Tag: Rap

Make Way for A.GIRL, the Australian Rapper Emerging From Western Sydney’s Underground Hip-Hop Scene

June 21, 2022

A.GIRL at Spotify AU's BUTTER event in Sydney

One of the universal qualities of hip-hop is how artists use the genre to express where they come from and the needs, fears, frustrations, and successes they experience along the way. This has set the stage for Australia’s A.GIRL—real name Hinenuiterangi Tairua—a 22-year-old rapper who is putting western Sydney on the map.

Over the last two years, she has gained national recognition thanks to her raw style and distinct sing-rap mix that yields attention-grabbing moments of musical brilliance.

On the strength of tracks like “We Them Boyz” (featuring Jaecy)—her first to be featured on Spotify’s flagship A1 hip-hop playlist—A.GIRL has enjoyed a rapid rise. She’s won both the Next Big Thing award at the FBi SMAC Awards and triple j’s Unearthed competition, which netted her a slot at the dance music festival Listen Out. She’s even been tipped as a rising star by U.K. publication Wonderland Mag and was named one to watch by Ticketmaster. Building on this momentum, she’s since joined Aussie grime icon Chillinit on his sold-out national tour, has shows coming up with the billion-stream rapper Masked Wolf, and will headline Sydney’s Spilt Milk festival in September.

Most recently, Spotify’s A1 playlist brought A.GIRL together with Chillinit and another homegrown hip-hop artist, Day1, to launch a limited-edition menu with BUTTER, a hybrid fried chicken, hip-hop, champagne, and sneaker venue. (Fans can indulge in the custom menu’s offerings through the end of June at BUTTER’s four Sydney locations.) A.GIRL’s creation for this menu is the “A.GIRL Nashville Sandwich,” a spicy fried chicken sandwich with buttermilk ranch, a fried runny egg, and lettuce.

“I had a long think about it, and I was like, what is missing from burgers that I always add when I go home?” she told For the Record. “Like, how do I personalize? The runny egg. I don’t know if it’s a Maori thing, a Pacific Islander thing, but we always put runny eggs on everything. So I was just like, chicken sandwich with a runny egg—that’s a wrap!”

On ‘The Bridge: 50 Years of Hip-Hop,’ Nas Dives Into the Stories Behind the Genre’s Biggest Moments

February 22, 2022

For the past five decades, hip-hop artists have leveraged the genre to change society, culture, and the music industry as we know it—and have created icons in the process. So to mark the genre’s half-century milestone, The Bridge: 50 Years of Hip Hop, a Spotify Original podcast in partnership with Mass Appeal’s #HipHop50 program, dives deep into how hip-hop went from the microphones, turntables, and sound systems to big business and a worldwide cultural phenomenon.

Over the past four months, the hosts—rapper and hip-hop icon Nas and veteran journalist Minya “Miss Info” Oh—have interviewed icons such as Ice Cube, Cordae, Mary J. Blige, Jeezy, and Yara Shahidi. Each tells a story as unique as their music, giving listeners a glimpse of their particular place in hip-hop history. But with so many decades and names to choose from, Nas originally wasn’t sure where to begin.

“When I first thought about doing this, I thought it would be impossible to choose who to go after first,” he told For the Record in an interview. “I got love for everybody.”

We asked Nas to share more about his perspective as a hip-hop icon speaking to other genre giants and about what podcasts he pays attention to.

What are some of the biggest changes to the genre that you’ve noticed in the three decades you’ve been on the scene?

The constant changing of the guard. The pioneers have truly inspired the youth. And that youth, they eventually become giants, and then they inspire the new, next generation to do the same and more. And it keeps growing and growing. I like to see the different artists that come out every 10 years. It’s crazy.

What’s something surprising that you’ve learned on the show so far?

Just some of the stories—there’s so many untold stories that connect to other stories and allow you to see it as a piece of history. You see the work that was put in that you didn’t know had happened. I didn’t even know how much MC Lyte had done, just being a female artist waking up and going into a male-dominated industry because it was just something that she felt was her calling.

Then there’s the Ice Cube and N.W.A. stories, like when they talk about coming to New York for the first time and getting booed. Those were hard times in the game. Then Ice Cube had a sold-out solo show at the Apollo Theater. He told the story of it on the podcast. I was actually on 125th Street, outside the theater that night, and I couldn’t get in. It was super lit outside in Harlem, NYC. It was that show that really established him in New York City forever. People were crazy for him. I was happy to see it because I was really into his music. And so just hearing from his side of it, how he tore the house down, was really cool.

How did these deep dives into hip-hop history influence your creative process as you put the finishing touches on your latest album, Magic?

They were really different. With the podcast, I got the opportunity to really be a fan, a student, and enjoy the people that really moved me. With Magic, it was just me putting the artist hat on. So, completely two different things, but I can say that talking to all of these guys made me more happy to be an artist in this art form because I could see that there is so much more for me to do. It makes me more happy to be a part of something that the people I’m talking to on the podcast are a part of too. They’ve inspired me. I am happy to be in their world, pushing what they are pushing.

What was the most surprising thing about creating a podcast? What have been the easiest and hardest parts?

It’s been great to step out of my comfort zone and do something that I never thought would be as fun as it’s been. I thought I’d be terrible at talking. Timing. Listening clearly—and it’s being recorded. I said ‘I’ll just be me.’ I don’t even watch my own interviews, and I thought that I’d upset people with all my prying. But I pushed through the sh*t and it’s exciting; people tell me they like listening so I guess I’m doing aight.

There are a lot of hip-hop legends who are no longer here to share their stories. If you could pick one person to have on the show, who would it be?

It would be Eazy-E or Young Dolph. I would want to learn more about Young Dolph. I’ve heard some of his music, but the people I listen to mostly are older, so I want to know more about the things that I’ve missed that only he can say and explain to me.

What are some podcasts you’ve been listening to besides your own?

1619, Drink Champs, and a true crime podcast.

Get more Nas and Teddy Riley (and maybe one day find out which true crime podcast Nas has been streaming?) on the latest episode of The Bridge: 50 Years of Hip-Hop every Tuesday, only on Spotify.

Greek Rapper SNIK Goes From Breakout Artist to Record Breaker With ‘1987’

February 7, 2022

The year 2020 was pivotal for music in Greece: Spotify began offering local content to Greek listeners just as Greek rapper SNIK released his first album, TOPBOY. For the rapper, the two events’ convergence was an example of stars aligning. “When Spotify’s [editorial] launch in Greece coincided with the release of my debut album, it was a big opportunity for me to work with Spotify to achieve huge milestones,” shared SNIK. At the time, the rapper was the featured artist on the cover of Spotify’s playlist “Hot Greek Rap.” Now, close to two years later, SNIK is still taking the music scene by storm—and breaking Spotify records while doing so.

Upon release, TOPBOY went on to garner SNIK the title of best-selling artist in Greece, and he set records with the most-streamed album in a day and in a week on Spotify. The rapper’s latest album, 1987, which debuted mid-January, has very much followed suit. It broke SNIK’s previous record of the most-streamed album in both a day and a week in Greece, and its popularity has allowed SNIK to re-cement his place as the most-streamed artist in both a day and a week in the country.

The Athens-born rapper may be seeing similar success, but his sound has changed over the last two years between releases. “I believe that both my music and I have developed since the release of my debut album,” SNIK told For the Record. “The music, the lyrics, and the vibes on my tracks [for 1987] reflect a more mature version of myself.”

SNIK’s sophomore album consists of 11 songs that cover different topics with a variety of musical stylings, including unique productions from his music producer, Bretbeats. 1987 also features other artists from the local rap scene. SNIK’s hit “NANA” with the rapper Rack has seen the most success, including breaking the preexisting record for the most-streamed track in a week in Greece. “The song’s feature with Rack was a surprise to the fans and a highly anticipated collaboration. Even though we have different styles of rapping, our flows mixed perfectly and created a masterpiece. It’s certainly one of my favorite tracks on the album,” said SNIK.

SNIK may be rapping in Greek, but he’s finding listeners across borders in countries like Germany, Italy, Cyprus, the UK, and Serbia. “SNIK is a magnetic artist, smart, and committed to his audience and music partners like us,” shared Melanie Parejo, Spotify’s Head of Music for Southern Europe. “His unique artistic perspective and production make SNIK a strong artist within his genre and beyond.”

Fans of the rapper were eagerly awaiting 1987‘s release, and they got a sampling of the new music when SNIK teased a few tracks on his social media. “I believe the main reason that this album resonates so much with fans is because it speaks to the audience’s heart,” explained SNIK. “People know I created this album with a lot of effort and love.”

SNIK is enjoying his success but he’s not sitting back and taking a break. He’s currently working on a deluxe version of 1987 with more tracks and collaborations. The artist is also traveling around the world shooting video for the album. “As always, my fans can expect me to be a pioneer in the rap game and give them the best rap tracks and videos in the scene,” said SNIK.

Get to know the rapper with the playlist This is SNIK, below.

What Is Rap? In Poland, Artist Young Leosia and Her Fellow Rappers Are Ready With an Answer

October 22, 2021

In the last five years, rap music has doubled in popularity in Poland, according to Spotify listening data. Today, rap music accounts for 23% of all music listened to in Poland on Spotify, and it’s drawing in new listeners of all ages and a multitude of local creators. So to highlight the growing and sonically diverse rap scene unfolding across the country, Spotify Poland launched a campaign that asked a deceptively simple question: What is rap?

Depending on whom you ask, the answer changes, but all the experts agree that it’s on an unstoppable path of growth. “Polish Rap is so diverse, colorful, hard to define, and that is the beauty of it!” said Mateusz Smółka, Music Team Lead Eastern Europe, Spotify. “We at Spotify, together with artists, are looking for the answer to a question ‘What is rap?’ to hear different voices and show how broad this genre is. But most of all we are celebrating all kinds of rap, and we are covering all kinds of examples on Spotify!”

Young Leosia, one of the best-known Gen Z DJs and rap music artists in Poland, takes the conversation even further, sharing her perspective as a creator. “Rap has become the most popular music all over the world, so that’s not something we invented, but in general, I think that rap is all about the truth,” shared the rapper. “It’s about real experiences that people can relate to.”

She’s not alone in her thinking. We also asked thirteen of the most-streamed Polish rappers to add their voices to the campaign and share their views on rap. They didn’t disappoint.

But to understand what rap is in Poland, we also had to explore why and how the country’s robust rap scene came to be.

Exploring the genre’s rise on-platform

When Spotify music editors created the Generacja Hip Hop playlist (now the RAP GENERACJA) at the end of 2017, rap was on the rise, but it wasn’t yet responsible for most of Poland’s mainstream hits like it is today. It featured more influences from trap music and did not include as much experimentation, dance, R&B, or rock-inspired beats.

Experts attribute the genre’s evolution to the trend among artists to collaborate. Specifically, many rappers began to form supergroups and super collaborations. Our music editors point to 2018 as the genre’s turning point, when two of the biggest rappers at time, Taco Hemingway and Quebonafide, recorded a record-smashing album together under the name of TACONAFIDE. From there, rap and its super collaborations were ready for the spotlight.

As part of our recent campaign, Spotify rebranded the playlist where it all began, Generacja Hip Hop, into RAP GENERACJA. With a new fresh name and vibrant redesign, the playlist remains the go-to choice both for fans and artists to check out the hottest and biggest releases in Polish rap. Over the last three years, RAP GENERACJA climbed to number one on the Spotify Polish playlist rankings, becoming the country’s most-listened-to playlist and marking a 240% growth in listenership. Recently, the playlist has made waves around the world and has become a top 10 rap playlist on Spotify’s global playlist rankings.

And, to spotlight the diversity of the genre’s sound, Spotify launched seven new playlists, including a fresh playlist for young artists, called Młody rap, and playlists celebrating the history of Polish rap, legendary tracks, and artists. Those playlists include Polski Rap 2000., Polski Rap 2010., and Rap historie.

The burst of new playlists reflects the genre’s versatility and energy. “Polish rap is the buzziest and most influential genre at the moment in Poland, taking over the charts and inspiring the mainstream, but also flirting with pop, electronic/dance, alternative, rock, and multiple other genres,” said Mateusz.

The artists making waves and speaking for generations

Whether creators teamed up into supergroups or maintained a solo career, all have had a front-row seat to Poland’s evolving rap culture. And, as they connect with a growing listenership, artists are racing to set (and break) streaming records.

The trending artists also speak to the variety of sounds and styles within the genre that have become popular in the last five years—as well as the potential for emerging creators to take off. Just look at the top 10 rappers over the last five years, most of whom launched their careers within the same time period:

And looking more deeply at current trends and record breakers, artists Tymek and Big Scythe lead the charge with the most-listened-to song in the last five years, their hit “Język ciała.” But nipping at their heels is the latest record-breaking song on the platform, Mata’s “Kiss cam (podryw roku).” Mata’s rise and fan favorite creators like Young Leosia reflect the changes sweeping across the music scene and how a new generation of Polish rappers is resonating with their audiences.

Masked Wolf Brings His Flare of Fast Rap to Australian Hip-Hop

April 5, 2021

Rapping about personal struggles is one thing Harry Michael, musically known as Masked Wolf, isn’t afraid to do. The artist’s song “Astronaut in the Ocean” touches on what it’s like to not fit in: “I really wanted to express the meaning of feeling out of place. I had the suit on but wasn’t in the right environment,” Harry shared recently with For the Record. “It really speaks about the mental struggles from that specific situation.”

The song is resonating with listeners in a big way. Since its release, “Astronaut in the Ocean” has amassed more than 240 million streams on Spotify. “It has felt a bit weird, to be honest,” Harry said, when describing what it’s like seeing his song rise on the charts. “You never expect the moment to actually happen, and now it has. I honestly haven’t had time to relish the moment because it is full steam ahead.”

The Australian is finding fans far beyond the geographical boundaries of his region. In fact, Spotify data shows that the top three countries listening to the rapper are the U.S., Germany, and India. His single has also appeared on over 100 editorial playlists, including Today’s Top Hits, Hot Hits Australia, Hot Hits Turkey, and Viral Hits.

This global audience comes as a surprise to Harry. “In no way did I think I would reach these kinds of areas or levels. It has really, really shocked me.”

His thoughts on why his music has been so well received? It’s relatable to everyone. “It’s not just about the cars, jewelry and fame … It’s about how people are currently feeling,” explains Harry. “Astronaut in the Ocean” isn’t the artist’s only single that references mental health. Lyrics from other songs touch on topics of anxiety and peer pressure—things Harry feels his audience can relate to. “I never was like these are things I must speak about. It was more about me speaking about my own personal troubles and trying to give people the courage to speak about their own.”

Inspired by artists like Joyner Lucas, SAINt JHN, Hopsin, and Kevin Gates, Harry describes his sound as “authentic and original, with a flare of fast rap.” Hear it for yourself by listening below.

How Who We Be, Altar, and Our Generation Are Propelling UK and Irish Artists to the Top

February 8, 2021

Spotify’s editorial playlists are full of musical collections that fans won’t find anywhere else. Some of these playlists follow moods, while others contain songs curated for a specific genre—many of these playlists highlight emerging artists and help them connect their music with new audiences.

In the UK and Ireland, three flagship playlists are particularly influential. Listeners can find the UK’s biggest rap, grime, R&B, Afrobeat, and dancehall hits on Who We Be. Altar is the destination for the best electronic dance music. And for those looking to experience new and emerging genreless sounds, the Our Generation playlist contains some of the most exciting emerging acts on the UK and Irish scenes.

In 2020, many fans discovered new artists through these lists, and the proof is in the numbers. Read on to learn about some of the standout artists who saw success on these playlists last year.

Who We Be

The Who We Be playlist has grown significantly since its launch in 2016, and it now has over half a million fiercely loyal and engaged followers. One of the playlist’s biggest breakthroughs in 2020 was Central Cee. The West London rapper commanded more than 200,000 streams from the Who We Be playlist alone, and he saw almost instant success with his single “Day In The Life.” Since he joined the Who We Be Community, the artist’s followers on Spotify have grown by almost 359%.

S1mba is another rapper who made waves last year with his debut single, “Rover (feat. DTG),” which peaked at number two in the UK Top 40 in April. The Zimbabwean-born Londoner is the 15th-most-streamed artist overall on the playlist, and since “Rover” was released, he has seen a 16,435% rise in listens.

After being featured on Who We Be, Tiana Blake’s “Cut Ties” became the best-performing traditional R&B track from a British artist on the playlist. The track went on to make waves in other global Spotify playlists, such as Chilled R&B, and saw a 159% rise in streams.

Altar

Dance and Electronic music isn’t going anywhere. If you need proof, look no further than the Altar playlist, which saw a 193% increase in listens in 2020. One of the biggest artist breakthroughs of 2020 was award-winning producer Fred Gibson, who released tracks under his alias, Fred again... The artist’s unique sound blends raw vocal samples with club-ready euphoria and has been a hit with the Altar audience; they’ve made him one of the top 20 most-streamed artists on the playlist last year.

TSHA was the third-most-streamed UK female on the playlist in 2020. She saw an increase in year-on-year streams of 134%. TSHA’s single “Change” with Gabrielle Aplin, which was recorded at a Spotify Song Writing Camp in 2019, became one of the top-100-streamed tracks from Altar in 2020.

In May, one of Europe’s most exciting DJs and producers, India Jordan, launched their genre-defining EP For You. Two of the tracks, “For You” and “I’m Waiting,” were featured on the Altar playlist, and over the course of the year, their streams increased by 388%. India was also one of Spotify’s RADAR first listen artists in 2020.

Our Generation

Genreless playlists are growing in popularity around the world, and the case is no different for Our Generation. The playlist, which surfaces the new wave of artists emerging across the UK and Irish musical landscape, saw an 18% increase in streams in 2020. With playlist takeovers from some of the most exciting breakthrough artists on the scene, including beabadoobee, Thomas Headon, and Biig Piig, the home of genre-defying artists has driven huge discovery for fans this year.

Our Generation played an influential role in elevating many artists, including rising star Holly Humberstone, who has grown her audience to over 2 million monthly listeners since her first release, “Deep End,” was added to the playlist in early 2020.

Other acts that saw great first-time success include Tayo Sound, who was busking on the streets of Reading less than a year before making it onto the cover of the Our Generation playlist in May 2020. His hits “Cold Feet” and “Heartbreaker” were two of the most-streamed tracks on the playlist in 2020, and overall his streams soared by more than 1,000% in the last six months.

Kamal, an 18-year-old London alternative R&B star, secured the second-most-streamed track on Our Generation with “homebody” after he was featured on his first Spotify playlist cover art in early 2020. Since then, the artist has seen an 84% growth in listens.

With a new year comes more new music. Follow these playlists to discover the latest finds when it comes to emerging artists and hit tracks.

Meet Flo Milli, the Alabama Rapper Speaking to Gen Z—and Spotify’s Fourth U.S. RADAR Artist

January 15, 2021

Stream rapper Flo Milli’s mixtape and you’ll hear simultaneously bubbly and assertive tracks covering the 21-year-old’s take on money, men, self-empowerment, and jealousy. The Atlanta-based Alabama native, who grew up singing in her church choir, has been using her voice for some time. “It was mandatory for me to be in the choir,” Flo told For the Record. “My mom used to sing all the time, so did my sister. I guess I was the only one who wanted to rap, though.”

Today Flo was named Spotify’s newest U.S. RADAR artist. Spotify created RADAR to help artists across all stages of their careers use the strength of our platform to deepen connections to their audiences. Now listeners can stream the 175 RADAR-affiliated emerging artists around the world in one palace on the RADAR Global Hub.

As the latest RADAR artist, Flo will be featured in the RADAR playlist and create a Spotify Singles recording. She’ll also receive promotional support for her upcoming releases, a full suite of marketing, and social promotion. Flo Milli’s campaign will furthermore include a forthcoming mini-documentary to premiere later this year. Also out today is Flo’s glamorous new single “Roaring 20s,” which shows off the star power of the RADAR artist.

Flo’s long-standing musical aspirations were fueled by R&B TV show 106 & Park and the work of Nicki Minaj. These propelled Flo to record her own tracks as a high schooler. Her first two, “Beef FloMix” and “In the Party,” went viral among Gen Zers on social media and enabled Flo to release her first mixtape, Ho, why is you here? in 2020. It has now seen over 192 million streams on Spotify.

“Since the release of ‘Beef FloMix’ on Spotify in 2019, we’ve watched Flo Milli’s exponential growth with excitement,” says Ned Monahan, Spotify’s Head of Global Hits. “Her magnetism is indisputable, and she’s one of the most exciting new rappers in the game right now. We are beyond thrilled to partner with Flo as our next RADAR artist and can’t wait to see what’s next.”

For the Record chatted with Flo about her inspirations, accomplishments, and recommendations to young women looking to do what they love.

Both your music and fashion have been compared to that of ’90s rappers. What about that decade excites or inspires you?

I think it’s interesting. As I’ve been going in my career, I’ve started to discover how times were back then. I didn’t, of course, grow up around that time. But I see clips all the time of the ’90s and how the music industry was just different. And I do admire it because I think it’s cool to see how everything has changed and how social media plays a big part into today’s music industry. But I wouldn’t have minded coming up in that era either.

In the past two years, female artists have sung shamelessly about money or wealth in their songs, examples including Cardi B, Arianna Grande, and you. Why do you think it’s important to bring this topic into conversation?

I believe that whatever you put out into the universe, that’s what you’re going to get. So if you’re speaking about these things, you’re conjuring them up. Who doesn’t want to live a lavish lifestyle, especially when you come from nothing?

Those things are power, and I think it’s important to make it a habit to speak the things that we want and let everybody know, especially young girls, that they can have those things. You can reach your goals and you can be great. You can get anything you want if you put your mind to it.

Tell us a little bit about your creative process.

It took me a long time to really learn my best process for making music. It was hard trying to find my niche. So I like to have fun. I just need to be in a space where I’m alone and I’ve got a variety of beats. I like to be myself and free and have my own space. That’s how I create.

Your single “Beef FloMix” had success on social media before hitting the number two spot on Spotify’s Viral 50 in April 2019. What changes did you observe after being featured on the playlist?

I think my streams went up even more, of course. I got more fans and just a lot of added traction towards my music and videos, everything. So I think it helped a lot. It’s dope to be put on those playlists, because a lot of like youth of course have Spotify and they listen on the app, and those playlists influence them.

What would you say to aspiring young female rappers who aren’t sure where to begin?

I would encourage them to always follow what they feel strongly about. Don’t let anybody come in between your opinions about your craft and what you create and build. Stick to what you think is cool, because only you know what’s good. Surround yourself with people who have your best interests and never give up.

It’s a unique time for everyone. How have you stayed positive in spite of everything the year has thrown at us?

I just started to learn how food can affect you and your mood. I’ve also been going to sleep saying positive affirmations. There’s hella videos where you could just play them while you’re going to sleep. And like all those affirmations go into your subconscious mind. And before you know it, you’re going to have all these affirmations in your head. I would just encourage everybody to do that with everything going on in the world.

What are you looking forward to as Spotify’s current U.S. RADAR artist?

I’m looking forward to just my hard work being highlighted. My goal is to get the messages of the songs across in the best way and to keep the ball rolling the entire year.

Stream Flo Milli’s mixtape, Ho, why is you here? below.

From New Songs to Nostalgic Favorites, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater Playlist Hits All the Right Notes

July 28, 2020

At the turn of the millennium, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater video games brought together the best of the gaming and skateboarding worlds. And while the series was popular for letting anyone land a virtual ollie or kickflip, it also became known for its soundtrack. So when news broke that Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 would be remastered and released later this year, skaters, gamers, and audiophiles rejoiced.

For original fans, the game will have a familiar look, feel, and sound—but there will also be some major modern upgrades. The soundtrack includes a lineup of throwbacks from the original game and newer songs from up-and-coming artists. And with genres spanning rock, punk, and rap, there’s sure to be a little something for everyone.

“I think that the new game is going to make fans remember why they enjoyed this series in the first place,” Tony Hawk told For the Record. “Since many of us have been stuck at home, people have told me they’ve busted out their old consoles to play our video games, especially the first two, because it brings them back to a time they remember fondly. When they see what we’ve offered them in the new game, in terms of upgrading, remastering, and the new music, I think they’re going to love it. I can already feel the excitement and people haven’t even gotten their hands on it yet.”

The new game launches September 4, but the wait for the soundtrack lineup is over. On July 28, Activision teamed up with Noisey for an exclusive virtual concert where the set list for Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 was revealed. The show featured performances by some of the game’s new musical additions, including CHAII, Merkules, Machine Gun Kelly, and Rough Francis.

Alongside these new artists, the soundtrack will also feature iconic songs from the original game including Bad Religion’s “You” and Goldfinger’s “Superman.”

“I get a lot of feedback about the game’s music, specifically ‘You’ and ‘Superman,’” says Hawk. “People tell me that was the starting point for their musical interest when they played the game during their formative years. I’m thankful that these bands are still performing and that they’re still supporting us in this remaster.”

For the Record also caught up with Bad Religion’s Jay Bentley and Goldfinger’s John Feldmann to talk about the new game and find out why they think music and skateboarding go hand in hand.

Other than appearing on the Tony Hawk soundtrack, does your band have a personal connection to skate culture?

Bentley: We were recording Suffer, No Control, and Against the Grain around the same time that camcorders were becoming popular. A lot of people used them to shoot skate videos. People started asking us if they could use our songs in their videos, and we would always say, “Yeah, of course!” I don’t think any of us realized at the time that we were part of a culture bubble that was growing so exponentially.

Feldmann: I discovered so many bands like T.S.O.L., Social Distortion, and Dead Kennedys through skate culture, mostly through the skateboarding magazine Thrasher. There was also a connection between our band and the culture itself. I remember this one show we played where the audience was just okay. Then we played “Superman” and the crowd went ballistic. We didn’t know what was going on. After the show we realized that the song was in the Tony Hawk game and that’s how all these people discovered our band.

Speaking of, can you give us some background on “Superman”? Did you expect it to still be popular 20 years later?

Feldmann: I wrote “Superman” in 1994 in my Santa Monica apartment in probably 15 minutes. It was too late to make it onto the album we were working on at the time so when Tony Hawk’s team asked us for an unreleased song, it was just sort of there. I never thought much of the song at first, but I’m grateful that it’s still relevant.

What do you think was key to the popularity of the Tony Hawk soundtrack when it was first released and also today?

Bentley: I think when people hear something at a specific time in their life, like playing video games over summer vacation, those memories stick with you. You always have that good feeling when one of those songs comes on.

Feldmann: I just think that music and skateboarding go hand in hand, it always has. Even when I was a kid, we would make our own soundtracks on cassettes based on whatever we were listening to at the time and play those while we skated.

How do you think your band has changed from your first album to your most recent?

Bentley: I remember years ago, [guitarist and songwriter] Brett Gurewitz said that one of the hardest things for him was to express a lifetime of emotion in two minutes. That’s something that we’ve always strived to do. I think as a band, we’ve gotten better at putting out our feelings in a way that’s easier to understand.

Feldmann: When I started, I never listened to anybody. I just made records that I wanted to make and I wrote songs that I thought were interesting. I’m still making music for myself, but now I’m also thinking about what kind of reaction songs are going to have live and how much fun I’m going to have playing them at shows.

Is there an artist or a band that has inspired your sound that fans might be a little surprised to learn?

Bentley: When we started, we each had our own favorite band. I came in loving The Clash, Greg was really big on the U.K. Subs, and Brett was into the Ramones. Between all of us, we discovered that the only artist that we all liked was Elvis Costello. I don’t think that we tried to replicate his sound, but more his attitude and style.

Feldmann: The Police are my favorite band of all time. Coldplay has also had a huge influence. Their sounds are so lush and they’re incredibly cinematic.

Why are you, personally, excited for the new Tony Hawk Pro Skater playlist?

Feldmann: This game is going to be incredible. But for me, people are going to play it and our song’s going to be in it. What more could I ask for than having a song that’s survived so long that’s going to come back around again? “Superman” was never a song that was on the radio or a big hit, but on an underground level, I don’t think there’s anything bigger.

Stream songs from the Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1 + 2 soundtrack now, available on Spotify.

Harry Pinero and Henrie Celebrate Black Music and Culture on the Latest Season of “Who We Be TALKS_”

July 8, 2020

What happens when you combine the most relevant topics in Black culture, a Spotify playlist with over 600,000 followers, and two hosts who can find humor in just about anything? You get Who We Be TALKS_—the podcast partner to the UK’s biggest rap, grime, R&B, and Afrobeat playlist, Who We Be. The show, which has been running since 2018, recently launched its latest season with two exciting new hosts: Harry Pinero and Henrie.

The weekly podcast celebrates Black music and culture by offering insights directly from the people who help shape it. The episodes, which are recorded on Mondays and drop the next day, are centered around the hot topics of the moment. Each week, the duo is joined by a special guest, and together they share their unique perspectives on the most pressing issues in Black music and culture today.

We caught up with Harry and Henrie to talk about how they’re using their platform to amplify Black voices and why they choose to approach difficult topics with humor.

Who We Be TALKS_ goes hand in hand with the Who We Be playlist. Why is it not enough to just listen to the music? Why do we need both the playlist and the podcast in tandem?

Henrie: We can’t talk about Black music without talking about Black culture: They go hand in hand. It’s something that I think we all talk about without even thinking about.

Harry: The artists create music, but they all have a story. I think the podcast gives artists room to be themselves without being filtered. Some of the artists that have come on the show, Tion Wayne and Big Zuu for example, probably spoke more in-depth than they ever have because our platform is set up for them to do that.

Why do you think it’s important to have a playlist like Who We Be that combines music from Black creators across genres including rap, grime, R&B, and Afrobeat?

Harry: I think for a long time a lot of the Black genres have been umbrellaed under one category: urban. But it’s more than just that. The Who We Be playlist highlights dance, soul, Afrobeat, rap, trap music individually. It puts everything in one place where people can listen to so many different genres.

How have you switched up Who We Be TALKS_ for the new season?

Henrie: We’re now making it more about culture—it’s not just about music and the artist. When we talk to artists, yes, we talk about their latest project or song, but we get their take on what’s happening right now as well. When we had Tion Wayne in, he talked about Black Lives Matter. I think that is incredible to see something like that because you now get a different script of the artist.

How else are you addressing the Black Lives Matter movement and tying together current events and music?

Henrie: If you’re interested in the music, then of course you’re going to be interested in what’s happening with Black Lives Matter, because the music is reflective of Black lives.

Harry: When you strip away the job titles of artists or creatives, at the end of the day, these are Black people who are dealing with racial injustice. These are real emotions that they’re feeling. I think that anyone that comes on the show, White or Black, will want to talk about these things, because it’s affecting all of us. What we, and Spotify, are trying to accomplish here is celebrating our culture and saying that we are stronger together than we are against each other.

What do you think is comedy’s role in pushing some of these really important, serious conversations?

Henrie: Comedy plays an important role because even though life is serious, I don’t take life too seriously. I think that finding the lighthearted factor in these times is something that Black people just do really well.

Harry: I agree. I watched Dave Chappelle’s special “8:46,” which was very deep but also very funny. I respect Dave Chappelle because he’s got that balance where he can touch on very technical issues while still finding the humor.

What are you hoping to bring to Who We Be TALKS_ that you’ve learned from your other work?

Henrie: I do quite a few things at the moment, including No Signal Radio, which recently announced a partnership with Spotify. That show has taught me a lot about myself. Because it’s Black radio, I don’t have to filter what I say or who I am. But at the same time, I don’t necessarily have to have an opinion there. On Who We Be TALKS_, it’s a part of the show. We need to have an opinion, and everybody gets to share theirs whether or not we agree with each other.

Harry: I started my career on social media talking about real-life issues in the funniest way possible. Then I began hosting events, including one for Spotify. After I did the BET Awards and the BRIT Awards, I started to become more interested in music professionally. Now when I sit down and I talk to people in the music industry, it’s helping me broaden my understanding of the scene. I’m still learning every day.

What do you hope listeners will take away from the show?

Henrie: It’s not really meant to be rigid conversations. It’s meant to be how you would just chat with your friends if you went to their house. I want the audience to imagine us as their friends. See it as being an inclusive conversation as opposed to just an interview.

Harry: I want people to learn from these episodes. I want people to be inspired, to want to chase their dreams, to listen to music, and for artists to get streams. But I also want people to know that just because it’s Black culture doesn’t mean it’s just for Black people. There are a lot of different cultures within Black culture, and I hope this show is a place where anyone who’s interested in any of its many aspects can go to listen to their favorite artist, discover, and learn new things.

Who We Be TALKS_ is available to stream exclusively on Spotify. Check out the first episode of the latest season, featuring rapper Tion Wayne, below.

New Zealand’s CHAII Brings Persian Flair to Hip-Hop

June 17, 2020

Soon after migrating to New Zealand at age eight, the Iranian artist CHAII heard Eminem and felt “instantly hooked.” Three years later she was making music herself. Fast-forward to today, and her swaggering, pop-friendly hybrid of Western hip-hop and Persian musical touchstones is making a massive splash, leading her to being included in Spotify’s global emerging artist program, RADAR.

The program features artists from over 50 markets worldwide and helps performers at early stages of their careers broaden their fan bases. Awareness of the artists is built through Spotify’s social channels, RADAR playlists curated by Spotify’s editors, and bespoke marketing initiatives.

Originally from Ahwaz, Iran, CHAII paid tribute to the region with her debut single, 2019’s “South.” The song incorporates sounds from southern Iran, which is home to a deeply rhythmic style of traditional dance music called Bandari. This style of music combines Persian instruments like the tombak and daf with Afro-Cuban instruments like conga and talking drums.

“It’s very inspiring, especially the drums and percussion in the 6/8 time signature,” CHAII tells For the Record. “Persians love dancing, and 6/8 gets you moving no matter where you are in the world.” She also credits modern classics from Persian artists like Googoosh and Siavash Ghomayshi for reminding her of her native country’s musical offerings during her rap-heavy teen years.

Those mingling global influences inform her own music today: her breakthrough track “Digebasse” sees her rapping in both English and Farsi alongside an equally international guest in B Wise, an Australian rapper with Nigerian heritage.

“Rapping in Farsi came naturally for me,” she says. “It also helped me practice my native tongue. Incorporating traditional Persian music into the hip-hop world [has been] a very long but fun process. I’m still experimenting with it and feel I’ve only just scratched the surface.”

Her punchy, continent-jumping sound recalls the similarly worldly hip-hop of artists like M.I.A. and Tkay Maidza, especially on her new single “Lightswitch.” Produced by Frank Eliesa of the genre-bending New Zealand ensemble Yoko-Zuna, the song packs CHAII’s nonchalant lyrical takedown into a brisk three minutes of catchy hip-hop.

“‘Lightswitch’ reflects on my journey in music so far, working hard to get to every stage,” says CHAII. “Coming to the conclusion that you can’t please everyone and have to own what you do. To live with no regrets and be bold.” She also connects the song to some of the Iranian artists now based in Los Angeles who similarly have brought their country’s music to wider audiences. Like so many artists at the moment, CHAII watched her year’s plans dissipate somewhat in the wake of the pandemic. She was slated to make her debut at SXSW this year, for example, before the festival was cancelled due to COVID-19. Yet she remains upbeat, using this time to reflect and work ahead.

“I’m used to having to adapt to change, especially from being in the music industry,” she says. “Even though it’s a crazy time, I see it as a time to refocus and write more music. [And] to make a bigger and better show for when the time comes to resume our shows overseas.”

For now, CHAII’s already considerable international reach will get a serious boost thanks to her inclusion in RADAR. “I was truly surprised to be chosen,” says CHAII. “It’s a partnership I’m hugely looking forward to. Spotify has been a big part of getting my music to a wider audience, regardless of not fitting [into any one] box. My music is an example and a reflection of cultures morphing, and I feel the world needs to see, hear, and experience more of that.”

Check out more of the artists selected for Spotify’s global RADAR program.

It’s RapCaviar’s Fifth Anniversary—Celebrate by Testing Your Hip-Hop Knowledge

May 11, 2020

Apache 207, Juju, Summer Cem, and More Headline Live Modus Mio Concert

December 17, 2019

For the second year in a row, hip-hop fans in Germany had the opportunity to witness a favorite Spotify playlist, Modus Mio, come to life on the big stage.

In honor of the playlist—which has over 1.3 million followers—Spotify brought some of the biggest names in the German hip-hop game to the Warsteiner Music Hall in Dortmund on December 14. For the second annual “Modus Mio Live On Stage,” artists including Kreuzberg phenomenon Ufo361, Juju, Summer Cem, Azet, KALIM, and Apache 207 performed many of their chart-topping hits for an über-enthusiastic crowd.

Stream On 2023

Time to Play Fair

Spotify Loud & Clear

Spotify x FC Barcelona