#BlackGirlMagic! Solange Knowles to Direct Sza’s (@sza) “The Weekend” Music Video!

That #BlackGirlMagic stays poppin’, especially when two amazing artists come together on a project.

Solange Knowles and Sza are set to make some magic with the latter’s hit single The Weekend from her album, Ctrl. Sza revealed in an interview with USA Today that Solange will be directing the music video and we just know it is going to lit!

via Complex

“I love her,” said SZA. “I think the universe is just bringing us closer to each other. That’s my homegirl.”

If another artist going to be in charge of the visuals for your song, it may as well be Solange. She already showed an affinity for it with a performance piece at The Guggenheim, titled “An Ode To,” and she’s debuting a new performance art piece in Texas later this fall. Allegedly, the video for “The Weekend” takes place at 10 different locations, so the duo sounds like they’re sparing no expense putting this thing together. Even if you throw out the video, the two singers have been spending a decent amount of time around each other later. Both are performing at the Afropunk Festival in Brooklyn on Saturday, and if they’re as tight as SZA makes it seem like they are, they’ll be using plenty of their backstage time to cook up some ideas together. Maybe a collaboration is in the works, because it’s fairly well known they share a mutual admiration for each other’s work.

Solange is a musical genius, and now that we think about it some of the songs from Ctrl remind us of a few of the songs from Solange’s album Sol-Angel and The Hadley St. Dreams. Are you guys as psyched about all of this as we are? Let us know what you think in the comments’ section below!

Written By: Michael “Hey Mikey” Fanning

Follow me on Twitter/IG @HeyMikeyATL

An “Easy” Decision! Demetria McKinney (@demimckinney) Becomes YouTube’s (@YouTube) Artist on The Rise!

If you are sleeping on Demetria McKinney then we suggest you wake the hell up! This actress, singer, reality star, and all around amazing woman is making some serious moves. We all see it and so does YouTube; in fact, the company has declared her as its “Rising Artist!”

This is not just huge news for Demetria, but huge in general as the video streaming giant is pretty much declaring she has everything it takes to be on top AND she is getting there!

View this post on Instagram

Just a little promo from @youtube ! Video link in Bio! 💯 #demetriamckinney #easy #youtube #risingartist

A post shared by Demetria McKinney (@demetria4real) on Aug 22, 2017 at 5:17pm PDT

Demetria’s hit music video,  Easy, earned her the nod from YouTube, and we definitely see why. Not only is this woman singing, she is giving all types of feelings and sex appeal. We swear she could make a plain brown paper bag and paper clips look glamorous! Demetria just has it and we have to have her, check out her music video for Easy below!

We love Demetria here at HeyMikeyATL, and honestly we feel YouTube is late to the party. This woman has been keeping it “100” (pun intended) with her music and talent for years. We do not foresee her stopping anytime soon and are glad to say that. Have you seen many of the new singers out right now? Very pretty, but no substance. She alongside, singers like Sevyn Streeter, Sza, and Tinashe may be just what the Muses ordered to bring real R&B back to the forefront.

Congratulations again Demetria your heard work and grind are really paying off! We love you and cannot wait to hear more of your amazing music. Drop us (by “us” we mean Mikey, LOL) a line! There’s much to discuss!

Written By: Michael “Hey Mikey” Fanning

Follow me on Twitter/IG @HeyMikeyATL

[VIDEO] Wiz Khalifa (@wizkhalifa) ft. Ty Dolla $ign (@tydollasign)- “Something New!”

Wiz Khalifa released the video for his new single “Something New (ft. Ty Dolla $ign)” today.

The all-star video includes cameos from Demi Lovato, Jamie Foxx, Jason Derulo, O.T. Genasis, Juicy J, Lil Dicky, G-Eazy, Chuck Liddell, and Todd Gurley.

“Something New (ft. Ty Dolla $ign)” is the first single released from Wiz’s highly anticipated upcoming studio album due this fall.

Check out the video below!

[Event Recap] Atlanta Showed Up & Out For Spotify’s (@Spotify) RapCaviar Live

 

Spotify

Just in time to celebrate the birth of hip hop, Spotify kicked off their latest concert series, RapCaviar Live. What better place to kick off the highly anticipated concert series than in the city where trap music thrives, Atlanta. Hundreds of excited fans packed the Tabernacle to see the “Trap God” himself, Gucci Mane, Mike WiLL Made-It, and 6lack put on performances worthy of their positions on RapCaviar, Spotify’s most sought out hip hop playlist.

“…if we never do another album, I’m totally fine with that…” Andre 3000 Speaks On Possible Retirement!

Aquemini, Stankonia, ATLiens, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below–these are the albums we grew to know and love thanks to a pair of cool, trendy, and offsetting rappers that made up the dynamic duo of Outkast! There has never been a time when we were not happy to hear one of their tunes anywhere, you could always feel a little piece of Atlanta with you no matter where you were.

Well that feeling might just end as it seems Andre 3000 has hinted he is retiring from rapping!

via Complex

Outkast, (l-r) Big Boi & Andre 3000

 In an interview with Complex, the Atlanta icon sat down to discuss his inspirations for the collection and his current attitude towards creating music…

During the conversation, André 3000 said that he’s more motivated by the collaborative processes of acting and fashion design, as opposed to making music. “I work better with other people,” he said. “I clearly see that now. Like, I haven’t put out an album in years, but if Frank Ocean or Travis Scott calls and says, ‘Hey, man, I want you to be a part of this,’ it’s like I have a goal, a target. When I’m on my own, I’m sitting around twiddling my thumbs.”

Despite this realization, he said that the thought of a new album with his oldest collaborator, Big Boi, still doesn’t inspire him to get behind the mic. “It’s really just an excitement thing, and where I am in life,” he explained. “I kind of like not being a part of [rap], now that I’ve done it…Even with Outkast — if we never do another album, I’m totally fine with that. When I was 25, I said I don’t want to be a 30-year-old rapper. I’m 42 now, and I feel more and more that way.”

We really hope Andre is not leaving the game! He is one of rap’s most creative and legendary rappers. Music just got a little less interesting…

Written By: Michael “Hey Mikey” Fanning

Follow me on Twitter/IG: @HeyMikeyATL

[MUSIC VIDEO] “Supermodel”-SZA (@sza)!

The music industry is always turning out new artists. Most of them fall to the wayside like cobblestones in an abandoned graveyard, but every now and then a truly talented one comes along that reminds us just how magical music can be. As of July 31, 2017 that artist for us is none other than Sza!

Sza has already made waves with her first single, Love Galore, and now she is riding the wave with a new music video for her latest hit, Supermodel! check it out below!

https://embed.itunes.apple.com/us/embedded-player/idsa.4b6267a0-75ff-11e7-8ea6-faf34fb816ce

Okay so we definitely love this video. It is so simple and deep at the same time! The fairies, kids, and the message of I do not need you to be whatever I want to be are a message of empowerment to women and girls everywhere to believe in themselves. Supermodel is so ethereal and just puts you in your feelings.

We have heard the song a number of times on the radio and as of last night on HBO’s Insecure as we watched Issa have no choice but to move on from her now ex-boyfriend, Lawrence. Either way we are going to have this single and video on repeat!

Written By: Michael “Hey Mikey” Fanning

Follow me on Twitter/IG @HeyMikeyATL

[ALBUM REVIEW] Sevyn Streeter (@sevyn)- “Girl Disrupted”

 

Sevyn Streeter is back with the release of her debut studio album, Girl Disrupted!

The title of the album is a play on the 90’s film starring Angelina Jolie, Winona Ryder, and the late Brittany Murphy, Girl Interrupted; a movie based on the writer’s stay at a mental health facility during the 60’s.

Now, we’ve gotta know. Why would a singer want a movie reference like that, to represent her entire project?

The synopsis is simple. The title represents a state of depression that Streeter endured while working to deliver music to her fans. The singer/songwriter told Rollingstone that the depression “came from a place of: I dedicated my life to this work and this art, and I don’t feel like it’s having the opportunity to be heard”. Well thankfully, all roads finally led us to the release of her first full length project.

[VIDEO] In Case You Missed It! Kash Dinero (@Kash_Dinero100) Covers Song for “About Him: The Revolution!”

Signal 23 TV is definitely full of surprises! No we are not talking about the departure of a Web Star or a new series.

We are, however, talking about Kash Dinero covering Tevin Campbell’s song, “Tell Me What You Want Me To Do” in Episode 7 of About Him Season 2: The Revolution!

 Signal 23 TV posted an exclusive snippet of the song via their Instagram and we have to say we are smitten. Check it out below:

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What you have been waiting for.. see the full video in episode 7 of about him. @heymikeyatl here is something newsworthy worth talking about.

A post shared by Signal 23 Television (@signal23television) on Jun 17, 2017 at 10:47am PDT

You can see the full video in Episode 7 of About Him: The Revolution. Kash’s cover of such a classic song comes as a surprise not because of the song choice, but because none of us knew he could sing. We are very familiar with the singer’s background (and we are still swooning) and are thrilled he can add this to his “body of work”–we mean repertoire! Dinero is a great singer and we hope to hear more music from him, even some original tracks. This song choice however is just perfect. Dustin (Gary Lavard) and Armani (Chris June) are definitely the super couple of web series in general right now and their love story has the potential to be as deep or legendary as any two star-crossed lovers lining the walls of fictional history.

What do you guys think of Kash’s song. We definitely would not mind a soundtrack of original music from this season of About Him (HINT, HINT) and are really loving how this season is progressing. The story lines, cast, and more importantly the activism of this series is nothing short of impressive. Kash Dinero drop us a line for an interview, we are definitely ready to get close and personal!

Written By: Michael “Hey Mikey” Fanning

[VIDEO] Ladies of TNT’s “Claws” Join Mary J. Blige (@maryjblige) in Celebrating the “Strength Of A Woman”

Legendary Singer-Songwriter’s, Mary J. Blige’s Latest Music Video Features Stars of TNT’s New Dramedy Claws, Premiering This Sunday, June 11, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT)!

via Press Release

Turner’s TNT and the cast of the new series Claws have teamed up with Grammy winner Mary J. Blige to appear in her new music video for “Strength of a Woman” the title track off the artist’s 13th studio album. Claws stars Niecy Nash, Carrie Preston, Jenn Lyon, Judy Reyes and Karrueche Tran are all featured in the video, which launches today on Blige’s VEVO page on YouTube.

The release of “Strength of a Woman” comes during the buildup to the Claws premiere, taking place this Sunday, June 11, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT) across TNT platforms. The premiere will be followed by an encore presentation on Twitter.

“The inspiration for ‘Strength of a Woman’ came from my life. It came from some very heavy trials and hardships through my life that I had to come through,” said Mary J. Blige. “There are a lot of similar themes in the show Claws. They’re in some heavy, sticky, nasty situations but that is what survival is about.”

With its story focusing on five manicurists working at a Central Florida nail salon, Claws celebrates empowered women as they navigate the challenges of their professional and daily lives. Blige integrated members of the cast into her “Strength of a Woman” music video in order to show off an array of proud, hard-working women – a common thread woven throughout the R&B songstress’ album and resonating at the heart of its title song. “Strength of a Woman” is a reflection of Blige’s journey to overcoming emotional turmoil and, like Claws, honors women by exploring themes of self-worth and empowerment.

Mary J. Blige never fails to deliver check out the music video for Strength Of A Woman below!

 

[VIDEO] Kayla Brianna (@KaylaBrianna) Releases The Highly Anticipated Music Video For Chart-Topping Single ‘Luck’!

KAYLA BRIANNA RELEASES THE VISUAL TO HER LATEST SINGLE “LUCK’ WHICH IS CURRENTLY RACING UP THE CHARTS. ‘LUCK’ FEATURES PLATINUM SELLING RECORDING ARTIST DREZZY AND IS PRODUCED BY HIT-MAKER AND SUPER-PRODUCER #LONDONONDATRACK

via Press Release

Kayla Brianna, partners with BET Networks to release her steamy visuals to her chart topping, summer smash, ‘Luck’. The video is now streaming exclusively on all BET platforms including BET Jams, and BET Soul. Last fall, the rising star revealed she had been working extensively with Young Thug’s not-so-secret weapon, London On Da Track for her debut project and ‘Luck’ is a direct result of those ATL studio sessions. Offering up vibes galore, the visual for Luck echoes the up-beat London produced track and offers a first class look into the sultry singer’s triple-threat capabilities.

 

After an alluring shower scene, clips of the R&B princess basking in the sunlight amongst a hot male counterpart, and a choreographed sequence, the montage heats up even more when Platinum Recording Artist Dreezy appears half-way through the clip-letting all men know it’s going to take more than good “game” to approach her. On wanting Dreezy on the song and in the video, Kayla says: “I wanted to show my fellow brown girls that our black is beautiful and for everyone to be able to look at us having a good-time and know they too can feel good in their skin.”