Roxbury, MA – When we contemplate the past several months years from now, the collective will all likely agree on one thing; the energy that the Covid-19 pandemic brewed, the civil unrest unleashed. And, so it is for new independent lyrical artist, Najee Janey. His latest EP release, “As Is,” is a scorching, five song revelation delivered as one continuous track. A reflection of Janey’s life and times during the chaos of the Coronavirus quarantine, “As Is” echoes raw as unmastered, unpolished and unapologetic musical poetry. With “As Is,” Janey prevails as a brilliant melodious spectator, emerging from the ashes of turbulence, undaunted by the doggedness of unrelenting societal change.
A Roxbury native, Janey has been setting Boston ablaze for some time now. The singer, songwriter, rapper and poet, released his debut, The Purple Earth Theory last year, earning him two Boston Music Award nominations for R&B Artist and Unsigned Artist and a performance at the ceremony. Najee has also gathered heat for his writing and performance contributions and credits on Atlantic Records R&B artist Sebastian Mikael ‘s last two albums, totaling seven songs, including the recent hit single ” Time .”
The “As Is” EP stands apart however, blistering and soothing like a healing salve on an open wound. From Janey’s spit fire raps to his smooth falsetto serenades, tracks “Tired of Being Tired” “Wild,” “Uhreeverderchee,” “Every Star Has a Shadow” and “Isley”, though different in flow, tempo and delivery, deliver a seamless compilation of diversity.
Expresses Najee, “‘As Is’ can be likened to the soundtrack of a battlefield movie during a crazy-ass war. From the searing sound of a soldier prepping his ammo, to the wailing of wanting to be healed from his wounds, each track symbolically matches the intentions of wanting to fight back. The fight though is with and within myself and my words are the bullets.”
Najee cites his dad, veteran photojournalist Charles Janey, as his first creative and musical influence. Instilling musicality in his son at an early age, Janey not only sang around the house, but he also played an eclectic blend of music, ranging from Zouk, reggae, jazz, funk, LatinX and R&B, surrounding his son is a kaleidoscope of cadence. That diaspora of rhythm is evidenced in Najee’s sound today.
Over the past few years, Najee reveals he has written and recorded hundreds of songs, always seeking artistic perfection on each one by chasing the flawless verse, the catchiest ad lib or the purest note. The solitude of the quarantine presented some new lessons, however.
“I discovered that beautiful imperfections get lost during that passionate pursuit. In an ironic way, that same overthinking applied to many facets in my everyday life. So out of hundreds of songs, I selected five that meant the most to me. I felt that releasing them as a body of work now would be best because the content matches with what’s going on in today’s world. I vent about self-identity and knowing who I am so that I’m better prepared with living as a Black man in a country that’s completely brainwashed with things that don’t even matter. Venting is usually raw, so it made sense to deliver my music the same way. The songs are totally unmastered, yet they reflect my mastery.”
“As Is” is the way it will always be, a reflection of an unprecedented period on our planet during a time when many of us were forced to sit in solitude and seek ourselves.
Look out for Najee Janey’s upcoming album “The Reason It Gets Dark” and groove with him at his website.
Check out “As Is” under Najee Janey on Soundcloud .
Afro Brazilian trio 3B Rich keep sharpening their place in contemporary music with the release of their latest single, “Slow Twerking.” Blending modern R&B, hip hop, and pop with an easy sense of control, the song lands as a hypnotic, club minded track full of cinematic detail and an undeniable groove.
Driven by smooth, pulsing production and airy synth work, “Slow Twerking” reaches beyond the usual dancefloor rush. There is a real story inside it. The track sketches the life of a dancer moving through the nightlife world, holding onto her confidence, resilience, and ambition. Through vivid lyrics, 3B Rich present a woman who commands attention while working toward something larger, supporting her child, investing in her education, and building a future for herself on her own terms.
A big part of the song’s appeal comes from the way the group handles its vocals. Brothers Hi-en, Mr. Spotlight, and J-Royal play off one another with the kind of chemistry that makes the track feel loose and precise at the same time. Verses, hooks, and melodies pass naturally between them. Each voice has its own character, but together they create a polished, unified sound. The hook stays with you, long after the song ends.
On the production side, “Slow Twerking” captures what makes 3B Rich stand out. They move between genres with care, never losing the emotional pull or rhythmic focus of the song. The layered arrangement, sharp sense of rhythm, and melodic immediacy make it easy to imagine the track thriving both on streaming platforms and in a live setting.
The single also arrives at an important point for the trio. As attention around “Slow Twerking” continues to build, 3B Rich are wrapping up work on their debut album. The project is expected to push further into the ideas introduced here, with more genre blending, stronger storytelling, and adventurous production choices. It speaks to the group’s drive to test their range while staying grounded in something genuine.
Originally from Los Angeles and now based in Las Vegas, 3B Rich bring a distinct West Coast feel that is shaped by broader global influences. Their music is marked by tight harmonies, a strong stage presence, and a creative vision that connects different sounds and cultural perspectives. As their catalog grows, so does the sense that they are becoming a genuinely forward looking act, one with the potential to leave a real mark on pop and urban music.
With more releases, live shows, and industry partnerships ahead, 3B Rich are moving steadily from rising talent to serious creative contender.
“Slow Twerking” is available now on all major streaming platforms.
For the latest music, video releases, and tour updates, follow 3B Rich on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.
Rising bedroom R&B crooner Sylk McCloud, hailing from SE Washington, DC, turns up the temperature on his latest single, “Safeword.” It’s a slow burner built for the club, where glossy modern R&B melts into a little hip hop swagger. BuBu The Producer keeps the track sleek and plush, while featured rapper and emcee Mr.24 slides in with a verse that sharpens the edge.
Right away, “Safeword” lands in that moody late night pocket. The instrumental is velvet smooth, but it moves with a steady, hypnotic groove that nudges you closer. Sylk sings like he’s speaking directly across a dark room, soft in tone yet sure of himself. That push and pull is the point, a mix of vulnerability and control, desire and hesitation, all held in tension without spilling into melodrama.
The song takes its cues from the “Shades of Grey” film series, leaning into trust, fantasy, and the charged negotiation that comes with intimacy. Sylk makes the hook the centerpiece, letting the melody do the seducing even as the lyrics get bold:
“Tell me you’re sexy, all positions go
Are you ready for submission
Fifty shades is what I’m giving
Satisfaction all positions
Only one thing missing
Tell me your safeword…”
Those lines set the mood with a teasing confidence that never feels rushed. The chorus is restrained and tempting, built to linger rather than hit and disappear. Sylk’s voice floats above the beat with a magnetic ease, so the hook sticks in your head and in your gut.
When Mr.24 arrives, the energy shifts without breaking the spell. His delivery brings a gritty smooth contrast to Sylk’s melodic glide, grounding the fantasy in something a little tougher. It’s a smart pairing. The two artists sound comfortable sharing the same space, which helps “Safeword” work in more than one setting, from a packed dance floor to a late night playlist you keep to yourself.
A lot of the track’s pull comes from the production choices. BuBu The Producer builds a lush, atmospheric soundscape that matches Sylk’s tone, leaving room for breath, for pause, for that moment before the next touch. It feels designed for slow dancing, for cruising through the city after midnight, or for setting the room’s temperature with intention.
With “Safeword,” Sylk McCloud keeps carving out his lane in contemporary R&B, blending emotional weight with sensual confidence. The single plays like a small, cinematic scene, intimate on purpose, polished without feeling distant.
“Safeword” is now available on all major streaming platforms.
Some artists slide into a scene and hope the room makes space. Killem KD walks in like the room is already hers. Listen.
On her one take freestyle “Trouble Man (One Take),” the Mound Bayou, Mississippi native makes a clean announcement. She is here, she is ready, and she is finished waiting on permission. In about 1 minute and 25 seconds, KD delivers something that feels closer to a notice than a warm introduction, a warning shot aimed at anyone treating her like background noise.
Her intent is obvious in the way she hits each line. When she raps, “said I’m tired of waiting in corners and closets, it’s my time to shine, I can’t be quiet,” it lands like autobiography, not bravado. This is presence music, the kind that changes the temperature of a track. KD performs like she can feel eyes on her, like the tally is being kept, like silence has stopped being an option. Doubt, gatekeepers, anyone trying to flatten her momentum, they all get drowned out by the force in her voice.
The flow is slick and surgical, rooted in the South and proud of it. Every bar locks into the beat with a cadence that sounds fused, not rehearsed. You hear finesse, then grit right behind it, swagger sharpened by hunger. She stays patient. She doesn’t chase the pocket. She lives in it. The whole thing reads like instinct, not homework.
The video sharpens that feeling. Filmed guerrilla-style outside an old hospital building, it strips the moment to essentials: Killem KD, a mic, and whatever the day gives her. No crew lights. No studio polish. No safety net. Just daylight, concrete, and conviction. A dangling silver microphone adds a throwback touch, nodding to a time when you could measure an MC by breath control and bars.
That location matters, too. Hospitals are where people show up broken, hurting, trying to make it through. KD stands just outside that threshold and spits like she’s the diagnosis, unavoidable, contagious, impossible to dismiss. She closes her eyes at points, letting the performance swing between confession and confrontation. The result feels street-level and cinematic at once, early freestyle energy filtered through quiet urban melancholy.
“Trouble Man (One Take)” doesn’t lean on spectacle. It leans on certainty. KD knows what she brings, and she moves like her moment isn’t on the way. It’s here. This puts her in the lane of artists who demand recognition because the work leaves no other option.
Born and raised in the Delta, Killem KD carries southern soul, raw storytelling, and fearless energy into every bar. She’s pushing to put Mississippi on the map, and a clip like this makes that goal feel less like ambition and more like trajectory.
No edits.
No excuses.
No permission needed.
This is Killem KD, trouble in the best way possible.