What seemed like a relationship destined for greater things unfortunately went down in flames, though it hasn’t left Fluent completely hopeless. Instead, the rising artist used his heartbreak as the inspiration, which he thanks his lost love for on the opening track, “SAY.” From there, he thoughtfully chronicles every aspect of a relationship, from the floating highs of “Come My Way” and “Fall in Love,” to the arguments of “Game We Play,” and finally moving on with “My Eyes.”

And for Fluent, the process of creating these tracks all came together naturally. “It just so happens that these were actually songs about my life and things that I was going through in real time,” he explains. “Once I started to accumulate the bulk of the material, that’s when I came up with the title of the album. It just all made sense.”

It’s beyond impressive that it all just happened organically, and even more so that he was able to do it in such a cohesive manner. Despite using more than a handful of different producers including J. Cardim and Purps of 808 Mafia, Flu was able to handpick instrumentals from everyone that fit the groove of the album. And that groove is one that resides snugly at the intersection of modern Hip-Hop, R&B, Reggae, and more, which brings Songs About You its life and color. The album may not have the happiest ending you could hope for, but Fluent definitely makes the most of it, musically and in life.

Songs About You is available now through all major DSPs via Flu’s own label, Supreme Regime, and can be streamed right here in its entirety courtesy of RESPECT.

Smart URL: https://smarturl.it/fluentsay

Fluent Online:
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/FluentTheGod
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fluent_sr
• Spotify: http://bit.ly/FluentSpotify
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/fluentsupremeregime

The post RESPECT. Premiere: Fluent – ‘Songs About You’ (Album) appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

The track is anchored by massive minimalist production from DrwKasso & Ira Parker, whose instrumental creeps and bounces behind the three emcee’s braggadocios bars. Whether it’s Dex flexing some wild bravado, Banz getting geeked out about his exploits, or Flu talking serious sh*t, the verses stand out for their delivery and undeniable flavor.

“I Know” also stands out because it’s a mental break for Flu, who spends most of his latest EP, Heartbreak Aaron, opening up about the ups and downs of relationships. That’s not to say it doesn’t fit in. Whereas other cuts focus on what it’s like to fall in love and have your heart broken, “I Know” captures the feeling of saying “f*ck it” and getting over it all.

Heartbreak Aaron is available now through all digital outlets through Flu’s own Supreme Regime imprint via EMPIRE, and can be streamed in its entirety right here, courtesy of RESPECT.

Smart URL: http://smarturl.it/HeartbreakAaron

Twitter:
• Fluent: https://twitter.com/FluentTheGod
• Famous Dex: https://twitter.com/FamousDex
• Jirachii Banz: https://twitter.com/BoogzBoogetz

Fluent Online:
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fluent_sr
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/fluentsupremeregime

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The post Fluent Unleashes New Single – “I Know (feat. Famous Dex & Jirachii Banz)” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Photo Credit: Marz

Rising stars Fluent and Swift connect on new single “Fall in Love,” a super-smooth blend of R&B meets Hip-Hop, boasting bass-rich production from J. Cardim.

Given that Flu and Cardim have a number of hits to their name to date—peep “Make It” or “The Bed,” if you haven’t yet—it should come as no surprise that “Fall in Love” follows that same path while offering a new sonic twist from the two frequent collaborators. It’s a more melodic and R&B-indebted turn from Flu, who sounds great teaming up with the Epic Records signee, Swift.

Funny enough, the two may currently live in different locations—Swift in Atlanta, Flu in Los Angeles—but they both originally hail from North Carolina. It could be that shared connection that makes “Fall in Love” such a natural-sounding combination from the two like-minded artists. They blend their two favored genres for a silky, love-centric single that won’t end up on any upcoming project, but absolutely bodes well for any new music from either act.

“Fall in Love” can be streamed right here courtesy of RESPECT., and is available now through all major digital retailers and streaming platforms through Flu’s Supreme Regime imprint, via EMPIRE Distribution.

Stream/Download (Smart URL): http://smarturl.it/FluentFallInLove

Twitter:
• Fluent: https://twitter.com/FluentTheGod
• Swift: https://twitter.com/Youngswift
• J. Cardim: https://twitter.com/jcardim

Fluent Online:
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retro_flu
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/fluentsupremeregime

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The post Listen to New Music From Fluent (feat. Swift) – “Fall in Love” (prod. by J. Cardim) appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

After dropping the dynamic Carolinafornia Nightmare album in late 2016, Los Angeles-based rapper Fluent returns with a slick-talkin’ freestyle over Playboi Carti’s addictive “Magnolia” single.

The playful, earworm of a beat is from Atlanta’s Pi’erre Bourne and was featured on Carti’s self-titled debut album released this past April, and Fluent does his damn thing over the instrumental to make it his own. And he does so with a swagger all his own, spitting a smooth flow for nearly two minutes straight and shouting out everyone he’s rocked with over the years (from Action Bronson to SpaceGhostPurrp).

More than a shout-out joint, Flu’s “Magnolia” is also an opportunity to talk some sh*t and flaunt everything he’s earned during his time in the game. This includes plenty of Arthur George socks, a laundry basket filled with Louis Vuitton, more than a few bottles of Hennessey, and a selection of droptops—not to all be enjoyed at the same time, of course.

Flu’s take on “Magnolia” is also serves as a strong reminder to check out last year’s Carolinafornia Nightmare, which includes a number of fire tracks like “Make It (featuring Blu)” and “Getting Paid (featuring Yung L.A.).” The 12 track LP is available via Supreme Regime (via EMPIRE) through all major digital retailers and streaming services.

Fluent Online:
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/FluentTheGod
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retro_flu
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/fluentsupremeregime

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The post #CheckTheFreestyle: Fluent Puts His Own Spin On “Magnolia” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Los Angeles-by-way-of-North Carolina rapper Fluent spits some serious game to a lady who’s caught his attention in his new video for “Now You Know,” a bravado-laced banger off his Carolinafornia Nightmare album.

With the team at VisionTwentyFilms behind the lens, Flu makes his way across town in his latest set of visuals to not only get his love interest’s attention, but to also make sure the world hears about it. That message is really at the core of “Now You Know,” one of many highlights from his late 2016 full-length. The track also captures the rapper’s talents when it comes to dropping braggadocious bars about his talents in the sheets.

“Now You Know” is produced by D.R.U.G.S., who layers the instrumental with nostalgic guitar lines and slapping drums. It’s the perfect combination for Flu to do his thing, which clearly works in his favor if the video’s outcome (and the lady’s affection) are any indication.

Check out the visuals now for “Now You Know,” right here via RESPECT., and head over to the digital retailer or streaming platform of your choice to support his Carolinafornia Nightmare LP, which includes guest features by the likes of Blu, Yung L.A., Lantana, and more!

The post RESPECT. Premiere: Fluent – “Now You Know” (Video) appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

When Fluent was working on his sixth album, Carolinafornia Nightmare, his goal was to push himself creatively and convey what it was like moving from North Carolina to Los Angeles. And it would be an understatement to say the end result accomplishes what he set out to do. This is Flu’s most fully realized project to date, and it also proves that dude is indeed a problem—or a nightmare, as it were.

“With this tape, I delved into different areas of my skill set to show my audience what I”m fully capable of when it comes to the art of songwriting,” he says, adding that he wrote or sang most of the hooks on CN. That’s a big part of why tracks like “The Bed” and “Rain” (feat. Lantana) are so successful. They have the potential to garner the emcees more mainstream attention while also staying true to his ability to straight-up spit.

His pure talents as a rapper are perhaps most apparent on “Wave,” his favorite track on the album. “It reminds me of where I came from originally, and musically with that bar-for-bar braggadocio and punchline flow,” he says of the banger produced by North Carolina beatsmith, and Dr. Dre collaborator, D.R.U.G.S. Flu also loves “Wave” because so many people want to get hot (or “ride the wave”) without putting in the necessary work. “If you want it, you better work for it,” he adds.

The album’s other highlights further demonstrate Flu’s versatility as an artist. That goes for whether he’s flexing over bangin’ production on “Now You Know,” examining artistic determination on “Make It,” or dishing out old-school lover-man raps on “The One.” And that’s just a sampling of where he takes the listener on this journey through his life at the moment, which flickers between hedonism and self-awareness.

“I had fun with this one,” says Fluent, ”and I truly believe that this is my best work yet both creatively and sonically.” If you don’t take Flu’s word for it, play the album stream right here courtesy of RESPECT., and see for yourself. Carolinafornia Nightmare is now available through all digital retailers, via Supreme Regime.

Tracklist: 
01. Carolinafornia Nightmare (prod. by J. Thrill)
02. Wave (prod. by D.R.U.G.S.)
03. The Bed (feat. Colby O’Donis) [prod. by J. Cardim]
04. Getting Paid (feat. Yung LA) [prod. by J. Cardim]
05. Way You Do It (feat. Kaze & Defacto) [prod. by TwanBeatMaker]
06. The One (prod. by TwanBeatMaker)
07. Make It (feat. Blu) [prod. J. Cardim]
08. Now You Know (prod. by D.R.U.G.S.)
09. Me & You (feat. Alexis Brooke) [prod. by Gotti]
10. Rain (feat. Lantana) [prod. by TwanBeatMaker]
11. In Love (prod. by DJ Shaw-T)
12. Ready, Aim (prod. J. Cardim)

Buy/Stream Links:
• iTunes: http://bit.ly/iTunesCarolinaforniaNightmare
• Amazon: http://bit.ly/AmazonCarolinaforniaNightmare
• Google Play: http://bit.ly/GooglePlayCarolinaforniaNightmare
• Spotify: http://bit.ly/SpotifyCarolinaforniaNightmare
• Tidal: http://bit.ly/TidalCarolinaforniaNightmare

Fluent Online:
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/FluentTheGod
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retro_flu
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/fluentsupremeregime

The post New Music: Fluent – ‘Carolinafornia Nightmare’ (Album Stream) appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

For the second single off his upcoming Carolinafornia Nightmare LP, Fluent teams up with LA’s Blu on “Make It,” an anthem for anyone who’s ever chased their dreams and worked to make them a reality.

Both Cali-residing rappers sound great together over New York producer J. Cardim’s atmospheric instrumental. And it’s a fitting backdrop for both artists to wax poetic about simply wanting to be the best at their crafts. “I got big dreams that are this long,” Blu spits in his opening verse before making a slick Manute Bol reference. And Flu follows it up with his own knowledge on the hook, “Grind and rhymin’ all my life, I’m just really want to know what’s next.”

As Fluent’s ambition propels him forward, he understands that the grind is never easy and it never stops. The thing is, it’s the result of that grind—like the music that you’ll find in Carolinafornia Nightmare—that makes the hard work worth it.

“Make It” can now be streamed right here courtesy of RESPECT., and is available as the 2nd instant grat track off the iTunes pre-order for Carolinafornia Nightmare.The 12 track LP which boasts features and production from the likes of Colby O’Donis, Lantana, Yung LA, J. Cardim, D.R.U.G.S., and of course Blu, drops Nov. 11 through Fluent’s Supreme Regime imprint, via EMPIRE Distribution.

Tracklist: 
01. Carolinafornia Nightmare (prod. by J. Thrill)
02. Wave (prod. by D.R.U.G.S.)
03. The Bed (feat. Colby O’Donis) [prod. by J. Cardim]
04. Getting Paid (feat. Yung LA) [prod. by J. Cardim]
05. Way You Do It (feat. Kaze & Defacto) [prod. by TwanBeatMaker]
06. The One (prod. by TwanBeatMaker)
07. Make It (feat. Blu) [prod. J. Cardim]
08. Now You Know (prod. by D.R.U.G.S.)
09. Me & You (feat. Alexis Brooke) [prod. by Gotti]
10. Rain (feat. Lantana) [prod. by TwanBeatMaker]
11. In Love (prod. by DJ Shaw-T)
12. Ready, Aim (prod. J. Cardim)

Pre-Order Links:
• iTunes: http://bit.ly/iTunesCarolinaforniaNightmare
• Amazon: http://bit.ly/AmazonCarolinaforniaNightmare
• Google Play: http://bit.ly/GooglePlayCarolinaforniaNightmare

Twitter:
• Fluent: https://twitter.com/FluentTheGod
• Blu: https://twitter.com/HerFavColor
• J. Cardim: https://twitter.com/jcardim

Fluent Online: 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retro_flu
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/fluentsupremeregime

The post RESPECT. The Collab: Fluent (feat. Blu) – “Make It” (prod. by J. Cardim) appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.