Controversial rapper Jahseh Dwayne Onfroy (aka XXXTENTACION) plays fast and loose when it comes to genres, often incorporating elements of punk rock, hip-hop, R&B, and heavy metal. Born in South Florida, Onfroy had something of a troubled upbringing, often getting into violent situations; his mother couldn’t cope with raising him alone, so he was often forced to stay with various other guardians as a result. At an undisclosed age Onfroy was sent to a juvenile detention center on account of armed robbery; it was while there that he met friend and longtime collaborator Ski Mask the Slump God. After his release, both Onfroy and Ski Mask decided to get clean and pursue a career in music, setting up the Florida rap crew Members Only in the process. In 2014 Onfroy uploaded his first track to SoundCloud, “Vice City,” which quickly racked up hundreds of thousands of streams. Later the same year he released two EPs, The Fall and Ice Hotel; the broad array of genres and vocal styles — ranging from whispering and singing to rapping and outright screaming — earned Onfroy a cult following in under a year. In 2015, Onfroy released two collaborative albums, Members Only, Vol. 1 […]
Staying at Tamara’s – George Ezra
Hertford-reared, Bristol-based singer/songwriter George Ezra possesses a deep, resonant, and emotionally weathered voice that belies his considerable youth. Influenced by similarly precocious troubadours like Bob Dylan and Hank Williams, Ezra was just 19 when he issued his debut single, “Budapest,” a warm, amiable, and soulful slice of classy folk-pop that invoked names like Willy Mason, Ben Howard, Ray LaMontagne, and Tom Odell. That song, along with three others, appeared on his 2013 debut EP, Did You Hear the Rain? Increased touring and an appearance at Glastonbury preceded his second EP, Cassy O’, which arrived in early 2014. “Budapest” was re-released in June of that year, followed a few weeks later by Ezra’s debut LP, Wanted on Voyage. The album entered the U.K. charts at number three and eventually climbed into the top spot by year’s end, earning him four Brit Award nominations and a North American tour supporting Sam Smith in early 2015. During this period he made his American television debut with appearances on Saturday Night Live and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, increasing his exposure. In April 2017, Ezra announced a “top secret” U.K. tour, during which he would debut new material. It was accompanied by the […]