Kaze Jones & Joy Ruckus Club Presents: "Asians Represent" feat JVNHO, Tealousy, & Monotone | Video

America is in a state of hardcore tribalism and divisiveness. For Asian Americans, the stereotypes and old tropes have morphed into real hate. SoCal hip hop artist and activist Kaze Jones is, sadly, all too familiar with the current climate. Never one to be a victim, Kaze flips the script and the reclaims the narrative with his new single, "Asians Represent." Presented in conjunction with Joy Ruckus Club, "Asians Represent" is a statement, loudly proclaiming Asian Americans' place in hip hop...and their place in today's culture.

Produced by Ionika from Philadelphia., "Asians Represent" is a hard-hitting, trap inspired track bringing Kaze Jones together with a superstar team of Asian American artists and MCs fresh on the scene. Kaze delivers his verses with aggression in his signature rasp, blending perfectly with the philosophical, rapid-fire rhymes of Chicago native Monotone, LA rising talent JVNHO and the smooth lyricism of Cali's own Tealousy. "Asians Represent" is an unapologetic anthem of cultural pride and staking a claim in the world hip hop.

Listen to "Asians Represent," presented by Kaze Jones and Joy Ruckus Club, from the forthcoming album The Alumni.

Music Video:

Music Link:

https://foundation-media.ffm.to/asiansrep

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The Super Bowl Halftime Show was Hip-Hop's Stamp Of Power Towards The NFL.

This year the NFL has made it known that they have a serious issue with race relations within its' business and that has hurt relations that they have had with its' consumers and fan base. The Colin Kaepernick movement with kneeling against police brutality was turned into a whirlwind of political rhetoric that turned into a talk about a man kneeling showing an unpatriotic spirit that is disrespectful to the country when that was never the case at all. To be continued.

Then the NFL teamed with Jay-Z and the conversation was to move pass the the Kaepernick situation and move towards the next chapter of moving towards healing the combative sides of Pro kneeling and Anti Kaepernick that led to more urban halftime shows and the NFL stating that the Black National Anthem would play before games to acknowledge they are pledging to help heal with its' "Black Players and Coaches", to show there will be a working relationship to build positive long lasting unions between the league, them and the fans. Erase Racism was painted in the end zones and the Black National Anthem, Lift Every Voice, was never played not even during the Super Bowl. I guess that olive branch dried up and never fully blossomed. Yet the NFL failed once again in the healing it promised.

The Rooney rule was created so "minority" coaches and executives could get a fair chance to interview and obtain jobs in the NFL. After the 2021-2022 season Brain Flores was fired from his head coaching job with the Miami Dolphins, for peculiar reasons and considered the top coaching candidate. It comes to pass that Bill Belichick allegedly had inside information from the NY Giants office that made him text the wrong Brian to having heard he had the job and instead of the Brian he text being Flores, he text Brian Daboll instead, Race of the coaches is an issue I guess, but the real issue is the timing of the hire and the news when according to the Rooney rule 2 outside candidates had to be interviewed and Brian Flores said he did not interview yet, and received the text that opened up a lawsuit that can cause another martyr in this modern NFL era. Kaepernick has not quarterbacked in the NFL to this point if ever again, and now Brian Flores may never coach in the NFL again. All this while a High school coach that was a former NFL player was considered for a Head Coaching job and not given it to what seems as a save face hiring of "minortiy" coach by the Houston Texans. Now you may say what does this have to do with the halftime show?

The answer is Hip-Hop has always been the representation of the inner city or "minorty" voice that entertained the word through our pain and struggle. Fighting police brutality, unfair wages and hiring practices, has been a mantra in what is deemed as unfair social practices and civil rights violations in the United States of America since the colonizing of this land. So when when Hip-Hop was given its' chance to take the stage not only did the legends come to perform the message was sent that we will entertain and leave a mark on the stage you, America, will never forget.

Dr. Dre brought the soul of West Coast Hip-Hop and music innovation out with his sound while Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blidge Eminem, suprise guest 50 Cent and Kendrick Lamar gave us the music we long for. While people will remember the feeling of music, 50 Cent's girth or how beautiful Mary J. Blidge looked. Kendrick Snoop and Eminem gave us the Hip-Hop feeling of saying F the system and be yourself, that the National Football League hoped did not happen. With rumors of Snoop being told not to crip walk or throw his set on the main stage he did just that to tell censorship F You he is who he is and he represents for his people. Kendrick Lamar was dressed as a King and Diplomat and performed his classic song Alright as if to tell the world we gone be good with you or without you cause we are Hip-Hop and God's heritage. Lastly Eminem was told not to kneel but showed agreement with Colin Kaepernick by kneeling and causing uproar in the NFL community and cheers for the people that are effected by the abuse of authority of those that are called to protect and serve. By kneeling Sandra Bland, Eric Garner, George Floyd, The Freedom Riders and so many more people are remembered and Hip-Hop made that happen.

As we move forward from the halftime show the conversation has moved from how good the show was to how dare they and what will the NFL do. Well, if the NFL does not fix it's problems with prejudice, racism, and unfair hiring practices the narrative may never change and while other genres of music does not have the guts and or heart to take a stand to show their stance on important issues that effect the communities that are used to create the number of athletes and student's looking for an opportunity to do more, than Hip-Hop will always be there to voice it's displeasure with the system and to show the world where it stands for/against it. I salute the halftime show for being great and salute the people in the performance for not only a great show but showing who we are and what we do. We ARE the salt of the eat that gives it flavor. We are also the voice of the underrepresented on the field, executive offices and ownership positions also. He ware God's people. If our culture is Hip-Hop then God's Heritage is Hip-Hop and we will be here...FOREVER

Super Bowl Halftime Show Link:

https://youtu.be/gdsUKphmB3Y

Mr. Forge - Portals | Album

About:

From the moment you start listening to the intro to the new Portals album by Mr. Forge, you quickly understand that this is not just another album, this is an experience, a full aural immersion taking you on journey through different dimensions of this auditory movie-like world that has been created.

From love to pain, joy to sorrow, losing yourself only to be found again, each track on Portals represents a different dimension and brings you straight into the heart and mind of Mr. Forge. Produced entirely by Southern California's very own Ariano, Portals mixes breakbeats with live instruments, moving effortless between underground hip hop vibes and pop melodies, creating a canvas for Mr. Forge to lay down verses in his signature philosophical style.

Songs like "Letting Go" and "We Love You" are raw stories about painful moments which weave in and out of this album. Mr. Forge is not only elevating his sound on tracks like this but serving up an unfiltered honesty with the rasp of every vocal delivered, making you feel the turmoil of the moment.

Then there are songs like "Paper Cuts" and "Rings," which talk of a love gone wrong and the longing to find something to fill the void. Mr. Forge delivers his verses with a controlled ferocity, the lyrics heavy and introspective.

While on its surface, Portals lends itself to being a dark and moody album channeling all trials and tribulations of a life lived, there are moments of levity and optimism sewn into the fabric of the album. "Dreams" delivers a distinct upbeat reggae-esque vibe, while "Oasis" finds peace in the music, and "Solar Motivation" drops hopeful introspection on the listener.

Every track is tied to the next by a carefully laid interlude, a door into the next portal. Portals is truly a reflection of real life lived in progressive hip-hop.

Strap yourself in, because this is a journey. Welcome to Portals by Mr. Forge.

Check out the album below:

https://ampl.ink/RmbAO https://open.spotify.com/album/1ERWxOUhV8HAG52vZruKhZ?si=FcLYU7f8TI2oaD6bxu0ysw

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