Iggy Azalea – In My Defense

Maxo Kream – Brandon Banks

Image credit: Roc Nation

This is a standout: Houston, Texas rapper Maxo Kream follows up Punken with his big label debut Brandon Banks, named so after his father’s criminal past:

“This album is me telling the story of how I’m just like my dad except he was a scammer and I was a trapper… Despite his flaws, he was a great parent, always made sure the rent was paid, made sure I went to school, taught me right from wrong. I wasn’t raised to be a trapper, it just happened because of my circumstances. My relationship with my dad now is great – I used to be terrified of him growing up but now that’s my n***a. We’re like yin and yang.”

Features on the 15-track album include those from Megan Thee Stallion, ScHoolboy Q, Travis Scott and A$AP Ferg. Press play below.

Beyoncé – The Lion King: The Gift

Image credit: Parkwood/Columbia

You might as well just call this a Beyoncé album. King Bey “curated” a Lion King compilation separate from the official soundtrack titled The Gift, which sees 14 tracks and assistance from Mr. Eazi, Burna Boy, Kendrick Lamar, JAY-Z, Childish Gambino, Pharrell, Blue Ivy Carter, Saint JHN, WizKid, Tierra Whack, Tiwa Savage and more. In addition to seeing the film remake, you can press play on The Gift below.

Tinchy Stryder – Change

Image credit: Cloud 9

Following his visual for “Promise,” Grime/UK Rap veteran Tinchy Stryder delivers a new EP titled Change, which sees seven new tracks from the London artist. Also added with the EP is another dope visual for the track “Proper.”

Nas – The Lost Tapes 2

Image credit: Mass Appeal/Def Jam

Welp, some 17 years after the classic Lost Tapes project was released comes its polarizing sequel. Check out Nas‘ 16-track deep The Lost Tapes 2, which features throwaway cuts from Hip-Hop Is Dead, Untitled, Life Is Good and Nasir. Features and production comes from Swizz Beatz, Pharrell Williams, Kanye West, The Alchemist, DJ Toomp, RZA, DJ Khalil, Statik Selektah and more. Press play below.

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Check that out below, along with another recent clip for the single “Change”; both will appear on Tinchy’s forthcoming Change EP (said to be out this June).

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The post Tinchy Stryder Delivers New Video for “Promise” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Check that out above and — if you haven’t already — pick up Private Life In Public via iTunes.

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Holding his fans over until then, the Bow emcee follows up “Work” with a dope new visual for “Different,” which can be streamed above. Pre-order Private Life In Public via iTunes.

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The post Tinchy Stryder Feels “Different” in New Visual appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

The Ruff Sqwad alum explained the track to Complex, who premiered the release:

The concept of ‘Work’ is an explanation of how we all dedicate our lives and time around our work ethic… I wanted to show and give many different examples of the meaning ‘work’ from my point of view. The motto behind the song is, regardless how big or small the job, we all have to respect the job at hand and put 100% dedication in.

Enjoy “Work” above; the track will appear on Tinchy’s forthcoming 5-track EP Private Life In Public, out August 18th (pre-order via iTunes). The new single follows last year’s “Bros Dem,” Tinchy’s collaboration with Donae’O and President T — that can be checked out here.

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The post Tinchy Stryder Puts in “Work” for Latest Visual appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Dionne Bromfield has been making rounds over the years as a singer, collaborating with acts such as:  Diggy Simmons, Mz Bratt, Lil Twist, and Tinchy Stryder, to name a few.

She has a soulful, vintage vibe to her and her sound has definitely matured over the years.  She started making noise around the young age of 13.  Now, at 19, Bromfield has had plenty of time to blossom as an artist.  Put this in perspective: she’s been trained by a legend of our era.  Bromfield is Amy Winehouse‘s goddaughter and protégé. You can hear Amy’s influence in her tone, but she definitely has her own unique sound.

The ballad, Black Butterfly, is a soulful tune that has you following her every note.  When people think of Amy, this song makes a beautiful tribute by the right person, her godbaby.  It was also co-written with hit-makers, Sia (Chandelier, Titanium, Rihanna – Diamond,  etc.) and Chris Braide (Christina Aguilera, Lana Del Rey, etc.).

“There was a black butterfly that flew in at Amy’s funeral and it landed on Kelly Osbourne’s shoulder. It stayed there for the whole service, then flew out as soon as the service had finished. It’s probably the best song I’ve ever written, and I was crying when I recorded it.”  (Source: Amy Winehouse Forever)

I don’t know how true this statement is, but if it’s true, then that’s beautiful.

This tribute allows the soul of Amy Winehouse to rest in peace…

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Richard Young / Rex Features ( 1022731bt )
Amy Winehouse with goddaughter Dionne Bromfield
Q Awards, Grosvenor House Hotel, London, Britain – 26 Oct 2009

(Above:  Bromfield covering The Shirelles’ with godmother, Winehouse on the background vocals.)

(Above:  Throwwwback!! From 2009!!)

The post Artist Spotlight: Amy Winehouse’s Goddaughter, Dionne Bromfield appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

He is curiously oblivious of his success. He gives you the impression that he is still coming to terms with the reality that his contribution has changed the face of British urban music. He describes it as “a dream” that he has still not “woken up from.” Though Tinchy feels he has a lot more dreams to fulfill, he believes he’s already done enough to be up there in the big league. After a two-year hiatus following 2010’s Third Strike, he returns with a new single that encapsulates the essence of his eternal hunger. He was relaxed, upbeat and engaging when we recently met with him to talk about his comeback, meeting Jay Z, and more.

SCORING TWO NUMBER ONE SINGLES AND SEVEN TOP 10 HITS: “It’s scary. It feels like I’m in a dream that I haven’t woken up from, but at the same time there are also nightmares. Because everyone knows who you are you can’t really do normal things — I remember having a meeting in central London, but I was coming from outside London, and because there was a lot of traffic, I said to my driver, “I don’t want to be late so I’m going to get the train instead.” I got on the train and this girl said to me: “What’s happened? You haven’t put out any music for like two years and now you’re on a train?” I was like, “Wow!” And that is the pressure that people get and where everyone will just judge. Sometimes when fame gets to people’s heads they just turn crazy and loose themselves and everyone who was going crazy with them will sooner or later disappear. Luckily, for me, I’ve still got the same friends and team who have been with me through the ups and downs. I think you really need that in this business.”

THE ELEMENTS OF A GOOD SONG: “I could be from Ghana or Russia and really like a particular song, it doesn’t matter where you’re from. It’s hard to pick what will connect with people worldwide. I think music can be really strange, you could listen to songs which can easily take you back to important moments in your life.”

NEW SINGLE “MISUNDERSTOOD”: “It’s the first song from my album, 360, I enjoyed making it. It’s me doing it doing it all over again, letting people know that I’m back with the same passion. Shout out to Pinky & The Brain, who produced it.”

DEALING WITH SUCCESS: “Where I’m from it’s easier for someone to tell you, “I don’t like you,” instead of, “I rate you.” In our culture it’s not cool for people to be like, “Yeah, I love what you’re doing.” Instead, it’s, “What are you saying?” People deal with success in different ways, but I like to take it easy. I’m cool — no stress, man.”

ADVICE HE WOULD GIVE HIMSELF, IF HE COULD GO BACK IN TIME: “I would learn how to say no. It was one of the hardest things for me growing up — “Yo, can you do this for me?” I didn’t want to do certain things but because I’m that cool guy, I would do it, anyway. But then I realized that I was doing so much to please everyone else but not myself. I was told once: “If you don’t know how to love yourself you don’t know how to love.” It’s not about being selfish you just have to know that you come first.”

HOW HE CAME TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE TERM “PRINCE OF GRIME”: “Wiley is seen as the king of grime and I believe that he is. Everyone from me, Dizzee Rascal, Chip and Kano have had some sort of input from Wiley. I used to spend a lot of time around him and if I can remember I think it was him or someone who said, “He’s the Prince of Grime…” [Laughs] That was it.

MEETING JAY-Z AND WORKING WITH ROC NATION: “They heard how well I was doing here and when they came over they wanted to meet me but that didn’t happen. The next time he came I was on tour so I couldn’t meet him again. After that, I was like, “Yo, I need to see this guy. I just wanna meet him and shake his hand.” Then when I heard he was coming again I told my people to clear my diary. Eventually, I went and met him and he was really cool. We did a little business thing with him called Takeover Roc Nation, which later dissolved, but the friendship and respect still remains.”

“Misunderstood” is available to download here.

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