West Coast Joins East Coast To Help Start The Healing Of America: Music Industry Veterans Chris Wallace & Napoleon Collaborate In Solidarity

Brandon Stein
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West Coast Joins East Coast To Help Start The Healing Of America: Music Industry Veterans Chris Wallace & Napoleon Collaborate In Solidarity

In the wake of the global pandemic, our nation took an unexpected turn that wasn’t based on health concerns or economic recovery, but rather, racial divide. The national unrest began less than two weeks ago in Minneapolis when George Floyd, a 46-year-old security guard, died after police officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on the back of his neck while he was handcuffed. Chauvin rendered him unable to breathe in a horrifying incident that was caught on camera.

The music industry quickly mobilized and halted all business activity last week in what they called “Black Out Tuesday” in solidarity with the black community. Universal Music Group, Sony, Capitol Music Group, Def Jam Records, Columbia Records, Pulse Music Group, Renown Entertainment Group, Republic, Virgin EMI, and Warner Records were just a few of the most recognized names in the music industry that banned together for the blackout. This gave the music industry time to reflect on not only what is important right now in this time in history but to also think about what they can do as organizations and individuals to make a positive and permanent difference in this world.

Multi-Platinum Producer/Songwriter and Top Billboard Charting Artist Chris Wallace joined in solidarity with the rest of his peers in the music industry and decided that he was going to take immediate action to make a difference by doing what he does best – writing a song. Currently living on the West Coast (Los Angeles, CA), Chris felt compelled to collaborate with other artists across the nation (more on this shortly – read on).

Chris Wallace has been working behind the scenes for the past several years writing and producing internationally acclaimed gold and platinum records (Sheppard’s “Coming Home,” The Vamps’s “Middle of the Night,” Reik ft. Manuel Turizo’s “Aleluya,” and Uverworld‘s “Making it Drive” and “EDEN”). He is most widely recognized as the former lead vocalist and frontman of the American pop-rock band The White Tie Affair (“Candle,” “You Look Better When I’m Drunk,” “Allow Me To Introduce Myself…Mr. Right,” “Take It Home”) and as a solo artist with two Top 40 Billboard records (“Remember When (Push Rewind)” and “Keep Me Crazy”).

Being a versatile and multi-genre producer and songwriter, Chris decided to share with other artists a somber hip-hop track with a melodic chorus for them to sing, rap, or put spoken words to if they felt so compelled. The track piqued the interest of artists across the nation, but the most interesting response was from East Coast Rapper Napoleon from Suffolk, VA (part of the 7 Cities and home of Pharrell, Timbaland, Missy Elliot, Clipse, and Teddy Riley) a recording artist formerly from the notorious hip-hop group the Wu Syndicate). Napoleon has written and recorded songs with Jim Jones, Pusha T, Ghostface Killah, and XKNG Crooked who was with Eminem’s group Slaughterhouse.

Napoleon was watching the news about George Floyd and the ensuing chaos on CNN when a music industry executive called him about the track. As soon as Napoleon heard the song he was instantly moved by the chorus and vibe of the track…lyrics started to flow and he inked all of his thoughts and emotions about the George Floyd situation (and other similar racially-charged injustices that have taken place recently) in only 20 minutes. He went into the studio and what transpired next was nothing short of astonishing.

The song “I Can’t Breathe” produced by Chris Wallace and written/performed by Chris Wallace and Napoleon can be heard below:

West Coast Meets East Coast in Collaborative Effort Towards Helping To Heal America
Illustration by: Strati Di Blu

We at MIW want nothing more than to see America and the rest of the world work towards permanent healing of the racial divide. We applaud those in the music industry who are willing to join together and take action in a positive way. It’s artists like Chris Wallace and Napoleon who are not only working towards making a positive and permanent change for the world today, but for generations to come.

Connect with Chris Wallace on Social:
Facebook: chriswallacemusic
Twitter: chriswallace101
Instagram: Chriswallace___

Connect with Napoleon on Social:
Facebook

Hoodrich $langa Combines Talent and Philanthropy to Make a Difference

Tyler Penske
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Hoodrich $langa Combines Talent and Philanthropy to Make a Difference
Hoodrich $langa is a rapper skyrocketing to major fame. But on top of his incredible musical abilities, his personal philanthropic endeavors set him leagues apart from the competition. Hoodrich $langa was born King Bando on April 20,1992 in Natchez and was raised in Fayette, Mississippi. At the young age of 7, young King already found a passion for making music, and little did he know that he would later evolve into a successful rap artist in the future. Growing up, he was more prominently influenced by the music of 50 Cent, Z-Ro, Twista, T.I., Nelly, and other major artists in the genre. When Junior High came around, King decided it was time to take a step further if he wanted to make it big time as an artist. He created a rap group with close associates and started writing several songs on his own in no time. He grabbed each opportunity to perform some of his songs at his school’s pep rallies, namely Our Situation, So Fly, and Big Blocks. Even back then, it was clear as day that King was destined for bigger things in the music industry. King is not a stranger to living a hard life, as he had to put himself through school. He had no one to call a stable parental figure and had to survive the streets. But King’s determination to overcome these circumstances was more powerful than the adversity. He wanted to turn his life around and start a better life on his own terms. So by the end of high school in 2010, he earned a welding certification to make a living. He had a stable job in the welding business, but he never lost his passion for music. By 2017, he was still writing songs all this time and had enough money set aside from his welding job. The golden opportunity finally came for King to start investing in rental properties and his music career. In other words, he had enough saved to start investing in his lifelong dream. That same year he signed his first booking in Gulfport, MS, where he performed his singles Take a Ride and Suck It. In his 10th year in the welding business, King already had a whopping million dollars in his bank account and started his own company, R.B.A. Records LLC. He took it up a notch and by venturing into the fashion industry that same year with his own clothing line Hoodrichthings, a collection that includes shirts, eyewear, jogger suits, and even dresses. Landing in a more comfortable place in his life, King had the best opportunity to fully commit to his music. His career began to take off. King started making meaningful connections in the music industry. He had the chance to collaborate with T-Rell on his single Money Talk, which was already in the works before collaborating with Nino Brown on Bust It Open in 2019. King has already become the famous Hoodrich $langa at this point and had the chance to perform Bust It Open with Nino Brown in Port Gibson and Baton Rouge. As he comes from a complicated past, it is King’s mission to give back to his community. He prides himself as a neighborhood activist who is always on the lookout for ways to make a difference, and one of these ways is by being a motivational speaker. He takes a personal, hands-on approach in connecting with people, going out to greet, strike a conversation, motivate, inspire, enlighten, and extend a helping hand. Another way that he gives back is through his charitable endeavors made possible by his business. Up 90% of his earnings from his products goes to charity, such as families in need during Christmas time. He also partakes in donation drives to provide bikes, clothes and shoes, dolls, remote control cars, and gift cards. And around the time that another school year starts, King initiates donation drives for school supplies, back to school haircuts, school uniforms, and shoes. It is also typical to see King helping feed the homeless by preparing meals and water and providing coats, socks, shoes for their feet, and tents for shelter. Undeniably, King Bando AKA Hoodrich $langa has achieved incredible success but vows to remember where he comes from and never let anyone change who he is. He stated, “No matter how I continue to rise, I will never let money or fame separate me from shaking a poor man’s hand.”

Jack Powell On Understanding Emotions Through Music

Tyler Penske
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Jack Powell On Understanding Emotions Through Music

Sometimes feelings can be so overwhelming that people seek an outlet for it. More often than not, music can provide this liberating effect on people. As a famous saying by Hans Christian Andersen goes, “Where words fail, music speaks.”

There are times that you opt to browse streaming platforms and actively look for new songs you can listen to and relate to. Suddenly, that one song plays, and it’s relieving to discover how it perfectly fits your mood and lessens your stress. Even better than that, it’s gratifying to find a new artist who might be able to speak what you want or need to hear. It’s not always that you get to connect with someone’s thoughts and feelings through music.

Eighteen-year-old American rapper, singer, and songwriter Jack Powell, aims to communicate with people through his music. The artist takes pride in making music with relatable lyrics and pleasant melodies. Although he can produce a song in under fifteen minutes, Powell prefers to exert more time and effort in polishing his music to make it feel more heartfelt. He wants to evoke certain emotions from his audience and to connect with them seamlessly. 

Combining Alternative and Indie to Hip Hop and Rap, Powell was able to produce over 14 songs that express the rawness and intensity of his emotions. He seeks to create music that would last for centuries, not only for a brief period. He easily transitions from rapping through hard beats into soft vocals. Genius provides a list of all of his tracklists and annotated lyrics. 

Despite being a well-known artist, Powell remains to be a kind and humble person. He always goes out of his way to talk to his fans and ask if they need anything, saying that he knows how it feels to have nobody, and how he would not wish that feeling on anybody else. He makes sure to treat people well and ensure that they feel worthy of the attention they receive. All of these show the musician’s ability to relate to and understand the feelings of his fans.

Powell speaks the sad truth through his lyrics, but at the same time, reinforces hopeful emotions through the melodies. Armed with his dream to reach more people and his passion for making music, Powell continues to offer a comforting presence towards his audience. He encourages his listeners to be more open and vulnerable and to feel alright with being emotional. He believes that at the end of the day, one should be able to accept the things that make them human. 

With a total of 28, 726 monthly listeners and nearly 4 million streams across different multimedia platforms like Spotify, YouTube, Deezer, Soundcloud, and Apple Music, Powell is sure to be one of the next top music sensations. He also has a large following in his social media such as Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok.

Make sure to listen to Jack Powell’s tracks and know for yourself what thousands of other followers and listeners have been raving about. 

Xavier Toscano’s Music Secures Global Presence in the Entertainment Industry

Tyler Penske
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Xavier Toscano’s Music Secures Global Presence in the Entertainment Industry

When pop music starts playing, it’s easy to tell that you’re listening to pop, and we can’t help but go with the beat or sing to a catchy tune. However, it takes someone exceptionally talented and entertaining to move you and completely pull you in. Xavier Toscano is a name that continues to stay on a fast track to a much more significant presence in the music industry, so much so that he has already achieved global success. Writing lyrics and making his own melodies is Xavier’s ultimate passion, and he ensures his performances leave a lasting impression on his audience each time.

More specifically, Xavier is most passionate about pop music, and he believes that it is the ultimate soundtrack of our lives. If you haven’t yet realized, hearing a snippet of your favorite pop song would always jog a video clip of the past in your mind. Throughout Xavier’s career, he harnesses the power of music in his work to make any event memorable while giving the audience a great heck of a time.

Xavier’s music is best described as enthusiastic dance-urban pop bursting with energy and influenced by Top 40 radio and video. With his perfect formula of love for EDM, rap, rock, reggae, and R&B, together with his dancing ability, he produces an invigorating stage show guaranteed to excite his audience.

All types of media have featured his work. Five songs from his album Feels So Good were used on the popular show Keeping Up with the Kardashians, and some of his other songs have been presented on MTV, on Video Jukeboxes internationally, and other national video shows.

On top of his musical abilities, he has a strong acting background which landed him collaborations with conglomerates for national commercials. His portfolio includes Nextel, NASCAR, Sony PlayStation, and many others.

It seems that just about every type of media has featured Xavier’s music. His songs can be streamed on Spotify, Pandora, and iHeartRadio. And from having his songs played in all 50 states by major brands, his work has also catered to prominent clients in the likes of Red Bull, Pop Chips, Supercuts, Versace, and many others. His songs have also been played at 24 Hour Fitness locations and Foot Locker stores across the United States.

Xavier’s other show locations include the Disneyland Hotel in Trafalgar Square in London, in front of the US Capitol Building in Washington DC, and hundreds more. He has opened for major recording artists, private events, and major festivals.

Xavier has made the cover of Outword Magazine in Sacramento, California, and was featured on several other reputable publications, all listed on his website. But undeniably, his talent is way past local fame. Xavier is thankful for his worldwide success, having performed across the United States and Europe, and continues his journey to dominate the local entertainment industry.

You can contact and know more about Xavier Toscano through his website, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook pages.

Solomis’ debut album, “After Ours, We Pray”: a Silver Lining with a Slap of Reality in this Crisis

Tyler Penske
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Solomis’ debut album, “After Ours, We Pray”: a Silver Lining with a Slap of Reality in this Crisis
Life during the on-going global health and economic crisis is difficult, to put it simply. It can be tougher for those on the margins which are already suffering even without a virus that still has no cure. In a world full of uncertainty, rising singer-rapper Travon Damar Parker, also known as Solomis draws a silver lining through his hip hop music that mirrors the real-life situation with his album, “After Ours, We Pray”.  This featured album will debut on June 20, 2020. It is Solomis new release for his collection of self-written music. This creative work is inspired by stories of various people that talk about life during the current pandemic, alcohol addiction, and relationship issues. It is a welcome and timely launch amidst a time when negativity runs on a global scale. This project is a compilation of Solomis showcasing his talent along with other artists he has collaborated with to complete this prized work. Born in the mid-90s, Solomis has roots in Dallas, Texas, but he grew up in Oklahoma City. Hip hop music shaped his youth as he was exposed to it at a young age. His ideas about both style and subject matter are likewise aroused by hip hop. As an artist, Solomis considers Bone Thugs N’ Harmony, Eminem, Nas, and Kanye West as some of his influential artists. Solomis believes that they brought originality and honesty to the genre. These traits moved him early on in life and moved him to create his sound eventually. As an artist-lyricist, Solomis draws inspiration from all the things he sees and observes around him. Mainly, these are politics, social issues, and meaningful life events in his childhood. These have all created plenty of lyrical fodder for him. Solomis has not only taken an interest in politics as his muse for music. Unknown to many, he attended the University of Texas at Dallas to study International Political Economics in 2015. This educational background somehow jumpstarted his enthusiasm to produce music that reflects the real phenomenon. This creativity is primarily eventually grounded on the realities of life; thus, it is no surprise that it creates a sort of mirror that his audience would easily relate to. Solomis has been persistent in making a name in the music industry through his unique sound. It was June 2011 when Solomis first entered the scene with Synergy EP. In 2013, he won the 6th Annual Street Music Award for Best Duo or Group along with his brother, who is formerly known as 832. With a unique singing-rapping voice and a clear-cut and heartfelt message, Solomis believes that his audience will feel moved when they listen to his songs. He wants to target an audience who is the everyday people. Mundane as it may seem, he wants them to be his listeners, those going through daily lives, be it good or bad. Through his music, he also wants to touch people who are going through depression, addiction, and bad break-ups. Generally, he wants to give hope to people who feel like there is no way out. Listen to Solomis songs and browse through some of his cool merchandise, as found on his website: https://www.musicglue.com/solomis.

Up And Coming Rapper Brismoneyy Brings A Different Vibe To Today’s Hip-Hop World

Tyler Penske
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Up And Coming Rapper Brismoneyy Brings A Different Vibe To Today’s Hip-Hop World
The current hip-hop era never runs out of new and fresh artists who want to carve a name for themselves in the world of music. As in most, if not all, music genres, hip-hop has undergone countless evolutions throughout the years. The world has seen the likes of Ice Cube, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Eminem, and others revitalize the game and opening up the possibility of how hip-hop can move forward. Accordingly, new artists are continually bringing in new elements to prove that the genre will never grow old and stale. Christopher Colon, or Brismoneyy, is an up and coming rapper popping up in The Bronx, New York. Watching his set or listening to his music, one can sense a different vibe about this new artist. With a unique voice and in the way he carries himself, Brismoneyy sets himself apart from his peers. He has been making a name for himself in the scene, and as of now, Brismoneyy has released the songs “Moneyybag,” “G5 Jet,” “The Hardest I Ever Spit,” “ Life On The Line,” “Life On The Line, pt. 2,” and “Life On The Line, pt. 3” on a lot of today’s music-streaming platforms. Brismoneyy also released a music video for “Life On The Line, pt. 3” in April, featuring clips of him in the recording process of the song. Ambition is shared by all artists, even outside the realm of music. With Brismoneyy, he feels that his music can speak to the entire world. A goal of his high-energy rapping is to hopefully influence his listeners to rely on themselves, as well as be a force for good in society. His contributions to the world of hip-hop are genuinely noteworthy and are helping push the genre forward. Aside from working hard on his music, Brismoneyy also started his record label named Always Chasing Chicken L.L.C. Always Chasing Chicken, or A.C.C. aims to help develop other budding artists that may lack the money, and other resources break out into the scene. Through proper management, promotion, and the like, Always Chasing Chicken gives new artists the help they need to make it in the industry. Driven as well by Brismoneyy’s fiery ambition, Always Chasing Chicken also sees further development as the company plans to expand into film and other forms of entertainment soon. Despite encountering rising success, Brismoneyy never forgot his humble beginnings. Very willing to pay it forward, Always Chasing Chicken has been helping people who are in need in their community. The company’s humanitarian efforts are even more appreciated now in the face of the crisis the world is facing. Continually churning out hits, helping manage and develop other artists, as well as providing philanthropic help to the communities that need it, Brismoneyy’s hustle is one for the books.  You can stream Brismoneyy’s singles now at today’s top music platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, and Youtube, among many others. You can also follow him on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/brismoneyy.

G. Fields Music: a Sleek and Contemporary Twist to an Eclectic but Sexy Tune

Tyler Penske
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G. Fields Music: a Sleek and Contemporary Twist to an Eclectic but Sexy Tune
Finding one’s self is a very personal and intimate journey. Discovering one’s sound as an artist is one notch more difficult but still relatable to one’s identity. Renowned producer and artist Gregory Fields Jr. is a living testimony that being comfortable in one’s skin is the bedrock of making your tune distinct from the other musicians. Fields is an established and well-known professional with over 30 years of working as an executive, producer, artist, performer, writer, actor, recording, and sound engineer. He varies how he creates and composes records. This approach allows him to arrange and produce his sound independently. G. Fields’ eclectic method is the secret of how he built and expanded his network of A-List artists, actors, and producers in the industry. The saxophone is his first instrument played and his chosen instrument to continue his creative work. His style is a conglomeration of smooth jazz, funk, and soul with a hint of hip hop/R&B. Enthusiasts of these musical genres are his target audience for his music, especially those who are fans of smooth, easy-going tunes. Fields is not your typical saxophone player. Close to his 50s, he boasts of an impeccable sense of fashion that matches his sleek and elegant music. The salt-and-pepper beard is his iconic branding, which garnered him a lot of features in the social media realm, including Beard Gang Matters, He So Sexy, etc. The most recent one was on the blog, The Shade Room. He also has many online followers with over 30,000 people audience on Instagram, Youtube, and Facebook Live. He keeps them entertained by posting video clips of his sound during the COVID-19 quarantine. His success in his chosen field took years of experience and hard work to build, just like the most famous singers and musicians. G. Fields was no different. He was born in 1971 in Chicago but grew up in Mississippi. He began to take an interest in music, starting grade school. With their school band, he played the saxophone in his junior high years. Being able to fiddle the sax in front of a crowd tingled his curiosity on what makes the audience listen. He saw musicians play on stage, in the streets, and on-screen. He also observed the audience, what interests them, and the type of music they would enjoy. He thought that he could be the performer in front of an entertained crowd. He did not stop with the sax after this realization. In 1983, G. Fields pursued hip-hop and became a hip-hop artist. By the mid-80s to 90s, he decided to turn his musical inclination into his career. He started producing his album. His first work aired on the radio was his single, “Malik’s Rhyme”. But his most significant breakthrough was in 1995. Multi-national entertainment company Warner Bros. signed him up as part of their label. The floodgates just opened for G. Fields to work with some of the most prominent figures in the music industry. From then on, his career continued to prosper. Three years following his signing to Warner Bros., G. Fields started his very own record label, Malik Records Inc. He constructed his recording studio in Huntington, NY, but eventually, he relocated to New Jersey in 2003. His studio transformed into a brand new, state-of-the-art facility that made teaming up with various major artists and producers easy-breezy. In 2009, Fields was introduced to Alvin Mays, CEO of AMS Management. Their partnership clicked as they later co-founded AMS Music Entertainment, The Bridge is Hip-Hop, AMS Music Events, Atlanta 211, AMS Studios, and G. Fields Music. Fields is currently the president of AMS Enterprise Corp., established and now holds office in Downtown, Atlanta. Just last year, he was invited to play at the Annual Mayor’s Ball alongside the likes of Jermaine Dupri and Charlie Wilson. G. Fields is also set to release his debut album “Soul on Ice” in early 2021. The success of G. Fields Music can be attributed to the artist’s mark on his work. For Fields, it’s his sultry and stylish branding of music that makes it cutting edge and leaves you wanting for more. A sneak of his work on this site: www.gfieldsmusic.com.

Mixed of a Kind LLC: Giving the Social Media Mileage Artists Need

Tyler Penske
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Mixed of a Kind LLC: Giving the Social Media Mileage Artists Need
The present generation of highly digital consumers is changing the way companies and personalities are promoting their products and services. Consumers very rarely turn to their television and radio for things they need or want to experience. The default of people is to go online and surf the Internet for the content they like. Social media has become one of the most powerful platforms in the world today. Big businesses, from recording companies, health care providers, education, entertainment, to retail, are all working on creating a strong social media presence. The same is true for producers who want to promote their artists. Whether they are developing a new single, album, concert, or tour, social media remains the most effective way to spread the information. Mixed of a Kind LLC provides companies with articles to help promote artists, producers, videographers, and graphic designers whose work concerns music.  Paid promotions are available on their official website. The company’s Instagram account, @mixedofakind, does daily features on artists and posts articles about producers and their projects. The overall objective is to give artists and producers the attention and exposure they deserve. The company also engages its clients by giving constructive feedback about their projects. Members of the team also like and comment on their posts to show their support of the project. Maintaining a professional and friendly working relationship with clients is the team’s primary concern. Videographers and graphic designers are also available upon the request of clients for their album cover art and music videos. The team contributes by pitching suited themes to enhance and promote the artist’s identity. For Mixed of a Kind LLC, helping their clients grow in the industry is a priority. Helping them stay connected with their fans is a sure way to keep and grow their followers. The company website also includes updated articles on hip-hop and rap music. They write about a rap artist previewing a new song, sales results of a new album, or chat data regarding a song’s latest standing in the charts. It also promotes artists from other genres. The rates of the company are quite friendly. It attracts the attention of unsigned artists and producers as well. With the ever-growing marketing promotional costs, this comes as a welcome relief to aspiring musicians who want a presence on various streaming platforms. This type of packages gives musicians with a minimal budget a fair chance to reach their target audience. Everything is happening online now, and businesses are finding ways to keep a strong presence in it. Online promotion is the way to go nowadays to stay competitive. The Internet has become the new advertising jungle, and artists promoting their projects should take advantage of its powerful reach. The only way to successfully do this is through the help of reliable groups specializing in this area, such as Mixed of a Kind LLC. Let the experts handle what they do best. Get in touch with the friendly staff of Mixed of a Kind LLC by visiting their website at www.mixedofakind.com.

South Carolina’s Rising Rapper Leddy Deserves To Be Heard

Tyler Penske
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South Carolina’s Rising Rapper Leddy Deserves To Be Heard

He has recently produced career-defining singles and stepped up his game with “Triple,” “Speed Racer,” “M.I.A” and two more tracks to prove why he’s South Carolina’s next and hottest rapper everyone needs to know.

For Leddy, coming out of South Carolina and putting South Carolina rap on the map is a huge thing. According to him, there’s no influence of hip-hop culture in his hometown, let alone a music scene, so he wanted to change that and prove there are legendary rappers from S.C. who would come to shape hip-hop’s sound in the next years.

This up-and-coming rapper grew up with a single-parent household. He navigated the world alongside his brother and a father who worked tirelessly to provide the best for them. Luckily, they are also the reason why he’s become who he is. Their home was filled with music all around him, specifically hip-hop and rock. His older brother first introduced him to rap. He let him listen to T.I. and 50 Cent, while his father played rock on the car’s radio every time. Because of this, Leddy found his passion for making music. He listened to a lot of rap artists growing up and has heavy influences from the likes of Juice Wrld, J Cole, Lil Uzi Vert, XXXTentacion, and MGK.

Leddy wanted to make music. He even attended school in USC-Columbia briefly when he was put on academic suspension due to absences but realized music is all he wanted to do. So at 17, Leddy decided to fully invest in learning what he needed to do to pursue his career. He started making music in his room. Leddy is the definition of self-made, and he’s not trying to follow anyone’s footsteps. He’s paving a lane of his own, and he wants to produce music and be respected in his own right. He makes and masters his own music, learned to audio engineer through YouTube, and fine-tuning the right plug-ins.

He worked hard in learning and experimenting while continually learning and fine-tuning his sound. Because of his influences in hip-hop and rock, he blended both and created a unique and distinct sound that you can hear in his tracks. While staying true to himself, he continues to practice and keeps innovating his work for the audience.

What separates Leddy from his peers is he makes music that can be listened to anywhere and anytime. He puts his heart and soul into it and has been making music and practicing his craft for four years now.  He also has a unique sound, rhythmic flow, and he doesn’t hold back in experimenting – using different beats and finding that sound that is uniquely his own. He worked so hard to improve his music, and today, he’s ready to leap to the rap stardom. And it’s not impossible, with his drive, passion, and natural talent in music, he definitely has the makings of a hip-hop superstar.

Listen to his single “Triple” on all available streaming platforms. Also catch Nicholas on June 1st as he releases his EP, Chasing Paper, and he’ll be dropping an album on June 26, 2020

Meet the Producer That Took James Blunt from Average to ‘Beautiful’

Andrew Rossow, Esq.
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Meet the Producer That Took James Blunt from Average to ‘Beautiful’
Known for his production on albums by James Blunt and Fall Out Boy, music producer Mike Wise holds over 132 music credits for helping build today’s earliest mainstream artists such as Fall Out Boy, James Blunt, Alyssa Reid, and Neon Dreams.  But over the past ten years, the infrastructure of the music industry has shifted immensely, especially for producers like Wise.  Earlier this month, we spoke with music producer, Billboard, who has had his fingers on our favorite albums since artists like Kesha, B.O.B., Britney Spears, and T-Pain came into existence. We learned that while consumers tend to focus on the artists out in the public light, producers like Billboard and Wise silently produce in the background, which help push these artists to reaching the pinnacles they have today. But have no fear, with over 78 A-list music credits, Billboard is still very much immersed in the industry today, working with artists including The Game, Robyn, Ellie Goulding, Shakira, and Ariana Grande. Back in November, Music Industry Weekly spoke with hip-hop and R&B producer, James Worthy who outlined what it’s been like overcoming technological obstacles as a producer in the 21st century. But that was before the global pandemic of COVID-19 hit and changed the music industry, forever. This month, we had the opportunity to speak with Wise about how his experience producing music for contemporary English singer James Blunt has helped him over the years up and until the coronavirus pandemic struck. Music producer, Mike Wise Wise first connected with Blunt through Steve Robson, who had previously written some really great songs with Blunt, and was then looking for someone to help out with production to get the upcoming songs to the finish line.  “I was familiar with James’s records and singular voice growing up, so it was really cool to be able to work with him on new music,” Wise shared with us.  When Wise first came on board, Blunt and Robson had demos from their writing sessions that were according to Wise, “inspiring, but needing some focus.” “I wanted to try some new elements, but didn’t want to lose what was working from the initial demos. When a song feels good from the outset, sometimes your job as a producer is simply to not-mess-it-up.” He went on to add that it’s all about supporting the artist and elevating the song. “I went back and forth with James and Steve on some new drum ideas, guitar and synth parts, as well as trying to strip away the right layers, leaving only what had to be there. It was a really great collaborative process and I’m really happy with the final result.” Since Blunt’s emergence into the music industry in the early 2010s, there’s no question the infrastructure of the industry has changed today. As for Wise’s adaptation to the change, he’s aware of the ever-changing need for producers to keep up with an artist’s drive to continue producing more music.  “These days commercial music is so diverse,” Wise explained.
“Not only that, an artist’s catalogue today can be very stylistically diverse and the listeners are ready for it. As a producer that means you have to be a bit of a chameleon; ready to borrow from any genre or era of music. With the capabilities we have today, artists expect a lot from the producer, sonically speaking, and you have to be able to deliver quickly. On top of that, artists are releasing music faster than ever before. They no longer have to work in album cycles, which means you really have to stay on your toes trying to push their sound forward for the next release.”

How to Stay “Beautiful” Throughout Your Music Career

When it comes to early mainstream artists, producers like Wise and Billboard certainly have the right steps that producers today should be taking when it comes to keeping their portfolios “relevant” and attractive. “When you’re working with a new artist, it can be tempting to reference existing artists and try to copy music that’s already out there,” Wise pointed out, but “the problem with that is that you end up with something people have heard before and you’re too late to the party.” So what are producers in 2020 to do when their biggest competition is YouTube and remix after remix? “I think it’s important to let yourself explore different sounds without reservation when you’re developing a new artist. It’s okay to fall flat four out of five times, because you will then stumble upon something fresh and inspiring that you wouldn’t have done otherwise. Don’t be afraid to get out of your comfort zone. Sometimes the best ideas are the product of happy accidents.”

The Good, The Bad, and the COVID   

Since Wise first started his career in music production, the industry has changed (and not necessarily for the better), but the digitization of music has made it both challenging and exciting when it comes to creativity. On the creative side of things, the “possibilities have been endless” for Wise.
“Whether you’re in a big fancy studio or someone’s bedroom, you have a tool set with you that previous generations of producers couldn’t have imagined. That technology has opened up so many ideas for me over the last five years. If I’m ever feeling uninspired, I can just go on the internet and find some new sounds/software that will give me fresh inspiration. It’s pretty amazing what a producer can do on just a laptop these days.”
Forget a laptop though, how about 2020’s coolest piece of music tech–the Joué, which made its debut in Las Vegas last year at CES 2020 with GRAMMY-nominated producer and founding member of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame-inducted hip-hop group, N.W.A., Arabian Prince. For the uninitiated, the Joué is a modular MIDI controller or board that allows the user to play drums, guitar, keyboard, and more—otherwise, you can literally ‘drop a beat’ on the go. EMBED: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2f4a_eWtrdg&feature=emb_logo In an interview with Grit Daily News, Prince shared his on-going passion and love for tech, which has also allowed him to continue bridging the gap among DJs, electronic music artists, hip-hop producers, and the industry. But even as a futurist and technological junkie, there are downsides, according to Wise, of having “all this sonic capability” at his fingertips.  “Sometimes, I forget to look to other musicians for ideas. If I can make a trumpet sound with my laptop, I’m less likely to call up a friend who can actually play the trumpet. This past year though I have been calling on more musicians to come in with their ideas which is always inspiring and can change the course of a record.” Since February, COVID-19 has been at large and has forced music artists to turn to platforms like Facebook Live and Instagram TV to help keep listeners engaged.  But how has the global pandemic impacted Wise’s skills as a producer and even with clients?  “Since the pandemic started it’s become more of a challenge to collaborate,” Wise replied. “Writing a song over Zoom or FaceTime is not easy. It lacks some immediacy that you would usually have collaborating with someone in person. I’ve had to adjust the way I work with other people. Rather than trying to recreate a traditional writing setting you have to figure out what works remotely, and that may differ with each collaborator. Sometimes it’s more of a tag team, sending ideas back and forth rather than working on something simultaneously. With other collaborators, a simultaneous approach still works as long as everyone makes an effort to leave room for each other. Everyone is in the same boat and we’re all trying to make the best of it. The most important thing is to keep a positive attitude and try not to get too frustrated by the limitations we’re stuck with for the time being.”
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