Malachi is an open book, his willingness to share personal challenges that he sees in his neighborhood, Lawndale, in addition to his love life is put forth directly to his music and poetry. Although Malachi is not the only artist to share personal experiences, I do believe he can easily revisit those moments and express those feelings and emotions. Addressing those struggles through music and poetry is his therapy. 
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In further detail, Malachi is a ruler breaker. When rapping or sighting a poem over a beat, following a tempo is not always a part of his agenda. Not following a tempo could easily go left but Malachi makes sure every word and rhyme is still heard as well as continuing to capture his listeners attention. Sharing his Latin culture with his audience is an element that he incorporates in his music whenever possible. Using Spanish words such as "pero" in his spoken word piece titled Fake Eyelashes, as he transitions from one thought to another. 
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In conclusion, I appreciate Malachi's willingness in being a rule breaker and an open book. As he continues to be successful with his music, I always look forward to the next story he will be sharing with us. 

Instagram: @malachithepoet
SoundCloud: @Malachi

Malachi

Thomas Burgundy is a great example of someone who lives in an inner city community and is able to turn nothing into something. Growing up in Lynwood, Burgundy collected recordings between him and his father on his iPod knowing that one day he would benefit from the range of conversations being discussed. Fast forward to 2017, Burgundy was able to fit pieces of those conversations onto his album as interludes that fit the theme of his album titled Inner City Hues: Secondhand Paintings. Not only do his interludes help tell the story of his neighborhood, peers around him, and his dreams as a child; the title within itself helps to tell the story just as much. Rather than sharing just the imperfections and struggles that are shown to us on a daily basis through the media, he chooses to focus on the beauty and vibrant colors he sees on the daily within his neighborhood. Burgundy gives his listeners a fresh perspective, or lens, rather than getting our information from Big Brother (the government), and it being “secondhand.”He uses that “secondhand” point of view that is projected through the media of inner cities struggles and imperfections and adds color and beauty. Burgundy reminds himself and others with his clothing brand that, “There is beauty in the struggle, look I’m gorgeous”. 

Thomas Burgundy continues to represent his community and share how he is a product of an inner city community such as Lynwood. He is great example of someone who strives for excellence and challenges himself not only as a person but as an artist. He has inspired his listeners, including myself, to truly appreciate their upbringing and to follow your passion despite the lack of resources in inner cities. 

Instagram: @thomasburgundy 
SoundCloud: @ThomasBurgundy

Thomas Burgundy

Marquis Garrison also known as Ex, is an old soul. The Inglewood native has been rapping actively at the age of 11 when he discovered one of his favorite artist Nas. The inspiration that was drawn from Nas allowed Ex to write more intimate songs. The battles he has with himself such as the fear of not being successful and not being understood through his music are just a couple of themes Ex shares with his listeners. In addition to attention grabbing themes he expresses in his music, he also has a big and mighty voice that is hard to ignore. With his powerful voice, you hear a beginning, middle, and an end in all of his songs as he plays with the levels and tone in his voice. 

Ex does not hold back any ounce of expression and chooses to immediately share with his audience his values and beliefs. As a listener of Ex’s music, it still amazes me that he is capable of having a beginning, middle, and an end in a 3-4 minute song. 

Instagram: @thekidisnice
SoundCloud: @exthacreative

Marquis Garrison

JamesThe3rddd is an artist you want to collab with. His enthusiasm when it comes to rapping and producing beats is always thrilling as he goes into each production process with a new mindset and approach. James is a product of the soulful, funky, and one of the most praised places in LA, Leimert park. So, it only makes since that he gravitates to soulful and funky components to include in his music. Furthermore, he draws a lot of inspiration from his favorite artists, Knxwledge who combines samples and a loop-based production and, Mndsgn,merging soul, funk, and psychedelic components that take all of his listeners on an adventure. 
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Personally, I like to describe James' music as dreamy sounding. His gentle voice behind the lasting beat, taking us through his own imagination. James' project titled LA LA embodies a lot of dreamy like sounds and images. 
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Interviewing JamesThe3rddd was just as thrilling as listening to his music. He shared with me that he and his friends have started a collective that temporarily go by "Garage Sessions" who all collaborate to make a magical experience. Being that James is so open minded, this news excited me knowing he will be challenged as an artist and learn new elements and sounds. 

Instagram: @Jamesthe3rddd
Soundcloud: @JamesThe3rddd

JamesThe3rddd

Luxe.Wav is an artist who truly likes to have fun when producing his instrumentals. Choosing to let the outcome BE and share his most authentic work with his listeners is bold and good practice for future projects. When I asked him to go in further depth with his instrumental titles, he stated "For me theres not a whole lot of sentimental value for each beat because I make so many...say theres like a box that says something that catches my eye, I'll call it that..." Wav's authenticity and originality continues to be shared with his listeners as he feeds off of his own energy within a specific moment. 
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Wav has been strongly influenced by John Coltrane, an American jazz saxophonist and composer. He expressed how inspiring it was that Coltrane constantly explored his own music and the spiritual connection he had with his music. Wav shared with me that, "He considered 'A Love Supreme' to be a prayer/meditation on how God got him through his addiction." I cannot wait to see how Luxe.Wav has developed as an artists once he has delve deeper into his own music and how he spiritually connects with his music. 

Instagram: @luxe.wav
SoundCloud: @luxebts

Luxe.wav

Keyova is constantly evolving as an artist and human being, as any other artists or person. However, the way he chooses to document his experiences through his music is a smooth closing chapter and prepares him for his next journey that he will take his listeners on. His latest piece of work that was released in 2017 titled Departure, we get an idea of what his transition was like as "a solid 18-year-old." Through the unexpected changeovers between songs and having a variety of sounds throughout his album. As a listener, I was able to hear the good and bad days. 
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Departure became a much warmer project after learning that Keyova also produced all of the beats. Making the album much more intimate to him. 
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Interviewing Keyova was an honor. His openness to the many complications life has thrown at him thus far is fascinating but the way he chooses music to close certain chapters in his life is amazing. 

Instagram: @keyova_
SoundCloud: @keyova

Keyova

Davon Lavor loves to experiment and continue to challenge himself. He is a special artist as he expresses himself not only through music but through film and photography as well. The same energy and thought that is put towards his music is also embodied in his visuals. Growing up in South Central, he has always repped and used his surroundings as his template for both his music and visuals. 

Film and photography were Davon’s first loves before deepening his respect and passion for music. As he only began making music 3 years ago, he has truly developed himself as an artist and blossomed into an artist that sets himself aside from others. His way of combining genres is just one example how he is different from other artist. Davon merges Hip-Hop, R&B, Pop, and even trap, creating his own genre ‘Trap-Pop’. His voice is another element that sets him apart from others. Davon ​has learned how to not only get comfortable with his voice but he has also learned how it can be used as an instrument in his music which plays a big role in his production. 
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As he continues to expand his knowledge about music and learn how his voice can truly be used to complement his music, he will be infinite with his future endeavors. 
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​SoundCloud: @icreateshit
Instagram: @icreateshit
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Davon Lavor

Florence. The. Infinite is deeply connected to his city, Los Angeles. So much, he continues this relationship by carrying a popular street in South Central, Florence, into his artist name. Florence delivers a piece of his mind in all of his work. Florence accomplishes sharing his amplified vision through his visuals as he adds bold colors and various animations that speak volumes about his latest work. Through his music, he gives us a taste of multiple raw emotions. Fear, anger, anticipation is just some of the emotions I hear in his music.  

His most recent project titled BALANCED is one of his most intimate projects as he goes back and forth with his conscience. In this project, Florence has mixed thoughts about his goals, relationships, and the evils around him. The order of this album helps tell the story thoroughly. There are short interludes at the end of each song that smoothly transitions into the next, keeping his audience locked in. 

Having likeminded people around you are key to help inspire and ground you as an artist while still having fun. Florence and his collective Hoolipack all do that for each other as they constantly contribute ideas and most importantly support one another. There is no doubt in my mind that all of Hoolipack will not thrive as creatives. They continue to remain humble and let their creativity blossom.

Florence

I believe all artists should be celebrated.

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