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Ghanaian Wondergirl Moliy Drops Highly-Anticipated Full Project Honey Doom

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Rising sensation, Ghanaian-American songstress Moliy, today released her highly-anticipated full EP Honey Doom, October 19th. The eight-track project is the follow-up to her mini-EP “Mahogany St,” and the first full release since 2020’s Wondergirl skyrocketed the artist to virality, via her hit track “Sad Girlz Luv Money”, featuring Amaarae and Kali Uchis, which has amassed nearly 250 million streams to date. Honey Doom features some of Moliy’s most vulnerable, raw storytelling to date, and tracks her personal development as a young woman unpacking love and relationships; alongside her own experimental journey with her sound, which remains otherworldly, airy and optimistic, while expanding to include more of her influences globally. 

Moliy teased the project back in February, when she dropped the first single “Love Doc,” featured in PAPER Magazine, who described it as “smooth, effortless, tender and bewitching…an easy, glistening single that captures a moment in her life when she was heartbroken.” The follow-up single, “Hard,” is a lo-fi, sparkling, staccato anthem, unapologetically crafted for sexually liberated women (and people) globally. Moliy uses the hypnotic track to flex her expanding prowess, experimenting with her rap flow alongside South African star Moonchild Sanelly, who is widely known for her major contribution to Beyonce’s Black is King album. 

The project also features legendary Ghanaian-British producer Juls, considered a pioneer in the African music diaspora, and best known for his production work with the likes of Burna Boy, Mr. Eazi, Stonebwoy and more. Juls produced Honey Doom’s opening track “Together,” Moliy’s up-tempo, wistful ode to her first love, and came to Ghana to record with Moliy in person. 

The painfully honest, and ostensibly upbeat “Freak” is another vulnerable standout, the delicate, self-reflecting work of a young woman confronting her own demons, and the toxicity that has plagued her past relationships. She croons, “won’t be a punching bag just because you can’t communicate…I’m not your freak anymore, got put on the floor, you probably should have acted right, cold to the core.” She’s defiant, she’s growing up, and she’s not embarrassed by the ghosts of her past – she’s empowered and confronting them, and she wants to talk about what’s happened to her, and hopefully be a conduit for other women to share their own stories. 

The rest of the project features hypnotic dance tracks paired with intentional, sometimes heartbreaking storytelling, buoyed by Moliy’s classic sound, like her floating, airy vocals on the haunting “Prisoner,” or “Body on Fire.” The experimental “Banana” also showcases her undeniable maturation – the singer has been working hard, she’s more confident in the upper-register pocket that buoyed her to stardom than ever before, and she’s pushing the boundaries of her own sound, and what fans have come to expect from her. 

2020’s Wondergirl, was highlighted on BBC News This is Africa, Apple Music via Ebro Discovery, topped Billboard charts, and led to her becoming a new member to the Recording Academy Class of 2022. The superstar also dropped surprises for fans in the meantime, like her mini-EP Mahogany St., including Love Doc, also featured on Apple Music’s Global Chart show, where Moliy was featured as an emerging talent in February. She also premiered visuals for the reggae-tinged “9-5,” which you can view here. As one of Ghana’s foremost rising artists, the alté and afrofusion singer has been on a consistent rise since the viral celebrity of Sad Girlz Luv Money, and was recently featured in Spotify’s Equal Africa campaign, including a featured billboard in Times Square. Her original track The Place was also highlighted in Apple Music’s 2022 Juneteenth Freedom Songs playlist, in which Moliy was the only African artist featured alongside artists like 6LACK, Kranium, Lupe Fiasco, and more. 

And this is only the beginning — the further Moliy goes, she’s hoping to open more doors for other women in music throughout her native country of Ghana. “They need to know there is no limit to what we can achieve, regardless of our background,” Moliy says. “I would love for all women to feel confident and empowered, even on the saddest and hardest of days.”

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Star2 Drops “Shooting Stars” 

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Asian-American artist and advocate for refugees across the world, Star2, releases the new album, Shooting Stars. The eleven track project marks a new musical chapter for Star2 and is filled with pop-drenched love songs and the essence of warm island escapes.

Focus track “Shooting Stars” is about admiring someone who’s just out of reach, knowing that one day, you’ll be destined to be together. “Shooting Stars” captivates with iridescent beats, tropical soundscapes, and loveswept vocals that ruminate on Star2’s feelings of love sickness and longing. Comparing the apple of his eye to a shooting star that glimmers from miles away, Star2 reminisces on how a fleeting moment is enough to make him wish for a lifetime of memories with her. 

Star2 was born into the Mae La refugee camp in Thailand and recently visited his birthplace in hopes of inspiring the next generation of Asian artists. Faced with overwhelming heartache and loss growing up, Star2 found his solace in music. Collaborating with notable artists such as Soulja Boy, $tupid Young, Mozzy, MBNel, Luh Kel, Lil Poppa, , HoodTrophy Bino, YSN Flow, and MarMar Oso, Star2 has garnered widespread praise. Esteemed platforms including Ones to Watch, Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam, GQ, Earmilk, BET, Lyrical Lemonade, and HotNewHipHop have all recognized his talent and impact.

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Dee-1 Taps Raheem DeVaughn For New Hit “Purify My Eyes”

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Fresh off his Breakfast Club appearance after having “Lines Drawn” with help from Billboard and successfully migrating From The Hood To Harvard, NOLA native Dee-1 taps Soul singer/songwriter Raheem DeVaughn for “Purify My Eyes.” Continuing his theme of counter-culture centered messaging the timely track, which was produced by Anonymous, urges listeners to replace images of corruption and cynicism with lifegiving content to reprogram our thinking for the better.

“This is easily one the most important songs I have ever done because it provides Hip-Hop with a solution-based perspective meant to combat some of the problems we face as a culture. It’s honest, raw, and transparent. I’ve been friends with Raheem Devaughn for a long time, so to finally collaborate on a song feels great. When I played the record for him, he fell in love with it and instantly added his parts; which took the song to another level,” say’s the David Found His Slingshot author in a exclusive statement to Medium Creative Agency.

Award-winning rapper. educator, host, activist, business owner, and keynote speaker are synonymous with Louisiana’s Dee-1. The Nasir “Nas” Jones Hip Hop Fellow at Harvard University is a Billboard Top 10 charting, game-changing MC with a persona to match his penmanship. He’s transitioned from being a middle school math teacher in The Boot to a Hip-Hop heavyweight with much more to accomplish. He has released 10 albums and 21 projects thus far in his career.

Dee-1’s music is part of a bigger lifestyle movement called Mission Vision, which centers around three core principles: Be Real. Be Righteous. Be Relevant. In 2020, Dee received the prestigious NAACP “Power of Influence Award,” highlighting his community activism and commitment to inspiring the youth. In 2021, he was nominated for an Emmy Award for his work on “The Manhattan Project,” but he lost to Michelle Obama. Later that year, Dee was appointed to the “Louisiana Council for the Success of Black Men and Boys” by Governor John Bel Edwards, making him the first rapper in Louisiana history to become a governor’s appointee.

After addressing critics and fans alike in the official music video for the Danny Beats-produced single for “Lines Drawn” and following his viral interview on Sway In The Morning centered around industry hypocrisy, Emmy-nominated educator turned entertainer Dee-1 released his latest project to date From The Hood To Harvard. The 8-track body of work includes guest features from Skyy Brooks as well as P3RK and is anchored by supporting records “Impostor Syndrome” & “Dr. Freshh.”

Stream “Purify My Eyes” on your DSP of choice below and watch Dee-1‘s interview with The Breakfast Club | HERE.

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Chelsea Pastel Is Poppin’ So The “Price Going Up”

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To celebrate “Greener” pastures, following the announcement of her joining Kid Cudi’s ‘Insano World Tour,’ Cleveland native Chelsea Pastel releases the Cassius G-produced single “Price Going Up.” Marking CP’s explosive entrance into 2024, the empowering anthem resonates with anybody pushing forward with resilience and determination. With infectious beats and powerful vocals, she asserts her presence as a rising star to watch. Setting the stage for an exciting year ahead, the brand-new track is a bold declaration of Chelsea’s unwavering commitment to excellence.

“I jumped off that porch, I’m not going back to that house and I mean just that. I’m never looking back. I took a leap of faith and where I land is where I’m staying,” says the talented triple threat in a press statement to Medium Creative Agency about her latest release.

Born and bred in Forest City, Chelsea found her passion for music early on, which led her to enroll in the Cleveland School of Arts. After graduating, Chelsea begin to make a name for herself throughout the Midwest and beyond. Her unique sonic style, catchy hooks, and lyrical prowess have earned her the title of Cleveland’s Next Up talent.

Apart from accolades, which include spotlight spots regionally on WKYC and Dirty Glove Bastard as well as national recognition on top-tier entertainment networks like BET, Chelsea is a self-taught instrumentalist who often handles her production, writing, and engineering. Her unique brand of ballads can be best classified as a fusion of Rap and Pop with a touch of Rock accented by old-school flavor.

Press play on “Price Going Up” on your DSP of choice below and watch the visual for “Greener” | HERE via Pastel Productions LLC / Vydia.

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