[Saturday Spotlight] LiyahMoni, Reggie, & Mave

I used to think going through submissions was an easy task. When you find multiple artists each week who are deserving of the spotlight and you can only select a few, it becomes a difficult task. I look for music that stands out to help with this dilemma. I look for artists who have a passion for the music and for Hip-Hop in general. I was blown away by these three artists this week and I’m excited for you to hear their music and watch their videos. If you want to be considered for next week’s post, here are the submission guidelines.

Kendrick Lamar Shakes Up The Super Bowl With Bold Drake Diss And Surprise Guests

Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl 59 halftime performance was nothing short of legendary, leaving fans buzzing with surprise cameos and bold moments that took his long-running feud with Drake to new heights. Kicking off with an unreleased song snippet and followed by “Squabble Up” from his latest album GNX, Kendrick immediately set the tone for a game-changing performance. Fans eagerly waited to see if Kendrick would play his diss track Not Like Us, especially with Drake's ongoing lawsuit against him and his label for defamation and harassment. Lamar's performance included an unexpected appearance by SZA and a quirky cameo from Serena Williams, along with Samuel L. Jackson’s comedic interruptions, all building the suspense around the Drake drama. In the middle of his performance, Kendrick turned up the heat, looking straight into the camera and directly addressing Drake with his famous lyrics, “I heard you like them young," as fans held their breath. Despite the tension, Kendrick censored himself when it came time to call Drake a "certified lover boy" and avoided saying “pedophile,” which had been widely speculated. Social media lit up with mixed reactions, with some fans mocking the performance as a "mid mashup" and others noting the intense hostility toward Drake. With the hashtag #KendrickBowl trending, it’s clear that Kendrick’s performance was a cultural moment that pushed boundaries—but has he gone too far, or is this just another chapter in hip-hop history? Only time will tell, and Drake has yet to respond.

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LiyahMoni

What are dreams and nightmares to you? For Springfield, OH’s LiyahMoni its her conscious with “Nightmare”. The video takes a minimal approach, focusing on the downward spiral of thoughts that have consumed Liyah’s mind as she takes you on a journey with her mesmerizing lyrical content. If you like the single enough it’s available for purchase on iTunes.

Reggie

H-Town has more to offer than candy painted cars, lean, and strippers. Reggie is proof, even though this single has a car in the title. The boom-bap influenced beat lets Reggie spark one up and showcase a laid back flow. While you’re entranced by the smoke filling the room Reggie spits fun lyrics that will have you ready to roll up another one.

Mave

Not only do I enjoy Crown Royal but I enjoy creative and innovative videos. Orlando, FL’s Mave gives us one that shows off a brilliant concept thanks to director Brill Adium. The track is smooth, just like the drink, as Mave and featured artist Truly Def drop bars that make them feel confident in their royalty. We need more videos like this in Hip-Hop. If you’re an indie artist, don’t be afraid to get creative and have fun. This is art and it’s supposed to be fun.