Hip-Hop Lives Here
Hip-Hop Lives Here
With “Match Energy,” a poppy hip-hop/R&B number, Red Key Records added a new song and a new artist to its ranks, Yeli Rain.
“It has an urban R&B feel with a hint of a country sound,” said Fred Crawford, a co-composer with Jonathon Radow.
The lyrics, in Yeli’s soft, strong, expressive voice, tells the story of a woman whose significant other has been multiply unfaithful, and she isn’t going to take it anymore.
Part of the fun is the mix of music, vocals and theme. The melody is definitely pop with, as Fred says, a hint of country, the beat is hip-hop, and the theme is R&B — a determined woman singing about not taking no crap, no how from nobody.
“This is the approach where the woman, instead of breaking up, gets revenge. She’s literally matching what he’s doing,” said Fred.
Now hold on tight for the ride of your life
You gon’ cheat then I’ma cheat twice
“But at the same time, it’s a toxic modern relationship. They love each other, but they’re also still being unfaithful. It’s the good-girl-gone-bad story. She wants to be faithful, she wants to be in love, but he’s cheating, so she’s gonna do it too.”
She is new to recording, but not to the entertainment industry. Under her own name, Nia Riley, she has more than a million followers on Instagram alone and on other social media for her work in television reality shows, movies and podcasts.
Among her television credits are “Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood”; “Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars”: and “Red Table Talk.” She has been a model and appeared on many magazine covers.
She is the daughter of Grammy Award winning producer and songwriter Teddy Riley, who has worked for such luminaries as Michael Jackson, Bobby Brown and others.
“Match Energy” was produced by the two Saints, Saint Blaise (Fred Blaise Crawford), and Saint Jon (Jonathon Radow), who have also been introduced as co-songwriters for “Match Energy.”
Fred is a co-founder, with Danny Bonilla, of Chicago’s Red Key Records. He is also the president and CEO of the label, and he is an award-winning producer in his own right. He has worked with such artists as Day 26, Gucci Mane, Snoh Aalegra, Chaka Khan, Bobby Brown “and countless others.”
For 10 years earlier in his career, he was signed as a producer with Diddy’s Bad Boy Records.
Red Key, which owns a studio in Chicago, has a distribution deal with Sony.
Yeli and Red Key are working on her first album, which will be out sometime in 2025.
“She’s in the studio with us, working on her first full album as we speak,” Fred said. “We have some major features who will be on the album, and she is also going to be launching a podcast soon,” he said.
With her first single out, Red Key Records is introducing a new song and a new artist. Meet them both by connecting with Yeli Rain and Red Key Records on all platforms for new music, videos, and social posts.
“Match Energy”: Apple Music | Spotify
Website, Red Key Records
Yeli Rain: Spotify | Facebook | Instagram | X
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While most high school students are figuring out homework and what to do with their free time, one rising hip-hop and rap artist out of Mississippi is busy making music on his terms. At 17, RAA Trey (born Alvin Peyton III) is showing up for his future self in a big way with the recent release of the new single, “Song of Da Year,” earlier in November. The track provides a preview of what to expect on his upcoming album 1OF1, featuring 14 songs that will drop this December.
RAA Trey, whose name is an acronym for “Respect Above All,” learned early on growing up in a family of entrepreneurs about putting in the work to make your vision a reality. He was only in seventh grade when he started his label, Take Money Records and Entertainment, which he still runs today, and began building a home studio to pursue his dream. The same drive and confidence remain, carrying over to his new work.
“Song of Da Year gives off a championship feel to it,” says RAA Trey. “I’m just letting everybody know to respect me as soon as I come in this game because when I’m coming, this is going to be over the top. That’s why it’s called Song of Da Year. Respect this.” Aware that his home state may not have a music scene such as other parts of the south like Memphis or Atlanta, RAA Trey shares he follows his own sound and whatever he feels at the moment.
Mixed and mastered by Shane Thomson with lyrics by RAA Trey, who writes all of his music, “Song of Da Year” features powerful lyrics of assurance with one particular part paying tribute to his mother: my momma worry / I told my momma she ain't gotta worry / evea' since I was young, you been nervous / I promise I'm gon' make it with these verses.”
As for performing, RAA Trey is a natural performer, gracing several stages, including a show to thousands featuring rapper a well known rapper from Louisiana, among other events over the years. Fans can expect to see him even more in the months ahead, as he plans to tour, expand his fan base and launch merchandise.
With “Song of Da Year,” RAA Trey, is manifesting, making his mark—and he hasn’t even graduate yet. Those who want to learn more and listen to his latest music can follow him on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
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