All tagged RJ Levychin

The Future of Rage Culture

The Future of Rage Culture

RJ Levychin

Rage culture on a Hip-Hop front is fairly new, but it’s become one of the greatest attractions the community has to offer with Travis Scott being the face of that. While concerts with screaming, mindless fans are nothing new, rage culture takes this environment and encourages absolute chaos. But it may need to change. That requires the face of that culture to take accountability and make conscious changes. Now that lives have been lost because of it, the music community as a whole has begun to shift their attitude on rage culture and it might never change back. Everyone involved, the promoters, venues, and artists will need to consider changing the way they go about conducting live performances.

The Absurdity Of Comparing Drake To Michael Jackson

The Absurdity Of Comparing Drake To Michael Jackson

RJ Levychin

Michael Jackson’s life is one of the most insane lives ever lived. If you look at his career, he’s like NBA Legend Kobe Bryant, they’d have to retire two jerseys. MJ’s impact as the lead of The Jackson 5 alone could go toe to toe with Drake’s career. Michael Jackson was a global multi-generational superstar. He wasn’t an artist with crossover appeal, his music was universal. On the other side of the coin, Drake is one of the greatest of his era. However, his music is not universally loved around the world, in the way the numbers make it seem.

The Weekly Updating Album Album Rollout

The Weekly Updating Album Album Rollout

RJ Levychin

As music consumers in this digital generation, we love the journey and ignore the aftermath once the moment finally comes. So when considering Jack’s suggestion of a weekly updating album we need to ask would this work for all artists or just someone like Kanye? Someone like Kanye will always attract attention simply because he’s one of the most polarizing artists of modern American music. Between his outspoken nature and his prolific success in all things pop culture, the public is always keyed in on Kanye West’s next move. However, this is unique to Kanye and perhaps a few other artists in the world. Whether it be due to a genuine lack of interest in the artist, or music consumers just being a product of the fast pace “on to the next” mentality about new music it might be unlikely to expect the same level of success from lesser artists.

The Decline of The XXL Freshman List

The Decline of The XXL Freshman List

RJ Levychin

With the increasing selection of Hip-Hop artists who focus more on melodies and less on lyricism, you have to question the modern effectiveness of the cyphers on artists like Playboi Carti and most recently Coi Leray who lack freestyle rap skills. The lack of traditional rap skills set them up for failure and viral lowlights during the cover’s media cycle. One could easily argue the time it took for XXL to change its format is a sign of XXL’s mishandling and outdated format of promotion for the selections each year, forcing upcoming artists into unfamiliar situations with the expectation they execute styles that came and went before the artist’s career even began.

The Maturation of Tyler, The Creator

The Maturation of Tyler, The Creator

RJ Levychin

Since the beginning, Tyler has written, produced, and mixed all of his projects, as well as designed his merchandise and directed his music videos, a level of elite self-dependency that only comes around every decade or so. Recently releasing his sixth studio album “CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST” in June, Tyler has added to his lore as one of the most talented in Hip-Hop. Already getting AOTY buzz, Tyler’s latest album is a strong body of work, showing off his superior production skills as per usual. But what is starting to truly be solidified is the maturity of his lyrical ability, adding more complexity to his already superior storytelling, with his content becoming more refined especially on the topics of love and life.

Is the Home of Blues the Next Hip-Hop Hotbed?

Is the Home of Blues the Next Hip-Hop Hotbed?

RJ Levychin

Gotti’s focus has never been solely on his own career with his business savvy helping him stay alive in a cutthroat business with a short-term memory. Over the past several years Gotti has been dedicated to finding the platform to best elevate CMG to the upper echelon of Hip-Hop artist imprints. In partnering with LA Reid and Epic Records in 2013, before moving to Roc Nation in 2016 to be overseen by Jay-Z, Yo Gotti and his imprint’s roster has risen to great heights in the last 5 years.

The Return of the Soundtrack

The Return of the Soundtrack

RJ Levychin

With an opportunity to curate a soundtrack comes an opportunity to have more freedom making music. No need for artists to cater to fans' wants regarding an artist’s specific sound or content. Artists can dive into a universe and use it as inspiration for making a body of work that might not necessarily produce within the frame of their solo discography.

A Cardi B Appreciation Article

A Cardi B Appreciation Article

RJ Levychin

In a cluttered community full of ambitious and often super competitive creatives, becoming relevant and staying relevant in Hip-Hop is not easy, and it's 100 times harder if you’re a woman. Women are often evaluated by everything but their talent, constantly attacked and berated for every single thing they do that the general public may not agree with. However, in the past decade, women have begun to get the attention they deserve, and when they have, they have not disappointed. Going forward I know women will continue creating their own lanes and legacies, but Cardi B has set the bar to an astronomical height.

Hip-Hop is Moving Away From it’s Protest Roots

Hip-Hop is Moving Away From it’s Protest Roots

RJ Levychin

Here’s the reality of the situation: Hip-Hop hasn’t been as active in spreading awareness about the issues that the black community faces as the genre has been in the past. Many artists aren’t using social media’s amplifying power to speak up and push the movement forward at a time where exposure is at its highest. Without current artists taking on the storied responsibility, the people can never be confident that they are truly being heard, and Hip-Hop will have failed. Hip-Hop is changing for the worse, and it needs to return to its roots of protest music.

Hip-Hop’s Growth Isn’t Limited to Just Music

Hip-Hop’s Growth Isn’t Limited to Just Music

RJ Levychin

While many, including myself, have focused on Hip-Hop becoming the most consumed music genre in America, the Hip-Hop community has enjoyed growth in other areas as well. In the 2000s Hip-Hop artists first started becoming connected with big companies to be the faces of brands trying to appeal to the black community. It started out with rappers being in simple commercials like Wu-Tang Clan with St. Ides malt liquor and LL Cool J for GAP.

Is The Hype for “Certified Lover Boy” Insurmountable?

Is The Hype for “Certified Lover Boy” Insurmountable?

RJ Levychin

It’s been a wild ride in Hip-Hop these last 10 years since Drake released his Grammy-winning “Take Care.” Since then his career has been a never-ending soap opera filled with #1 records, baby reveals, legendary rivalries, and a level of artistic dominance that few could ever even dream of. So what role will “Certified Lover Boy” play? Will it be his best project yet, or just another addition to albums in the “just not as good as ‘Take Care’” club?

The Roots of Hip-Hop Protest

The Roots of Hip-Hop Protest

RJ Levychin

The early ’80s serves as the starting point for Hip-Hop’s increased relevance, as the content and delivery would become more and more refined. Most notably GrandMaster Flash and the Furious Five’s “The Message” would change the landscape of what could be a Hip-Hop hit. The vivid lyrics depicting what it was like in the ghettos of all major cities, specifically for black people, make the song one of the most influential songs to this day. Through this grew the roots of protest that have proved to be one of the foundations of Hip-Hop that still stand strong to this day.

Kota the Friend Proves Growth Artistically and Personally is the Name of the Game

Kota the Friend Proves Growth Artistically and Personally is the Name of the Game

RJ Levychin

When I first listened to “Everything” I felt very underwhelmed. It felt arrogant, yet oddly reserved. I imagined this rapper chilling on a beach, unbothered by the world because who cares. But, I was so astoundingly underwhelmed I felt maybe I had missed something, and I had. I’m embarrassed to say that due to the chill beats I mistook the Brooklyn native for a Cali man. In my research, I found out he plays several instruments, produces his own stuff, and has been slowly blooming into one of the biggest indie stars for years under my nose.

What Drake’s “Dark Lane Demo Tapes” Foreshadows About Drakes Sixth Album

What Drake’s “Dark Lane Demo Tapes” Foreshadows About Drakes Sixth Album

RJ Levychin

Releasing in a fashion reserved only for the tier A list artists, Drizzy Drake has surprised fans by releasing a full project titled “Dark Lane Demo Tapes.” Drake getting so deep into his rapping bag on “Dark Lane Demo Tapes,” alludes to his upcoming album falling in line with previous R&B focused albums, similar to “Thank Me Later” or “Views.” Soon after “Dark Lane Demo Tapes” was released, Drake was already teasing a new track where he was singing softly on a hard bass.

The Intersection at Hip-Hop and Basketball

The Intersection at Hip-Hop and Basketball

RJ Levychin

With a plethora of shout outs, comparisons, and even business partnerships, basketball and Hip-Hop go hand in hand. This bond is best shown during NBA’s All-Star weekend, a weekend that is meant to celebrate basketball, bouncing around the biggest cities in America year to year, with a famous hometown Hip-Hop act usually serving as the ambassador for the whole weekend.

Griselda's “WWCD” Puts Buffalo On The Hip-Hop Map

Griselda's “WWCD” Puts Buffalo On The Hip-Hop Map

RJ Levychin

Behind the underappreciated Shady Records, Hip-Hop group Griselda consisting of Westside Gunn, Benny the Butcher and Conway The Machine, Buffalo has become a factory for classic Hip Hop vibes, hard-hitting drug dealer flows and a gangster approach to the modern fashion world that has been missing for a while now.

2020, What To Look For!

2020, What To Look For!

RJ Levychin

With the last decade ending in a few letdowns, the expectations for the potential drops of 2020 couldn’t be higher. We’re officially on the lookout for albums from Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Lil Uzi Vert, Playboi Carti, Migos, and many more.

The Top 15 Projects of the 2010s

The Top 15 Projects of the 2010s

RJ Levychin

Looking at the 2010s we’ve seen the best artists deliver, and new artists raise the bar. Looking forward to my picks for the best 15 projects of the decade, I consider both albums and mixtapes, focusing on a project’s overall impact, as well as sales and critical response. More importantly, uniqueness is rewarded, while many believe the genre of Hip-Hop is a bit saturated, these albums have stood out by standing the test of time, and inspiring Hip-Hop and music fans alike. Without further ado. 

Load More