Wale’s latest album, Everything Is A Lot , is a rare thing, a true album designed to run from start to finish, uninterrupted. This project feels different. It’s an album with the polish of someone twenty years in the game, but with the passion of an artist introducing themselves to the world for the first time. It must be listened to in sequence, the order of the tracklist itself is part of the experience. It’s the kind of project we almost forgot the industry was capable of producing...A curated, intentional, a sonic art exhibit where everything matters. And while Wale has nothing left to prove, his name is already in the rafters. This feels like someone choosing expression over expectation and in the process, landed on a classic. THE MOMENT THE ALBUM LOCKS YOU IN From the first few tracks, you can feel this album is on a mission. You’re meant to feel something, and that intent becomes undeniable when you reach the Michael Fredo record. It doesn’t arrive gently. It hits sharp, sudden, undeniable. The kind of hit that pulls a reaction out of you before you even register the sound. Your face curls into that involuntary stank face and your body rocks, not because you decided to move, but because something inside you is trying to keep up with what just landed in your ears. By the time the Michael Fredo track ends, your hand is already drifting toward the rewind button, your mind racing: “Nah, run that back.”  But the album has its own timing and doesn’t wait for you. Before your thumb even makes contact, the next track “Power and Problems”  drops in, smooth, sudden, and controlled. Like a plane breaking out of turbulence into clean air. This isn’t just Wale performing. He’s conducting and guiding every rise and fall, shaping every emotional swing with the precision of someone who knows exactly where he wants to take you and exactly how he wants you to feel when you get there. REAL INGREDIENTS IN A PROCESSED ERA Part of what makes this album feel alive is the instrumentation. We’ve all been fed algorithmic, over-compressed, and now AI-flavored music for so long that real ingredients almost shock the palate: Real piano. Real bass. Real drums. Real arrangements. Real lyrics. Real rapping. Real music. Shout out to all the producers and musicians who contributed to this classic. This is hip-hop. This is Wale at his most dialed-in. THE CROSSROADS OF DREAMING & BECOMING Everything Is A Lot  confronts the pressure we’re conditioned to ignore, the emotional crossroads athletes describe after winning a championship. Once the confetti settles, the question no one prepares you for appears: What now? The truth is, life’s complexity and heaviness don’t disappear just because things look stable on paper or because your dreams finally became “reality.” There’s a hunger in this album that echoes the first version of falling in love with something the purity before expectations, before pressure, before anyone else’s voice enters the room. It’s authenticity at its rawest. This is why the album hits so deeply. It taps into that early joy of the craft, the first clean swish, the first time you beat your older brother 1-on-1, the moment where achievement feels weightless and all that matters is the love of the game. Creating for passion, not validation. Everything Is A Lot  reaches back into pure origin energy with beats that transport you back to banging your hands on the cafeteria table for the lunch time cyphers. As the album moves toward its final stretch, “Survive”  stands out as an emotional center, the moment where truth and exhaustion sit together in the dark and decide to keep going. And ending with the track “Lonely”  feels highly intentional and poetic, a quiet hallway exit from the art exhibit, the space where you’re still processing everything you just experienced. Everything Is A Lot  is now streaming on all platforms.For updates, follow Wale on social media and visit his official site for tour dates, merch, and new releases.

It was one of those nights that started without a plan. Just landed in Nairobi and somehow found myself at Koda, tucked away in Westlands, for R&B Night curated by @nairobirnb . From the moment I walked in and heard KARRL spinning, I knew this wasn’t just another set. His set was very intentional, every blend, every drop, every look he gave the crowd carried purpose. This wasn’t someone hiding behind a “good playlist.” This was an artist performing on stage. A Night with KARRL in Nairobi I’ve seen a lot of DJs, but few make you stop dancing just to watch them work. KARRL has that presence. No mic-talk, no forced hype, just pure crowd control, commanding the room to dance and move to the rhythm he sets. The way he layered riddims and folded new tracks into familiar grooves was poetry in motion. One minute he was deep in 90s R&B, the next he had us vibing to something fresh out of Nairobi’s underground. I kept catching myself pulling out my phone just to Shazam song after song. There was this one moment, when Karrl dropped Nviiri the Storyteller’s track “Niko Sawa”  featuring Bien. I couldn’t even tell you how he got there, I think it was off a Keyshia Cole or Tevin Campbell track, but either way it was unexpected. All I know is when that beat landed, I froze for a second, laughed to myself, and silently mouthed, “Who the fuck is this guy?” and I meant that with full respect. From that moment on, I wasn’t just listening; I was fully locked in. KARRL didn’t just play for  the crowd, he moved with  us. You could see it in how he built the tension in his transitions, how he made you guess what was coming next, then flipped it in a way that still made perfect sense. Every transition was a reminder that DJing is like playing an instrument and when done right, its like an act of storytelling. It’s that rare mix of intention and instinct that separates a playlist from a performance. Be Present for the Music For a time, everything disappeared in the crowd, no phone in hand, no recording, just sound, light, motion and presence. Watching KARRL reminded me why being in the moment still matters. There’s nothing like catching that look on someone’s face when the beat hits and the collective release when the crowd has when they move as one, that’s the magic we all as artists chase. Those subtle moments, when crafted with intention, are what turn a good DJ into a great one. It’s not always about playing what’s trending to spark a crowd. I have to believe there is greater satisfaction when you take risks and pop an underground song into a set and cause the crowd to have no clue why they starting vibing even harder to something “unfamiliar”. KARRL has that spirit. You can tell he’s not chasing clout; he’s chasing craft. Koda Nairobi Energy Koda was the perfect backdrop, minimalist, raw, the kind of place where the music does the heavy lifting. Upstairs, an open bar overlooked a dance floor full of people who weren’t too cool to move with tons of sections and VIP areas. Maybe it was the R&B crowd, but the night felt communal, like everyone came to exhale together. Shoutout to @nairobirnb for curating a night that gave space to up and coming artists. The night felt like a reflection of what “real music” can do when given space to breathe. Anytime we at Sheddin find ourselves in a place that lives and moves in the spirit of our ethos " where real music happens ” it hits home. Stay Connected Follow @iam_karrl for a glimpse into his world.If you’re in Nairobi and want to feel the city’s rhythm and blues, tap in with @nairobirnb and @kodanairobi .

There’s a vulnerability that comes with performing—a unique exposure that intensifies when an artist bares their heart on stage. At World Cafe Live’s Philly Rising open mic, that vulnerability transforms into power. For Angel Concepcion ( @arconcepcion ), this night was more than just another performance; it was a full-circle moment. When she first arrived in Philly, she shared how the Philly Rising stage at World Cafe Live became her safe space—a place to refine her craft and strengthen her confidence. Now, she stood on that same stage, commanding the room with ease, charisma, not as a random act but as a featured artist. Open mics are the place where artists grow and evolve. But performance isn’t just about talent—it’s about connection. Comfortability on stage is something many up-and-coming artists struggle to master, but Angel made it look effortless. Before she even began to sing, her personality shined causing an immediate audience connection where you sat there feeling like you were watching a good friend perform. Storytelling, Humor, and a Song About a Donut A standout moment of the night occurred when Angel gave the Philly Rising audience an exclusive sneak peek of her new song, “Yum” (which, at the time of this article, has yet to be released). She recounted an interview with WXPN, the radio station at The World Cafe Live, where they asked, "What was the strangest or funniest inspiration for a song?" Her answer? A donut. But “Yum” wasn’t just a playful jingle—it was a song layered with emotion, struggle, and the internal battle between temptation and discipline. Angel took a deeply personal yet universally relatable experience from her own weight loss journey and transformed it into a song that we can’t wait to hear when it’s released. Her intro to the song was a perfect mix of humor, personality, and authenticity, delivered with the timing of a comedian setting up their punchline. She shared a humorous memory: after losing 20 pounds, she heard her mom walk into the living room and, mimicking her mom’s Filipino accent, say, “Angel, I got a box of your favorite donuts.” The room erupted in laughter. But beneath the humor was a song that resonated deeply—a reflection of the struggle we all face when trying to resist what we know isn’t always good for us. Even before singing a note, Angel had the crowd completely locked in, hanging on to her every word. By the time she began to sing, we were hanging on every lyric. A Rising Star to Watch Beyond her storytelling and stage presence, Angel Concepcion’s musicianship and the fully loaded pen with ink in it is what truly sets her apart. Performing her own songs with her guitar, her original melodies feel both fresh and familiar, her soulful vibrato carrying echoes of that Philly magic that tends to bless those that spend time in the city. There’s no doubt—Angel is one of those rising stars. It won’t be a surprise to us when she graces bigger stages, and it’s only a matter of time before she becomes one of those undeniable voices in Philly’s music scene. Be on the lookout—Angel Concepcion is on the rise. Be sure to follow Angel Concepcion on socials: @arconcepcion. You don’t want to miss what’s coming next.

Your number one source for where real music happens. Discover all the latest and greatest things happening in the world of music, art and fashion. WALE EVERYTHING IS A LOT A Rare No-Skip Album READ MORE Wale’s Everything Is A Lot: A Rare No-Skip Album Wale’s Everything Is A Lot is a true front-to-back album—no skips, no filler. Played in sequence, it becomes a full experience. It hits with the polish of a veteran and the hunger of a debut album. This is an instant classic. Kenya’s R&B Pulse: KARRL Brings Nairobi to Life at Koda At Koda Nairobi’s R&B Night, DJ Karrl reminded us that “where real music happens” isn’t just a motto—it’s alive in Kenya Philly Rising: Angel Concepcion’s Full Circle Moment at World Cafe Live Angel Concepcion’s performance at World Cafe Live’s Philly Rising open mic marked a full-circle moment. Seraiah Nicole Brings Soulful Vibes to South Jazz Kitchen in Philly Philadelphia’s live music scene is alive and well, and Seraiah Nicole is a name you need to know. Philly’s Own TreWay Drops “Comfortable” and the vibes got you feeling real cozy... TreWay from Philly and The Now Generation just dropped “Comfortable,” and it’s got everyone ready to kick back and chill. It's Tay-Tay's World and We're Just Living in It. Taylor Swift’s rise from “just a girl in a Chevy truck” to one of the most influential artists in the world is nothing short of... 1 2 3 Just some random inspo to get you through the week. We started a new playlist to put people on to new music. So if you're interested in adding your song to the playlist drop us note to submit.

Your number one source for where real music happens. Discover all the latest and greatest things happening in the world of music, art and fashion.

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