After dropping the excellent Scholastica Park last year, Detroit rapper Supakaine has started the campaign for his latest already. Just Like My Neighbors is next up on his horizon, and “F*ck Wordplay” is the first offering from it. A few weeks ago he dropped it on all streaming platforms, but now we have a set of visuals for the video as well.

Set in Detroit, the video for “F*ck Wordplay” is a scenic route of Detroit while Kaine goes about his day putting the things that make Detroit, Detroit on display such as Carhartt and lots of snow. He rides shotgun with producer DaG and they both cruise through the city. His WHLGN friends make a short appearance as well before he sets out on his journey.

Kaine is finding a niche for real life bars and it’s working perfectly for him. We can’t wait to see what he does on his next tape. Take a trip with him above on “F*ck Wordplay.”

Suggested Articles:

Detroit’s HBK Delivers with His Latest Tape ‘Sweet Chin Muzik’

RESPECT. Interview: Detroit’s Own Supakaine Talks New Project ‘Scholastica Park,’ Working With Chuck Inglish, Detroit Being Up Next & More

The post Supakaine says “F*ck Wordplay” In Latest Video appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Winter is coming to Detroit but rapper Sam Austins is heating up the city with his latest EP titled ANGST.

The Michigan native has put together his alternative R&B project which has some calling him a mix between The Weeknd and Jeremih, with the project itself capturing a TRAPSOUL vibe.

This EP comes from real-life experiences Sam went through and is some of his most personal music to date:

3 years ago, I felt like I was at my lowest point in life, and honestly, I thought I was going to die. In this moment of desperation, I would try to find anything to distract me from what was my reality. My anxiety at an all time high, I dove deep into my mind, drugs, and poisonous individuals.

If you haven’t heard, Sam has received co-signs from artists like Black Milk, Big Sean, impresario Jonny Shipes, as well as global fashion icon Phillip Lim, who said Sam “embodied the presence of genius” on record. Sam was recently styled by the designer for his 2017 New York Fashion Week show, where he was seated alongside Diplo, AlunaGeorge and Big Sean.

Checkout ANGST and let us know what you think in the comments below.

Suggested Articles:

Classic Man Jidenna Drops New EP ‘Boomerang’

CyHi The Prynce Releases “I’m Fine” (Ft. Travis Scott) & “God Bless Your Heart,” Rips Freestyles

The post Sam Austins Releases ‘Angst’ EP appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Detroit bred MC Se’von has emerged spitting some real truths to inspire and enlighten.

Blessing the game with his first hand tales from the street, Se’von talks about his life and having a father and uncle both being convicted of murders with his father beating a death row sentence, Se’von speaks on the realities of the jail system and is determined to deliver messages that stop the revolving door to the penitentiary.

Speaking on his lane in the game, Se’von reveals, “I don’t think the world needs another artist that dumbs music down. We need music to expand our vocabulary and we need lyrics to expand our ideals and point of views on all approaches to different things like life and love, on relationships and religion.”

Gearing to release a 3 part E.P. series entitled Stadium Of Hearts showcasing his knack for making lyrical street records, club bangers and uplifting the community, Se’von kicks off the project with the leadoff single “Bang Bang” produced by B3. But it’s not one dimensional when it comes to his sound, his latest single, “Let Me Know” generating a huge buzz and showing that Se’Von is definitely a contender when it comes to the mic.

Check out both tracks below.

https://soundcloud.com/sevonmusic/bang-bang-produced-by-b3authentic-hiphop-aggressive

https://soundcloud.com/sevonmusic/let-me-know-produced-by-question-16-bit

Suggested Articles:

Scoop B: Mr. Papers Opens Up About Representing The Bronx, Lil Kim & “Transition”

Eve, Lil Kim & Trina Jump on Missy Elliott’s “I’m Better” Remix

The post Se’Von Brings the Heat With ‘Stadium of Hearts’ [Listen] appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

In 2015, Detroit rapper Supakaine dropped a great project in the form of Ghetto America, and then fell away from the spotlight for a little while. Since he’s been gone, he’s watched Detroit turn into a hotbed of music, and soon he’ll be back to join the festivities. He’s currently readying his new project Scholastica Park, which is set to drop around the fall. All the singles he’s dropped have been stellar; just listen to “Dear” and I’m sure you’ll keep it on repeat.

RESPECT. was able to sit down with him and discuss the new project, who’s producing and featuring on it, whats up next for Detroit and a lot more. Enjoy it below.

RESPECT.: Why so much time between Ghetto America and Scholastica Park?

Supakaine: Basically, cause I was tryna hone in and make it sound like me. When people hear the music, I want them to hear it and identify with me.

RESPECT.: What makes the two albums different from each other?

Supakaine: Scholastica Park, this s**t got like a lot of live instrumentation on it. It’s real hip-hop, the content the same, I’m telling another story but other than that..

RESPECT.: What producers you got on it?

Supakaine: DaG, of course. W$ Kharri. Icepic and RJ from Slum Village.

RESPECT.: Out of those producers who’s your favorite to work with?

Supakaine: It gotta be the dudes I just named, but fasho DaG and Icepic, we just got that chemistry.

RESPECT.: What artist do you think influenced you in your music right now?

Supakaine: The past couple years it gotta be Nipsey. Not even so much the music but just how he move. I wanna get my s**t like that, real boss s**t, owning everything. The way he set his whole brand up inspires me.

RESPECT.: With so much buzz coming from Detroit, where do you see Detroit going and who are some of your favorite artists?

Supakaine: I think Detroit about to have one of them surges like how it was with Chicago and Chief Keef and all them. They was getting deals. LA done had they time, Atlanta have had theirs, I think it’s Detroit’s turn. Everybody about to be getting on. Payroll, he my favorite artist in the D. Babyface Ray. Chav (Chavis Chandler) too. I just was on the phone with him yesterday, I told him how he inspired me to go down this lane. He been on the soulful route.

RESPECT.: So, what Detroit artists do you got on there?

Supakaine: I got Payroll, I’m bouta drop a single with him and Guilty Simpson. Guilty came up like in the last decade like with Dilla and s**t. I got Chuck Inglish obviously. I got a record with Slum Village. I got a record with Ye Ali we might be putting on there, and that’s all I can giveaway right now. Working on a few bigger ones too.

RESPECT.: What was it like working with Chuck Inglish?

Supakaine: It was crazy because I used to listen to them n***as in middle and high school. Cool kids was on my iPod every day. So, we was in LA, I met him through Earlly Mac. He was just showing me mad love; it was crazy cause this was a n***a I looked up too. It’s dope having him on a record with me hearing his voice next to mine.

RESPECT.: If you had to describe your sound as something to anyone who never heard it what would you describe it as?

Supakaine: With this new album, it’s Hip-Hop, it’s gritty, grimy, lot of emotions in the records, stories that everybody can relate too. And basically, s**t that everybody been through, and that’s what I was focusing on with this project. Trying to make everybody relate to it, everybody ain’t got 100 racks. A lot of these n***s be talking and don’t got what they say they got.

RESPECT.: What steps did you take on the album to make it more relatable?

Supakaine: Really allowing myself to go back in time, and put myself back in them situations, and getting out how I felt in these situations. Expressing how I was feeling and what I want to say. Before, I don’t think I was doing the best I could.

RESPECT.: I know you had ran into a few problems with the police so what was your personal experiences with them growing up?

Supakaine: Man. The police in the D, from my encounters, they not even really like the police. It’s kinda just like you in a situation with a n***a you know supposed to listen to. Them n***s just do whatever. I done been pulled over, had a pint of lean, quarter of weed, all type of s**t. They a just take all that s**t. Impound the whip, and not give you a ticket or nothing. They just want some bread, they hungry just like the n***s in the street.

RESPECT.: Why the name Scholastica Park?

Supakaine: Right over there off Outer Drive, 6 mile Southfield area, that’s where I grew up. It’s like a church,  like a catholic school. And that’s what it’s called. St. Vincent, St. Scholastica and It’s a park right at the end of my street on Ashton. All the kids used to be up there, so it’s really just setting the environment. It’s like the setting of a movie or a play or something like that.

RESPECT.: Are you going do a tour anythime soon?

Supakaine: Yeah I can’t talk about how with who right now, but we definitely got a run for the end of the year we tryna get together. That’s when I’m dropping the project, like end of August-Septemberish so we in talks right now trying to put that together.

Respect.: What impact does your team have on your career?

Supakaine: A lot of people be having managers, but they not really involved. But Joe different he be in the studio with me. Running the streets together. Couple years ago we a scramble up our last, fly to New York both in the streets just talking to whoever we know. And outside of music, I think that’s the most impactful. I can get the music done with the creative guys but this n***a Joe we really just growing as men together, and n***s really need that in this industry. Icepic too, producer, engineering all my stuff, we been working for years. Just stay tuned.

Follow Supakaine on Twitter & Soundcloud 

Suggested Articles:

Light Up Some “Incense” With Supakaine & DaG

Detroit Newcomer LC Releases Secure The Bag

The post RESPECT. Interview: Detroit’s Own Supakaine Talks New Project ‘Scholastica Park,’ Working With Chuck Inglish, Detroit Being Next Up & More appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Big Gov drops “Let Me Live.” Photo Credit: Instagram

Charisma is defined as a special magnetic charm or appeal. Two minutes in a room with burgeoning Hip Hop artist Big Gov, and it’s evident that this rap renegade possesses the charisma needed to make an impact in the urban music world and beyond. Big Bov is a multi-talented artist with international appeal. He represents the gritty realism of his hometown of Detroit. The much buzzed about rapper is turning heads in the Hip-Hop circuit with his dynamic delivery and witty wordplay.

Big Gov is a rap phenom who has music running through his veins. His clever lyricism, magnetic delivery, efficient wordplay and irresistible personality have already earned him acclaim among Hip-Hop aficionados. The dynamic wordsmith raps about real life issues and experiences. Raw talent, intense lyrics, and banging beats are what best describes Big Gov’s sound and style. Authenticity is the key to Big Gov’s success. He doesn’t create cookie cutter radio songs. Instead, he concentrates on producing pure and passionate songs from his heart and soul.

The post New Music: Detroit’s Big Gov & Neisha Ne’shae Drop “Let Me Live” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Actress Reagan Gomez. Photo Provided By: VIBE

Reagan Gomez has come a long way since playing Zaria on Robert Townsend’s The Parent Hood.

Gomez has appeared in any and everything from Jerry Maguire, Carmen: A Hipopera, the music video to The Young Gunz’s “No Better Love,” and all the way up to The Cleveland Show and Family Guy.

To paraphase the Wu Tang Clan’s GZA while appearing on “The Chappelle Show,” Gomez has truly ‘diversified her bonds!’

She didn’t even have to go to Wu Tang Financial to get that advice either!!

She’s eclectic. 

The voice of Roberta Tubbs can also add an additional trait to her repertoire: a savvy crowd-funding marketer.

Back in 2013, Gomez used top crowd-funding site indiegogo to fund her independent sci-fi web series, called “Surviving the Dead.” It was successful. With a strong social media following via Twitter, you’d think the process would be easy for folks to latch on and give give give.

To the contrary, it takes much work. “It’s always hard because even though people know me from The Parent Hood or another film or The Cleveland Show or Steven Universe or whatever I’m still not Jada Pinkett I’m not Will Smith,” Reagan Gomez told me on Scoop B Radio.

“Even when I look at Spike Lee and how he raised over a million dollars and whatever it was I wouldn’t even feel confident giving on Indie Go-Go, Kick Start , or whatever trying to raise money even for our budgets for the web series it’s not easy and I remember when we did Indie Go-Go the first time it was in  2012 or 2013 and this was before anyone had a Go Fund Me.”

 Check out Reagan Gomez’s Chat with Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson on Scoop B Radio

Gomez broke it down further:

“Crowd funding was still very new so for me to get out there and put videos like: ‘hey I know you seen me on whatever TV show but can you loan me $5?’ It was like very like what the f**k is this? Everybody thought it was a scam and I really had to explain like: ‘no it’s not a scam. I’m not a millionaire and I really want to start creating original content and be able to tell our story.’ And once people started knowing what it was I wanted to do and hearing about the project and hearing about the cast I wanted to have, then we had a successful Indie Go-Go campaign.”

According to Gomez, the project has had ups and downs, but she’s become consistent:

“Our first season I think our goal was $25k and we raised just under $14k,” she said. “We didn’t reach our goal, but raised a nice chunk of change. I mean for the second season we only raised five grand so it’s up and down each crowd funding campaign that you do is totally different. Just because you were successful in the last one doesn’t mean you’re going to be successful in your next one. So we raised a nice chunk of change for Surviving as well but for Surviving I had to take a huge chunk out of our savings in order to make the show be what I wanted it to be, because I knew because of the genre and the type of show I wanted it to be the production value had to be there. It had to look like a show you would see on TV. I had the cast, I had the story, but I just wanted to make sure that I had the crew and the EP and everyone else to help bring my vision to life. And make sure that it looked great because that’s the first thing you’re going to see, you’re going to see how it looks, what kind of camera did we use, the color; you know what I’m saying? I didn’t want it to look janky! So for Surviving, even though we did the Indie Go-Go campaign we had to take a huge chunk out of our savings.” 

Suggested Articles:

The Next Big Showcase’s Cliff Po & DJ Tarzan Making Dreams Reality in NYC & NJ

Scoop B Radio: Turner Sports’ Steve Smith Talks Career & More

The post Scoop B: Reagan Gomez Is A Crowd-Funding Marketing Genius appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

____

And we’re back in Detroit. It’s refreshing to visit on a proud contemporary note. To be blunt, this is anti-bubblegum. This is anti-colorful braids. This is anti-incoherancy. This is what some, or most, may consider much closer to raw hip-hop‘s purest contemporary form. You know, that Onyx meets MOP meets Lord Finesse meets Nujabes type of sound. That’s quite the pot to stir but a damn welcomed sound in 2017.

If you’re new to Nolan the Ninja, he is in his early twenties. He’s pretty hard to ignore, as his presence is quite literally demanded on record. In the past year life has been kind to him. Linking up with the promising imprint Left of Center and releasing multiple projects last year, one being his official debut, was a success. Keeping up with him on social media has been invigorating – quick to update his followers which seasoned veteran he has met or larger stages he’s rocked. That being said, you should keep your eye on the young shooter. The work ethic, authenticity and professionalism alone was impressive for such a young artist. Oh, and range.

____

____

Nolan isn’t coming up short on the hardware either, dropping off his self-produced “14K” here at RESPECT. Mag. It’s not too far off from what we’d expect Nolan to produce – simple head nodder, evident lo-fi boom-bap influence. The first half of 14K may be a bit jazzier than we’re used to (see previous releases). Opening the record with vulnerable lyrics is a home run. The widespread and shared struggle of young 20-something’s looking for financial security, consistency and a smile on their grandma’s face. More than a smile, a hypothetical 14 carat trophy of sorts. Nolan recently sat down with HuffPost and added:

When I started working on YEN, “14K” was the first song that I made. It helped lay the foundation for the direction that I wanted to go in. After releasing my debut album last year, I’ve been blessed to be a part of things that was just a mere dream not too long ago. Because of that, my goals have become bigger. On the track, I said “I’m trying to get a Grammy to Granny before she transcends”. I wasn’t thinking like that before. It’s all about progression and going for yours. Gold is associated with the idea of high achievement. As kids, we all wanted a gold star in school. So that’s what it’s about. Executing for what you seek. I want the “gold” for not only me but my people.

Stream the single a million times and do be prepared for Nolan’s sophomore effort ‘YEN’. It’s due out in the second half of September via Left of Center/Fat Beats (the 22nd to be exact). You have our full co-sign and stamp of approval for the record. If you’re on the fence but easily influenced by bomb features, let’s look at a few of the guest artists – Royce Da 5’9″, Blu, Quelle Chris. I shouldn’t have to keep going. The pre-order links are right below this sentence. Peace and love.

____

iTunes Preorder | Fat Beats Preorder

Twitter | Instagram

____

The post Nolan The Ninja Is Out For Gold With New “14K” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.