From his debut release in 2014, when the premiere of ‘Miracle’, produced by Just Blaze appeared on MTV and BET Jams, receiving numerous positive reviews from several renowned sites (The Source, The Hype Magazine, Revolt TV, All Hip Hop, and Medium.) and national radio play – it was evident Tito Montana was here to make a statement in the Hip Hop world.
Tito Montana was born Rayhiem Drayton in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, which at the time was notorious for street crime due to poverty and drug-induced warfare. A young Tito and his family relocated to the quiet town of Poughkeepsie, New York where he would pen lyrics from the age of 12 about the hardships he’d encountered in his youth. Those hardships would become his personal vices, indulging in the illicit and fast-paced lifestyle of the streets, this led to a tumultuous relationship with the law.
After many years hustling, fast forward to April 2009 and Tito Montana launches Final Score Entertainment , the independent record label features some excellent artists including D. Weathers, Foreign Dre, Pro-T, U-Neek, and Jalitha, there are several subsidiaries including a media company: Panoramic Films and an urban clothing brand, Phly or Die.
When the label began picking up traction Tito released his own material and has since been touted by DJ Funk Master Flex on Hot 97 which then led him to open for many great artists including French Montana, 2 Chains, Fabolous, Juelz Santana, Young MA, and Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Elle Varner and also featured on/in Scrilla Guriellas, Felon Magazine, This is 50, and The Source to name a few.
In 2016 Tito collaborated with DJ Tek Wun for a European tour and performed in several countries including Scotland, Germany, Amsterdam, France, and England and he’s planning a return in 2019.
This brings us to this release, ‘Why Not Me?’ which is a culmination of where Tito has come so far. The EP features production by the L.O.X.’s producer Vinny Idol and also Final Score Entertainment’s in-house producer Half and Kenny Buttons, special guest appearances from artists including Dave East, Maino, Fred The Godson, Emanny, (FSE’s own) D-Weathers, and Nino Man.
Tito Montana is a walking testament of hustle and ambition, defying the odds and breaking the barriers of hardships and challenges whilst remaining independent and building his empire, the inevitable is yet to come. Why Not Me?
LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/TitoMontanaMusic
https://www.instagram.com/iam_titomontana
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Jammerzine’s The Week in #Indie for 6/22/2016
This week’s episode includes the latest from Electro London, Roger Shah, Moya Brennan, Ren Stedman, STFU, Naomi Scott, and the Blue Soap Music Blue Soap Box Top 10 in independent tracks.
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SERA Releases ‘Rabbit Hole’ Single (The Week in #Indie Segment)
SERA is clearly proven to be a sheer multi-talent with her new upcoming release titled ‘Rabbit Hole’ due out this Friday (June 7, 2019). With a clever Welsh hook and angelic voice combined to give a sing-and-dance-along musical audacity to every chord progression, ‘Rabbit Hole’ feels good to the ears and lasting to the memory in ways one can’t describe but longs for more.
‘Rabbit Hole’ was released officially on CEG Records via PYST on June 7th along with a music video.
About SERA
‘Rabbit Hole’ is the first single from SERA’s collection of songs for 2019 and from her new collaboration with producer Andi Bonsai.SERA played a mellow acoustic ‘Rabbit Hole’ on her guitar to Andi one wet and windy October morning and by the end of the day, that song had transformed into the high energy version you hear today. ‘Rabbit Hole’ stays true to SERA’s Americana/folk style but takes on some bold new ideas. The chorus explodes into Come with me to incredible things, where the oyster’s march from the sea, inviting you into a world of the fantastic. SERA’s new songs will continue to follow in this theme of the mythic-surreal rooted in very real experiences.
‘Rabbit Hole’ is a journey through an addictive relationship, leading through naivety and self-destruction to escape. SERA hails from Caernarfon in North Wales and is a busy bilingual (Welsh and English) performer and songwriter, part of the CEG Records family.
In addition to great support from Welsh media and festival such as BBC Radio Wales/ Radio Cymru, S4C and Focus Wales, support for SERA’s music has come from Chris Hawkins 6Music, Claire Blading Radio 2, specialist shows, North American Festival of Wales, How the Light Gets in, Festival Number 6, Henley Festival and more and continues to grow….LINKS:
https://www.serasongs.com
https://www.facebook.com/serasongs
https://www.instagram.com/serasongs
http://www.twitter.com/serasongs
https://www.youtube.com/user/Serasongs
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2R4Pz7h7LHtxHObkJB8ifb
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/artist/sera/1295957065 -
R.A. The Rugged Man Exclusive Interview (The Week in #Indie Segment)
R.A. The Rugged Man is one of those artists who remains humble despite having a career that has not only spanned decades but has crossed genres and included the likes of Ice-T, Ghostface Killah, Wu Tang Clan, Mobb Deep, and many others as well as spanning music and film. But what really impresses me is that he remains both humbled and grateful for what he has worked for. And that, to me, is the mark of a true artist. Someone who not only remembers his roots but holds on to them with reverence.
And it is that reverence that shines throughout his latest album titled ‘All My Heroes Are Dead’ released April 17, 2020, via Nature Sounds Records.
In this interview, we talk with R.A. about his beginnings as well as the new album and how it further advances his evolution of revolution that is his music and much, much more.
Check out our other articles about R.A. The Rugged Man HERE.
Watch the full episode of The Week in #Indie HERE.
Click HERE to watch Season 6 of Jammerzine’s ‘The Week in #Indie’.
Click HERE to watch Season 5 of Jammerzine’s ‘The Week in #Indie’.
Click HERE to watch Season 4 of Jammerzine’s ‘The Week in #Indie’.
Click HERE to watch Season 3 of Jammerzine’s ‘The Week in #Indie’.
Click HERE to watch Season 2 of Jammerzine’s ‘The Week in #Indie’.
Click HERE to watch Season 1 of Jammerzine’s ‘The Week in #Indie’.ABOUT R.A. THE RUGGED MAN
R.A. The Rugged Man is one of the most fascinating figures in hip-hop history. His career spans decades and defies simple narratives. The Rugged Man has been an up-and-coming star, an industry outcast banished and forgotten, an underground cult hero, an independent success story, and an influential master of the art form. He can obliterate rappers with ferocious battle rhymes, craft heartfelt personal songs fans can relate to, offend sensitive listeners with shocking vulgarity, challenge corrupt politicians and corporations, paint pictures with captivating storytelling, and deliver jaw-dropping flows that prove his lyrical skills are unmatched.
He’s also worked with a staggering number of hip-hop’s most respected artists, including legends like The Notorious B.I.G., Wu-Tang, Tech N9ne, Rakim, Mobb Deep, Talib Kweli, Kool G Rap, Public Enemy, Brother Ali, and many more. And while others struggle to maintain a foothold in the ever-changing rap landscape, R.A. The Rugged Man is the rare artist who has become more relevant with time, with each new album more compelling than the last.
Originally from Long Island’s Suffolk County, R.A. was raised by his father, a Vietnam veteran whose exposure to Agent Orange left two of R.A.’s siblings with severe disabilities. After building a reputation as one of the most talented unsigned MCs on the scene, he sparked a bidding war between several major labels. R.A. eventually signed to Jive Records, but his outspoken defiance and reckless behavior spelled the end of that deal and left him banned from venues, labels, and recording studios. The Rugged Man re-emerged in the late 90s, pioneering the indie rap hustle by pressing up against his own 12” singles and contributing to compilations from the celebrated Rawkus Records.
He earned his first Gold record for his work on the WWE Aggression album, and his music was featured on the hit video game Tony Hawk’s Underground, which sold millions of copies. R.A. then unleashed his seminal independent album Die, Rugged Man, Die, along with the critically acclaimed compilation Legendary Classics. The latter included show-stealing collaborations and many of the storied tracks that fueled his rise, including the Jedi Mind Tricks song “Uncommon Valor”, on which the Rugged Man delivers what is widely recognized as one of the greatest verses in rap history. By the time his last album Legends Never Die debuted at #1 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart, R.A. was thoroughly established as an independent hip-hop icon, playing sold-out shows across the world and drawing widespread praise for his undeniable contributions to the culture.
Now, R.A. The Rugged Man is back with All My Heroes Are Dead, a brand new album that stands as his best work to date. “So many of the greats are gone, and the legends who made it out alive are cast aside,” R.A. says. “Society left our heroes and their culture for dead. We have to dig that greatness out of its grave, and bring it back with an angry vengeance.” While Legends Never Die was dedicated to the memory of his father, All My Heroes Are Dead is R.A.’s first album since becoming a father of two himself. “When you have children, that’s a whole other level of joy and pain and emotion,” he describes. “It opens the whole entire universes with the pen.” The music covers a wide range of moods and transcends hip-hop cliches. “I didn’t want to make a whole album of just destroying rappers and rapping better than everyone.” the Rugged Man explains. “There’s a lot of places my albums take you, and there’s way more storytelling on this one. I love to bring listeners into different worlds.”
Now available worldwide, All My Heroes Are Dead features an all-star cast of hip-hop heavyweights, including Chuck D, Slug of Atmosphere, Ghostface Killah, Immortal Technique, Vinnie Paz, Ice-T, M.O.P., Kool G Rap, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Onyx, Brand Nubian, Chris Rivers, Inspectah Deck, A-F-R-O, Masta Killa, and more. The highly-anticipated album showcases the full scope of R.A. The Rugged Man’s considerable talent, making it a powerful statement from an unforgettable artist.
LINKS:
https://ratheruggedman.net
https://twitter.com/ratheruggedman
https://facebook.com/RATheRuggedMan
https://www.instagram.com/ratheruggedmanofficial
https://www.youtube.com/user/RAtheRuggedManTV