After  spending  his  adolescence  building  up  a  street  buzz  under  the  name  Young Savage,   the   Philadelphia   rapper   Shawn   Smith   reclaimed   his   own   name   for   his autobiographical debut, SINK OR SWIM: A SHAWN SMITH STORY. Once known for his voracious freestyles and quippy punchlines, Smith’s latest chapter brims with big-picture storytelling  and  astute  social  commentary.  “I  figure  I  can  be  a  spokesperson  because they never gon’ be able to tell their own story,” he says, casting a light on his Southwest Philly friends and family.  “People being aware of that cycle could open their minds up,” he adds optimistically. And yet, there’s no preachiness in his perspective. Instead, Smith has figured out a careful balance in rapping about his upbringing: he’s equal parts sharp-tongued and warm-hearted.

Self-produced British composer and recording artist for 25 years, Imogen Heap has released five solo albums, another as one half of Frou Frou and collaborated with countless and varied artists including Taylor Swift, Nitin Sawhney, Deadmau5, Eric Whitacre, Jeff Beck and Jon Hopkins. Her compositions and songs pop up in blockbuster and indie films as well as countless TV shows, are featured in underground rap and dance music and covered by the likes of Ariana Grande. As composer and arranger for one of the biggest hits in theatrical history, Harry Potter and The Cursed Child, Imogen won the Drama Desk Outstanding Music in a Play award. As a sought-after speaker and performer, Heap hosted 2020’s Grammys Premiere Ceremony. Heap’s collaborative and multi-dimensional workflow attracts companies for commissioned works, leading to songs such as Tiny Human, the first song to distribute payments via a Smart Contract, and The Happy Song, a highly successful song for children in their early-years. Heap, recognised as an artist's artist, has won two Grammys and an Ivor Novello award. In recognition of her pioneering work at the intersection of music and tech, Heap has a hat trick of three honorary doctorates for the gestural music-ware 'MI.MU gloves' system and recently for ’The Creative Passport’, an integrated digital ID solution, empowering music makers to be the change toward a fair and flourishing music ecosystem. Between projects a constant for the past year is every Thursday afternoon, Imogen Q&A chats with her fans via The Listening Chair with those who subscribe to Imogenheap.app to collaborate together on Augmented Imogen, Imogen's in dev AI.

Ice Cream ft. Rick Ross Out Now: https://freddiegibbs.lnk.to/icecream

K.R.I.T. WUZ HERE – OUT NOW: https://bigkrit.lnk.to/KRITWuzHere

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