. Lil Xelly's schedule is packed with studio sessions and performances across the east coast, and we were able to ask him a few rapid-fire questions to get to know him a little better.

Lil Xelly is from Rockville, Maryland, despite this, his music has reached areas such as Chicago, Houston and even as far west as Los Angeles. He has been rapping for eight years now, but his music on soundcloud only dates back over a year. His development can be heard from his first track on the site, Xool. Xelly pushes out projects like no other. He has released over twenty projects and garnished a fanbase that appreciates his grind. It's not hard to find at least a single song of his that one may like.

He has an appreciation for artists from the DMV area, specifically: Wifigawd, The Khan and Q Da Fool. He's managed to balance his inspirations with developing his own sound and space in the music world. When asked about the comments about him rapping "off beat", he had this to say.

I don't care about that off beat sh*t. I do me.

Lil Xelly is definitely ready for the rumors and harsh comments that come with being a celebrity. He keeps his focus on himself and finds the motivation to do better and continue the momentum he's started. We wanted to know what exactly that motivation came from. He told us he simply likes music more than others. He's willing to put in the time and effort to keep the attention of fans that we think will soon catch the eyes of major music labels.

Lil Xelly grew up with hip hop surrounding him and the experiences of his brothers rapping encouraged him to do it too. After six years of rapping, his work developed an audience. Ever since then, he has been working non stop and has taken consistency to a completely new level.

He's teamed up with a number of artists in the last few months. One of his most frequent collaborations are with Noir Brent from Chicago. The two of them have already finished and released five tapes, Lucky Charms vols 1-5, and his collaborations don't stop there. Lil Xelly has featured on songs and mixtapes with different artists and producers across the country. His allure doesn't seem to be stopping anytime soon.

Lil Xelly is adding a new sort of pressure to the rap game whether he's trying to or not. His lack of long breaks between project releases keeps his audience entertained and infused in his music. It's always interesting to see what he'll make next and staying current with his mixtape drops is a task his fans are willing to handle. Finally, we asked him if he had any advice for artists in a position similar to his own. His response,

 

Don't let them ignore you.

Lil Xelly’s Socials

• Twitter: @lilxelly
• Instagram: @lilxelly
• Soundcloud: Lil Xelly

Meet Jonathan Melton of Ransom Clothing

By Whitney Richardson

TE: A trend you hate or wish you would have started?

JM: A trend that I hate is Thrasher being uncool. Thrasher is literally the coolest brand doing it and everyone hates on them heavy for being a poser brand. fuck all of u Thrasher is sick.

If there’s anything I learned from engaging in my interview debut, through DMs but there’s still pride, it’s that Jonathan Melton of Ransom Clothing and a member of the booming youtube channel CUFBOYS knows there’s no reason to stride for the norm. Greatness comes from hard work, trust in the ones you love most and a personality that is no one else’s but your own. I messaged him for fifteen minutes and I already know there’s greatest coming from this young designer and entrepreneur. There’s no reign to a legend if there isn't an introductory.

TE: When did you start designing clothes?

JM: The first time I designed something was when I was a freshman. It was complete shit, but it was my first time dabbling with design.

TE: Who's your fashion inspiration?

JM: I have a massive variety of fashion inspiration. Tyler Grosso, Zac from FTP, Kevin Thatcher, and James Jebbia. but i also have a shitload of unlikely candidates. Kurt Cobain, Johnny Depp, Christofer Drew, Rivers Cuomo, and shoutout to Frankie Serka from Gunk. He's influenced me heavy and Gunk is doing big things... I could go on forever lol.

TE: One person you'd want to wear your clothing?

JM: One person I'd want to wear my clothing, 1000000% could never happen, but Kurt Cobain. if they could somehow find a way for Kurt to wear a Ransom shirt, I could then die happy.

TE: We looked back through your designs, what do you think has influenced these changes? From the hot pink ransom tee to the Ransom x Dickies and Devil button up.

JM: When Cameron, Landon and i first started the brand we kinda just made shit we thought would be cool, ya know. But after 2 drops, the pink logo tee and the Sopranos inspired tee, I just started doing whatever i wanted, and Ransom is just gonna start getting more and more weird :)

It wasn’t hard to tell that Jonathan is a man of many influences and passions. His fusion of Rock and Hip Hop influences melted and molded into Ransom Clothing, bringing his creativity to life. Then trickled into another one of his passions which he and his trendsetting peer and creator of CUFBOYS, Cameron Haller were able to venture out on, standing tall at over two hundred and forty thousand subscribers.

TE: We watched a few CUFBOYS videos, what's behind its creation and what would you like to see the channel become in the next three years?

JM: CUFBOYS IS THE GREATEST CHANNEL ON EARTH. I LOVE CAMERON AND LANDON. Whats behind it’s creation is the genius Cameron Haller. He made something out of nothing and I admire him so much for that. I wanna see him reach a million subs within the next 3 years.

TE: What kind of message do you want to send with the platform you've created?

JM: I want to send the message that you can wear whatever you want whenever you want.

Jonathan sets out to spread positivity and and advocates for expressing yourself and being open to any form of creativity. Music seems to be CUFBOYS' and Jonathan’s form of choice. Artists from XXXTENTACION to Kurt Cobain have been mentioned and featured on their popular Youtube channel, opening themselves and their audience to a variety of lyrical and musical influences. The group’s passions grew into Beitz Fest, a music festival in Southern Maryland featuring a number of local artists of multiple genres and creeds. Ransom Clothing cohosted the event spotlighting some of the budding talent of the area and the growing brand.

TE: With Beitzfest being a success and just recently being featured on No Jumper’s Streetwear Review, what’s next for you and similar forms of creative collaborations?

JM: Not entirely sure what’s next for Ransom as a brand. Always opportunities coming in, and I’m just going with the flow. It’s easier and much more enjoyable that way. Beitzfest was insane. shoutout to Billy and Checkmate. I love you. And being on the streetwear review was one thing, Adam wearing it in his vlog the next day was fucking sick. hahaha.

TE: Top 5 underrated artists from the DMV?

JM: Top 5 Underrated DMV artists:
-Landon Cube
-Savage Hands
-Dreemy LJ
-Joe Stewart

-Christopher Sean

The cup for hot DMV artists is running over with untapped, original talent.

TE: You rep Maryland pretty heavily. What importance do you think supporting the locals has on future creatives?

JM: supporting locals is very important. without supporting local artists, there will be no artistic scene, without an artistic scene, you’re fucked. I also love Maryland for being so boring. If MD wasnt such a boring shithole of a place, I wouldnt be so motivated to make it out.

It’s true, Maryland can be pretty boring nine times out of ten, but that one time that it’s not boring is usually do to people like Jonathan Melton and his trendsetting friends. All great creations have stemmed from need and Maryland has been overdue for quiet some time now. A new wave of rappers, stylists and influencers is nothing short of nurturing for the state. A visionary mindset is definitely necessary to push our area forward and make a mark in the industry. The Experience wants to showcase these visionaries, and we’re happy to have Jonathan as the first of many featured.

I closed off our virtual interview with a question we plan on asking all of our featured artists and influencers. You can probably see it coming.

TE: Finally, what do you do in your day to day life to "stop and smell the roses"?

JM: While stopping and smelling the roses, you can typically find me at band practice, skateboard with Cam and Landon (or doing some other dumb shit with them), and last but not least, hanging out with my beautiful girlfriend. Being with her takes all of my stress and pain away! LOVE U PAYTON :)

You gotta love the youth.