With no plans on staying local, Kushie Sunoco is putting together a post-Corona tour to be announced when this madness of quarantine officially ends. For now, he’s riding high with the release of the “Rack In” video.

For now, even though the production game is a global market, he’s been shopping local for his beats.  Working with all the well credited producers in the Capitol Region, including Money Montage (Dave East, Rich the Kid, Kehlani), Docondabeat (J.I da Prince, Apollo Rai), and Mirk (Petey Pablo, Eamon, Ciara).  He continues to drop new high octane gas for the fans with no plans of stopping anytime soon.  Keep your tanks full and tap into his wrok. You need a couple gallons? Got Some Gas Money? Put your Racks In!

Make sure to keep checking back to RESPECT.Mag for more on Kushie Sunoco & #TheAltWithMel news!

Suggested Articles:

PUMA Hoops x Trevor Project Debut First Sneaker Together for Mental Health Awareness Month | #TheAltWithMel

Alternative Road Podcast: Blakk Soul Talks ‘Take Your Time’ Album, Working with Dr. Dre & more!

The post Kushie Sunoco Drops “Racks In” Visual | #TheAltWithMel appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

PUMA releases the ‘Legacy Shammgod’ sneaker with PUMA Hoops ambassador and the legend of the “Cross Ova to God” move, God Shammgod.

PUMA’s newest release, Legacy Shammgod

The sneaker features several special detailed elements throughout Shammgod’s career and includes PUMA’s heritage and court-ready performance tech. On the outside, each shoe is prominently stamped with Shammgod’s name and the year he changed the game with the “Cross Ova to God” move and contains a unique speckled concrete design paying tribute to “the concrete jungle” (Shammgod’s hometown of New York City), while the inside sole depicts sketches that break down the legendary crossover move as a reminder when lacing up.

PUMA’s newest release, Legacy Shammgod

To coincide with the launch, Shammgod teamed up with PUMA to donate masks to those in need at the Share for Life organization. The Share for Life organization is a nonprofit organization based in New York City that creates educational programs and videos for at-risk youth, teenagers, adults and seniors living in public housing communities.

PUMA’s newest release, Legacy Shammgod

Make sure to keep checking back to RESPECT.Mag for more on PUMA & #TheAltWithMel news!

Suggested Articles:

PUMA Hoops x Trevor Project Debut First Sneaker Together for Mental Health Awareness Month | #TheAltWithMel

Alternative Road Podcast: Blakk Soul Talks ‘Take Your Time’ Album, Working with Dr. Dre & more!

The post Shammgod Releases Debut Sneaker with PUMA | #TheAltWithMel appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

The same crowd of people who religiously chant that R&B is dead most often times isn’t searching hard enough to find new quality artists that can fill the void they’ve been searching for. If it isn’t on the radio or a part of your favorite music platform algorithm (which is an entire discussion), then it’s as good as a tree falling in the woods, nobody heard it. Yet, people are missing out on their new favorites developing right before their eyes as a new wave of Hip-Hop, R&B, and Neo-Soul is mixing and mastering their skills before the bandwagons begin piling up.

That’s what led me to Blakk Soul‘s debut album, ‘Take Your Time’. Blakk Soul is managed by Rapper Big Pooh of Little Brother, and he’s been credited for his songwriting, background vocals, and co-production on work by industry heavyweights like Playboi Carti, Dr. Dre, Anderson .Paak, and Macklemore, Little Brother, and more. For this album, he was able to recruit features from Joell Ortiz of Slaughterhouse, Amaal, Cocoa Sarai, and Nana. Behind the boards he was able to bring on  Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum producers such as Wyldfyer, J. LBS, DrewsThatDude, and Symbolyc One.

In an exclusive interview for “The Alternative Road Podcast” Blakk Soul and I discussed the time that went into creating his album, how his Mom was a big influence on him singing in the church, and what it was like being in Dr. Dre’s Hot Seat:

This interview has been edited and condensed. You can listen, in totality, via the podcast link below.

Blakk Soul’s ‘Take Your Time’ album

What led you to name the album ‘Take Your Time’?

Blakk Soul: “Take Your Time, it just made the most sense. I actually didn’t name it until the very end, very end. Throughout the process, I was trying to think of a cool name for all the records and I just couldn’t think of one that I liked or that stuck with me. Right at the end, I was having a conversation with a homegirl of mine and she said this is the type of music for people that like to take their time. And I was like aha! It was like that epiphany moment I had, then I thought that’s perfect. It took me about a year to get everything done. You know, living with records for a little bit, getting rid of records, playing with the sequencing of it all, I was very hands-on with the project.”

Tacoma, Washington’s Blakk Soul

How was it for you growing up and singing in the church?

“To be honest, my first time singing in the church was a horrific experience…so my mom man, my mom is one of the most God-fearing women I know. She just loves anything that involves praising the Lord. So we had just moved into a new town and started attending a new church. And obviously the kids up there have rehearsed and know these songs, all she saw was kids singing and said yeah yeah, gone head up there with the kids.

She set you up bro!

Blakk Soul: Right! I said I don’t think this is how this works…mind you, my mom is from Ghana as well, she’s like yeah gone head up there with the kids. I’m like I don’t think this is how this works. So I’m up there kind of looking around confused, and people are looking at me confused, and then you know as a child, I just started to get quiet. I don’t start to say anything, I’m just looking around like why am I here? You know, that was my first introduction to having to get up there. Then eventually, she did the due process thing and they let me into the children’s choir and I learned a few of their songs.

https://tidal.com/browse/album/132707697

Can you talk to the people about what it was like working with Dr. Dre?

Blakk Soul: “…They introduced me as a writer to him and he was like, oh you write? I’m like yeah yeah I do a little writing, he was like cool we’ll see tonight and he just walks off…I had heard of the infamous hot seat from Kendrick interviews and 50 cent interviews and Bilal and what not and they all talk about being thrown into the seat and create something impromptu. Who would’ve thought that would’ve been my same experience that night.”

I’m sure there are some people that don’t understand what you mean, we need to know this story. Let the people know what happened that night!

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2ocscS0S2bScPibf2dmpHH

For more Blakk Soul & #TheAltWithMel news make sure to check RESPECT Magazine!

Suggested Articles:

Blakk Soul Says ‘Take Your Time’ With Debut Album Release | #TheAltWithMel

RESPECT. Interview: DJ V.I.P. of All Money In Discusses His Start in Music, Becoming Nipsey Hussle’s DJ & The Aftermath of Nipsey’s Passing

The post Alternative Road Podcast: Blakk Soul Talks ‘Take Your Time’ Album, Working with Dr. Dre & more! appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

In light of RESPECT’s last discussion, TheHxliday delivered on his promise and has released his “Save Me” video.

In a time of sheltering, this “Save Me” release is perfect timing elating awareness of mental health. Outside of his ability to relate to the masses, the visual sets TheHxliday in a lane of his own, painting a picture of what goes on in his mind. Produced by Wallis Lane x Shndo, the metaphor of his thoughts paralleled with the little men convey the meaning of the single and a cry for help.

From the visual effects & animation to the band performance on the brain, Cole Bennett and TheHxliday have a synergy that can be categorized as a volcano waiting to erupt to the world.

Make sure to keep checking back to RESPECT.Mag for more TheHxliday and #TheAltWithMel news!

Suggested Articles:

#TheAltWithMel: Birdd Luciano Discusses Writing In Quarantine & Releases Video for “Toxic Love”

#TheAltWithMel: TheHxliday Talks “Save Me” Video, Dead Life Album, songs with Lil Baby & more!

The post TheHxliday & Cole Bennett Team Up On His Latest Video “SAVE ME” | #TheAltWithMel appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

I Am Image’s “Mercy”

During the 2017’s, the 23-year-old artist emerged from the 962 and the Swiss underground with multiple singles and a forthcoming album – all of which were made available as free downloads. Amal absorbed a lot of his vision as a youngster from his surroundings. Abdel Khaliq gradually learned to play several instruments, including drums, which was taught to him by his father. After a short period of enrollment at his early age, Abdel Khaliq established The Ministry of Events a collective and label.

His prolific output switched between swaggering modern hip-hop anthems and woozy R&B-oriented ballads, with relaxed melodic hooks the common element in both modes. He gradually gained a significant following through word of mouth and exposure from alternative weeklies and major rap publications.

https://open.spotify.com/album/6NbdsZmFytSL0HxToDKKCN?si=j_tIlIBuTY2bFdKVsfcshA

For more #TheAltWithMel news make sure to check RESPECT Magazine!

Suggested Articles:

RESPECT. Interview: Adrenalin’s New ‘R.A.P’ EP Shows How To Rhyme Away The Pain

RESPECT. Interview: DJ V.I.P. of All Money In Discusses His Start in Music, Becoming Nipsey Hussle’s DJ & The Aftermath of Nipsey’s Passing

The post I Am Image Releases Mercy | #TheAltWithMel appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

CONY began to write music as a way to cope with many of his life struggles like the untimely death of his grandmother. In 2018 CONY released his first album, ‘Right Now‘ under Roc Nation’s Equity Distribution which trended on Apple Music the first week of its release.

Check out more of his music on other platforms below:

CONY’s Album Right Now on Pandora | #TheAltWithMel

For more #TheAltWithMel news make sure to check RESPECT Magazine!

Suggested Articles:

RESPECT. Interview: Adrenalin’s New ‘R.A.P’ EP Shows How To Rhyme Away The Pain

RESPECT. Interview: DJ V.I.P. of All Money In Discusses His Start in Music, Becoming Nipsey Hussle’s DJ & The Aftermath of Nipsey’s Passing

The post Who In The World Is CONY? | #TheAltWithMel appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

The party starting bop has an undeniable turnt up vibe for a slow tempo song. Baha’s unapologetic lyrical approach produces multiple catchy quotables that can be dropped at any time.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B–MnFxnGrd/

In this video, directed by TedTV1, Baha asserts herself and shows her competition how it’s done.“Mad” is a grind season anthem that thrives despite whomever may be mad about Baha’s natural allure. With a determined mind frame, defiant yet relatable attitude, and attention grabbing presentation; Baha Banks ensures that first time listers remember her name.

The post Baha Bank$ Is Unapologetic with Her Debut Single “MAD” | #TheAltWithMel appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.