melt exclusive:
Squadda B on the bruiser brigade, lady gaga, and his wonderful world
“I think I'm gonna just keep going back and forth. Keep diversity going on too because I don't wanna just overdo my sh*t; I don't wanna overdo any subject. I just feel like for my longevity, I need to be doing a lot.
So we'll probably jump on one world and jump to the next world. Then we'll jump on one world, jump to the next world, and hopefully everyone will be happy.”
Read Above: In this exclusive interview, Squadda B, one of the originators of the modern era of internet rap, discusses his new project, his evolution since Main Attrakionz, his similarities with Lady Gaga, and J.U.S’s unique role in the musical output of the Bruiser Brigade.
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Featured Artist Profile
J.U.S, the rapper from Detroit-based group the Bruiser Brigade, has been an integral piece of the Detroit rap scene for over two decades. A well-regarded producer and recording engineer, J.U.S’s contributions to the genre still remain to be fully explored. Yet, his recent output, in collaboration with the artists he has come to know in that time, has finally showcased the extent of his talent, putting his pure musical skill and knowledge on full display.
J.U.S
“On the clock”- The Making of 3rd shift documentary
2024, Directed by Ryan Heinz
In compliment to their recent album, “3rd Shift”, veteran rappers Squadda B and JUS have released a documentary compiling footage of their months of writing and recording. Made in summertime Detroit, the album is, in part, based on the grind mentality of the Motor City. With beats by Squadda and flows by JUS, Fat Ray, and more, it has been one of the must-listens of 2024.
Normally based in Oakland, Squadda says that traveling repeatedly to Detroit in order to make the album was “Definitely needed. You’ve got to kind of get out of your comfort zone a little bit, and I'm very comfortable in Detroit. But still… you're not at home. You're not near your bed.”
Watch the documentary now to see how the two artists push each other out of their comfort zones in order to create a gem of a project.
Listen to 3rd Shift now on:
Artists to watch in 2025: Davey Legend
Pop-infused songwriter and producer Davey Legend has taken L.A by storm since he relocated there last year, collaborating with the likes of Meyta and OZ Goliath and injecting his unique brand of experimentation into the veins of one of the greatest music scenes in the world.
Born in Redding, California, Davey began as a classically trained musician at the inquest of his parents, but he naturally gravitated toward the freedom that guitar provided him, learning to write and perform largely in the isolation of his small town.
Now, in the amassed company of his peers, Davey awaits the release of his newest project, which he feels is “leaps and bounds ahead of everything else [he’s] done”.
Artist profiles
Elijah Bank$y, the LA-based rapper originally from New York, has spent years defining his personal taste, in turn actualizing his sapience in dramatic form through his artistic output and boundary-pushing style.
elijah bank$y
thefoodlord
THEFOODLORD, the vocally potent rapper from Atlanta, Georgia, found his stride during the pandemic and hasn’t looked back, releasing 26 projects on Spotify alone, each with its own unique aura that permeates its tracklist.
burch, the alternative hip-hop artist based in Los Angeles, California, has taken a leap of faith with his newest EP, “deja vu”, and, in doing so, has cemented his movement away from electronic music and into a production-rooted, dynamic sound that represents the newest avenues of his creative energy.
burch
christopher atkins
Christopher Atkins, the self-taught indie artist from British Columbia, has reached new heights with his most recent project, Another Year, synthesizing his stripped-down, singer-songwriter roots accompanied by more advanced and complex instrumentation.
Tyler Jackson, the rapper and producer from Atlanta, Georgia, has pushed the boundaries of both his own sound and hip-hop as a genre with each successive project he has released. His most recent full-length project, April Palindrome, represents a return to the creative mindset in which he feels most motivated and productively uncomfortable.