This week’s Uproxx Music 20 column takes things to the West Coast, where we shine a light on rapper Teyter Tot. With a project and a slew of singles under her belt, the Oakland native caught my attention thanks to a couple of freestyles that live on her Instagram page. The first is one from a few months ago with the platform In The Kitchen With H-Dot and the other is with another called Hotel Freestyles. In both, Teyter Tot displayed fierce attitude as she fired off brash, tough-talking bars over bass-rattling production.
Teyter Tot’s music reminds me a bit of Rico Nasty’s, only with an emphasis on The Bay rather than the DMV. Teyter’s most recent project came back in 2022 with Different Breed, and though she’s yet to release a record in 2024, she’s spent the last week teasing what we can assume is her next single of many to come. The sky is the limit for the Oakland-bred rapper, so if you want to dive into her releases, you can start with Different Breed highlights like “Act Right” and “Wait” or check out some of her 2023 singles like “Angel” and “Choose Up.”
With more to come from Teyter Tot, scroll down to learn more about her artistry and discover her inspiration, aspiration, and influences.
Music has been a part of my life as long as I can remember, so I’m not sure. What I do remember is my mom telling me when I was a few months old, she would purposefully put on Mary J. Blige and I would sit up and bounce on beat.
Who inspired you to take music seriously?
My mother. She always told me if I do it, do it fully and always encouraged me to finish what I started. She also exposed me to a lot of art as a child so I’ve always been developing a taste for culture.
Do you know how to play an instrument? If so, which one? If not, which instrument do you want to learn how to play?
Yes, I can play piano and drums. I kinda forgot how to read music, but if I studied for like a month, I’d probably have it down again. I still would also love to learn how to play bass.
What was your first job?
Chipotle. I hated it.
What is your most prized possession?
My mind.
What is your biggest fear?
Not trying or being too enthralled in shame based fear that I don’t have the space to grow.
You get 24 hours to yourself to do anything you want, with unlimited resources: What are you doing? And spare no details!
I don’t know, probably walking around butt ass naked with mad jewelry on eating berries and sh*t through a tea garden in Japan. Then I’d swim in a stream or something & smoke a blunt in a country you probably aren’t supposed to.
What are your three most used emojis?
, , and .
What’s a feature you need to secure before you die?
Which celebrity do you admire or respect for their personality and why?
Rihanna, all girls love Rihanna. She’s a boss, she’s that girl.
Share your opinion on something no one could ever change your mind about.
Too many people associate their own value to what they are able to provide monetarily and that gives you low self-esteem which actually makes it harder to live anyway.
What is the best song you’ve ever heard in your life and what do you love about it?
Maybe Sade’s “Smooth Operator” because it’s smooth and player. It feels like an immersive experience each time I hear it.
What’s your favorite city in the world to perform, and what’s a city you’re excited to perform in for the first time?
Favorite city is probably Los Angeles, they show me hella love. I’m looking forward to some day performing in London or Tokyo.
You are throwing a music festival. Give us the dream lineup of 5 artists that will perform with you and the location where it would be held.
Yonkers rapper Iman Nunez isn’t scared of anything. That’s at least my takeaway after listening to his latest album Phases Vol. 2. The nine-track project, hosted by Gabe P’s New York-based platform On The Radar, was the start of many big moments for Iman Nunez and his 2024 campaign. Shortly after the album’s release, Nunez experienced a viral moment beside fellow NY rappers Fergie Baby, HDBeenDope, Dizzy Banko, LifeOfThom, Niko Brim, Tony E thanks to a freestyle performed on On The Radar. A few weeks later, Nunez took his talents to the 2024 BET Awards for another performance.
These moments and the ones that will surely follow are the result of the grit, fight, and resilience that Nunez on Phases Vol. 2. “I Got Time” is a boastful anthem that makes it clear that fame and the life that comes with it won’t change the person Nunez is. “Pipe Down” with Dizzy Banko and Fergie Baby demands silence from unworthy competitors and nuisances while “Get Off My Back” seeks freedom from the life’s pressures. Nunez’s rap skills are not to be questioned, nor is his determination to reach new heights — a combination that will prove to be greatly beneficial for the rising Yonkers rapper.
With Phases Vol. 2 still in rotation, we caught up with Iman Nunez for this week’s Uproxx Music 20 column. Scroll down to check out some highlights from his catalog and to learn more about his inspiration, influences, and aspirations.
My earliest memory of music is falling asleep to classical music when I was a child. Every night, my mom used to have that playing for us to go to sleep.
Who inspired you to take music seriously?
What inspired me to take music seriously was the obsession of wanting to be great. I had a love for hip-hop as a child and didn’t think that type of dream was attainable but realized it soon after and started to check goals off.
Do you know how to play an instrument? If so, which one? If not, which instrument do you want to learn how to play?
I played piano for many years of my life when growing up, but I sadly forgot because instead of learning notes, I was memorizing the way the song sounded in order to know what to do next. If I had to choose an instrument to learn, it would be to relearn the piano.
What was your first job?
My first job ever was Uber Eats. I used to go to the city, get an unlimited metro card and start working ’til sundown.
What is your most prized possession?
My fiancé and I each have this grape soda pin from the movie “Up” that I cherish.
What is your biggest fear?
I have a big fear of heights. I don’t know where I developed it, but I’m trying to overcome it as I get older.
You get 24 hours to yourself to do anything you want, with unlimited resources: What are you doing? And spare no details!
I’m purchasing every single type of crypto with it being a downtime, renting out Disneyland (DCA Specifically) to set up a listening party in the park for a project coming out. I’ll also purchase court-side tickets to a Knicks playoff game in advance.
What are your three most used emojis?
, , and .
What’s a feature you need to secure before you die?
Stevie Wonder.
If you could appear in a future season of a current TV show, which one would it be and why?
The Bear. I’d love to see me as a chef in that type of high intensity environment. It’s a very well put together show.
Which celebrity do you admire or respect for their personality and why?
I’d say J. Cole. My reasoning behind that is because you can tell that he’s genuinely himself. He’s still growing as a human and it doesn’t feel like a facade.
Share your opinion on something no one could ever change your mind about.
Pineapple on pizza is a sin.
What is the best song you’ve ever heard in your life and what do you love about it?
I’m one of those people that don’t have a best song ever. That changes for me every day or week. Last week was “Birds Of A Feather” by Billie Eilish. At this very moment, the best song ever (to me) is “Glock” by Don Toliver. I don’t think there’s a better song out right now. I wish I made it myself. It’s smooth, catchy, a good time, the beat is insane.
What’s your favorite city in the world to perform, and what’s a city you’re excited to perform in for the first time?
My hometown, NYC. I’ve been blessed enough to do my own headline shows so it’s always love. A city I’m excited to perform at for my first time is Toronto.
You are throwing a music festival. Give us the dream lineup of 5 artists that will perform with you and the location where it would be held.
What would you be doing now if it weren’t for music?
I’d probably be managing artists or finding my way into the entertainment industry or start a sports agency.
If you could see five years into the future or go five years into the past, which one would you pick and why?
I’d go five years into the past because you can’t get time back once you’re gone. I already feel like there’s not enough time in a day.
What’s one piece of advice you’d go back in time to give to your 18-year-old self?
Turn the outside noise off as much as you can and stop thinking you aren’t good enough. People respect your pen and you put in the time. Just be patient.
It’s 2050. The world hasn’t ended, and people are still listening to your music. How would you like it to be remembered?
I would like for my music to be remembered as classic. Something you connected to that touched your heart. Honest. Not a specific timestamp to what it sounds like but something that doesn’t have a time period to it. Just timeless and heartfelt.
Phases Vol. 2 is out now via ONLYONEIMAN LLC. Find out more information here.
Even during the year’s hottest months, Seafood Sam manages to stay cool, calm, and collected. The Long Beach rapper lives in a world that blends nostalgia and modernity. Furthermore, Sam does things his way — when and wherever he wants. Look no further than him giving his dog the most lavish and exuberant at-home spa treatments possible. Much of this unrestricted individuality lives on his new album Standing On Giant Shoulders.
The giant shoulders mentioned in the album’s title are James Brown, Bobby Brown, and Miles Davis — a trio of soul singers that inspire Sam’s creative process. This inspiration takes shape on tracks like “Pearly Gates Playlist” as Sam takes an introspective approach to confronting the male ego while “Can’t Take The Hood To Heaven” supplies a lush hook for a reminder to make something of yourself while you can. “Cowboy Leather” with Pink Sifu brandishes a symphony of flutes, strings, and an ear-pleasing bass line while “Attack Of The Dreadlocks” with Rae Khalil makes use of summery guitar strings for a warning to those who get in the way of Sam’s grind and hustle.
All in all, Seafood Sam’s Standing On Giant Shoulders thrives by bridging the gap between Sam’s inspirations and the current world he raps in. The album’s unique experience moves the soul and settles the mind for an overall feeling that listeners will certainly want more of.
With the album out now and in rotation, we caught up with Seafood Sam to learn more about him for this week’s Uproxx Music 20 column. Scroll down to learn more about the Long Beach rapper’s inspirations, influences, and aspirations.
I remember being really young in the car with my mom and Zapped & Roger’s “I Wanna Be Your Man” came on and I lost it… asking who’s the artist and what other songs do they sing, I instantly got full invested. (Same with Teena Marie).
Who inspired you to take music seriously?
Wiz Khalifa & Curren$y. Once I heard “Kush & OJ” and “Covert Coupe,” music was no longer a hobby.
Do you know how to play an instrument? If so, which one? If not, which instrument do you want to learn how to play?
Naw, not yet. But give me two ballpoint pens and any desk/table and I’m making beats for days. But I’d like to learn the saxophone or piano.
What was your first job?
Working at this skate shop in the Long Beach town center.
What is your most prized possession?
Won’t say it’s the 1st or 2nd most prized, but I will say my Allen Iverson rookie card.
You get 24 hours to yourself to do anything you want, with unlimited resources: What are you doing? And spare no details!
Real Estate. Own a whole city worth of properties (sell some, rent some out & give some out to those in need… you know that forever income)
What are your three most used emojis?
, , and .
What’s a feature you need to secure before you die?
Sade.
If you could appear in a future season of a current TV show, which one would it be and why?
I don’t watch TV that much and even though it’s not currently running I would’ve love to be a voice on The Boondocks cause it’s so many legendary people that worked on that show — R.I.P. John Witherspoon.
Which celebrity do you admire or respect for their personality and why?
Denzel Washington. From what I’ve seen, he’s always cool, calm & professional.
Share your opinion on something no one could ever change your mind about.
Waffles better than pancakes.
What is the best song you’ve ever heard in your life and what do you love about it?
What’s your favorite city in the world to perform, and what’s a city you’re excited to perform in for the first time?
Hometown shows are always fun, but I can’t lie, recently performing in Brooklyn was insane. I love the energy over there. I’d like to do a world tour and perform everywhere that wanna see me.
You are throwing a music festival. Give us the dream lineup of 5 artists that will perform with you and the location where it would be held.
I’m bringing the show home to Long Beach with performances by Sade, Kendrick Lamar, and Snoop Dogg of course, me & I’ll let the homies rock out the opening slot.
What would you be doing now if it weren’t for music?
Probably working a 9-5 job trying to figure out how to get into music.
If you could see five years into the future or go five years into the past, which one would you pick and why?
Future… I already seen what happened 5 years ago.
What’s one piece of advice you’d go back in time to give to your 18-year-old self?
No advice really, maybe just a few money moves to be aware of. Cause everything’s happening how it was suppose to.
It’s 2050. The world hasn’t ended, and people are still listening to your music. How would you like it to be remembered?
The smoothest & coolest.
Standing On Giant Shoulders is out now via Drink Sum Wtr. Find out more information here.
All it takes is one hit. It’s a saying that the music industry carries in their back pocket 24/7 as it’s applicable to both rising artists and the biggest superstars around. Jordan Adetunji is the former, but there’s no doubt that he feels like a star nowadays. The Nigerian singer by way of Belfast, UK, skyrocketed to fame thanks to his hit record, “KEHLANI.” The song, released earlier this year, quickly tallied over 100 million streams and earned Adetunji a record deal with 300 Entertainment. As if that wasn’t enough, “KEHLANI” is about to get a second burst of life after Kehlani herself issued a remix with new verse.
“Making a song about Kehlani was a no brainer to me, her confidence and huge cultural impact is something I love!” Adetunji said earlier this year about the song. The love was felt by Kehlani previously shared videos soundtracked by the song on TikTok. The new remix further proves her love for the song, as well as her support for Adetunji who already had a career trending in the right direction thanks to past records like “ZACK & CODY” and “DECAY.” Now, thanks to “KEHLANI” as well as help from Kehlani, Adetunji has all the eyes on him to prove he’s here to stay. Like I said, all it takes is one record.
With the “KEHLANI” remix out now, as well as its matching visual (which you can watch below), we caught up with Jordan Adetunji to learn more about him and discover his inspirations, influences, and aspirations for this week’s Uproxx Music 20 column.
What would you be doing now if it weren’t for music?
I’d be creating or designing a game.
If you could see five years into the future or go five years into the past, which one would you pick and why?
Five years into the past, I’d try to save people I love the most with the knowledge I now have.
What’s one piece of advice you’d go back in time to give to your 18-year-old self?
You’re right. It’s going to happen, remember it’s about timing.
It’s 2050. The world hasn’t ended, and people are still listening to your music. How would you like it to be remembered?
True definition of art. Different brush each time but still such beautiful work. I want people to see different eras. And different eras to my creativity of my story.
Like most artists, Leo Waters fought for the spot he stands in today. The young singer, born in Tampa, raised in Chicago, and currently residing in Los Angeles, was forced to embrace the unknown after he left the comfort and familiar surroundings of home in pursuit of his music dreams. His debut project On Waters Ave documents that journey through six songs that also portrays the clarity and self-awareness Waters has at such a young age.
“Leo Waters means King of Waters,” he said about the project in a press release. “Waters Ave is my home street and a cultural hub representative of my mixed Latin heritage and small town familial ties. Having had to fight tooth and nail to come up in Tampa, I now feel it’s time to tell my story as an artist leaving home to face the urban jungle of Los Angeles.”
On Waters Ave is led by his breakout single “Smoke + Mirrors” where Waters’ reminds an elusive woman that his treatment toward her trumps that of other men in her life. It’s also presented with a sliver of humility and honesty as he confesses wanting more time with her. “Love is too hard to find,” he sings. “So come and ease up my mind.” Other highlights throughout On Waters Ave include the powerful and self-sufficient “On Me” and the sweet and romantic “Outlaws.”
Waters isn’t done yet in 2024, though. Just a month after releasing On Waters Ave, the singer returns with “Cuerpo,” a Latin-inspired tune that Waters uses to show his commitment to a new love interest. He also shows off his Spanish to add some flare to the track.
With “Cuerpo” out now and On Waters Ave still in rotation, we caught up with Leo Waters to learn more about him for this week’s Uproxx Music 20 column. Scroll down to read more about the Waters’ inspirations, influences, and aspirations.
I used to watch singing competitions with my family… it was a big family affair to watch American Idol, etc. I used to imagine myself up there. We were a big music family and I would always sing to the family and they would egg me on. I was the family entertainer in that way.
Who inspired you to take music seriously?
When I was a dancer, I was touring with a bunch of artists and I met Tory Lanez along the way. I watched him record early on and he taught me how important it is to learn everything yourself. I took that mentality and ran with it before I met my current team.
Do you know how to play an instrument? If so, which one? If not, which instrument do you want to learn how to play?
I can play the keys, but more than anything I’m learning to be a better producer and engineer and I love to write.
What was your first job?
I used to work in construction. That was the plan before I was found in a writing camp. I took all my $200 bucks from that week and flew myself to LA to do this writing camp.
What is your most prized possession?
Probably my first mic that was gifted to me. I still own this today and record on it.
What is your biggest fear?
My biggest fear is not making my family proud. It is so important to me to give back to them for everything they’ve done for me.
You get 24 hours to yourself to do anything you want, with unlimited resources: What are you doing? And spare no details!
I think if I could do anything I would go back in time and relive my favorite memories from life. With my family, as a dancer, etc. I would love to take inspiration from those times and write more music. Memories are the most important non-tangible asset we have.
What are your three most used emojis?
, , and .
What’s a feature you need to secure before you die?
This sounds insane… but I would love to collab on an afro-beats / R&B type song.
If you could appear in a future season of a current TV show, which one would it be and why?
I love the show Fallout because I love gaming and it is based on my favorite video game.
Which celebrity do you admire or respect for their personality and why?
I think Shaq. He seems like a class act and has built amazing businesses off his success as a basketball player. I think it’s hard to find celebrities that are good people and good businesspeople. He seems like one of those guys.
Share your opinion on something no one could ever change your mind about.
Our actions, thoughts, and words must always be in alignment. It is the most important way to operate as a good man and person.
What is the best song you’ve ever heard in your life and what do you love about it?
This is such a tough call…I love songs that are left up to interpretation but have a deeper meaning. I think “Hotel California” does this. It’s about someone being trapped in a world where they have everything they could ever want or need… but realizing that’s not everything and there is more to life. I love that concept.
What’s your favorite city in the world to perform, and what’s a city you’re excited to perform in for the first time?
Tampa. Tampa…. Tampa.
You are throwing a music festival. Give us the dream lineup of 5 artists that will perform with you and the location where it would be held.
Location is Tampa, FL. Because that’s home… and we need to bring good music back home. This is a loaded lineup for me… I need to give more than 5 if we’re talking about a real festival. SZA, Don Toliver, Burna Boy, Drake, Bryson Tiller, Frank Ocean, Summer Walker, Kehlani, WILLOW, Mk.Gee, Jean Dawson, Alix Banin, and PabloPablo.
What would you be doing now if it weren’t for music?
Probably dancing. I still love it as a sport and I love entertaining. Or I would be a songwriter. Or both…
If you could see five years into the future or go five years into the past, which one would you pick and why?
This is a crazy question. I want to stay where I am…wildcard answer. I don’t have any regrets, and I want to leave the mystery about what the future holds. I’m enjoying working hard and living in the now.
What’s one piece of advice you’d go back in time to give to your 18-year-old self?
Continue to stay true to your values and trust your gut and your heart when something isn’t right. That’s the most important indicator.
It’s 2050. The world hasn’t ended, and people are still listening to your music. How would you like it to be remembered?
Man, we are getting deep here! I think I want to be remembered as someone who has made an impact in this community as someone that has remained a good honorable person that has created art that surpasses generations. I want every move I make and every song I release to reflect this. We aren’t remembered by name a lot of the time… we’re remembered by the actions and impact we have left behind. I’d rather my art and good work be remembered over my name. People get so lost in the music industry. Especially in the hip hop and R+B community. It is so important for me to stay grounded and represent that it’s possible to be a good honorable person while being successful in this space. I can’t wait until I have the resources to make an impact on the communities that matter to me most and to continue to use my art to make positive change.
On Waters Ave is out now via Key Records LLC. Find out more information here.
Blk Odyssy’s third album 1-800-Fantasy is birth from his most exciting and liberating era to date. “Between exploring a new level of storytelling and also a new world of production and songwriting, this record has been a new chapter for me as an artist,” Odyssy said about the new album in a press release. The project bends genre, as Blk Odyssy has been known to do, through 13 songs and features from Wiz Khalifa, Jackie Giroux, Harry Edohoukwa, and Joey Badass to make for quiet the wonderous experience.
1-800-Fantasy presents Blk Odyssy as a teenage boy obsessed with an elusive woman. Supported by hotline exchanges and cinematic visuals, the album’s stories progresses to capture this teen’s yearning spiral into impatience as he reaches his breaking point in this failed foray into love. In the end, the young boy, though heartbroken, has an epiphany that leads to solitude and acceptance.
Together with the new album, we caught up with Blk Odyssy for this week’s Uproxx Music 20 column to learn more about his inspirations, influences, and aspirations.
What would you be doing now if it weren’t for music?
Acting for sure.
If you could see five years into the future or go five years into the past, which one would you pick and why?
I’d go 5 years into the past and make some changes and choices to further my career [laughs].
What’s one piece of advice you’d go back in time to give to your 18-year-old self?
Focus, take what you’re doing more seriously and study. It’s going to change your life.
It’s 2050. The world hasn’t ended, and people are still listening to your music. How would you like it to be remembered?
I want to be remembered as someone who pushed culture forward, someone who created open conversations and made art that provoked thought, and someone who inspired the next generation of artist to create against the grain and not do the norm.
1-800-Fantasy is out now via EARTHCHILD / EMPIRE. Find out more information here.
Allow Teenear to introduce the new and more evolved version of herself to the world. The Miami singer concluded last month with the release of her debut album Never Met A Me, a project over a decade in the making. “Never Met A Me honestly feels like a re-introduction of myself to the world,” she said about the album which features 12 songs and a guest appearance from Rick Ross. “It’s me finally standing in the essence of who I truly am, and it represents what I feel like is my bigger purpose right now. The music – it exudes confidence. It’s for the girls, it’s for the lovers, it’s for the hard workers… It’s for the ones that truly know how to feel.”
Teenear takes comfort in her individuality throughout Never Met A Me. She relishes in the freedom to be the woman she desires to be on the shimmering “Moment” with Rick Ross while the epic “Outside!” champions self-love as she hits the town with friends for an exciting girls’ night out. Teenear also uses this same confidence in her approach to love, like on “Stay Home” where she questions her partner’s inability to match her energy during a night of fun. Teenear’s heart also burns bright on the passionate “Waste No Time” and “Ride” where she blissfully falls into a deep love. Never Met A Me is uniquely Teenear, making for a moving introduction that will leave a lasting impression.
Just a couple weeks removed from the release of Never Met A Me, we caught up with Teenear to highlight her and the project for this week’s Uproxx Music 20 column. Scroll down to read more about the Miami singer’s inspirations, influences, and aspirations.
I feel like it was the moment that I sang “Silver and Gold” by Kirk Franklin for my entire church congregation at an extremely young age. For me, that was a moment that was enlightening not only for music itself, but also my spirituality.
Who inspired you to take music seriously?
Honestly for me, it was the moment all of the girls at my school were going crazy over Justin Bieber and I didn’t know who he was yet. I’ll never forget going home and researching him for hours on my bed, and I came across a contest he was doing to write to one of his instrumentals. That was the moment that sparked the love in me to create music. It became an outlet for me to express myself, and I fell in love with it.
Do you know how to play an instrument? If so, which one? If not, which instrument do you want to learn how to play?
I know how to finesse playing the piano… sometimes [laughs]. But one day, I would truly love to learn how to really play it.
What was your first job?
Gardening was truly the first time I ever got paid for working for real, but at the same time it kind of felt like a hobby because I truly enjoyed it! It was for an organization called “Health in the Hood” and we would plant food to give out to the community!
What is your most prized possession?
I don’t really think I have a physical object that I would claim to be my “most prized possession.” The only thing I can think of to measure up to that title would be my family! I feel like at the end of the day. I’m truly nothing without them and I’m constantly protective over them because I know they’re constantly protective over me! I feel like family is so important.
What is your biggest fear?
I don’t really like speaking on fears because they always say your biggest fear will come upon you! So I keep that between me and God, and I won’t let it come out of my mouth.
You get 24 hours to yourself to do anything you want, with unlimited resources: What are you doing? And spare no details!
One side of me really wants to give you a great political answer, but the truth is… and my honest answer is… I would want to be dropped off at an island that has everything I need to survive 24 hours alone. No phone, just my Bible, a digital camera, a whole bunch of skincare, and food! I would still want the island to be luxurious, just super ducked off. That would truly be ideal. 24 hours of pure relaxation and no outside noise would be beautiful.
What are your three most used emojis?
Emoji number one is 100% because I gotta put a little bit of sparkle into everything I say! Two and three are and because God is too good, and I love spreading love!
What’s a feature you need to secure before you die?
Beyoncé, 1000%. no explanation needed!
If you could appear in a future season of a current TV show, which one would it be and why?
I would love to be in Law & Order: SVU! That is my show! I feel like there are a few moments in life that I could see myself crying over, and that would 100% be one of them!
Which celebrity do you admire or respect for their personality and why?
I would have to say Cardi B! She came into the music industry completely herself and has stayed herself throughout the past years, and I think that is something I truly respect! The internet comes with a lot of opinions and if you allow it to, it can make you want to sensor a lot of things in your life.
Share your opinion on something no one could ever change your mind about.
Dark chocolate being the best type of chocolate there is. Milk chocolate is way too sweet and tastes fake. White chocolate is literally fake because a cocoa bean is brown, make it make sense… that’s just sweet Milk. Dark Chocolate is the only way to go because that’s how it was supposed to be. Why did anyone have to try and alter what’s already perfection?
What is the best song you’ve ever heard in your life and what do you love about it?
I’m gonna have to say my song, “Never Met A Me”. That song truly embodies the essence of who I am and sparks a joy and self-confidence within me everytime I hear it.
What’s your favorite city in the world to perform, and what’s a city you’re excited to perform in for the first time?
I’m not sure what my favorite city in the world to perform at is just yet, I feel like I have a lot of places to explore still! But I 100% need to perform in Tokyo one day! Anywhere in Japan honestly — I feel like that would be so much fun and I’m looking forward to that one day!
You are throwing a music festival. Give us the dream lineup of 5 artists that will perform with you and the location where it would be held.
First and foremost, I think it would only be right to have it be held in Miami! The lineup is hard… I think I would make it in all girls festival, sorry to my boys, but girls are definitely taking over. I’d say Beyoncé, Victoria Monét, Latto, Megan Thee Stallion, and my last is… I feel like I’d be doing myself a disservice to not say Mariah Carey. I think that’s a good mix of the music I listen to right now.
What would you be doing now if it weren’t for music?
I’d most likely be acting! I actually really started in theater as a child and that is another love of mine, and I plan on getting back to that one day! But I think I would lean more towards film rather than theater at this point in my life.
If you could see five years into the future or go five years into the past, which one would you pick and why?
I would definitely go to the future! The past is in the past, and the past all happened for a reason! The past is what built me into who I am today, so I have no regrets. I would love to see what God has in store for me in the future, and keep on moving forward.
What’s one piece of advice you’d go back in time to give to your 18-year-old self?
I would definitely tell my 18-year-old self to love herself a little bit more! Wake up every day and ask God to allow you to view yourself how he views you! And believe in every dream/vision God has placed in your heart!
It’s 2050. The world hasn’t ended, and people are still listening to your music. How would you like it to be remembered?
I think it would be most important to me that the music is remembered as a light! I would love to just be remembered as a light! I truly aspire to walk into every room and leave behind a positive feeling, a feeling of love, a feeling of happiness and feeling of joy!
Never Met A Me is out now via Slip N Slide Records. Find out more information here.
Samara Cyn is doing everything right nowadays, but truthfully, you could say she always has. Born in Murfreesboro, Tennessee and bouncing around several cities before settling in Pheonix, Arizona in 2017, rapper Samara Cyn is a new lyricist to reckon with today. She constructs 16s and 32s with impressive ease and breezes through them with the TK of a veteran. There are more than slick rhymes in Cyn’s arsenal, though. Like artists such as JID and Doja Cat, Cyn lays her raps with the backing of soulful beats and soothing singing voice to make her a complete artist worth getting excited about.
Her latest single “Magnolia Rain” makes for three singles in the past year, showing a promising future in rap lies ahead for Cyn. “Magnolia Rain” presents Cyn with the cool, calm, and collected demeanor that takes precedent on most of her tracks. She steers through the record with an introspective take on life, emphasizing her choice to focus on what she can control and take everything else as it comes. “Finding out that letting go give you more control,” she sings on the song’s chorus. “Keep a calm mind, keep a calm soul.” It’s a soothing reminder to find your peace in a world that can be so chaotic.
Together with the new single, we had a moment o catch up with Samara Cyn and find out more about her in this week’s Uproxx Music 20 column. Scroll down to hear some of Cyn’s music and to learn more about her influences, inspirations, and aspirations.
This is hard. I can’t really pinpoint the earliest moment. Maybe getting ready for school to MTV Top 40s. But what’s coming to mind is rapping Slick Rick’s “Children’s Story” on karaoke with my dad at my 13th birthday party. Prime childhood memory.
Who inspired you to take music seriously?
My friend Michael Knight was the first person that really had me thinking I could do this for real. I was in college; I was just having my fun with music. It was something to do. But Michael really sat me down, believed in me, and got me set up. I remember sitting in my closet with my basic ass recording set up and him tapping into my computer from NC to teach me how to record on Logic. On some Spy Kids sh*t. He did all of my earliest production, he would mix my records, master them. All off the strength. Believed in it so much, it made me start too.
Do you know how to play an instrument? If so, which one? If not, which instrument do you want to learn how to play?
I can play a few songs on the guitar. Haven’t been able to stay disciplined enough to really learn it yet though. I think it’d be pretty badass to perform one day with an electric guitar though. So that’s the one.
What was your first job?
JCPenney and I hated it.
What is your most prized possession?
My mind.
What is your biggest fear?
Not being able to give my folks the life they deserve before time runs out, and you know, being kidnapped and tortured and stuff.
You get 24 hours to yourself to do anything you want, with unlimited resources: What are you doing? And spare no details!
Maldives, massage, good food, clear water. Peace.
What are your three most used emojis?
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What’s a feature you need to secure before you die?
Tyler The Creator.
If you could appear in a future season of a current TV show, which one would it be and why?
I really like what Vince Staples is doing with his show. It’s extremely well done. I love funny shows with a darker plot line, and I’m a fan of tasteful artist crossovers. Really admire what he’s doing with his art all around.
Which celebrity do you admire or respect for their personality and why?
Doja Cat. That woman don’t give a f*ck. She gon’ do her regardless and she does her very well, completely unapologetic. I love a “F*CK YOU” attitude for real. I feel like Tyler has that same energy. And Lil Nas X, I love him too.
Share your opinion on something no one could ever change your mind about.
You can cure any disease with the food you put and don’t put into your body — from cancer to a cold. And instead of going to doctors consistently, we should be seeing nutritionists.
What is the best song you’ve ever heard in your life and what do you love about it?
“I Don’t Know” by Nick Hakim. That song will put you in a trance! His harmonies are beautiful, his voice is soothing as f*ck, guitar loops are my favorite, and it just calms me every time I listen to it. Really pulls me back into my body when I need that. Go look it up.
What’s your favorite city in the world to perform, and what’s a city you’re excited to perform in for the first time?
I don’t have too many cities under my belt yet, but Raleigh, North Carolina has my favorite performance to date. The crowd was energetic and everybody I talked to was so sweet and down to Earth. I’m excited for London.
You are throwing a music festival. Give us the dream lineup of 5 artists that will perform with you and the location where it would be held.
What would you be doing now if it weren’t for music?
I have no idea. Whatever it would be, I’d be doing it good though.
If you could see five years into the future or go five years into the past, which one would you pick and why?
Ooof. Future. The past passed for a reason.
What’s one piece of advice you’d go back in time to give to your 18-year-old self?
Don’t wait to tap into your life force. Be yourself, be grateful, be kind, and think a little bit more on that tattoo.
It’s 2050. The world hasn’t ended, and people are still listening to your music. How would you like it to be remembered?
I’m not that old for real so I’d still be alive, God willing laughs. But I hope people see me and my music as loving, genuine, accepting, and they respect the contribution I made. I hope my music will help people feel understood, and I plan for my contribution to extend beyond music.
Earlier this year, Palestinian-Chilean artist Elyanna released her debut album Woltedo. The title translates to “I am born,” and signals a moment of rebirth for the young singer, something she full embraced in a conversation with Rolling Stone. “This album is my debut and it lives in its own world,” she told the publication. “Despite being my first, it is a rebirth of myself while serving as the unveiling of Elyanna. It’s something I’ve never heard before, yet it feels nostalgic.”
She went on to say that the album is a “journey through identity, love, rage, and feminism” and that couldn’t be more true. On Woltedo, she bares love, her culture, and her home on her sleeve with not an ounce of regret. Losing her culture and disconnecting from her roots was not an option for Elyanna on Woltedo. Instead, we as listeners are invited to experience her world and the indulge ourselves in its beauty. It’s a task that is equally intriguing and delightful thanks to the album’s elegant nine songs.
Weeks removed from the release of Woltedo, we caught up with Elyanna for our Uproxx Music 20 series to learn more about her and discover her influences, inspirations, and aspirations.
I would say that would be my grandpa. My grandpa used to be an amazing singer and I remember going to Palestinian weddings and he would be singing a Zajal, which a very poetic freestyle, I would say. My grandpa is the one that opened my eyes about how an artist is.
Who or what inspired you to take music seriously?
I was born and raised in Nazareth, Palestine and I always wanted to be a singer. It’s something that everybody knew around me — I wanted to be an artist. I was literally like, seven years old and I would tell everybody that that’s what I’m going to be. It’s crazy because in Nazareth that doesn’t happen, really, to anybody. We don’t have these kind of opportunities and I don’t know why. I always felt like that’s what I wanted to do and I was so serious about it, I’ve always been. I always wanted to make music, I always wanted to be an artist, and I can’t see myself doing anything else. I remember before we moved, my dad came and he asked me, “Are you sure? We’re going to take a big step of moving and being here [United States],” and I told them, yes, I want to be a singer. I feel like I let go of everything I know to make my dreams come true, even though it comes with a lot of hard consequences [and] different things that are definitely tough, but if you believe in something, you should always at least give it a try.
Do you know how to play an instrument? If so, which one? If not, which instrument do you want to learn how to play?
When I was younger, I remember trying to play the violin and I was really bad [laughs], so I just stuck to singing. I love piano, I think piano such a beautiful instrument and I am actually learning it right now. I feel like my songs are very piano- and keys-based. My brother played piano when we were younger and he’s also the one that discovered my talents, he has a lot of influence on me. He’s an amazing pianist and he’s releasing his own soundtracks. When we create music together, our base is always piano.
What was your first job?
I think just being a singer that was my first job ever. I started professionally doing it when I was 16 and I think it teaches you so much. It’s not only music, it’s really the business side of it, how to be political, how to communicate with people, and how to express yourself and your art, but be bold and still be polite, nice, and genuine.
What is your biggest fear?
There’s a lot of things that I fear and to be honest, this is very human, I would say, but the people around me that I love, I love so deeply and I always want to make sure they’re good, happy and safe, and that’s something that I always pray for. I’m really, really scared of the ocean and I’m terrified of airplanes.
You get 24 hours to yourself to do anything you want, with unlimited resources: What are you doing? And spare no details!
Definitely something that has to do with performing. I think I would be having a big show and, I don’t know what the budgets are in that world, but I would love to have a crazy show where everything is so on point. I would love to be performing, perfecting, rehearsing, and creating. That excites me a lot and I will be eating burgers, that I would love to do.
What are your three most used emojis?
.
What’s a feature you need to secure before you die?
I love M.I.A. and I love The Weeknd, they are artists I would love to collaborate with. I don’t have that thing where it’s like, “Oh, my favorite feature is…” or “This is what I can’t wait to do.” I love the blend of a good collaboration, two good sounds, and I don’t like when a collaboration is forced. You do what’s best for the song, not what’s best for your career.
If you could appear in a future season of a current TV show, which one would it be and why?
Games Of Thrones because I love that time and even their clothes and what they wear. It’s is a very tough time, but it is very interesting and I feel like it matches my world with the aesthetic. So Game Of Thrones and Skins too
Which celebrity do you admire or respect for their personality and why?
The Weeknd. I know how much he cares and supports Palestine, he donated as well. He’s Ethiopian and he always stands for who he is and his culture and for other cultures, and I really love that. I appreciate a lot of other people that do that, like in our community we have Ramy, who’s a comedian and actor.
Share your opinion on something no one could ever change your mind about.
Nobody can change my mind about my roots, Palestine. Nobody can change my mind about being true to myself as an artist. I’m not afraid to say no to a lot of things. If they don’t make sense to me, my brand, and what I do, then I say no.
What is the best song you’ve ever heard in your life and what do you love about it?
It’s like a piano piece made by my brother that I really love. It’s called “Delilah.” It’s a song that I actually sang on my album. I literally sang his melody from the piano and I put it in my album. It’s called “Kon Nafsak” on my album and I think that’s one of my favorites I’ve heard.
What’s your favorite city in the world to perform, and what’s a city you’re excited to perform in for the first time?
I loved, loved Toronto. There was a certain energy there that I just really, really loved from tour. Before, I wasn’t touring, but singing with an artist, I think one of my favorite cities was Tunisia. The people there, they’re so genuine and they’re so nice and amazing. A city or country I would love to perform would be Palestine. I want to sing in my hometown, I can’t wait for that moment where I am able to sing in my hometown, I think that’s going to be a very unique moment. I would love to perform in Chile too.
You are throwing a music festival. Give us the dream lineup of 5 artists that will perform with you and the location where it would be held.
I’ve had this idea in mind and always thought about it. After doing the Wiltern, I had this thing in mind where hopefully we can keep doing that every year. Every April, I want to throw a show and do a whole festival thing. It’s a special month because it’s Arabic Heritage Month. A lot of Arab Americans or just people that are immigrants or their parents are immigrants, I feel they’re craving an artist that they can relate to, an artist that their parents could relate to. So I feel like we’re missing a voice here and I want to be the voice of these people.
I would love to have artists that present my culture and people that believe in my culture. This year Saint Levant, Issam Alnajjar, and Massari.These are people that always push for the culture and where we come from, and they’ve always been this way. Let’s see what happens next year.
What would you be doing now if it weren’t for music?
I actually don’t know, but I know one thing: I’m such a nerd. I love to study and I love having notebooks and being a student. I’ll never know what I would’ve been, but I know that I’d be really committed to get what I want. I love studying, I know that sounds crazy, but I do love to study. I take notes, I’m that girl that has lists of everything and highlighters everywhere. I don’t know what it would be, but I’ll tell you that I’d be really good at it.
If you could see five years into the future or go five years into the past, which one would you pick and why?
Definitely five years into the future. I don’t like to look at the past, I think the past is the past and it is what it is. I think that the only way for a person to move forward is to look at the future and take influences from the past and put them into your future. Take five years ago, take that as inspiration to push you to the future. I would go five years into the future.
What’s one piece of advice you’d go back in time to give to your 18-year-old self?
To just have a little bit more fun. I feel like at a certain point, I was just so obsessed over my career and where it’s gonna go and where it’s gonna be. I still am, but in a healthier way. I think that when you’re so deep in something, sometimes you can’t see things clearly. I’m just so grateful for the people around me like my sister, my brother, my family and my friends that got me out of that. Now I know how to have fun and have a good time, but be serious about my work and my job. I think it’s the balance between both, knowing how to live and enjoying your work and being able to blend both in a healthy way. So, I would tell myself to chill and have fun.
It’s 2050. The world hasn’t ended, and people are still listening to your music. How would you like it to be remembered?
I would like to be remembered as a rebellious artist, and not in a bad way at all, I think as a positive rebellious artist. Anything I do right now, I think ahead. I think of 20 years from now or more. I think of how I want to be remembered and all the things that I want people that are after me and what I do to take in. I love to make things that are timeless and that’s why my projects take longer to create because I’m really selective and picky about the things that I do. I’m very selective about the people that I include in my world, in my zone, and in my circle. I feel like all that leads to something at the end of the day. I’m just 22, so yes, I don’t know much and I am really experiencing things and experimenting. I’m trying everything and seeing what works and what doesn’t, but it’s good to see that there were footsteps before you. I want to create that for you know the next generation to know that you can do it as well.
Woledto is out now via Salxco. Find out more information here.
Josh Levi knows what it means to be in the spotlight. A entertainment career that brought him to Friday Night Lights, X-Factor, and more, now has him in front of a mic full time as a young R&B singer to reckon with. At just 25 years old, the Houston native is just a little over a year removed from his last project Disc Two (Scratched Up). With 12 songs to its name, Disc Two (Scratched Up) — highlighted by the viral “Birthday Dance” — is as complete of a body of work that we’ve received from Levi. It soars high with tales of love, digs deep for moments of heartbreak, and captivates for moments, big and small, that exist in between.
Today, Levi launches into a new era with the release of “Something More.” The passionate single is supported by minimal production which allows Levi’s impressive to run free and even show off a flash of falsetto here and there. The song itself makes love sound like the feeling of a lifetime. Levi has fallen for the woman in question on the song, but she’s yet to jump off the cliff and into his awaiting warms. With lyrics like “I’ll follow you / Girl, would you take me with ya?” and “Baby, tell me how deep / Are you willing to dive / Say it with your body, baby / You don’t gotta tell me twice,” Levi makes a convincing case on why his soon-to-be companion should be by his side for the foreseeable future.
Together with the arrival of his new single, Levi also answered a few questions as a part of our Uproxx Music 20 series that aims to showcase rising artists’ inspirations, influences, and aspirations. Scroll down and learn a new thing or two about the Houston singer.
I would say the first memory I have is singing at my sister’s kindergarten graduation. I was five years old and I wrote my first song for her that day and I remember my family all being there and getting a kick out it!
Who inspired you to take music seriously?
I grew up singing in church so I heard amazing voices all the time but I would say Michael Jackson and Brandy were some of the artists that made me fall in love with music and wanna start making my own sound.
Do you know how to play an instrument? If so, which one? If not, which instrument do you want to learn how to play?
I play piano, and a little bit of guitar but I would love to master electric guitar. It’s my favorite instrument and i’ve always wanted to be able to shred on stage!
What was your first job?
My first job funny enough was acting on Friday Night Lights when i was 9! It was my first time working and getting paid and it just so happened to be something super cool like that show! I remember my first day on set I was feelin myself and thought I could do something like that forever haha.
What is your most prized possession?
I would say my family. Nothing is more important to me than my family, I feel like it’s my most sacred, valuable thing in my life.
What is your biggest fear?
Losing someone I love, or failing. Those things both haunt me. I also have a phobia of birds unfortunately.
Which celebrity do you admire or respect for their personality and why?
I really love Prince and Whitney Houston’s personalities. I admire their candor and how unfiltered they were haha. I dream to be as unapologetic about how I feel and what’s on my mind and then on stage be this incredible talent that people revere.
Share your opinion on something no one could ever change your mind about.
Fries are great with mayo and it just is what it is!
What is the best song you’ve ever heard in your life and what do you love about it?
That’s such a crazy question! in my life?? There’s so many! First one that comes to mind is “Human Nature” by Michael Jackson. I think that song is perfectly written, perfectly composed, perfect everything. Everyday I wish I wrote that song.
What’s your favorite city in the world to perform, and what’s a city you’re excited to perform in for the first time?
One of my favorite ever shows was in London! I had my first headline show there last year and it was sold out and the energy was just electric, I wasn’t expecting it! I also really love performing in New York! I haven’t done a show in Paris yet or Brazil, I’ve been wanting to go there for a long time.
You are throwing a music festival. Give us the dream lineup of 5 artists that will perform with you and the location where it would be held.
It would be in Houston, Texas and I would say Beyonce, Drake, Chris Brown, SZA, and Meg Thee Stallion.
What would you be doing now if it weren’t for music?
I’d probably still be doing something creative or in culinary or in sports! Both my siblings were athletes and I’m really competitive so I’d be somewhere in that world.
If you could see five years into the future or go five years into the past, which one would you pick and why?
I would go five years into the past just to appreciate every moment I experienced more and learn the things I learned all over again. I’ve grown so much in the last couple of years so it’s been a beautiful journey of growth and healing. I’m not in a rush to see the future haha, I like to let God just do His thing and reveal things to me when He wants to!
What’s one piece of advice you’d go back in time to give to your 18-year-old self?
Trust in God’s timing!!! Don’t lose hope if things aren’t panning out at the exact time that you want because it will all align perfectly!
It’s 2050. The world hasn’t ended, and people are still listening to your music. How would you like it to be remembered?
I would love for it to be remembered as a source of healing for people that needed to feel. and I would love for my music to be remembered for it’s composition, the harmonies, the details that went into it.
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