Artist Promotion

SiDizen King + Brandyn Burnette “Dreamer”

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While I am a little late to this review as it was intended to be done during Black History month, and we all know that’s the shortest month possible, it does not take away from the importance of the message. Both SiDizen King and Brandyn Burnette are of African American heritage and come to us from Los Angeles. The second verse references Langston Hughes’ poem “I, Too” and I’ll be looking for those references. SiDizen King is known for powerful storytelling and soulful delivery.

The song was written at the peak of the pandemic. SiDizen teamed up with Grammy-nominated songwriter McKay Stevens and producer Sean Cook and Brandyn Burnette to create this track. The inspiration came from his experience being a recipient of DACA, which is very close to home for millions of people. Dreamers have many struggles, especially in today’s climate but they are no different than anyone in this country trying to achieve their dreams. Why am I afforded more opportunities, simply because I was born here as opposed to someone who has been in this country their entire life??

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Artist Promotion

Brick Nick by Erb dean

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February is all about Chicago, and we close out the month with the same artist we opened: Erb Dean. While we haven’t featured any of his music for some years, the Melly Starz team has been following his career trajectory for many years. Erb has been writing since he was young and has been honing his craft for several years. He has a lot in store for the future, and this is just the beginning for 2023. So let’s get into the song.

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Artist Promotion

LSD (Lake Shore Drive) by Smokey Smothers

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Smokey Smothers has been writing and producing since she was 9 years old and is now the CEO of Spaceflight Media. The company focuses on script writing, graphic design, and videography. Smokey went on a mini tour to promote Hollywood Smoke. The last few years have been a whirlwind, and she has garnered fans worldwide as she continues the legacies of her grandfather and great-uncle.

A lot has changed since we last saw Smokey Smothers in Mellsville. The Wisconsin native now resides in Chicago and comes to us with her newest track LSD (Lake Shore Drive). The track features a mesmerizing hook from singer/rapper HAZATHAHEATHEN. The track comes from her Hollywood Smoke Ep, available on all platforms. It is said that Smokey’s hypnotic flow leaves the listener in a trance and takes you on a journey. Let’s go on this ride down Lake Shore Drive…

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Event Reviews

Young Xav Show at Reggies Rock Club

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The promotion leading up to the event was insane. Every day you would get online, and Young Xav would post about and hype it up. You would get various sneak peaks and incentives to buy tickets. One day, anyone who purchased a ticket would get the chance to take a shot with Xav. He personally reached out to different people, and I enjoyed the hospitality of him checking in on my flights and me. In the days leading up to the show, he would post people getting into town and other tidbits to get us excited. Every day, his Instagram stories were about getting everyone ready for the show.

The Show 

I was not expecting such an incredible show. It was a full-blown concert with various entertainment, contests, and soup. Cream Shows was a major element in getting things together and ensuring the crowd was enthused during set changes. Reggies is a good-sized venue, and it was pretty full. There was standing and some sitting room. Ultimately, the success of a show comes down to the crowd. This crowd was elite and there to have fun. I’ve been to a lot of events over the years, and this might be my favorite, so much so that I made a recap video of the night.

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