A growing number of independent artists are weighing whether to remove their music from platforms like Spotify and Apple Music in favor of direct to fan monetization. In a recent episode of No Labels Necessary , Brandman Kory broke down the pros and cons of artists exiting traditional digital streaming platforms, highlighting examples from creators like LaRussell and Jack Harlow and analyzing commentary from other influencers like Tom Dupree III. The Arguments for Leaving DSP

Apple Music's latest Rap Life Review  episode covered multiple developments in the hip hop world, including Grammy nominations, G Herbo's latest project, Max B’s release, and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions for Outkast and Salt-N-Pepa. G Herbo, Mental Health, and the Evolving Legacy of a Street Poet The hosts opened by discussing G Herbo’s new album, which they described as possibly the strongest release of his career. While the rapper has long faced criticism for rapp

During his recent sit down with the One More Time Podcast, LaRussell offered a wide ranging and transparent look into what it truly means to be an independent artist operating at scale. Early in the interview, he broke down the increasing demands of growth, saying, "The larger you get as an indie, the more you need." He likened the difference between early and current stages in his career to feeding a Chihuahua versus feeding a bear. When you’re operating at a higher level,

A major shift in music charts sparked one of the episode’s most focused discussions. For the first time in decades, no rap song appeared in the Billboard Hot 100’s top 40. That statistic came just after Kendrick and SZA’s “Luther” fell off the charts, marking a rare moment where hip hop’s presence had disappeared from a key space in popular music. Jeremy, Elliot, and DJ Hed explored the reasons behind the shift. DJ Hed revisited an earlier post he had written, where he calle

When Top Dawg Entertainment co-president Terrence “Punch” Henderson sat down with Elsie Not Elise , it felt like a full-circle moment. Nearly three decades after TDE quietly began inside a South Central garage, Punch spoke about those early days with the same clarity and humility that shaped the label’s run. He remembered the mid-90s origins vividly, when Top Dawg, still finding his way through the streets, built a small studio with dreams bigger than his block. “The studio l

When Joey Bada$$ joined Rashad Bilal and Ian Dunlap on Blackout , the Brooklyn rapper brought his usual poise and introspection to the conversation. The appearance turned into a deep dive on growth, relationships, and shadow work before he broke down why his anticipated tour with Ab Soul and Rapsody was canceled. Throughout the conversation, Joey was steady and reflective, offering a glimpse into his mindset as both an artist and a man evolving past his twenties. The Blackou

Jacob York rarely chases the spotlight, yet when he sat with Ray Daniels on The GAUDS Show he spoke with the kind of clarity that makes...

Los Angeles native Bino Rideaux sat down with Bootleg Kev for a wide ranging interview that pulled back the curtain on his evolution as...

On a recent episode of the One More Time podcast, Venice Music’s VP of Marketing, Shawna "Peezy" Spears, sat down to talk about...

In the latest episode of No Labels Necessary, the conversation leaned into the nuanced, often misunderstood world of singing. The...

In his first appearance on the show Effective Immediately  with DJ Hed and Gina Views, Kalan.FrFr gave an unfiltered look into the...

When listeners think of management, they often picture tour schedules, marketing, and public appearances. Dan Gonzalez made it clear in...

The Bigger Picture’s sixtieth episode moved with pace, energy, and plenty of audience participation. The hosts opened the lines and...

Joey Bada$$ stopped by The Breakfast Club  to give a clear-eyed take on where he stands in his career more than ten years after his...

Hit Boy, one of hip hop's most prolific producers, is entering a new chapter in his career after freeing himself from a restrictive 18...

Before Los Angeles knew him as the hit-making artist behind some of the city’s most undeniable records, TeeFLii was a church kid whose...

Terrace Martin and Kenyon Dixon are two of Los Angeles’ most respected musical exports, but their latest project together shows that...

In a recent episode of Apple Music's Rap Life Review, Ebro Darden, LowKey, and Eddie Francis offered more than the usual industry recap....

Few names carry the weight in the studio like Tricky Stewart. With over three decades in the game and a string of era defining classics...