Author: Sarah Jasmine

JMBLYA Presents: Kehlani

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To paraphrase the intro of Kehlani’s 2015 smash mixtape You Should Be Here, this Grammy-nominated artist has been through more than some will in their entire lives “all before the age of being able to buy a f**king drink at a bar.” When you hear the talented singer/songwriter’s lyrics and see her perform, you can easily forget that she’s only 20 years old. She’s been on the rise for the past couple of years, thanks to hits like “FWU,” “The Way,” and “Alive,” and her work with artists like KYLE, G-Eazy, and Pusha T. Her sultry R&B sound, take-nothing-from-no-one attitude, and even her energetic dance moves have been key to helping her take the music scene by storm.

Hailing from Oakland, California, Kehlani got her first taste of stardom when she appeared on America’s Got Talent with the band PopLyfe while she was still in high school. After leaving the band, she released her first mixtape Cloud 19 in 2014, which achieved critical success and even landed on Complex’s Best Albums of 2014 list, even though it only had 8 tracks. Cloud 19 set Kehlani up to be the next big thing to come out of the Bay — incorporating her Oakland style and even featuring fellow HBK Gang member Iamsu!

In April 2015, Kehlani dropped her highly anticipated second mixtape You Should Be Here, which peaked at number 5 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop albums and included features from JMBLYA alum Chance the Rapper and BJ the Chicago Kid. YSBH scored Kehlani her first Grammy nomination for Best Urban Contemporary Album.

There’s a reason Kehlani’s You Should Be Here tour sold out almost every show. Kehlani started out as a dancer and can still move circles around most other performers out right now. Her DJ Noodles wakes the crowd up and Kehlani and her squad, consisting of her best friends, put on a sexy and energetic performance. Kehlani’s loyal fans, dubbed the Tsunami Mob, pack the house when she comes to town because they know Kehlani will connect with them and inspire them. Don’t be fooled by her tough, tatted exterior; she’s been through struggle and pain and she’s not afraid to break it down and tell her audience what she’s been through and more importantly, that it gets better.

Get familiar with Kehlani’s music before you see her turn JMBLYA all the way up by listening below. Also follow her on Snapchat @kehlanitsunami. Trust us.

JMBLYA Presents: Jazz Cartier

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Jazz Cartier, also known as Jacuzzi La Fleur, is an artist from Toronto that is soon to become one of your favorite poets. Listening to Jazz Cartier is a journey with him as he explores love, lost, solitude, frustrations and other built up emotions.

Jazz Cartier is the stage name of Jaye Adams, and though he is a native of Toronto, he has lived in the United States, Barbados and Kuwait. He credits the different music styles he was exposed to in these locations as all having an influence on his own style as a hip-hop artist. After being accepted into an art program at Columbia College in Chicago, Cartier went against his mother’s wishes and moved back to Toronto to work on music instead. Back in Toronto, Cartier began working with longtime friend and producer Lantz.  

His track “Switch” was regularly played at Toronto Raptors games by team DJ 4Korners and at a Toronto Red Bull Sound Select show in March 2015 he was introduced by celebrity rapper Kardinal Offishall. But it wasn’t until releasing his mixtape Marauding in Paradise in April 2015 that he caught the media’s attention.

Cartier tells Billboard “I’ve been doing this since I was 14. I’ve been practicing in front of the mirror years before my first show. I still practice in front of the mirror. I still get nervous. I’m still a kid on the inside. Like when I hit that stage, that’s what I worked for. All those nights where I was stressing out about shit not happening, I don’t think about that now because look at where we’re at.”

Recently Cartier dropped his project Hotel Paranoia. Singles “Stick and Move” and “Tales” premiered on Drake’s Beats 1 Radio Show, OVO Sound.  With so many different artists emerging out of Toronto, Cartier is remarkably different. Go check out his music before you catch him perform live at this year’s JMBLYA. 

Get your tickets here.

JMBLYA Presents: Keith Ape

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Expect the unexpected with this guy. Keith Ape is showing us that hip-hop and rap has no boundaries. Hailing from the growing hip-hop community out of Seoul, South Korea, he got his U.S. break with his single “ ???” (“It G Ma”). Although it sounds similar to OG Maco’s “U Guessed It,” Ape puts a Korean-trap flavor to it, featuring other Asian hip-hop rappers: JayAllDay, Loota, Okasian and Kohh. He would later remix the song with American rappers A$AP Ferg, Father, Dumbfounded and Waka Flocka Flame. If you’re wondering what “It G Ma” means it’s a slang term that Ape and his crew, The Cohort Crew, use amongst each other that means “never forget.” It’s the English equivalent to “hey what’s good.”

Born Dongheon Lee, he grew up in Bundang, a slow suburb about an hour from Seoul. At the age of 17, he dropped out of high school and under the name Kid Ash had no other plans but to make music. “I wasn’t doing bad things like smoking cigarettes, riding motorcycles, jacking people’s money,” he tells Complex in an interview. “But I was a problem child.”

He began uploading music to Soundcloud and making videos, but wasn’t too successful. Eventually in 2012, Cohort Crew rapper Okasian was listening to a producer’s beat tape and stumbled upon a track that had Keith’s vocals. “I hit the producer up, like, ‘Who’s this guy?’” Okasian said in a Complex interview. “It was his voice, his flow, his lingo, his accent. He raps like a language. I definitely saw huge potential that’s different from other rappers.”

The song that changed Keith’s life forever wasn’t intended to be an international hit. The Cohort Crew had been vibing to OG Maco’s “You Guessed It” and wanted to make something similar. Cohort member JayAllDay, who lived in Japan for several years got Japanese rappers Kohh and Loota to join him, Keith and Okasian on the track, making it a dope Korean-Japanese collaboration. Producer Junior Chef cooked up the trap beat. “It G Ma” only contains a handful of English phrases, but they are made to grab your attention. The song’s catchy, nonsensical hooks and aggressive trap sound made it popular, and many listeners posted enthusiastic reactions on Vine and YouTube. Keith Ape and The Cohort Crew have been on nearly everyone’s radar since January 2015. Ape is reportedly working day and night on perfecting his craft. He is also working on a collaborative EP with CXSHXNLY produced by Southside of 808 Mafia.

Keith continues to put out his music on Soundcloud. He has been working with many other underground rappers like Robb Bank$, Ken Rebel, Denzel Curry — the list goes on. Be sure to check out all of Keith Ape’s music, old and new and prepare yourself for a dope live show at this year’s JMBLYA. “It G Ma!” (Never Forget!).

Get your tickets here.

           

AlunaGeorge – I Remember

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Today on BBC 1 Radio AlunaGeorge debuted her title track with Flume off her upcoming album. Along with the track she released the cover art for the album, which is expected to come out sometime this spring. Listen to the new track below and catch one of her upcoming shows in Texas or her performance at this year’s Neon Desert Festival.

Tickets:
5/26 — Houston @ Warehouse Live
5/27 — Austin @ Emo’s
5/28 — El Paso @ Neon Desert Music Festival

3/3 — Houston @ Warehouse Live

JMBLYA Presents: Post Malone

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Post Malone is one of hip-hop’s latest, random successes. The Dallas native hit over 41 million streams on Soundcloud with his debut track “White Iverson,” effectively busting into the scene.  

After getting his name out in early 2015 with “White Iverson,” produced by FKi, he followed up with his solid tracks “Too Young,” “What’s Up,” and “Tear$.” In August he signed to Republic Records, proving to be more than a one-hit wonder.  

Beyond his singles, Malone has been featured on tracks with artists such as Lil Uzi, Mac Miller, 50 Cent, Zuse, Gucci Mane, Riff Raff, Lil B and Kanye West. His latest feature on Kanye West’s The Life of Pablo getting the most hype. Post has surely thrived within his first year, which makes us super excited for what is next as we anxiously await a full-length, debut album from the young MC.

Austin Post, better known as Post Malone was born in Syracuse, New York and was raised in Dallas, Texas, which is evident in his love for both country and rap music. After hitting expert mode on Guitar Hero, Post Malone picked up the guitar and taught himself how to play, inspired by classical rock artists such as AC/DC and Metallica. His Guitar Hero inspired interest later led him to joining a hardcore band in high school, where he eventually began to produce music. The rapper picked up hip-hop after his dad gave him a copy of Terror Squad’s hit “Lean Back.” Post Malone worked with Dallas-based music company IRAS, until he made the move to the West Coast and landed in Los Angeles.

Post Malone has surely impressed us with his quick come up as he is set to headline Bonnaroo Music Festival later this year and join Justin Bieber on his upcoming tour. Be sure to check out Malone as one of the latest artists to hit the JMBLYA stage.

JMBLYA Presents: Noodles

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Cali DJ Noodles is blowing up, and her tasty mixes are sure to turn up the crowd at this year’s JMBLYA. This 23-year-old has an incredible music taste that makes for the some of the dopest mixes you’ll ever hear live.

Noodles was born in San Francisco, California, as Micah Mahinay. Mahinay took her first steps into the music scene by sneaking into nightclubs as a 16-year-old. She later learned how to mix on vinyl records after repairing her father’s old turntables, who was a DJ in the ‘80s. As a teen, Noodles would spend hours dedicated to mixing.

In 2014, she was approached by R&B singer Kehlani, and the two became close friends. Noodles became Kehlani’s touring DJ, and together the two have hosted parties and events across the US. One of their collaborative efforts “Dethirsterate” was a mix presented by HYPTRAK. Her tracks “SOBA” and “Lo-Mein” showcase her talent of fusing R&B, hip-hop and electronic sounds. Check out her mixes and get on the TSNMI wave as her and Kehani shake up this year’s JMBLYA.

Get your tickets to JMBLYA here.

Doeman at Warehouse Live

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Thursday night, Doeman ended his three-stop Texas run, appropriately in his hometown of Houston (in a Rockets jersey, no less). The crowd brought out lots of energy and support for the Barrio God and their hometown hero as he performed bangers off his latest project Outer Body Experience. The show had some special moments, most notably when Doeman brought his tio on stage to pay tribute to his 12-year-old cousin who recently died in a car accident. He also brought up some special guests including Propain, who performed an impromptu version of his single with Doeman “Jodeci” (due to the crowd’s chanting requests) and Soul of Sherif, who helped Doeman out on the chorus of “Soul of Mind.” The whole set was a night to remember, thanks to Doeman’s incredible stage presence, the DYNA Music Group squad, and the love Houston has for their own.

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Doeman – Austin, TX @ Scoot Inn Indoors – February 24, 2016

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Awhile back, we began the process of putting together a Texas tour with an emerging artist out of Houston by the name of Doeman. Various ScoreMore employees were passionate about his music and wanted to start building out more local artist-centered tours in smaller venues across the state. With the release of Doeman’s most recent project, O.B.E., we were able to link up with the DYNA Music Group crew and put together the O.B.E. Tour, which stopped through Austin at Scoot Inn Indoors last night — photos above — and will be hitting San Antonio this Saturday, Dallas Sunday and Houston Thursday, March 3.

Doeman’s live shows are a perfect mix of raw realness, with the Houston rapper often stopping mid-track to spit acapella, and accessibility so even the uninitiated can have a ball turning up with their friends. If you support Texas music or real music in general, catching the O.B.E. Tour is a must. Come through. Tickets and info on the shows below:

2.27 – San Antonio @ Alamo City Music Club
2.28 – Dallas @ Three Links
3.03 – Houston @ Warehouse Live

Story by Grant Waring.
Photos by Amanda Johnson and Sarah Jasmine.