A QUICK CONVERSATION WITH FADEDBLACKID

Enjoy a quick conversation with multi-platinum producer and NeilaWorld member fadedblackid. I picked his brain on growing up in the south, the current state of music, his biggest collaboration ever and what he has locked in the vault. Take a few minutes to learn a bit more about one of the best from the underground.

How has growing up in the South shaped your sound?

FADED: Growing up in the south shaped my sound in a good way. I feel because the south is the home of trap music and the best rap shit comes from down south. I feel like in the south it’s really a different environment you gotta grow up in, so that shit definitely shows in the music.

How would you describe the sound or tone you’re trying to make with your producing?

FADED: I would say my sound is futuristic, some Neilaworld shit- basically some shit you would hear in a portal or like if you were an alien. That’s how my shit sounds- alien like. A little bit of speaker knockerz, 808 mafia metro boomin and wod influence dashed in it.

You recently coproduced LLÀRI GAGA by POLLARI with Lukrative and 6houl, how was was it working with two other producers on a song? Have you produced with a larger group on a single song before?

FADED: That song came about in a cool way. We were in LA, in the studio for pollari lukrative session and lukrative had got some 6houl melodies to work on. He started the beat in headphones while they were making a song and he just was like, “Yo, hop on this”. The rest is really history. I ain’t like what I did at first on the beat so I deleted it and started over then I passed the laptop back to Lukrative. He added that sauce and that Lukrative perc and game over. Pollari made a love song- yeah I have done a collab with four people on it and one time we got a bunch of producers to drop a 20 man beat collab.

How has NeilaWorld affected your career and view on the music industry?

FADED: Bro Neilaworld is probably the greatest idea known to man right now. Like, career wise, it’s effected me so positively to be around like minded and hardworking people. That shit really crazy and it’s humbling for real. I deadass be coolin in a chat and linking up with legends and future legends... all these guys will be great and I can’t wait for the world to see what we see. It changed my view on the industry in one particular way, but this all imma say I don’t wanna say too much, but if you’re smart, you will catch on “2 brains always gonna work better then one”.

What was your first major placement? How far into your career was it?

FADED: Pump, but honestly, fuck that placement for the fact that I didn’t get the chance to build like I wanted to, but respect to him. It was 2017, that’s basically when i took shit serious. My favorite placement is Uzi even though I don’t know when it will drop. Just the fact that he even heard my tag and Neila tag is cool as hell. Imma work with Uzi again soon. Watch, just watch.

Do you have any advice for producers, something you wish you knew when you started?

FADED: Yeah, fuck what everybody talking about. I used to try to impress my friends, but fuck that- impress yourself.

What gets you out of a creative funk?

FADED: I just watch cookup videos to get inspired now or i just realize that everyday i don’t work it’s someone outworkimg me

The best sample you’ve ever found/used?

FADED: Honestly don’t really sample a lot but probably All I Wanted by Paramour.

Any collaborations or placements we should look out for?

FADED: Just keep your eyes peeled i got sum shit with slot of upcoming artist in this soundcloud shit but watch out for the other shit i’m aiming for. Just need shit to drop.



Click here to listen to his newest EP Life Upside Down! 

Introvert by lonelyboydeathstar

The newest EP ‘Introvert’ by lonelyboydeathstar is a cosmic and immersive experience. ‘Left Hand’, the introductory song, has a slow tempo that the rest of the project will utilize. The beat features a starry, blimp-like tone, connecting you to the slow drum patterns. The following song, ‘Leverage’ uses a similar slow drum pattern as lonelyboy serenades the love interest, stilling keeping true to himself and mentioning his more damning tendencies. The EP features A$h and Cdre7, delivering touching vocals and an explosive verse on ‘Bad Weather’ and ‘Let It Heal’. This project is perfect any R&B enthusiasts, those looking for something more calming to listen to, or- introverts.

Click here to listen.

Meet Joony: One of the Hottest in Maryland's Hip Hop Hub

If there's one artist that perfectly encompasses the boiling hot underground of Southern Maryland's Hip Hop division, it's Joony. His track record consists of singles with cult followings, visuals and trillers with thousands of plays, and jokes and punchlines that only a DMV bred artist could conjure. His energy is tangible while listening to his music. His musical choices from lyrical focus, production and project direction are all his own, especially in his upcoming, self titled mixtape. He records what he likes and never seems to tap out of creativity. I had a conversation with him to try and understand the spirit of what seems to make our area ground zero for Hip Hop's Next Up.


Joony, AKA JoonyTV was born in Silver Spring, Maryland, the youngest of three siblings and the only boy. Without a playmate with similar interests at home, by seventh grade playing with neighborhood friends led him into rebellious behavior that every preteen experiences. He smoked weed for the first time and started searching for his own musical influences. Joony discovered and developed an artistic admiration for Mac Miller in 2011 and Kendrick Lamar in 2013. Not long after that, he wrote his first song and recorded it with his two friend who were also pursing music, Kash N Doja and Zay Blaze. From here, Odd Future, Youtube and the daily responses from social media became fuel for different ideas and outside-of-the-box concepts.

“Without social media theres nothing... [It] takes a big part in anything, not just me.”

For his upcoming mix tape, Joony didn't have much criteria for what could make the cut. If it sounds good, it's going on. He isn't worried about impressing anyone. He knows his music is just as good as any artists blowing up right now. He's waiting patiently and giving his supporters the content they came for. His lyrics are witty and he often teams up with local artists and producers such as Hughe$, YG U4L, and Fendi Flip. He has the positivity and collaborative spirit that many say the area is lacking. One of the few local acts he hasn't worked with yet is XanMan. Joony sites himself as one of the first to really crank and spread his music. A song featuring the two of them would be explosive for the culture and DMV music scene.

 I asked what keeps him filled creatively, and he worded it as easily digestible as possible, “I really just be waking up. This sh*t is what I do... recording from a laptop in the home basement, then post a triller the same day and do my own mixing at least occasionally". He's always prepared for a challenge, he welcomes it even. As a way of practicing producing tracks, Joony often arranges beats and perfects them until he thinks that his favorite artist would hop on it. So far, JoonyTV is an independent artist with not much official backing behind him. All of his recent success is from his own plans, along with management consultation from his close friend Demonie. His friends sometimes promote his trillers and music videos via Instagram. Nowadays, all you need is for the right person to see you perform. Joony feels strongly about picking the right deal or staying independent. He'd rather work hard than be pushed with no response or passion from a label. From his next release, he'll have more eyes on his next move than ever before. 

Welcome to the New World

New World, a fresh, elaborate and inventive clothing brand, is taking the streetwear market by storm. It's first designs and release feature intricate details: denim patchwork along with star-like reflective material on the trousers, continuing the starry depiction onto t-shirts, and an angelic baby guarding the New World branding. All of these designs are bold and easily capable of capturing the eye of an avant-garde, angst-inspired stylist. Infact, the creative mind behind New World is none other than Donovan, an 18 year old, dedicated designer from Fort Washington, Maryland. New World is a new venture for the young creative, beginning only a few days into the new year.
He gave us insight on the inspirations behind his forward thinking sketches. He explained that the idea of trying patchwork began with a friend and he developed his prototypes, adding reflective material to make it more eye-catching and simply because it looks good. Each pair is unique along with the wearer. The ideology behind the brand is stamped on the back of the first capsule's hoodie, "Let us live, for we must die". The New World Angel is printed on the chest.
With such a young brand and designer already capable of generating admirers, and anticipation for the next release, the future for New World seems long and bright.

Brownskin Superstar by Young Riggady

Young Riggady is a hungry, driven rapper from Maryland, making small and large feats as he begins his journey into the music industry. His sound is homegrown, his message is methodical. In his latest single ‘Brownskin Superstar’ Riggady shouts-out powerful and respected leaders of the Civil Rights Movement, from Martin Luther King to Frederick Douglas. He expresses that he is all of these people, their revolutionary energy lives on within him and all black people. His message is motivational and uplifting. His delivery is confident and the beat compliments his theme. He uses music as a medium for expressing his thoughts and connecting with his supporters. Soon, his words will be heard across the country.

YBN Cordaé’s Lost Boy Tour

YBN Cordaé’s music is reaching a larger audience than he’s ever dreamed, and this summer, so will he. The South Carolina native rapper is bringing his sound across North America. The tour begins in Montreal, Quebec on the 23rd of this month and is currently scheduled to end a month later in Anaheim, California. Cordaé has kept his new music under lock and key. So far, he and his camp haven’t experienced any leaks, but fans are getting antsy. On his most recent Instagram post, at the time of writing, a fan tried out his luck, pressing the young rapper to release the album. Although there is no official release date known to the public, Cordaé promises he won’t go on tour without dropping the album first. Considering his explosive rapping skills, I think his fans could use a few extra days to learn all the lyrics before tour kicks off.

Lil Xelly ‘No Way Out’ EP

The Maryland native is back with another EP. For this project he collaborated with producer SenseiATL. His fans can expect explosive beats and ‘Trap Xelly’, one of his alter egos, at his best that they’ve heard yet. The only thing left is for his supporters to generate enough buzz for the EP to be released. If you check their track record, that doesn’t seem too difficult.