Detroit mainstay Valid continues his journey of the well-received Peach Brandy album with the release of an evocative video for “Places.” In this visually captivating piece from Lucky Penny Media, the MC honors his roots while reflecting on the city that shaped his identity. The video incorporates heartfelt home footage, whisking viewers back to 2005, the year of Valid’s last visit to Serbia as a young man. It serves as a celebration of Detroit’s rich hip-hop culture, intertwining memories of the past with hopes for the future.
“Places”, produced by Knowhere2run and Vibin wit DJ Mono, is a potent track from Valid’s recent album Peach Brandy that explores his heritage in Serbia and how it shaped him into the man he is today, with vivid lyricism set to a back-drop of rich, atmospheric guitars, warm strings, and organic percussion. The new visual, alongside the track, acts as an homage and tribute to his homeland with heartfelt, nostalgic shots that capture the song’s emotive narratives.
Mentored by Grammy-winning DJ Head, Detroit emcee Valid is making waves in hip-hop. After his acclaimed debut album, Mihajlo, in 2019, he released the Plum Brandy EP, gaining traction in Eastern and Southern Europe. Valid has collaborated with notable artists like Apollo Brown and Skyzoo and recently teamed up with Stretch Money to form the duo Bill & Isiah. Their album gained significant attention, charting on college radio in the U.S. and Canada, and their freestyle on Eminem‘s Shade45 became a defining moment for Detroit hip-hop. Performing alongside legends like Xzibit and ThaDogg Pound, Valid’s influence continues to grow, with exciting prospects ahead. His latest offering, the fresh visual for “Places”, makes for a poignant, memorable release, coming after the drop of his engaging, versatile Peach Brandy LP. Give it a watch here now on our platform.
Los Angeles’ rimhan is a multi-talented artist coming out of the West Coast who continues to push forward with heartfelt, captivating offerings. With a penchant for personal, raw lyricism that is often deeply introspective, as well as an ear for soulful, versatile instrumentals, rimhan continues to build a prolific discography. Recent offerings like the full-length project ‘soul food for the family’ as well as his newest single “HELL IN A CELL” with Nebraska’s Sleep Sinatra display a lyrical depth and multi-layered approach, with a series of instrumentals that are engaging and often intricate. We sat down with the Los Angeles artist to talk about his early inspirations in music, storytelling, releases ‘soul food for the family’ and “HELL IN A CELL” and more.
Roundhouse Music:Growing up, what initially inspired you to begin creating music?
rimhan: Growing up, what influenced me to make the music that I make is every day life and the things that I go through. I’ve never really been influenced by anyone else’s music. I’m mostly influenced by real life and the things that are going on around me. Real life is the best influence that you can have if you make music.
Roundhouse Music:How did the music and arts scene in Los Angeles influence you as an artist?
rimhan: When I first got involved with the scene, it was filled with a bunch of people that I was already listening to and growing up with. People like Pac Div, OFWGKTA, TDE & The Dogg Pound really influenced my sound. All of my influences are different now that I’m older and more mature.
Roundhouse Music: What’s your songwriting process like approaching a new track?
rimhan: That’s a hard question for me to answer, because I don’t usually approach a track when it’s time for me to record it. But if I have to really think about it, most of the time I’m writing the song before I even hear the beat that I’m gonna rap on. Then, when I hear the beat that I’m gonna use, I just figure out how I’m gonna use this shit that I already wrote before I heard the beat. Usually works like that to be honest.
Roundhouse Music: What do you look for in instrumentals that inspires you to write?
rimhan: What I look for in a instrumental is the energy that I need in order to complete the song. If the beat doesn’t have the energy that I need, I’m not even gonna use it. And I can usually feel the energy within the first five seconds of the instrumental. If it’s not something that I’m feeling then I’m not gonna use it. I’ve always been that way.
Roundhouse Music: Your storytelling feels very vivid, how do you approach storytelling when writing a song?
rimhan: Everything that is a part of my storytelling is something that I’ve gone through in my real life. To me it doesn’t even feel like I’m telling a story, it just feels like I’m getting something off my chest that I’ve been wanting to say for a while. Depending on the instrumental, things can really get deep, depending on the subject matter of what I’m talking about.
Roundhouse Music: Can you talk about the inspiration behind your recent mixtape ‘soul food for the family’?
rimhan: ‘soul food for the family’ is a tape that was inspired by all of the Sundays that I spent at my grandma’s house eating with the family. It was also inspired by all of the trials and tribulations that I’ve had as a black man living in Los Angeles, California. It doesn’t just represent the food that we eat physically on a daily basis, but it also represents the food for thought that is provided through everyday outlets.
Listen to ‘soul food for the family’ here on BandCamp.
Roundhouse Music: What was the inspiration for your latest song “HELL IN A CELL”?
rimhan: I be going to jail, bro. Lol. I guess the inspiration for this song is based on me telling myself that I really need to stay out of jail and focus on music.
Roundhouse Music: How did the collaboration with Sleep Sinatra for your new song “HELL IN A CELL” come together?
rimhan: To answer your question honestly, I don’t even have a clue. He sent me a beat one day and I didn’t like it, but then he sent me another beat and it was something that I ended up fucking with, so I made a song on it. Now he’s sending me a bunch of beats, and we’re working on something that we’re gonna drop in October or the top of November.
Roundhouse Music: What do you hope listeners take away from your new song “HELL IN A CELL”?
rimhan: Get up off your ass and make your mama proud.
Listen to “HELL IN A CELL” here on BandCamp and support the artist directly.
Roundhouse Music: Do you have a song that you’ve created that you feel most close to and if so, why?
rimhan: It’s honestly not just one song, it’s a whole project. And that project would be ‘Live from the Other Side’. It’s a very emotional project and it involved a lot of crying and yelling and raw emotion. I love it dearly.
Listen to ‘Live from the Other Side’ here on BandCamp.
Roundhouse Music:What can we expect next from you on the horizon in music?
rimhan: I got so much music on the way, and I have videos for all of the music that is going to be released. I just need to people to be patient with me. That’s all I ask.
Lord Sko and Statik Selektah have joined forces for a new single called “Lesson Learned”. This new single finds the prolific NYC emcee weaving together imagery-rich, charismatic flows atop mainstay Statik Selektah’s refreshing loops and raw drums. The track’s nonchalant atmosphere, potent, observant lyricism, and lush production lend to a track that is effortlessly enjoyable. Sko and Statik Selektah share a natural chemistry that translates to “Lesson Learned”‘s butter smooth sound. Accompanied by a new video shot in front of some classic scenery in New York adds to the track’s unpretentious, relaxed feel, “Lesson Learned” makes for an engaging new release from Lord Sko and Statik Selektah. Give “Lesson Learned” a listen here now and check the new video out as well while you’re at it.
Los Angeles’ Nick Coleman and New Orleans’ The Adoni have dropped off a new collaborative single called “Count It”. On this new track, the pair demonstrate a kinetic chemistry atop an infectious instrumental that is both smooth and energizing. With undertones of triumph laced into reverb-soaked guitars, booming drums, and massive 808s, “Count It” is an empowering track that finds Coleman and The Adoni dropping charismatic bars that blend together seamlessly. A single from the pair’s anticipated collaborative EP, “Count It” makes for an enticing new offering. Give it a listen here now.
South Bronx, NY artist Seth Narley has dropped off a new EP, titled S.A.L.Y. Born Raymon Calleja, S.A.L.Y. is the latest offering in a series of potent releases that have included A MILLBROOK STORY, NIGHT AT THE ROXY, and more. Here, Narley tackles a set of soulful, stripped back beats that bring his present, clear delivery and penchant for introspective, cathartic lyrics to the forefront for a vivid listen.
Energizing soul samples, airy percussion, and rich bass-lines accentuate the warm, emotive feel of the set of four tracks, paired with an engagingly raw sound and approach. Tracks like “Chanel Rap 24” and “Harlem Nights” are vividly written with back-drops of lush sampling, while “Minnesota Fats” is a potent track alongside Really Jaewon that puts their technical skills on display atop layered instrumentation. S.A.L.Y. is a project that just grabs the listener and draws them in, with each line painting sharp pictures in the process. Give S.A.L.Y. a listen here now.
New Jersey standout Wiseboy Jeremy is back with a new single, titled “Temple Doors”. Produced by $UPREMELOOPDIGGA, “Temple Doors” weaving, psychedelic instrumentation blends jazzy grooves with ethereal tones for a potent listen, capped off by Jeremy’s sharp lyricism and vivid imagery. The sonics on “Temple Doors” are beautifully disorienting, with a thought-provoking, hypnotic feel that give it a character unto its own. On “Temple Doors”, Wiseboy Jeremy sounds poised and focused atop the smoky production, while his imaginative lyrical style and emotive delivery give the track added character.
Take a listen to the prolific New Jersey artist’s latest song “Temple Doors” here now:
chace. has joined forces with Malik Elijah for a fresh song called “love letters to myself”. The Boston producer, singer, rapper, instrumentalist, creative director and owner of Mind Flex Records has been carving out his own lane for his infectious blend of hip-hop, R&B, and alternative music. For his latest offering he connects with fellow Boston-based musician, the prolific and lyrically gifted Malik Elijah, for a new track that contains a uplifting mood and sharp rhymes that keep the listener engaged from the get-go. Containing production that elevates with soulful, potent instrumentation, paired with focused rhymes that give “love letters to myself” an inspiring feel. Check out “love letters to myself” here now.
Detroit’s Valid has dropped off a new album, titled Peach Brandy. A mainstay in the Detroit scene, Valid has been on a prolific tear of late. From his charismatic collaborative LP Bill & Isiah with Stretch Money to potent singles like “Never Question”, featuring Neisha Neshae that preceded the Peach Brandy album, Valid has been as consistent as they come while also bringing versatility to the table. The Serbian-American emcee stays close to his roots too, with songs like Peach Brandy’s “May 6th” paying tribute to his Balkan roots as well as the traditional Eastern European holiday djurdjevdan. His ability to craft songs with versatility and focus shines through on Peach Brandy as well. Opener “Peach Slayer” presents a captivating narrative style that draws the listener in with its personal storytelling, while tracks like “Never Question” bring forth emotive R&B undertones. The LP presents a journey through dynamic sounds and styles that keep the listener engaged in a powerful manner.
Valid has returned with a new solo album titled Peach Brandy, following up on his 2020 release The Plum Brandy EP. In his latest project, Valid expands on his previous concept by collaborating exclusively with top producers from Eastern Europe and utilizing regional samples. This time, he delves deeper into the theme, crafting a full LP that goes beyond rapping over beats with regional influences. Peach Brandy is a cohesive experience exploring themes such as accepting life’s uncontrollable aspects, maintaining identity amidst constant change, and embracing transformation. Despite these introspective themes, Valid ensures the album still delivers energetic and impactful tracks that resonate with listeners.
Sleep Sinatra has shared a new album called The Spirit Of Baldwin Ave. Hailing from Lincoln, Nebraska, Sinatra is a gifted lyricist as well as a beatmaker with a wide repertoire of engaging projects, producing under the alias SINAI.. With a highly prolific string of releases in 2024, he returns once again with a potent record in The Spirit Of Baldwin Ave that is an emotive journey full of detailed, heartfelt lyricism and soulful instrumentation.
Cathartically dark and simultaneously hopeful and uplifting, The Spirit Of Baldwin Ave is a multi-layered record that resonates with self-awareness and vulnerability. It’s layered depth and precise, poignant stoytelling give it character of its own- as Sinatra paints a vivid picture of his upbringing, life story, and aspirations. The record is beautifully vital with an undertone of resilience, as Sinatra’s songs often tackle a refusal to give up and a determination to continue forward despite challenging obstacles. Some highlights include the gospel-tinged, glowing “Regina’s Son”, which opens the record like a bright sunrise after a dark night- and the haunting, ethereal “TotalEclipse(BLACKOUT)” with Homeboy Sandman.
The Spirit of Baldwin Ave is an emotive journey that takes listeners across highs and lows, while emanating an honest rawness and potent soulfulness. Listen to The Spirit Of Baldwin Ave HERE on Sleep Sinatra’s BandCamp and support the artist directly.
Valid has connected with Neisha Neshae for a fresh new single called “Never Question”. Two mainstays of the Detroit music scene- “Never Question” finds the pairing leaning on their respective strengths for a track that resonates with emotion interlaced within infectious melodies. Atop rich instrumentation centred around elegant reversed keys, bouncy percussion, and catchy bass, Valid and Neshae trade dynamic vocals that demonstrate a cohesive chemistry- while contrasting eachother to further engage the listener. Featuring potent rap flows from Valid and atmospheric, vivid melodies from Neshae, “Never Question” presents an emotionally poignant new anthem for the summer.
Detroit’s own Valid returns with another release from his upcoming album Peach Brandy, this time collaborating with one of Detroit’s most prolific artists, Neisha Neshae. Known as the Queen of R&B Trap, Neshae has made a significant impact on the music industry, with collaborations featuring E-40, Sada Baby, and touring alongside Big Sean, all while consistently hitting the charts.
Their new single, “Never Question,” produced by Knowhere2run and Vibin wit DJ Mono, explores the theme of staying loyal and loving someone while acknowledging the need to move on. This track is the fourth single Valid has released in just two months, building anticipation for his Balkan-inspired album Peach Brandy, set to drop on Friday, July 26th. Take a listen to “Never Question” here now on our platform.
Check out the engaging new video for “Never Question”, shot by Lucky Penny Media, here now:
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