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Young Budd May Not Rap Forever, but He’s Here to Stay

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Young Budd May Not Rap Forever, but He’s Here to Stay

 

We caught up with the New York rapper to discuss his new album ‘Art With No Easel’ and much more.

African Hype: Let’s start off by telling us where you’re from Young Budd?

Young Budd: I’m from New York. Spring Valley, NY to be exact, bout a 20-30 minute ride outside the city.

African Hype: Where do you reside now?

Young Budd: I live in South Florida. Been here 4yrs now.

African Hype: Dope. Ok let’s get Into it.

African Hype: What is it that drivers you to create art and music?

Young Budd: My son kahlik and my daughter Mya, is what drives me. My struggle is what drives me. What I’ve been through that’s what drives me. I’ve lost a lot on this road. Friends, family, people i loved and trusted. It’s not easy keeping everything together while at the same time shaping your reality. Honestly the loneliest part is being away from kids, it’s crazy cause we talk almost everyday but you still feel something missing you know. The music keeps me alive, keeps me motivated, inspired and focused.

African Hype: What inspired the lyrics for your most popular song ‘CMB’?

Young Budd: Aaghh yea CMB is a good one. I was really tapped in when I wrote that record. Touching base on points in my life, from family & friends to the senseless murder of my uncle, to motivating my young niggas yea I feel I covered a lot of ground with ‘CMB’. Covered a lot of truths to certain things me or my listeners are going or may have gone through. I wanted to write a record that would resonate with people from all over the world, give them something they could relate to. Like when I said “From the start it was from the heart, but things change and people do to shit is bound to fall apart” that’s something people can feel not just hear and that’s what I feel being creative is all about being able to feel the art you know.

African Hype: What inspired the lyrics for your latest single Members Only?

Young Budd: I write the music the way I see it, If you’re listening right you’ll hear my story. Shit be like a movie sometime for real. Members Only is about family and doing right by the niggas younger then you. Quality of life type shit.

Young Budd May Not Rap Forever, but He’s Here to Stay Young Budd May Not Rap Forever, but He’s Here to Stay

African Hype: What type of movies do you like? What are some of your hobbies, or interests that might surprise your fans?

Young Budd: I like Mob Movies. I watch series mostly, action thrillers are my go to tho. I like hitting the beach as much as possible, I’d definitely say I’m more of an outdoor spontaneous type of person. My favorite food is spaghetti. Favorite color is blue. I like all kinds of music. I have a Renovation company, interest in stocks and other investments. I read and listen to a lot of books, articles and podcast.

African Hype: Are you signed to a label or independent, do you have a management team?

Young Budd: I am independent. To be honest I am the artist, manager & owner of my music and brand. I’ve had a few people at that manager role come and go, I honestly got tired of waiting on the right people, shit I’m the creator at the end of the day, so that’s what did I began to manage myself and when the right person catches up with me ill have everything ready, he or she could just get to work.

African Hype: What does Kultivation mean?

Young Budd: The kultivation is our core network of supporters who help assist with the sharing aspect of our music, insights, methods and material. The Anchor represents Love, Honor, Loyalty, Trust And Respect. Holding shit down. Staying solid. It’s a way of life, staying true to the rules that’s always been there and to what you believe in. It’s about up lifting others by sharing our art and stories.

African Hype: Do you have a merch line?

Young Budd: Yes we do and will be Releasing the first few items soon. The Kultivation Store is on the way!

African Hype: Where can people find and stream your latest single Members Only?

Young Budd: It’s been released on all streaming platforms. Most popular for me are Spotify, Youtube, Apple Music, Tidal, Google Play and Amazon.

African Hype: 2020 going into 2021, what can we expect from Young Budd?

Young Budd: A harder grind. I got things more organized, I’ll be out interacting with the people but cautious at the same time, Covid been hating hard. I got some shows lined up, I’ll be traveling to work with other artist, different producers and engineers. I have a lot of visuals I’ll be shooting as well as an in-depth look at the process. I Just want to connect with my core base and support system a little more, they keep me focused. My music is in the world now and people love it. Forever grateful.

African Hype: Lastly, what do you have to say to the up and coming artist’s out there?

Young Budd: Don’t quit. I know it sounds cliche’ but that’s the one thing I haven’t done. I’ve been up been down and back up but through it all I never gave up nor do I plan to. So if you’re an artist out there and having a hard time, step back for second analyze, plan and then attack it with no fear!

African Hype: Where can people follow you to stay updated?

Young Budd: The Kultivation website will be available soon!

 

You can follow me on Instagram: @realyoungbudd
Spotify: Young Budd
Apple Music: Young Budd
You can also follow me on Spotify, Apple Music, or Tidal: Young Budd

Thanks for having me, I enjoyed it, very informative. Appreciate the love and support of my fans, my hood and the ones that raised me. Thank you!

 

MUSIC

Mr.Reaper turns My Escape into a shadowed search for freedom through fear inner conflict and spiritual clarity

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Mr.Reaper turns My Escape into a shadowed search for freedom through fear inner conflict and spiritual clarity

In an era when plenty of hip hop chases whatever trend is loudest, Mr.Reaper arrives with something darker and more inward looking. “My Escape” is a haunting new single that moves between psychological pressure and spiritual reckoning, turning fear into the starting point for a deeper kind of release.

At 2 minutes and 37 seconds, the track wastes no time building its world. From the opening moments, the atmosphere feels cold, eerie, and cinematic, like a signal coming from somewhere far away. It pulls the listener into a shadowed mental space where reality feels unstable and escape is less certain than it first appears.

That tension comes through clearly in one of the song’s most memorable lines: “We’re in a simulation, I don’t think they understand…”

The line lingers because it feels philosophical without becoming abstract. It speaks directly to the song’s central struggle, the need to break out of unseen mental and emotional traps.

As the production expands, heavy hip hop drums take control. Booming 808s, rumbling bass, and sharp hi hats give the track a tense, cinematic weight. The beat feels alive, built with purpose, and it gives Mr.Reaper the space to step fully into his darker lyrical persona.

Once he enters that space, he owns it.

Mr.Reaper moves across the beat with control and conviction. His voice is deep, steady, and commanding, carrying each line with emotional force. When he delivers:

“I can’t see, I can’t breathe, I’m surrounded by this mystery praying to God…”

“From darkness to light, we must choose what is in the light…”

“Walking to my destiny…”

the words feel like pieces of an inner conversation. They capture the pull between despair and hope, confusion and clarity, pain and transformation.

At its core, “My Escape” is a song about liberation. Not from a place, but from the prisons people carry inside themselves. It explores fear, betrayal, pressure, self doubt, and the identities that can form around pain. The track plays like a psychological and spiritual battle, where the hardest enemy to face is often the one within.

Still, there is awakening inside the darkness.

The title “My Escape” does not feel like a retreat. It feels like recognition. Freedom, in this song, comes from facing what hurts, understanding it, and turning that struggle into strength. The message is rooted in resilience, growth, and self mastery.

The cover art sharpens that idea. Its half human, half skeletal portrait reflects the tension between life and death, identity and shadow, reality and illusion. The skull suggests mortality and inner demons, while the human side points toward consciousness and awareness. Like the song, the image is bold, unsettling, and symbolic enough to stay with you.

With “My Escape,” Mr.Reaper delivers a release that feels deliberate, emotionally charged, and thought provoking. In a crowded musical landscape, his voice cuts through because it sounds committed to something real.

The journey inward may be the darkest path, but Mr.Reaper presents it as the one that leads toward true freedom.

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Eye’z launches Kickstarter campaign to fund debut album and bring fans into the heart of the creative process

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Eye’z launches Kickstarter campaign to fund debut album and bring fans into the heart of the creative process
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Eye’z launches Kickstarter campaign to fund debut album “…The Album…”

RICHMOND, Calif., May 3, 2026, Pop singer, pianist, actress, and creative artist Eye’z has launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund her long awaited debut album, “…The Album…,” a full length project rooted in soul, personal expression, and artistic independence.

The campaign is now live on Kickstarter and has raised US$1,145 toward its US$20,000 goal, with 7 backers and 38 days remaining at the time of this release. The all or nothing campaign must reach its funding goal by Thursday, June 11, 2026, at 9:03 AM UTC+3 in order to receive funding.

Supporters can view and back the campaign here:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/dmblk/the-album-0?ref=2rhwlg

For Eye’z, this album represents years of dedication, growth, and determination. After several attempts to record the project, she is turning to listeners, fans, and supporters of independent music to help bring the album to life with the care and quality it deserves.

“I’m Eye’z, a pop artist with my own style that rings through my soul,” says Eye’z. “I don’t like being compared to other artists even when there are similarities because what I create is my own.”

The album is intended to capture Eye’z as she hears herself, with more creativity, freedom, and emotional honesty than she has been able to fully realize before. Her influences include Judy Garland, Aaliyah, Michael Jackson, Fats Waller, Marian Anderson, and Jackie Wilson. While reflecting on the project, Eye’z says she was especially inspired by Jackie Wilson’s album “Beautiful Day.”

“Music isn’t just music from me, it’s artistry. It’s completeness,” she shares through the campaign. “This campaign is to help me finally create my full length album.”

Funds raised through Kickstarter will help cover studio production, recording in a studio with a grand piano, compatible audio engineers, music video production, marketing, promotion, and live performance expenses. Eye’z also plans to celebrate the album’s debut with a special live performance in the Bay Area, bringing together supporters, musicians, and fans for a release event filled with music, energy, and gratitude.

“One of the most exciting parts of this project will be celebrating the album’s debut with a live performance for fans,” says Eye’z. “I plan to organize a special concert in the Bay Area to mark the release, an unforgettable night filled with music, energy, and gratitude.”

The Kickstarter campaign includes several reward tiers for backers. Supporters can pledge US$25 for an early digital listen, US$50 for a sneak peek package, US$275 for exclusive VIP livestream access, US$300 for an album release party invitation, US$750 for limited exclusive merchandise and a personal call, US$1,000 for a personalized album shoutout, and US$10,000 for the opportunity to executive produce the debut album.

Eye’z says she plans to keep backers updated throughout the album making process and views supporters as an essential part of the journey.

“For the most part I plan on diving in and keeping in contact with all backers to update you on the progress of my album,” she says. “BECAUSE YOU ARE THE RECORD LABEL! LOL”

For Eye’z, the campaign is about more than funding an album. It is about creating a meaningful body of work and sharing it with the people who believe in her voice, her artistry, and her story.

“Let’s make some memorable music together,” says Eye’z. “It’s SHOWTIME!”

To support “…The Album…” on Kickstarter, visit:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/dmblk/the-album-0?ref=2rhwlg

About Eye’z
Eye’z is a pop singer, pianist, actress, and multifaceted creative artist based in Richmond, California. Her music is shaped by soul, pop, theatrical expression, and classic performance influences. With “…The Album…,” Eye’z is working to complete her debut full length project and share a personal, emotionally honest body of work with listeners around the world.

Media Contact
Eye’z
Email: [email protected]
Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/dmblk/the-album-0?ref=2rhwlg

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Dutch 3Times turns love lust and heartbreak into a neon charged world of melody and temptation

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Dutch 3Times turns love lust and heartbreak into a neon charged world of melody and temptation

Let me tell you about Dutch 3Times, a genre-fluid lyricist and melodic craftsman whose music sits somewhere between Southern reflection and Detroit pressure. He has a sharp instinct for rhythm, moving between rap, melody, and tightly cut lyricism with ease. Whether he is working over heavy trap drums or slow, atmospheric production, Dutch 3Times knows how to make a beat feel alive. He does not simply settle into the pocket, he reshapes it. Welcome aboard, ladies and gentlemen.

The independent artist returns with “Distant Lover 4: Love, Lust & Heartbreak,” a bold and intoxicating 9-track project that runs 24 minutes and 14 seconds. It marks another strong chapter in his ambitious six-part “Distant Lover Saga,” a conceptual run built around the emotional extremes of love, lust, longing, and heartbreak. Seductive, reflective, dangerous, and thrilling, this latest release is a genre-bending statement from an artist willing to blur lines, bend sound, and follow feeling wherever it takes him.

Before the music even begins, the cover art sets the mood. Washed in luminous neon green, it feels like a futuristic dreamscape where passion and heartbreak have become their own coded language. Three glowing feminine silhouettes stand at the center, part muse, part memory, part mirage. They suggest desire, mystery, and emotional complication, while streams of digital text form a matrix-like backdrop repeating the album’s core themes, love, lust, heartbreak. The image is sleek, haunting, and cybernetic. In Dutch 3Times’ world, romance feels electric and elusive, deeply felt yet always slightly out of reach.

The music is just as immersive.

The opener, “No Stress” featuring Neisha Neshae, sets the tone with futuristic minimalism that actually works. Over a clean, sharp beat built from rubbery basslines, crisp percussion, and spacious melodic restraint, Dutch 3Times shows one of his strongest gifts, his ability to lock into the production until he feels fused with it. His flow moves with smooth confidence, calm and unbothered, while Neisha Neshae brings a sharper feminine edge that strengthens the chemistry without breaking the track’s hypnotic cool.

Then comes “No Secrets,” an explosive, hook-driven anthem powered by booming 808s and sliding drill basslines that tap into the raw force of UK and New York drill. Its refrain, “Girl you know what I mean, don’t keep no secrets from me,” gives the song instant replay value. Dutch’s commanding cadence and unmistakable voice push it even further, making it one of the project’s clear centerpieces.

“BackStreet Girls PT2” moves into darker territory, a woozy nocturnal trap trip that feels like wandering through a psychedelic after-hours haze. Warped synth textures, rolling low-end, and a slow hypnotic bounce give the track its pull. Dutch 3Times leans into melody here, letting his voice dissolve into the atmosphere until he feels less like a rapper in front of the beat and more like another instrument inside the mix, ghostlike, fluid, and intoxicating.

Tracks like “All Day All Night” bring polished modern rap swagger. Dark atmospheric keys sit against punchy, clean drums, leaving enough space for the bars to breathe. The song’s stripped-back confidence and easy hook give it anthem potential. It is simple, catchy, and hard to ignore.

“Do For Me” is one of the project’s most compelling moments. Cinematic, haunting, and experimental, it carries real danger in its DNA. The production feels deep, drugged, and immersive, covered in shadow and dramatic tension. Its repetitive hook stays with you after the song ends, circling in the mind like a temptation that refuses to fade.

What makes “Distant Lover 4: Love, Lust & Heartbreak” land is its range. Dutch 3Times builds a world where sleek hip-hop minimalism, explosive drill energy, hazy trap psychedelia, polished rap bravado, and cinematic experimentation sit together naturally. There is sensuality here. There is swagger. There is vulnerability. There is edge. More than anything, there is intention.

This is music for late-night drives, smoke-filled thoughts, reckless passion, quiet obsession, and every blurred feeling in between.

With “Distant Lover 4: Love, Lust & Heartbreak,” Dutch 3Times keeps shaping the “Distant Lover Saga” into something bigger than a sequence of releases. It is starting to feel like a living universe of emotion and sound.

There is something here for everyone. Find it now by streaming this project.

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