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  • “Black Minq” is a forceful rap sign of Day Badara’s return from a hard time

“Black Minq” is a forceful rap sign of Day Badara’s return from a hard time

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Day Badara has been here before, releasing a song, and finding success. Then it was hijacked. Now he’s back with his new artist name and “Black Minq,” a defiant rap track with intertwining melodies in the background.

“It is defiant,” he said. “It’s telling the world that I’m coming. No matter what gets put in front of me, no matter what obstacles I had to go through when people made me feel like I wasn’t who I said I was, that’s where the song came from.”

Life change I’m calling an audible
Ima keep stunting I see that it bothers you
Focus on the love the hate Ima smother you
I walk in smooth they all look uncomfortable

Under his earlier stage name, Reem Iidol, he got a million views on his YouTube with his song R.B.F. He also had a fan base already but then his Instagram got hacked.

“The person was using my Instagram to make money off my name and depreciating my brand, and I decided ‘You know what? I’m gonna create a whole different version of myself.’ And that’s how ‘Black Minq’ came about. That’s the song that defines this next chapter of myself, a new artist.”

“Black Minq” was the first song on the 10-track album When It’s Dark, released in early 2024. He is promoting it now as a kind of introduction to H¥DR^ (pronounced hydra), a mixtape coming out later this year.

Black Minq, driven by its rich blend of electronic strings, horns, and piano melodies, emerged from the hard-hitting trap beat that served as its foundation. The instrumental backdrop set the stage for the track's essence, shaping its direction from the very beginning.

The beat spoke for itself," Day reflected. "I sat with it for about 10 minutes, and during that time, I started to envision luxury and success, what that level of achievement would feel like, and how it would resonate with others. I wanted to create something that would make people say, 'You really did what you said you would do.' That's exactly how the beat made me feel."

The union of beat story and created energy fit where he has come from and made him say to himself, “I’m going to tell my story and let them know who I am and that I’m coming.”

All the songs on When It’s Dark feature Day’s intricate melodies behind the beats. He raps and he sings.

“I just do what comes to mind. I don’t really have a technical way of doing things. It’s freestyle the majority of the time. It’s more like me thinking about what the music is saying over what is coming to mind. It’s kind of like a mesh of both, but it’s more of what comes just from the music itself and what is the music telling me at the time. So, I just go with that.”

He describes the process as purely creative. The music can come from some offhand thing that somebody says or from a conversation. “I pull from so many different energies when it comes to my music. I just let the spirit of the music control.” But, with the work leading to the finished song, “I’m very hands-on with that process.”

With H¥DR^, his music will make another turn. For one thing, it will be more upbeat. For all the variety in When It’s Dark, hard beats and soft, fast melodies and slow, the tone is overall contemplative or insistent. The track is saying something.

“I want people to be able to see I can do all kinds of different things so they won’t be expecting any one thing, so they won’t expect me to give them anything but great music. I want to be looked at not as a rapper but as a musical artist. What they can expect from H¥DR^ is music.”

“Black Minq,” he says, is great music, a “taking-charge” kind of song with a gala, champagne vibe that can be played anywhere, like Nicki Minaj’s “Moment 4 Life” or Jay-Z’s “Roc Boys.”

Connect to Day Badara on all platforms for new music, videos, and social posts.

“Black Minq,” Youtube
Amazon Music
Apple Music 
Spotify
YouTube
Instagram

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  • Swang Releases Genre-Defying Single "Ye Flow" Inspired by Life’s Complexity

Swang Releases Genre-Defying Single "Ye Flow" Inspired by Life’s Complexity

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Emerging artist Swang, born Eldrick Mahone, has unveiled his latest single, "Ye Flow," a genre-bending track that captures the highs and lows of love and life. Hailing from a small city in Alabama near the Florida Panhandle, Swang has made it his mission to create music that defies categorization, blending contemporary R&B, alternative, pop, lo-fi, and soft rock elements. With "Ye Flow," Swang invites listeners into his raw emotion and layered storytelling world.

"Ye Flow" was born organically, showcasing Swang's ability to craft songs intuitively. Although Swang later stumbled upon the work of Dominic Fike, which he found inspiring, the core of "Ye Flow" remains uniquely his own. The song reflects Swang's personal experiences, particularly his past relationships and situationships. Translating these moments into music provided a sense of closure. "The only challenging part was figuring out how to word it without going overboard," Swang explained. "I felt better after I recorded it because it feels like I got closure on stuff I haven’t talked to anyone about. Verbally saying it helped me get past it." This vulnerability is evident in "Ye Flow," where acoustic guitar melodies meet electric guitar riffs to mirror the emotional turbulence of love.

Swang's evolution as an artist is marked by his determination to break free from creative constraints. Under the name Junior Mahone, he released mixtapes that were predominantly hip-hop-focused. However, he soon realized the limitations of sticking to one genre. "With rap, you can only talk about certain experiences so much before it becomes repetitive," Swang said. "It became harder to actually love the music I was doing." Now, as Swang, he embraces genre-blending to express every side of himself artistically.

Despite his growing work, Swang remains committed to perfecting his craft and building a loyal fanbase. "I’m thinking about an EP," he revealed. "I want it all to blend together very well, so it gives you a different experience without being too much or feeling like it’s too little." Swang plans to continue releasing singles, with "Ye Flow" as a standout example of his ability to balance emotion and innovation.

What sets Swang apart is his dedication to creating music that resonates on a deeper level. "It’s cool to get likes and stuff, but hearing people say, ‘This helped me understand what I was going through,’ is more valuable than money," Swang shared. This focus on connecting with listeners drives him to prioritize feeling over formula, ensuring that each song offers something meaningful.

Swang’s journey as an artist is rooted in authenticity and growth. He reflected on his music career, "The highlight is networking with different people and learning that the music world is smaller than people think. You realize how someone with only 500 followers can make half a million because they write for others." This insight motivates Swang to continue pushing boundaries and exploring new creative avenues.

As he looks to the future, Swang aims to refine his dual talents as a singer and rapper. "If I could ever just force myself to sing more, I could check bases on both sides and give a full feeling of something," he said. With "Ye Flow," Swang proves he’s well on his way to achieving that balance, offering a track as unpredictable and multifaceted as the emotions it captures.

"Ye Flow" is now available on all major streaming platforms. Listeners can follow Swang’s journey on social media and experience firsthand the artistry of an artist determined to make his mark.

Listen to “Ye Flow” here

Follow Swang

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