Ayanna Williams, Author at The Artistry

May 6, 2022May 6, 2022

Harlem Native Artist Combines Art With Music

Rikko 009, an emerging hip-hop artist from Harlem is repainting the picture of the way we receive music.

“Why not put the songs to the art,” Rikko 009 said.

He was introduced to the world of art and music at a young age. His family background includes him being surrounded by novelists, visual art, musical instruments, and different genres of music.

Rikko 009 uses his drawing talents to inspire his music and he is not limited to hip-hop beats, while gospel and rock beats are some of his favorites as well. He discovered that he could use his drawings to inspire his music.

“When I was a kid, my pops would listen to a lot of rock and so I kind of went through a rock phase,” Rikko 009 said. “I guess it’s coming back around.”

He was also introduced to gospel music at a young age.

“My mom would listen to a lot of gospel music and that’s a lot harder to find beats of or make the beats for, but that’s really where I attend to go next as far as my sound and everything,” Rikko said. “I love the gospel sound with a heavy bass like a Kanye, ‘Donda’ type of thing.”

Around the same time he purchased his music kit, he was working at his previous retail job and that’s when he got inspired to connect his drawings to his music.

Rikko 009 brought a vertical notebook and wanted to draw something from the top to bottom of the page. He wasn’t pleased with the drawings in the first notebook, so he decided to purchase another one.

“That turned out to be the whole level of accent,” Rikko 009 said.

This discovery led to him creating a series of drawings called The 00X Project that includes 10 drawings that played a part in him finding his voice.

Fans can look forward to diversity in his newest project. It will include all things hip-hop, but he wants to expand his talent and see what he can become if he really puts his mind to it.

“I’m really looking forward to more of me and seeing how I grow,” Rikko 009 said.

Fans can stream Rikko 009’s newest single “Aint the Same” on all platforms.

Follow him on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rikko.009/ to stay up to date about his latest project.

May 6, 2022May 6, 2022

Meet B-EZ

B-EZ, the rapper, producer, entrepreneur, and MC of Staten Island, NY shines a light on the
world through his encouraging music. The rapper has opened up shows for hit artists from his home state of New York like Ashanti, Method Man, and Ja Rule. His voice and tone of his music are inspired by artists like J.Cole, Eminem, Nas, etc but he is creating his own flair that
motivates his fans to be themselves no matter the struggle.

B-EZ spoke with Ayanna Williams, a student journalist at Troy University, to chat about his
musical background, the meaning of B-EZ, and his latest singles.

Ayanna Williams: I’m aware that you’re very versatile. You’re a producer, entrepreneur, rapper, and you do it all. Did you grow up in a musical background and what inspired you to start creating music?
B-EZ: “So my father goes by the name of Optometrist, like an eye doctor and he was a
rapper from State Island. I remember growing up at four and five years old on stage with
him and I wasn’t rapping with him, but I was the guy holding up the merch and posters
of him. Seeing that crowd made me want that and because of my upbringing and seeing
the success and the downfalls my father faced, I’m like ok I want to do it my way and
that’s basically where I’m at right now.”
Ayanna Williams: How did you come up with your name?
B-EZ: “I’m an Aries and I have anger and I use to play football, so based on that, my
character and energy are always hyper and a lot of people would tell me to be easy or
calm down. I put that into the music and that’s the same type of thing. I tend to not
overdo it, but I try to go as high as I can with my music. I go above and beyond and I feel
like that encaptures my vibe ‘B-EZ’. He’s energetic, but at the same time, he’s about his
business. It also stands for ‘Ballistic Elimination Zone’. I came up with that when I was
10.”
Ayanna Williams: Tell us about your single “Just Like That” and what does it mean to you?
B-EZ: “The song itself was created by me, my cousin, and my friend. For that single, we
wanted that summertime vibe. We wanted it to be played anywhere. It does have curses
in it, but it’s still like a good vibe and everybody can relate to it. You can play it where
there are palm trees or you can play it when it’s raining outside. It’s a song that can
attract any audience.”
Ayanna Williams: Do you think you’ll expand into different genres?
B-EZ: “Oh yeah absolutely. My music is very versatile. I can go boom-bap, I can go trap,
and I can even try to do melody-type music as well, but versatility is my thing. I like to try different things as far as going to a different genre. Even with my production when I
produce, I produce a lot of beats that are just not catered to one genre – it’s catered to
many. I can make a song or beat for Kehlani or make a beat for Fivio Foreign. I wouldn’t
mind going into different genres with my music or trying to reach a different audience
with a sound that I never thought of before. I just want to grow as an artist overall.”

Stream B-EZ’s latest single “Never Fold” on all streaming platforms

Also on all social media platforms https://www.instagram.com/b_ezmusik/

April 26, 2022April 26, 2022

Who Is Kenny Boi?

Kenny Boi, a singer, songwriter, and rapper from Harlem, NY is representing the LGBTQ+ community with his trap and pop bops. Kenny Boi, formally known as Ken Hefner, rebranded himself to Kenny Boi. “Killa Kenzi” and “KBeezy” who are his trap and rap alter egos were created shortly after.

“Music is a forever experiment,” Kenny said.

He is influenced by Nicki Minaj, Kendrick Lamar, and Drake, but mostly Nicki Minaj and he named his fanbase “Kenzie”. He got the idea from Nicki Manaj because she calls her fans “Barbz” and he wanted to have that personal connection with his fanbase as well.

“You can expect Kenny Boi to be doing a lot of things on this new album coming out,” Kenny Boi said.

On the new album you can expect a mixture of hip-hop, pop, and r&b sounds that make you want to turn up in the club or gain confidence. Kenny Boi is balancing versatility and hip-hop while creating conversations in hip-hop that we have never seen before.

From his stylish swag, unique flow, and confidence, everything about him is “LIT”

“You should never sound the same on any of your albums,” Kenny Boi said. “Just experiment,” the artist said.

His new album “Universal” will be release soon and you will be able to find it on all streaming platforms.

April 26, 2022April 26, 2022

Bella B Turns Poems Into Raps

Hip hop artist Bella B, also known as Juice is creating a new space in the industry by turning her poem into raps. Bella B was born in the Bronx, but grew up on the East side of Harlem. She’s had the opportunity of working with artists like Moneybagz, Cana, and Dreamrichell. Her motivation is inspired by Lauren Hill, Remy Ma, Young MA, Jadakiss, and more.

“I was originally a poet and I was very deep into that and then it just turned into rap,” Bella B said. “I was always into rap, but I fell in love with it to the point where those poems turned right into raps and it was no looking back from then.”

Bella B wrote poems as a source of therapy and an outlet for the things she dealt with when she was younger. “The poems were personal,” Bella B said.

When she transitioned to rap, they weren’t as personal as the poems, but she tells her life stories within her raps. Her EP that was released on March 8, 2022 is titled “Juice” and she named it after her stage name. She also named it “Juice” because she wants to bring versatility.

“I’m giving you bars because I’m big on being a lyricist,” the rapper said.

Each song is different because she lives by versatility and she has something for everybody on the “Juice” EP.

“Everybody likes juice, so pick your flavor,” Bella B said. “What kind of juice you want?”

Bella B has been in this industry for three years and she plans to continue her dreams of being a poet and rapper. She wants her fans to be entertained and for those who can relate to her, to be touched by her rhymes.

“Juice” can be streamed on all streaming platforms

and she can be found on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_juice187/