Hip-Hop Lives Here
Hip-Hop Lives Here
With a resume that includes modeling and fashion pursuits, and a background in sports and fitness, Illie Vega may seem more like a Renaissance Man than a straight-up MC. But make no mistake: Illie Vega has something to say.
His debut single, “Goals,” lays down the gauntlet. Over a bouncy bassline and reverb-soaked piano melody, Vega’s lines interweave with a rapid-fire synth drum machine. With a voice ranging from a gravelly growl to a smooth higher register, Vega spins lyrics that are defiant, motivational, and designed to get you over the next hill.
Vega says, “‘Goals’ is about motivation and perseverance. It’s for anyone fighting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
The song wants you to be self-reliant. Have ambition. Push through setbacks. As Vega raps, it’s better to “Live with the pain of failure over regret.” Don’t be afraid of failing; your best bet is betting on yourself.
“I want my music to give people energy in the gym or on the dance floor,” Vega says, “but also leave them with something real: substance and redemption.”
A New Yorker through and through, Illie Vega was born and raised in Queens and Westchester. He grew up steeped in the sounds of NYC legends like Nas, Jay-Z, and 50 Cent, while music also filled his home. His mother sang and danced, and his father – a cardiologist and entrepreneur who immigrated from Ghana – shared his love of soul greats like Sam Cooke.
His father also encouraged Vega to pursue his artistic talents before passing away a few years ago. With his father’s high expectations spurring him on, Vega dedicates his new music to his late father.
“My father came from Ghana with nothing and built a life for our family. He always told me I’d be good in show business, and even when his health declined, his belief in me never wavered. This music is dedicated to him. His journey and his spirit are the foundation of everything I do.”
The single “Goals” is the first track on Vega’s forthcoming debut EP, Vega Genesis. The title is a reference to the artist’s love of the gaming console (Sega Genesis) when he was a child, but also serves as a double meaning, pointing to the new beginning in his music career.
With a style rooted in East Coast hip hop, but not boxed into any one subgenre of hip hop, “Goals” reveals Illie Vega as a versatile rapper and songwriter. Like the Sega Genesis and New York rappers, Vega’s sound is old school and gritty. But it also brings a modern, high-energy sound all its own.
Vega says, “This is my debut. It’s the first chance for the world to hear me, and I’m ready to give everything I’ve got.” Just like in the song, he’s upping the score.
“Goals” is available on September 12 on all streaming platforms.
Follow Illie Vega at the links below:
Official website
Spotify
YouTube
Instagram
Facebook
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San Diego–based rock band The Reckless debuts new single “What Could I Give.” It’s the kind of track built for big moments—anthem rock with a sweeping chorus that begs to be sung back at full volume. Shimmering guitar tones drift in over a steady, heartbeat-like rhythm section, giving the song a sense of urgency, while the spacious production sets a cinematic atmosphere and mood. The mix balances grit and clarity—layered guitars push the rock edge forward, while airy reverb and dynamic swells create an expansive soundscape.
“Our genre of music is all about rock. We have ballads, aggressive metal, punk songs - you name it. We have an alternative Red Hot Chili Peppers-style song and even have one reminiscent of The Strokes or what you might hear on college radio. ‘What Could I Give’ is more of a pop punk rock song, but again, if you like rock music of any sort, I’m sure there’s a song in our catalog for you,” shared Fritz Fayman, lead singer and guitarist.
Lyrically, “What Could I Give” taps into a raw sense of yearning and vulnerability. The words explore the tension between desire and limitation, painting a picture of someone striving to offer everything they can while grappling with feelings of inadequacy. There’s an intimate honesty in lines that oscillate between hope and doubt, giving the song a relatable, almost confessional quality. Coupled with the band’s soaring chorus and dynamic instrumentation, the lyrics don’t just tell a story—they make you feel it.
“I always encourage people to find their own meaning in it, but for us, we wrote the song from a place of grappling with the challenge of seeing other artists succeed while wrestling with our own progress,” continued Fayman. “Along with that frustration, there’s also this self-directed anger, as the thought pops up: shouldn’t we be genuinely happy for them? That tension comes through in one of the lines: ‘I wake up every day thinking I’m not all that close.’ It’s something we all struggle with, and everyone can relate. We all know how it feels to see the highlight reels on social media and start questioning yourself. That push and pull, the ups and downs of trying to make it in this business, is really what the song is about for us.”
As far as the business of making music, the band thrives on collaboration. A rough demo or skeleton of a song might start with one member, but it quickly becomes a full-band effort. In rehearsals and jam sessions, everyone contributes their parts, while ideas and feedback flow freely. There’s constant communication and a real sense of shared ownership—decisions are made democratically, even when opinions run strong, making every song a true group effort.
“We mostly record everything ourselves, especially since our drummer has a studio setup at home, but we also work with Cottee Embry a lot. He’s a great mixer and mastering engineer, and we’ve been working with him ever since I brought this group of guys together back in 2023,” said Fayman.
The band’s current lineup didn’t happen overnight. The story starts during COVID, when Fayman found himself with unexpected free time and a drive to make music. What began as a solo project quickly evolved as Fayman sought the energy of a full band. Over the next couple of years, he tried out a rotating cast of players, searching for the right chemistry. By the end of 2023, everything clicked: Fayman on lead vocals and guitar, John Kelly on lead guitar, Riku Myllykoski on drums, and Michael Kennedy on bass, with both Myllykoski and Kennedy also contributing backup vocals. With this lineup, the band finally hit its stride, blending individual voices into a cohesive, collaborative force ready to bring their music to life.
“The name ‘The Reckless’ actually started as a joke back in college,” Fayman explained. “Whenever one of us did something wild or silly, someone would say, ‘Oh, that’s so reckless.’ Over time, it stuck—and it became a way to capture both the fun, goofy side of what we do and the serious, energetic presence we want on stage. It just felt like the perfect name for the band.
While an official album isn’t on the immediate horizon, the band already has a full set of songs ready, with new music set to drop every month and a half to two months. They’re also hitting the road with a few live shows, including the annual Adams Avenue Street Fair in San Diego on Saturday, September 20, and a November 21 performance with Dirty Mondays at Harvard & Stone in Los Angeles.
The band has drawn fans to well-respected venues across San Diego County, as well as Los Angeles, Arizona, and the Bay Area, including SOMA, The Holding Company, The Viper Room, The Mint, and more. Their most recent project, the EP “Who Are You,” dropped in spring 2025 and racked up over 100,000 Spotify streams within its first few months. If you haven’t yet discovered The Reckless, check out their latest single, “What Could I Give,” on all major streaming platforms, and follow them on Instagram and TikTok for news and updates.
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