Richmond gets it. More than any other city in Virginia. So here’s Weekend Frequency, a weekly, reader-curated playlist built for the city, by the city. Weekend Frequency is part revival and part continuation of our RVA Mag Weekend Playlists which we curated...
The last time RVAMag spoke with Peter $un was late last year and the young hip hop artist was blowing up the local scene with his album, Paradise is A Day Away, a packed touring schedule, and sold out shows. And he hasn’t slowed down since. The Richmond native recently released a new album and has since made a big move to Los Angeles. “I have...
“My spirit is rattled inside” - No Malice Prison. The idea is so embedded in the American consciousness that it is hard to conceive of an America without it. This thought remained with me as I drove towards the penitentiary in Chesapeake, Virginia. Even more so, since I was accompanying a musician who famously inaugurated an entire sub-genre of...
Last night, Richmond was hit with the news that Brian “The Honorable Sleaze” Davis, Sr., a staple of the local hip hop scene, died suddenly following complications during surgery. Co-producer of the now-defunct Just Plain Sounds netlabel, Sleaze was known for his work as a skilled producer and artist. His most recent album, Heavenly/Devilish II:...
The National’s summer schedule is chock-full of Hip Hop stars, ranging from Method Man to Playboi Carti. This past Sunday kicked off that summer high energy with a headlining tour-stop from PnB Rock, a new voice in the music industry that is doing well on the airwaves. The Freshpack Tour, brought to Richmond via G & G Entertainment, was...
For Ricky Dreamer (above), running a boutique record label means helping local artists reach their own dreams. “I want to help them get their message out,” Dreamer said. “With the artists I work with, there’s a synergy there, and an understanding that I want to use my craft for them.” Dreamer operates Dream for Purpose Vibes in Richmond alongside...
Precise sampling, smooth jazzy interludes and effervescent beats meet in the intelligent and harmonious way that has come to be expected from Satellite Syndicate’s BSTFRND in his fourth album, Neuromelanin. Pioneered by producer, multi-media and hip hop artist Jefferson Harris, the 12-track album’s cerebral themes begin at the title, which refers...
From collaborations in Richmond, to signing joint record deals, rising DC hip hop artist Chaz French is the next artist to watch. He first came on to the scene with his mixtape Happy Belated in 2014 and has been gaining popularity ever since with collaborations with local artists like RVA rapper Dr. Millionaire, to bigger names like Wale. Most...
From collaborations in Richmond, to signing joint record deals, rising DC hip hop artist Chaz French is the next artist to watch. He first came on to the scene with his mixtape Happy Belated in 2014 and has been gaining popularity ever since with collaborations with smaller local artists like RVA rapper Dr. Millionaire, to bigger names like Wale....
Lately, there’s been a surge of new and up and coming hip hop artists and rappers that seem to be pushing the boundaries on what most people think hip hop is or should be. The 2016 XXL Freshman Class comes to mind. You can never quite tell if the reception is negative, ironic, or that the music is on the whole generally well received. But by the...
