Music Videos
R&B GIRL GROUP FLO SHARES HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED DEBUT EP “THE LEAD”
London-based girl group FLO releases their highly-anticipated debut EP The Lead today.
Listen to The Lead: HERE
“Our debut EP The Lead represents personal and professional growth because it’s taken so many twists and turns. We are young black women navigating life and musicians finding our voice and sound through R&B. Pop means popular, and R&B could be pop, but people need to give it the same love and chance.
The Lead shows us that positive things can come from tough conversations, and reminds us to take the lead and not follow anyone else when making decisions on your relationships and listening to your truth,” says FLO on the EP.
“I’ve been working with the girls for the past 3 years – one of the first songs we wrote together was ‘Cardboard Box.’ The hour in which we wrote it – we just knew it had something very special. Then and even now, they’re so young and so driven, and push me equally as much as I push them to be competent songwriters and great recording artists. Stella, Jorja and Renée make a beautiful partnership when they sing together and I’m really happy they’ve found a trust in people like myself and Kabba, Jamal Woon and Ryan Ashley to help get what they stand for across in their music as an all-black R&B/pop act in 2022 – much less a girl group with all the ‘00s references included. I also just love working on projects that if I wasn’t working on it, I’d be stanning. And this is absolutely one of those projects,” says producer MNEK on working with FLO and the EP.
The future of R&B, FLO, represented by three young women: Jorja, Renée and Stella, show their personal and professional growth in the creation of a remarkable sound that hasn’t been heard in the music scene for decades. Tipped as Britain’s next big girl group, FLO’s new track “Immature” has already received instant praise from Little Mix’s Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Ella Mai. Working closely with their “extended family,” executive producer MNEK, Jamal Woon, KABBA and Aston Rudi, FLO hustled every day in the studio to create The Lead arranging their intricate three-part harmonies, which have been compared to Destiny’s Child and recalling peak-era Timbaland, Aaliyah and TLC. Capturing the essence of an act at the helm of their musical and visual identity, the 5-track EP features the first song they ever wrote together, the 10 million streaming viral sensation “Cardboard Box,” the sublime “Immature,” the pitch perfect neo soul hit “Another Guy,” R&B slow jam “Feature Me” and the slick, sensational summer anthem “Summertime.”
To coincide with the release, FLO drops the new video for their buzzworthy track “Immature” today.
Watch “Immature”: HERE
Working closely with female director Avesta Keshtmand and movement director Kash Powell (Missy Elliot, FKA Twigs) on the video, Stella, Renée and Jorja become heroines in a defiant, confident and groundbreaking visual.
Receiving love from global superstars including Missy Elliot, SZA, Victoria Monet and JoJo with one tweet stating “the uk girl groups are coming hard,” featuring a clip of debut video “Cardboard Box,” has led to over 3M views. FLO’s opening statement catapulted the group to the center of the cultural conversation about the important role girl groups play in our society. Peaking at #2 on the Viral Spotify UK Chart, “Cardboard Box” was an introduction to the girls’ love for honeyed harmonies and rich emotion, fusing the classic old school R&B they still obsess over.
Already receiving critical praise from i-D, NME, Complex and more, FLO’s immaculate harmonizing over MNEK productions that fuse early 00s R&B, complete with Irreplaceable-esque guitar figures and dancehall flavors, have captured the hearts of the nation. FLO has already built a loyal fanbase on TikTok (over 170k followers and 4.1m likes) having been named “the future of R&B” (Complex) for their stripped back a capella sessions, giving new life to their favorite tunes with unbreakable chemistry.
It is FLO’s origin story that speaks to their name – it flowed. Stella spent the first few years of her life in Mozambique before moving to the UK aged five, and met Renée at school in London, where they bonded over their joint love of singing and were familiar with Jorja via social media. Jorja was born in Germany and grew up in Hertfordshire and was on her own musical journey, but it was a chance meeting at an audition where they all locked eyes: “I saw the girls and we screamed across the room. I knew from that moment we were about to start something big,” says Jorja.
Check it out!
Enlisting Sexyy Red director Suave Films for the Remdolla produced small screen interpretation, Lil $o$o signals a compelling exploration beyond her usual Rap style and leans into the realm of R&B with the release of “Passion.” Following “Enhancements,” the timely track unveils a vulnerable dimension that showcases her versatility as an artist. With emotive lyrics and a smooth melody, “Passion” shines light on a deeper layer of $o$o’s artistry, inviting listeners into a journey of introspection and raw emotion.
In a press statement to Medium Creative Agency about single, the Issa Rae-approved “Florida Girl” reveals: “I love this record because it really shows another side of me. Sometimes, I feel like people are so materialistic or surface level, and I really am starting to see that ‘real’ is rare. I hope to find something deeper than that and that’s what made me put that into my music.”
There’s something in the water. From the City Girls to Kodak Black, with a long list of others, the Sunshine State has been the stomping ground for hip-hop’s culture shifters. Entertainer Lil $o$o is looking to keep that tradition alive. Despite being native to Chicago, since moving to Miami in her early childhood, she’s proudly claimed it as her musical home.
The 22-year-old Colombiana, whose real name is Sofia Donado, has persevered through trauma and pain and continues to show up for herself and her 3-year-old son, who she’s raising as a single mom. Lil $o$o’s boyfriend was gunned down in 2019, while sitting in his car, leaving her without a partner and their son without a father. He was in the music business, and after his passing, Lil $o$o found healing in discovering her musical voice. The result was upbeat rhythms intended to make people dance, smile, and feel free. It was the only way she knew how to make things better.
After laying the groundwork with promo singles “Better Life,” “Go Ooh,” “Bad Attitude,” and “Woo Tang,” the rising rapstress made her official debut Summer of 2022 with ‘$o$o World.’ Executive produced by mentor and label head LunchMoney Lewis, the 14-track collection of records includes additional instrumentation from JulianBeatz, SFL Xavi, TheonlyDiet, Toju, BrianXWhite, Diem, and SoundsbyBreezy. Guest features come by way of Roc Nation recording artist Bobby Fishscale, XXXTentacion affiliate C Glizzy, Warner Records vocalist Savannah Cristina, and Nelle.
Press play on the HD-clip for “Passion” as well as stream the official audio on your DSP of choice below via Black 17 Media / The Orchard.
Lu’ (@ottawasveryown) is back with another one! He has been shaking things up in the music scene since his ground-breaking debut “FEVA,” released earlier in February this year. Now, he returns with another highly-anticipated single, “Over,” out now. This offering is accompanied with a music video & solidifies Lu’s mark in the music game with his captivating storytelling and infectious sound.
“Over” is another compelling feel good single that highlights Lu’s artistic identity and capability. “Over evokes pure enjoyment and immaculate summer vibes,” he says. He invites listeners into an irresistible musical experience through the Afrobeats sound. Drawing inspiration from English and French-speaking artists, as well as Congolese artists, he sets himself apart from the industry as a multilingual artist. The accompanying music video was shot in Lagos, Nigeria and offers a setting of African greatness, luxury, and an overall great time.
Originally hailing from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and now making waves in Phoenix, Arizona, Lu’ is a renowned Arizona Cardinals linebacker who made his musical debut earlier this year with his debut single, “FEVA.” Fighting the notion of “shut up and dribble,” Lu’ has shown that he’s far more multifaceted than just an average athlete. He shares, “The narrative of ‘shut up and dribble’ is one I’ve fought internally for a very long time. I want my audience to grasp how passionate I am about chasing my wildest dreams. You can’t let another person tell you, your dreams are too far unattainable.” Lu’ has been able to perfectly parallel his passion and dedication of being a talented athlete as well as a talented artist.
It’s worth noting that Lu’ is a definite powerhouse to keep an eye on as he continues to break barriers in both sports and music. His transition from sports to music is a prominent testament to him embracing his versatility, following his dreams, and reaching new heights. The unfolding musical journey of this rising Canadian artist is a must see.
Watch the video for “Over” HERE.
Stream “Over” HERE.
Asian-American rappers Star2, ChinaTownRunner, and $tupid Young release the new single / video entitled “FWM”. The single precedes Star2 and ChinaTownRunner’s upcoming EP and sets the bar high with haunting cavernous beats and dark melodic flow.
Each of them affirm that they are “about money” in their separate verses and all ask listeners to “come and F*** With Me.” The music video for “FWM” captures Star2, ChinaTownRunner, and $tupid Young in a graffiti-stroked garage full of sports cars and women. Leaning into the sheer magnitude of the track itself, the visuals for “FWM” zero in on each rapper for an intense performance.
Star2 and ChinaTownRunner are preparing to embark on a summer tour with $tupid Young set to appear at multiple dates. Additionally, Star2 and ChinaTownRunner will perform on July 6th in support of the annual Ka-ren Soccer Tournament and Concert in South Dakota.
Star2 is a refugee artist from the Mae La refugee camp in Thailand. Star2’s documentary, RETURN TO KAWTHOOLEI: A Refugee Rapper’s Journey to His Homeland in Burma will be screened at the New Media Film Festival in LA on June 6th. So far, the documentary has been awarded with “Best Short Documentary” at the Malaysian Film Festival, “Best Documentary” at the Busan New Wave Short Film Festival in S. Korea, “Best Web and Media” at the IndieX Film Fest in LA, and “Exceptional Merit in Docu-drama Short & Human Spirit” at the Documentaries Without Borders Film Festival. Star2 returns to Thailand in May for his second trip.
Lil $o$o Releases New Visual “Passion”
Multifaceted Artist and Professional Athlete Lu’, Shares New Afrobeat Vibes “Over”
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ChinaTownRunner x $tupid Young x Star2 Shares “FWM”
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Highlighting Earn Your Masters Open Call Winner + Performer
Multifaceted Artist and Professional Athlete Lu’, Shares New Afrobeat Vibes “Over”
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