Marcus Manchild - “Life Of A Manchild” Webisode 1 (Studio Session W Travis Porter & Menace Of Black Wall Street)

Nowadays everyone and their cousin have a mixtape, an album, a Twitter page, a Facebook page. But Driicky Graham has something a lot more elusive: a hit single. His undeniably catchy “Snapbacks & Tattoos” is quickly reaching anthemic heights, thrusting the 20-year-old rapper into the spotlight seemingly overnight. But this isn’t the North Carolina native’s first time in the ring: He’d already built a small but growing fan base through his collaborations with Gucci Mane (“We Robbed Gucci”) and Diamond (“Flash the Cash”). “Snapbacks,” however, with its catchy hook and building beat by Yung Berg associate Arch tha God, is pushing Driicky into the big leagues. The kinetic video recently landed in rotation at BET and helped Driicky attract offers from several majors. But Driicky surprised observers when he rebuffed the offers and signed a deal with indie powerhouse E1, where he’ll release his debut album — another sign that he isn’t your average rapper. BET.com sat down with the upstart MC recently to discuss the inspiration behind “Snapbacks,” his new deal and more.

BET.com: How did “Snapbacks and Tattoos” come about?

Driicky Graham: Well, I was sitting up in the tattoo parlor getting my first tattoo, which is on the back of my neck. [It’s] of my babysister—she passed away, so it was in memory of her. Everybody knows, as far as being young, anything that we get that’s first we just make a big hype about it. So, basically, the record came about [because] I got inspired through my first tattoo. And, of course, snapbacks is just fashion that I see everybody wearing. It’s not something even new — you can look at a movie like Juice or something like that and just see that snapbacks were in even back then. It’s just something that’s a part of our culture in general. I’m surprised at the success that [the song has] brung. I’m grateful that everybody’s rocking to it and loving it………more

Marcus Manchild hooked up with the crew from BET Digital during his trip to NYC to kick them a freestyle and let them know what he’s about. Watch it here #FollowFriday

The Oxford, North Carolina-raised Driicky Graham (@DriickyGraham) recently sat down with iHipHop (@iHipHop) to discuss how his upbringing in NC influenced his music, catching the attention of the right label and then choosing one, loving criticism and the success of his hit record “Snapbacks & Tatoos”.

Video: ANTHM - “Manhattan”

NYC emcee ANTHM channels his inner “Don Draper” for the visuals to his latest track, “Manhattan.” Checkout the upstart’s toast to the city that chases the almighty dollar 24/7. ANTHM’s Joy & Pain EP arrives on June 12th, just a day before he’s slated to perform along with Blu at SOB’s in New York City. 

Even considering today’s seemingly insatiable digital appetite for new music, here’s the case for quality over quantity. A couple weeks ago I first heard ANTHM and was impressed; impressed enough to listen to the next joint of his I saw pop up. That was dope too, so when new offering “Polaris” dropped I was already stoked to press play. And now that “Polaris” is already one of my favorite tracks of the week, ANTHM is now on my “must listen to any new music” list. 

If anywhere in that chain of events I’d heard some wack shit, or even some shit that was average, I might have just dropped out on ANTHM then and moved on to one of the other 1,000 rappers I get sent everyday. I’m just saying, hey rappers, remember, every track could be the first time someone hears you. Make sure it’s a product you’re willing to stand behind. 

And for those who don’t give a fuck about my hip-hop educational tendencies, just ignore the writing and press play on some super lyrical rap. Lessong learned - you just can’t go wrong with ANTHM and Blu on the same joint. Enjoy: 

See Also: Catching the F**k Up With ANTHM: “Life Imitates Art” & “Manhattan” (Listen & Download) 

Deen swears this isn’t nepotism.

First Akon came for our ears. As an African, I was low-key proud of what the guy achieved in the music industry – if not the music. Then Wale showed up and I was on the team for a minute until we really got to know about his smarmy, over-sensitive twattery – which inspired me to indulge in my worst “crabs in a bucket type” shit ever. Don’t get me wrong. I’m pleased that he got a second chance and made full use of it, but unless he’s rapping over African shit (“Oliver Twist Freestyle“) or that “Bait” song when it pops up on the shuffle. I’m not really trying to hear any Wale post-Attention Deficit (a decent effort by the way). All I’m interested in is slandering that dusty fuck in a variety of amusing and less than amusing ways. *

As a matter of fact, you can extend those horrible sentiments to any rapper of African origin in the States. Here’s the deal: because of Wale, I hate all of you. I’m sorry. That’s just the way it’s going to be until “ol’ schoolgirl braids” makes music good enough to justify the smirk on his face.

I wrote all that to write this: this kid ANTHM is seriously making me reconsider my stance on immigrant rap. ** Full disclosure: we have have the same alma mater, but the truth is that going to Duke is still more likely to make me hate you anyway, so he scores zero points for that shit. Besides, a mutual friend once told me an averagely hilarious story about a night on the town they had. If I may talk about the music for a brief second (“please do!” you say.  I hear you. I’m sorry). This “When We Were Kings” mixtape is pretty good. ANTHM combines the best (read: least annoying) talents of the beige rap brigade with dextrous lyricism.  There’s nothing new here, but the 11 songs on this set all sound really good, if you can get past some of the “everyman” rap and abstract romanticism on 3 or 4 tracks (still fire though).

The Hip-Hop world mostly knows him from his recent hit-single, “Snapbacks and Tattoos”, which has been receiving constant rotation on radio as well as on countdown shows like BET’s “106th and Park.” But, before he delivers his debut album, Success By the Graham, later this year, 20 year-old Driicky Graham will release his DJ Ill Will presented mixtape, Ya Gotta Start Somewhere.

The North Carolina resident with New Jersey roots has been getting so much attention lately, he managed to attract the heads over at eOne Music who signed him last month to a record deal that will have his debut album, Success By the Graham, hitting store shelves later this year.

Driicky spoke to AllHipHop.com about his recently-inked deal with eOne Music, how he almost signed with G-Unit, and the transition he made from dancing to rapping. Check out the video below:

Features 13 NEW Tracks!

Anthm is a fresh new emcee on our radar hailing from Manhattan but someone that Jen DeLeon & I built with down in Austin at SXSW last month. Since then, Anthm has released a steady stream of dope new rhymes highlighted by the all-new When We Were Kingsmixtape above. 13 new tracks that establish Anthm as a clever lyricist with an engaging delivery that catches you on first listen. What jumps out at me is how he slickly combines name references with a compact rhyme scheme.

That characteristic was first exemplified to me in the music video for “Can I Live” (the second one below) that Anthm released leading up to the mixtape. Also start with “Never Do” (the first video below) – an engaging flip of The Roots‘ classic “What They Do” (a throwback *TIBS FAV.™) and my early favorite on the mixtape. If you’re lookin’ for that fresh new music this Sunday, hit the music videos first below for your preview of When We Were Kings and then download above!