Photo by Joey Green

Joey Green finds his voice on “Lost.” The rate at which music is digested in a digital market creates the challenge of living with a record. The DMV spitter’s presentation propels “Lost” to a space which demands not just a solid listen, but forces a sense of intrigue. While Joey’s pseudo-anonymity leaves listeners (myself including) checking for releases, tracks like “Lost” act as a forceful reminder of how deep his well of lyricism goes. “Lost” is refreshing; a ground level RAP song that instills the basic, yet fundamental, cultural laws. Subtly-gritty sonics and hard drum hits from producer Oseias place Joey dead center where he shines, lyric after lyric, word from word. “I can write a treatment on my life and script it/I can heal it like I write prescriptions/They can’t read me with the right subscription.” and “You’ll never score if it’s man to man/I got them crack flows that get passed out like it’s hand to hand/ These ni**as thought they was Puff whole time they lied about bands/Such a big difference between the blueprint vs. the scan” are glimpses into what creates the previously mentioned intrigue. In his brevity, Joey possesses the ability to craft authentic and original messages amidst a time of constant recycling. At this point “Lost” seems to be a mere loosie to test the appetite, but with projects in the works, it’s evident that what once had been lost, is artistically found. Listen to “Lost” below.

The post Joey Green Finds His Voice On “Lost” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Unsigned Spotlight alumni Joey Green drops off new music with “Fatal.” The D.C. talent continues to show off his great lyricism as he teams up with Fritz. “Fatal” comes with a nice organic sound as it plays out for a solid listen. Check it out here.

The post New Music: Joey Green ft. Fritz – Fatal appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

DMV’s own hard-hitting female emcee Havana Seoul delivers a hometown remix to a fan favorite track, “Nagasaki Nuke.” Fellow DMV rappers Joey Green and Jay IDK bring their talents to the table for for the mellow Canis Major-produced track, both providing punchline-heavy bars for listeners to enjoy. This official remix will appear on Havana Seoul‘s upcoming SeoulSZN EP, which is expected to release in the upcoming weeks.

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The Last Son is the debut project from Maryland upstart Kalel. Boosting features from fellow DMV natives Nikkoi Maurice and Joey Green, the new EP utilizes a variety of producers, as well, including Wonya Love and Ado The God. Equipped with hard-hitting tracks like “1157”, the 8-song body of work is balanced off by smooth cuts like, “Waiting On Eventually” and “Solitude Fortress.”

All in all, The Last Son, serves as a great introduction for the east coast recording artist and offers yet another creative alternative to todays rapidly growing music scene. Stream the project in it’s entirety below:

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Independent artists keep music exciting & always remind us that there is so much talent in the world. Nowadays it is easy to get swamped with all the mainstream music that is out & you often forget to take time out to discover some new sounds that’s where Unsigned Spotlight comes in. Sundays at Respect Magazine will now be dedicated to giving 5 Unsigned artists the spotlight & showcasing their talents. These artists will come from all over the country & have various backgrounds but all their music will be unique in a way as they pave the way for the next wave of music. Enjoy!

1. Silk The Prince

Silk The Prince comes out of South Carolina with his own sound & a wide-range of abilities. With a mix of influences, Silk is able to provide us with energetic anthems, songs for the ladies, & conscious record as well. Throughout all this, he still manages to put his own style on everything & is constantly expanding his sound.

– What’s the biggest goal you hope to accomplish in 2015?

By the end of 2015 I want to be the biggest rapper in South Carolina and expand from there. That’s really what I’m working towards.

– What message do you hope your music gives to the listeners?

I hope all my songs give them different messages. I’m not a boxed in rapper, sometimes the message should just be to “Turn Up”, others I want you to just feel where I’m coming from, and say “this dude is dope”.

– How would you describe your own sound?

Unique. I’m singing one minute and rapping the next, then the next minute I switch my delivery and voice up, I just like to bring something different to the table.

– What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned since making music?

There are absolutely no handouts in this game. You really have to work for everything, invest, and avoid making same mistakes twice.

2. Nessly

Nessly out of Atlanta brings us an experimental sound that builds on various elements. The talented upstart works with select producers that help define his original sound. With a blend of auto-tune, various effects, & different flows, Nessly’s music is very original especially coming out of Atlanta. His ability to experiment & constantly create different sounds is always nice to hear.

– What’s the biggest goal you hope to accomplish in 2015?

My biggest goal in 2015 is to release at least five mixtapes under the 24 Karat / GOODKIDSPROSPER imprint. I also plan on assisting my right hand and producer Colby Crump In finishing and releasing his first project.

– What message do you hope your music gives to the listeners?

My music is made for everyone with each song carrying it’s own special message. Some simply to party to and others with deeper meaning for listeners to relate to.

– How would you describe your own sound?

I describe my sound as eccentric and groundbreaking for the job incorporating elements of other genres and creating an all new sound that is more experimental.

– What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned since making music?

The biggest lesson I learned from making music is one that directly affects my everyday life. It opened my eyes to both the good and bad in people. Some people are great and you me a lot of new friends and people who only want the best for you but on the other end you meet a lot of opportunities who want to piggyback off of the name you’re gaining. Really music has overall taught me a lot about life in a faster time than it would the average person outside of the entertainment field.

3. Joey Green

Joey Green’s bold statements & lyrical prowess make him one of D.C’s shining unsigned talents. Joey steps out of the normal scene & continues to show off his experimental production choice as he puts a focus on the lyrical content. The young talent has been on a roll in 2015 & continues to push the boundaries.

– What’s the biggest goal you hope to accomplish in 2015?

Thelonius Martin has been my favorite up and coming producer for the last few years. His sound is unique and is really smooth, I really want to try and link up with him this year. Being able to work with one of your favorites would be a rewarding experience for sure.

– What message do you hope your music gives to the listeners?

I hope that it reflects the art of self-expression. I like to craft through moods, emotions, and observances so that I can try to create not only a connection with listers, but also vivid visual audio. For the listeners I think my sound also embraces individuality. When I’m making music, I wanna reflect who I am and hopefully that self-expression invites people to want to hear more.

– How would you describe your own sound?

I would say my sound is experimental and progressive. With each project or song that I do, I always want to try something new or different. I’ve always loved switching things up, putting things together, taking them apart, etc. I think my experimental process plays a huge role on my sound, you’re gonna get something different every time. I wanna reinvent myself every time.

– What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned since making music?

I’ve learned that you have to be really patient. Good things come to those who wait, so that’s been something I’ve been working on over the years. Another lesson for me is to remain humble. I don’t like to brag or boast about my sound, for me I’m way happier with presenting something to someone and waiting for that constructive criticism. Humbleness in general is a good trait to have.

4. Tim Gent

Tim Gent represents Clarksville, TN with smooth delivery & solid lyricism. Tim’s sound continues to grow sonically & his ability to put together a song is really dope to hear. With constant releases, the talented emcee keeps things interesting as he touches on a variety of subjects.

– What’s the biggest goal you hope to accomplish in 2015?

If I could name my biggest goal for 2015, it would be to get myself in a position where I’m touring (while being compensated) and able to better provide for my little one.

– What message do you hope your music gives to the listeners?

The only messages I really have is CHIEF (Catch Height In Ever Fall), and that it’s okay to be yourself with this thing. I want folks to know that with God, a little bit of support, and a little bit of will, impossible is a word that shouldn’t even be thought of.

– How would you describe your own sound?

If I could describe my sound, I’d say I was the southern hip hop’s Ray Charles with elements of rhythm and blues. The way he combined his gospel background with that wave of his century was mad cool to me and I feel I’m doing the same. I only bumped r&b, gospel, Lil Wayne and Gucci Mane for a really long time. Mostly gospel and r&b though.

– What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned since making music?

Music has really made me a much more observant person. I mean, I was always attentive when it came to my surroundings, but since I’ve been making music on a serious note, I’m constantly watching and listening.

5. Futuristic

Futuristic out of Arizona by way of Illinois comes through with high-energy & punchlines for days. With a strong independent fan-base, the talented artist provides us with music that is built off his real-life & also comes with a sense of humor. Futuristic’s feel-good vibe is contagious & his music continues to improve.

– What’s the biggest goal you hope to accomplish in 2015?

I actually have a few goals… I would love for my project “The Rise,” which will be released May 12^th, to crack Top 5 on iTunes. This is by far my best work and I want as many people to hear it as possible. Being on tour now, I realized I want to pretty much tour all year ’round with other artists bigger than myself to gain an even bigger fanbase and experience new things, and just because touring is the shit, haha. There’s nothing better than traveling, meeting new people and doing what you love!

– What message do you hope your music gives to the listeners?

The main message I want my music to transpire is the idea of doing what you love to do and to live the life you want to live. It doesn’t matter what you look like, where you come from or what you’ve done, good or bad. You can do anything. Live the life you wanna live!

– How would you describe your own sound?

I have 2 sounds, and would described them as, a) Punchline heavy rapper with a sense of humor. I really respect rappers that make you think or rewind and listen to something twice, so I try to be as witty as possible without losing the listener, and b) Storyteller. Sometimes you gotta just get out your feelings and while doing that you relate to a whole bunch of people who have been through the same shit. I enjoy making real music you can relate to just as much as I love making bangers.

– What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned since making music?

My biggest lesson learned is to not worry about anything anybody else is doing. Focus on YOU and what you wanna do and where you wanna be, and eventually you’ll get there. Everyone has their own path and none of them can be duplicated. You are your own person and you control your own destiny!

The post Respect Magazine’s Unsigned Spotlight – Series 3 appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

DC’s Joey Green is a storyteller and his newest drop “Swim” is another chapter to his work in progress. “Swim’s” drowned-out melody and Joey’s slow-flow create a simplistic tale of love and personal introspection. This record captures the true essence of love’s insecurities and being emotionally honest in an age of confusion. He mentioned to me (half sarcastically) that he’s getting better at love songs, I think we’d all agree.

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