97 BLOSSOMS - THE BLOSSOM (Review)

The Blossom is an LA based artist who is making waves in their own right through their interesting music and amazing subject matter. 97 Blossoms debuted on April 6th 2021 under the VIDEO STORE label.

Confetti

Confetti, the first song on the album gives us a nostalgic feeling, bringing us back to the early days of summer as a teenager when life was simpler. The smooth 90’s-esque guitar makes us think of the music we grew up with and the songs we would hear on the radio in the car with our parents. The lyrics in the first verse show the feelings of summer and walking everywhere you have to go, making your shoes dusty, and catching the train. These feelings are all ones we have experienced, and the song really does a great job of bringing us right back to those moments. The songs chorus talks about reality and how “Shit’s upsetting” and wanting a life wrapped in confetti, speaking about the want to live beyond reality and live in an easier time in memory.

Hardcore Happy

            Hardcore Happy brings us to an early 2000’s feel, with the reoccurring theme of raw acoustic guitar as the main sound clip throughout the song. The beat slowly kicks in and gives the song a nice modern twist that helps differentiate itself from the first song on the project. The Lyrics of the song describe wanting hardcore happy, possibly asking for better days and a happier life. They integrate some recent topics as well, such as gender identity and how gender identity can be assumed by many.  This topic is taking the power back from the people who have misgendered them and caused them harm in that way. Altogether this song brings their style of song writing to a new modern view making the listener feel some of the emotions they experience.

Smoke

Smoke hits us harder than the first two tracks with a beat that hits us hard from the get go. The song also features Matt Champion from BROCKHAMPTON, and has a more trap feeling to it with Champion’s verse. The song gives us a view into THE BLOSSOM’s style when it comes to production, as well as giving us lots of variety in sound. The lyrics are also more serious than the others, making us feel a more serious and powerful message than the others.

Shapeshifter

Shapeshifter brings us back to the sound we have been used to with this album, but brings an interesting topic to the topic. The idea of shape-shifting relates back to their lyrics in Hardcore Happy, speaking about their gender identity. The lyric “ I can be they, I can be so gay” relates directly to this idea as well, as they tend to mention their identity quite often, indicating that it is an important topic. An interesting note about this song is the instrumental section at the end of it, which has become a somewhat rare occurrence in music today, so to see a instrumental section just demonstrating the production is a very refreshing aspect of this album.

Black Eye

            Black eye brings us a total change of pace. I’ll be honest, at first I was confused with the way that it hit me so hard with the bass and then the hard hitting subject matter as well. This song gets real and down to some serious problems. They discuss ideas of self-value and the problems with reliance on other’s perceptions of self, as well as going over themes of depression and sadness due to societal pressures. The song gives a very heavy somber feeling with the use of the heavy bass and the light piano playing in contrast of each other as the song goes on. The song is also the most melodic in the album and wins my top spot for songs on this album in the fact that it makes you truly feel something, as well as being beautifully put together. 

Cloves

Cloves gives us a very happy send off to the end of the album. The theme of the song has a very light and happy tone to it that gives us a glimmer of hope after listening to some more serious and very real subject matter. The lyrics give us a feeling of moving forward and getting on with life, trying to make a better future for oneself especially after the events of “Blackeye”. The song gives us something to make us feel like we have closure, thus making it the perfect song to end the album on.  

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This album is a great listen if you are looking to get an introduction into what the new sound for the next generation of music will sound like. For more content like this please feel free to follow us on Instagram, twitter, and sign up for our news letter.

Kadiri

Kadiri thank you for interviewing with us, to get this interview started tell us about yourself. Who is Kadiri, what made you want to become a musician, and how has your experience been so far?

I’m a Toronto native, singer songwriter who loves to open up about his experiences with love, lust, heartbreak, and the pursuit of peace and balance. I’ve always been passionate about music. The first moment of realization that I wanted to become a musician was when my grade 6 music teacher pulled me aside after class and said I have a naturally beautiful sounding voice. At the time I didn’t really make much of it, but as I grew older music became a big part of my life and I looked up to artists like The Weeknd, Justin Timberlake, Ed Sheeran, and so many others. It’s been quite an amazing journey so far, with lots of stories to tell. For me it’s about the journey, not the destination. So I’m soaking in everything as much as I can, and excited for the long road ahead.

So you’re born in Kosovo but are based out of Toronto, Canada which is pretty cool. So at what age did you move to Toronto, and what country would say influenced you and your music the most?

I was actually born in Toronto, Canada. My parents are originally from Kosovo. I’m a proud Albanian. My musical taste has definitely been influenced by the culture surrounding Canada, more specifically Toronto. There’s so much talent coming out of this city, that it’s hard not to admire and be inspired by such acts.

In addition to the country that influenced you, what artists have influenced you, who’s your go to artist, and what’s in your current rotation right now?

Some artists that have influenced me are Michael Jackson, Usher, Miguel, Frank Ocean, and Khalid, so many. These days, I’ve been listening to a lot of Brent Faiyaz, Silk Sonic, Giveon, SZA. Too much fire out there right now.

So during your time as an artist what are some things that you’ve learned about yourself, the industry, and your creative process. And how do you keep yourself motivated?

I’ve learned that anxiety and depression are a real thing lol. But that led me to understanding myself better and maturing as an individual and diving into spirituality. After doing lots of travelling to LA, New York, and Europe, I’ve seen myself become a lot less naive and more aware of my surroundings. One big thing I learned about this music industry is that it’s a really small world.. so be careful with what you say and how you present yourself. Be nice to everyone. I’ve learned a few tips and tricks on how to write music more efficiently, and tap into that space where a lot of my creativity lingers. I’ve realized I love to collaborate with other producers and songwriters. I keep myself motivated by reminding myself that this life is too short to do anything else other than what I’m passionate about.

What’s your favorite thing about an artist and what is your least favorite thing?

My favorite thing about an artist is their authenticity and their ability to write music that comes straight from the heart. My least favorite thing about an artist is when they show arrogance or cockiness. Sometimes fame gets into peoples head, but it’s so important to remain grounded and humble.

You have two singles out right now; Introductions, and Take It From Me. Tell us about each including what inspired them, who helped you with the production, and what’s your favorite from the both of them.

I just released my third single as well, it’s called “Like It Or U Don’t”. Take It From Me and Introductions were both written and produced in North Hollywood, LA at a small studio built inside of a garage. Take It From Me was inspired from a relationship I once had that had a pretty dark ending. That resulted in the moodiness of the record which Cat Lewis and Alex Ernewein (produced for Daniel Caesar) helped produce. Introductions was influenced by my tendencies to fall for someone based on their taste in music. That’s one of my biggest turn on’s. My new record “Like It Or U Don’t” is based on this point in my life where I feel like I no longer have to prove myself to anybody. In the context of this song, I’m conflicted with realization of self worth, but also a yearning to rekindle lost love.

So what’s next for you in 2021 where do you want to be by the end of the year and where would you like to be career wise in 5 years?

I have so much music ready to go. Although Covid has been a bummer in so many ways, it’s given me the time to really prepare myself and focus writing a ton of music. So expect to hear a lot of music from me throughout 2021. In 5 years, I hope to be on a world tour, with at least 3 albums out, getting a #1 on Billboard, collaborating with some of my favourite artists, but most importantly being a positive role model to all the younger artists out there who have big dreams.

Who should we interview next for Nefarious Supply?

There’s so many dope artists out there, but I’d say definitely check out my home girl Ameerah or this new artist I found named Kofi. Both these artists are on the come up and they’ve got dope music.

Any last words?.

Thank you Nefarious Supply for having me and allowing me to share a bit of my life and my stories. Thank you to everyone who’s reading this, following my journey, showing me love and support. I appreciate every single one of y’all. You’ll hear more from me, I promise. Remember to stream my new single “Like It Or U Don’t” available on all streaming platforms.

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Big shout out to Kadiri for interviewing with Nefarious Supply, if you enjoyed this interview be sure to follow him on SoundCloud, and Instagram. If you want to stay up to date with news and content coming from Nefarious Supply you can find us on Instagram, Twitter, and for our news letter you can sign up below.

BROCKHAMPTON - ROADRUNNER: NEW LIGHT, NEW MACHINE

Our boys are back.

The ever-evolving, bodaciously introspective boyband has sped back onto the scene once again with their newest official project since their 2019 effort, GINGER. In their previous works, the band of brothers were healing their wounds from numerous fronts, and it showed in their lyricism and production. The band was in flux, but that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, at least not for their music. iridescence, the project before GINGER carried a sense of raw energy and experimentalism that we had yet to see from the boys, it was as if they’d taken their sound and shot a rocket launcher at it, all to see the beauty of the explosion. However, on ROADRUNNER, the boy are indeed back.

Reaching back into themselves to find the happy spark that gave their music not just the therapeutic aspects it had mastered, but also the fun, curious, exploratory boisterous sound that made us fall in love with them in the first place. This was where the perfect balance was struck, no need for a rocket launcher, just a light, a road, and your brothers.

Have fun reading our review of ROADRUNNER: New Light, New Machine! 😈

BUZZCUT (ft. Danny Brown)

Buzzcut strikes with the power of BOOGIE, and yet retains the boys’ GINGER era. With heavy 808s and a weird sounding siren, Kevin takes off on the opening verse, with memorable bar after memorable bar about worrying for his mother who came to visit him, almost getting jumped into a Latino gang for protection, and how platinum-selling, award-winning records will never take away the very real fact that he is a man of color in America, and he is not safe.

Running straight into the chorus after taking final aim at the justice system for having locked up his cousin for selling dime bags of weed, critiquing the marijuana laws of the country. Danny Brown cruises right in after the infamous “NOW GET THE F*CK OUT MY RIDE” and absolutely smashes his verse, sparing no time calling out the boys with accusations of normalcy and involuntary celibacy, before directly quoting and interpolating Nas’s verse, featured on Rawkwon’s 1995 track “Verbal Intercourse”.

Overall an incredibly solid track.

CHAIN ON (ft. JPEGMAFIA)

Chain On is as JPEGMAFIA x BROCKHAMPTON as it gets. To the point you could probably search up this same “type-beat” on Youtube and you wouldn’t find anything too far off. Nonetheless, no one does it better than the original, and boy do they do it. The DMV maestro Peggy spits an incredible verse caked with topics such as police brutality, and a desire for equality and unity. Dom Mclennon shines brightly after the Abstract led hook, speaking about social unrest centered around the treatment of African American individuals in America.

Fun fact this was paired with the track “fishbone” in a one-week release from the boyband’s Techincal Difficulties series.

COUNT ON ME (ft. A$AP Rocky, Ryan Beatty, & Shawn Mendes

Count On Me is an incredibly catchy and feel-good song, and that could literally be the end of the review for this song. However, despite the beautiful BROCKHAMPTON-standard production, the real beauty of this song comes from the lyrical emphasis and amazing hook.

Sung by band-favorite collaborator Ryan Beatty and Shawn Mendes. Yes, that Shawn Mendes. What makes this entire thing as insane as it should stem from a Kevin Abstract shout-out on the track “STAR” from the boys’ SATURATION III album.

“I don’t fuck with no white boys unless that nigga Shawn Mendes.” - Kevin Abstract, STAR - SAT III

BANKROLL (ft. A$AP ROCKY & A$AP FERG)

Whew, BANKROLL.

Let’s talk about BANKROLL, haha. This track has been in the boyband’s archives since their iridescence era, after having popped up in a promotional video for their iridescence album, originally featuring A$AP Rocky and Merlyn only. As the years passed, fans of the boys couldn’t get the infectious sample out of their head, and even went as far as to create their own renditions and iterations of the prolific teaser. BANKROLL also serves as the first collaboration between A$AP Mob and BROCKHAMPTON.

It wasn’t until the boyband’s 2020 Technical Difficulties run that fans would even get a glimpse of news about any form of a release on the band’s May Twitch live stream. This version of BANKROLL is much cleaner than the snippet and uses a more in-depth version of its predecessor’s production, with the inclusion of a smooth new half of the hook from Matt Champion, Merlyn gaining an entire new verse, and the most suprising of them all a hard opener from none other than A$AP Ferg.

Jabari also shines on the tail end of this track, utilizing his unique presets around his voice to give off a smooth finisher.

THE LIGHT

The Light is the fourth song on the album’s playlist and is without a doubt the heaviest track on the album, second only to its second half at the end of the project. With only JOBA and Kevin Abstract on the vocals, guitar-heavy production, and a lot to say, the two members take on very personal topics.

JOBA viscerally speaks about the unfortunate passing of his father at the hands of suicide and his subsequent mental health, as Kevin speaks about his strained family relationships and looks back on his childhood in Texas.

WINDOWS (ft. SoGone SoFlexy)

Our second favorite track on the LP, BROCKHAMPTON shine like no other on this track, being the first and only song in which every sngle vocal member is present. There are also uncredited vocals from Ryan Beatty on this track, as well as an amazing opener from SoGone SoFlexy a childhood friend of Kevin turned new signee to Video Store records, a label created by Abstract and BROCKHAMPTON engineer, Romil The ending by Bearface is a beautiful bow on the amazing gift this track is to the ears.

Ooh, and Jabari’s hook.

I’LL TAKE YOU ON (ft. Charlie Wilson)

I’LL TAKE YOU ON is an amazing pop song that showcases the band’s ability to pull off the other side of their chosen genre with almost masterful nostalgia. Charlie Wilson, an R&B godfather, is featured on the latter half of the song, reigning in a cozy, yet upbeat rollercoaster ride of a track. Below Romil speaks on how he was able to snag a feature from the legend in an interview with MTF Fresh Out

“It was a surreal moment […] My friend had been working with him, and I just asked him. Can you introduce me to Charlie Wilson? And he was kinda wanting to do it, so we sent him a song and he loved it, did his Charlie Wilson thing on it and it’s one my favorite songs in the album now. So awesome.” - Romil Hemnani, MTV Fresh Out

OLD NEWS (ft. Baird)

OLD NEWS features multi-instrumentalist and a Baltimore native, Baird. Jabari takes a more prominent role in this track and though it isn’t high up on our list of favorites it is still a solid body of work, with an infectious hook and a versatile array of verses from JOBA, Matt, and Merlyn, tackling issues ranging from failed relationships to lamented pasts.

WHAT’S THE OCCASION

When we played WHAT’S THE OCCASION, Eminem’s early discography came to mind. The boys really came out of their shell for this album, which makes sense considering they took two years on this one, a stark change in their form album-making with the likes of the SATURATION series being churned out within months of each other, and the eclectic iridescence being recorded, mixed, and mastered in only ten days. The ending of this track is absolutely amazing, as is most of the outros on ROADRUNNER.

WHEN I BALL

When I Ball is a feel good, get out of your house and take a drive type of song, with nostalgic and reminiscent verses from Dom about how incarceration affected his family and the conversations he would have with his mother in order for him to avoid anything of the sort, and from Matt who raps about his relationship with his family and how each individual one has affected him. Rex Orange County and Chad Hugo of The Neptunes are enlisted for the beautiful instrumental.

DON’T SHOOT UP THE PARTY

Our favorite. An absolute banger of a track, DON’T SHOOT UP THE PARTY invites that dark, playful G-Funk vibe BROCKHAMPTON has capitalized on in the past, with just a dash of maturity in the lyricism and tone of their current mindset. Kevin starts out with a callback to Miserable America in his ear-catching almost anthemic verse as well as the overall tone of the song. Lines addressing homophobia, racism, and gun violence seem to be his main focus on the track, with Matt and JOBA assist with their tumultuous additions, speaking on paranoia.

DEAR LORD

DEAR LORD is simple, and beautiful and BROCKHAMPTON’s first take at a purely gospel-esque song. Helmed by the collective’s in-house crooner, Bearface, the track follows as he literally prays over his friend [JOBA] following the suicide of his father. There are multiple singers on this track but Bearface is the main vocalist and shines like no other in his request to the lord.

THE LIGHT PT. II

THE LIGHT PT. II is the final song of the album’s main tracklist and serves as a second-half to its predecessor, THE LIGHT, above. This track is by far the heaviest of any other in their discography to date, with the only exception being DEARLY DEPARTED on their GINGER effort.

The song features only JOBA and Kevin once more, with Kevin opening this time. reminiscing introspectively about his childhood in Texas. JOBA comes through with one more soul-searching, and honestly heart-wrenching verse about his father, addressing him directly and questioning his choice to commit suicide, as well as reflecting on the impact it has had on him in life and death. An amazing and raw outro, fitting for an LP that mirrors its very essence to the core.

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If you enjoyed this album and want to stay up to date with BROCKHAMPTON you can find them on Instagram, Twitter, and SoundCloud and be sure to listen to ROADRUNNER, NEW LIGHT, NEW MACHINE and let us know what you think. If you want to stay up to date with news and content coming from Nefarious Supply you can find us on Instagram, Twitter, and for our news letter you can sign up below.

Vern

Verndolla thank you for interviewing with us, to get this interview started tell us about yourself. Who is Verndolla, how long have you been making music, and what’s your favorite thing about being an artist so far?

Verndolla$ is a rapper, songwriter and, fashion designer. I’ve been making music seriously since 2018, writing since 2016 & making songs up in my head since a kid. My favorite thing about being an artist is when people tell me how my music makes them feel when they listen to it.

Where are you based out of, how has this area influenced you, and how's the music scene out there?

I’m based out of Queens, NY. I feel like Queens has influenced me a lot, and i’ll always love my borough. The music scene in Queens has so much potential and will flourish when/if we all work together but it might take some time because we’re all going up in different ways and some are farther than others, but If we share knowledge or connections with each other you know extend a helping hand from time to time and support each other we could all prevail.

What artists are your go to for inspiration, and which top 5 projects do you currently have in your rotation?

For inspiration my go to artists are any that are independent really. I like to know that you worked hard to get here & this is all you. Some Artists I listen to for inspirations are Kenny Mason, IDK, the whole A$AP MOB in general, Isaiah Rashad, Kota The Friend & various other artists too many to name.

Top 5 projects currently in my rotation right now are:

1. Angelic Hoodrat by Kenny Mason

2.Watch My Back by Lucki,

3.LONG.LIVE.A$AP BY A$AP Rocky,

4. Nirvana by Bktherula

5. SlimeBall by Young Nudy

So during your time as an artist what are some things that you’ve learned about yourself, your creative process, and the career choice of being a musician.

I’ve learned that you really have to believe in yourself before everyone else does because that’s what’s most important. My creative process changes constantly and can be so random at times from with my friends in a session to by myself at home or in someone’s random studio session, like I can create anywhere and anytime but I will say that if something going on with my it will effect my creative process a lot. In terms of career choices I’m independent so of-course it’s really tight to maintain and some days I feel discouraged but I feel like this rap sh*t picked me

How do you keep yourself motivated, during hard times and for new artists struggling with motivation what’s some advice you would give them?

Lately it’s been really hard to find motivation, but i’ve been trying to keep my mind on the positive with affirmations, journaling, and, just remembering why I started, listening to my catalog to hear the growth or just cooking up more whether it be music or making clothes.

What’s your favorite thing about an artist and what is your least favorite thing?

My favorite thing about being an artist is when people feel what I’m saying and really connect with my messages my least favorite things are the expectations, The secrecy and withholding of things an artist would need to get further from other artists.

You have two projects out right now your debut “August…” and your newest “$hit 4 u 2 smoke to”. Tell us about both?

August was from a depressing time in my life where I had just started making music and I need a way to vent about what was going on with me which in reality is how I plan on handling most of my music. I was in my feelings, got cheated on & need to talk about it, but I’m way past this project now I feel because I was so young & so naive. $hit 4 U 2 Smoke to is kind of self explanatory, It was in the midst of Covid-19 & I had been making more druggy sounding psychedelic & video game inspired music. Coincidently I had been smoking a lot of weed & experimenting acid & shrooms for the first time. I infused sounds from the original X-Box game system to give it that green lobby vibe I loved so much as a kid. Every song definitely has a meaning but as a whole project you’re supposed to roll up some good weed & smoke while you listen to it.

In addition to music you also have a clothing line called Pearl Boyz tell us about it, what inspired the name, how long you’ve been working on it, and what’s your goal with it?

PearlBoysz is way more than a brand it’s a lifestyle. The name was inspired by a scene from AWGE DVD vol. 2 where A$AP Rocky is on a toilet ironically talking his sh*t, while taking a sh*t he says “Pearls are for boys” one day me & my bro PurP looked at each other and agreed completely adopting pearls as a staple in our day to day lifestyle. PearlBoysz was established in 2019 and but we’ve been working on clothes for most of our lives just never this serious more like a hobby before. Our goal is to become a respective street wear brand the pushes the limits of fashion wear & also pushes the PearlBoysz narrative, “it’s okay to be different, think differently”.

What’s next for you in 2020? 

Next up for me in 2021 is our next line of skate themed clothing dropping from PearlBoysz called “Surroundings” along with a short Ep by me titled “$urrounding$” releasing with the clothes. I’ve been working on another project titled “Green Psycho” that has a bunch great songs and is probably my most expressive music to date, It’s about 85 percent done and soon will be finished. I’ve got visuals coming as well for both of these project so I’ve definitely got my work cut out for me at the moment. I’ve got a lot of healing, learning and growing to do so bare with me while I create.

Who should we interview next for Nefarious Supply?

Next I think you guys should interview @27Delly from harlem,nyc. He’s another artist close to my age who motivates

Any last words?

stay positive, remember that you are not your thoughts & don’t be scared to try new things.

VernDolla@outlook.com New Single "$urrounding" OUT NOW

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Big shout out to Vern for interviewing with Nefarious Supply if you enjoyed this interview and want to stay up to date with him and his music you can follow him on Instagram. If you want to stay up to date with him and his music you can follow him SoundCloud, and follow him on Instagram. If you want to stay up to date with news and content coming from Nefarious Supply you can find us on Instagram, Twitter, and for our news letter you can sign up below.

The Harsh Reality: A Resonating Tone of a Bewildered Spirit.

Rest in peace, Chase. You are forever in our hearts.

TW: Suicide.  

It took me a really long time to fully digest the passing of my favorite artist. It kinda hits you like a ton of bricks; at first, I was shocked. I couldn’t imagine someone as cheerful as this man was actually going through so much more than what I could imagine. Being perpetually stuck in the same routines with the same people sharing the same negative convictions that are shoved down your throat and nailed into your head as a child; giving you some sort of unrealistic image of yourself: the “Perfect Being” that if you don’t become. If you will fail, you’ll be a disappointment to people as they’ve built an expectation of you through their own trauma. I can empathise with that as I’ve grown in that same environment. I thought I couldn’t understand what being happy and free was until I was able to escape that vicious cycle.

Chase Amick (AKA. 6dogs) committed suicide on the 26th of January this year.

While mental health and wellbeing are being brought up to the forefront of music for the past few years; it never covered the more subtle ways the mental state of a person can deteriorate. The most popular music nowadays talks about murder and the repercussions of murder; the mental toll it has on people and their loved ones. However, Chase was talking to the people that weren’t forced into a life they didn’t wanna lead – be it gang warfare or drug dealing. He was talking to the kid that didn’t have any friends growing up, the one that was bullied at school for having long hair, the one that held their parents to the highest degree and immortalised them as if they were god themselves.

I was that kid.

Let’s start talking about his album that came out after the incident: RONALD.

If you’ve read my previous article on 6dogs, I’m sure you can tell that I’m a HUGE fan of his entire discography and his overall sound. But this album made me cry harder than any movie, book, break-up, or record that I’ve ever experienced before.

Once again, I write this article with swollen eyes and tears on my cheeks for how beautifully crafted and thoughtful this masterpiece is. We’ll be doing the same old same old; review my favourite tracks and implore you to listen to the rest on you own (even though I would recommend ANY and EVERY song off this album).

When I Was A Baby:

This song is all about Chase reminiscing about his past, being one of the weird outcasts from most “fun” things when he was younger while also contrasting that exact point by talking about how much he’s progressed in his artistic ventures. The chorus practically explains this, stating that: “Died my hair when I was 16. Weird boy ballin’, Dennis Rodman on the 18.”

In addition to the thoughtful lyricism, the song just BANGS. The revered melody that chops and screws at certain points to give space and emphasis on the delivery. The heavy and spacey 808 coupled with a fruity, bouncy hihat pattern makes for a song to just sit down for and appreciate (specially the DBZ references).

Starfire (Teen Titans):

One of the two singles to come out as per album rollout; Starfire sounds like being transported to an intergalactic landscape and doing donuts in an all-Black Escalade. The lyricism centers around (from my perspective) social anxiety; the rush of escapism from driving down a highway at 3 AM trying to avoid all social interactions since they bring 6dogs “tears all up on my phone". A whole lot of feels with this one while still banging harder than most of the songs on your playlist.

 Genie In A Bottle:

This is the song I play when I wanna get in my feel real quick; it’s the sort of sad vibe that also goes out of its way just to flex how much 6dogs drips, so I like feeling as if I could drip like that too.

As far as bars go, the song’s about going against the expectations built by people that try to put you out of the game when all you should be caring about is getting in your bag;  the people that wish for your downfall but you blow all of those assumptions out the window and gain big time. However, from time to time, they can get to you. Reminding you of how weak you were back then and being grateful for what you’ve been able to build up all on your own.

  (All these emotions flood you as the beat literally blows your speakers up.) 

That’s it. That’s the album, these are my thoughts, and this is how much I love and appreciate everything 6dogs left. I think the main reason I could talk the ears off my friends about Chase is that I feel as though if he were still around, I’d end up having him as a friend.

I know it sounds lame and pretty sappy, but I genuinely believed he’d blow up and that he’d get his flowers back when his self-titled album came out in 2017. But he didn’t, and it really upset me; it’s as if he just fell off the face of the Earth after releasing “Faygo Dreams”.

Anyways, thank you for reading this. I really hope you decide to listen to RONALD and the rest of his backlog. I think the best place to start would be the entirety of RONALD, then jumping to his 2019 release “Hi-Hats And Heartaches”; specifically “Cryin’ In The Rarri”, “It’s Worth Feeling Empty <3” and “Butterfly Doors to My Mind” (also read my article on “Hi-Hats And Heartaches”).

Cheers to good music.

Visual 9

Visual 9 thank you for coming on and interviewing with Nefarious Supply, to get this interview started give us  brief background on yourself. Who is Visual 9, what got you into making music, and describe your experience as a rising artist?

Very thankful to finally be able to speak with you man. Nefarious Supply has been showing major love and that’s always appreciated this way fam so thank you. My name is Visual 9 and I am an upcoming artist based out of Tree city also known as Kent, Ohio. I’ve been writing and pursuing my music career for about 7 years now starting at the age of 16. Before I decided to start taking my career seriously I’d drop videos of me rapping on youtube but it wasn’t really something I took seriously haha. This Is gonna be a long story so I’ll try to make it short but being around talented people that also were into music kinda inspired me to wanna take shit seriously. Everyday after school me and my homies would go to the studio, write music, smoke, record, and do it all over again so after doing that a few times I fell in love with it and since then this journey has been filled with nothing but love and blessings. 

I peeped from your instagram profile you’re based out of Kent, Ohio give us a rundown on how this area has played a major influence on your sound, and how is the scene for underground artists?

Yes I am based out of Tree City also known as “Kent Ohio”. Kent Ohio is definitely a place I am proud to tell people I am from. Kent Ohio is where my music career started and I can't thank that city enough for supporting me and allowing me to realize my true purpose. Kent gave me my first show ever and it was sold out as well so I'll never forget that. This place has played a major influence on who I am as an artist. Before I started making music Kent was really about sports and sports only. The local music scene wasn’t really talked about so once I started making music my goal was to bring that light for local artists like myself and others. The underground scene is cool but as of right now only artists popping out of Kent, Ohio are me and Chanelle Kazadi.  

Who or what has had the biggest influence on you, your sound, and your overall aesthetic?

Becoming an artist i’d definitely say Joey Badass, Earl Sweatshirt, and Kendrick has a big influence on my sound. In highschool that’s all I was bumping and also my stepfather. My dad raised me around good music so hearing shit like Wu Tang, Tribe Called Quest, Mary J Blige, and Jay-Z definitely helped me figure out what lane I wanted to take as an artist etc. 

With this new year , what are your favorite projects, and what five artists do you currently have in your rotation?

Definitely Pray for Paris, It Is What It Is, Feet of Clay (Deluxe), The Versace Tape, and Alfredo. I’ve also been bumping a lot of Navy Blue, Chuk Strangers, Freddie Gibbs, Maxo, and Pink Siifu. Top 5 at least 

Follow up to our last question with the year coming to an end: what are some things you have accomplished, and going into 2021 what are some goals you have?

My biggest accomplishment is surviving this covid situation and mentally keeping myself together. Shit was very difficult for me in the beginning which I'm sure it was for everyone but  yeah I was able to continue to focus and grind throughout the year on this upcoming album and just make sure I stay relevant in the scene. I feel like most artists lost motivation once covid started taking control and I always told myself to remain solid and focused so I'm very proud of myself for that. My goal for 2021 is releasing this album and building a solid fanbase with people who truly appreciate my music and me as a person. 

So since your start as a musician what are some things you have learned about the career path, the industry, and most importantly yourself?

I’ve learned to always have confidence in myself regardless of the people who don’t believe and also I’ve learned that money is very temporary but business is not. Always make sure to present yourself in the right manner because bad business can ruin good opportunities regardless of how much bread you have or talent to offer. Being a musician is deeper than writing or playing an instrument. Being A musician gives you an opportunity to explain your story and express the depths of your spirit and soul. It teaches you valuable life lessons and so much more.

If you could go back in time from your start what is some advice you would give yourself, and for an artist getting a fresh start what is some advice you would give them?

\Just be patient and understand that shit doesn’t happen overnight. It takes hard work and true dedication to be successful in the music industry. Shit not sweet at all lol

So getting into your music describes your creative process from start to finish, and how do you know when you have a song you are ready to share with your fans?

Honestly I'll smoke a blunt, start playing beats until I come across something I feel like writing on. Once I find the beat then I’ll figure out a topic or think about what happen during the week that I can write about then once I like what’s written on the pad then I’ll take it to the studio, run it with the engineer, then once it’s done i’ll listen and just know if it’s the track to drop or not. 

So your discography  is pretty solid with three projects including: The Element, Sunday Morning EP, and Remedy EP. Tell us about each of those projects, what influenced the sound of each, who helped you with production, and out of the three which one is your favorite?

The Element was my first album ever and honestly I’m hella proud of every single song on that jawn. I started writing that project during my first year of college and staying at my grandparents house. That album was made to give my fans a view of what’s going on in my life at the time. Sunday Morning was made after I dropped out of school for a bit. I needed a break from everything to fully focus on my craft and everything around me. That project was basically made to show my fans that anything is possible and to always keep going no matter what obstacles are in front of you and same with remedy. That project was made during the summer time with an old homie of mine from the city. We decided to link up, come up with a solid idea for the project then we locked in and got it done in maybe 3-5 months. Shit crazy.

This year as well you’ve been going crazy with the singles including:64 In LA, Indeed, Praise, Denim, and Blue Skies. Tell us about each of these songs?

Well starting with “64 in LA” I wrote this song before my first time going to LA. my father used to have a 64 impala and i drove in it maybe twice haha after that I fell in love with em and always saw myself buying one as well. That song was written as if I had one already and was speaking shit into existence. Indeed was basically a small introduction to a different sound and I also wanted to let people know that I can produce my own tracks as well. Denim was made with the homie Dawg9000, as soon as he played the beat I started writing and days later I recorded the song. That song was made to express everything that was going on during covid, First person view type shit. Blue skies and Praise was written on the same day and recorded days later with my brother Jake Smio “one of the dopest producers from Ohio”. Crazy because it was the first time we linked up as well when those songs were made. Love that dude 4L

Who should we interview next on Nefarious Supply, and why?

My homie Static Res. I’ve seen bro develop into an amazing artist and soon the world will see that as well. 

Any last words?

Thank you to everyone that has been supporting me since day 1. It really means a lot they are taking the time to support and listen to my music everyday. One love

Unsigned Artist Booking & Features - Visual9mgmt@gmail.com HARMONIZE LABELⒸ

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Big shout out to Visual 9 for interviewing with Nefarious Supply, be sure to check out On Bro which is out now. If you want to stay up to date with him and his music you can follow him SoundCloud, and follow him on Instagram. If you want to stay up to date with news and content coming from Nefarious Supply you can find us on Instagram, Twitter, and for our weekly news letter you can sign up below.

Package by Uhmeer - Review

Package by Uhmeer is the newest release he has done in 2021, and it is interesting to say the least. Uhmeer is moderately new to the scene being only 21 but has made waves in his short amount of time being in the industry. Starting back in 2018 as a featured artist alongside Sabrina Carpenter, he has since branched out and started his own musical career, releasing mainly singles. Package seems to be the beginning of creating larger projects for himself, intertwining songs and making the listener listen for longer than one song.

Tired

Tired is the first entry in this EP, and it sets the theme very quickly. The fast paced, but relaxed guitar displays the somber nature of the song. Lots of the lyrics demonstrate a feeling of being unsafe and of how the world around him is dangerous. The lyric “tired” comes in when he mentions if they are “tired of all the fighting”, indicating a struggle and fight with others. The song shows both an internal struggle as well as an external one with other groups.  

Bear Hug

Bear Hug brings us into a more relaxed state, with a lapse of synth-wave style layering, and a slow beat. It is also the longest song on the EP, making it the song to listen to intensely and in detail. This song transports you to loving place that is full of emotion and at the same time extremely calm. The song makes you think about calm nights spent with someone that you really truly care about and want to be with, being in a perfect moment. As the song progresses it becomes more intricate with more layering in vocals and almost brings you out of that sleep like state we experienced at the beginning, and brings you into the real world again hearing clear sound.  

Effit

Effit brings us back to some more hip-hop feeling vibes, hitting us with a hard 808 and a moderately fast beat. It still provides us with the soft sounds we have become accustomed to with this album, so it brings us into a new feeling. The lyrics talk about exploring and not believing that someone was gone, showing the pain of someone leaving and how it can effect ones reality. This song leans a lot on the idea of mental health, as there is a sample of a woman talking about going to therapy and explaining how it was hard to deal with the situation she was in and how it was difficult to get stability. The song has hard hitting topics that make it a very interesting listen.

Maskeeta  

Maskeeta is the last song on the EP, and takes a drastic turn from the rest of the album, turning to some heavy hitting hip-hop beats. The flow of this song is the best one on the EP and really hits home with the hip-hop fan that listens. The chorus in the song really appeals to someone who is used to listening to artists like JID, as it has a flowy and almost effortless tagline. This song is, in this writers opinion the best song on the EP.

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My new project 'ITSNOWINLA' is out now: https://soundcloud.com/brokenpausebttn/sets/itsnowinla-1 UHHHH... MANAGEMENT: laura@pallasmanagementgroup.com LICENSING & BRAND PARTNERSHIPS: nicole@djjazzyjeff.com

Be sure to check out Uhmeer’s new project Package and if you want to stay up to date wit him you can follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Soundcloud. f you want to stay up to date with news and content coming from Nefarious Supply you can find us on Instagram, Twitter, and for our weekly news letter you can sign up below.  

Fresh Finds - AG CLUB - Fuck Your Expectations Pt 1.

Credit: Ivan Collaco

Off the meteoric release of their incredible debut single, “Memphis”, AG Club has been tirelessly working on their craft month after month for the entirety of 2020, with releases such as “Columbia” and “Memphis, Pt. 2”. The genreless Avant-Garde Club, as they have been self-titled blasted onto the scene in early 2020 with their debut album, “HALFWAY OFF THE PORCH” which included former member and producer for the group, Loui. 

The project featured a couple of  Nefarious favorites, including HNGOVER and DUSK/DAWN, and was successful in bringing the collective to the heights reached in order to take their own creative stance in the music industry.

Credit: Ivan Collaco

Of course, there are comparisons, with the Club having been linked to the likes of Brockhampton and Odd Future, but they themselves were also products of their environment, such as AG Club, and they themselves thrived in the field of music, despite the critics and bandwagoners of hate and undermining. The Avant-Garde Club is a unique mix of style and substance.

With Jody Fontaine acting as the lead rapper of the group, who also sings and composes, in addition to handling the marketing, business side of things with a hand in the creative concepts, other members such as Baby Boy, arguably the second most memorable member of the group, to create the world in which the Club lives, through things like music videos and graphic design.

Manny, the main video editor of the Club makes sure their ideas come to life with encompassing video production and management of their 777 Media company. Mick Anthony, the final member, adds a solemn and somber tone to the group, rounding them full circle from energetic and braggadocious, to sentimental and introspective. 

Credit: Ivan Collaco

All in all the AG Club is one for many to keep their eyes, and with their newest releases, “Truth” and “UGUDBRU” the sky is the limit and they know that better than anyone else. We’re excited to see what the future holds for the AG Club and we’re happy to share with you guys their journey to the top, because we know that’s where their headed, no matter what.

somewhere between psychotic and iconic...

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Be sure to follow AG Club on Instagram and check out their newest project “Fuck Your Expectation Pt.1” it’s a great project and has amazing guest features including: Sam Truth, Redveil, & ICECOLBDISHOP. If you want to stay up to date with news and content coming from Nefarious Supply you can find us on Instagram, Twitter, and for our weekly news letter you can sign up below.

Downsilence - Networking Producer

Downsilence thank you for coming on Nefarious Supply! To get this interview started tell us about yourself, what made you want to become a producer, and how has your experience been so far?

To start off, my name is Dre, I go by Downsilence as everyone knows, & what made me want to become a producer is that I come from musical filled family, from my siblings, to parents, grandparents & ancestors down the line, we were all into music some way, shape or form so it’s a generational thing that i’ll eventually pass on to my kids one day. The experience has been amazing, i’ve met many people, built myself a handpicked team of like minded, young and independent visionaries & this is really just the start of my journey, the start of who Downsilence is now, and eventually who Downsilence will eventually be recognized as in the coming future.

Where are you based out of, how has this area influenced you and your music, and what’s this area like for underground and emerging artists?

I’m based out of a small neighborhood in East Houston & nobody here really makes music, I’m the only one in this area that’s really pushing the boundaries set in place & hopefully, that’ll inspire others to do the same exact thing, just in their own individual ways

How long have you been a producer, what are some of your favorite aspects of this career, and who or what has had a heavy influence on you and your production style?

I’ve been produced since early-mid 2017, my favorite aspect is the music creation process & the outcome of that process, being able to create sounds from scratch, have an artist sing over it, share it on streaming platforms and have 50 countries listen to your music even though you made it in a bedroom is such a beautiful feeling. And I would say Partynextdoor, Kali Uchis, and SZA because of their unique individuality in music, there’s nothing like seeing them perform their music because it’s so great & it can’t be replicated.

Tell us about your creative process from beginning to end, how you know when you have a beat you want to share with a specific artist, and what’s your go to DAW?

Well, each artist I work with has their own type of vibe to them, so depending on which artist I work with in a particular session, I create the entire song around what fits them the most. Like for instance, me & Omari made Nasty & at first it was just a concept beat. I wasn’t even thinking about sending it out, I was making it to see how far i’ve progressed with music production, it just so happened that he was looking for beats at that specific time so whenever I sent a pack to him, nasty was the first one he chose, and everything is history. My go to DAW is FL Studio 20, the DAW is so easy to use & it makes my production process so easy for me to create whatever type of sounds I want to make.

As a producer pursuing a career in music the industry as well as the career path is extremely uncertain so how do you keep yourself motivated during low times, what are some of your long term goals, and for new producers looking to start what is some advice you would give?

My biggest motivation is my girlfriend/future wife & kids & also knowing that my purpose, journey, and destiny are so bigger than me. Also the universe put me here as a spirit guide, conduit and guardian angel to help others out with their lives. I always believed that if I can be of service to others and help make the world a better place. I would feel great about what i’m doing you know, everything I do is from a pure soul and heart and I don’t do things for recognition, nor do I expect anything in return or do I need a pat on the back. I’m doing it because this is who I am and being a helpful person was just a trait that I was born with so I just made sure I follow those morals and principles throughout my entire life and the universe has responded in so many beautiful ways to my great deeds for humanity, so i’ll always & forever be this way just because this is how I was created.

In addition to new producers what is some advice you would give your younger self about choosing this career path?

To just stay focused, don’t give up on yourself during hard times, find a team and surround yourself with positive, goal oriented people, and always keep god, the universe or whatever high power you believe in first because they know your destiny & they’re here to help you & guide you on it.

Dude so you have worked with Artie J, Roseryhills, Kai Baez, Love September, Cameron Rose, Omari Night, Juice the Riddler, & Joey North. What’s your secret to networking and how did you end up pairing your production with these artists?

I really don’t have any secrets but in 2016, I was working at a cooking event as a chef & the event held over 15,000-20,000 people, most were successful millionaires, billionaires, executives, ceo’s investors etc. They gave me some tips and pointers on being able to network and connect. It’s all about knowing who you want to connect with, what the purpose of you networking with them, representing yourself as a business/brand, and just knowing how to communicate with others. I’ve used all of that knowledge and passed it on into music and just knowing who I wanted to reach out to, what was I going to say to them and then the outcome of me reaching out to them. You have to be respectful and polite first before any business is conducted or else people won’t take you serious and they’ll think you’re just using them as a stepping stone or opportunity you know.

Who is your favirote artist that you have worked with so far, and what artist is your dream collaboration?

To be honest, every single artist i’ve worked with so far has their own uniqueness and individual process to them so I can’t choose between none of them. I have respect & love for each and every one of them &and they’ve all provided me with different individual but awesome experiences. My dream collab would be to sit in the studio with Kali Uchis, Partynextdoor, SZA, Jhenè Aiko, Kehlani, Ty Dolla $ign, Blxst and some other incredible RnB artistsa and just make music but other than the music, I would just love to create a friendship with them & build on that.

In terms of next step what are some things you are trying to accomplish by the end of 2020?

As far as my next steps in music, not only do I want to grow and expand myself but I want to expand my horizons and build a collective of young, independent, hardworking and talented creatives all over the world regardless of race, sexual preference, or religion. I want to eliminate those boundaries set on young individuals such as myself to achieve a goal bigger than myself and the nationwide collective of my team, and also teach and become a public speaker/spiritual advisor such as Jay Shetty, Sadghuru, Deepak Chopra by using my platform to the best of my abilities & help guide others who are in need of that.

Who should we interview next on Nefarious Supply?

I think you should interview a newer artist i’ve been working with, his name is Elijah Thrill. He’s a very talented artist/producer/singer/songwriter from New Zealand & we’re currently working on some music together that we both would love to share to the world.

Any last words?

To anyone out there who wants to do more and be more, just do it, don’t think, don’t wait, don’t procrastinate, just put one foot forward and keep going. Also understand that your purpose will always be bigger than you, your journey will always be bigger than you and your purpose will always be bigger than you because what you all do in this generation. The future and newer generations will do just as you did in their ways, as I’ve said before, the most beautiful & magical act in the world is to inspire and motivate others, to be of service to others, to help and guide people, teach them the things in their time and lives when it comes time for us to pass on our legacies, life is just a long, beautiful, and blessing of a journey so make every day count. Putt a smile on the faces of others and be a beacon of light to others because we’re all just trying to do the best and make it in life the best way we can until those days coming. Thanks to Nefarious Supply for letting me be apart of this amazing experience & I can’t wait to show the world what’s next.

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Big shout out to Downsilence for interviewing with Nefarious Supply. If you enjoyed this interview and want to stay up to date with him be sure to follow him on Instagram as well as Twitter and check out his SoundCloud. If you want to stay up to date with news and content coming from Nefarious Supply you can find us on Instagram, Twitter, and for our weekly news letter you can sign up below.