Magnum Scenes

Armand Hammer Aren’t Just Ahead Of Their Time — They’re Making Bold Music For Now

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Hip-hop duo Armand Hammer have been making bold and thought-provoking music for just shy of a decade — but don’t call them ahead of their time. Rather, rappers Billy Woods and Elucid are making music for now. After putting out several records, including the 2021 LP Haram with Eminem’s current DJ, The Alchemist, Armand Hammer are finally getting the recognition they deserve. Charting their success in a recent Magnum Scenes video presented by Uproxx, Armand Hammer explain why they live up to their label as the “best lyricists on the planet.”

Born and raised in Queens, New York, Elucid never second-guesses himself when it comes to his music. That’s why when he first discovered Billy Woods, he knew they were destined to be musical partners. Known for his quick-witted lyrics, Woods’ love of the written word was inherited from his Shakespearean scholar mother. “For me, the trust was almost immediate because I’ve seen what he could do by himself,” Elucid said of the duo’s creative connection.

Armand Hammer didn’t pop off overnight. Instead, they made a name for themselves organically by booking their own shows with their favorite creatives. At the time, Elucid says a certain type of rap was “pushed to the side” in favor of commercially successful music. But Armand Hammer have always stayed true to their sound. “I still have a little bit of a chip on my shoulder about that because I never stopped doing the thing they said stop doing,” Elucid said.

Elsewhere in the video, Armand Hammer talk about their indie record label Backwoodz Studioz, so check out the above and explore the other musicians covered in the Magnum Scenes series here.

Additional footage by Alexander Richter

Rapper Bino Rideaux Is On A Mission To Unite LA Through Music

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LA-native Bino Rideaux has been writing raps since he was in the third grade, and now he’s on a mission to unite the city through music. With his hit 2021 album Sixtape 2 and upcoming US tour, the Nipsey Hussle protégé is undoubtedly LA’s next breakout star. Now detailing his rise in a new Magnum Scenes video presented by Uproxx, Bino explains how he’s continuing Nipsey’s legacy and creating a movement along the way.

After selling out his first-ever show at The Roxy Theatre in West Hollywood, Bino created a fair amount of buzz around his music. The rapper was eventually connected with Nipsey, who brought him into the studio and took him under his wing. “You should come into this game as a student. Nip was a mentor to me, for sure,” Bino said. “Being able to shadow him like that, it kinda grew me.”

After Nipsey’s tragic passing in 2019, Bino felt like the city “will never be the same.” But the rapper is motivated to carry on his legacy. “I had to live up to whatever he thought I was,” Bino said. Nipsey’s former tour DJ, DJ VIP, recognizes Bino and his OTB crew’s hard work. “Bringing the city together, that was something Nip stood by and I see that with OTB,” VIP said. “You can tell they’re really trying to put-on for LA and they’re doing it in an inclusive way.”

Elsewhere in the video, Bino shares what’s next in store for his OTB crew, so it check out above and explore the other musicians covered in the Magnum Scenes series here.

femdot. Chose Hip-Hop Over Science And The Decision Is Paying Off

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femdot. is on his way to becoming a household name, but he already is to Chicago hip-hop heads. His 2019 album ’94 Camry Music was revered and he has collaborated with fellow Windy City favorites like Saba, Taylor Bennett, and Cole Bennett’s Lyrical Lemonade. Those co-signs are just one reason why femdot. is a name to know and one that the latest “Magnum Scenes” video sheds some light on.

The rapper starts the clip by speaking about his connection to his home and how it plays into his strengths as an artist, saying, “It’s a very authentic city. You can’t fake it here. You read through that. Relatability is probably my superpower as an artist. I only speak on what I know, so the music is a reflection of Chicago.”

Interestingly, femdot. finds himself where he is today after choosing rap over another passion of his: science. When he went off to college, Chicago was having a hip-hop moment thanks to the rise of artists like Chance The Rapper, which made femdot. want to devote himself to music. He explains why being back in Chicago was critical to making that happen for him, saying, “A lot of these rappers in the city started getting a look, and I’m like, ‘Man, I wonder what would happen if I was home.’ In Chicago, if you’re not around, you’re out of sight, out of mind. If you’re not home, that’s cool and people will love you and whatever, but it hit different when they know you feel this, too.”

Elsewhere in the clip, femdot. speaks about his childhood interest in music, the people he surrounded himself with, his philanthropic endeavors, and more, so check out the video above and explore the other scenes covered in this series here.

Tom The Mail Man Explains Why He’s One Of Hip-Hop’s Most Fascinating Misfits

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The hip-hop landscape is as crowded as ever, but what has helped Tom The Mail Man (real name Sean Brown) stand out is the fact that hip-hop isn’t his only terrain. The artist is fresh off the release of his 2021 album Sometimes Sorry Isn’t Enough, and the project features everything from contemporary rap to straight-up ’90s rock tunes like “Last Night.” Tom has established himself as an essential artist worth paying attention to, and the latest Magnum Scenes video is an opportunity to learn more about him, the scene where he found his comfort zone, and how it has influenced him.

Inspired by musicians who resist the urge to play within a select genre, Tom went outside the box experimenting with his sound and eventually found Airwaves in Atlanta, a hive of other self-described “weird kids” like Sam Levine and Daniel Hartzog. Together, they formed a kind of second family that helps each other navigate loss and the process of making music, allowing Tom The Mail Man to approach his dream of being a legend who can bring people together with his sound.

Take a look at the above video to find out more about Tom’s rise, the story behind his name, and his ambition to be bold, authentic, and a “long-lasting character in the game.”

Rising Detroit Rapper Bruiser Wolf Explains How He Separated Himself From The Pack

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Danny Brown is a unique, head-turning rapper. He seems to have a keen eye for other idiosyncratic artists as well: Bruiser Wolf, an artist on Brown’s Bruiser Brigade Records label, has drawn critical praise for standing out on his new album, Dope Game Stupid. As Wolf makes his ascent, a new Magnum Scenes video (presented by Uproxx in partnership with Magnum) looks at where Wolf has been and where he’s going.

The Detroit rapper was once known as Big Wolf, but he says he tweaked his name to show his appreciation for his label and his fellow artists on it: “I used to be Big Wolf. Changed it when I got with the Bruiser Brigade. All fire MC’s, fire producers. […] To let them know that this forever, I put ‘Bruiser’ in front of my name, like a badge of honor for me, to express my loyalty.”

Between footage of Wolf showing off his home and life, his Bruiser Brigade compatriots share praise for his unique style. “He’s a poet and a comedian at the same time,” ZelooperZ noted. J.U.S. also declared, “I ain’t heard nobody rap like that in so long.” Meanwhile, Brown praised his “very distinctive voice that’s going to separate him from the pack.”

Elsewhere in the video, Wolf and his peers tell the story of his career so far, and it’s full of terrific anecdotes, including some avian coincidences that tie in to the distinctive Dope Game Stupid cover art. Check out the full video above.