Edurk Black Pablo is not only the CEO of Awol G Code Promotions, but a musician, singer, rapper, producer, and entrepreneur. His reign began back in 1996 and his moves continue to make headlines.
When Pablo entered the scene he did so as a member of the Dayton Family and signed a major deal with Relativity Records. The single “F.B.I.” peaked at #45 on Billboard 200. He went on to link with Hip Hop icon Master P for 2 Gold Albums, ‘Down South Hustlers’ and 36 Mafia’s ‘Chapter II-World Domination as well as a 50-state tour with Insane Clown Posse.
“I’ve been to prison, lost everything I had, lost my parents within a week apart, lost my brother, and ongoing life’s struggles forces you keep pushing on. That’s what I do and intend to continue doing.”
As a solo artist, Pablo’s latest single/video “Tear Me Down” is taking off globally and climbing charts at #60 on Top 150 Independent Charts and at #161 on Top 200 Global Charts. He is preparing for summer concerts and tours with Gucci Mane’s artist Enchanting. On top of all that, Pablo will begin shooting the documentary Dope Dayton Ave based on the Dayton Family, stayed tuned for that. “Big things are coming. I’m blessed and keep letting God drive the car.”
City The Great, acclaimed Hip Hop artist/CEO remembers the first rap he wrote at the age of nine, “F*ck School.” Ever since his pen hit paper he knew there was no other calling for him, and without sounding cliche, the rest is history. As he matured so did his music and drive to master his craft 24/7. City did just that and his catalog grew to consist of a series of mixtapes, albums, and collaborations with legends and pioneers. Once music icon Special Ed caught wind of City’s sound and vibe he immediately signed him as the first artist to his label SEmedia. ” I was taken back, City The Great is refreshing to the ears, his realness is authentic and he strives to keep the culture and elements of Hip Hop alive.” -Special Ed
Not only does he wear the hat of an artist, but as the CEO of Certified Nation Entertainment, he strives to scout and sign like-minded talent who are eager to be part of his mission to bridge the generation gap in Hip Hop. City also linked with Kool Rock Ski of The Fat Boys to orchestrate the Annual Classic Hip Hop and R&B Cookout in NY where the old and new schools unite for good vibes, music, and food. “He has great talent and is making incredible moves in the industry, he keeps me young and motivated, this is just the beginning.” – Kool Rock Ski
Both Special Ed, Kool Rock Ski, and other founding fathers of Hip Hop are impressed with the NY Stapleton’s ability to reach the masses, globally by way of his authentic wordplay and lyricism true to traditional Hip Hop with an edge of new-wave, with respect to the culture and elements. Be sure to connect with City The Great below and grab a copy of his latest projects ‘The Wordsmith’ album and ‘Respectfully Yours’ the mixtape.
JLC, a Texas-based artist/CEO, along with A.A.G. Records release his new single already buzzing on major radio and media platforms, “Illuminate One.” On the record, JLC talks about artists and decisions they face that could ideally change their lives for the better, but at what cost…Shall the halo risen shoulder prevail over the scorching one? Listeners are sure to grip JLC’s raw emotions and honesty as he shares his reality of feeling torn. Should he change his name, should he sell his soul for fame? He resolves this dilemma JLC style; he will continue to steer down his own path without dumbing down to fame or giving in to ultimatums. Those who know JLC know he doesn’t fold or fall victim to intimidation. Hard basslines and dramatic melodies underline JLC’s telling lyricism. Stream “Illuminate One” and connect with JLC below.
City The Great, vetted BK artist/CEO (Certified Nation Entertainment) chops it up about his new single “Day One”, his forthcoming album ‘The Wordsmith’, making industry moves alongside Hip Hop legend Special Ed, and more. Peep the full interview below and listen to “Day One.”
MJ: Before we jump into “Day One” let everyone know who you are and where you’re from.
City the Great: Thanks for having me. I am City the Great from East NY, Brooklyn.
MJ: You’re an artist under Hip Hop legend Special Ed. How did that come to fruition? Are there any challenges regarding age and mindset? Or is this a step towards bridging the generational gap in Hip Hop?
City the Great: Actually, my homeboy is Ed’s 1st cousin and he told me for the longest that he would connect us. Of course, at the time I didn’t believe he was Ed’s cousin. One day he came to the studio with me and took the song I wrote and recorded that day and said he was going to play it for Ed while at Funkmaster Flex’s birthday bash at BB Kings in Manhattan. Long story short he did and gave me Ed’s number…he wanted to speak with me, and the rest is history. There are really no challenges in age and mindset in working with Ed. He’s been a great mentor and I have learned a lot about the game from him. He stays up to date on the business and the culture. He also has great faith in my grind and creations. I would say without a doubt, we are in the works of bridging the generational gap in Hip Hop.
MJ: Let’s get to “Day One” which is taken from your upcoming album ‘The Wordsmith.’ The track has a cinematic anthem vibe with a hook catchy enough for the clubs and streets. It’s evident you have a knack for drawing audiences in. Talk about “Day One” from the motivation behind it to your expectation of the track.
City The Great: The story about the creation of this one is an interesting one…I was sitting on this beat for a while by Molly The Kid. I was conversating with my Certified Nation Entertainment comrade Itsonlywrite just talking about all the people that we worked with and knew throughout this journey that were kind of in and out. We laughed about how funny it is that when things weren’t going upward, they split or didn’t support, and now that we are moving, they all want to claim they’re day ones. That sparked my mind on expressing that on wax. I think what really made the song pop was my engineer King Bash jumping in and harmonizing on the hook. My expectation for Day One is to appeal to all audiences giving them that commercial feel yet true to the cultural vibe.
MJ: What can you tell us about your upcoming album and what can listeners anticipate from it?
City The Great: People are going to get a rollercoaster ride. I have been working on this project for the past 2 years piece by piece to ensure I capture the best feel in my testimony of being a wordsmith. This project will be very balanced with the right number of features and it’s going to display something for everyone that will be nostalgic.
MJ: Besides having the backing, support, and genius of Special Ed, what is your signature move, if you will, that differentiates you from other artists in the industry?
City The Great: I think what differentiates me and other artists in the industry is the soul that I pour into my craft which identifies my true being…A person being themself is the perfect form of originality. There’s a certain energy I give listeners and audiences and I have my own sound where you know it’s me and that element is never lost no matter what type of song it is that I am on. Not only that but I keep that element alive with versatility, you just never know which angle I am going to come on a track but you will always know it’s me.
MJ: Aside from the new album release prep, what other endeavors are you working on?
City The Great: I am currently working on growing my company Certified Nation Entertainment, educating, and assisting artists with their careers. I’m also working on multiple collaborative projects including a mixtape coming soon with my DJ, DJ Bad Tha Problem (proceeding the album release). I am working on a Certified Nation Entertainment collab project with the team of artists Jae Law aka Hindrix, Pengame Classic, Chambs Taylor, Jacqui Grace, and of course Itsonlywrite. There’s also a collaborative project with Chambs Taylor titled ‘CD’ (Collateral Damage). You can catch freestyle videos I will be releasing weekly as well as working with my management team Samantha Leavell of Certified Nation and legendary Kool Rock Ski on an event, For The Culture By The Culture. I can’t leave out 2022’s Annual Hip Hop & R&B Cookout in East BK…The list goes on and on.
MJ: Wrapping up, let everyone know how they can connect with you.
City The Great: Thank you I can be found on any platform as City the Great but one of the easiest ways to link with me all in one place is on my website CertifiedNationEntertainment.com.
After giving fans the highs and lows of hood life in the Ville (Louisville, KY) with “Days of our Lives” and taking them down memory lane with “Average” Philly Blocks returns with another single/video titled “CEO” produced by DP Beats.
Over a captivating blend of piano keys, striking drums, and knocking bass, Blocks delivers in your face bars declaring his CEO status. CEO status in the streets, with money and women, and of course in music. It’s time to “big dog flex” and show off earned shine and success. Watch “CEO” and connect with Philly Blocks @PhillyBlocks
Philly Blocks is back this week with visuals for “CEO” produced by DP Beats and directed by Courtesy of Creme. “CEO” is off Blocks’ upcoming ‘Mr. 17th’ EP.
Over a captivating blend of piano keys, striking drums, and knocking bass, Blocks delivers in your face bars declaring his CEO status. CEO status in the streets, with money and women, and of course in music. It’s time to “big dog flex” and show off earned shine and success. Watch “CEO” and connect with Philly Blocks @PhillyBlocks.
Originally from Colorado and now residing in Austin, Artist B2D credits the success of his music to the demons of society that haunt him. Fans tune in to this exclusive interview and get up and close with B2D.
MJ: Thank you for taking time away from the mic for this interview, your time is appreciated. For those who aren’t familiar with you as an artist, tell us who you are.
B2D: My Name is B2D which stands for Born 2 Die, and I’m an artist & CEO of my record Label Bellavino Billionaires Music Group, which I just established a little over a Year Ago. I’m very versatile as an artist and feel like I shine most in my music when I share my pain. I love art in all forms, but I never been to good with a paint brush, so what I can paint with words is way above standard.
MJ: When did music become a major part of your life? Was it teenage years or even younger? Also tell us when you realized music was no longer a hobby or a passion.
B2D: I was a fan of music and it played a major role in my life before I could even talk. As a I use to bob my head or dance to music all the time, the vibe was just there. I was always passionate about music and I would release music for free all the time. I never took a look at it like a business. But once I started to take my music seriously and wanted to make a living from it, best believe I made a lot of mistakes. I work very closely with a childhood friend that’s very successful in the music industry who is guiding and managing my career. A year from now life for me and my team will be very different on the positive end! Blood, sweat, and tears, we know we have to put everything we have into our dream or we won’t get anything out of it, or see any results.
MJ: You take pride in steering away from “fake rappers who rap about situations they never been through”. Why do you think that has become so trendy lately? What specifically about your music separates you from those rappers?
B2D: Music is music. I really dislike rappers who talk like their Tony Montana flipping kilos and killing whoever they have beef with or make it big from false stories in their raps. The twist to all of this nonsense is real street cats, the young ones more so feel like they really have to prove that they are real to the world and they will go rob somebody or lay somebody down then get on a track and brag about! It’s not smart and doesn’t make any sense business or music wise. The trend right now is a catchy hook and an auto tune verse. People use to steal the Migos delivery but now rappers will go with whatever single is hot at the moment and steal that delivery whether it’s Drake or 69 Kat, or whoever. What separates me or my music from other artists is simply me! I’m not trying to be anybody else. When it’s time to record music I put all of me on the records and I give fans the real me and my real life. I don’t front or lie on my tracks to look cook or gain fans.
MJ: It takes a real emcee to share their personal life, mistakes, encounters with the law, running the streets, etc. with the world and fans! In the world we live in today the media and press tend to shy away from artists who speak upon “their past of hard knocks”. How do you feel about that?
B2D: I don’t agree with that I feel like they always bring up the past and they never talk about the positive changes they have made in their life.
MJ: Besides being an Artist you are also in the process of building your own Record Label. Gives us some insight on the label, and the new compilation out now under that label.
B2D: Building a label is a lot of hard work. I’m constantly grinding and making sure that both myself and artists are getting the most effective exposure. The hardest part is dealing with some artists. Some artists think they deserve a lot of money once their album or single drops. Or they think they know everything when they haven’t been signed in the past. A lot of artists lack the knowledge of the business side of music and that is one my goals with the label. I work diligently to educate artists… I will say this though, the new compilation has me and a few of my artists on going hard from beginning to end. Since the release we have been receiving a tremendous amount of positive feedback. We are polishing up on another compilation that will be released in a couple of months.
MJ: You have collaborated with some major artists. Do you have a top 3 of other artists you would like to share the stage or studio with?
B2D: The top three artists I would like to collaborate with in the studio is NbA Young Boy, Icewear Vezzo, and Moneybagg Yo.
MJ: B2D wears many hats! Tell us about the clothing line and the winery.
B2D: I started making wine nine years ago. I was taught by a retired cook on a cruise ship. I titled the wine Bellavino and I distribute it through events, fashion shows, and online at www.BellavinoBillionaires.com. Bellavino Billionaire Apparel is also available at shows and events. Right now no other hats are getting put on until the Label Bellavino Billionaires Music Group has a level of skyrocket success!
MJ: With so much on your plate as a true entrepreneur has, what is your secret to balance, especially with family?
B2D: Balance comes from making a schedule and making sure you make time for what’s important every week.
MJ: Who are some people who have an influence on your life and career?
B2D: 2pac inspired me to rap and Adrain Swish inspired me to turn my passion of music into a business. Seeing someone else come up doing what I love to do inspires me, haters and non-believers inspire me, and most importantly my daughter inspires me!
MJ: What’s up next for B2D?
B2D: More music and acting.
MJ: As we wrap up is there anything else you want the world to know about yourself and your label?
B2D: Roll up some weed or whatever it is you might do and prepare yourself for the show Bellavino Billionaires Music Group is about to give you!
Long Beach, California born Marcosus LeBlanc, best known as the recording artist Marcosus, is a former Boise State football star-turned-entertainer due in part to his classic battle with talented underground battle rapper Trigaaa on popular Hip-Hop battle series presented by legendary recording artist Snoop Dogg. Garnering over 100k views instantly, the performance gained the recording artist a stamp of approval from Snoop Dogg to create the Doggstyle Records’s inspired entity Young Doggstyle Records. Marcosus popularity organically arose as the opening act on Snoop Dogg’s successful Puff Puff Pass 2 Tour. Showcasing his skills nightly, Marcosus shared the stage with fellow legends Twista, Too Short, and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony.
Very versatile, Marcosus caters a buffet style that is gritty street play-on-words lyricism infused with real-life concepts. An on the other end of the spectrum, a very soulful vocalist that can tap into a unlimited well of range simultaneously. Always evolving and versatile every time he approaches the booth, Marcosus exhibits superior rhymeslaying in every flow.
Through his mixtape travels, Marcosus has released three certified hot mixtapes to-date with Singing & Smoking Vol One, and his popular Young DoggyStyle Compilation Fresh Prince of LBC series. The two volume series has been honored the hottest mixtape of the summer and features collaborations with several a-list acts such as; T-Pain, Slim Jesus, Bobby Raps, Ab-Soul, Arsonal, and 2Chainz. Making for a great way to start the new year with no introduction needed backed by so many heavyweights.
In 2018, Marcosus continues to strive as a breakout star on the verge of becoming a household name on the West Coast. Slated to release his biggest single to-date in the Too Short-featured new track, “Smoke Too This”, off his forthcoming new album. A feel-good West Coast boogie, Marcosus and Short bring that signature gangsta boogie West Coast vibe to the masses just in for the Summer. “Smoke Too This” will be available everywhere June 1st via Young DoggyStyle Records.
There hasn’t been a star this talented since Ty Dolla $ign to come out of the West Coast. The perfect jumping-on point of everyone before Marcosus releases his new album, Singing & Smoking, slated for release this July 20 on all digital platforms.
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