Hip-Hop Lives Here
Hip-Hop Lives Here
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BALTIMORE, MD – Many people who live in and around Baltimore, Maryland know it for its unfortunate nickname, “Murdaland.” It’s a name that stems from its extremely high crime rate and a homicide rate that puts its capital city, Baltimore, among the most dangerous cities in the world. But East Coast artist Alex Fraze is on a mission to help his hometown have a different reputation, one that embraces love. His latest EP, “Lover and a Fighter,” is a project that pays homage to Michael Jackson, one of his biggest influences. MJ was known for saying he was a lover, not a fighter, but Fraze said he’s flipping it to say that he’s a lover and a fighter because he has deep love and passion inside him, but his music and energy is intense. It’s a project that comes with a lot of passion and good vibes that Fraze describes as “very wavy,” while also showcasing how much of a fighter he is when it comes to things he wants in life and things he’s passionate about.
“I feel like I strive to bring older elements of music back into today’s sound,” Fraze said. “I feel like a lot of today’s sound is very manufactured – that’s just my opinion. And I want to create choruses that really connect with people and music that makes you feel. I want my sound to be infectious. You don’t even have to know the language of what you’re listening to, but you can feel it. That’s the kind of passion I came with on this project. It’s very wavy and really explores a lot of love situations.”
The standout single he’s highlighting from the EP is “Bonnie.” It’s a song that Fraze said highlights the perception of someone engulfed in a toxic relationship. The story of the song is about having a girl by your side who is toxic at the same time. Fraze said “Bonnie” is an archetype that he uses to describe that kind of woman.
“The woman is in your face in love and shows a false sense of transparency and trust, but has a different motive and intention,” he said. “It’s ironic because the original ‘Bonnie,’ who is the counterpart of Clyde (an infamous couple that banded together to commit crimes around the country in the 1920s), was his true love until their last breath. The title ‘Bonnie’ was chosen because of the fact that she shows the traits of a loyal ‘stay down’ woman, but is the complete opposite at heart.”
Fraze said the inspiration for the story cam from real events in his own life. He was wrapped up in a toxic relationship for a while and was jaded by feelings he had for her. He said he viewed her as a “Bonnie” and put her on a pedestal.
“I used that experience to channel how I felt in that time to create the lyrics and vibe of the song,” he said. “The instrumentation of the music is the opposite of the message in the song. The wavy chords and 808s give the song a relaxed, laid-back energy. Groovy is the best way to explain it.”
Fraze said the production was the most important factor in the process of creating the song. He said he wanted to give listeners two different vibes. When listeners hear the instrumentals, he hopes they feel a sense of tranquility. But when they listen to the words and are able to digest and understand their deeper meaning, he hopes they appreciate the illusion the message is portraying.
“The beat sounds very wavy, but the deep message in the song evokes a feeling of being stuck on someone and their toxic tendencies,” Fraze said.
Another standout single from the project is “I Was Your Worst,” which is about recognizing the mistakes you’ve made in a relationship and vowing to do better in the future. The hook of the song says, “You was my best and I was your worst. I move like some trash, this love got your soul on hurt.” Fraze said it’s a song that’s a little more groovy than the rest, and as such will definitely stand out as one of the premiere tracks.
Ultimately, Fraze said he wants his music to serve as a kind of “renaissance” for the music industry. He wants to bring something new and something that adds to the evolution of music and the direction it’s heading.
“I want to shift the game a little bit,” he said. “I take inspiration from a lot of the greats – like James Brown and Michael Jackson and Sam Cooke – and create music that is psychedelic and sets a mood. My drive is to be a pioneer in the industry and to innovate a new lane of sound.”
To listen to Alex Fraze’s music, or to follow him on social media, please visit the following links:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexfrazeofficially/
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003255915314
Twitter: https://twitter.com/alexfraze14?lang=en
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/alex-fraze
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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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