Mark Steele Releases New Single 'Ain't Real' Featuring Rapper Big Pooh On Mass Appeal

Mark Steele's connection to the Little Brother legacy is storied. Aside from being a North Carolina compatriot and longtime fan, Steele has been taught and mentored by his idol 9th Wonder since attending North Carolina Central University, where the Little Brother trio first formed. Therefore, it's only right that Steele join forces with Rapper Big Pooh to call out the frauds on his latest single, "Ain't Real." 

“Little Brother put out a record called ‘speed’ that changed my prospective on how to narrate a song. It was one of the few times I heard a record that didn’t brag about the extraordinary lavish lifestyle that so many rap songs usually portray. ‘Speed’ spoke about working a job by day the grinding becoming a star by night. The connection I got from that record is why I rap about reality today. As I get closer to achieving rap dreams I find it my duty to spit reality to the next young kid listening to me. Only right I grab a former member of LB to help me paint the picture. ”
— Mark Steele

"Ain't Real" is the fourth single from Steele's forthcoming album Almost Time, set for release this Friday, October 28. In addition to Rapper Big Pooh, the project features guest appearances from Raheem Devaughn, and more. 

Listen to "Ain't Real" on SoundCloud: https://goo.gl/PJ9fFn

Check out the premiere of "Ain't Real" on Mass Appeal: https://goo.gl/kjST6K

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Isa Shares Official Music Video For Heartfelt Ballad 'Take It Slow' On SoulBounce

Stream: http://buff.ly/2fIf05B Download for free: http://buff.ly/2fE8vOy Watch the #TIS music video: http://buff.ly/2eKrRzO Official Website: http://www.isthatIsa.com Like: http://www.Facebook.com/isthatIsa Follow: http://www.Twitter.com/isthat_Isa | http://www.Instagram.com/isthatIsa | SnapChat: @isthat_Isa Listen: http://www.SoundCloud.com/isthatIsa ©IsaLopez2016

Following the release of her new single, "Good For Me," Afro-Latin singer, songwriter, and model Isa, releases the official music video for her heartfelt ballad "Take It Slow."

“What I love most about this video, is that it showcases different versions of love (love between a mother and child, a grandmother and grandchild, a mother in search of a companion, young couples, married couples...). It’s not just about ‘me’. We filmed a large portion of it in my home and neighborhood in the Bronx and I got to work with some amazing people (a lot of which have been with me on this journey as a singer-songwriter), so I’m truly grateful for the final outcome. In my eyes, this is what makes the music video just as special as the song itself, which came from a really genuine and raw place. ”
— Isa

"Take It Slow" is the lead single from Isa's forthcoming sophomore EP Mirrors Volume 1, due out October 28.  

Watch "Take It Slow" on YouTube: https://goo.gl/thrz20

Link to premiere of "Take it Slow" video on SoulBounce: https://goo.gl/TAkXyi

Listen to "Take It Slow" on SoundCloud: https://goo.gl/LxHXui

Previous: "Good For Me" (The Source Premiere)

Watch Isa perform "Empire State of Mind" for Sofar Songs on YouTube: https://goo.gl/qaCsis

Isa is set to perform at The Bitter End in NYC on Sunday, October 30. More info can be found here.

Chase Allen Shares Music Video For 'Nothing To Lose' On RESPECT

Philly emcee Chase Allen follows up the release of his latest single "Nothing To Lose," with the fiery new track's official music video. Directed by Good Hype, the visual finds Chase isolated in the middle of a desert, as he delivers sharp rhymes of determination and fearlessness over hard-hitting production by Johann Sebastian.

“Nothing to lose is about being fearless, in spite of all of the things that go on in life... Most times it’s best to start fresh and put everything on the table and go for it... As you can see in the video, sometimes you are just out there all alone with nothing to lose but yourself and anything hindering you from your purpose. Live free, live fearless, with nothing to lose.”
— Chase Allen

"Nothing To Lose" serves as the lead single from Chase's forthcoming debut full-length album, Far From Home, equally inspired by Malcolm X and the emcee's personal life transitions.

More Info:

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Mark Steele Shares Music Video For 'Turn Around,' Dedicated To Keith Lamont Scott, On The Source

With gun violence and police brutality at the fore of much discussion in 2016, North Carolina emcee Mark Steele hasn't been one to stray from the conversation. The recent tragedy of Keith Lamont Scott in particular hit close to home for the rapper, and he expresses his sentiments in his new music video for "Turn Around."   

““Keith Lamont Scott was murdered by police, on the very next block behind where I currently live in Charlotte, NC. I’m born and raised in Durham, NC (Bull City) so being that close to murder isn’t unusual to me at all. We made “Turn Around” in the spring of 2015 at Patchwerk studios in Atlanta, GA because we were inspired by the chaos around us. Seems like every time we turn on the TV there was another killing and then another protest turned violent. All that did was trigger memories of my teenage years living in Durham, and dealing with the grief of too many of my actual friends being killed. Seemed like every time I turned around one of my classmates didn’t make it back to school on Monday. It makes me so angry to hear about another black man being killed by a cop, but instead of going out to protest or riot with the rest of the people in charlotte; I’d rather express my frustrations through art.” ”
— Marke Steele

"Turn Around" is the third single from Steele's forthcoming album Almost Time, slated for release October 28 and featuring guest appearances from Raheem Devaughn, and Rapper Big Pooh.

Check out Mark Steele on Social Media

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The Black Opera Releases New Single 'Black Woman Is God' On Blavity

Between science and religion, there has been much heated debate over how the human race was conceived. Jamall Bufford and Magestik Legend of the once enigmatic hip hop crew known as The Black Opera offer their perspective in the discussion with their poignant new single "Black Woman Is God." 

“With more questions than answers, [we] may not solve the case, but with everything happening to Black people in America, [we] hope to bring attention to the injustice by approaching it from a different angle. The fact that there are theories based in scientific truth that the Black Woman Is God should let us know that people of color deserve much more respect and honor. As the debate continues, so does the need for change in the police/Black American dynamic and how the repercussions (or lack thereof) are being handed out after acts of violence.”
— The Black Opera

"Black Woman Is God" is the lead single from The Black Opera's forthcoming album African America (out November 11th), which will serve as the full-length follow-up to the collective's lauded 2014 release, The Great Year.

 

Listen to "Black Woman Is God" on SoundCloud: https://goo.gl/IZtAzn

 

Watch the premiere of "Black Woman Is God" on Blavity: 

 

For more info on The Black Opera:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Bandcamp | SoundCloud

Maureen 'Ma Dukes' Yancey Announces J Dilla Children's Book, 'The Life Story Of James Dewitt Yancey,' On Hot97 w/ Peter Rosenberg

CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE: http://bit.ly/12lN6vb HOT97: http://www.hot97.com TWITTER: https://twitter.com/HOT97 FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/HOT97OFFICIAL

Maureen 'Ma Dukes' Yancey, mother of one of hip hop's greatest producers of all time, the late James 'J Dilla' Yancey, has announced the forthcoming children's biography entitled The Life Story of James Dewitt Yancey. Available November 22nd, the release will be accompanied by an audio book, narrated by Ma Dukes.

“ I want to tell you how very happy I am about the first series of my children’s book titled ‘The Life Storyof JDilla.’ It’s been an amazing quest for the Foundation as we gear up to support the education of youth by inspiring them to pick up an instrument and enhance their creativity and learn to appreciate the arts. This book can be enjoyed by the very young, as an audio is also available. It’s an example of striving to be all you can be and working hard to achieve ones goals in life.”
— - Maureen 'Ma Dukes' Yancey

This announcement comes on the heels of this past weekend's grand opening of the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History, where Dilla's MPC is now on display.

 

Check out the Hot97 interview w/ Ma Dukes on YouTube: https://goo.gl/cHBBWc

 

Pre-order 'The Life Story Of J Dilla' online: https://goo.gl/TfnuIB

For more Info visit www.jdillamerch.com

Chase Allen Shares Bold New Single 'Nothing To Lose' On HipHopDX

Philly native Chase Allen is fearless in his fiery new single "Nothing To Lose." Featuring hard-hitting production by Johann Sebastian, the song serves as the lead single from Chase's forthcoming debut full-length album, Far From Home, equally inspired by Malcolm X and the emcee's personal life transitions.

“Nothing to lose is about being fearless, in spite of all of the things that go on in life; when all of the odds are stacked up against you and the world doesn’t love you. Most times it’s best to start fresh and put everything on the table and go for it, without fear of failing!”
— Chase Allen

Listen to "Nothing To Lose" on SoundCloud: https://goo.gl/pRjJZj

 

Check out the premiere of "Nothing To Lose" on HipHopDX: https://goo.gl/zrFySd

Photo by Rae Robinson

Photo by Rae Robinson

Check out Chase Allen on social media

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram 

Madelyn Brené Shares New Single 'Warm Up To You' On SoulBounce

Madelyn Brené

Dallas-based singer/songwriter and actress Madelyn Brené masterfully fuses contemporary soul with opera on her new single "Warm Up To You." Produced by Erskine Hawkins with vocal production by Britney Holmes, the song serves as the lead single from her forthcoming untitled follow-up project to her All Of Me EP, and marks a pivot in a new direction for Madelyn's sound.

“[With ‘Warm Up To You’], I wanted to challenge myself... I wanted to marry the dramatic flair of opera with soul and hip hop... I was inspired by cinematic themes like the movie ‘Fifth Element’, the dramatic sound of the orchestra and sultriness of soul... Warm Up to You is a song that represents the ability to fully trust new beginnings in life. Warming up to and being comfortable with an idea, a person... an idea after heartache, pain or disappointment is not easy to do. This composition represents the preliminary stage of trust. It fully represents my journey as an artist and a woman to trust myself, my love and my music.”
— Madelyn Brené

Listen to "Warm Up To You" on SoundCloud: https://goo.gl/zeq3Gk

 

Check out the premiere of "Warm Up To You" on SoulBounce: https://goo.gl/ldmnbM

Follow Madelyn:

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Isa Shares Fiery New Single 'Good For Me' via The Source

Following the release of her heartfelt ballad "Take It Slow" earlier this year, the sultry Bronx-born Afro-Latin singer, songwriter, and model, Isa, takes us into the complicated situations of love with her fiery new single "Good For Me."

Classically trained, Isa flexes her silky fusion of pop/soul and contemporary r&b on the new track. "Good For Me" is the second single from Isa's forthcoming sophomore EP Mirrors Volume 1, due out October 28.

“‘Good for Me’ details the candid internal struggle of having to choose between two lovers. Following through with the theme of ‘Mirrors Volume I’, I decided to be brutally honest with myself and face the situation in song as the story itself was unfolding in my life. It gives a perspective into the other side of relationships that is blatantly selfish and mischievous”
— Isa

Listen to the song on SoundCloud below and check out the world premiere via The Source here 

Written by: Isa ©IsaLopez2016

Previous: "Take It Slow" (SoulBounce Premiere)

Isa is set to perform at Uptown Soul Lounge in New York City on Friday, September 30. The show is free with an RSVP here.

Mark Steele Shares Official Video For Introspective Single 'Big Dreams' via The STASHED

North Carolina emcee Mark Steele has undoubtedly scored big in his young rising career thus far: a song featured on ESPN’s 'First Take',another on Sports Center, big looks from press, and collaborations with some of hip hop's biggest names. But even with a few numbers on the board, Steele's journey is far from over. His forthcoming album Almost Time is a story of "being so close, yet not quite there yet." The introspective single "Big Dreams" drives that point home, and takes listeners on a journey through the hardships, failures, and life-changing moments in the past few years of his career.

“If I told you how important it was to dream big it would feel forced. Dreaming beyond my reach isn’t something that I have to force, it’s literally who I am. Ask anybody that knows me, from any time period of my life and they’ll probably tell you ‘he was like that when I met him.’ I just naturally have the passion for this and I want to be great, I want to inspire others to do the same.”
— Marke Steele

"Big Dreams" is the second single from Steele's forthcoming album Almost Time, slated for release October 28 and featuring guest appearances from Raheem Devaughn and Rapper Big Pooh.

Watch "Big Dreams" on YouTube: https://goo.gl/8EwpWJ

Link to premiere of "Big Dreams" on TheStashed: https://goo.gl/5Nq7dI

Purchase "Big Dreams" on iTunes: https://goo.gl/nbDvnH

Listen to "Big Dreams" on SoundCloud: https://goo.gl/y3NSKG

Previous: "Real One" [Official Music Video], premiered by HipHopDX

 

MORE ABOUT MARK STEELE:

Formerly of the North Carolina rap duo Mic&Rep, Mark Steele  imbues a gritty, fervid sound that has been long lost since the late '90s, early 2000's. Bred into the culture since the tender age of 15, he has already collaborated with some of hip hop's top names, including his mentor and former college professor 9th Wonder, Rapsody, and YMCMB artist Cory Gunz. 

Steele's debut album Sumthin For The Wait (2014) boasted his hit "Not Like Yall," which was featured on ESPN's morning debate show "First Take" and played throughout the month of March 2014 in celebration of  March Madness. 

Now, fresh off the ESPN placement of his song "Greatness" (from Steel's History Repeats EP) for Sports Center, Steele is set to release his most important project of his rising young career thus far.

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