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21 Savage & Metro Boomin’s “Savage Mode II” Not An “Official” Pen & Pixel Cover

When 21 Savage and Metro Boomin unveiled the nostalgic album cover for Savage Mode II, it was quickly reported to have been laced by Pen & Pixel. For those who don’t know, Pen & Pixel was originally founded by brothers Shawn and Aaron Brauch, who previously worked at J. Prince’s Rap-A-Lot Records. Since transitioning into graphic design, they went on to lace countless classic covers including Snoop Dogg’s Da Game Is To Be Sold, Not To Be Told,Let Em Burn by the Hot Boys, Doin Thangs by Big Bear (an arguable best, according to some), 400 Degreez by Juvenile, and many more.

And though Pen & Pixel did work on designing the cover for Savage Mode II, the final version was different from the design they contributed. During an interview with the Breaking Atoms podcast, Shawn Brauch broke down their involvement in Savage Mode II, and how it ultimately went on to change in the final released version.

“The cover that you see out there has elements of the original cover,” he explains. “The full cover was done and done to the specifics that were indicated, and the team came back and said ‘we want to make these major changes.’ However, the deadline was the 17th and they came back to me on the 16th.   And I was like ‘But I got it done on the 14th because you had a major deadline for release on the 17th.’ But they were like ‘we want to make these major changes’ and I was like ‘wow, that is shocking to me after going through all of these details and I said my heart is not in that.”

“I said I could certainly do that for you,” he continues. “I said I’ll send you a new invoice and we can move on to what your changes are going to be, and I never heard from them again. And I delivered my deliverables to them and I never heard from them again. And then the next time I see the cover come out, I’m like ‘wow, so that’s it’. I was shocked to see it come out, obviously, and I was shocked to see that there were that many changes done to the cover.”

From the sound of it, the designing process of Savage Mode II’s beloved cover was not as smooth as initially believed. For those interested in checking out the original artwork as designed by Pen & Pixel, you can do so at their official website right here. While not entirely dissimilar, it’s clear that there were a few creative differences given the changes made — not to mention the disappointment evident in Brock’s statement. Be sure to catch the full interview with Shawn Brock on Breaking Atoms when it drops on October 20th. Which cover do you prefer?

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RoHaNa and Morpheus von Dobenhausen paint love in shadows and light “WHEN A BOY LOVES A WOMEN”

RoHaNa feat. Morpheus von Dobenhausen, in this new release, “When a Boy Loves a Woman,” This track, recorded in winter, has a hint of gothic style that blends emotional restraint with atmospheric elegance. The track is all about RoHaNa’s emotional singing, which fits perfectly with the carefully crafted production. Her voice shows desire, weakness, and dedication without being too loud, letting each note ring out. The result is a sound that affects people on a personal and universal level. There is a sense of innocence that permeates, capturing the delicate nature of love in its purest form.

Morpheus von Dobenhausen is a guest singer who deepens the track’s emotional journey. Their voices work together to make a conversation of feelings that is both clear and mysterious. The song doesn’t go too fast, so the listener can feel the mood and atmosphere as they go through its subtle changes.

“When a Boy Loves a Woman” is unique because it strikes the perfect balance between modern pop and gothic restraint. The result is a soundscape that is both creepy and easy to listen to. It is a moving story about love and devotion, told with grace and quiet strength.

With this first release, RoHaNa confidently joins the scene, thanks to XanadumusiX’s never-ending creative drive, even when things get hard in the winter. This release not only introduces a new artist with significant potential but also showcases a bold artistic direction in which emotion, atmosphere, and story come together to make a lasting impression.

Connect with Morpheus von Dobenhausen on Spotify || Instagram || Facebook || Youtube || Tiktok

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Kieran James Honors Memory with “Part of the Grind”

Singer-songwriter Kieran James delivers a devastating new single with “Part of the Grind,” a track to tackle the tangled emotions behind loss and memory. A love letter penned to a close friend who faced severe cognitive decline, the song’s emotional heft feels universal yet heartbreakingly personal.

Set to delicate instrumentation and achingly sung vocals, “Part of the Grind” is both a lament and an honoring, a means of remembering while addressing the unavoidable cost of time and illness. His voice floats, leaving room for silence and the long pauses that so often come with grief. But in that silence, there is warmth as well, a refusal to let memory be totally extinguished.

Resilience is also implied in the song’s title, a reminder that even in heartbreak, life goes on and holding the memory of someone stays with the rhythm of everyday living. it’s an anthem for anyone who has ever looked on witnessing decline, mixed sorrow with love.

In Kieran James’s “Part of the Grind,” we hear music as well as go behind it. He gives us room feel, to mourn, and to honor. In the process, he turns private pain into something achingly universal, a song for everyone who has either loved or lost.