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Oakland J. Stalin Follows Up a Mob Music Landmark with ‘Prenuptial Agreement 2’ Album
A mover and shaker in the bustling Bay Area scene, West Oakland’s J. Stalin exemplifies his city’s realness, determination, and dedication to the grind. Sharing the long awaited sequel to a Bay Area classic, Stalin drops Prenuptial Agreement 2, a glistening testament to the enduring power of mob music. Founded in the Fillmore district of San Francisco, Mob music is defined by its hard-nosed lyrics and signature sounds: crisp, gently swinging drums, cinematic synths, and prominent, squelching bass. Long one of the most notable Mob proponents in the East Bay, Stalin helped the subgenre regain prominence with his 2010 tape Prenuptial Agreement. Now, 13 years and over 50 projects later, Stalin returns to the project that made him a regional star, creating a 17-track document aimed to bring back the mob era.
“Mob music is sinister basses and sinister snares,” explains J. Stalin. “It’s all in the drums and snares and it’s real bassy. It’s a distinctive sound, created by producers like DJ Duo, Ant Banks, Mike D, and Rick Rock. When the first Prenup came out, hyphy was what was popping in the Bay Area. Mob rappers like me, we made some hyphy tracks, but hyphy was kid-like to us. When we did hyphy, we mixed it with mob sounds and harder lyrics. Mob was our version of what drill is now. Prenup brought the Bay sound back to mob music. Hyphy wasn’t as popular by 2010, and everyone was saying, ‘What are we gonna do now, how is the sound gonna be now?’ When I dropped Prenuptial Agreement, the whole city knew: ‘this is the new sound.'”
Prenuptial Agreement 2 is a showcase for Stalin’s raspy vocals, brutally honest lyrics, and peerless ability to navigate mob instrumentals. Moving from love songs to hustlers’ anthems and back with effortless ease, the album features production from OG Mob architects like The Mekanix, Clayton Williams, and Mike Made The 808s, plus younger beatmakers like Juneonnabeat. Like the Pitchfork-acclaimed original, which brought guest spots from the likes of E-40 and The Jacka, Prenuptial Agreement brings an eclectic cast of characters, from fellow Oaklanders like Philthy Rich, 22nd Jim, and Jane Handcock standing up for the 357, and street heroes from other cities, like Florida’s Jackboy and Stockton’s EBK Young Joc, who sound right at home. Paired with the release is a video for one of the albums standout tracks, “Who U Talkin 2. (ft. June).” What starts off feeling like a sequel to the Hype Williams classic, Belly, quickly turns into a party on the Vegas strip where Stalin and June are posted up with their crew spitting fire bars, daring anyone who isn’t correct to reveal who they’re talking to.
Some of the album’s highlights make reference to songs from the original, including the soulful sequel “Don’t Front Pt. 2” and the funky “World On My Shoulders” samples a beat originally created by D-Shot of The Click. With additional appearances from Lyjah, Kevin Allen, 4rAx of The Mekanix, Acito, and many more, Prenuptial Agreement 2 arrives on January 27th via Livewire Records/EMPIRE.
Loyal to the grind and his family, J. Stalin is building a legacy for himself and the Oakland scene he hails from. With Prenuptial Agreement 2, the proudly independent artist cements his rightful place in Bay Area history.
Drea Dominique returns with a captivating new single, “Let’s Go,” showcasing her signature blend of East Coast grit and West Coast flair.
“Let’s Go,” directed by Cobian Studios, captures the essence of 90s nostalgia with its fun, sexy, and sultry vibe. Drea’s infectious lyrics, “I know you like it, so don’t even front, don’t want no smoke, know I’m too blunt,” are sure to resonate with fans, blending confidence with undeniable allure.
She has already proven her ability to captivate listeners, with her previous hit “Switch” currently in rotation on MTV’s Spankin’ New. As “Let’s Go” hits streaming platforms, fans can look forward to turning up the volume and riding out to the latest anthem from an artist who continues to make waves in the music scene.
Her resume includes Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, and Robin Thicke. “Let’s Go” continues to demonstrate the undeniable charisma that has already earned her over a million views on YouTube and a growing base of more than 14,000 subscribers. Her newfound popularity matches the buzzworthy music, making the forthcoming album patiently awaited by fans.
Watch “Let’s Go” below. And afterward, feel free to follow Drea on social media for daily updates and more.
4DHouse Entertainment releases it’s NSFW posse cut “S.M.O. (Slut Me Out)” just before temperatures take a dip. The raunchy Rap record was produced by in-house instrumentalist Thizaezbeat and features verses from “Chain On” lyricist Bando, G5, and label head Danuel House Jr. AKA 4. Serving as yet another example of what fans can expect from the HTX’s based collective’s forthcoming compilation album, “S.M.O (Slut Me Out)” will get the ladies vibing and the fellas’ heads nodding.
Danuel House Jr. grew up right across the street from Wiley Park. Being raised in the 4th Ward, House saw a lot of things as a kid that teach you how to survive; combined with a large family including relatives who educated him on the do’s and don’ts of the streets. He later moved to the Southwest side of Houston, where he attended Welch Middle and then Sharpstown High School. Ahead of graduation he spent some time in Missouri City and attended Hightower High School. Though he would frequently return to his hometown to visit his grandmother while attending the University of Houston and Texas A&M, he officially settled back in the Lone Star State to play professional basketball. After 8 years in the NBA, he decided to devote his time to making music. Recently partnering with Steve Stoute’s United Masters, the hooper turned Hip Hop artist and his 4DHouse crew are poised to win big whether in the streets or the stadium. The resourceful raplethe has already secured features with Paul Wall, Bun B, Z-Ro, Kenny Muney, and OTC Toro.
Press play on “S.M.O. (Slut Me Out)” on your DSP of choose below and watch Bando’s music video for “Chain On” | HERE.
Steph G keeps her summer momentum going strong with the release of her latest track titled “Waterproof.” Produced by BassHeadz, this steamy single follows her hit “One Taste” from June, solidifying Steph G’s reign as the queen of summer anthems for ladies.
To mark the release of “Waterproof,” Steph G threw a pool party that perfectly matched the record, both vibe and aesthetic. She hosted the event along with DJ Self of Power 105.1, creating a night filled with beautiful people and positive energy. You can catch the full recap in the video below.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C-Vv74ivuq_/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Since its release, “Waterproof” has racked up over 50k plays on Spotify alone in less than a month. Fans are already eagerly anticipating the music video, and the gorgeous Brooklyn talent has confirmed that it’s on the way! Stay tuned!
In the meantime, keep “Waterproof” on repeat on your favorite streaming platform.
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