Hip-Hop Lives Here
Hip-Hop Lives Here
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Songwriter/producer Pamela Edwards McClafferty sees the importance of Black history in our nation. She has teamed up with rapper, Clash, to release a powerful new single called “Shades of Black and White,” which portrays the struggles and strife endured from the 1600s through today.
The six-minute-track is the first of a series to be released on a monthly basis as part of her newest album titled Now, which was produced along with Mark McClafferty. “Shades of Black and White” is written in the style of poignant poetry with a backdrop of an epic soundscape that gets the listener’s blood pumping and thoughts swirling.
“In our country we seem to be banning books, banning history, forgetting about history,” she said. “But here, all you have to do is listen to the history. If you listen to these six minutes and realize what African Americans have gone through in our country, you understand what extraordinary people African Americans are. They’ve endured the experiences from being taken from their homeland to living through the history of “black and white.”
McClafferty writes, and Clash raps:
“Kidnapped from home,
Chained -shipped unknown
--Two hundred years
of tears
workin ’on land,
whips in hand.
1831 Turner Revolt
Slave Rebellion Bolts
Underground rails
Turning wind to sails
Tubman soldier spy
opening North’s eyes
1857 Dred Scott decision
South rejoi-ces - slaves not cit-i-zens”
“When a thought comes to me, a lot of times the lyric comes first and the music caresses the lyric,” McClafferty said. “I want to say something about Clash- he’s very gifted. He immediately understands the “why” and the “how” of lyrics and how they should be interpreted. Not only is he a rapper, but a singer with a unique sound. Clash has a lot of talent and a great heart and his gifts shine through in all his art.”
Producer Mark McClafferty said Clash is as interesting an artist, as he is a gentle rapper who brings a certain type of soul to the song. The 24-year-old is multi-talented and worked previously with the producing duo on the musical “Artland” Music by Stanley Clarke and Book & Lyrics by Pamela Edwards McClafferty, which is now finished after being worked on for over a decade.
“When it came to “Shades”, Mark and I were listening to a lot of rappers and Clash came up again,” she said. “He grew up with a single mother and four siblings in Long Beach. He cares about his community, mankind and his art. We all share in the same vision to bring people together.”
Clash works his way through the lyrics with grace, but an overwhelming feel of strength as he raps about the dire history of his race in America. It spans from the Civil War era, touching on the Ku Klux Klan, the Emancipation Proclamation and then up through the beginning of the 20th century for the start of the NAACP. It moves on to the mid-20th century, with Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in baseball, and Rosa Parks taking her seat on the bus. But then, it gets tragic again, with the lyrics saying:
“THEN MARTIN’S GONE!
THE DREAM GONE
THE MOUNTAIN TOP GONE
BOBBY GONE!
COMPASSION GONE
OH, THE MOUNTAIN’S GONE!”
Moving to the 21st century, the track touches on President Barack Obama opening the door and taking two steps forward. But once he left, it seemed like there were two steps back.
“Then a step back with Floyd
How to fill the void?
With Black Lives Matter
BLACK LIVES MATTER
Steps forward
Artists extraordinaire in rarified air
Actors musicians singers
Inspiring more than a wing on a prayer
But there’s still two Steps back
TWO STEPS BACK
She said that it was important to represent what African Americans have endured through music, saying that “it is a shade, and what is everybody really afraid of?”
“When you hit the bottom line, what is everyone afraid of?” McClafferty said. “That is up to each individual to decide. Clash, Mark and I just hope this history will bring to light what African Americans have gone through and overcome.”
McClafferty is a writer, bestselling author, award winning producer and fashion designer who has a wide array of experience and achievements. She and Producer/Writer Mark McClafferty co-founded Spellbound Pictures, and McClafferty said Now is so important to them as it reflects the times “right now.” The plan is for a new single to be released at the beginning of each month, with each representing a aspect of society to be touched upon musically. Next on the docket is a song called “Reflections,” which will be sung by Lain Roy, who was a contestant on The Voice.
The project NOW provides a “drop of hope and thought,” and it is a tiny ripple of interpretation of McClafferty’s vision of what is going on in the world. It will go through a series of themes ranging from the brutal honesty of the scourge of fentanyl, to “Whose rights are right,” and a
reflection of ourselves in our children. These are issues that people don’t always want to talk about, but the idea is that maybe if it goes along with music, it can be more palatable and have an effect.
“It is there for people to look at and I hope that it does some good,” McClafferty said. “What are we doing in the world? It’s just a question. I’m not trying to cast judgment. I just hope people will think about the lyrics and their history.”
Be sure to check out “Shades of Black and White” available on June 1, and keep up with all the new releases from Now.
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Emerging artist TIMEDWIN is making waves in the music industry with his latest single, "Break the Dawn." More than just a catchy tune, the song is a rallying cry for change—and it was made possible through the use of AI technology. The track combines AI-generated music with original lyrics and is intended as an anthem for a new era in American politics, supporting the presidential campaign of Vice President Kamala Harris.
A Virginia native with deep Southern roots, TIMEDWIN draws inspiration from the potential of seeing the first woman elected as president of the United States. “Break the Dawn” reflects his country roots, but was inspired by a dance hit; he hopes his song also inspires a merger of urban and rural, liberal and conservative. He says, “The title of my song was inspired by Michelle Williams’ 2008 hit, ‘We Break the Dawn.’ Her dance track felt like the perfect vibe for the Harris campaign, and I hope to introduce the same energetic optimism to new audiences through an evolution in lyrics and genre.”
"Break the Dawn" is intentionally brief, making it ideal for social media sharing on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. But beyond its viral potential, the track is a unique fusion of traditional country music with modern influences. In this way, TIMEDWIN hopes to speak directly to conservative Southern audiences. TIMEDWIN, who identifies as queer, sees this as an opportunity to bridge cultural divides, using music to connect with listeners who might not typically engage with progressive politics. “I wanted to create something that spoke to people in a familiar language, a familiar type of music that makes sense to them,” he says.
Indeed, the tune features the hallmarks of the country-pop genre. It begins with a familiar-sounding male vocal in an auto-tuned southern drawl, while an acoustic-tinged rhythm track provides a laid-back country feel. The lyrics evoke a rural morning, the sun peeking through the pine trees while coffee and bacon warm you. The scene appropriately set, the political message is revealed in support of Kamala Harris, whom TIMEDWIN refers to as “Mamala,” envisioning the would-be president as a mother figure for America.
Let’s go, America
The day’s ahead
Dreaming big with every step we tread
Mamala’s here to get you ready for the day
Love wrapped in every word she’ll say
It is these lyrics that TIMEDWIN believes can make a difference in the 2024 presidential race. "Break the Dawn" is part of an album titled Mamala, a labor of love and belief, with TIMEDWIN personally funding the production, AI tools, and PR efforts. His goal isn’t just to create music for entertainment but to support a political movement he deeply believes in. “I could have just donated some money to her campaign, but I thought that creating an album that went viral and supported her would be a better contribution,” TIMEDWIN says.
The single’s release comes at a crucial time, as the U.S. presidential election approaches this November. TIMEDWIN hopes that "Break the Dawn" will resonate with listeners and perhaps even reach Vice President Harris herself. “If she actually heard it, that would be the end goal,” he says.
While TIMEDWIN’s music is made possible by the advent of AI tools, the artist’s musical journey is rooted in a family tradition. His grandfather was a naval musician in World War II and later a band teacher, while his father composed music for theme parks. However, TIMEDWIN’s path took a modern twist. For the past decade, he worked as a copywriter, honing his skills in crafting engaging, catchy content. He has now brought those skills to the music industry, writing lyrics and using AI to generate melodies. “Without AI, I wouldn’t be publishing this at all,” TIMEDWIN explains. “I’m not out there singing at clubs, but now I can create music that has the potential to make an impact.”
With a unique blend of AI music technology, political lyrics, and activism, TIMEDWIN is not just breaking the dawn—he’s breaking new ground, offering a fresh, innovative approach to how music can be used to influence and inspire.
Listen to “Break the Dawn” on Spotify now
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