Los Angeles based artist Darius Martin releases the new single and video for “Fill My Cup”. The single celebrates afrobeats with enticing percussion, euphoric riffs and vivid lyrics that transport you on a romantic sonic fantasy. Martin passionately sings, “Smuggle you ‘cross the country like kilos.” Paired with a vibrant visualizer that captures Darius Martin and a room full of friends letting loose and dancing to “Fill My Cup”, the visuals are equally as celebratory as the track itself. “Fill My Cup” is the song you’ve been waiting for to kickstart your summer with explorative energy and sensual sonics.

On the track Darius adds, “Wizkid, Tems, and Omah Lay are some of my favorite Afrobeat artists right now. This genre is so important, because it’s a part of something much bigger than just music – it’s an entire movement happening right in front of our eyes! I feel that music should represent positivity as much as possible and when I listen to Afr beats that’s what I see portrayed most. “Fill My Cup” isn’t about alcohol or anything that can harm you; it’s about love and filling your cup up with God, knowledge, understanding, peace, love, and everything positive! I wanted to make a feel good song you can spend summer nights driving around to.”

Darius Martin got his start in the American Southwest where he grew up in cities among the likes of El Paso, Texas and Alamogordo, New Mexico. He went on to move to Los Angeles where he got his degree from the acclaimed Los Angeles Film Institute. He has received acclaim from Earmilk, Lyrical Lemonade, Allhiphop, ThisisRNB and more.

After the successful release of “Here I Am”, JLyles keeps his momentum on a forward course as he gives us the interlude titled “Lyles Lullaby”. The track serves as the second single to his upcoming album that many are patiently waiting for, including us. The Baltimore resident takes us on an adventure through his brain as he revisits parts of his life, especially those during his transition to the home of the Chesapeake Bay.

Produced by Sypooda, Lyles says that “this instrumental was so melodic that I couldn’t stop writing to it after penning the first line of the record. That’s why the song has no hook, it forced me to be introspective”. The influence gained from just the production gave the artist even more of an incentive to snag the beat from Sypooda. Gaining some sort of inspiration from any form of production is always a plus for artists, its even better when it takes one back to a certain time that challenges them musically and emotionally, as Lyles says “the beat is therapeutic”. With the perfect backbone and theme set in stone, the New Jersey native went to work crafting what would eventually become an extension of the “Lullaby” series, only second to “Chizz Lullaby”.

The lyricist by the name of JLyles held nothing back but instead let everything go. Really tuning into his vulnerable side with rhymes like “bottling my shit in this bottle is diabolical” and “man on a misison/my vision built a commission/my father sittin in prison/love momma but she was dippin/so we lackin supervision/and I’m the man of the house/weight of the world on my shoulders/gave hope in a drought”. This record is yet another taste of what is in store for listeners and supporters of JLyles and is sure to put numbers on the board just as its predecessor is currently doing. The Execution has no release date set but from what the globe has heard off the album it is safe to say that no one should be worried about what to expect from it because expectations are high and they will be met.

“The honesty in my lyrics combined with the pain represents my will to persevere and win while I’m here.” – JLyles

Social Media: Twitter/IG – @iamjlyles

After months of anticipation backed by three singles, we are finally gifted with the 12 piece offering of art from MeRCY. Even with some technical difficulties on the upload, nothing could stop Michaelangelo as it hits all streaming services in full force. With the transfer complete and minds at peace we can now indulge on the latest album from the craftsman MeRCY.

Michaelangelo begins on a high note with the record “Work Of Art” as it sets the tone for the rest of the album. Backed by heavy drum & snare hits, MeRCY begins to paint his picture from his heart and painful scriptures. “You don’t got bark or bite/you don’t got stars and stripes/you ain’t built for this/I’m the army type” spits the heavy hitter over the Black Metaphor production. The track begins to boost your endorphins and that cycle continues to prove true throughout Michaelangelo, MeRCY says “this project is meant to be emotionally charged. Each record was supposed to be compelling storytelling”.

With a vision in place and a mic in hand the South Florida native went to work. The sculptor compiled other artists and producers to help complete his work of art, giving them a brush so they can cement their own strokes of creativity. When asked about those moments behind the scenes MeRCY says “The creation process behind this album was almost like free falling to an empty abyss of imagination. I can feel what I want or say what I want based on the production provided. I wanted the listener to capture the essence of that.” T.F, NapsNDreds, Yoamanduh, Four Square Miles, The Musalini & P. Hall help by providing their vocals to the record. Lebanon Don, Tone Spliff, Sebb Bash, Syer, Jake One, Odd Squad, Zino, DJ Wayne Ski, Kubo , SlimRock & the previously mentioned Black Metaphor lace their imprint behind the boards.

MeRCY has always been known as a lyricist and has never fallen short of expressing his interests regarding the world of art. He combines both within Michaelangelo, bringing to life an album that brings a visual lyricism of a musical art gallery. The artist says “I wanted the people that’s listening to picture the music and see the sounds of every record.” If MeRCY turned this final project in before the end of the semester with hopes of passing he’d get an A+ for simply creating a body of work that has no faults. Instead he’s a college dropout who’s playing college dropout, he’s always been in a class of his own even before getting out. He’s an artist who doesn’t need a class or book to make his mark in life, he’s doing just that with his book of rhymes and the art that comes from it.