GRUNGECAKE

Category: Music Reviews

  • TiaCorine enlists Atlanta’s JID for high-energy song ‘Backyard’: Watch

    “Ain’t crying over niggas with no black card”

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    Three weeks ago, North Carolina rapper TiaCorine released the high-energy song ‘Backyard’ with Atlanta’s JID. On the Hit-Boy-produced track, the gifted Winston-Salem songwriter tells us she’s not a one-woman man (“Mix match the nigga, you is not my one and only”), being that girl (“Bitch, I’m the shit like some dawgs up in the backyard”), how men of a certain tax bracket warrants her atttention (“Ain’t cryin’ over niggas with no black card”) and her beliefs on why her body’s so thick.

    Her rapping counterpart, JID, likens himself to the governor of Atlanta, his need to be in control (“If I ain’t out here steerin’ shit, might as well abandon ship”), and excellently closes his verse by speeding up his delivery. Without further ado, watch the official music video below.

    [youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLdB8mNOLzM&h=315]

    Four weeks prior, the ‘We Not Humping’ rapper released the official video for ‘Fall In Love’, where she displays love and affection for her partner, who matches her vibe—melanated, tatted up, and stylishly edgy.

    [youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiL51gFDo2w&h=315]

  • Buckeyes superstar rapper Trippie Redd courts two women in official video for surprise single ‘Sketchy’: Watch

    “I’m filled up with too much pain/I don’t have no room for you”

    Two days ago, Canton, Ohio-born and raised superstar Trippie Redd reemerged onto the scene with what’s been referred to as a “surprise single” by his publicist for his new single, ‘Sketchy’. In the two-minute music video, the controversial musician sings about his choice to disengage with some people because of their dishonest behaviour and courts his two girlfriends at an amusement park. Later in the video, during the studio scene, he continues about popping pills and his nihilistic views, unrealistic expectations people put on him, and acknowledges cheating with a former girlfriend. Check out the official music video for the Nick Mira-produced track, ‘Sketchy’.

    [youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3edLt0E3Sk&h=315]

    The single ‘Sketchy’ is taken from the recording artist’s forthcoming sixth album ‘NDA’, set to release through his longtime record labels, 10K Projects and Atlantic Records. According to his page on Wikipedia, the forthcoming album will also have a track featuring a guest appearance from Kanye West.

  • Watch Cory Gunz’s sidewalk visual for ‘Fish Fry’ featuring Nems and Whispers

    It’s giving early 00s G-Unit.

    Last month, Cory Gunz, the famed American rapper who collaborated on Lil Wayne’s classic fan-favourite collaboration ‘6 Foot 7 Foot’, returned with a new single for the streets called ‘Fish Fry’, featuring fellow New York rapper Nems and his Militia labelmate Whispers. On the gritty track, the multi-platinum selling legend uses the Asethic-produced beat to report on personal missions, escaping conditions, and how his parents influenced his mindset (“Mama made me suspicious/Papa made me this vicious”).

    For Coney Island’s own NEMS, frankly, displays utter rudeness towards his opponents by using upsetting words to detail the characteristics, physique, and gender (”Your whole team is dickheads and fat bitches”). Further into his snide lyric, he reports how dangerous things could get (“Over here, we’re giving out shit bags and (urinary) catheters”).

    It is an intense song with dark storytelling, but if you ever wanted to know what it’s like for some people from the streets in the 21st century, this is a great introduction.

    Watch the official music video below to see the testosterone-fuelled song in action and the hook singer eat a fried fish sandwich.

    [youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuHbyvbgseo&h=315]

  • Nas and Resorts World receive unanimous vote for proposed casino in Queens

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    On September 25, 2025, Nas and Resorts World NYC cleared a major milestone in their casino expansion efforts in Queens, winning unanimous approval from the Community Advisory Board for their $5.5 billion proposal. The vote was 6-0 in favour, a signal that the project has strong support among local stakeholders.

    The proposal aims to transform the existing racino at Aqueduct—which currently offers electronic gaming machines—into a full-integrated resort featuring live table games. Among the planned amenities: A 7,000-seat concert and entertainment venue, some 30 food and beverage outlets, a sports and media complex dubbed “The Jet Center” by NBA champion Kenny “The Jet” Smith, additional hotel rooms, and other public‐infrastructure enhancements.

    The economic figures are ambitious: the developers say it could create roughly 24,000 new jobs, ranging from construction to ongoing operations, and generate at least $1 billion in incremental revenue for New York State within the first year of full operation. If all goes according to plan, parts of the facility are expected to begin opening by mid-2026.

    Still, the approval of the Community Advisory Board is not the final step. Next, the proposal must be reviewed by the Gaming Facility Location Board before a full commercial casino license can be granted.

    The vote also drew media attention for its timing and context. A competing Times Square casino bid backed by JAY Z was recently rejected; Queens Borough President Donovan Richards took the moment to quip, “Sorry Jay-Z. We win again.”

    Overall, this is a strong win for the Nas-Resorts World partnership: The unanimous vote suggests broad local buy-in, and the scale of the proposal places it among the largest private development efforts under consideration in New York.

  • South African artist Una Rams and J’Something team up for matrimonial track ‘I Do’: Listen

    “I have finally found the one for me”

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    With reports indicating that over 60% of South Africans have never been married, according to the 2022 census, there’s one Vhavenda man who had other plans. Una Rams, the singer who famously worked with fellow South African musician Black Coffee on the GRAMMY Award-winning album ‘Subconsciously’ released in 2021, teamed up with Portuguese vocalist J’Something (from Mi Casa, a South Africa-based trio) for the matrimonial track ‘I Do’. In the song, he anticipates lifting his bride’s veil and celebrating with his loved ones. Granted, it can be difficult to find the right person to settle down with, but if you’re reading this, you probably shouldn’t give up. There might be someone out there ready to match your fly. Don’t let them down… maybe?

  • R&B star Ella Mai shares bold office-themed music video for ‘Tell Her’: Watch

    Ella Mai sings, “I’m on some new shit, switch up the vibe”

    Last week, R&B/Soul star Ella Mai released the official music video to her new bold single ‘Tell Her’—where the GRAMMY Award-winning singer-songwriter requests her significant other keep it honest with his female friend, who he used to date, about how much he loves the ‘Boo’d Up’ singer and adores her only.

    “But if your ex think she can call your phone
    You better tell her you love me, put no one above me”

    Channeling Destiny Child’s 1999 classic record ‘Say My Name’, a popular single about the protagonist’s need to be acknowledged as the main or only woman in his life, Ella Mai sings,

    “Say my name, say my name (tell her you love me)
    Ain’t finna play no games, it’s time to make it plain
    Boy, don’t be acting strange”

    [media-credit name=”Courtesy” width=1600 align=”center”]Ella Mai cover art for 'Tell Her'[/media-credit]

    As she confidently croons over the Mustard beat, the ‘Trip’ songbird says there’s no one else above her, but as history has shown, your partners can embarrass you. With Mai singing about her man entertaining his ex in 2025, something tells me not much has changed since the ‘The Writing’s on the Wall’ era (twenty-six years prior). We’ll have to wait and see how her story unfolds through her next album. Watch the GRAMMY-winning singer-songwriter’s office-themed visual—directed by Cole Santiago–below.

    [youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e16X3V3Twtk&h=315]

  • 5@5: A morning playlist featuring Jet Vesper and Chris Bullinger

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    A mix of smooth and non-interruptive music shines on this morning playlist featuring Jet Vesper, Chris Bullinger, Loose Buttons, , and . Therefore, we believe these records are the best of the week. Check them out below.

    Jet Vesper – Sonny (Submission)

    Australian artist Jet Vesper has recently released a new track called ‘Sonny’ from his sophomore album entitled ‘Casual Viewing Experience’. It is a funky, seventies nostalgic lead single that highlights a beautiful sunny day, a family affair, flowers in his señorita’s hair, and all-around good vibes. Let the warm track be part of your day’s soundtrack or playlist. It might put you in a ravishing mood.

    Chris Bullinger – Fallin’ Things Let Fall (Submission)

    Turning the volume up to make your soul rattle and making you get out of bed, American artist and poet Chris Bullinger’s high-octane song ‘Fallin’ Things Let Fall’ is what you may hear in a motion picture tied to one of the craziest, bad-ass action scenes. Listen to the single. It is the second single from his forthcoming album called ‘Nowhere To Fall’. Unfortunately, we do not have a release date yet, but there’s an intention to release more singles in late Summer/Autumn.

    Loose Buttons – Just a Boy in a Band (Submission)

    This week, New York-native four-piece band Loose Buttons released their new sad yet electric track, ‘Just a Boy in a Band’, about chasing fame, facing self-doubts and rejection. When explaining what the song is about, the lead singer Eric Nizgretsky shared the following:

    “This song is about coming to grips with the fact that I’m frankly just a boy in a band, holding onto that childish belief that maybe, just maybe, we can trick you into thinking we’re something more. There’s so much going on in the world and then there’s us, fumbling around, trying to make something stick. And yet here we are, pouring everything we have into roughly three-minute songs, like it might actually change something. The best part is getting to do it with my bandmates and best friends, still chasing that feeling – like a kid who just pulled off their first magic trick.”

    Listen to the new bold track below. If you are okay with getting deep into your thoughts in the morning, you may appreciate it.

    Nizgretsky is a first-generation Ukrainian American with roots in Kyiv; based on the information we received, within the past year, they organised a series of benefit shows to help wounded and displaced people in the country. If I were in New York City, I would have loved to attend one of their shows to see them in a live setting because I think it is a matter of time before they cross over, achieving their hopes and dreams.

  • Hear Dominican-American musician Twin Shadow’s latest single ‘Awkward Backward’

    “I could make mountains from jealousy”

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    Today, Dominican-American musician Twin Shadow shared the second track, ‘Awkward Backward’, from his forthcoming album ‘Cadet’. For the song, the gifted music-making actor sings about feeling lost, navigating through heartbreak, and what appears to be a relationship that has given him more confusion than clarity. Aside from the complexities tied to his deep emotions, the song is an incredibly endearing one that most people could relate to and potentially enjoy because it was well-made.

    About the self-produced track, Twin Shadow explains,

    ““Awkward Backward’ is a song about insecurities—about always needing to be the first to figure out what’s going on in a relationship, to predict who’s going to jump ship first. It’s about dodging bullets and trying to get the upper hand, all in the name of protecting your own ego. But beneath that defensiveness lies an admission: these are my shortcomings. The song is a confession and an invitation to go deeper, to ask if maybe it’s finally time to stop running and truly connect.”

    [youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUiIiGpMAko&h=315]

  • Afrobeats royalty Kizz Daniel makes his case in ‘To Be a Man’: Watch the lyric video

    “She won’t stop pushing until she see my cadaver”

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    Last week, Nigerian musical legend Kizz Daniel released a new single called ‘To Be a Man’, along with a simple yet striking official lyric video. In the picture, the Afrobeats pioneer, hailing from Ogun State, sings and poses an important question to his partner: Quality time or a Gucci bag?, as a direct response to him being overworked as a provider (”I work hard, 16 hours in a day/No time off, no holiday”). And if you thought that lyric was thought-provoking, he doubled down on the next couple of lines: “Omo, if e easy to be a man/Take my shoes and go crazy”.

    [youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRr-5bhkUlM&h=315]

    If you’re an entrepreneur or a man with great responsibilities and the weight of mountains sitting on your skull, you may have an appreciation for this song more than I could. Check it the well-made track above and learn the lyrics so we all can sing together at his concerts.

  • Watch Houston rapper Monaleo’s kickback visual for ‘Putting Ya Dine’

    Her flow sounds a little different than her previous releases.

    Last week, Houston’s rising star Monaleo released the official music video to her new song, ‘Putting Ya Dine’. As the rapper tells her truth and explains why she believes her competitors or fellow rappers cannot get deals, she’s joined by friends and her boyfriend, Stunna 4 Vegas, who’s also DaBaby’s Billion Dollar Baby artist, in what one could simply describe as a chill kickback setting. Watch the music video below to see her rapping with new shiny gold teeth in her mouth.

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    [youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgPj14GtKJc&h=315]