Entertainment
“Mountaintop music: takeaways from RG43s newest release ”
Paintings Below is the concept album covers created by Reid Gardner.
Reid Gardner, more commonly known as RG43, is a 17-year-old singer/songwriter from Ottawa, Ontario who has started to build a noticeable fan base over the past two years. The artist’s debut release was a single titled “the chase” which was released on April 2nd, 2021. Since the release of the chase, RG has not slowed down one bit and has continued to work hard behind the scenes, releasing two projects within 8 months.
RG43’s newest project “Mountaintop Music” was released on all platforms on March 4th, 2022. The project is an EP featuring 4 unique pieces of music that have been carefully selected for a deeper meaning. “Mountain top music” is a large change sonically from anything the artist has released before and features experimental and genre-bending tracks that have elements of Country, Folk, Alternative R&B, Pop, and Emo rap. The ep starts with the song “summer’s end” which was released as a single on February 18th,
2022 along with a music video as part of the ep rollout. The song details the struggles people face during the cold winter months and the heartbreak of a failed relationship. “Summers end” starts with wind sound effects which signify the changing of seasons and cold weather approaching. The first lyrics are: “Summers end feel the wind as it spins closing in winters coming back again winters coming back again”. Those lyrics allow the listeners to feel the change of the seasons and set the vibe perfectly for the rest of the ep.
The second song on the ep “How many days” is a song about two people that have feelings for each other but a relationship never forms between them. The guy doesn’t want the relationship to get in the way of his career and the girl is waiting for the guy to make a move. This track has a very unique song structure and does not have a repeating chorus which in today’s mainstream music is practically unheard of. With that being said the song could be interpreted as a love letter over drums. The instrumentation in this song is also very unique as it features multiple layers of distorted guitars that take the listener inside the mind of RG and allow the listener feel the emotions RG feels.
The third song on the ep “Freeze” brings the listener to a snowy mountain in the heart of winter. The name of the ep stems from the content matter of this song. Freeze tells the story of a broken relationship where the guy can’t love himself enough for the girl to love him so she eventually leaves. This song covers darker themes of depression and
self-hatred. The lyrics “ Feed me to the wolves let them all be full and free up my soul oul oul oull” really speak to the sad nature of the song. In those lyrics above RG is saying the character would rather see the wolves eat than live because he feels as though he is worth nothing. In the end, He feels as though he is a burden to everyone and begs for the girl to leave him despite knowing that she is the only one that can save him.
The last song on the ep “20 seconds/match” is the only song on the ep to not feature drums. The song has a very slow guitar that is paired with soothing soothing vocals to create the perfect outro. The song starts with the character saying he wants love even if he knows it’s fake and has a very sad undertone. The song continues in this manner until the beat switches.
In the second half of the song “match”, the character seems to be enlightened and comes to the conclusion that he can love himself and the girl he was hurt over is in the past. This is a much more positive RG than seen previously on the tape and lets the listener see the light at the end of the tunnel. This half of the song wraps the project up wonderfully and leaves the listener feeling happy and hopeful for the future.
All in all, this is a very impressive work from an artist so young and displays a great amount of progress from RG’s first project “INDEX”. I’m very excited to hear what this young man comes up with next as I feel as though his creativity and dedication to the craft will take him to new places never heard before and his love for music will continue to be reflected in his work and bring a positive energy to the world.
The underground hip-hop world thrives on authenticity, and MAD Mike’s latest solo release, Root of All Evil, embodies that spirit completely. Dropping under Lost Soul Productions, the project delivers a heavy dose of raw lyricism, unflinching honesty, and dark, unrelenting production that makes it one of the most striking underground albums of the year.Featuring a roster of underground mainstays including NEMS, Lex the Hex Master, Mr. Hyde, Termanology, and Roc, the album doesn’t just lean on big names. Instead, each collaboration was carefully curated to match energy, tone, and purpose.Every feature feels organic, like a natural extension of the story Mike is telling, adding depth to the overall body of work.
At the heart of Root of All Evil lies the chemistry between MAD Mike and producer C-Lance, who provides a sonic backdrop drenched in dark atmospheres and metal-inspired grit. Their creative partnership, sharpened over multiple projects, has reached new heights here. With Albert Charlemagne’s mixing and mastering at Brooklyn Dragon’s Lair tying it all together, the result is a record that’s as sharp sonically as it is lyrically devastating.Thematically, the album pushes beyond MAD Mike’s earlier Nature of the Beast. Where that project explored demons within, this one confronts them head-on, using the framework of the seven deadly sins to reflect on cycles of trauma, broken family ties, and toxic relationships. It’s an album that doesn’t shy away from pain but instead transforms it into something cathartic and empowering.What makes MAD Mike stand apart in the horror-core lane is his ability to channel vulnerability through aggression. His guttural screams and fire-forged delivery aren’t gimmicks—they’re survival. The darkness in his music isn’t for shock value, but a way to turn suffering into strength and connection, echoing the legacy of artists like Tech N9ne and Ill Bill.With Root of All Evil now out, MAD Mike shows no signs of slowing down. More solo work is already on the horizon, promising an edgier, rock-infused direction, while new Dual Diagnosis music is also on the way. For fans of underground hip-hop that demands attention, Root of All Evil is more than just an album—it’s a declaration, a release, and a reminder that the underground is still alive with voices unafraid to bare it all.“This album is about breaking toxic cycles and turning pain into power,” says Mike.With steel-forged beats from C-Lance and the razor-sharp mix from Albert Charlemagne, Root of All Evil cements MAD Mike as one of the most unflinching voices in underground hip-hop.Tracklist Highlights:
- Blasphemy (feat. Lex the Hex Master)
- Shed Blood (feat. Mr. Hyde)
- You Can Get It (feat. NEMS | prod. The Arcitype)
- Blood Squirt Fever (feat. Roc)
- Cuttin’ Da Chain (feat. Termanology)
Stream the album now and follow the movement:
Tracklist – Root of All Evil (2025)
- Intro
- Blasphemy (feat. Lex the Hex Master)
- Shed Blood (feat. Mr. Hyde)
- You Can Get It (feat. NEMS | prod. The Arcitype)
- Blood Squirt Fever (feat. Roc)
- Cuttin’ Da Chain (feat. Termanology)
- Outro
Produced by: C-Lance
Mixed/Mastered by: Albert Charlemagne @ Brooklyn Dragon’s Lair
From novels to movies to music, Jimmy Dasaint has built a career defined by one word—hustle. And this year, the Philly native is proving once again why he’s considered one of the city’s most influential creative voices.
His latest novel, BLACK SCARFACE 5: Fear is Stronger Than Love, is the explosive conclusion to his award-winning series. Co-written with former L.A. drug kingpin Freeway Rick Ross, the book dives deep into themes of survival, loyalty, and betrayal—all told through the gritty lens of Philadelphia’s streets. Fans have responded with overwhelming support, driving the book to ️️️ Star5️ reviews on Amazon.
But Jimmy’s storytelling doesn’t stop on the page. On September 20th, streaming service Tubi will release his newest feature film, THE WRONG BITCH. With a cast of rising stars—Tera Alford, JaQuai Felton, and Mavia Barnes—the film becomes Jimmy’s 13th feature, a testament to his consistency and dedication to bringing authentic urban stories to the screen.
And then there’s the music. Earlier this summer, Jimmy dropped STILL A HUSTLER, an album that has caught the attention of The Source, AllHipHop, and Floss Magazine. It’s raw, powerful, and reflective of the same resilience that has carried Jimmy through every stage of his career.
Through it all, Jimmy remains true to his motto: “Bringing Hollywood to Philly.” With each project, he shines a spotlight on his city while inspiring the next generation of creators to believe that success doesn’t have to come from leaving home—it can be built right here in Philadelphia.
Follow Jimmy Dasaint’s journey:
Website: www.dasaintentertainment.com
Instagram: @jimmydasaint1
Music: Streaming on all major platforms
When it comes to street rap, authenticity isn’t just a quality—it’s the code. Get Money Piken: Beef Muzik lives and breathes that code, delivering a mixtape that’s unapologetically raw, unfiltered, and stamped with street credibility.
This isn’t polished pop rap or watered-down mainstream vibes. This is Beef Muzik—a project fueled by survival, loyalty, and the unspoken rules of the grind. Every track is layered with aggressive lyricism, heavy trap beats, and a gritty narrative that speaks directly to those who know the hustle firsthand.
From money moves to betrayal, from loyalty to beef, Piken doesn’t just rap—he testifies. Each bar drips with intensity, painting the realities of street life in bold, unrelenting strokes. Whether he’s calling out rivals or flexing the rise from the bottom, the delivery is consistent: powerful, fearless, and deeply rooted in authenticity.
Beef Muzik – song and lyrics by Get Money Piken, Yung Glizzy | Spotify
But Beef Muzik isn’t just sound—it’s a war cry. It’s the soundtrack for the come-up, for those who live by the code and never fold under pressure. It’s music that represents the grind, the pain, and the victories of life in the trenches.
For the streets. By the streets.
This is Get Money Piken: Beef Muzik.
MAD Mike’s Root of All Evil: A Raw Testament from the Underground
Jimmy Dasaint: Philly’s Storyteller Who Does It All
Get Money Piken: Beef Muzik – Raw. Unfiltered. Street Certified.
NALA, 23-YEAR-OLD MILLIONAIRE WHO LIVES BY PASSION
NOMADS are changing the landscape of the music business
