lottydarko's discography as a breakout act, already boasting a twisted and warped staircase of a record with #WICKED's 33-track-long journey into AETERNAL, a 14-track digital opioid of a record, featuring smooth vocal flips and impressive production value—but far from the end. Caught between the crossfire of what seemed to be two ultimately standalone records, AETHER, an aggressive and explicit-laced album, rings true to the vulgar origins of #WICKED that seemed to serve no use in AETERNAL, a seemingly innocent and reverent project. AETHER is a divisively contrasting piece of work, with lines such as "F*ck I look like? A walking b*tch?" from AETHER's "SNITCH," reminding the listener that lottydarko may be nice and even quite polite, but he is not one to be played with. David still reminds us of his playfully freakish and outright odd utterances, such as "They can just eat you alive like a cannibal" from AETHER's "NINTENDO."

Meanwhile, AETERNAL opens with VILLA, inspired by the Alexander Hotel on 94th Street in Manhattan, where lottydarko stayed during his time as an extra in Power: Raising Kainan. The track draws inspiration from readings on John Lennon's death and lottydarko’s admiration for Jordan Peele, who grew up on the same side of Manhattan. Peele’s horror genre has heavily influenced the eerie utterances in lottydarko’s music. On VILLA, lottydarko asserts, "I'm up in your hometown, I'm up in your old town," setting a reflective yet assertive tone for the album.

In GOLIATH, track six of AETERNAL, lottydarko combines humor with luxury references: "Yes, I have a floppy disk, and yes, it is removable / Yes, I have a sloppy wrist because my jewelers do the most." The "floppy disk" reference ties back to old-school technology, with "removable" suggesting flexibility or adaptability. The "sloppy wrist" refers to the weight of high-end jewelry, implying that his wrist appears loose because of the extravagant pieces. "Because my jewelers do the most" emphasizes the opulence of his jewelry, blending tech nostalgia with modern luxury in a playful, confident manner.

lottydarko credits his "time at Brooklyn's Bedford Atlantic Shelter" and hardships in Maryland and New York, where he had no access to recording equipment, as key influences: "The life in between what I’ve recorded gives life to the music I craft today."

Jolaade Adeleye’s musical journey began at the age of 10, using Audacity, Apple headphones, the Hokusai app on the iPad, AUXY beat program, and GarageBand. His debut album, *Vintage Depression*, a 14-track lo-fi classic, became a teenage summer favorite among classmates. At this stage, Darko, then known as Marshall Bleu, was in the early stages of his evolution, which continues to unfold at age 24.

His path to artistic maturity was marked by a series of intense and transformative experiences. Jolaade faced significant challenges, including time at the Shepard Pratt Psych Ward in Towson, MD, where he encountered frightening spiritual and supernatural events. Financial setbacks, a repossessed car, and personal instability led to a tumultuous period. A trip to New York resulted in being kicked out of his aunt’s house for bringing weed, followed by a pattern of being kicked out and trying to quit situations that seemed inevitably doomed.

Despite these setbacks, Jolaade’s resilience shone through. He survived at a shelter in East New York, where he was jumped, and eventually recorded an album in Manhattan. His journey included a role as an extra on *Power: Raising Kanan* through Central Casting New York. Following these trials, Jolaade returned to Maryland for the summer of 2024 with plans to move to Los Angeles that fall, marking the next chapter in his evolving career.

Phillip Lanos has collaborations with industry talents like PacMan Da Gunman and his experiences on shows like “Yo Soy El Artista” and “MTV’s Copycat” speak to his adaptability and commitment to his craft. His music is a journey through the complexities of the human experience, delivered with simplicity and clarity, ensuring that each song is not just heard, but felt, understood, and remembered.

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