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Rakim Returns After 15 Years With New & First Of It’s Kind Project

on June 23, 2024 Music Videos News TenthLetterMedia add comment

The God MC Is Back

RAKIM, Hip-Hop’s most prominent MC has announced that he is releasing a new project next month. The legendary artist known for his classic hits “Paid In Full” & “Don’t Sweat The Technique” is dropping G.O.D’s Network (Reb7rth) on July 26th. Pre-orders for the project began last week and The God MC has not lost a step!

After a 15 year hiatus, Rakim returns to the fray with a project that is truly one of a kind. The album is the first fully produced project by Rakim himself. True fans of Rakim know that he’s more than just an MC. He has a number of production credits under his belt including hit songs like “Know The Ledge” from the classic film Juice.

RAKIM- G.O.D’s Network (Reb7rth)

G.O.D’s Network is Rakim’s 4th official solo album. The 7 track project not only highlights the fact that Rakim is still a lyrical threat but features a plethora of artists. In anticipation for the album, the hot single “Be Ill” released last Friday. It features West Coast legend Kurupt & Masta Killa.

Rakim Be Ill — (Photo Cred: The Industry Cosign)

Over the infectious drums on the track, the God MC bodies the track. He spits “Design flows in binary codes, no matrix/Light-speeds, time could be froze, no spaceships/ Walkin’ paradox, I made them all believers/Ship the paradigm, even time, alter features”

Check out the official music video for Rakim’s “Be Ill” down below!

The guest list for Rakim’s LP is composed of Hip-Hop’s elite artists. The list includes Snoop Dogg, BG, Planet Asia, Method Man, .38 Spesh, Crooked I, Fred Da Godson and Kool G Rap to name a few. The album also includes posthumous features from Nipsey Hussle, Prodigy and DMX.

EDITOR’S TAKE

Rakim returning to the game proves that it’s indeed a great time to be alive! The God MC producing an album such as this at this time is legendary and solidifies Hip-Hop’s staying power as a genre and a movement. The push of good music is building momentum this year.

We had the opportunity to attend a private listening session for the upcoming project. In collaboration with Stop Beefin Radio & the Indiana Fleet DJs, we listened to A&R Extraordinaire Matthew “M-80” Markoff express deep gratitude and admiration for this project. After listening to three songs (“Be Ill” being one of them) we wished July 26th was sooner! M-80, you’ve done it again!

Stay tuned for Rakim’s G.O.D’s Network to officially release next month. Let us know in the comments below what you think!

PRE-ORDER INFORMATION is available NOW at www.rakimpresents.com

#GetSOM via @TenthLetterMedia & click here to celebrate Hip-Hop, lifestyle and culture!

#SaturdaySpotlight featuring June | @june1oth

on June 22, 2024 Artist Saturday Spotlight TenthLetterMedia add comment

MEET JUNE JUNE is a versatile artist from Indianapolis, IN that like the season he's named after is hot. The artist and producer has 5

Kendrick Lamar Pops Out With Friends LIVE In Concert

on June 20, 2024 Artist Entertainment Events TenthLetterMedia add comment

(Photo Cred: Kendrick Lamar via Twitter/Consequence Sound) KENDRICK LAMAR was outside last night, and it was one for the ages! The Compton MC and Drake

Straight Official Sit Downs: Money Thirsty Jay

on June 9, 2024 Artist Interviews TenthLetterMedia add comment

MONEY THIRSTY JAY is up next for this edition of Straight Official Sit Downs where we spotlight emerging artists. @TenthLetterMedia served up the questions and

[MIXTAPE] BIGUNKSAIDIT PRESENTS NASTTY 500

on June 8, 2024 Artist Mixtapes TenthLetterMedia add comment

BIGUNKSAIDIT, a staple in the Indianapolis Hip-Hop scene released a new mixtape that features Naptown's most renowned artists. Unk blessed the masses with "Nastty 500"

T.M. Is Grinding For A Lil Turn Up

on June 2, 2024 Artist Interviews add comment

Vegas recording artist T.M. chops it up with Straight Official’s DJ Spins to get the latest insight on what’s been going on with the Sin City MC’s latest single. We also got to know T.M. a little better with this exclusive one-on-one interview.

Q&A WITH T.M.

How did you come up with your stage name?
My original music mentor DJ Drumajpr from Atlanta GA gave me my artist name.

Tell us where you’re from & what first got you interested in the entertainment industry?
I was born in Meridian MS, but grew up in Atlanta, GA. I’ve lived in Las Vegas for the last 20 years. I grew up in a radio family. My parents owned both FM & AM radio stations. While most kids go to day care, I went to the radio station every day. They had multiple stations and multiple formats I was exposed to a plethora of genres and style of music.

Who and or what inspires you to create?
I find inspiration to create all around me every day in my day to day life. Conversations can inspire a lyric or melody. I find a lot of melodies just come to me while I’m doing daily chores or cooking. I’m inspired by a lot of artist. Originally it was The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Nirvana. There was just something about the harmonies, the melodies. The catchy, repetitive, simplistic hooks.

How would you describe your sound?
I guess I’d describe my sound as a blend of pop, hip-hop, & dance music, with a tiny punk edge to it. I like to tell people I make Feel Good Music. It’s different yet warmly familiar.

THE CREATIVE PROCESS

What is your creative process like?
My creative process really has to be seen to be believed. I go to the studio and my producer/engineer BG3nius has a collection of tracks ready for me. I preview the tracks for about 30-45 seconds. If a hook doesn’t come to my head within that time we skip to the next track. If I’m collaborating with other artist we let the song loop so they can write there verses.

Meanwhile I drop my first verse 1 take off top. Then I’ll play that back, If there’s anything I don’t like or something that comes to mind that I feel fits better I’ll do a 2nd pass at the verse implementing those changes. I’ll hit my double of the verse to get it some depth and warmth. Then I hit my adlibs. If collaborating I then let my feature artist do their verse. Double it up, and hit their allies. Then I’ll hit my 2nd verse in the exact same fashion. Sometimes taking a little inspiration from the verse feature artist just hit.

What artist would you like to collaborate with?
There are so many to be honest. Lil Wayne, 2 Chainz, Rhianna, Post Malone, Taylor Swift, Drake, Ye, Marshmallow, Kayne Brown, Ed Sheeran, Rivers Cumo, Dave Grohl. Mike Hererra, Sauce Walkah, Swizz Beats, Scott Storch, Fat Joe & T.I.

Never quit chasing your dreams Even if others don’t understand them. If it brings you any kind of joy you can never give up or in.
T.M.’s message to his fans

SHIFTING GEARS

What is the most useless talent you have?
I think all talent has a use. You just gotta find the right use at the right time.

What would you be doing right now if you weren’t doing music?
Music is just one piece of the puzzle so I’d probably still be fling all my other stuff. Real estate investing, Crypto Investing and the FM radio game (I’m a co-owner of an FM star 94.3FM in Lihue HI)

Who are some artist you admire and why?
I kind of admire any artist that’s willing to take the risk of putting themselves and their art out there on public display to be critiqued, judged and interpreted or misinterpreted by others.

If you could change anything about the music industry what would it be?
I think the industry is rapidly changing for the first time in a long time. Artist have so many tools and resources at our disposal that it’s not necessary to have to depend on taking the traditional route of trying to get noticed to get signed by a label. We can get our music to the ears of people all over the world if we can learn how to utilize all these new tools for marketing purposes.

T.M. — “T,M” Latest Single Cover Lil Turn Up

IN CONCLUSION

Tell us about your newest release?
My newest release is titled “Lil Turn Up” It’s a collaboration of myself, Bg3nius, & Yung Salvo. It’s a feel good vibes pop/R&B Dance song. Very upbeat and uplifting. It’s get you in the perfect vibe and mindset for an evening out on the town or a day out in the water. It’s really just an all-around pop banger. The kind of song you’d expect to see on Billboard Top 100.

What’s next for yourself ? Where would you like to see yourself next year?
#16. What’s next is I’ll continue to push this track with the team for a few months hopefully realizing our goal of landing on the Billboard charts. Then I plan in dropping my next single “Woooah” featuring my dude Zel later in the year on DJ Jay Spins Wild Dogs Entertainment imprint. In a year, I’d like to be collaborating with all the big artists. Any and everyone off my previous list. Hopefully touring doing some bigger shows. With a few Billboard plaques on the wall with some platinum and gold records.