Hip-Hop Lives Here
Hip-Hop Lives Here
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When Afrobeat–trap–fusion artist Vazboy Vazzy released his first song at the age of 17, he had never even heard of platforms like YouTube––but a friend uploaded the track for him, and the song garnered 12,000 plays in its first week.
“It just kept going up, up, up right after that,” Vazzy recalls. “It was really exciting and at the same time I was caught off guard because as a kid coming from Africa to America in search of a better life, you’re not really expecting anything like that. Coming from where I come from, people don’t really show you as much love just because everybody is kind of struggling and going through things.”
Inspired by the viral reaction to his first recorded song, and an emerging fanbase, Vazzy dove head first into music. A decade later, he’s found acclaim on two different continents and has his sights set on something even bigger. But his story began with hardship.
Vazzy grew up in the West African country of Liberia, a place torn by years of civil war, and it was this conflict his family fled more than 20 years ago when they immigrated to the United States.
“I’m a guy that comes from war, a guy that lost everything and then I came to the U.S.,” Vazzy says. “Living here, I’ve been able to really connect with a lot of compassionate people from all backgrounds. They want to see me win, and I want people to know I’m really proud to be here and thankful for America giving me the opportunity to chase my dreams. I’m a refugee who lost a lot but came to America to overcome the situation and I still have a dream to chase.”
His introduction to music came in church choirs back home (his grandmother would take him to choir practice after school), and he learned more in school here. After recording that first song at age 17, he delivered a successful mixtape in 2018 aimed at the Liberian entertainment industry. He went by the stage name Slumstar then, a title given to him by his community “because I come from nothing at all; I come from the slum,” he says.
That EP was even sponsored by the president of Liberia, who personally called Vazzy to discuss the project.
“That was a really big––maybe the biggest––moment of my career,” he says. “It’s amazing because after leaving Liberia for so long, most of my fanbase still comes from Liberia and I get good coverage in the media there.”
The project featured the hit song “Baddest Boy,” which saw Vazzy team up with Liberian rapper Bucky Raw. He says the track, and the support he got from back home, was a turning point in his career, and now he’s turning it into a hit all over again by reworking the song and featuring another well-known Liberian artist in Demmie Vee.
“I’m a versatile artist,” Vazzy says. “‘Baddest Boy’ is two songs. The first one (with Bucky Raw) was in the Liberian sound, which is hipco and trapco and I’m pretty good at doing that. The new version is just a regular Afrobeat, which I’m pretty fluent in. I’ve done the song twice, but it’s not the same beat or song.”
Vazzy says his take on Afrobeat is unique, in part because one of his biggest influences musically was 50 Cent. Vazzy’s father was a foreign exchange student in Maryland, and he returned to Liberia with a CD player and music including Get Rich Or Die Tryin’. Vazzy also drew inspiration from the music of Wizkid and other Afrobeats artists.
“Rap has always been a part of my life and my own flow,” he says. “There really aren’t many artists doing Afrobeats music like I do because I can rap and sing at the same time. I’m very versatile with it. Most top Afrobeats artists are singers.”
That’s where his unique fusion of Afrobeats and trap comes into play. And he pairs his style with authentic storytelling.
“Everything I’m trying to get across is a story I’ve experienced,” he says. “I’m definitely more of a storyteller.”
Vazzy’s reworked version of “Baddest Boy” dropped on August 30, and he’s already working on a follow-up EP.
Stay connected to Vazboy Vazzy on all platforms for new music, videos and social posts:
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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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