Malammore, whose real name is Sandro Feliciano, is a singer, songwriter, and producer from Lisbon, Portugal. “Aurora” is his first album. The album comes out on January 23 and tells the story of his life as a young Black man, his search for belonging, and his country’s cultural resistance. The lyrics talk about love, adoption, thoughts on humanity, and how the artist sees his role in the world. The concept for the album originated from a notebook containing poems, narratives, and my self-perception within this world. It’s a record of the Black experience in Portugal, of belonging and feeling alone, of love and loss.

Sandro, also known as Malammore, was born in 2005 and lived with the Portuguese State for two years until he was adopted in 2008, which was a big change in his life. One of the main ideas in Aurora is to turn the idea of a “black hole” into “the world’s white hole,” which shows a universe that erases identities. He challenges dominant narratives and changes how people see black bodies in society by filling it with the idea of blackness.

The album mixes hip-hop, rap, trap, and spoken word, which is not something that is usually done. Malammore gets the political tone of the project from people like Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Angela Davis, and Fela Kuti. No Icon (Rodrigo Fernandes) did the production, mixing, and mastering for the album at Lisbon Sound Society.

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15 years ago, Tyler, the Creator released “Yonkers.” The song would go on to shape a generation of hip-hop fans and make him one of the most talked-about artists in modern music. Tyler’s work on “Yonkers,” which came out of the Los Angeles group Odd Future, was a brave mix of raw lyrics, dark humor, and simple production that made him stand out from other artists right away.

“Yonkers,” which is just over three minutes long, seems simple but has a big effect. The song’s production is based on a spooky bassline, simple piano chords, and simple drums. This puts Tyler’s voice and story front and center. His flow is slow and threatening, and it sends out a stream of verses that balance shock value with deep thoughts on themes like being alone, rebelling, and thinking about oneself. This song has a modern twist on the gritty, confrontational style of hip-hop that was popular in the early 2010s.

The music video for “Yonkers” became a cultural phenomenon all by itself. In the black-and-white video, Tyler looks straight into the camera while doing something that surprised both fans and critics. Tyler became known as an artist who isn’t afraid to push boundaries when the song’s raw lyrics and stark images quickly went viral. The video’s viral success brought Odd Future national attention and helped Tyler get more work, including his albums Goblin (2011) and Wolf (2013), which were both well-received by critics.

People who didn’t like “Yonkers” thought it was a new take on hip-hop. People in the genre often liked flashy production and collaborations, but Tyler’s solo song showed that minimalism can be just as interesting, if not more so, when it has strong lyrics. Young people who wanted realness and change connected with the song’s unapologetic tone, and its influence can still be heard in music today. Many contemporary artists assert that Tyler’s early compositions, particularly “Yonkers,” significantly influenced their lyrical writing and visual storytelling techniques.

“Yonkers” was a big moment in Tyler, the Creator’s career. It was a bold statement from a single artist who wanted to change the rules of hip-hop, and it captured the spirit of early Odd Future, a group that thrived on chaos, creativity, and free expression. More than ten years later, the song is still a touchstone for fans and a turning point in the growth of alternative rap. Its creepy beat, controversial lyrics, and viral music video are still seen as examples of a time when hip-hop was pushing its limits and welcoming a new generation of voices that were willing to question the way things were.

“Yonkers” is a cultural artifact, a snapshot of the time that shaped Tyler, the Creator’s unique artistic style, and a reminder of how powerful bold, unapologetic music can be.