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Category: Honestly Reviewed
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Philadelphia singer D Kirk KV’s debut album lacks vivacity and brimming charm needed to compete with today’s music: Review

As someone who has had the honour to listen to and support several artists, it is always a privilege to give feedback to anyone who wants it. So, when artists at all stages of their careers reach out, I must review them as any industry personnel would. Otherwise, it may cost them in the long run. When we received an inquiry from Philadelphia’s D Kirk KV on Instagram, I couldn’t wait to hear what he had. At first, I wanted to assign the review article, to one of my contributor’s, but I didn’t feel they were seasoned enough to convey our collective thoughts, professionally. Instead, I decided to take it on.
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Three months ago, D Kirk KV released an eighteen-track album called ‘Oceans’, which features production from various producers including DJ Mustard (‘Special’ featuring RNB Base) and CashMoneyAp (‘She’s A Vibe’ featuring Bptheofficial). The most notable songs are ‘Birthday’, which boasts the best hook on the project but doesn’t credit the featured artist, and ‘ithinkiminlove’ featuring Hrtbrkfever because of how it incorporates Wayne Wonder’s 2003 popular Reggae song ‘No Letting Go’.
For me, D Kirk KV’s production choices are great, but surprisingly he doesn’t meet the bar of most of his musical collaborators. Often, throughout the project, his monotonous crooning style seems to decrease the energy level of the alliance. I’d like to hear how he progresses over time. As a songwriter, his concepts have connectivity, but his overall vocal delivery must improve to attract the audience he wants. As an audience, we’re left wondering what makes the Philadelphia artist standout from his vicious competitors.
Listen to the project below. To us, it feels more like a mixtape created by an artist trying to find their way than a fair introduction full-length LP.
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Milwaukee’s Hakeem Paragon brings hopeful insight to life with the release of ‘A Sunflower in the Shade’: Listen

Hakeem Paragon, goes above and beyond in his music to emphasize the importance of truth, loyalty and resilience that helps with keeping a positive mindset throughout the dark times of life. This leads fans to his latest project ‘A Sunflower in Shade’. The project starts off with an emphasis on honesty with ‘How You Feel’ urging those around him to be forward with the love or the hate they got and sharing parts of himself to listeners. This sets the tone for the project as the project is an honest testament of his feelings towards life and his journey as he pursues success.
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He follows up with ‘Nice Things’ which indicates his passion for attaining the luxuries of life. ‘Big L’ and ‘Turns to Champagne’ and ‘Bad Boy’ all give hope to listeners, but sharing the resilience of both the rapper and his hope for his listeners! ‘Vegan Versace’ gives a reminder of loyalty that his people have for him. The project ends with ‘Blossom’ and ‘Love Don’t’ in which he shares some of the revelations his journey has brought him through.
Hakeem Paragon is a gifted rapper, and this body of work is not only sonically pleasing. This project provides an open and honest look into the mind of someone who is goal-driven and determined to be at the top. It will be exciting to watch the rapper as he continues to make his way there!
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A&R Feedback: Sunnie – We’re Rolling
Sunnie is a beautiful new singer from Willingboro, New Jersey with an engaging voice. Releasing her first body of work in 2016, she brings us a visual for new single, ‘We’re Rolling’. When listening to the song, there was some disconnect with the video. It could have been the way it was edited or maybe the artist was not comfortable in front of the camera, but it felt off. It gave a sense like, the person in the video, wasn’t singing, which made me not to listen to the song.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mwdrq2yZj_w&h=315]
To try and just focus on the song, I walked away from the video to just listen; I just didn’t get it. Visually, she is stunning and her voice is dope, but the song just didn’t do it for me. There was nothing there to keep me interested. I had no clue what the song was about after listening to it four or five times. She does have the look and the voice. I would just like to see her with different writers to bring out her full potential. Check out the video above.