OACE of Spades "RAP REVELATION"

You want the Boom Bap back? Look no further then Durham, NC's Oace of Spades "Legacy Thru The Loudspeaker" Album. Released in March of this year and distributed hand to hand, Oace captured that real boom bap sound from beginning to end. Best known for his revolutionary minded delivery and intense respect for the culture, Oace went back to his music roots and brought in features from his hometown including Igwe Fogg, Bipp Webb, Bull City Relle.  "Rap Revelation" (featuring Mad Whys) is the 1st visual from the project. 

Follow Oace

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Reverbnation

@kingelegance (IG)

DURHAM BOIZ "AUTOMATIC" Short Film Music Video

The name "Durham Boiz" has been circulating around the Triangle area of North Carolina for about a year now. They are steadily building a following outside of the state as well from South Carolina to Atlanta. So who are the Durham Boiz? They are a coalition of individual HipHop artists representing Durham, North Carolina, that came together after seeing a need for unity among the music scene around them. Each coming from different sides of their hometown, with a collective focus of representing on a larger scale. OZ is a lyrical monster, cutting out his own lane in the music world. His style and sound are hard to label under one niche in the HipHop genre, but he's one of my favorite artists and entertainers from this area.  Harvey J has always been the guy with a plan, and the drive to bring it into existence. He is currently the new owner of a unique, Indy focused & supporting clothing store, Runway Rebellion, located in Four Seasons Plaza (Greensboro, NC). He's 20 years old!! Tobot East is the beatmaker and one of the artists. Shawn Da Don progressed as a battle rapper to an Official artist. Kash's goal is to show those he came up with that there is more to life and Durham then running the streets. He's forming his own path through the music with a positive message. Video production by DeVon Jackson (@dev_shotya)

Ok, Ok, let me stop with all the details as to who Durham Boiz are and get to the HIGHLY ANTICIPATED Video for "Automatic"!! And shout out to "Buttercream Jones" for his hilarious cameo... #BullCity 

Follow "Durham Boiz"

@durhamboiz

@omgitsharveyj

@OZTheHitmaker

@FashionKiddKash

@_ShawnDaDon

@toboteast

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Website

M.O.S "Want It All"

Back on the scene and coming back hard is Durham, North Carolina Artist M.O.S. Best known for his previous projects such as "Drug Related" and his "BNP 1&2" projects, M.O.S has been on a high with the upcoming February 24th, 2014 release of his newest project, "BusinessNeverPersonal 3" (Hosted by DJ ESudd), which includes "Want It All" as featured above. 

M.O.S is recording under the Y.B.E. (Young Black Entrepreneurs) since his departure with Jive Records, but you can be sure to hear his gritty, street heavy sound on "BNP3". M.O.S is available for bookings by contacting gerald@teworldwide.com 

Follow M.O.S

Twitter @mo_ybe

Instagram @mo_ybe 

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Joshua Gunn...Victory

Joshua Gunn, working under his own label, Red Eye Lifestyle, released his "Faithful Struggle" album earlier this year and it was applauded by J.Gunn fans everywhere. Taking us, musically, through his beginnings and triumphs in the industry, and now using his birth name (Joshua Gunn), we are given the 1st video release from the project. "Victory" takes us visually through several events that impacted us all over the world. Gunn reminds that with each step he's taken, he's conquered his own personal struggle. Find more about Joshua Gunn and Red Eye Lifestyle at www.jgunnmusic.com 

Follow Red Eye Lifestyle:

jgunnmusic.com

@jgunnisbetter

@BRANDONPIERRE

@RedEyeLifestyle

Kenny Macguyver....Second Chance

Formerly known as "Killa K" from freestyle battles at the Local 506 in Chapel Hill, Kenny Macguyver, dropped a new video this week called "Second Chance" which let's us into his journey through his rap career thus far. The lyrics tell us about his life going from hopeful signed rapper to his daily 9 to 5 job. Kenny keeps it real for his fans in this video. Filmed and edited by DJ SpaceCadett. 

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Rapbi Ben Israel...Spoken Word Commercial for "HI" Album

More commonly known around Durham, NC as one of the most sought after Producers, K.Slack, and a member of Thyrday hip hop group, I'm pleased to introduce you to the man now known as Rapbi Ben Israel. After years of evolving into a more faithful living believer, Rapbi Ben Israel released a Gospel based Hip Hop album this year titled "HI" (Hebrew Israelite). It carries 7 tracks that lead you through transformations, positive wordplay and that head nodding hip hop vibe. 

Teamed up with another Durham Vet, Jozeemo, Rapbi Ben Israel introduces his album to the world through this Spoken Word commercial (written by Felicia Bue)...

Find The Album:

iTunes
YouTube
Amazon
Facebook
@RapbiBenIsrael

NylaElise...From One Room 2 The World

Nyla Elise, a popular "local" grassroots clothing company has been expanding globally with it's brand. Ricky Moore Jr., creator of Nyla Elise, reached out to a local North Carolina manufacturer with a vision and a desire to use products grown in his own community. He named the company after his daughter, which represented a new beginning in his life and the positive impression he wanted to make in her life. The Nyla Elise movement hasn't changed as far as its homegrown humbleness, but the brand has been generating a National spotlight for the past year or so with features in Spin Magazine and The Washington Post. Nyla Elise has helped to outfit several music related events and continues to get involved in community activities to help make the world a better place for his family and ours. His unique socially inspiring designs have been worn by music artists (J. Cole, Wale, Killer Mike, Kaze, J. Gunn, Common), celebrities (BET's 106&Park Rocsi, Luis Da Silva), athletes (Nolan Smith, Jay Williams), and political leaders. Ricky reminds those around him to always Keep God First in all you do. 

Nyla Elise Mission Statement:

"The true essence of Nyla Elise is more than a name, it is a blossom from a seed planted hundreds of years ago. A blossom designed to grow into a being that represents beauty, power, soul, and strength. A blossom destined to be great no matter what her surrounding adversities may be. Nyla Elise is history. Nyla Elise is you. Nyla Elise is me. Do you have what it takes to be Nyla Elise."

Wear Your "NE" Proudly:

Nyla Elise Website

Facebook

@NylaElise

Who Is Mark Steele..."We Stunt"

He's being called "The Next Hip Hop Legend", named "Unsigned Hype" in SOURCE magazine and co-signed by NC's Grammy award winning producer, 9th Wonder...So Who Is Mark Steele?? From what I'm listening to and seeing, Mark Steele is more then just another young rapper hailing from Durham, NC. 

Lyrically talented beyond his years, Steele has already added major accomplishments to his resume, including a six city tour with Jadakiss, opening for Ludacris and Gucci Mane and featured in numerous respected Urban publications. Check out his newest video, "We Stunt" and keep tuned in to the name "Mark Steele" this year and support yet another North Carolina artist paving the way to our state's recognition as one of the "Most Talented" states in Hip Hop!! 

Follow Mark Steele:

Facebook

YouTube

iTunes

datpiff

@whoismarksteele

J. Gunn..."The Faithful Struggle"

It's been an amazing couple of years for Bull City's (Durham, NC) rising star, J. Gunn. He started singing and rhyming even before he entered his "school years" and seemed well beyond his age when he started rapping. At age 7, he wrote his 1st rhyme, by 9 he was performing and at age 13 he won his first major freestyle battle (Dual of the Iron Mics). With opportunities coming so early for Gunn, he experienced a few setbacks. He enrolled in North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University and graduated in 2008. Even though music was his life, he took on the Corporate World for awhile. J. Gunn continued to build a huge following locally with freestyle battle wins and performances. As part of the group, THETHYRDAY, with close friends K. Slack and Killa K, the 1st installment of 9th Wonder's "Mr. Dream Merchant: Vol 1" began. After touring under the Indie Label "Street Flava Entertainment" and releasing an album titled "The Perfection Xperiment 2", the Internet and international fans flooded in. Unfortunately, THETHYRDAY disbanded in 2006. 

Kenny Mac...Back With A Vengeance!!

The name Kenny Mac (Macguyver) has been buzzing in North Carolina for a long while now. I've seen his freestyle videos on YouTube and caught him live in a battle against Seven da Pantha held at City Live Studios not too long ago. I was impressed! Kenny did his homework on his opponent and brought out the big bars, props and all. I booked him on my next show, tonight at Shakedown Street in Raleigh! 

I needed North Carolina music fans to know more about Mr. Macguyver so I interviewed him and here is what I found out:

TaraMarie: How long have you been involved in the Hip Hop scene? 

Kenny: For about 10 years now. I started freestyling and battling when I was 16. When Kaze used to have an Open Mic at the Local 506, I was there every week, in every battle and freestyling to every beat! I ended up getting a deal with an Independent label out of D.C. that led me to almost getting a writing deal with Ruff Ryders. The label I was with had the money to back me, but they were making bad business decisions. I got frustrated seeing how the real industry was and stopped rapping for about 4 years. I'm back now...with a vengeance!!

From The Mouth Of Bishop Omega!

It's not easy filling the shoes of several men at once, but "BullCity's" Bishop Omega does just that! He acts, freestyles, hosts and keeps us laughing. He's REAL in the sense that he doesn't sugarcoat ANYTHING, but that's ok, because that's why he's among the favorites for many people in the North Carolina Hip Hop scene.  We'll let him explain himself even better in the interview I was able to get from him:

TaraMarie: How would you describe who "Bishop Omega" is?

Bishop:  I'm the respectable funny guy with a keen business mind. Damn! that sounds good huh?! Nah, I'm just a man with God given talent that is on his grind!