MUSIC
Interview: King P Shares Insights on His Musical Journey
Discovering your own musical style is a unique part of every artist’s journey. What sets your music apart? What is unique, or at least uncommon?
• Because I am a true musician first makes me unique. I actually incorporate live instruments in my music. Certain songs I’d record sax parts and other songs I have get a live bass player. Also I prefer my beats to musical with progressions, chords and changes. Some songs don’t need all that and I learned that simple is better so I can have fun on a less musical beat as well.
• Another thing that makes my music unique is the combined style of Hip Hop, Dance Hall, R&B and Pop genres within my music. Certain songs are more dominant in one genre but if you take a listen to my catalog then you’d understand exactly what I mean. All in all I make feel-good music or as the title of one of singles, I make “Good Vibes” music!
“Slip N Slide” is captivating from the start to finish with a combination of unique beats and catchy lyrics. What was the inspiration behind the single?
• THANK YOU!!!!
• Slip N Slide is a fun vibrant song about being on my grind as I quote, “We rock dem shows but they don’t know, these lonely roads, make my dreams unfold!” and I think the first part of the hook says it all melodically, “Straight Vibin, I’m shining, we sticking and rolling….” As it is said in Jamaica, “everything irie” that’ the “straight vibin” part; the “I’m shining” part is the grind coming to light and the “sticking and rolling” part is the fun juke dance style of Miami. To sum it all up, I’m having fun while on my grind! Slip N Slide has the essence of Florida, more specifically, south Florida, particularly a Miami sound. While on my All or Nothing Tour in Los Angeles, California early 2020 (pre-pandemic), just listening to some beats from producer Rockomal of the rap group Suns of Atliens, he played the early stages of this beat and I loved the sound immediately. I wanted to write about LA vibes which I was able to reference a little but the music sounds feels and is Miami. I wrote the 3rd verse and completed the recording of the song in Tallahassee, Florida. We filmed the music video in Miami, Florida on Monday, March 29, 2021 and the video is set to release on Friday May 28, 2021 which is Memorial Day Weekend.
What draws you to your preferred genre?
• Growing up in Miami but also being deeply rooted in the Jamaican culture is what connects me to my sound! Miami is known for fun, vibrant and bounce juking sounds that make you want to dance. Jamaica is known for dance and just pure Good Vibes! Put this background, experiences, sounds and traditions together and through King P, you hear songs like Slip N Slide and Good Vibes and I can’t wait till you hear the songs I have in the vault to be released in the near future!
Which one of your songs has the most memorable story for you? Whether it’s the writing process,
recording sessions or release of the song.
• Good Vibes – On October 1st (missed flight home to Miami and almost couldn’t get another flight) made it to Miami about 11pm and went straight to club Fate where I was a guest appearance for my birthday on October 2nd. We stayed there till about 5 am. From there my friend Camile and I hung out all day and later going to the Ginger Bay restaurant/club before going to the beach and
staying there overnight till midday the next day on October 3rd. As I’m driving, taking Camile home the mood of the song hits me so I call the producer James “Boowie” Murphy and asked if he was available for a session within the next hour; he said yes. “Great, I’ll be there” was my reply. We hung up but he called me back shortly telling me to bring a bottle and asked what vibe I’m looking for so he can already begin to feel it. I described the mood perfectly. When I pulled up to his studio, Boowie had a shell of the Good Vibes beat playing as I walked in and I was smiling ear to ear saying that’s it! We dibble dabbled on the lyrics and before you knew it, we co-wrote GOOD VIBES. It didn’t take long! As we played it back, goosebumps took over my body and I instantly felt like this song will break into the mainstream in a major way.
We made a few more songs that day that had me so caught up, I almost forgot about my flight that I almost missed. I started the release process for Good Vibes immediately; however, I ended up holding the song for a year before releasing after Boowie told me he was shopping the song to major artist. Although that opportunity was huge, I was disappointed. Anyway, months down the line, I had a private listening session with TJ Chapmen, the manager of artists B.O.B. and Trap Becham. When I played Good Vibes, TJ looked at me and said, “what are you waiting on to release this”. I began the Good Vibes campaign soon after and the song began to spread fast as I got calls from everywhere even as far as Germany.
It was two questions that I kept getting asked: 1. Where’s the music video for Good Vibes? 2. Do I have a follow up ready? I had ran out of money at that time so no music video was happening and although I had more songs lined up, no song I thought matched Good Vibes at the time, so no I didn’t have a true follow up to Good Vibes at the time. I just continued to work the song including making Good Vibes merch and launching a series of “Good Vibes shows”. I had a concert at the local premiere club, The Moon with almost 400 people in attendance. Unfortunately, I didn’t finish that concert due to a severe storm randomly hitting that night and turning off power for hours. While continuing to work the song, months later the idea hit to raise money via a Kickstarter campaign so we could film the music video. The goal was $15k and with the support of fans, friends and family we did it! That campaign was intense and hard work, no sleep type of grind! We secured a production team in Jamaica and the rest was history. There were some hiccups on the trip but overall the experience was great and even better the trip allowed me to unite and meet my father’s side of family for the first time in Kingston Jamaica
(https://youtu.be/0CLMQZb-__c). We documented everything, every day of the ten days there we filmed something outside of the Good Vibes set.
How do you go about writing a song? Do you have a melody in your head and then write the other music for it?
• I allow the music to speak; it tells me what to write about based on my emotions and experiences. I never force the creative process, so if I feel nothing, I move on. Sometimes the melody comes first and sometimes the verses come first. The title always comes last and that can change multiple times before finalizing. If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be?
I’m open to collab with anyone as passionate and serious about their music as I am. To collab with the current industry, giants would be amazing. Artists like Drake, Roddy Rich, DJ Khaled, Kanye West, and even Jay Z would be a huge accomplishment! I specifically like Roddy Rich because I see that he is a real musician using orchestras in his live performance. He has a taste for music and musicianship as I do!
What is one message you would give to your fans?
• Learn yourself, love yourself, be true to yourself and everything will fall in place! Good Vibes to the World!
For our final question, is there anything else you would like to add?
• Last but first I want to share my brand statement: King P (born Phillip Solomon Stewart in Miami, Fl.) is a Jamaican-rooted Hip Hop artist and multi-instrumentalist currently residing in Tallahassee, Fl. who delivers an unmatched level of energy through his Dancehall flair.
• WHAT’S NEXT – Featuring in a major film as the star actor and performing on the biggest festival stages as the world opens up from the pandemic are my short-term goals. What’s immediately next for me is the release of my Slip N Slide Music Video on May 28th. Then releasing more music and more already filmed unreleased music videos for songs like Top Notch, Tonight We Party, Aloha and My Life in Time. Then as an independent record label owner (PALACE MUSIC RECORDS aka KINGP ENTERTAINMENT), I have a special artist single and EP we are getting ready to release in the next couple of months. I am very excited about this project just as I am excited about my projects!
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MUSIC
Martone and Intelligent Diva turn a painful breakup into a powerful house anthem with their new track “Too Bad, So Sad”
Martone isn’t one to tell his story quietly; he’d rather broadcast it until the walls shake. Known as “The Emperor of House Music,” the Detroit artist has built a career on putting himself on the line. For over a decade, Martone has been recognized as a dance-floor architect who is also a storyteller, a cultural activist, and a model of genuine authenticity. He has consistently pushed boundaries with tracks like “Chocolate” and his album The Evolution of Martone, blending club beats with emotional substance. His latest release with Intelligent Diva, “Too Bad, So Sad,” continues that work, proving a heartbreak anthem can be a weapon.
At its heart, “Too Bad, So Sad” is about a breakup, but it’s not the kind that hides in the shadows. Martone opens with lines that feel both personal and cinematic. “I gave my heart, you played it like a game. Thought we had forever, but you just brought the shame.” This is a blunt confession, the kind you make after the tears have dried, when all that’s left is the plain truth. The simplicity of his words makes them hit harder because they don’t rely on metaphor; they are the wound itself. The hook, “Too bad, so sad, it doesn’t mean that I didn’t love you,” feels like a sigh and a shrug at once. It honors the love that was real while firmly closing the door on someone who failed to value it. Martone finds strength in that raw clarity.
Then Intelligent Diva enters, and her verse is like a best friend storming into your room while you’re crying. Her flow is sharp and her tone is commanding, instantly changing the song’s direction. She raps, “Never let nobody treat you like a doormat. You’re a prize to be won, go boast, go brag.” Her words are a pep talk, delivered with the urgency of someone who won’t let you stay down. Martone voices the ache, and Intelligent Diva provides the antidote. Their collaboration creates a dynamic conversation, moving from grief to grit. Her verse transforms the track from a sad diary entry into a rallying cry.
What makes the song feel so immediate is its real-life backdrop. Martone released “Too Bad, So Sad” only days after his divorce was finalized. The timing wasn’t planned, but it feels poetic. You can hear the weight of lived experience in every note. This isn’t just a story crafted for a song; it’s a piece of a life pressed into rhythm and melody.
In a time when dance music can feel like pure escapism, Martone makes sure the beat carries something real. “Too Bad, So Sad” is fueled by emotional honesty, offering both catharsis and empowerment. It’s a reminder that even the deepest heartbreak can be the start of a rebirth. Intelligent Diva’s feature acts as a lifeline, a testament to the power of support when you feel alone.
If you’ve ever found yourself picking up the pieces, this song is for you. Put it on repeat, let it sting, let it heal, and let it remind you that heartbreak is temporary. Reclaiming your power is the real goal. So dance, cry, or scream along. Whatever you do, don’t skip this one.
MUSIC
Washington DC Rapper 40 Cal Blends Gritty Street Narratives with a Smoked Out Vibe in His New Track “Benihana”
40 Cal returns with “Benihana,” a track straight from the blocks of Washington, D.C. It’s a smoked-out song that combines swagger with street reporting. The name is fitting, as the track serves up a kind of hazy, late-night bravado. Inspired by a calm smoke session, 40 Cal finds an honest balance between mood, memory, and menace.
The production features a humid, tropical-scented trap loop. It sits low and patiently, giving space for 40 Cal’s cadence to cut through. He raps like a person who has witnessed the worst and figured out how to translate it into sharp, often funny lines. His delivery can make you nod in agreement and wince at the same time. The lyrics are unapologetic, weaving weed metaphors together with imagery from the gutter. The chorus repeats the details of the scent and strain, becoming a kind of sensory anchor.
What really stands out is his ability to switch between swagger and storytelling. He places lines about graduating “from the streets” right next to darker threats involving body imagery and choppers, all while maintaining his distinct loner energy. Through it all, 40 Cal’s voice remains his own. The hook is simple but sticky, “Smoking out the bag got grass like a farmer… real tropical shit name like Benihana.” The words get stuck in your head because they successfully build a specific moment.
He effectively mixes violent imagery with small, humanizing details. Lines like “face so swollen” or “leave him fat like Homer” land with visual force and prevent the song from feeling like empty posturing. A rough humor is threaded through the track. An absurd line can undercut a threat, which makes the whole song feel more authentic and lived-in. The smoke session inspiration is clearly important here. The record’s structure mimics a late-night conversation, circular and relaxed until a sharp line suddenly raises the temperature.
If there is a critique to be made, it is that the song relies heavily on repetition and some familiar metaphors. The violent imagery can feel blunt, almost automatic, which some listeners might find distracting. At the same time, that bluntness can be interpreted as honesty. 40 Cal is not trying to make something pretty. He is reporting, turning the experience of survival into bars that hit fast and hard.
Ultimately, the track’s strength is its personality. 40 Cal comes across as hungry, proud, and sharp. He avoids overexplaining his life. Instead, he throws out images and lines, trusting the listener to understand. There is a magnetic confidence in that approach. With “Benihana,” he is staking his claim and reminding everyone that he is still a voice to be heard.
Let the hook loop and the beat roll. If the track grabs you, it belongs in your rotation. Share it with anyone who appreciates gritty storytelling and keep an eye on 40 Cal. He clearly has more stories to tell, and this track suggests he is just getting warmed up. It’s worth a listen and a spot on your playlist.
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MUSIC
The Seductive New Afrobeats Jam “Think About U” From Stayno and Joe O Is Inspiring a Viral Wave on TikTok
A new track from Nigerian producer Stayno and rising Afrobeats artist Joe O is already becoming a fan favorite, creating a life of its own on social media before it has even been officially released. Their new single, “Think About U,” is a slow-burning blend of Afrobeats, Brazilian funk, hip-hop, and soul that has inspired over 80 viral fan videos on TikTok.
The song finds its strength in the combination of Stayno’s thoughtful production and Joe O’s incredibly smooth vocals. It’s a seductive and contemplative track that tells a gangster’s story of heartbreak, love, and passion. Joe O delivers a hook that sticks with you long after the song is over, making it feel right at home on a dancefloor or for a late-night drive.
The buzz around the record grew significantly after Joe O’s recent performance at the Variety Playhouse in Atlanta. While on stage during Nigerian superstar BNXN’s Captain Tour, he gave the excited audience a live preview of the song. The moment helped introduce his sound to a new wave of fans and positioned him as one of Afrobeats’ most interesting new voices.
The song’s organic success on TikTok points to its wider appeal. Its relatable story and seductive groove have connected with listeners, sparking dance challenges, creative videos, and personal reactions from fans around the world.
“Think About U” works because of the clear chemistry between the two artists. Stayno’s world-class production feels perfectly matched with Joe O’s natural ability to create a memorable melody. It feels like a milestone for both as they continue to build their careers within the global Afrobeats scene.
Stayno is a Nigerian, Italy-born producer, songwriter, and DJ known for his ability to blend genres. He often infuses Afrobeats with sounds from funk, hip-hop, and soul, building a reputation for shaping a modern, innovative sound. Joe O is a fast-rising Afrobeats singer whose smooth voice and dynamic stage presence are quickly getting him noticed. This collaboration seems like a perfect match, resulting in a tune that feels genuinely special.
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