Grindaa: The Voice of Fort Greene Turning Pain Into Purpose

Industry Spotlight
Grindaa’s story begins in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, where his first defining moment as an artist happened at just 15 years old inside a neighborhood rap cipher surrounded by men nearly ten years older than him. Trading bars with people aged 25 and up forced him to sharpen his confidence and prove he belonged, turning music from something he liked into something he knew he was meant to pursue. His career has always been driven by pure passion rather than trends, but the journey hasn’t been easy — one of his biggest challenges has been making people believe in his vision while building genuine connections along the way. That struggle never discouraged him; it strengthened his determination and shaped his identity as an artist. As his music grew, his purpose deepened through fatherhood, with his daughters becoming his biggest inspiration. Watching them see him create pushes him to lead by example, showing them that dreams are possible through consistency and belief.

One of Grindaa’s proudest accomplishments isn’t industry recognition but becoming a community hero and being honored with a memorial in a park within his own neighborhood, a full-circle moment from the same streets that raised him. Outside of music, he focuses on uplifting his people and bringing resources back into his community, using his platform for impact beyond entertainment. His latest project, “Like That,” is available on his YouTube channel Upper Grind ENT, where supporters can find most of his catalog and connect directly with his sound. Grindaa built his own lane instead of waiting for opportunity, and his ambitions continue expanding — his next goal is acting, where he plans to bring the same authenticity from his lyrics onto the big screen as he continues building a legacy rooted in both artistry and purpose.

Theodore “Stretch” Travis Announces Official Launch of Tha Culture Report on April 3, 2026

Industry Spotlight

Media executive Theodore “Stretch” Travis is officially launching Tha Culture Report on April 3, 2026, marking a major milestone in the expansion of his growing media ecosystem under Everybody Eatz Media Group.

A native of Niagara Falls, New York, Travis has built a career rooted in music, media, and cultural storytelling. His journey spans early work in music and entertainment to serving as Chief Operating Officer of Hip Hop Weekly, where he helped shape coverage at the intersection of hip-hop, business, and culture. In 2023, Travis quietly introduced Tha Culture Report through a strategic soft launch, using the period to test the market, analyze engagement, and identify where culture-driven media was heading.

That early rollout allowed the platform to evolve organically while sharpening its editorial voice and audience focus. Now, with a refined vision and proven demand, Tha Culture Report is ready for a full-scale launch.

Based in the Atlanta, Georgia area, Travis founded Tha Culture Report to move beyond surface-level headlines and offer deeper, more intentional storytelling. The platform highlights artists, entrepreneurs, executives, and cultural leaders shaping today’s creative economy—while maintaining authenticity and journalistic integrity.

The April 3, 2026 launch also signals a broader expansion for Travis. Under Everybody Eatz Media Group, he is rolling out multiple live performance platforms and a music distribution company, designed to give independent artists more visibility, ownership, and infrastructure within the industry. Together, these ventures reflect a long-term commitment to building sustainable systems for creators—not just covering the culture, but actively contributing to its growth.

“Tha Culture Report is about telling real stories the right way,” Travis says. “The soft launch showed us the lane was there. Now we’re ready to fully step into it.”

With years of experience, strategic groundwork, and a growing network of platforms, Theodore “Stretch” Travis positions Tha Culture Report—and Everybody Eatz Media Group—as emerging forces in modern culture media.

ZoeMigo Builds Legacy Through His Authentic Sound

Industry Spotlight

ZoeMigo is a hip-hop artist born in West Palm Beach, Florida, known for blending melodic emotion with hard-hitting Florida bounce. His music draws from real-life experiences, exploring themes of perseverance, loyalty, and growth through adversity. ZoeMigo released three projects, with his latest, OVERLOOKED, showcasing his consistency and evolution as an artist. With an authentic voice and a focus on longevity over trends, ZoeMigo represents a new wave of Florida artists building substance, consistency, and impact.

Stay Connected:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4c1iK8fO7QHk6XHoMwl6G9?si=yZK1mA6gQGqqaIMcxiYD0Q

https://youtube.com/@itszoemigo?si=WnAXef3o8_DwYeOD

IG https://www.instagram.com/itszoemigo

IKON PRESENTS CONTINUES TO SHINE IN THE ENTERTAINMENT CAPITAL OF THE WORLD

Industry Spotlight

When it comes to concerts in Las Vegas, IKON PRESENTS has continued leading the charge in growing the Urban market.

It’s no secret that Las Vegas has become the Entertainment Capital of the world. Home of some of the events in the world.

There has been a void with large hip hop concerts for years  in Vegas, and outside of the clubs on the strip, no one has done hip hop concerts the right way in Vegas in some time. Insert the brand iKon Presents that has been elevating the market for the past 7 years.

iKon Presents is a major Las Vegas-based independent concert and event production company specializing in hip-hop, R&B, country and comedy, known for bringing major artists like Snoop Dogg, Nas, Rod Wave, Janet Jackson, and Kevin Hart to the city, filling a gap in large-scale urban music events and expanding to other markets like LA and Hawaii. They’re recognized for creating cultural moments, running events like the Strong Music Festival, and being recognized for their impact on the Vegas entertainment scene.

Over the past few years IKON has done over 125 events, including over 30 venues, with over 200 artists.

“For us, it’s always been about doing it for the culture. We’re passionate about building experiences that amplify creativity and connect people through music. Strong Music Festival is one of the many ways we celebrate that mission.” – Neal Carter

This past November IKON completed year 3 of their widely popular homegrown festival at Downtown Las Vegas Event Center.

Be on the lookout for more events and an even bigger 2026.

visit ikonpresents.com or instagram.com/ikonpresents for more info & tickets to their upcoming shows.

‘Stamped III: Five Mics’ — Passport Scoob Delivered

Industry Spotlight

Every now and then, a project surfaces that instantly grabs our attention, and Passport Scoob’s STAMPED III: Five Mics is one of those albums. Released three months ago in partnership with Roc Nation Distribution, the project showcases the Fayetteville-to-Brooklyn emcee at his sharpest, delivering the refined bars, confidence, and polish of an artist who has truly mastered his lane.

Raised between Brooklyn and North Carolina, Passport Scoob blends East Coast grit with Southern smoothness—a style he describes as “Jadakiss meets Rick Ross… bars with a lavish touch.” The album carries that same identity, mixing luxury rap, street-rooted honesty, and the type of craftsmanship that resonates with listeners 25 and up who appreciate depth and detail in their hip-hop.

STAMPED III: Five Mics features collaborations with TEK (Smif-N-Wessun), Curren$y, and DJ Flipp, with production from 808 Kartel, 4ORD, and Adwerdz, adding even more weight to its sound. For fans of rich mixes and crisp engineering, Scoob’s influences—Leslie Braithwaite, Young Guru, and Khrysis—show up clearly in the album’s sonic quality.

Scoob’s resume matches the music. He’s touched major platforms including BET, Shade 45, Wu-Tang Radio, Punchline Academy, and performed during the SOLD-OUT Celebrity Championship Boxing event in Los Angeles—adding layers of credibility to his growing brand.

Through his company Flight Crew Sounds, LLC, Scoob also contributes to the culture on the technical side, helping independent artists achieve industry-level sound.

With STAMPED III: Five Mics, Passport Scoob delivers a polished, purposeful album, one absolutely worthy of renewed spotlight. Follow Passport Scoob via IG @PassportScoobMusic and check out the project below.

Showcase Returns: H3 Entertainment’s Chicago Movement Rebuilt Stronger Than Ever

Entrepreneur, Industry Spotlight

After a brief hiatus from the industry, the founder of Chicago-based H3 Entertainment “Showcase” makes his return stronger, sharper, and more focused than ever. Known for his rare ability to discover, develop, and elevate rising talent from Chicago’s underground music scene, he now steps forward with a renewed vision and an all-new team of artists and executives.

Committed to building a new and stronger foundation, he has expanded H3 Entertainment into a full one-stop hub for creatives—offering studio recording, content creation, media editing, and the professional accommodations artists need to grow. This Thing of Ours is more than a collective; it’s a movement powered by outstanding individuals on the rise.

“Showcase” has returned with a stronger foundation, a new team, and the same unmatched ability to spot Chicago’s underground talent. Follow the journey on IG: @ShowH3 & @H3Ent

Big Luxe Rising: Chicago’s Hidden Gem Balancing Hip-Hop, R&B, and Motherhood

Industry Spotlight

LUXE is a rising force in hip-hop and R&B—a true hidden gem rooted in Chicago’s thriving underground scene. Also recognized by her bold alter ego Big Luxe, she’s carving out space as an artist who blends raw emotion, fearless confidence, and a stand-out aesthetic that makes her presence impossible to ignore. Her sound moves effortlessly between sultry tones, sharp-edged bars, and unapologetic attitude, creating a lane that is entirely her own—bold, unfiltered, and unmistakably Luxe.

But what makes her story even more powerful is the balance she strikes between her music and her role as a mother. LUXE embodies what it means to chase your dreams while raising the next generation. Her work ethic is fueled not just by passion for her craft, but by the responsibility and love she carries at home. Studio sessions, content shoots, performances, and strategy meetings often happen after school drop-offs, late at night, or in carefully planned pockets of time—yet she never lets one role overshadow the other. Instead, she turns motherhood into motivation, using her journey to show other women that they can build, create, and thrive without compromising who they are.

Her growing catalog reflects that dual strength. The Visual Mic Drop performance of “Bombay” showcases her precision and presence, while her women’s anthem “Flex” continues to resonate as a soundtrack for empowerment and self-worth. These releases highlight her ability to articulate the complexities of womanhood—soft and strong, nurturing and ambitious, gentle yet fiercely driven.

Now, all eyes are on her upcoming debut mixtape, “It’s My Mouth,” arriving in 2026. The project promises an even deeper look into her world—her voice, her growth, her truth as a woman shaping her own destiny while raising a family. The dedication behind her grind, paired with the authenticity she brings as both an artist and a mother, is what sets her apart as one of Chicago’s most compelling rising talents.

Stay connected with her on all social platforms, and witness firsthand how Big Luxe continues to rise—balancing the beat and the home front with power, grace, and unstoppable momentum.

Meet X-TEIR: The Artist Fate Couldn’t Deny

Industry Spotlight

Chicago has never been short on storytellers, but every so often, an artist emerges whose presence feels less like an introduction and more like destiny. Enter X-TEIR, a rising force whose music is shaped by survival, sharp intellect, and an unshakeable belief that he is “the one fate could not deny.”

Raised across multiple homes while his mother battled illness, X-TEIR’s childhood was marked by instability, foster care, and abuse that forced him to grow up faster than most. By six years old, he already recognized he had something special. His first major spark came when he heard Twista’s rapid-fire verse on “Worldwide Choppers” — a moment that cracked open the world of rhythm, speed, and lyricism he’d soon make his own.

Three years into taking his career seriously, X-TEIR stands firm in his voice and versatility. He refuses to emulate anyone, insisting on crafting music that speaks to every mood, every truth, every listener. His growing catalog includes collaborations with emerging names like luhwixked, K5ive, Queen T5, and Jay5ive, each track further refining his signature blend of emotional depth and slick, shape-shifting flow.

Though new to media coverage, the streets and studios have already stamped him with respect. Producers and artists repeatedly tell him the same thing: “You’re good.” And he knows it — but he’s focused on more than praise.

X-TEIR wants impact. Longevity. A legacy that proves he turned pain into power and voice into victory. With his hunger, authenticity, and Chicago grit, he’s well on his way.

Check out his latest below, and follow his journey via IG @forever_d0a.

Chicago Author $hake Dolla Unleashes Gritty Urban Novel ‘KILLANOIS’

Industry Spotlight

Chicago’s own $hake Dolla steps boldly into the literary world with his debut novel KILLANOIS, released on October 31, 2025. Growing up in the city’s tough streets, $hake Dolla was inspired at a young age by legendary authors Iceberg Slim and Donald Goines—voices that shaped generations of urban storytelling. Now, he’s ready to carve his own lane, channeling raw life experiences, street knowledge, and real emotion into a gripping tale designed to captivate readers and spark reflection.

KILLANOIS follows the intense journey of Killa, a man haunted by a tragic mistake that left a five-year-old child dead during a violent shootout. Ten years later, Killa fights to leave his past behind and move like a boss through the unforgiving streets of Chicago—where loyalty is rare, danger is constant, and consequences never disappear. The story dives deep into themes of power, redemption, and inevitability, reminding readers that no matter how high someone rises, “anyone can be touched.”

Packed with layered messages, street wisdom, and powerful lessons, KILLANOIS is more than a novel—it’s the beginning of a wicked new series, with this first installment serving as just a teaser of what’s to come. $hake Dolla aims for readers to walk away with a renewed understanding of Chicago’s realities and a deeper respect for the streets that shaped him. With authenticity and heart woven into every page, KILLANOIS promises to leave its mark on the urban fiction world. The book is available now on Amazon in paperback and eBook formats. Follow the author on Instagram at @shakedolla444 to stay tapped in for the upcoming installments.

Filipino-American Comedy HELLO HELLO Now Streaming on YouTube

Industry Spotlight

The feel good Filipino-American comedy HELLO HELLO has officially arrived and is now available to watch on YouTube! Filmed in the vibrant city of Vallejo, California, this hilarious and heartfelt story follows Bong, a determined but delightfully misguided dreamer chasing YouTube stardom while navigating love, culture, and the beautifully chaotic reality of everyday life. After two years in the making, the film finally brings its unique blend of humor, hustle, and heart to audiences everywhere — showcasing the spirit, struggles, and joy of the Filipino-American community in a way that’s both relatable and unforgettable.

Packed with comedic mishaps, family laughs, and a standout cast, HELLO HELLO is a refreshing spotlight on friendship, identity, and never giving up on your dreams — no matter how wild life gets. If you’re looking for a comedy with culture, charm, and genuine feel-good energy, this film belongs on your watchlist. Hit play today and join Bong on a journey that proves laughter really does go a long way.

Directed by Daric Bergerson (DJ Daric B) — a Bay Area native and respected DJ and music executive who grew up in a Filipino household — the film brings together authenticity, comedy, and culture. Produced by Brandon “B-12” Rodegeb as well as Jen Mojica with Pedro Rubio as Director of Photography, HELLO HELLO is a grassroots celebration of Bay Area flavor and Filipino creativity.

Watch the full movie now on YouTube: