Breathing of fresh air to give us all hope, “Black Lives Matter” is armed with lyricism you just need to hear and an irresistible blend of dope beats and powerful hooks, Johnny Crown combines vintage Hip-Hop, Soul, poetic lyrics, and a message.

The release of his latest single comes five days after Crown dropped his initial track inspired by current events, “United States of Hell.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBFKWq3gyAK/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

For those unfamiliar, Johnny Crown broke down the doors on the underground scene with the release of his debut project, Drunk. An ode to being intoxicated off of life,  Drunk served as the perfect introduction to his sophomore project, The Coolest Prince in the Jungle, which highlighted Crown’s love of Afrobeat, before the release of his first project focused on the social climate Shine Your Light. His latest project, Fear Don’t Live Here Anymore serves as a dose of love at a time when there is uncertainty and unrest.

“Fear Don’t Live Here Anymore is an affirmation of the times,” Johnny Crown said. “Where there is a pandemic and everyone is scared and panicking, I’m basically injecting Love into our atmosphere through the vibration of music with the intention to eradicate fear.”

Not only is Johnny a proven, talented musician, he is also a comic book creator, kids book author, actor, a stand-up comic also a mentor for Tina’s angels and Richards warrior a non-profit organization created by Beyoncé’s mother Mrs. Tina Knowles-Lawson and her husband Mr. Richard Lawson.

Keep up with Johnny Crown by following him here.

Check out “Black Lives Matter” below.

https://open.spotify.com/album/6GefGvc1QiCn2nna13ku09

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The post Johnny Crown Drops New Single, “Black Lives Matter” For The Culture appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

“Metamorphosis” displays how much of diverse wordsmith he can be. This body of work demonstrates his true talent. He continuously reveals more about his life and personality through his music. In each track he sheds another layer and digs deeper. Each song tells a unique story and each lyric displays more of who he is.

Ace utilizes music as a way to convey relatable messages to his supporters. Each song creates a different vibe that you feel once the beat drops. Throughout the tape you can also hear the versatility in each track. With his unique lyrical patterns and catchy hooks, Tahj Ace shows us how he is a force to be reckon with.

Click below to stream, “Metamorphosis”

https://fanlink.to/tahjace-metamorphosis

The post Tahj Ace Delivers New EP, “Metamorphosis” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

With the release of his latest video My Dream Girl Is Different, O’Keefe kicked off 2020 on the right track. The cinematic visual features a look at how innocent and pure real love is. The innocent perspective coupled with O’Keefe’s rap persona gives a unique and refreshing glimpse of young love.

O’Keefe’s rhyme style and delivery are definitely something to hear, but it’s also his fashion sense and vibe that captivates the listener–a goal that O’Keefe says was a part of the plan from the beginning.

“Fashion is also something I really wanted to get into as I’ve always been around fashion and definitely plays a part in my music,” O’Keefe said. “The crazy thing is I used to look at the stage in the auditorium and imagine myself performing music, but never imagined why or that I’d become a musical artist. I make different music for everybody to reach out to everybody, to let ’em know I understand where they are coming from.”

But it’s not just fashion, O’Keefe shares that one thing that keeps his sounds eclectic and fresh is his ability to create based off of his mood.

“From Hip-Hop to Rock I find a way to express my current state psychologically,” O’Keefe continued. “My mood rapidly changes I could be in a rock a phase for a short period then the next minute I’m in drill trap mindset ya know lol…. but I control most of these moods as much as possible.”

Check out the visuals for “My Dream Girl Is Different” below and follow him online here.

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The post #UpNext: O’Keefe Is Showing Why He’s Got Next appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Brooklynite Sean Andre Debuts Double Feature “Big Facts” And “Hunnid Or Betta”

Up and coming rapper, entrepreneur, model, actor and CEO of SMELifestyle Inc/illMade apparel and native Brooklynite Sean Andre is mostly recognized for his tBK style rap music. His breakout single “TrapGod” received heavy rotation on radio and streaming platforms around the blogosphere.

Back at it with new heat, Sean Andre premieres previews of a double Single EP. Experimenting with a unique UK Drill beat really sets the tone, but keeping his roots firmly planted in Brooklyn, NY on the single “Hunnid or Betta” produced by: Yoz Beatz. Also, he is encouraging ladies to shake it and warning them if its too thick ortoo crazy,, he might want to give them a baby on single “Big Facts” produced by Attic Sound.

Make sure to keep checking back to RESPECT.Mag for more Sean Andre and #TheAltWithMel news.

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The post Sean Andre Debuts Double Feature “Big Facts” & “Hunnid Or Betta” | #TheAltWithMel appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

The aptly titled EP features the hybrid MC celebrating his Caribbean roots with four Dancehall/Hip-Hop fusion style songs that keeps your hips winding. The title track “Work”, which Beach Boii released a neon inspired visual for, features a collaboration with Zay27 and the two riding a melodic laced beat that will have you swaying.

The newly released project also features Beach Boii teaming up with Real Gyalis, ShaneO and Cheez Trix with production from Brooklyn-bred producers Leon, Trilogy, and Chillan.

in 2016 before he became wildly popular on the underground scene, Beach Boii along with his friend and co-collaborator Phe released his signature dancehall “Fantasy” produced by Phe; which also solidified Beach Boi’s sound. “Fantasy” quickly climbed onto the iTunes Reggae Charts and garnered massive radio success.

In May 2017 Beach and Dancehall Label, WBT Sound, released his hit song “Rude”, with the remix being released in 2018.

To snag your copy of the Work EP, click here.

Check out the visual for “Work” below.

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The post Beach Boii Drops Visual To Celebrate Release of ‘Work’ appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

“I gotta’ make a toast for all my real niggas out there,” Stizz states in the intro. “Toast 2 That” is a ballad to all the real ones and serves as a follow-up to the City Girls-assisted track “Perfect.” Additionally, the song arrives on the heels of the release of Freddie Gibbs joint effort with Madlib, Bandana. Peep the song below.

The post Cousin Stizz & Freddie Gibbs “Toast 2 That” In New Single appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Sonny Vaccaro and LeBron James. Photo Credit: New York Post

Sneaker industry executive Sonny Vaccaro Discussed Lenny Cooke & LeBron James’ 2001 ABCD Camp Matchup with Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson on Scoop B Radio Press Play Below To Listen!

Over the last twenty years, AAU basketball has become just as important as the organized game itself. Sneaker companies, coaches and recruiters all get a glimpse into the future of the game.

One of the most elite programs to step foot in was the now-defunct ABCD camp.

From 1994-2006 ABCD Camp was THE show at Teaneck, New Jersey’s Fairleigh Dickinson College. You name ‘em they played in it: Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Rashard Lewis, Kenyon Martin, Kevin Garnett, Sebastian Telfair, Charlie Villanueva.

That picture floating around with a younger Kevin Love and an even younger Isaiah Thomas, now team Cleveland Cavaliers teammates; yup, it happened at ABCD Camp.

Sonny Vaccaro, a former sneaker executive with all three of the major sneaker brands: Nike, Adidas was the braintrust behind that camp.

Vaccaro most notably got Michael Jordan to sign with Nike and signed Tracy McGrady and Kobe Bryant to Adidas deals. Vaccaro also challenged the NBA’s one-and-done rule by advising Brandon Jennings to play overseas in Italy for a year before declaring for the NBA Draft.

Vaccaro historically signed LeBron James to a $90 million deal with Nike before even playing his first NBA game.

Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary’s LeBron James heads up the court Thursday, March 13, 2003, against Tallmadge during a state high school regional tournament game in Toledo, Ohio. (AP Photo/J.D. Pooley)

Speaking of James, the world became familiar of him at Vaccaro’s ABCD Camp in 2001. LeBron wasn’t even the headliner; it was Lenny Cooke, a Brooklyn native by way of Northern Valley High School in Old Tappan, New Jersey.” I think that Jay Z might have been in attendance,” Sonny Vaccaro told me on Scoop B Radio.

“What you had was a mystical appearance of this kid from Ohio who had not yet broken into the national scene. The only camp LeBron had gone to was ABCD camp and Lenny was the reigning number one high school player in America and sort of magnified himself by being this very mysterious kid also.”

Cooke averaged 25 points, hauled in 10 rebounds, two steals and two blocks per game in his junior year at Northern Valley High School with high school scouts ranking him ahead of retired NBA forward Amar’e Stoudemire, James and the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Carmelo Anthony.

In the closing seconds of the game, Cooke’s team had the lead and possession of the basketball. James stole the ball from Cooke, scored on a fast break and won the game. That play introduced the world to the Akron, Ohio baller who was later featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated with the cover titled, ‘The Chosen One.’  “The funny this about it is that it wasn’t like Lenny did bad,” said Sonny Vaccaro. “But LeBron just won the game.”

James would enter the NBA Draft in 2003 and win three NBA championships.

While speaking at Philadelphia’s Mount Olivet Tabernacle Baptist Church with Rev. Andre L. Price last year, Cooke says that not showing up for team workouts hindered his draft stock. “My kids like LeBron James now,” said Cooke.

“He’s earned everything he’s gotten and taken advantage of every opportunity he’s been given. How can I be mad at him? He built his brand the right way!”“That game didn’t single-handedly mean anything other than it was played in New York at a summertime camp and a lot of people saw it,” said Vaccaro.

Added Vaccaro:

“Lenny was over-confident and had the New York bravado and LeBron was LeBron and he probably didn’t care who he was playing against other than the name and that sort of carried over into his life. LeBron has taken everything that has come his way since that night and today and hopefully for a lot more of playing basketball. LeBron took everything more serious than Lenny Cooke and I think if you play the game, it didn’t begin that night but what it did was dramatize the reign of LeBron and the eventual downfall of Lenny Cooke.”

Lenny Cooke and Carmelo Anthony battling for a rebound at Sonny Vaccaro’s ABCD basketball camp in Teaneck, New Jersey. Phto Credit: New York Daily News

Cooke would declare for the 2002 NBA Draft and went undrafted. An NBA career would never materialize and he’d later play in the Rucker Park league, NBDL and USBL. He’d also play overseas in China and the Philippines.

Cooke has recently found his niche: coaching. Cooke coaches high school basketball in Atlantic City, New Jersey and travels across the country mentoring kids and speaking on panels at swanky locations like Microsoft.

Cooke recently weighed in on the NBA’s one and done rule stating that a player must be 19 years old or one year removed from their high school’s graduating class.

“I mean I disagree a little bit,” Cooke told me on Scoop B Radio.

“If you’re just going for one year, it ain’t really benefitting you. You’re still a child. I mean, at the end of the day, one year’s not going to [do anything]. If you get hurt, then you’re done.”

A subject of a 93-minute documentary, called “Lenny Cooke,” the film documents his high school career. The film was directed by brothers Josh and Bennie Safdie and executive produced by New York Knicks forward, Joakim Noah. “It is easy to tell stories about your success,” Joakim Noah told me.

“But extremely courageous to do the same with your failures,”

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The post Sonny Vaccaro On LeBron James & Lenny Cooke At ABCD Camp: “It wasn’t like Lenny did bad, but LeBron just won the game” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.