Billboard Top Hip-hop
NEIKA SIMONE, WITH HER LATEST SINGLE, ‘PICTURE PERFECT,’ IS MAKING PEOPLE FALL IN LOVE
Racing heartbeat and that ‘butterfly’ feel; falling in love is beautiful. It takes one to a different dimension and makes them experience emotions and feelings like never before. How the heart flutters when a person sees the love of their life, how they forget their worries when they are with them.
Unfortunately, not many people are able to find the love of their life. They spend their entire lives searching for that deep connection with someone, even when the person is right in front of them—someone they have spent a significant part of their lives with.
Neika Simone, a renowned Jazz singer and songwriter has taken it upon herself to help such people find true love and experience its beauty and essence. Her latest single, “Picture Perfect,” is all about actually seeing what has always been right in front of them.
All of this time, guess I must have been blind
Not to see you and me, we’re picture perfect
I should be yours
Baby, you should be mine
Meant to be, can’t you see we’re picture perfect
Named “Simone” in honor of the iconic vocalist Nina Simone, Neika is taking the world of jazz music by a storm, becoming a favorite of all those dealing with matters of the heart. Sourcing her inspiration from a range of emotions and exploring universal human concepts like love and heartbreak, Neika has established a firm ground in the world of music with her highly acclaimed EP, Beautiful Moments, released in July 2022. Even though this was her first EP, it has been ascending the charts on SmoothJazz.com for quite some time now.
Not only did her first EP help her establish an identity as an emerging jazz artist, but also led her to release a hit single, “My Door,” that has maintained a stable spot at the top of The Urban Influencers list for R&B and Soul. In 2021, she released another single, “Sweet Craving,” and an EP just a year later.
Neika Simone, born and raised in Kings Mountain, North Carolina, was not only blessed with an angelic voice perfect for jazz but possessed a capability to create powerful lyrics that could leave a strong impact on the listeners. It is her soothing voice, combined with her passion for writing songs and life experiences, that helped her acquire fame as a jazz musician with a broad fan base.
Always a shy personality, Neika was first drawn to this genre after her very first studio experience. Since then, she has been releasing heartfelt songs that connect with the soul, making people embrace heartbreaks and feel ‘love.’ She instills hope in the hearts of the listeners by leading them into a trance of her powerful vocals, beautiful voice, and excellence in Jazz music.
The grief of losing her loving brother, dealing with divorce, and struggling through medical complications introduced Neika to intense emotions, and that’s exactly what is visible in her music. Neika doesn’t fail to impress, and her latest single is yet another treat for all the love music.
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Billboard Top Hip-hop
“Ashwin’s Spectacular NBA Debut at the Intuit Dome”
On February 4, 2025, Ashwin, a talented artist, will grace the Intuit Dome with a remarkable performance as the opening act for the highly anticipated game between the LA Clippers and the LA Lakers. Directed and choreographed by the brilliant Destiny Frye, this visual spectacle promises to be extraordinary, showcasing a groundbreaking concept within the state-of-the-art $2.1 billion stadium.
This performance marks a significant milestone for Ashwin as it will be his debut appearance at an NBA event. The excitement surrounding this first-ever NBA performance is palpable, with fans eagerly anticipating the innovative and electrifying presentation that Ashwin is set to deliver.
Destiny Frye, the visionary behind this event, is the owner of Hip Hop Dreamz and the Origin Performing Arts Dance Studio. With a decade of experience in orchestrating NBA primetime performances, Destiny is celebrating her 10th anniversary of collaboration with the NBA, making this event even more special.
Destiny and her team are thrilled to bring Ashwin’s music to the forefront, promising an unforgettable experience for the audience. Although this is Ashwin’s inaugural NBA performance, it marks the beginning of a promising journey, and fans can expect many more captivating collaborations in the future. Ashwin is recognized as a trailblazer of his generation, and the anticipation for his future projects is already building. This event is not just a performance; it’s a celebration of artistry, innovation, and the limitless possibilities that lie ahead for Ashwin and Destiny Frye in their creative endeavours.
Billboard Top Hip-hop
Platinum Audio Engineer & Award-Winning Writer Mark “Savage” on Entering Management and Tackling Patriarchy
For years, Mark “Savage” Sanders bold, dynamic mixing style has landed him work behind the boards of major tours and hit records alike. Working with artists like Shordie Shordie, Lizzo, Coi Leray, Kevin Gates, Fetty Wap, Kelly Rowland and more, Mark sports an ever-expanding discography of cutting edge of popular music. We spoke with Mark to get insights into his career arc, workflow, and to understand how his unique sound is built upon a firm foundation of technical skill, knowledge and deep listening.
For starters, could you tell me how you got into engineering?
So at my high school they had an early college program where you could get your associates or a certificate by graduation. I wasn’t looking to be an audio engineer. I don’t even think I really knew what an audio engineer was, which makes it all the more crazy. I saw music production schools, but I went for audio engineering at Full Sail University.
What boards were you working on when you were doing live sound?
It was whatever the house had. Working on Mackie boards or Yamaha boards that only had seven inputs that worked—Avid and Midas consoles, the M32s, the Behringer X32, a lot of different stuff. Being a live sound engineer taught me so much signal flow and having to adapt to different spaces and different gear all the time. If I’m on tour and we’re generally using the same board, we’re probably never using the same monitors for front-of-house. The rooms are bigger or smaller—different places have different problem areas—being in a stadium or doing a festival where you have delays and all that stuff is just insane.
So you were ghostwriting, engineering, producing, and rapping in the beginning?
Yes I did it all except play an instrument.
Now today you’ve received a BMI Award, 2x Platinum, and over 12,000 sync placements how does it feel?
If I had to be honest I don’t care about any of it anymore. I want to see my Son win big like this. I’m more into family these days. I did everything I wanted in life and overachieved. I’m good!
We see you have Royalty ENTERTAINMENT & managing as far as entertainment goes what else can we expect?
Whatever God does. I’m not chasing anything anymore. Focused on living life, family, and wealth/health. Definitely support my DJ, DJ King, Ashley Blaire, and Pretty Liyah. Other than that I’m about to be out the way. (He laughs) I’m so burnt out. I’m chilling.
Last question, seeing that you did everything you wanted is there anything left that you haven’t 2025 going forward?
No just travel more that’s it. Like when I say I’ve given life everything I’ve had. I’ve given it everything. Plus I think most people are waiting for me to be famous or something which I’m avoiding and praying never happens.
Billboard Top Hip-hop
From Small Town Dreams to Entertainment Powerhouse: The Rise of Dominique Danielle
Dominique Danielle’s journey from the slums of Alton, Illinois, to becoming a multi-talented entertainer is a testament to perseverance and passion. As a preteen, her mother moved her to Atlanta, Georgia, in pursuit of better opportunities in music and entertainment. This bold decision would set the stage for Dominique’s remarkable career.
Her love for music led her mother, who also acted as her manager, to approach Atlanta’s top hip-hop radio station, Hot 107.9. This serendipitous move unexpectedly launched Dominique’s career in radio. Under the mentorship of industry professionals, she became a skilled board operator, producing shows for renowned personalities like Michael Baisden and Rickey Smiley.
Over the next decade, Dominique expanded her repertoire, becoming a radio personality and hosting music-driven TV shows. Her ambition drove her to explore various facets of entertainment, including club events and college parties. She even worked as a personality for Streetz 94.5 before fully committing to her music career.
Relocating to Los Angeles, Dominique conquered the prestigious high school tour as a singer, rapper, and entertainer. Her talents extended beyond music, as she delved into theater, film, and social media comedy. Notable achievements include co-hosting CBS’s music variety show “Trap City ATL” and garnering recognition for her acting and comedic timing.
Dominique Danielle’s story is one of relentless pursuit and adaptability. Her diverse skill set, coupled with unwavering morals, hard work, and resilience, continues to propel her forward in the entertainment industry. As she expands her horizons, there seems to be no limit to what this multi-faceted talent can achieve.