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Rock and its various sub-genres have paved the way for countless forms of musical exploration not even limited to the rock genre, crossing over into punk, electronic, even rap and hip hop. Rock can sometimes feel like the paprika of musical spices. It can certainly add a bit of flavor but it’s also not something particularly potent on its own given the current recipes. Jason Kafoa and his band skinsNbones must be aware of this as evident from their mission statement to create a blend of contemporary and classical sounding rock tunes, but with modern lyrical sensibilities. I’m not 100 percent certain their experiment at its current state is a success, but it’s a damn exciting thing to witness. The bands logo is a mutated question mark as the band wants to probe modern societal issues with a thoughtful examination.

Macomb Michigan - Rap songs with clean lyrics and deeply cut out music is nowhere to be found in this generation of loud and rough music. Breaking the convention, here is a young American artist Lil Birdie who has developed his unique style of rap music. He has created his style based on his own beliefs about the rap genre and the way of musical generation.

Oshawa, Ontario, Canada - Most artists struggle with making it big in the music industry. With the competition and rigorous standards for music, the struggle is real. While many rappers will talk about the struggles they face in a broader social context, you’ll find few who open up about the everyday struggles. This is where Modest Thomas fills the gaps.

Tom Sigurdson, better known as Modest Thomas, has been rapping since 2013. In the years since, the artist has gone through the struggles to become a full-time musician. The struggles of an upcoming artist as many and often can lead to many giving up before they can make it in the industry.

Atlanta, Georgia – Money Zoe is a New Jersey-based rapper who is most fluent in is the language of music. His passion for music runs deep, with his first songwriting experience going back to his teenage years. He has had to power through dire circumstances by giving it his all, and that is the mentality with which he creates his music. Money Zoe uses the sounds of hip-hop, R&B, and rap along with story-telling lyrics, producing music that holds profound meaning to him and his listeners.

Houston, Texas - Unity, peace, and healing are hard to come by in times like ours. However, there are always people promoting and doing their best to achieve what they believe in. Tutu D is one such musician, composer, and singer/songwriter who has been promoting the message of unity, healing, and world peace.

Tutu D or Thotho Ditshwane has been promoting his message for a long time coming. On top of being an accomplished singer, composer, and musician, he founded the organization Sechaba. The organization was set up to promote the message Tutu D pours his heart and soul in to. The dedication and enthusiasm of Tutu D can’t be ignored and is something that makes him special and sets him apart from the others.

Chattanooga, Tennessee – Lil Booku is a hip-hop rapper artist. He has gradually risen through the ranks as he continues to pursue his musical passion for gaining global recognition as a rapper. Lil Booku reinvents the hip-hop genre by using modern hip-hop sounds to characterize his spirituality. He redefines the parameters of hip-hop music for his listeners with his unique take on it.

Miami, Florida – Hip hop is a genre that has always been about showcasing the truth and passion that an artist has for their music and life. The whole genre has acquired the reputation of being notoriously hard to enter and even harder to do well. Slimteo manages to beat the odds with his unique sound and perspective.

Slimteo’s latest single, “Wake Get This Money,” works perfectly in the Hip Hop genre. The song tells a story about how everyone dreams of being rich. However, not all dreams come true if people aren’t willing to work towards them. The song is talking about harsh realities such as poverty.

Brooklyn, New York – THE SUNS are a grunge pop band with songs heavily modeled after rock and roll acts of the 1960’s and the alternative rock influences of the 1990s. Started by singer-songwriter and guitarist Joe Brennan, “THE SUNS” moniker stems from the passing of Brennan’s father, as a play on words for a “son” of a father as well as “suns” as a beacon of light. The band comprises of Joe Brennan (songwriter, guitar, vocals) Dan Marsh (guitar, lap steel) Dylan Mandel (drums, percussions), and Aaron Romero (bass guitar).