The more I sat with this album, the more the title started to hit different. Pigs can’t fly, and Northside kids aren’t supposed to either. That’s the lie they grow up hearing. It echoes in the way just surviving gets mistaken for success. Don’t aim too high. Don’t...
This story was originally published in RVA 41 which can be in various locations around town, or you can read it right here. This is a slightly modified version formatted for digital distribution. CHRISTIAN DETRES: Alright, I'm recording. Okaaaay… here with Mikemetic. Is that your real name? MIKEMETIC: No. Well, my birth name is Michael Williams....
This week’s Yo! Hip Hop RVA is for lovers of Richmond hip-hop. Featured this week is a duo of entertaining music videos from Monday Night and TROY, as well as a unique album release from Young Flexico. Monday’s “Cobra Flex” is “less is more” personified. TROY’s “NOISEY” seamlessly marries pristine visuals and lyricism. And last but not least,...
Creativity is challenging without community, a problem that the up-and-coming OffKey Entertainment is looking to solve. They aren’t a band, or a record label, but something bigger than that. “We are a collective, we are a group, we are a family,” I’m told on the porch of a Carver house venue. It’s a Friday night, and music blares from the...
We delve into the world of Grimalkin Records, a Richmond, Virginia-based collective with a mission that goes beyond music. In this interview, you'll meet Eli Owens and Grim, the driving forces behind this nonprofit endeavor, and explore their inspiring journey from humble beginnings to a certified 501(c)(3) organization. They're amplifying Trans...
We dispatched our hometown photographer, CJ Payne, to the heart of the city to capture a snapshot and engage in some casual conversation. Consider it our local twist on the acclaimed Humans of New York series that we hold in high regard. Our aim is to foster a sense of community and encourage our readers to deepen their connections with their...
I had agreed to meet William Keck aka OG ILLA at his newly renovated space on Broad St, which he has dubbed CNTR in the last year—a creative space for creative people. The location is humble enough out front, bearing the marks of its many past iterations, such as the bookstore it once was, but the inside is on its way to becoming one of the most...
I'm really feeling all the r&b and hip hop out in the city these days, and there's enough of it across the spectrum to satisfy anybody with the hint of a craving to check some out. On this week's SOUND CHECK we take a look at Tuesday at The National, where rising superstar Teddy Swims will be blasting his passionate and varied new record just...
Those around me continue to insist that it is Fall, with their pumpkin spices and their "spooky season" vibes, but I for one am not a person who rushes transitions. It is inevitable however that the leaves will soon change, and the outside shows start slinking back indoors for earlier cooler nights. There are plenty of weeknight shows, but if you...
Last year we took a look at our favorite records to come out of the city in October of 2022. That was a while ago, so we here at RVA Mag felt that it was time to take a deep dive into the scene again to bring to the light some music releases that deserve the spotlight. Our goal is to cover releases that either didn't get enough attention at the...
