The room was charged the moment the doors opened. Richmond showed up ready—you could feel it in the air, like the bassline of a song you know by heart. And at the center of it all stood The Ghost himself: Styles P. Live at Ember Music Hall. A masterclass in presence,...
Queens hip hop icon Roxanne Shanté will visit VCU tomorrow as part of the university's celebration of Women's History Month. Shanté rose to fame during the 1980s for her song "Roxanne's Revenge", an answer to hip hop group UTFO's song, "Roxanne, Roxanne." This then spurred over 100 answer records and hip hop rivalries which became known as the...
Big beats and bars are pushing an emcee from the background to the limelight; SwellzTheGod, a wordsmith from Newport News is making waves online with his tape Channeling Swellz. The project sits at 12 diverse tracks that give a deeper understanding of Devaughn Gaskins a.k.a SwellzTheGod as a writer and solo artist. “Channeling Swellz is getting...
Virginia rapper Doug Finesse and producer Jack TP channeled hip hop OGs Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg for the formula to success with their latest project. The two artists released Only Option on January 29 online and according to Finesse, a hip hop musician from Prince George County, the eight-track album was inspired by authentic musicianship. “It was...
The only thing that local independent artist and producer Jaavon obsesses over more than death, is love. “My name is Jaavon and [my musical moniker] is Jaavondies (pronounced Jaavon-dies and not Jaavon-dees),” said Jaavon. “I came up with my name because death fascinates me, the concept that when you die… it’s over and it’s the end of your life....
“Did not expect moustachioed guy with hipster hat,” read a comment on the YouTube video for Jawnii-Abhi’s August 2016 single “Flip Phone.” Despite the hipster aesthetic, the Richmond-native is not the sort of musician to pluck a guitar and croon. Instead, he raps. Jawnii-Abhi is the stage name for John Evans. He recently left the east coast and...
When I first heard McChicken I was more than a bit confused. The simple post we threw up a little over two years ago ended up blowing up. The video, featuring McChicken and friends rapping and partying at the river, was infinitely relatable to those who have brought a mixed beverage to Richmond’s favorite water-side party spot. Love it or...
Local hip hop Mikelis bounces between RVA and the 757, but it looks like he got stuck in Henrico over the weekend where he got with @KultureGeorge. Local hip hop Mikelis bounces between RVA and the 757, but it looks like he got stuck in Henrico over the weekend where he got with @KultureGeorge. Armed with a drone and the snowy landscape, the...
“Versace Chachi? Is that spelt with a dollar sign and some cent signs? Or just a dollar sign?” The person across from us at Lamplighter asks, half kidding as we wait for him to arrive. “Versace Chachi? Is that spelt with a dollar sign and some cent signs? Or just a dollar sign?” The person across from us at Lamplighter asks, half kidding as we...
Norfolk-based Radio Ready Recording has an interesting offering for those looking to make their Christmas season a little more dope and woke: a Virginia-wide holiday mix tape. Featuring the likes of D4, Fingaz On The Track, BeatKing and many more, the record, sponsored by J. Braye, owner of Radio Ready Recording Studios, offers some great...
