When the odds are against us and the walls are closing in, we must look within to find peace.
Intellect offers us a respite from the overstimulation of modern society with “Breathe,” a tense and unyielding new single that serves as “a declaration of space, voice, and release—one breath at a time.”
“Built on dense lyricism and relentless delivery, ‘Breathe’ blends spiritual imagery with street realism, exploring themes of survival, authorship, and inner conflict,” the DC-based hip hop artist states. “The repeated plea — ‘Just let me breathe’ — anchors the video as both a mantra and a warning.”
“Breathe” is accompanied by visuals directed and produced by Annaken Media, which illustrate calm in the chaos by portraying Intellect as he remains steadfast in an environment that is visually glitching around him. Intellect’s performance in the video is focused and direct — representative of the tunnel vision required to stay on the one’s true path in a world full of distractions.
“Breathe” will be included on Declaration of Independence Vol. 3, a robust compilation album featuring Intellect alongside a host of other others. Watch the video below!
After a long, contemplative winter and spring, Spence Brown has reached the summer with a new sense of perspective and — dare we say? — optimism.
That’s what shines through on “Easy,” Brown’s latest single, released May 31. The final release before his album, 4am in Nashville, arrives this summer, “Easy” is a breath of fresh air, and the first glimpse of sunlight over the horizon after a cold winter’s night.
“One of the most fascinating emotions to me is the feeling of something being bittersweet, and at the end of the day, that’s really what life is like,” Brown said. “We’re here living, trying to figure out who we are and what to do with this one life we get. In the process, we end up feeling the full spectrum of emotions that we can as human beings, and realize that we — and everyone we know and love — will someday leave this plane of existence. That is the most bittersweet feeling that there is, so don’t take it for granted. Understand that, for the good to exist, the bad must also exist, and sometimes things just take a little bit of time and hard work.”
Like the rest of Brown’s releases, “Easy” was self-produced, with every detail curated to provide a thoughtful, cathartic experience for artist and listener alike.
“I started this song with a sample from Splice, but as I often do, I wanted to make the song my own and create something that still felt original,” Brown said. “So, I used the sample in the verses, and then mirrored the melody into a different instrument in Logic and added the vocal stacks that fill out the background. I tweaked the mix for months, just trying to make it perfect, because the song just meant so much to me.”
Can we truly find ourselves if, at first, we aren’t lost?
Spence Brown explores what it means to drift through life as time slips away on his latest offering, “26.” The contemplative new single was self-written and produced, recorded in one late night session and presented as a raw antidote to burning existential questions.
“I wanted to keep it simple and just talk about how I feel, so I didn’t even write a hook. Just rapped,” Brown said. “Like most of the other songs I made for this project, this was made late at night all in one session, just me, a microphone and the stars.”
“26” is the third single from Brown’s upcoming album, slated for release this June. Brown notes that this single is one of the album’s most vulnerable moments, and stems from his own challenge to find direction and purpose.
“In my mid-twenties, I really kinda lost hope for a while. I felt like I was just floating in space, with everything that I wanted out of my reach,” Brown said. “It was a very empty and numb feeling and I put that all into this song.”
One of the true gems of the New Year so far belongs to Nashville-based rapper and producer Harris Hills, who combines the soulful sensibilities of Nashvllle with the quick-hitting, grime music influence of his native U.K. on his latest single, “ACTION MAN.”
The well-traveled artist — who also spent his teenage years in Washington state before coming to Music City — pairs slick production with a delivery that moves as swiftly as an independent artist on the rise. A true hustle anthem, “ACTION MAN” adds a fresh voice to Nashville’s already thriving hip hop scene, diversifying Music City’s sonic palette in a way sure to resonate with fans in any location.
The single is accompanied by a video, which features the adventures of Hills and his entourage traveling through many haunts on and around Lower Broadway.
Perhaps these visuals signal what we already know to be true: they’re taking over the city, and it’s only a matter of time.
It’s been a minute since we’ve checked in with our old friend, Intellect. Since becoming acquainted in 2019, we’ve always known the hip hop artist, actor, and military veteran to be a Renaissance man who speaks from the heart about his experiences, with music as a vehicle to reach the masses.
Fast forward to 2024, and Intellect has released his first single of the year alongside fellow emcee Dave East. Titled “Too Many Losses,” the single conveys a powerful and gritty message about the struggles and challenges faced in a difficult urban environment — including violence, crime, temptation, and lack of trust.
“‘Too Many Losses’also highlights the resilience and determination of individuals who continue to fight for survival despite the odds stacked against them,” Intellect adds. “The lyrics capture the raw and harsh aspects of street life, offering a glimpse into the complexities of such an existence.
Intellect and East wrote their verses separately; however, the similarities in their experiences and perspectives seamlessly blend their stories together on “Too Many Losses.” On the production end, Tempur Beats deserves credit for crafting a haunting soundscape that illustrates the hardship of life in the streets, while giving both emcees room to breathe hope into the narrative.
We’ve always known Donny Apollo to share from a vulnerable place. The hip hop artist, producer, and Nashville native has courageously overcome addiction, homelessness, heartbreak, and more; and has never shied away from leaning on his experiences to help others navigate theirs.
With that being said, Donny’s latest single, “811 Freestyle,” sees him open up about his own mental health journey like never before. Through soulful, stream-of-consciousness verses, Donny recalls a traumatic experience involving a relapse — and the recovery process, which includes finding the strength to put out this track to speak on his struggles.
“This is the first single I feel I’ve been this vulnerable within my music. I’ve been through a lot, and harboring this one for a while,” he said in an Instagram post. “I hope you hear me. I hope you understand.”
Pictured: The sun setting behind the Rocky Mountains from the Gaylord Rocky Mountain Resort (Denver, CO).
I need to tell you about my trip to Denver a couple weekends ago.
I was in town to attend the Achieve Systems BizExplosion Conference. Admittedly, I was looking to shake up my day-to-day, and get some perspective on the direction of this platform — which, as you may remember, recently took a brief, yet thorough detour away from being Underground Music Collective.
On Thursday, October 19, I attended the conference’s welcome reception. Upon entering, I sensed pretty much immediately that this was a different room than the ones to which I had become so accustomed. You had speakers, coaches, and entrepreneurs who had reached a levels of scalable, sustainable success that I, plucky UnderDog that I am, still aspire to reach.
That night — before the conference even officially kicked off — I found myself on the receiving end a ton of valuable feedback about the concept, its niche, and ways that it could be better executed. I heard people’s intrigue around the notion of a music industry-centric platform — and what it could do, if properly built, for independent artists everywhere. I learned so much that night (and throughout the ensuing weekend) about exactly how to properly build it, that I’m still combing through and applying the lessons.
And, to be honest, it all felt a bit overwhelming at first.
I left the reception at about 12:30 a.m. when I caught an Uber back to my Airbnb. I explained to my driver, Mateo, that I was in town to get educated about my business, and I was receiving more of an education than I ever could have expected. I also expressed a bit of self-doubt as I digested the lessons, and wondered what it would take to meaningfully level up from this experience once it was finished.
Mateo then told me he was about to restart the song playing in the car. He wanted me to listen…
That song is “Mirror (You Ain’t Know)” by Brian Hyppolite ft. Nelse… and these words were exactly what I needed to hear in that moment, from the opening refrain.
“Oh, you had it twisted?
Oh, you didn’t know that you was gifted?
You ain’t know that stuff you went through just set you up for winning?
You ain’t know that you was chosen?
You ain’t know that you was golden?
You ain’t know you was important, huh?
You ain’t know you had a purpose
Much bigger than anything you ever considered?
Well, I’ma be your mirror So you can see it clearer…“
When we step out of our comfort zones, our minds can play tricks on us. The stories we’ve internalized can delude us into believing that we aren’t worthy, or ready, or “good enough.” These stories will do everything they can to pull us from our purpose, or fool us into thinking another lane is best for us.
That night, the cards of my imposter syndrome were laid out on the table. However, as I listened to “Mirror (You Ain’t Know)” I realized that I — and not the stories — hold the winning hand.
That moment — and the entire experience of that weekend — helped me reconnect with my mission and vision for this platform. We’re here to build something of impact for independent artists, and connect them to the world of entrepreneurship so that they can built their platforms — and lives — regardless of whether they ever receive traditional music industry approval.
In that moment, it dawned on me that there was no better way to do that than to #GoUnderground.
That’s why we’re back as Underground Music Collective. And frankly, it feels damn good to be walking in this purpose again.
