Da insider mag 11

Da Industry Hotspot for New Talent-Music Publication

BEST NEW ARTISTS, A&R's, NEW FASHION MODELS & MORE

Da Insider 11

Magazine

D R I Z ZY

MORE LYRICS, MORE LOVE, MORE LIFE

WhaT YoU ShoulD KnoW

New Artists Omar Just T.N.T Mariel Music T-Mac Sassy Singz Lil Tillyt Teezy TenFive R.I.C.O Fly Foreva Jesse James Scott III Model Citizen

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HER

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CONTENTS

DRAKE

#11

FEATURED ARTISTS Omar Just Sassy Singz T-Mac Mariel Music T.N.T R.I.C.O Jesse Scott Lil Tillyt Teezy TenFive

HIS HOT new album HAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

Making YouTube Work For You...

LANE 22

Clothing

Exclusive

Before Booking Your Next

Performance

MODEL CITIZEN

@Drayabaya '

-MUST READPhoto by: Shawn Cannon

LIL TILLYT Ladies and gentlemen, meet LIL TILLYT, a Miami, Florida born rapper whose name came about as a result of his oldest brother jokingly referring to him with it. As a trap music artist, LIL TILLYT has also drawn inspiration from Indigo music as well as Beast Coast music.

With only a year of music-making under his belt, he has managed to create a sound and a vibe that takes some artists years to grasp.

Although he has a tendency to always see the flaws in his work, LIL TILLYT still manages to talk about whatever he wants in his music and just has fun with it, a trait he picked up growing up in Miami. But Miami isn't the only location that has had an affect on the "Tatter Thots" rapper. As a current resident of the Southside of Atlanta, Georgia, he has learned how to make melodies and how to match his thoughts and ideas to the music. His versatility is also an attribute worth recognizing. From being able to create ignorant head-banging music, to writing music about the energy found in the soul and his love for his girlfriend, LIL TILLYT's span of creativity shows that he has something for every listener.

Initially inspired to do music by a video of two of his homegirls performing, LIL TILLYT has also been drawn to music by rapper Wiz Khalifa, his biggest inspiration, as well as Pro Era, Tyler the Creator, The Underachievers, and Vic Mensa. LIL TILLYT's thoughts on today's music industry: "I think the music industry is where it needs to be. A lot of people cry about how it’s not how it used to be, but it’s not supposed to be. Music is alive, so let it grow and evolve, you know, become something new. The kids nowadays are making music and doing what they feel and what they like, so I dig it."

Ultimately, LIL TILLYT is an artist who's determined to be himself and have fun doing it. His message to his listeners is to realize that they can do whatever they want, and not to take life too seriously.

LIL TILLYT also plans to follow that same advice. Along with the goal of performing in front of an audience of 100 thousand turned-up fans, he also hopes to win an award at a formal music event, and show up in a "hoody and jean shorts". The music industry is definitely ready for an individual like LIL TILLYT.

LIL TILLYT SOUNDCLOUD

T. N. T. The

T.N.T, commonly known throughout the world as an explosive material, will now be known as the rapper that creates explosive material. Straight out of Baton Rouge, Louisiana this lyricist who goes by the name T.N.T., is known not only for spitting fire, but spitting the realness of the struggle she experienced coming up.

Labeling her style the "fire style", T.N.T. is bringing the heat for hip-hop fans everywhere.

Born and bred in the hood of Baton Rouge, T.N.T. tells a story that many fans can relate to.

Like many aspiring musicians, creating music began with a love of poetry at a very young age. However it wasn't until the age of fifteen that T.N.T. realized that she was actually good at putting together rhymes and writing songs. Sharpening her skills for over 20 years now, T.N.T. creates original gangsta rap with a 90s feel. Loving the sound of her music and the way it makes people feel, makes the act of putting words together on a track exciting for her.

Inspired by the music industry barriers broken down by Jay-Z, Drake, Kendrick Lamar, J.Cole, and Lil Wayne, the "Miss Me With That" artist hopes to touch people with her music and to make her presence felt through her lyrics. Similar to another one of her inspirations, Bun B., T.N.T. has not changed with the times and has stayed true to herself in her music-making.

Although she likes the style of today's rap music, she feels that it's not about real and raw talent anymore but it's about what will sell and make the most money.

She's been featured on several nationwide mixtapes including "The Best of Texas" Vol.1 and 2, as well as several Coast 2 Coast Mixtapes. T.N.T.'s own mixtape is scheduled to be released on August 4th on Spinrilla, DatPiff, and YoMixtapes. From being called "Tiny T" as a result of being a premature baby, to now taking on the explosive stage name T.N.T., this persevering MC has come a long way, and with her level of determination there's no question how far she will go.

T.N.T.'s Links SoundCloud Instagram Facebook

Twitter

hypekillsnyc.com

@Davidcustomkicks

UNSIGNED ONLY Music Competition

www.unsignedonly.com

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ubrey Graham, born October 24, 1986 in Toronto, Canada, is the son of Sandi and Dennis

Graham, a drummer who worked with the legendary Jerry Lee Lewis. If you didn't know by now Drake's father is an African American native of Memphis, Tennessee, and his mom is a

Canadian woman of Jewish descent. Drake s interest in entertaining started at an early age.

From spending summers with his father in Memphis, he gained a greater appreciation and comprehension for music that would later inspire his creativity in the years to come.

Drake is not only a rapper who can sing, write, and produce, but he has added acting to his list of talents as well. His initial recognition as an actor came on the popular teen drama TV series

"Degrassi: The Next Generation" in the very early 2000s. With his confidence soaring, Drake set

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his sites on pursuing his career as a rapper, and in 2007 he parted with the series following the release of his debut mixtape, "Room for Improvement".

Drake then released two further independent projects, "Comeback Season" and "So Far Gone", before inking his deal with Lil Wayne's Young Money Entertainment in June 2009.

He released his debut studio album "Thank Me Later in 2010", and it debuted at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and soon after became certified platinum by the Recording Industry

Association of America (RIAA). His next two releases were 2011's "Take Care" and 2013's

"Nothing Was the Same". With the validation of platinum status, the "6 God" earned his first

Grammy Award for the Best Rap Album. Drake wasted no time following up with two mixtapes, the trap-influenced "If You're Reading This It's Too Late", and a collaboration with Future for "What a Time to Be Alive" in 2015, both earning a platinum certification within the U.S.

Drake released his fourth LP, "Views" in 2016, and cracked several chart records as a result.

The dancehall-fueled album sat atop the Billboard 200 for ten non-consecutive weeks, making it the first album by a male solo artist to do so in more than ten years.

Drakes first single "One Dance" topped the charts in several countries, including the U.S., the UK and Canada. The "So Far Gone" MC lead the Billboard Hot 100 and the Billboard 200

simultaneously for eight long weeks, coming close to a record held only by Whitney Houston.

It went on to achieve quadruple platinum status in the U.S. in the ďŹ rst week of its release.

The catchy single "Hotline Bling" secured Drake his second and third Grammy win, for

Best Rap/Sung Performance and Best Rap track. Drake released his multi-genre "More

Life" project in 2017. Described by Drake as a playlist, it was his seventh consecutive No. 1 hit on the Billboard 200, and set multiple streaming records.

Drake holds several Billboard chart records. He has the most charted songs (154)

among solo artists in the all time history of Billboard Hot 100, the most simultaneously

charted Hot 100 songs in a single week, and the most Hot 100 debuts in a week. On top of it all, Drake also has the most number one singles on the Hot Rap Songs, Hot R&B/

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Hip-Hop Airplay and Rhythmic Charts. Next to his Grammy Award wins, Drake has won three Juno Awards and six American Music Awards.

Drake has established other ventures, including his OVO Sound record label with

longtime collaborator, Noah "40" Shebib. Drizzy is a producer as well, producing under the pseudonym, Champagne Papi. Utilizing the "OVO" moniker, Drake has his own

clothing brand and his very own program on Beats 1 Radio. With so much succsss, it's no wonder he's also currently acting as the global ambassador for the NBA's Toronto Raptors.

When Drake ďŹ rst announced the playlist on his 30th birthday last October, we had no idea what to expect. Drake lead everyone to believe it would be a "Dynasty: Roc La

Familia-ish", OVO Sound compilation. He also hinted at going into full Carmen Sandiego

mode and involving sounds from every region of the world that he favors. For this "More Life" project it s as though Drake has pulled from all of his past studio projects and redirected that energy, allowing him to blaze new trails lyrically, melodically and

stylistically. With radio favorites like "Fake Love", and just over-all feel good tracks like "Passionfruit", Drake has seamlessly uncovered an algorithm that works

everytime. This album is an 80-minute journey through every album he's oered us in the past 7 years, and the overall consensus is it's worth every minute.

Making Work For You

These days, one of the most useful resources for aspiring artists looking for exposure is none other than YouTube, a video-sharing website that allows individual users to upload, view, share, rate, comment and more. Having the ability to easily share your music videos with the world would have, in the past, been only a thing of some people's wildest dreams. But having such a resource at your fingertips doesn't guarantee automatic success. Many musicians who post music videos on YouTube post them with the hopes that people will like their videos and ultimately share them with others. But reaching those higher number of views takes a little creativity and a lot of personality. Here are a few tips to help make the most out of your YouTube videos.

Be Confident When you love what you do and are confident in your ability to do it, it shows and your confidence shines through the screen. It's your most attractive quality as an artist, and it's what attracts the people watching your video, along with your talent of course.

Be natural and enjoy the moment without making it seem forced or like you're trying too hard. If you're not enjoying it, it will definitely be evident in the quality of your work. Also, you're gonna need that confidence and thick skin when the not-so-nice comments start rolling in, which they will, no matter how dope you are.

Be Consistent Once you drop one catchy video, your fans will definitely be looking for more and it's up to you to deliver. Don't just be a "one-hit wonder". Continue to drop new heat and post new videos regularly to keep the viewers entertained. It's cool to switch up your style a little each time, but don't become too random or scattered - give them who they love to see everytime.

Be Creative A little creativity goes a long way when it comes to creating music videos for YouTube.

The first 15 seconds are the most important in grabbing the attention of the viewers, and it's just as imperative to keep their attention throughout the rest of the production.

It takes creativity and a bit of clever thinking to accomplish this feat. Keep it interesting and innovative, do something they've never seen before, and keep it true to who you are as an artist, because that's who they are getting to know and love.

Be Social Make social media work for you. Use it for what it was meant to do - enable users to socially connect with people around the world! Promote your upcoming releases on Facebook, Twitter and any other social media platform you're a part of. Build up the hype by posting little snippet previews of your soon-to-be-released music videos. When you do finally release your video on YouTube, let your followers know to check it out and spread the word!

If there were a particular formula to follow for guaranteed music video success on YouTube, everyone would be doing it. These few tips are simply guidelines to follow in the hopes of finding the formula that works for you. Just because the first video you post doesn't do as well as you had liked, it doesn't mean give up. Persistence is key. Try a different approach, and keep trying until you find what works. There's a lot of content on YouTube and it may take a while for your videos to catch on. But having the whole world at your fingertips with YouTube makes the effort totally worth the reward.

WWW.YOUTUBE.COM

eady or not here comes R

Andrea Pearson

AKA

@Drayabaya

a y a b a y a r @D

Krate Kollective

Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, and the Bronx - three areas of New York that played a part in molding this next artist. This talented and creative individual attacks every track with a different approach, growing and changing with each recording. Not willing to be boxed into a particular genre of music, he allows his creativity to lead him down various different avenues, enjoying every moment and experience. He's gone by several different stage names throughout his career, until finally realizing there was no need to go by anything other than his actual name...

III Jesse James Scott III Building a relationship with music since 2008, Jesse James was twelve when he was introduced to new and different genres of music and realized he was hooked. Having a cousin that was already into music himself only fueled Jesse's already burning love affair. He found himself sitting in on sessions known as "writing circles", where his cousin and his friends would exchange

musical concepts, ideas and flows. After catching wind of one of Jesse's freestyles, a friend who ran a studio invited him to come through, and after much convincing, a hesitant Jesse finally agreed, and the rest was history. He found himself completely consumed by thoughts of what he wanted to do with music and where he wanted to go as an artist.

Being raised in three different locations has instilled traits in Jesse that has helped shape him as a person as well as an artist. New Rochelle has shown him diversity and the ability to dig deep and pull creativity from places he didn't know existed. Living in Mount Vernon has taught him that no matter what people think there's always talent and skill in the smallest corners of the earth. In the Bronx he has learned to invest in himself, to stay driven and to never quit. The combination of the three, in addition to all of the people he's encountered and connected with in these places, has contributed to making Jesse James Scott the well-rounded artist he is today.

Jesse's grind can only be described as relentless. Not only has he put out a total of eight solid projects, clearly documenting his evident growth as an artist, but he's also

founded and created Third and Ninth Records with his two brothers and business partners, Marv Middle a.k.a. Violin Marv and Len Lama.

From completing and launching a website, to now planning their third tour, Jesse and his team are working hard on building their brand everyday. Striving to continue growing in all aspects of life, Jesse uses music as a path for him to merge into other lanes of creativity.

When he's not working on his upcoming album scheduled to be released this September, he's involved in creating a movie and he's working on mixtapes. With a work ethic that's as unstoppable as Jesse James Scott's the sky's the limit for his blossoming career. www.JesseJamesScott.com www.ThirdandNinth.com Video - YouTube ITunes

RICO

"FL

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From the home of Notorious B.I.G. and hiphop mogul Jay-Z comes a talented rap artist known as Rico. RICO, which is an acronym for RespectIntelligent-CynicalOutstanding, exudes each of these traits and infuses them into his music. With passion and charisma, RICO delivers each line confidently, creating music that is powerful yet relatable.

Rico, how does being from Brooklyn, NY affect your music?

Glad you asked. I write about what I see! Write what I go through! Where I'm from, was never glitz and glamour. I have watched the struggle from people in my community, to people in my family. Heartbreak, depression, love, success, all influences my music.

I've seen it and been through it. I'm happy because it makes my music what it is.

How long have you been creating music and what type of music do you create?

Pretty long. About 10 plus years. The normal answer would be Hip hop & R&B but I truly like to call it "Audio Theatre" lol. Every song tells a story. Whether it be deep, uplifting, or dramatic, it’s the type of music where you can close your eyes and automatically see everything play out.

What aspect of the music-making process excites you the most?

Hmm. It would be the writing process and the recording process. Creating these concepts in my mind and turning them into songs is fun, but when you're recording and you have the engineer stop you and say "Yo this is Fire", it's definitely a great feeling of accomplishment. Especially at the end when it is fully mixed and your friends are in the studio, with you wildin' out?! Definitely a great feeling!

What are your thoughts on the current state of the music industry?

I actually kind of roll with the punches. Don't get me wrong, I think it's totally unfair that people get picked up or signed based off numbers instead of actual talent. But it is what it is. The internet is a blessing and a curse, and music is a living thing. It changes, it evolves and sometimes repeats itself. I roll with it.

Rico, what do you hope listeners will take away from your music?

I hope people take from my music that they’re not alone. There are things we go through in life where we believe that we are the only ones who go through it. In all honesty, there are a massive amount of people who have the same thoughts and go through the same life events, but are scared to talk about it. My music is there for you to relate to.

What are your goals for the future?

LINKS: Instagram Facebook YouTube SoundCloud

Just to progress with music, production, & visual arts. I would like to tap into directing one day as well. I'm releasing my project on September 16. It's entitled "Brooklyn Bound Virgo". It's going to start off on Bandcamp and then move over to major download and streaming sites. Other than that, my latest video "I'm All Yours" is available on youtube. (FlyForevaHD) I am having a release party for my album “Brooklyn Bound Virgo” on September 16.

For more information you can check out eventbrite.com and my social media pages.

"FLY FOREVA"

Mariel Meet Mariel, a Texas native with a deep love for music

that has fueled her passion and creativity to begin

making music of her own.

Born in Arlington, but currently residing in

Houston, this talented 20-

year-old has been involved with music from a very

young age. Growing up listening to a variety of

different music, Mariel was

inspired to start writing and recording her own songs of various genres, including

R&B, hip-hop, pop, rock and even rap.

Pix by Jay

Drawing inspiration from some of the greats of today's music, such as Rihanna, Beyoncé, Chris Brown, and Kehlani, Mariel has found her own voice and is taking her love of music to the next level. Now two years into perfecting her craft, she has written and recorded her first single which is scheduled to be released, along with its music video, on the 13th of July. Entitled "Consistent Love", this work of art is just one of many that listeners can expect to hear from Mariel. With an EP scheduled to be completed in August, she has no intentions of slowing down now. Her ultimate goal is to make feel-good music that will touch all those who hear it.

IG & Twitter: Mariel_dream

Facebook: Mariel Music

YouTube: Mariel music

Click here to listen

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Sassy Singz From the city of Miami, Florida comes a soulful songstress with an abundance of style, and a whole lot of grace to match.

With the deep set goal of bringing the love back to R&B music, she's on a mission to do her part in facilitating change in this world, and she goes by the name of Sassy Singz.

Q: A:

Hey Sassy, tell us a little bit about your name and how you came up with it.

I go by the name of SassySingz. I've always been called sassy growing up. Trey Songz had just dropped his second album, and I just loved it so much that I decided to go with SassySingz, since he already took Songz lol. Never intended for it to be my name, I just needed a Twitter name. The more I went out to the open mic scene to establish my brand, the more people started calling me SassySingz. I would correct people and say, no its just Sassy. Dj Fattboi heard me once and he was like, "Sassy, you're SassySingz now. That's your name so leave it alone." I laughed but listened.

Q: What area are you from?

A: Born and raised in the county of dade! Lol, I

am from Miami, FL but my parents are Haitian.

Q: So how long have you been creating

and recording music, and how did you begin?

A:

I've been creating and recording since 2009. I moved out of my family's home at the age of 19 and it was a lonely time for me. I was in serious need of expressing myself so I decided to write poetry because I'd always been good at writing short stories in school. As a result, my poetry began to look and sound like songs. So, with no experience and no idea what I was doing, I began to create hooks for the local artists for fun. The feedback was so great that I was like, hmmm let me take this more seriously and REALLY go in and write. Hence my creative madness began lol.

Q:

What type or genre of music do you create and how would you describe your sound?

A:

I create and love R&B music, the REAL R&B sound that so many seem to miss. I would describe my sound as being reminiscent of the 90's Hip Hop/R&B/Soul sound with my own special twist. I love real Hip Hop and I enjoy fusing the R&B/Soul sound with it.

Q: So Sassy, what made you start making music and when did you realize you were good at it?

A: The streets really confirmed my talent. It was the boys on the block hustling, telling me to not be on the block, encouraging me to take my gift seriously. One of my best friends at the time, had a boyfriend who was into the local music scene. He introduced me to a local producer who was establishing his own label at the time. I sang for him and I instantly became a studio junkie lol.

Q: How does where you grew up or where you're from affect your music?

A: I'm from the city where Betty Wright is from! It doesn't get more influential than that!

She's a legend in my book and I put in my mind that if i was going to tackle this R&B giant, I have to follow in her footsteps. So I studied and researched all the way back to the 50's to create a fundamental core to my sound.

Q: What are some of the things you have accomplished in your career so far? been blessed to be awarded 2012 & 2014 Best in R&B award for the Best in A: I've Florida Awards. My music video for my single "Control" made it to MTV and I was named "MTV2 Artist on the Rise". I've opened up for artists such as Trina, Marsha Ambrosious, Elle Varner, Miguel and more.

Q: Wow, that's pretty awesome. What goals do you have for the future?

A: I want to bring the love back into R&B the way it used to be. R&B is a genre that

cannot be forgotten or lost. It is a genre that reminds people of the joys and pains of love. I believe that if we can make music about love, the atmosphere of hate in the world can change. Nina Simone said that it is the artists job to reflect the times and help facilitate change in this world...I'm just trying to do my part.

Q: A:

Any upcoming events or releases that you would like to mention?

I just released a new mixtape, "For The Love of the 90's" on AudioMack and Datpiff. It's my homage to the era that influenced the birth of what I get to do, and a free gift to my fans for rocking with me so faithfully. I also have previous singles and albums available on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify and all digital stores. You can create your "SassySingz" station on Pandora, Spotify, iHeart Radio and more. I have plenty of music and videos for your viewing pleasure on www.SassySingz.com, YouTube.com/SassySingz, and Soundcloud.com/SassySingz.

Twitter: @SassySingz

Facebook: @SassySingz

Instagram: @SassySingz

"Scenes Behind Madness"

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN NOW

B B

EFORE YOU OOK:

What To Inquire About Before Booking Your Next Performance

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As an unsigned artist, performing at different venues is a great way to increase your exposure and to hone your craft as a performing artist. However, after booking several gigs it becomes quite evident that different promoters have different ways of throwing showcases. One promoter's guide line for event planning may not necessarily match the guide lines of a promoter you previously dealt with. Which is why it's necessary to ask the important questions before you book a gig with a promoter. Understanding expectations and being prepared are the biggest reasons for finding out the pertinent info upfront. Here's a few of the details you should work out with the promoter before locking in your performance.

THE MONEY The first and most obvious detail to address is payment. Is any payment being exchanged for this performance? Are you paying to perform or are you being paid?

Some gigs pay a set fee, some offer a percentage of the door profit. Some showcases offer monetary prizes to the best performers and some showcases are for exposure only. Knowing which situation applies can determine whether or not you choose to be a part of a specific event.

THE PROMOTION

Promoting is one of the most important aspects of event planning because if no one shows up then all other preparations were basically a waste of time. The promotional aspect should be handled by the artist as well as the promoter. You're responsible for getting the news out to your fan base who's interested in seeing you perform, and it's usually the promoters job to bring in the new faces. Find out who's doing what as far as promotion and how the event will be promoted, i.e. flyers, social media, etc. Often times the artist is responsible for filling the audience with a certain amount of people either by selling tickets or inviting a certain number of people to pay an entry fee at the door. Also, don't make assumptions about the number of free guests you are allowed to have. Chances are there is a set number of freebies available per artist. Whatever the case may be, having a clear understanding of the promotional plan will avoid unnecessary confusion, and an empty venue.

THE MUSIC Before booking a gig find out what music options are available to you. Will there be a live band backing the performers, or should you bring your own music? Compact disc or MP3?

How long will your set be? If you're a band do you have to bring your own equipment or will equipment be provided for you? Also find out if there will be a sound check. Usually in multi-artist showcases, there's no opportunity for individual soundchecks, however it can't hurt to ask if it's something you're really interested in having.

THE MERCHANDISE Selling merchandise after tearing down the house during a dope performance is a great way to bring in extra cash. Not only can you make money, but your fans get to take away something tangible after seeing their new favorite artist perform. Technically, having fans leave with something representing you and your brand is more important than making money o of merchandise. Which is why it may be a wise investment to give away merchandise rather than sell it. Discuss with the promoter opportunities for distributing or selling merchandise at the venue. Throwing a few t-shirts into the crowd during your performance or handing out a few CDs afterwards can be a worthwhile investment.

When traveling on the road to success, performing is an integral part of the journey. Making yourself available to be seen and heard and to gain new fans is one of the most important aspects of branding yourself as an artist.

However, it's imperative to take certain precautions when booking performances. Every show isn't for every artist, and asking the right questions in advance can help you determine which shows are right for you and help avoid some unpleasant situations.

Teezy Ten Five Type to enter text

Teezy Ten Five... An artist who is as unique as the name he goes by. Straight out of Charleston, South Carolina, this rapper has been inspired by Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder and of course, 2Pac. Ten Teezy Five, or "TT5" for short, possesses a style that's vibrant, passionate and energetic. His music is full of life, and his crowd-pleasing songs contain catchy hooks and colorful lyrics, the kind of music hip-hop enthusiasts are longing to hear.

"TT 5"

Like many artists, "TT5" started recording music at home on a computer, however it wasn't until he spent some time in jail that he really began to take music seriously. Being exposed to good rap music and even better rap artists in the joint, influenced him to hone his craft and create music that was better than ever. After rapping for about 30 inmates, "TT5" realized he had what it takes to make hip-hop a reality for him.

Creating and recording music for ten years now, "TT5" is perfecting his talent with confidence, and the consistency to back it up. "How I showcase my talent is out of this world. I'm already an idol, the way my energy can carry a crowd. It's the emotions in my music you feel, along with my delivery and pitch... the way I influence people with headbobbing consistency of flow." Also musically inspired by some of today's hip-hop artists, including Young Thug, Future, and Boosie to name a few, "TT5" has learned that if you want something in life, you can't sit around hoping for it, you gotta actually make it happen. Being from Charleston, he knows how easy it is to be in the streets promoting negativity, but he wants to motivate others to go a different route by showing them that there are different avenues to see.

As if every song were a single, Teezy Ten Five consistently delivers quality music with each song he creates. His single " All I Want Is Money", with its catchy melody and ear-snatching beat, is available for download on iTunes. His energetic and uplifting music is conveyed with passion and expertise. With a new single scheduled to be released 7/26/17 on all major online distributions, Teezy Ten Five's goals are to continue to grow as an artist, to build a bigger fan base, to book paid live shows and of course to continue rocking the crowds the way he already does so well.

WWW.TEEZYTENFIVE.COM

" 5 "TT

OMAR JUST

Allow us to introduce you to a New York city native whose music tells the story of his experiences and struggles growing up in the city. His honest, no-holds-barred lyrics reflect his truth and inspiration, as well as his point of view of the world we live in. He's an artist who has gone by many names, and now he simply calls himself Omar Just.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, but now residing in Jersey City, New Jersey, Omar started rapping at the age 11. Inspired by the rappers of the early 90s, such as Big Daddy Kane, Biz Markie, Young MC, and Doug Lazy, he began to take music seriously in 2001. He started

recording demos in Harlem and, three years later, began performing in open mics. By 2009, Omar Just began recording music professionally at an official music studio in Manhattan and in June 2012 he recorded his first project titled "In Due Time".

For Omar Just, the city that he grew up in was filled with inspiration. From the tall buildings of Manhattan to the beautiful women of New York, they filled him with the optimism he used to fuel his fire. But it wasn't just the beauty of the city that inspired him, but the struggle of city life as well. Being a teenager in a rough high school, with no father or siblings for support, and dealing with death and other hard times is the substance of Omar's music, especially some of his darker songs such as "I Tell the Truth".

Although he grew up listening to all types of music and has been influenced by culture during travels with his mother, Omar's music is self-proclaimed to be "the sound of NYC". His songs shine with honesty and truth, and a story that is all his own. "I tell my story and have my own point of view of the world. Everyone has their own story to tell and I have mine... I want people to relate to what I say. I'm from the struggle and most people are as well. I'm just like the rest of them except I happen to rap. I represent the struggle."

As for the future, Omar Just's goal is to keep grinding and moving forward with his career. He has recently released two songs on SoundCloud titled "Grindin" and "The Past". He's planning on releasing a second project and finding new ways to promote himself, while staying true to himself and his strong belief in human rights, hence the name Omar "Just". As a rapper who represents justice and the struggle of the people, he's definitely one to be on the lookout for.

"In Due Time"

Omar Just's SoundCloud

Omar Just's YouTube

T-MAC Hailing straight out of Hanover, Maryland is a dope lyricist who wants to spread the word that it's okay to be yourself. With a powerful message, and an even more powerful attitude, this artist doesn't hold back his opinions and isn't afraid to share them with the world. He's unique in an innovative, game-changing way, and he goes by the name of TMac.

Rapping since the age of fourteen, T-Mac, like many other musicians, began by writing songs in his notepad in an effort to find some form of personal expression. T-Mac quickly found that music was his lane to be able to express himself freely, and soon realized that he was actually good at creating songs. Although Hanover isn't big on the music scene, that didn't stop T-Mac from being motivated to take his artistry seriously. He puts his heart and soul into every lyric, and would never have it any other way.

Determined to stand apart from the common rapper stereotype, T-Mac avoids falling into the trap of talking about what most other young rappers talk about in their music - gun violence, drug use, and degrading women.

Instead, he focuses on promoting positivity to his listeners, showing them that it's okay to stand up for what you believe in. But the content of his lyrics isn't the only thing that makes him a unique MC. As a rapper who is autistic, T-Mac's goal is to make a way for autistic musicians to succeed and to be heard.

Kendrick Lamar, Joey Bada$$, Childish Gambino & Xxxtentacion are among the artists who have inspired T-Mac musically.

However T-Mac's opinion of today's rap is that it's "dumbing down" our youth and going against the foundation that true hip-hop was built on. The message that he wants to convey

T-MAC's Links SoundCloud Instagram Spinrilla Twitter

to our youth is that it's okay to be an outsider and not to compromise how you feel about yourself. He wants people to know that they can think and live for themselves and not feel forced to follow everyone around them. By standing up for what he believes in, T-Mac intends to impact a lot of people's lives through his music. Not only is he an artist himself, but he is also the founder of his music label, Beyond Greatness Records. Music isn't the only form of art that has piqued T-Mac's interest. He's also taken an interest in acting, and is attempting to build on that as well. As a person dealing with autism, T-Mac has shown a never-give-up attitude by not allowing what could be considered an obstacle, to stand in his way. His level of determination and his positive attitude will be a winning force on TMac's road to success.

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