Artist Spotlight
Afroman and BLAZAR Take a Fresh Approach for “Step it UP”
Legendary hip-hop icon Afroman closed out 2020 with a feature on “WHOLEthing” alongside electronic music producer BLAZAR. Since then, Afroman has signed with BLAZAR’s Cosmic Wire label, and the duo is finding the perfect combination between the present and past. Now, nearly one year later, they are back to putting their studio magic on full display with the funk-driven new single, “Step it UP” available via a collaboration between Cosmic Wire and AntiFragile Music (INgrooves/Universal).
Wasting no time with a hard-hitting, old-school hip-hop bassline, BLAZAR’s retro synth work soon falls into place. The opening verse by Afroman delivers the no-nonsense message: “Step up your game, drop dead weight.” Venturing into electro-pop schemes, “Step it UP” offers a fresh soundscape for Afroman to showcase his world-renowned lyricism.
“This was such a raw song from the start – Afroman and I wrote it in my studio during the lockdown,” said BLAZAR aka Jerad Finck. “He fired the lyrics off in this explosion of energy, and it was just so inspiring, so pure. It was a moment that really spoke to me in a visceral way about direction and intention. The gatekeeper is the one in the mirror, if you want it, do better.”
Throughout 2021, Afroman was busy in and out of the studio with his “This Ain’t No Joke, This Ain’t No Gimmick, I Got to Get Paid in the Middle of a Pandemic” Tour playing to his fans across America, and recently released the music video for his sophomore Cosmic Wire single, “Cuz I’m High”, the official remix of “Because I Got High” that brought the burgeoning rapper Kid Lennon into the limelight.
For more information, please visit: www.afromanofficial.com
Artist Spotlight
Lana Crow turns challenges into a celebration with “Laugh With You”
“Laugh With You,” the latest single from Lana Crow, is a sincere rallying cry to embrace life in all its messy, beautiful mess. In the song, indie pop and alt-pop combine to deliver an emotional blow that feels both personal and universal.
“Laugh With You” feels like an instant connection, and Crow is telling you stories of hard times with a cozy, knowing smile. This song is as much about struggle as it is about how strong you are. It serves as a reminder that these struggles are simply what give us the strength to keep going, even when life is tough.
Crow encourages people to welcome them, create happiness in the cracks, and laugh even as the world gets heavy. The result is a song that delicately nudges you to love and embrace yourself. It is an anthem for anyone experiencing tough times who refuses to give up hope. Lana Crow continues to demonstrate her songwriting skills, both musically pleasing and emotionally rich, with “Laugh With You.”
It’s a reminder that it’s how we respond to tough times, rather than how they affect us, that’s key. With this song, not only does Crow provide us with music, but she also lets us know that sometimes a laugh is what we need to remember that there is always something to smile about and that, even when it feels like life has waged war against you, laughter can still be found.
Artist Spotlight
BluntBrad Jr. finds calm ambition in the laid-back shine of “It’s All Good”
BluntBrad Jr.’s new single, “It’s All Good,” sounds like a steady handshake and a deep breath. It’s warm, honest, and not trying to be cool. There isn’t any fancy production hiding behind layers of polish here. Instead, the song is all about being honest. The song is laid-back and offers up the shine of a studio recording for the feeling of a candid introduction, a musical “hello” from someone who wants to be heard for who they are.
“It’s All Good” is a very human way to be hopeful at its core. The feeling is simple and real, like someone who won’t let little things stand in the way of their goals. The words to the song sound like friends talking to each other. They discuss their goals, their drive, and their need for attention in a way that is honest and not needy.
The production backs this up by making sure that everything is open and airy. The instruments are simple and easy to understand, so BluntBrad Jr.’s voice and message come through clearly. The song feels real because it doesn’t have a lot of extra stuff in it. You’re not hearing a heavily constructed persona; you’re hearing someone at the start of a journey, eager to make their mark.
The song’s rough edges make it captivating, which is better than polish, which would have smoothed it out. This way of thinking fits with the theme: hope isn’t naive here; it’s realistic and steady. It speaks to people who like simple songs and value honesty over artifice.
“It’s All Good” is an engaging and approachable phrase that offers context for an artist who is confident and clear about their artistic vision. This is the kind of song you listen to when you need some honest encouragement to remember that just being human can help you move forward. This is only the first chapter of something serious, so expect more from him.
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