There’s always a lot of music coming out. At this point, there are over 100,000 uploads to Spotify every day, with at least 30 percent of that being hip hop or R&B. Music has continued to come out at a high clip, but something felt different this year. It feels clear that there has been a shift. Originality is starting to feel cool again. Finding new artists through human curation instead of DSP algorithms is becoming exciting again. As we come to the close of 2025 and our o

As the year winds down, we're spotlighting the moments in music this year that got our digital magazine readers locked in. From indie wins and scene shifting pod recaps to New Wave favorites and business model shakeups, these are the top 10 most read stories on The Wave  in 2025. Ranked from 10 to 1, each post tapped into something deeper, a sound, a hustle, a voice, or a vision. Some of you won’t recognize too many of the artists listed here, and that’s also the point of Sou

On a late night edition of Earn Your Leisure's Wednesday livestream show Blackout, co-hosts Rashad Bilal and Ian Dunlap welcomed a surprise guest to the conversation: Vallejo artist and entrepreneur LaRussell. The rapper joined the show with the same clarity and directness that has made him a noted voice in conversations about music ownership and independent business models. LaRussell focused on structure and strategy. Through a measured conversation, he spoke on authenticit

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,

Summer always brings a certain rhythm. The long days, warm nights and backyard get togethers need the right soundtrack, and this season...

LaRussell is raising the bar once again on what it means to be independent. The Vallejo rapper continues to refine his Proud 2 Pay model...

In a powerful exchange of vision and music industry wisdom at Invest Fest, four voices from across the culture took to the main stage to...

Independent Bay Area artist LaRussell is redefining live music with a backyard concert model that centers on accessibility, community...

LaRussell capped off his 2025 Backyard LA Residency with back-to-back two-hour shows on Saturday and Sunday — both started right on time....

During one of SXSW's more offbeat and unforgettable events, and this year, one of mine came on a rooftop overlooking the heart of...

On a recent episode of SiriusXM’s Effective Immediately , LaRussell sat down with DJ Hed and Gina Views for a conversation that dug deep...

Some records hit different, and Wiz Khalifa and LaRussell’s latest collaboration is one of them ones. From the beat to the verses to the...