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Hip-Hop Visionary Kal Banx Announces Debut Album ‘Rhoda’ Featuring Isaiah Rashad, SiR, Maxo Kream & More

Eric Alper
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Hip-Hop Visionary Kal Banx Announces Debut Album ‘Rhoda’ Featuring Isaiah Rashad, SiR, Maxo Kream & More
  • Dallas-born artist, DJ, and Grammy Award-winning producer Kal Banx has announced his debut album Rhoda, set to drop on August 15th via TDE. The album will feature collaborations with Isaiah Rashad, SiR, Maxo Kream, Smino, Buddy, Mez, Baby Tate, Pink Siifu, Childish Major, and more. Banx handles the bulk of the production himself, with additional contributions from Thelonious Martin, Mez, and others.

Having shaped the sound of many modern hip-hop icons, Banx is now stepping into his own as an artist with Rhoda. Blending southern soul, experimental textures, and hard-hitting drums with raw storytelling and rich lyricism, Banx’s sound strikes a perfect balance between intensity and vulnerability. Not one to shy away from sonic exploration, Banx effortlessly shifts between soulful grooves, high-energy arrangements, gospel-tinged layers, and billowing low-end.

Dallas-born artist, DJ, and Grammy Award-winning producer Kal Banx has announced his debut album Rhoda, set to drop on August 15th via TDE. The album will feature collaborations with Isaiah Rashad, SiR, Maxo Kream, Smino, Buddy, Mez, Baby Tate, Pink Siifu, Childish Major, and more. Banx handles the bulk of the production himself, with additional contributions from Thelonious Martin, Mez, and others.

Having shaped the sound of many modern hip-hop icons, Banx is now stepping into his own as an artist with Rhoda. Blending southern soul, experimental textures, and hard-hitting drums with raw storytelling and rich lyricism, Banx’s sound strikes a perfect balance between intensity and vulnerability. Not one to shy away from sonic exploration, Banx effortlessly shifts between soulful grooves, high-energy arrangements, gospel-tinged layers, and billowing low-end.

Arriving in two parts, the heart of Rhoda is a journey of rediscovery—of self, of origin, and of what “home” truly means after the recent loss of his mother. “Grief puts certain things into perspective that you don’t even realize you have until they’re gone,” Banx shares. “That led me to realize that home wasn’t just a place; it was made up of all these different feelings and experiences.”

Kal Banx is one of the defining architects of modern hip-hop. His production has shaped groundbreaking records for some of the genre’s biggest names, including Isaiah Rashad, SiR, ScHoolboy Q, Wale, Baby Keem, Smino, Denzel Curry, Jorja Smith, JID, and more. Most recently, his production on Doechii’s Alligator Bites Never Heal earned him a Grammy Award, further solidifying his reputation as a visionary force.

Rhoda Track Listing:

Disc 1
SEQOUIA ft. ROSE GOLD
400 ft. PINK SIIFU, REGGIE & OUTLAW MEL
TECH TECH TECH ft. HITECH. YAKIYN & FELIX!
IG ft. BABY TATE
CRUCIAL ft. KING MILO
CHICKEN ft. MEZ
STEPPING STONE
LOSE CONTROL
SPILL ft. MAXO
1019
574
STAY WITH ME

Disc 2
HOP OUT CHO FEELINS ft. SMINO & BUDDY
ROB THE ROBBER ft. MAXO KREAM
ONNALO ft. AUDREY NUNA
BACK IT UP ft. CHILDISH MAJOR, AKEEM, SIR & KENT JAMZ
MOB ft. SIR
CARE NOW ft. AUDREY NUNA
A WORD 4M MEL ft. OUTLAW MEL
BOSS UP ft. THE ICHIBON DON & DAYLYT
0022ZAY ft. ISAIAH RASHAD
SUN STORY ft. ISAIAH RASHAD
IT AINT RIGHT ft.C.S ARMSTRONG
MEMO2
MAMA PAIN ft. C.S ARMSTRONG

Hip-Hop Powerhouses Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist Announce ‘Alfredo: The Tour’ with U.S. Dates This Fall

Eric Alper
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Hip-Hop Powerhouses Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist Announce ‘Alfredo: The Tour’ with U.S. Dates This Fall

Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist are announcing “Alfredo: The Tour.” Beginning in Philadelphia on September 20th, Freddie will embark on his headlining run of US shows in celebration of the release of his album Alfredo II with stops in Brooklyn, Chicago, Atlanta and Los Angeles this fall before wrapping up in the Bay Area on November 9th.

The tour will feature The Alchemist at select dates in addition to support from Jalen Ngonda, MAVI and Sven Wunder across various dates. Local presale ticket sales begin August 6th at 10 AM local time, with all tickets on sale from Friday, August 8 at 10 AM local time.

North America Alfredo: The Tour:

9/20 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Fillmore Philadelphia
9/22 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Paramount
9/25 – Austin, TX @ Emo’s
9/26 – Dallas, TX @ Gilley’s Dallas – South Side Ballroom
9/27 – Houston, TX @ House of Blues Houston – Music Hall
9/28 – San Antonio, TX @ Aztec Theater
10/3 – Tampa, FL @ Ritz Ybor
10/4 – Fort Lauderdale, FL @ Revolution
10/5 – Orlando, FL @ The Beacham
10/10 – Raleigh, NC @ The Ritz
10/11 – Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle
10/12 – Washington, DC @ Echostage
10/17 – Cleveland, OH @ Agora Theatre
10/18 – Detroit, MI @ Masonic Jack White Theatre
10/24 – Chicago, IL @ Riviera Theatre
10/26 – Santa Ana, CA @ Observatory Orange County
10/28 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Novo
10/29 – Phoenix, AZ @ The Van Buren
10/31 – Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre
11/1 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Union
11/6 – Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater
11/7 – Seattle, WA @ Showbox SoDo
11/9 – San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield

Hip-Hop/Pop Trailblazers Black Eyed Peas Announce 25th Anniversary Vinyl Edition of ‘Bridging The Gap’

Eric Alper
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Hip-Hop/Pop Trailblazers Black Eyed Peas Announce 25th Anniversary Vinyl Edition of ‘Bridging The Gap’

Continuing a banner year, six-time Grammy Award-winning multi-platinum Los Angeles-based pop-rap group Black Eyed Peas will unveil the new 25th Anniversary Edition of their seminal second full-length LP, Bridging The Gap, on September 26, 2025.

Pressed on standard-weight 2LP vinyl, it will be available in multiple configurations, including a limited-edition Brown colour variant and standard black vinyl. A special pre-order for Bridging The Gap (25TH Anniversary Edition) is live now on the Sound of Vinyl, uDiscover, and Interscope stores HERE.

Black Eyed Peas originally released Bridging The Gap on September 26, 2000. The 13-track body of work notably boasts staples such as “B.E.P. Empire,” “Weekends” [feat. Esthero], their very first Billboard Hot 100 entry “Request + Line” [feat. Macy Gray], and more.

2025 has seen the group celebrate their 30th anniversary with a series of limited-edition physical reissues. The new vinyl versions of Behind The Front, Elephunk, Monkey Business, and The E.N.D. (The Energy Never Dies) are all available HERE.

Bridging The Gap (25TH Anniversary Edition) Track Listing:

A1 BEP Empire
A2 Weekends [feat. Esthero]
A3 Get Original [feat. Chali2na]
A4 Hot [feat. Kim Hill]

B1 Cali To New York [feat. De La Soul]
B2 Lil’ Lil’
B3 On My Own [feat. Les Nubians & Mos Def]

C1 Release
C2 Bridging The Gaps
C3 Go Go
C4 Rap Song [feat. Wyclef Jean]

D1 Bringing It Back
D2 Tell Your Mama Come
D3 Request + Line [feat. Macy Gray]

Gilo & Royal Blue Announce Genre-Blending Debut Folk Album ‘Something Cool’

Eric Alper
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Gilo & Royal Blue Announce Genre-Blending Debut Folk Album ‘Something Cool’

Something Cool, the highly anticipated debut album from Gilo & Royal Blue, is officially available worldwide for pre-order on iTunes and other leading streaming platforms, with the album set to release on September 1st, 2025.

Blending classical and country guitar with the emotional power of an award-winning theatrical vocalist, Gilo & Royal Blue have performed extensively in the DeLand and Daytona area, including residencies at The Artisan Hotel and the Daytona Beach Cigar Bar. Drawing from roots in diverse genres of world music, they deliver a fresh yet timeless sound that bridges genres and generations by crafting a unique and sophisticated take on modern folk.

Named after the opening track, their album Something Cool offers a mellow and sophisticated listening experience. Each track is a testament to their musicality and shared vision — to rediscover songs in new ways, breathing life into forgotten classics. Their unique style, at once both repose and highly-strung, weaves a common thread of musicality between unexpected songs to create a cohesive collection spanning decades and genres from smooth 1950s jazz to nostalgic 1990s pop rock. “We seamlessly meld each of our musical inspirations into something new and delicious,” says Gilo. The album includes unique covers of songs by artists including June Christy, Leonard Cohen, Roxette, Chris Isaaks, Edith Piaf, ABBA and Radiohead.

Hayley Williams Drops 17 New Songs, Shares Video for “Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party”

Eric Alper
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Hayley Williams Drops 17 New Songs, Shares Video for “Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party”

​​Last week, Hayley Williams surprised fans by dropping a collection of 17 singles, produced entirely by Daniel James. Today, she has unveiled a music video for the single, “Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party.” The video was directed by Zachary Gray and features a portrait of Williams’ hometown of Nashville, TN. You can see her contemplating the city at dusk with Representative Justin Jones, sifting through the crowds on Broadway and singing in a karaoke bar.

Williams and Daniel James wrote, played and recorded a variety of instruments across each of the newly released 17 songs, with cross-project contributions from long-time collaborators Brian Robert Jones and Joey Howard, and contributions from Jim-E Stack on “True Believer.”

After 20+ years spent fulfilling their contract for Atlantic Records – a contract Williams signed as a mere teenager – Paramore announced in December of 2023 that they were finally an independent band. This surprise collection is self-released by Hayley Williams on her new venture Post Atlantic, distributed via Secretly Distribution.

INDVGO Unveils Lush, Haunting Music Video for “How Is It Love”

Eric Alper
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INDVGO Unveils Lush, Haunting Music Video for “How Is It Love”

Following the success of her introspective single, “How Is It Love,” emerging R&B artist INDVGO returns with a powerful visual counterpart that deepens the emotional world of the track. Directed by Koji, the music video is a glamorous, slow-burning meditation on vulnerability, emotional resilience, inner peace, and the disorienting contradictions that define modern love.

Filmed across a series of intimate vignettes, the video opens with INDVGO alone, draped in shadow and soft spotlight. She’s grounded, luminous and holding heavy emotions — not shown through grand gestures, but through glances, postures and presence.

As she moves through sun-drenched rooms filled with florals, books, and candlelight, the visuals lean into warmth, but never abandon their melancholy. Reflections in glass, silhouetted shadows, and recurring water imagery, including moments of body submersion, anchor the video in its core themes of emotional contradiction, self-reflection, and the slow work of healing. There’s softness here, but it’s hard-won.

From long shots in solitude to intimate close-ups that feel almost confrontational, INDVGO doesn’t perform pain so much as sit with it, letting it wash over and through her.

‘How Is It Love’ is really about emotional chaos and finding peace within yourself. Healing starts when you fall deeply in love with your own soul.” – INDVGO

With dreamy lighting, soft shadows and blurred motion, the video moves with a poetic stillness, allowing space for grief, beauty and quiet contemplation. As INDVGO drifts between scenes of solitude and self-reflection, she tells a story of someone reclaiming power after emotional chaos.

At the 2-minute mark, the mood shifts and the softness gives way to something deeper with a beat drop. The scene transitions to the city streets at night, signaling her emergence into fully embodied self-acceptance. INDVGO is seen walking through a rain-slicked cityscape, the lighting fractured, her reflection blurred in car windows and wet pavement. It’s a pivotal turn: she’s no longer just reflecting, she’s moving forward. Still aching, but in motion.

The video deepens the emotional resonance of the song, which has drawn comparisons to Jhené Aiko, Summer Walker, and Kehlani, with a hint of Masego’s flair. The song’s moody, atmospheric instrumentation invites reflection, while INDVGO’s vocals are rich with longing, her lyrics brutally honest:

“You the one, couldn’t fight that / So in love, it’s a mind trap / I’m gone, then I’m right back”

The visual narrative captures this tension: beauty and melancholy, light and shadow, and showcases INDVGO’s skills as a fully formed visual storyteller.

Overall, the song acknowledges love as both a source of strength and vulnerability, addressing its contradictions from emotional hurt to healing, self-discovery, and ultimately, peace. It’s a celebration of inner strength and self-acceptance, offering a reflection on what it means to love and heal.

Danger Mouse and MorMor Blend Soul and Synth on Dreamy New Collaboration “Wonder”

Eric Alper
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0
Danger Mouse and MorMor Blend Soul and Synth on Dreamy New Collaboration “Wonder”

Danger Mouse and MorMor have shared a mesmerizing new single “Wonder,” their first collaboration together. Listen HERE.

“Wonder” is co-written by Danger Mouse and MorMor, produced by Danger Mouse, and released on 30th Century Records. 

Created spontaneously from scratch during an impromptu studio session, “Wonder” draws equally from Danger Mouse’s formative years spent listening to new wave music as it does from the childhood soundtrack of soul provided by his parents’ record collection. Together, with MorMor’s musicianship and beguiling vocals, the pair have made this unlikely yet alchemic blend of musical styles a lush reality.

Reflecting on the genesis of the song, MorMor says: “My relationship with Danger Mouse started when he invited me to meet and play music. From time to time we’d hang out and listen to records or watch films; not necessarily making music – I think we were both seeing if we could find an intersection where it’d make sense to pursue an idea. “Wonder “came from exactly that.” 

Danger Mouse (Brian Burton) is one of the most versatile and prolific talents in modern-day music. His wide-ranging endeavors include; Broken Bells and Gnarls Barkley, collaborative albums with Karen O, Black Thought and MF DOOM; production for A$AP Rocky, Gorillaz, Adele, U2, Michael Kiwanuka and more; plus helming his own label, 30th Century Records. He is a twenty-two-time Grammy nominee and a six-time Grammy winner.   MorMor (Seth Zara Nyquist) is celebrated for his introspective blend of indie pop, R&B, and dreamlike synth textures. A self-taught multi-instrumentalist, MorMor crafts emotionally rich soundscapes marked by vulnerability and sonic depth. “Wonder” is MorMor’s first release since his 2022 debut album, Semblance.

Voting Opens for 2025 Slaight Family Polaris Heritage Prize Honouring Classic Canadian Albums

Eric Alper
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Voting Opens for 2025 Slaight Family Polaris Heritage Prize Honouring Classic Canadian Albums

Voting for the 2025 Slaight Family Polaris Heritage Prize has opened and the nominees are in.

The companion award to the Polaris Music Album Prize, winners and nominees for the Heritage Prize are also Canadian albums of artistic distinction, without regard to sales, genre or affiliation. This is our version of a hall of fame where we honour meritorious Canadian albums that predate when Polaris began in 2006.

Two of this year’s 12 nominated albums will receive the Heritage Prize designation. One album will be chosen by public vote campaign, and a second will be determined by a Heritage Prize jury made up of music media and music historians.

The 2025 Polaris Heritage Prize-nominated albums are:

  • Choclair – Ice Cold
  • The Constantines – The Constantines
  • Franck Dervieux – Dimension M
  • Do Make Say Think – Goodbye Enemy Airship, The Landlord Is Dead
  • Doughboys – Crush
  • Dubmatique – La force de comprendre
  • Mort Garson – Mother Earth’s Plantasia
  • The Organ – Grab That Gun
  • Propagandhi – Today’s Empires, Tomorrow’s Ashes
  • Rascalz – Cash Crop
  • Jane Siberry – The Speckless Sky
  • Strawberry – Brokeheart Audio

Go HERE to vote.

Rascalz’s Cash Crop is the only album on the list that has been previously Heritage nominated, being first considered in 2022. The Constantines have been nominated four times in the past, all for the album, Shine A Light. All other artists and their respective albums are receiving their first-ever Heritage Prize nominations.

Heritage Prize balloting officially opened on Tuesday, August 5. Voters will be able to submit ballots once per day until voting close on Thursday, August 21 at 8 pm ET / 5 pm PT. The two new Heritage Prize designations will be revealed for the first time at the live Polaris Concert & Award Ceremony, taking place Tuesday, September 16, at Massey Hall in Toronto. To celebrate the launch of this year’s Heritage Prize campaign Polaris is offering 15% off tickets to the event with the code POLARIS15.

Forty-one albums have received Heritage Prize designation since its introduction in 2015. Past winning albums include Eric’s Trip Love Tara, Feist Let It Die, Harmonium L’Heptade, Faith Nolan Africville, and Neil Young After The Gold Rush.

CBC presents the 2025 Polaris Music Prize. The Slaight Family Heritage Prize was created in partnership with the Slaight Family Foundation. This project is funded in part by FACTOR, the Government of Canada, and Canada’s private radio broadcasters. It is supported by SiriusXM Canada, Ontario Creates, the Government of Ontario, the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund, and the Slaight Family Foundation.

Watershed Festival Returns with Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley & Bailey Zimmerman

Eric Alper
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Watershed Festival Returns with Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley & Bailey Zimmerman

Watershed Festival made its highly anticipated return to the breathtaking Gorge Amphitheatre this weekend as Washington’s “biggest country bash” (EverOut), treating fans to three sun-soaked days of country music magic. With jaw-dropping views and an all-star lineup featuring “electrifying” performances from a “blockbuster headlining trio” (Holler) including Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley and Bailey Zimmerman, the festival once again proved why it’s one of summer’s most beloved traditions.

The “stacked lineup of country stars” (Seattle Refined) kicked off in style on Friday afternoon; RaeLynn brought her signature country swagger to the Main Stage while local favorites The Woods amped up the crowd on the Next From Nashville Stage. As golden hour gave way to a gorgeous Gorge sunset, Ian Munsick kept the energy high with a powerhouse set packed with fan favorites. The night culminated with a high-octane performance from Jason Aldean, who lit up the stage and closed out an “amazing first day” (Prime Time Country Music) in front of a packed crowd of fans.

Saturday started bright and early with the return of the second annual Speedy Shedder Fun Run—a free, feel-good race open to all attendees, benefiting OK Kids Korral, a home away from home for families of children battling cancer. The momentum continued across both stages with standout performances from rising stars including Ashley Cooke, Chase Matthews, and “Watershed’s homecoming country king” (Seattle Times) Zach Top.

Fan favorite Dierks Bentley brought the heat Saturday night, kicking off his set with a medley of crowd-pleasers—including his latest single, “She Hates Me”—before launching into a career-spanning lineup of hits like “Living” and “Beers on Me.” In a surprise highlight, Next From Nashville artists The Band Loula joined Bentley on stage for a swampy rendition of the Del McCoury Band’s “Get Down On Your Knees.” He closed out the night in signature style with his ’90s alter ego, Hot Country Knights, bringing Zach Top back out for a high-energy cover of John Michael Montgomery’s “Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident).” The nostalgic throwback set delivered a fun, crowd-pleasing finale that kept the energy sky-high.

As both Friday and Saturday came to a close, fans danced the night away under the stars with late-night DJ sets from Dee Jay Silver at the Next From Nashville Stage—keeping the vibes alive well into the early hours.

Sunday closed out the weekend on a high note with more “unforgettable performances in one of the most scenic venues in the country” (All Country News) from Drew Baldridge, Jackson Dean, and Tyler Hubbard. Headliner Bailey Zimmerman brought the house down with an explosive set filled with genre-blending anthems, high-energy production, and a mix of fan favorites and new music from his forthcoming album Different Night Same Rodeo. With pyrotechnics, rolling smoke, and strobe lights, his show-stopping performance was the perfect finale—cementing the 2025 Watershed Festival as one for the books.

The weekend showcased a dynamic mix of country music’s biggest stars and rising talent. Over at the Next From Nashville Stage—known for spotlighting tomorrow’s breakout artists—fans were treated to standout performances from buzzworthy newcomers including Logan Crosby, Spencer Crandall, Karley Scott Collins, Thomas Edwards, Greylan James, Tiera Kennedy, Bryce Leatherwood, Shaylen, Lauren Watkins, The Woods, and local favorites Last Chance Band, solidifying the festival’s reputation as Washington’s premier country music event. 

David Gilmour Announces ‘Live at the Circus Maximus’ Concert Film in IMAX and Cinemas Worldwide

Eric Alper
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David Gilmour Announces ‘Live at the Circus Maximus’ Concert Film in IMAX and Cinemas Worldwide

Tickets for the forthcoming David Gilmour live film LIVE AT THE CIRCUS MAXIMUS, ROME are available now at www.davidgilmour.film. The official film trailer is unveiled today.

LIVE AT THE CIRCUS MAXIMUS, ROME, which is being released via Sony Music Vision and Trafalgar Releasing, will be shown in cinemas & IMAX worldwide on 17th September for a limited time only. The film sees Gilmour return to Rome’s historic Circus Maximus at the beginning of the Luck and Strange Tour, his first in nearly a decade. Long-time Gilmour collaborator Gavin Elder filmed the sublime spectacle against the backdrop of the ancient ruins of Rome. Tickets and full screening details for both IMAX and standard format cinemas are available at davidgilmour.film.

THE LUCK AND STRANGE CONCERTS features 23 tracks across 4LPs or 2CDs recorded at selected shows from the tour and blends solo tracks from David’s most recent album, including a stirring rendition of Between Two Points with Romany Gilmour as well as classic Pink Floyd anthems such as Sorrow, High Hopes, Breathe (In The Air), Time, Wish You Were Here, and Comfortably Numb.

For the lucky fans who experienced these once-in-a-lifetime shows, LIVE AT THE CIRCUS MAXIMUS & THE LUCK AND STRANGE CONCERTS are the perfect reminders of Gilmour’s soulful, expressive, and meticulously melodic guitar playing and the brilliance of his incredible band. For those who missed the shows, the album and the film offer a once-in-a-lifetime chance to experience this extraordinary musical event.

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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

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