Interview: Recording Artist Naeem

Formerly known as Spank Rock, Naeem Juwan sees his newest record as an opportunity to reflect and grow

Baltimore-born Naeem Juwan (who began as part of the duo Spank Rock, then retained the name Spank Rock as a solo artist, and now records as Naeem) never intended to shed his initial moniker. Spank Rock albums released in 2006 and 2011 and EPs in 2007, 2012, and 2014 established a specific style: raucous, club-influenced party rap. But, Naeem grew, and his interests shifted. Public perception, however, …

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From psychedelia-tinged, anti-folk to a meditation on racism and a banger about freedom

Shamir: On My Own Following March’s nine-track Cataclysm, Shamir (aka Shamir Bailey) returns with “On My Own,” a song that’s set to appear on an upcoming full-length album. The guitar-heavy banger about freedom after a break-up marks the artist’s return to more accessible pop—he has traversed all kinds of genres since his 2015 breakout, Rachet. Still, Shamir clearly pulls influence from all kinds of genres (from …

Tricky feat. Marta: Fall Please

Prolific, pioneering trip-hop producer/rapper Tricky (aka Adrian Thaws) has just released the lead single “Fall Please” from his upcoming 14th LP, Fall To Pieces. Recorded in late 2019, while Tricky was mourning his daughter’s death, the album comes with his statement: “I feel like I’m back… I’ve managed to do something I’ve never been able to do before, which is that everyone will feel it—even people …