New Artist Spotlight: St. Louis Rapper JR Mixes Passion with Satisfaction

    Hot on the music scene is JR, with his musical talent and personal charm. The St. Louis native recently premiered his new music video for his single "I'm Just Sayin," off his mixtape No Filter which will be released soon. "'IJS' isn't about what I want it to be. Its just organic, it's relatable for everybody; so it's more about what it means to them,” the rapper tells Roman’s Rap-Up.

    When JR got into the music scene, his passion for music grew. "I've always loved music since I was a kid," says the artist, "Once I learned how to make my own from scratch, I was hooked." With his music, he hopes to "touch at least one person enough make them a better them" and to ensure his kids' futures. "I get my inspiration from my kids, regardless if I make another record or not, they're going to love me. So I go hard for them,” he tells. 

    JR has since received a lot of positive feedback from popular artists such as Trey Songz, but says, "I wouldn’t compare myself to anybody. Even within a business such as the music industry, which feeds off and recycling and renewing, I focus on perfecting MY craft and controlling my lane." However, he would be open to collaborating with other artists. "I dont have any favorites but I'm open to work with anybody if it makes sense. As long as it comes with a big record," he gleams. As for performing, JR is "ready to see the world." An artist with his goals leading the way, his eyes are set on the prize: success.

Concert Review: Big Sean Brings Sold-Out Show to Rhode Island in Support of "Dark Sky Paradise"

(Twitter.com)

(Twitter.com)

     Big Sean arrived in Providence, RI Friday night as part of his latest tour to a sold-out crowd of thousands at Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel. The popular Detroit MC released his most recent album, Dark Sky Paradise, in February of this year. This third studio album became his first number 1 hit on the charts, quickly rising to the top of the Billboard 200, with 173,000 copies sold in the first week.

    Lighting up the crowd before the main performance were Justine Skye and Casey Veggies, two artists who made it big as teenagers. Skye started her career as a Tumblr-user at the tender age of 16 in Brooklyn, New York. She quickly gained fame over the last 3 years by playing to her solid fan base. Veggies, a 21-year-old L.A. native, has released 5 independent record label mixtapes since 2007 under L.A. clothing and management company Peas and Carrots. These two artists pumped up the crowd and kept them entertained until it was time for Big Sean’s arrival. 

    Coming on stage to a crowd already singing, dancing, and hyped up for his appearance, Big Sean filled the room with excitement. Opening with “Paradise,” the crowd quickly became engaged in singing along while he took over the stage. Big Sean did not stick to just his newer songs, however, also breaking out some old crowd favorites from previous albums, such as “Mercy,” “Burn,” “Marvin Gaye and Chardonnay,” “Clique,” and “My Last.” Not once did he lose the attention of the captivated audience, which didn't hesitate to carry on rapping along with the well-known lyrics. 

    Continuing on with songs from Dark Sky Paradise, he performed “Win Some, Lose Some,” “Research,” and “Blessings.”  One biggest crowd favorites, “IDFWU,” appeared near the end of the show. The energy in the room remained intense, with hands waving in the air. Wrapping up with “Outro,” Big Sean left the audience still wanting more. 

    Big Sean's performance in Rhode Island was one of many stops on his Dark Sky Paradise tour, with most of the shows quickly sold-out. Entrancing his listeners with his smooth vocals and up-tune beats, this artist’s shows are ones to not be missed. Big Sean never disappoints his fans.


Tinashe Premieres Sexy Video for "All Hands On Deck"

2014 was an incredible year for R&B singer Tinashe, with her hit "2 On" going number 1 on the charts worldwide. Now, the songstress is back with another hit single and video, "All Hands On Deck." The video features Tinashe dancing in shipping containers, bringing the "nightclub" to a shipping yard for an all-out party.

See the premiere of "All Hands On Deck" above.

Life of Dillon's "Overload" is the Infectious Song of the Summer

(Epic Records)

Life of Dillon recently released their music video for their debut single "Overload." The steel drum and dance-infused track perfectly sets the stage for a feel-good, summertime beach party. From dancing women, to the band playing guitar and banjo on the beach (not to mention the extremely catchy beat), it's sure to be the song & video of the summer.

Watch the video below to get the song stuck in your head: