Most 13 year olds are worried about their Pre-Algebra test they have on Friday. Wondering if their parents are going to sign their permission slip so they can go to the dance after school. Thinking of a way to come up on $20 so they can go to a PG-13 movie with their friends. But for kids growing up in the projects of New York, they need to mature a little bit quicker. The streets of the Bronx may have kids trying to find ways to get their own hustle on, whether it be legal or illegal. Smooky Margielaa is using his musical gift as a way to get to a bag at a very young age. Smooky Margielaa is a 16 year old artist from the streets of the Bronx, but he is slowly taking over the sounds of the streets across the country. What he has done since he met A$AP Rocky at 13 years old is inexplicable for a kid who should be worrying about his early high school years. Yet, here he is. Doing tours with A$AP Rocky and dropping music videos constantly. His musical roots come from his father who used to make music as a young man. He came to America from Africa to tour and display his own sound to a new country. He came to New York and never went back home. This paved the way for Smooky to live out his father's dream of being an American musician. Without a mixtape or album, he has still been able to create a huge following through his singles and features. His Spotify currently only contains 10 songs that belong to him, but he can be heard on many features. His biggest feature work he has done came off of Cozy Tapes Vol. 2 with the A$AP MOB. He showed off his vocals on "Black Card" where he does an exclusive feature with Rocky. On the block where they trappin' the hard way Although he talks about growing up in the streets and what it took to get out, he loves his fashion. His name speaks for itself. You can see him rocking his Margielaa shoes in his video for "Stay 100." This video was released in July 2017 and has 5 million views on YouTube. The visuals are what you would expect from a then 14 year old kid. Him and his friends having fun and dancing at a playground. He has said in interviews that he enjoys being viewed as a young kid. It makes him feel like he is the youngest doing it, and he pretty much is. He states that he stays true to himself and his music, and that he couldn't fall into the trap of the street life. His feature work has mostly come with members of the A$AP Mob. But he has also worked with Chris Brown, Juicy J, Playboi Carti, Soulja Boy, Lil Yachty, and ScHoolboy Q. It will be interesting to see who else asks Smooky to get on their work with them as he gets older and perfects his sound. For most artists you see his age that try to get onto the scene, you get the very repetitive sound. But because his father showed him Michael Jackson at a young age, he learned how to add versatility to his music. Something you don't see from artists until their second or third album. His track "VLONE FLEX" mixes sounds you've heard from Rae Sremmurd mixed in with Future with a New York twist. Sticking to his love fashion, he talks about one of his favorite brands in VLONE continuing to show what is important to him in his youth. The video has many visuals of him flaunting his treasures. A new car, house, diamonds, clothes, and a scenery that looks like a nice neighborhood in Southern California. He keeps his friends close by, and always looks like he is having the time of his life. Vlone on my body, I pull up and then I flex From making music videos for YouTube, to working with a lot of artists in the game now, Smooky Margielaa is now doing his own shows. You can see at this point that he is blessed with the position he is in. His most recent visual "Too Blessed" is a small look back on the short journey he's been on. He talks about how he made it out of the streets, the friends he lost to the streets, and the people he still prays can make it out. I grew up with niggas goin' through shit in the hood He lives by the slogan GRAPE. GRAPE stands for Get Rich And Pray Everyday. The kid has big goals, but also continues to think about others while on his own journey. It's rare to see a kid this age with this kind of success in the rap game. Following in father's footsteps as a musician, he has been able to make a name for himself. Smooky Margielaa has a bright future, and 2019 may just be his biggest year yet.
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For many years, the Super Bowl has been the premiere live sporting event in America. It's basically a national holiday at this point. Most people who watch the game aren't even watching it for the football. Instead, their attention is turned towards the entertainment value. The National Anthem, the commercials, and most importantly the halftime show. Some people literally go to the Super Bowl just for the concert that is right in the middle of the game. Because of the fact that it is a singular event makes it all that more easily accessible to the people who don't typically watch the sport. Whereas with baseball, hockey, and basketball, their championships are a series of games. And unless you're a fan of that sport, there would be no reason for you to watch. The NBA is trying to change the image of their one singular event with their entertainment value. And they can now thank themselves and J Cole for changing the future of the NBA All-Star Game. Over the past few years, the NBA has made it a priority to get respectable talent to perform at halftime of the NBA All-Star Game. Since 2014, they have had performances from Alicia Keys, John Legend, Nicki Minaj, Arianna Grande, N.E.R.D., and the Migos. But J Cole had a performance that stood above the rest. Rocking a retro Starter Charlotte Hornets jacket, he was there to put on a show for his home of North Carolina. Charlotte was not only a homecoming for one of the greatest in Steph Curry, but also a stage for one of the best in the game right now. Cole was ready to set a new bar, while also showing off his newly grown out dreads (multiple women have told me that he has to have extensions or something because theres no way his hair grew that fast, I don't know. That's just what they told me). As the lights turned low, the spotlight was shining on him with a lit up basketball hoop as his background. A live band begins to play the beat for his newest single "Middle Child," and his voice comes in steady and smooth like a Paul George jump shot. The beat drops, and the fans surrounding him on the floor add their own vocals with the classic "AYE! AYE! AYE!" to the beat. With every word, you can draw comparisons to this moment. I love you lil' rappers, I'm glad that you came The NBA All-Star Game is all about who is the greatest right now. The NBA should hold this same standard for the halftime performance from now on. This showed they are heading in a new direction. Cole continued his show with a tribute to the recently discriminated 21 Savage, with his verse off of "A Lot." As he makes his way onto a smaller stage that put him right in the middle of the crowd, he says "21 Savage! We love you!" The camera pans to the band and DJ on the big stage. They are feeling themselves and the beat, and are in perfect harmony with Cole. The background singers mimicking his every vocal, giving all of his words a vibrant echo. The crowd that surrounds him is in awe of the moment, and some are soaking it all in while others are capturing it with their phones so they can relive it forever. He increased the energy as he flowed into his next song with "ATM." The beat and the chorus had the whole crowd going crazy. At this point, those who were watching at home were off of their couch and dancing in their living rooms. This is the one that had everyones hands in the sky, feeling the happiness in the arena and through their television screen. Cole is feeling himself on this one, as he had a message for his former educators who may have doubted his decisions as a young man. But they definitely can see his vision now. I balled on the principal It has been some kind of journey for Cole. His career began in 2007, but has really sky rocketed over the last 5 years. He threw it back to one of his more emotional songs from his album 2014 Forest Hills Drive with "Love Yourz." As he took a seat and told the crowd to wave their hands slowly, he spilled his soul. The arena was lit up with lights from people's phones as he gave some solid advice to the world. His words rang loudly not only through the speakers, but through his emotions as he stated "No such thing as a life that's better than yours. . . Hear my words and listen to my signal of distress." As he stands up, the arena goes silent. He tells everyone to put one finger in the sky, and after a few seconds of silence a beat drops and he proclaims, "First things first rest in peace Uncle Phil..." and the crowd answers with a resounding "FAREAL!" With "No Role Modelz" Cole shows that it is just him up there. He made it to this point on his own accord. With his last three albums containing no major features, he performed all on his own. Accompanied only with his musicians and his background singers. Up until this point, no artist had really put this much heart and soul into this gig. Cole can see that the NBA's popularity is on the rise, and he decided to take them to the next level. This performance is the new bar for the halftime performance of the NBA All-Star Game. If they want this one singular event to draw viewers that are simply there for the entertainment value, this was a great place to start. J Cole set the new standard. Although, this may never be topped. 2/16/2019 0 Comments SZA Takes ControlThere are few times where an album is more than just an album. A therapeutic release for an artist can't be defined as just an album. There are rare occurrences when the world can understand and relate to the artist on levels deeper than music. So often, artists give the world music that the world wants to hear. But hardly ever do we get music that the world, especially young people, need to hear. By sharing her personal stories and life experiences with the world, SZA takes control. SZA Ctrl June 9, 2017 It's hard for any young woman living through her twenty-somethings to navigate through life in a male-dominated world. She is still trying to learn about herself while still having to live up to certain "standards" that have been put up for her by outside influences. How she's dresses, her goals, the guys she does or doesn't date, her hair, her skin, must all fall in line with how society says its all supposed to be. SZA is bold enough to say "Nah." A true role model for young people and young women specifically. She talks to herself, ex's, friends, family, and the listener throughout this album. Sometimes its not about getting answers, yet just about being heard. Her story, relived. Chapter 1: Supermodel Leave me lonely for prettier women What is it about physical beauty that leads men to believe it will lead to happiness? It has been this way for thousands of years, but today much of it has to do with the social media world we live in. They want to flaunt all the great things they have in life, including their women. There is even a term called "Trophy Wife." Women are not an accomplishment, or even some type of award. For too long, women have been viewed as an amenity and not a necessity. We need our powerful women, who are all beautiful in their own right and must be appreciated as such. The trap this creates is the woman begins to believe that she is not beautiful. Beauty lies within the eyes of the beholder, yet the one to behold sees no beauty within herself. SZA fights with her own thoughts and feelings and it leads herself to believe that she needs him, even when she has a million reasons not to. Men, believe in your women. Chapter 3: Doves in the Wind Real niggas do not deserve pussy The Pussy Song! Pussy Pussy Pussy. That's all that matters in this world, honestly. But not the pussy you're thinking of. SZA is talking about a woman's entire being. Pussy isn't just pussy. Pussy is everything the woman has to offer. Love, care, and knowledge. For men, the ultimate goal has been to get to the pussy in her pants. But men have been looking at it all wrong for far too long. Men should be seeking those three key traits that give themselves the courage and power to really consider themselves accomplished men. Think about Forrest Gump. That guy lived the best life anyone could possibly ask for, and he really had the pussy the whole time. Jenny gave everything except for that one thing and he accomplished everything in the world. Men too, can accomplish everything if they can change their own perception on pussy. Chapter 6: The Weekend My man is my man, is your man Relationships get complicated sometimes. And just like men, women have the capability to be imperfect when it comes to fidelity. Whether you're on the girlfriend side or you're the side chick, there is still hurt to be felt from every perspective. SZA is speaking from the perspective of the side chick who knows she's the side chick, yet still see the beauty in all of it. She doesn't mind sharing him, but probably mostly because he is not technically her man. In her mind, everyone wins because they all are getting what they want out of their relationships. Yet the pain her words and her voice can still be felt. She knows she is simply there for the weekend. She talks about how if he wanted more of her, she would open herself up to that. The time may be enough for now, but eventually the weekends may not be enough. Chapter 7: Go Gina Damn Gina, damn Gina In case you have never watched the show Martin, Gina is in reference to a character on the show who always seems to be holding herself to a higher standard and sometimes comes off as corporate and business minded. She finds it hard to allow herself to be free willing and carefree. SZA seems to be talking to herself as she is trying to talk to her inner Gina. One side of her is trying to tell Gina that it works for her. She talks about how hard it is to hold herself up when she is the way she is. Giving examples of how cool she is when she is just hanging out with her high friends. Sometimes its about not worrying about what anyone else thinks. And sometimes its about not worrying about what you think anyone else thinks. These little tips she gives herself in this song are meant to not be hurtful, but to build her up into a strong yet carefree woman. Chapter 8: Garden (Say it Like That) Need you for the old me, need you for my sanity Alright men, sometimes you guys are pretty good. Y'all got a lot to handle. Women are very delicate creatures, and it is your job to display comfort and care constantly. Any little misstep and it could be explosive. But all you need to do everyday is remind them who they are and why they're here. If your girl asks you if her booty looks bigger, the obvious answer is yes. Unless of course she wants the answer to be no, then you say no. Your words are like ingredients to an elaborate recipe. Put a little too much salt and you may find yourself in the doghouse. SZA knows how she is, and she doesn't know how hard it must be to have to deal with her difficult ass. But at the same time, it's his job to know what he got himself into. Whoever she is talking to, keep doing what you're doing. Because you got the juice. Chapter 12: Normal Girl This time next year I'll be livin' so good What even is a normal girl? And is it a good thing or a bad thing? SZA makes the normal girl sound boring and bland. She sarcastically states that she wishes she was a normal girl, because maybe then he would like her. All these dudes out here are dating normal girls, while SZA is doing her own thing. In her own words, she be "wylin'" sometimes. Well shit girl, do you. Men are so clueless, they probably think she really wishes she was normal. Don't be normal. Be yourself ladies. Chapter 14: 20 Something Stuck in them 20 somethings, stuck in them 20 somethings The most challenging time in ones life, those twenty-somethings. Still trying to figure out who you are and what you have to offer to the world. Getting old enough to consciously ask yourself what you're doing with your life, yet still young enough to not care. Everyday is like a ping pong game in your mind. Some of your friends are moving on in their lives. Starting a new career, getting married and having kids, and spending less time with you. You will lose some friends along the way, but its all a part of life. This time in your life may seem difficult at times, and it may drain you mentally and physically. As she states, it even kills some innocent souls. She is praying that you get through your twenty-somethings alive, well, and still holding on to some friends. SZA's first full-length album under Top Dog Entertainment is unlike a lot of music out there. There isn't too many artists allowing themselves to open up and be so free with their feelings. Being able to be in control of her life and her emotions has allowed her to find a way to cope with her twenty-somethings. At 29 years old, she was able to reflect on goals, relationships, and her life. This album is both honest and bold. It allows the listener to build courage, feel fear, as well as challenge themselves to be better. Listen to this album to help take control of your life. 2/13/2019 0 Comments LIVE: A$AP RockyWarning: The article that you are about to read will challenge all of your preconceived notions of what you believed was simply an article. You are about to experience a new way to feel, perceive, and share love. Thousands have gathered for the experience of the year. They come to see one man who has traveled across the globe to spread his message in a unique way. He has captivated crowds since his path began. Releasing his thoughts, emotions, and life to all those who have come across him in his journey. His journey through the ultimate experience; Life. A loading screen featuring classic black and yellow smiley faces spin around on the screen as the crowd waits in anticipation. Every second is one closer to the beginning of something new. They believe they have an understanding of what is about to happen to them, but they yet to feel it. The arena goes dark. A simple caution symbol is now displayed on the screen. The lights slowly begin to bring the room back to life. A dense fog takes hold of the stage, if only for a moment. The words of the man they came to see begin to enter their world, yet no man is seen. The people can feel what is happening. They realize now that they are in something completely different. Something they've never felt before at a rap concert. Something that is... real. With the crowd, the words, and the fog setting the stage for him, he brings it all together. In a flash, he enters their sights. His presence sends the people into a frenzy. A$AP Rocky has now commenced The Injured Generation Tour. A$AP Rocky's newest album "Testing" was the inspiration for the tour. For months, the album and videos that accompanied the music were all just trailers for the event. He planned a more intimate setting for the shows, making them more exclusive by only performing at 18 venues in less than one month. He opened the show with the top single off of the album "A$AP Forever." Sprinting onto the stage, fully clothed with a hoodie and a ski mask on. Hiding behind the mask was an artist with a lot to say and many emotions to share. Come fuck with the MOB, shout out to the Lords and the Gods The fog is finally settling after a few songs and Rocky is asking the crowd if they are ready for the rules. They must follow these rules if they are to accept the experience in its totality. His goons who are joining him on stage and in the crowd are also rocking the ski masks, and it is their job to set the tone for the people and to ensure that everyone is following the rules. You must love one another. You must smile when you are told. You must clap when you are told. And finally, you must mosh when you are told. So he tested his crowd right away to see if they were paying attention. He performed a major banger with "Yamborghini High" to get everyone who was on the floor to dance around like some maniacs. He then followed it up with "Multiply" which consists of intense beat drops. By this time, it is certain that at least two or three kids down in the pits had some bumps and bruises. He had the crowd in the palm of his hands. And with everyone locked in, he asked for a moment of silence in memory of his best friend A$AP Yams. Although it has been over 4 years since his passing, his name still rings on thanks to the love of his friends in the A$AP Mob. This silence led to a change of scenery for the show. It was time for Rocky to flex a bit. After a brief intermission, he opened his second act with the second single off of the album with "Gunz N Butter." A large sheet covered the stage fell to the floor. And behind the sheet was Rocky levitating on a floating crash test car. He is performing mid-air in front of a screen displaying him on the ride of his life, while taking the crowd on the ride of theirs. As he is getting down from his car, he stops the music for a second. He sees two guys fighting in the crowd, and he calls for them to come to the stage. He explains to the crowd that by fighting, they are breaking the rules originally set for the show. He made them apologize to each other, and dance with him on stage. The two kids were either drunk or on some type of drugs because they still couldn't comprehend what was happening. But once that "OG Beeper" beat dropped, all was forgiven and forgotten. Got my first pager, that was 1998 Things were starting to get a little bit too crazy, so Rocky decided it was time to take a trip. Not like a trip down memory lane, but like an actual acid trip. More specifically, "L$D." As he lay on the ground looking up at the ceiling, the screens displayed images that the mind could only create while on hallucinogenic drugs. The smaller screens showed the crowd watching in awe. And once he began singing to the women specifically, the stage began to get flooded with bras. A$AP Rocky goes by many nicknames, but he said after tonight his new name would be the Lingerie Lord. And as he transitioned into the next phase of the show, all of those girls who threw those bras on stage were feeling like it wasn't enough for the Pretty Mutha Fucka. Titties began to take control of the big screens. Big titties, little titties, saggy titties, and most likely some underage titties. You could see all of the teenage boys eyes lighting up, because it was probably the most action they were going to get that night. The Lingerie Lord encouraged the ladies to continue sharing their wealth while he continued to tear down the stage. With everyone getting their breather with the slow songs, he ramped up the energy one last time before the night was over. He wanted the crowd to spread out and really go at it in some crazy mosh pits. With every beat drop, you assumed that someone was going to have to get stretchered out due to injury.
But the name of the tour said it all. The Injured Generation has gone through enough emotionally and mentally to prepare them for this moment. A nod to Three Six Mafia with "Slob on my Knob" really showed the age difference amongst the crowd as one could tell that at least half the kids there did not known the song, but still went crazy because they could feel the energy. The energy was high all the way until the final song of the night. The show was ending, but A$AP never ends. As he performed "Long Live A$AP," the crowd experienced a bittersweet moment. They were thankful for the ride that he took them on, yet they did not want it to end. As he thanked the crowd and took his final bow, the crowd chanted "A$AP! A$AP! A$AP!" He gave one final wave goodbye, and he exited the stage. All that was left was a cloud of weed smoke coming from the crowd, and a screen with the smiley face image on it again with the words "Thank you for coming!" If you made it to the end of the show, you survived the crash test. And you can now put "A$AP" in front of your Twitter handle and pretend like you're in the MOB. 2/8/2019 0 Comments Wiz Khalifa was Really Blazin'Who would have ever thought the best meal to go with orange juice wasn't breakfast at all? An artist who would go on to be known worldwide made one of his works together before he even had the big record deal. A mixtape that would be released to the listener for free became one of the most successful moments in his career. Wiz Khalifa Kush & OJ April 14, 2010 Wiz Khalifa, a young artist on the rise at the time, found a way to make the perfect bridge between good music and a way of life. I remember being 18 years old at the time and in my first year of college when this came out, and I had never smoked marijuana so I couldn't exactly relate to what he was talking about. But I could still feel his happiness that he was experiencing when he made this tape through the music that was being played in my 1989 Acura Integra. So when I came across this tape the other day, it gave me that nostalgic feeling and reminded me that this work is timeless. Twitter was created in 2006 but really started to take off around 2008-'09, and Wiz Khalifa used this as his main platform to reach his fans. As one of the first artists to use Twitter as their main way to promote and stay connected to fans, he released the link to this mixtape which led to him being the top trending topic for days straight and was number one in Google's hot-search trends. Timing was perfect as he released it one week before 4/20 so that it could be enjoyed by everyone who participates in the annual unofficial holiday for weed smokers. The first single from the mixtape was "The Kid Frankie" which was a cover of an R&B song that was number one in England, with a life is good vibe. Ain't nothin' to a G Before I ever picked up a joint, that was my favorite track. But as I got older and was introduced to marijuana, I was able to view things from the perspective of a young man who had seen a lot of things in his life but saw even more for his own future. This tape was created for anyone who just wants something to relax and appreciate the life you have for what it is. With some deep tracks that open up his emotions to the listener, he created a window that allows us to look into the past of an artist who now has millions of albums sold and fans all over the world. The track "Still Blazin" gives us a peek into the thoughts of a young artist who just wanted to make music and chill out. Why can't everyone just smoke like me? As someone who has listened to this tape before even knowing what Kush was, and has also listened to it years after its release while enjoying Mother Nature's sweetest scent, I can tell you that you can enjoy this music either way. If you're tired of hearing the same style of rap music that every single rapper is using now, put this tape on and relax your mind and think about that first car you ever had and how it made you feel when you played your music at any volume and nobody could tell you to turn it down. The weed may be loud, but the music doesn't have to be to vibe out. Here's an old video of Wiz smokin' and rappin' |
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