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ACE MEDA4 Drops Debut Album ‘Life / Stories’ – Real Rap For The Intellectual Lands Today

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Long Island-born, Fredericksburg-based rapper ACE MEDA4 just released his first full-length Life / Stories, a no-gimmicks statement that plants him squarely in the lane he calls adult contemporary rap. No viral stunts, no industry plug, just a Roosevelt native who grew up on golden-era lyricism and decided the grown-ups still deserve bars that hit like they used to. He bridges that 90s/early-2000s craftsmanship with a 2025 mindset, delivering stories and reflections for people who never stopped loving hip-hop—they just outgrew the kiddie table. Today the album is out everywhere, speaking directly to that crowd.

From the opening blast of “WE IN HERE” featuring Rayla Devine—pure entrance music with knocking production and relentless flow—to the sun-drenched West Coast bounce of “NOBODY” that nods at Dr. Dre without copying homework, the tracklist keeps shifting shapes. “LIKE I LOVE YOU” slides in funky rhythm guitar and a laid-back groove that proves he’s not afraid to stretch. Every cut feels lived-in, the kind of record where the beats serve the message instead of stealing the show.

ACE MEDA4 explained the split in the title: “A way to express and share parts of myself and my perspective while also exploring concepts and thoughts outside of myself. Hence the split in the title. Some things are life, some things are stories, both come from my mind.

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Jairic Unleashes ‘Young, Old, Short & Tall’ Single and Video Today

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Jairic releases his latest single ‘Young, Old, Short & Tall’ today, November 14, 2025, complete with a video rollout via Rich Air Music. It’s the final preview from his EP n=40, hitting December 5, 2025. These tracks have pulled in props from Wonderland Magazine, NOTION, CLASH Magazine, and EARMILK, on top of rotation from NPR Music. Jairic‘s stage presence has turned heads at private shows in Château Les Alouettes in Cannes and Villa Balbiano on Lake Como, plus a key live turn during the Paris launch of the short film Azur. Working across France, Italy, Prague, and the U.S., he’s clocked almost 2 million streams. He handles every element himself—lyrics, beats, performance—tying it to visuals that layer upscale settings with street-sharp details, locking him in as a connector across hip-hop, visuals, and high fashion.

From Detroit roots to his current spot in Cannes, France, Jairic grew up in a house full of music, starting out by crafting beats for local rappers before honing his own direct, boundary-pushing style. Drawing from Nas, Wu-Tang Clan, Detroit’s raw scene, old-school funk, ’60s rock, and score work from films, he packs dense bars into beats that shift genres without apology. Earlier cuts like ‘Stick Figaro’ hook listeners who dig 21 Savage, Yung Thug, Playboi Carti, and A$AP Mob, setting the table for this hip-hop surge.

Watch ‘Young, Old, Short & Tall’:

‘Young, Old, Short & Tall’ eases in on a vocal hook that grabs hold quick, then Jairic unleashes bars with real momentum over a beat loaded with punch and control. The mix starts clean but piles on distortion as it rolls, giving his flow room to cut through the build. The Bastien Leblanc video catches him in motion through a massive house, spitting sharp lines and showcasing how two versions of himself wake up from what can be described as a fever dream. As he goes about his day, he gets flashbacks to the fever dream which can be interpreted through the use of saturated magenta lights and hazy neons.

Jairic told us: “There are so many beautiful people in the world—and then there’s a ton of hate and doubt. Be strong. Keep forging and let the fire burn inside. There are a thousand reasons to stop—forget them.

Stream ‘Young, Old, Short & Tall’ 

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OutKast Cement their Legacy in the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

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OutKast‘s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on November 8 capped a legacy that reshaped Southern hip-hop from the ground up. The Atlanta duo—André 3000 and Big Boi—broke through in 1994 with their debut Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, a slab of funk-laced trap that spotlighted the Dirty South’s gritty edge. They kept pushing boundaries across ATLiens in 1996, Aquemini two years later, and Stankonia in 2000, blending cosmic soul with booming basslines. Their 2003 double set, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, snagged the Grammy for Album of the Year and went diamond, proving rap could dominate pop charts without losing its bite.

At the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, Childish Gambino handed over the honor, crediting OutKast for building Atlanta into a hip-hop powerhouse and paving the way for acts like his own. The pair kept it light with a quick Rock, Paper, Scissors round to pick speech order. Big Boi led off, shouting out the divine spark that linked him with his partner from the jump. André 3000 followed with an off-the-cuff reflection, voice cracking as he nodded to humble origins in the cramped Dungeon Family setup—echoing Jack White‘s nod to “little rooms” where big ideas ignite.

Big Boi closed the night solo, ripping through a high-energy medley of classics backed by Tyler, The Creator, J.I.D, Killer Mike, Janelle Monáe, and Doja Cat. As the lone hip-hop group in this year’s class, OutKast slots in alongside past inductees like Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Run-DMC, Public Enemy, N.W.A, Tupac Shakur, Jay-Z, Eminem, and Missy Elliott—plus last year’s A Tribe Called Quest. Salt-N-Pepa picked up the Musical Influence Award, while the late Warren Zevon got his due in rock.

Stream: Stankonia (25th Anniversary)

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Ollie Hunt’s “Ah!” Reclaims Pop Space with Brazen Precision

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Australia’s own Ollie Hunt returns with Ah!’, a genre-blurring banger that refuses to be boxed in—electrified with the kind of self-determination rarely this polished. The Melbourne native channels a fearless new era here: one where the pop star isn’t seeking the spotlight but is the spotlight.

Think melodic high fashion meets emotional catharsis. Hunt’s vocals skate over a production laced with house shimmer, R&B sleekness, and pop punch. But beyond the sonic design lies the ethos—this is a track about owning it, whatever “it” is to you. Anxiety is no longer the monster under the bed; it’s been laced into the lyricism and transmuted into a rhythmic weapon.

Having already clocked over 240K combined streams with previous releases, Hunt levels up onAh!’ with a track that stares back at the industry and says, “Watch me.” And honestly? We will.

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‘Fool’ by Der Oscar Effekt Hits with Subtle Sting, Previewing ‘three stone fireside, vol. 1’

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Der Oscar Effekt, the Cameroon-born artist now based in Germany, kicked off his latest chapter with the release of ‘Fool‘ on October 17, 2025, serving as the lead single for his forthcoming album three stone fireside, vol. 1, due out October 24. Drawing from Afrofusion, Makossa, Bikutsi, African folk, and hip-hop, he builds tracks that pulse with introspection and groove, all while holding down a day job as a project manager—embodying his #9to5isnoexcuse ethos that turns constraints into fuel for creation. Over the past couple years, he’s solidified his voice through two standout full-lengths: the unguarded Kryptonite in 2023, which laid bare his inner workings, and 2024’s Neige et Poussière, a bilingual nod to the push-pull of African dust and European chill, exploring renewal and split identities. With this new project, Der Oscar Effekt channels the communal hum of Cameroon’s three-stone fireside setups—those outdoor hearths for cooking, chatting, and handing down stories—into beats crafted by producers back home, threading themes of love, betrayal, grit, and thanks across the record.

On ‘Fool‘, Der Oscar Effekt leans into quiet intensity, weaving English and Pidgin over a steady, contemplative rhythm that lets the lyrics simmer. It’s a track forged in the aftermath of repeatedly being misunderstood and betrayed.

Der Oscar Effekt had this to say: “Before we can shine for the world, we must understand the fire that keeps us warm.” In a scene quick to hype the next big drop, his work cuts deeper, merging daily grind with deep-rooted sounds to build something that resonates long after the beat fades.

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PLAYY. Music launches $25,000 record deal competition

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Groundbreaking social music platform PLAYY. Music has just launched a game-changing competition for independent artists all over the world. 

The recently launched platform is offering a $25,000 record deal that includes full recording costs, studio production, and a comprehensive international PR and marketing campaign for an entire year. This opportunity is open to all artists who sign up and upload music to PLAYY. Music before 20 February 2026

The winner will receive professional recording and production support, as well as a full-scale global press and radio campaign. This includes blogs, webzines, broadsheets, national and regional radio and press, YouTube channels, and Spotify playlisting across 10 countries: United States, Canada, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Netherlands, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa as well as Brazil. In addition, the selected artist will have an exclusive feature in YourEDM as well as PLAYY. Mag

PLAYY. Music is built to empower independent talent by providing tools for artists to engage directly with fans, build sustainable careers and brands, while monetising their music. Artists can raise funds, sell merchandise and tickets on PLAYY. Music, while keeping up to 90% of their earnings. Click HERE for more information on PLAYY. Music

Sharing more on the vision behind the platform, Director Warren Morris revealed; “Our mission is simple, to give independent artists the same power and global reach that major labels offer—without the red tape. This record deal giveaway isn’t just about a single artist’s success story; it’s about showing what’s possible when artists control their music, data, and destiny.”

How to Enter:

  1. Sign up for free at www.playy.co.uk
  2. Create your basic user profile, then create your artist profile and upload your best 10 tracks.
  3. Share the poster on your artist page on your Instagram and Facebook pages and tag @PLAYY. and @YourEdm
  4. Only Artist Pro accounts will be eligible. 

Neo-Soul Architect D’Angelo Passes at 51, Leaving a Lasting Mark on R&B

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D’Angelo, the trailblazing R&B and soul artist whose real name was Michael Eugene Archer, died on October 14, 2025, at age 51 following a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Born in Richmond, Virginia, to a Pentecostal minister father, he picked up piano skills by age three and cut his teeth in local outfits like Three of a Kind and I.D.U. before snagging a publishing deal with EMI after dominating the Apollo Theater’s amateur night. His 1995 debut Brown Sugar put him on the map, with the single ‘Lady’ climbing to No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earning Grammy nods that cemented his rise. Over three albums, he snagged four Grammys, blending R&B roots with hip-hop grooves and jazz flourishes to forge neo-soul’s core sound.

What set D’Angelo apart was his raw command of melody and rhythm, evident from the sultry, unbroken-take video for ‘Untitled (How Does It Feel)’ that sparked endless talk in the late ’90s. Voodoo, his 2000 sophomore effort, hit No. 1 on the US charts and later earned a spot at No. 28 on Rolling Stone’s all-time greats list, just edging out The Beatles’ White Album. Even after personal battles with addiction and a near-fatal 2005 crash, he reemerged in 2014 with Black Messiah, sparked by unrest over cases like Michael Brown and Eric Garner, which took home the best R&B album Grammy in 2016. Early collaborations with Lauryn Hill and The Roots underscored his songwriting chops before he became a commercial powerhouse.

As tributes roll in from peers like Beyoncé, who hailed his genre-shifting impact, and Lauryn Hill, who praised his blend of toughness and nuance in Black expression, D’Angelo’s influence echoes through today’s acts. Nile Rodgers remembered pushing the young talent to release his demos, only to hear them dominate airwaves soon after. From Doja Cat calling him a generational spark to Tyler, the Creator crediting him for wiring his own sound, the outpouring highlights a career that reshaped soul’s boundaries. Working on a fourth album with Raphael Saadiq right up to the end, he leaves behind a catalog that keeps pushing musicians forward.

Thunder Child Arrives: Q052’s Fierce Fourth LP Tackles Global Chaos

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October 10, 2025, saw the drop of Thunder Child, Q052‘s latest full-length via Musique Nomade, a project that sharpens his blade against inequality with the lead single ‘Look It Up‘ already turning heads. The Gesgapegiag-born, Sherbrooke-based Mi’gmaq artist—Quentin Condo behind the moniker, nodding to his Quentin initials and community tag 052—has forged a path blending activism and beats, spotlighting Indigenous youth issues and protections for women and girls. His track record boasts 140K-plus Spotify plays, the 2023 International Indigenous Hip-Hop Awards’ Best Male win, and key nods such as 2021 ADISQ Gala‘s Indigenous Artist of the Year, dual 2022 Teweikan Gala entries in Expressive Music and Blues/Rock, and a Hip-Hop Album nom at the 2022 GAMIQ. Q052‘s live sets pack a punch, earning props from CLASH Magazine, rotations on Radio Canada, and a recent boost from ‘Loud Sunday‘ on BBC Radio 6 via Don Letts‘ Culture Clash. He’s logged festival slots with Cypress Hill at spots like FEQ, La Noce, OFF Québec, Innu Nikamu, Festival Kwe!, FME, Festival Bleu Bleu, and Festival en chanson de Petite-Vallée.

Across Thunder Child, Q052 delivers dense, truth-loaded rhymes over instrumentals that grind with vintage hip-hop texture, rewarding multiple plays for the full weight of his worldview. The anchor track ‘Look It Up‘ pares back the production to amplify his urgent takedowns of authority, evoking the raw urgency of KRS-One, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, and Danny Brown in its no-holds-barred stance. Pulling from a broad sonic palette—think Rage Against the Machine, Black Sabbath, Immortal Technique, Ty Segall, Public Enemy, Run DMC, and King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard—he fuses hip-hop’s pulse with grunge edges, alt-rock bite, and spoken-word drive, all underscoring themes of identity, justice, and grit.

Q052 shared: “Hip Hop artists are considered to be street journalists who share stories from their environment. In this album, I’m taking listeners on a tour in my mind and expressing how I view the world right now. It’s gone to hell!! From world leaders to the environment, from television shows to the news, from law enforcement agencies invading homes to assassinations, from social media platform addictions to a cold beer!! I’m reporting on it…is this mic on?”

Thunder Child Album Tracklist

1. Whap Bam-Boo
2. Wickedness
3. Look it Up
4. Thunder Bows
5. Piece of Man
6. Loud Sunday
7. Post Like Addict
8. Space Invaders
9. Restricted Radio
10. Sláinte

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Lojay and Tyla team up on heartwarming new offering ‘Memories’

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Afrobeats superstar Lojay, released his stellar album XOXO on 10 October via Koratari Music. One of the stand-out tracks on the album, features South African icon Tyla on the heartfelt single ‘Memories’

The track floats between nostalgia and smooth Afrobeat rhythms, as the pair create a soulful duet that feels like flipping through an emotional photo album – warm, wistful and intimately familiar.

From the very first note, the song wraps you in soft synths, mellow percussion and a gentle bassline. Lojay’s melodic finesse meets Tyla’s silky vocals in perfect harmony, capturing the ache of love remembered and the sweetness of moments gone by.

The lyrics echo universal themes of love and loss, making it easy to see your own story in their words.

Stream ‘Memories’ below:

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Jairic Drops Ferocious New Single ‘Stick Figaro’ Today

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Jairic, the Detroit-born producer and performer now calling Cannes home, unleashes his latest cut Stick Figaro today, October 10, 2025, complete with a video rollout through Rich Air Music. Raised in a music-saturated family in Michigan, he perfected his craft by producing beats for underground hip-hop acts before carving out his own lane of gritty, self-reliant tracks. His last drop, Don’t Let Me Put A Track On You, pulled in props from outlets like NOTION, CLASH Magazine, and EARMILK, plus airtime on NPR Music’s radar. Spanning scenes from France to Italy, Prague, and the U.S., Jairic has racked up close to 2 million streams, all from tunes he writes, produces, and plays himself—often tied to visuals that mash upscale polish against street-edge rawness, positioning him as a key player where beats meet screens and style.

Clocking in as a high-voltage hip-hop banger, Stick Figaro grabs listeners with its relentless drive, nodding to the punch of Eminem, Machine Gun Kelly, and Macklemore. Trap rhythms pound hard under jagged production layers, framing Jairic‘s commanding flow that shifts gears into a smoother hook midway, then slams shut on a peak of intensity. His bars dig into the rush of a breakneck, defiant existence, weaving in sharper reflections that cut through the noise—drawing from roots in Nas and Wu-Tang Clan, plus echoes of Detroit‘s raw circuits, old-school funk grooves, ’60s guitar riffs, and score-like swells for a sound that defies easy boxes.

Watch ‘Stick Figaro’: HERE

Jairic shared: Stick Figaro’ is built on reversal. At first it feels like I’m the one running, but when the hook comes back you realize I’m the one chasing. That’s the heartbeat of the track—chaos turning into control, the hunted becoming the hunter. It’s raw energy, heavy and unfiltered, but underneath it’s also a mirror—every bar a spark, every line a fire.”

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