R.A.E. aka “Real and Explicit”, (born on October 7, 1997), is an up and coming female rapper/singer/songwriter/ producer hailing from the DMV but currently resides in Maryland. R.A.E began her music career in the winter of 2016 recording her first song by doing a remix to the infamous single, “Panda”, by Desiigner and it was there where her career took off. Her debut single, “Flexxin”, when she was formally known as Blu Rae, was released December 2017 and became the new bop within the streets of the DMV. R.A.E. has performed at venues such as house parties, twice at Red Lounge, twice at Halftime Bar, two shows sponsored by Afton Shows (Eden Lounge and The Depot), and participating in her college’s annual cypher. While she was known as Blu Rae, she had been featured on HipHopOverload as the artist of the week. R.A.E. is currently working on building her clothing line, building her modeling portfolio, working on her first mixtape titled “It’s All In The Name,” and lastly, planning her first state to state tour for her first project for the summer. We are expecting big things from the 21 year old artist in the next few years coming.

Moonlight, the new single from DMV native, Marquel, has been released recently. The somber yet smooth track swims with beautiful production and equally impacting vocals from the now Philly-based artist.

In the interview below, Marquel and I talk about what drove him to pursue his career and what keeps him on track today, take a look:

Alright, so how did you come across your passion for music?

It’s actually crazy. I’ve always loved it, it was just never realistic to me to be doing music. So I actually stopped singing. Then one day while I was in the shower I was trying to sing Bruno Mars’ Grenade and I just couldn’t get the notes.

So I started panicking in the shower and literally started to tear up. Then I realized it’s all I wanted and I hated myself for stopping because I had been so good at it. So I worked secretly for a year on my craft and getting my voice back.

That's crazy. That's how you know some part of you is made for this, you know? That type of drive isn't something you find every day. That's amazing, and it's obviously paid off.

But what exactly drove you to write Moonlight? Any backstory on that?

Yeah, I was in LA and sitting in my crib tryna write, so this melody just came to me and it was the lyrical melody for Moonlight. So then the lyrics came to me while I was thinking of this girl back home. I love women bro but some of them be off it haha.

And I’m just now getting into my craft and growing to be my best self, so that’s why I included that part at the end about how I’m changing so if you want me stop playing. I honestly have no time for negativity or games.

And thank you.

No problem. Sometimes you can only align yourself with people who take their craft as seriously as you do. In all actuality, those should be the only people you mess with. This is it, man. You're gonna be big.

Is there any new music or projects on the way that we should be on the lookout for? And you're from the DMV, I know that. But should I say you're an LA-based artist?

So I do have a collab coming out with a dope artist named Ori, and plan on releasing my EP really soon, and nah bro. You can say DMV/Philly artist. I started my career here in Philly, but I’ve always been writing and singing when I was back home.

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Marquel seamlessly trades between vulnerable and resolute in the somber 2 minutes and 22 seconds of Moonlight’s playtime.

With promises of new projects on the way and a sound not many have the gift of achieving, the R&B artist has indeed taken an earnest step into the world of music.

Moonlight is now out on all iTunes.

Stream it now.