Home Blog Page 30

Tyla Announces Sophomore Album ‘A*POP’ Arriving July 24

Eric Alper
-
0
Tyla Announces Sophomore Album ‘A*POP’ Arriving July 24

Tyla has announced her sophomore album ‘A*POP’, arriving July 24, and the rollout is already moving fast. The South African global superstar has shared the official album trailer and released “She Did It Again” featuring Zara Larsson, which racked up over five million video views in its opening weekend and drew “shook the culture” praise from Vanity Fair. Pre-order is live now.

‘A*POP’ follows ‘TYLA’ and ‘TYLA+’, the debut campaign that made her the highest-charting African female soloist in Billboard 200 history. The new album is supported by two singles already making noise: “Chanel,” which hit number one on Billboard Afrobeats and Billboard Rhythmic Airplay during its 17 weeks on the Hot 100 and has pulled over 120 million music video views, and “She Did It Again,” which earned Rolling Stone ‘Songs You Need This Week’ honors on arrival.

Tyla told Rolling Stone at this year’s GRAMMY Awards that the album had finally clicked into place. “I feel like I just did something really fresh and so… Tyla,” she said. That evening she took home her second GRAMMY, “Best African Music Performance” for “Push 2 Start,” the standout from ‘TYLA+’. Her hardware collection now includes two GRAMMYs, two Billboard Awards, two MTV VMAs, two MTV Europe Music Awards, an AMA, and an NAACP Image Award.

This summer, Tyla headlines Afronation in Portugal and plays marquee sets at Switzerland’s Montreux Jazz Festival, Romania’s Beach Please!, and Italy’s Hellwatt Festival. She also performs at the TODAY Show’s Citi Concert Series in New York City on July 24, the same day ‘A*POP’ drops. She’s also nominated four times at next month’s American Music Awards, including “Best Female R&B Artist” and “Best Afrobeats Artist.”

‘A*POP’ arrives July 24. It’s shaping up to be one of the year’s most anticipated releases.

Crashing Wayward Go All-In With Drenching New Video for “Bullet For A Heart”

Eric Alper
-
0
Crashing Wayward Go All-In With Drenching New Video for “Bullet For A Heart”

Crashing Wayward have released the video for “Bullet For A Heart” today, and they did it the hard way. Filmed at SON Studios in Las Vegas with water pouring over the entire band on a freezing cold night, two days before a Pacific Northwest tour, the clip captures the raw energy the song demands. It’s out now via Golden Robot Records.

“Bullet For A Heart” is a reworked version of a previously released track, rebuilt from the ground up with guitarist David Harris adding meatier guitar parts and producer Shawn McGhee (Disturbed, Drowning Pool, Strung Out) sharpening the mix. Mastering was handled by Pete Lyman at Infrasonic Sound. The result hits harder and closer to what the band originally heard when Peter Summit, Harris, and Carl Raether first wrote it together at Summit’s house.

Lyrically, the song pulls no punches. Summit wrote it in response to a high-profile public figure pushing hate rhetoric, with the central message landing clearly: words are weapons, and accountability matters. “I wanted to make the ‘Bullet’ represent something for good,” he says, “like it says in the first line of the song, ‘Feed the love, with the bullets full of heart.'” The track is urgent, melodic, and built for a room that wants to move.

“Bullet For A Heart” will appear on ‘The Fight Within’, a six-song EP due in Q3 2026 via Golden Robot Records. The EP also includes previous single “Holding For Dear Life,” which Classic Rock magazine called “a tight, groovy beefcake of a song that manages to be fiery, introspective and energizing at once.” Crashing Wayward, comprising Peter Summit on vocals, David Harris and Tucker Jones on guitars, Carl Raether on bass, and Jon Gunder on drums, formed in 2020 and have been building steadily ever since, with their debut album ‘LISTEN!’ produced by Mike Gillies (Metallica, The Cult).

The band hits the road now. Dates below.

2026 Tour Dates:

Thursday, April 23 — Palmdale, CA — Transplants Brewing Co

Saturday, April 25 — Santa Ana, CA — Stages

Wednesday, April 29 — Kansas City, MO — Knuckleheads

Thursday, April 30 — Sioux Falls, SD — Bigs Bar

Saturday, May 2 — Rapid City, SD — The Park

Wednesday, May 6 — Las Vegas, NV — Backstage Bar & Billiards

Thursday, May 7 — Grand Junction, CO — Mesa Theater

Friday, May 8 — Denver, CO — The Roxy Theatre

Saturday, May 9 — Draper, UT — Leatherhead’s Sports Bar

Cool Kids Trendsetter Sir Michael Rocks Drops High-Stakes New Project ‘Rocks, Paper, Scissors: Choices’

Eric Alper
-
0
Cool Kids Trendsetter Sir Michael Rocks Drops High-Stakes New Project ‘Rocks, Paper, Scissors: Choices’

Sir Michael Rocks has a new project out today. ‘Rocks, Paper, Scissors: Choices’ is available now on all DSPs via Fake Shore Drive, and it arrives with a full roster of collaborators, a deliberate sonic vision, and a concept rooted in the weight of real decisions. Features come from Bruiser Wolf, Valee, Tha Musalini, DJ Fresh, and Skooda Chose.

Mikey lays out the thinking plainly. “Rock Paper Scissors is one of the world’s oldest games. It’s balanced, fair, and hard to cheat,” he says. “This album captures that spirit of big decisions and high stakes. I carefully selected each feature for their specific contribution to the story. I wanted to make a project that highlighted the pros and cons of taking risks, while providing a vivid backdrop of Chicago living. The good and bad and everything in between.”

The project lands with the kind of confidence that comes from an artist who has never needed to chase the moment. One half of the influential duo The Cool Kids, Sir Michael Rocks has been shaping minimalist rap aesthetics and Chicago street cool since before most of his peers caught up. ‘Rocks, Paper, Scissors: Choices’ follows a sold-out Cool Kids tour alongside Chuck Inglish, the October 2025 release ‘Hi Top Fade’, and the February 2026 re-release of ‘Gone Fishing’ with Don Cannon, which featured Ludacris, Bun B, Ryan Leslie, and more.

Twelve tracks deep, cohesive in sound and sharp in execution, ‘Rocks, Paper, Scissors: Choices’ is Sir Michael Rocks at his most focused.

‘Rocks, Paper, Scissors: Choices’ Tracklist:

01 “Expensive Taste”

02 “For The Money”

03 “In Solace” feat. Valee

04 “Sneak N Geek”

05 “Last Dub” feat. Bruiser Wolf

06 “500K”

07 “All The Chips” feat. Tha Musalini

08 “Mind Yours” feat. Skooda Chose

09 “She Don’t Wanna Ride”

10 “Talkin’ Legit”

11 “Soda Club Pelle”

12 “Walls”

Ernie Smith, Jamaican Reggae Legend and Velvet Baritone, Dead at 80

Eric Alper
-
0
Ernie Smith, Jamaican Reggae Legend and Velvet Baritone, Dead at 80

Ernie Smith, the Jamaican singer-songwriter whose deep baritone and easy-listening style made him one of the Caribbean’s most enduring musical voices, died on April 16 at the University of Miami Hospital following cardiac incidents. He was 80 years old and would have turned 81 on May 1. He is survived by his wife of three years, Claudette Bailey-Smith, three daughters, two sons, and one grandchild.

Born Glenroy Anthony Michael Archangelo Smith in Kingston and raised in St. Ann and May Pen, Smith picked up his first guitar at age 12, a gift from his father. He honed his playing with local band The Vandals before landing his first recording opportunity almost by accident, walking into Federal Records looking for work as a songwriter and ending up recording his own songs. His chart success arrived in the late 1960s with “Bend Down” and “Ride on Sammy,” the first of several Jamaican number one hits.

The defining moment of his career came in 1972, when “Life Is Just For Living,” a song originally written as a Red Stripe commercial jingle, won the prestigious Yamaha Music Festival in Japan, one of the earliest international victories for Jamaican popular music outside the reggae genre. The Jamaican government awarded him the Badge of Honour for Meritorious Service in the Field of Music the following year, and he received the Order of Distinction in 2006.

His catalogue threaded country, folk, reggae, and gospel with ease. Hits like “Pitta Patta,” “Duppy Gunman,” and “Key Card” were recorded at Federal Records alongside fellow artist Pluto Shervington, who died in 2024. His songwriting reach extended further than many realized: his composition “I Can’t Take It” topped the UK Singles Chart in 1975 when recorded by Johnny Nash under the title “Tears on My Pillow.”

Smith’s laid-back sound stood apart from the militant roots-reggae of the era, but he was no stranger to courage. His 1976 protest song “The Power and the Glory,” a response to the violence surrounding Jamaica’s election season, was reportedly banned from airplay and prompted threats on his life, pushing him to relocate with his family to Toronto. He later moved to Miami in 1981 and returned to Jamaica in the 1990s, continuing to write, record, and perform on the live show circuit well into his later years.

His wife Claudette told DancehallMag that even during his final hospital stay, Smith had seemed anxious to return to his music. In late 2025, he and singer Ed Robinson recorded a new version of “Pitta Patta” that entered the South Florida reggae chart. Manager Joanna Marie Robinson said that “Ernie Smith was a true treasure to Jamaica and to the world, a legendary artist whose warmth, wisdom, and spirit touched so many lives.”

How to Buy Authentic Essentials Hoodies Online?

Eric Alper
-
0

By Mitch Rice

Purchasing an Essentials Hoodie online might seem easier at first. You think you just have to visit the website, add your favorite item to the cart, and place the order. That’s it. If you ever get scammed, you must know how tricky it is to buy authentic products. Moreover, nowadays, fake Essentials hoodies have become so good that just taking a brief glance may not be enough to tell them apart from the real thing. In case you are going to buy and are concerned about buying something fake, it is worth knowing some basic things to ensure that you make the right choice. Let’s discuss how?

What Makes Essentials Hoodies So Popular?

In order to learn more about purchasing tips, it is important to first understand why Essentials hoodies are so often copied. These hoodies are oversized and mostly neutral in color, so they can match almost any outfit. Because the design is simple, it is easier for fake versions to copy it.

On top of that, the hype around the brand and limited product drops make it even more popular. All of this creates a situation where fake products spread easily. That’s why it’s just as important to buy from trusted places as it is to know how to spot real ones.

Where to Buy Authentic Essentials Hoodies Online

The most important step in avoiding fakes is knowing where to shop. A lot of people jump straight to marketplaces because they’re convenient or cheaper, but that’s where most problems start.

Official Retailers and Drops

The safest option is always the official Fear of God Essentials releases. These are typically sold through:

  • Fear of God’s official website (during drops)
  • SSENSE
  • PacSun (one of the most consistent retailers for Essentials)
  • Mr Porter (select collections)

These platforms are authorized, meaning everything you see is guaranteed authentic. The catch is availability. Essentials releases are often seasonal drops, and popular sizes sell out quickly. If you miss the drop, you’re left waiting or turning to resale.

Trusted Resale Platforms

If the hoodie you want is sold out, resale platforms become your next option—but only the reputable ones:

  • StockX
  • GOAT
  • Grailed (with caution)
  • Stadium Goods

These platforms require authentication procedures before sending items to customers. StockX and GOAT have very strong verification systems, which greatly lowers the risk of fake products.

Red Flags When Shopping Online:

If you’re browsing beyond official stores and trusted resale platforms, you need to be alert. Fake listings often look convincing at first glance, but they usually reveal themselves through subtle details.

One major red flag is prices that are too good to be true. Essentials hoodies typically retail between $90 and $120, and resale prices vary depending on demand. If someone is selling a “brand new” hoodie for $40 or $50, that’s usually a warning sign.

Another red flag is poor-quality product photos. Legit sellers usually provide clear, high-resolution images. If the listing only has stock photos or blurry pictures, that’s risky.

You should also be cautious of websites with:

  • No return policy
  • No customer reviews
  • Suspicious domain names (slightly altered brand names)
  • Overloaded discount banners

Fake websites often try to rush you into buying by creating urgency. Real retailers don’t need that kind of pressure.

How to Check if an Essentials Hoodie is Authentic?

Even when shopping online, there are ways to evaluate authenticity before or after purchase. You don’t need to be an expert, you just need to observe.

1. Branding and Logo Placement

Authentic Essentials hoodies follow very specific rules for logo placement. The “ESSENTIALS” logo is printed nested and centered. Its finishing is like rubber-made. Fake versions often show problems like uneven spacing, faded printing, or the wrong font style. Also, many real pieces have a small rubber “Fear of God” label. It is usually placed on the hood or chest area. Fake items often put this label in the wrong spot or use poor-quality materials.

2. Fabric Feel and Weight

While it is impossible to touch the hoodie before buying it online, you can still check reviews for details. Real Essentials hoodies are usually heavy and a bit stiff when new, but they become softer after some wear. Fake hoodies often feel too light or too soft right away. Even though that might seem better, it usually means the fabric is of low quality.

3. Tags and Labels

Authentic Essentials pieces come with detailed interior tags. These include sizing, care instructions, and branding that looks consistent and professionally printed.

Common fake indicators include:

  • Misspelled words
  • Misaligned text
  • Cheap-looking stitching
  • Incorrect font styles

If a seller provides interior tag photos, always inspect them closely.

Choosing the Right Size Without Trying It On:

The oversized fit is a normal part of Essentials hoodies and is actually part of their design. However, people who don’t know the brand well can get confused by it. The simple rule is: choose your regular size if you want the hoodie to look oversized, or go one size smaller if you want it to fit closer to your body.

Most people prefer the true size because it reflects the brand’s intended aesthetic. Always check sizing charts on the retailer’s page instead of guessing. Essentials sizing chart can vary slightly between drops.

Safe Shopping Habits That Actually Work:

A lot of people make buying Essentials hoodies online more complicated than it needs to be, but safe shopping usually comes down to a few simple habits.

  • First, only buy from trusted and verified sellers. Even if a website looks real, it’s not worth the risk.
  • Second, always read reviews, not just the star rating, but what real buyers are actually saying.
  • It also helps to compare prices on different sites. If one seller is offering a hoodie for much less than everyone else, that’s usually a warning sign.
  • Pay attention to consistency. Real products keep the same level of quality in every detail. Fake ones might look correct in one area, but usually have mistakes in others.

Final Thoughts:

In conclusion, purchasing an Essentials hoodie from the internet is not based on chance; it is a decision. Since the popularity of Essentials hoodies has brought along fake products, there is a certain pattern of what constitutes an original item. By paying some attention to the details, you further narrow down the possibilities of falling into a trap.

Data and information are provided for informational purposes only, and are not intended for investment or other purposes.

Gregg Foreman, Frontman of The Delta 72 and Cat Power Mainstay, Dead at 53

Eric Alper
-
0
Gregg Foreman, Frontman of The Delta 72 and Cat Power Mainstay, Dead at 53

Gregg Foreman, the Philadelphia-born musician who fronted garage rock outfit The Delta 72 and spent two decades as a cornerstone of Cat Power’s Dirty Delta Blues Band, died on April 21 in Los Angeles. He was 53. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner confirmed the death, with cause deferred.

Foreman formed The Delta 72 in Washington, D.C. in 1994, channeling post-punk rock sensibilities with 1960s British Invasion R&B into something frenetic and immediate. The band released three albums, ‘The R&B Of Membership’ (1996), ‘The Soul Of A New Machine’ (1997), and ‘OOO’ (2000), on Dischord, Kill Rock Stars, and Touch and Go Records, working with producers including Steve Albini and Brendan Canty before disbanding in 2001.

He joined Cat Power in 2006 and eventually became musical director, a role he held for nearly twenty years. His most recent shows with the band included a stop at New York City’s Webster Hall in March. Beyond Cat Power, Foreman played with Pink Mountaintops, The Meek, and The Gossip, and collaborated in the studio with Alan Vega of Suicide, Kat Von D, Death Valley Girls, Jesse Malin, Lucinda Williams, and Linda Perry, among many others.

Foreman also hosted The Pharmacy, a radio program devoted to the architects of underground music, interviewing figures including Genesis P-Orridge, Lydia Lunch, Anton Newcombe of The Brian Jonestown Massacre, and Alan Vega. He was, by any measure, one of the more quietly essential connective figures in American underground music.

Tributes arrived quickly. Cold Cave’s Wesley Eisold wrote that Foreman “lived a life that others only claim to have lived and he was one of one. His love for music was as genuine as the pain he harbored.” Actress Juliette Lewis thanked him “for sharing your gifts with us and your humor and kindness.” Sopranos star Michael Imperioli called him “a fantastic musician and a deeply soulful artist,” adding that “his humility, sincerity, and kindness made a big impression on me.” Former Primal Scream bassist Simone Marie Butler wrote simply, “I hope you are with your mum now in that great gig in the sky.”

In one of his final Instagram posts, written on New Year’s Day, Foreman reflected on his intentions for the year ahead. “My main daily course of action is to help myself heal, find self love and help others not feel alone,” he wrote. He had recently posted that his new band was mixing and recording their first EP.

Video: Turnstile Tore Through a Ferocious Early Set at This Is Hardcore Fest 2015

Eric Alper
-
0
Video: Turnstile Tore Through a Ferocious Early Set at This Is Hardcore Fest 2015

Turnstile hit The Electric Factory at Philadelphia’s This Is Hardcore Fest in 2015 just months after dropping their debut full-length ‘Nonstop Feeling’, and the result is a sweat-drenched, high-velocity document of a band already operating at full force, with stage dives, singalongs, and a packed crowd locked into every groove-driven, melodically charged, hardcore-punk riff they threw out. Filmed by famed hardcore videographer hate5six, it’s a sharp and visceral look at a band on the rise.

Video: Queens of the Stone Age Unleashed the Full Force of ‘…Like Clockwork’ at Paris’s Zénith in 2013

Eric Alper
-
0
Video: Queens of the Stone Age Unleashed the Full Force of ‘…Like Clockwork’ at Paris’s Zénith in 2013

Queens of the Stone Age hit Paris’s Zénith in 2013 with ‘…Like Clockwork’ freshly out and riding a Billboard 200 number one, and Josh Homme, Troy Van Leeuwen, Michael Shuman, and Dean Fertita delivered a set that moved between the album’s darker, more layered material and catalog heavyweights with total precision, the kind of powerful, musically tight performance that has made this band one of the most formidable live acts in rock.

Lowest of the Low Bring ‘Shakespeare My Butt’ to Fallsview Casino This November

Eric Alper
-
0
Lowest of the Low Bring ‘Shakespeare My Butt’ to Fallsview Casino This November

Lowest of the Low are heading to the OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino on Saturday, November 21, 2026, for a full performance of their landmark debut album ‘Shakespeare My Butt’, celebrating its 35th anniversary. Junkhouse joins as very special guest. Tickets go on sale Friday, April 24 at 10:00am through ticketmaster.ca.

‘Shakespeare My Butt’ became the best-selling independent release in Canadian history at the time of its release, and Chart Magazine placed it in the top 10 of the Top 100 Canadian Albums of All Time in 1996, 2000, and again in 2005. The album earned Gold certification in 2008, the same year Lowest of the Low were inducted into the Canadian Indie Rock Hall of Fame. Hits include “Rosey and Grey,” “Bleed a Little While Tonight,” “Salesmen, Cheats and Liars,” and “Subversives.”

“This is a band our guests have been eager to see,” said Cathy Price, Vice President of Marketing and Resort Operations at Niagara Casinos, “and we’re excited to bring them to the OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino.” The band built their reputation on joyous live shows, sharp wordplay, razor-edged hooks, and harmonies that hit every time. Hearing ‘Shakespeare My Butt’ performed in full is going to be something special.

Show Details:

Lowest of the Low with Very Special Guest Junkhouse

Saturday, November 21, 2026

8:00pm

OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino

CMA Fest Presented by SoFi Adds New Performers to Its Massive June Lineup in Nashville

Eric Alper
-
0
CMA Fest Presented by SoFi Adds New Performers to Its Massive June Lineup in Nashville

CMA Fest presented by SoFi runs June 4 through 7 in Nashville, and the Country Music Association has just revealed another wave of performers joining an already packed four-day festival. From Platform Stage rising stars at Nissan Stadium to free daytime sets across multiple outdoor stages, the additions stretch across every corner of the event. Tickets are on sale now at CMAfest.com.

Inside Nissan Stadium, the Platform Stage will feature Emily Ann Roberts, The Jack Wharff Band, Kaitlin Butts, Kat Luna, Laci Kaye Booth, Maggie Antone, Scoot Teasley, Vincent Mason, Willow Avalon, and Zach John King. Clay Walker, Jo Dee Messina, Rhett Akins, and Sara Evans will open the nightly stadium shows, with Caylee Hammack performing the national anthem on Thursday night.

The free outdoor stages bring their own energy. Brandon Lake headlines Cowboy Church at the Chevy Riverfront Stage on Sunday morning, while CeCe opens the stage Thursday with the national anthem. The Dr Pepper Amp Stage welcomes Filmore on Friday and Gabriella Rose and Nappy Roots on Sunday. MŌRIAH joins the Chevy Vibes Stage on Thursday, Love and Theft on Sunday, and the Wrangler Remix Stage adds Omer Netzer on Saturday and MORGXN on Sunday.

SoFi and Kelsea Ballerini have also launched the Amplify Your Ambitions contest, offering a $200,000 grand prize and two $50,000 runner-up prizes for emerging artists. Submissions are open now through April 30, with three finalists performing at an intimate Nashville concert on June 4, where the grand prize winner will be announced by a panel of judges and public vote.

CMA Fest will be filmed for a national television special airing on ABC and Hulu this summer, executive produced and written by Robert Deaton and directed by Alan Carter. The festival has drawn an estimated 95,000 daily attendees and has been running since 1972, making it the longest-running country music festival in the world. A portion of proceeds supports music education initiatives nationwide through the CMA Foundation.

1...293031...3,625Page 30 of 3,625

Follow us on Instagram @thatericalper

That Eric Alper

Eric Alper is a 6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week and has overseen the publicity campaigns for over 183 JUNO Award-nominated albums (and 16 in 2025), 45 Grammy-nominated albums, including 47 JUNO Award, 58 Canadian Folk Music Award, 126 Maple Blues Award-winning albums and is also truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.

Contact me: eric@thatericalper.com

Popular posts

Popular category

© Copyright - That Eric Alper