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The Curbside Review
Artist of the Month features. New release coverage. Industry insights. AI music conversations.
Ryan Nico Is Redefining the Urban Cowboy Sound
Ryan Nico’s sound stands out because it feels lived-in. He is not chasing the country-rap wave from the outside. He is pulling from...
By Jalen Cross · 2026-09-01
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Nearly 30 Years Later, Tupac Shakur’s Murder Case Reaches a Guilty Verdict
Nearly three decades after Tupac Shakur was fatally shot in Las Vegas, the murder case has reached a guilty verdict, bringing one of hip-hop’s longest-running criminal cases back into focus.
2026-09-10
The AI Music Fight Isn’t Just About Songs Anymore — It’s About the Artist
The legal battle surrounding AI music is expanding beyond copyrighted songs as musicians question whether artificial intelligence should be allowed to imitate an artist’s voice, likeness and identity.
2026-09-09
BMG and Concord Just Built a Music Giant — Here’s Why Independent Artists Should Care
The completed BMG and Concord combination creates a massive global music-rights business and gives independent artists another reason to understand the long-term value of masters, publishing and ownership.
2026-09-08
Beyoncé Turns 20 Years of B’Day Into a Lesson in Catalog Power
Beyoncé’s expanded 20th-anniversary celebration of B’Day shows artists that a strong catalog can continue creating attention, revenue and new opportunities decades after its original release.
2026-09-07
Amy Gadiaga Is Bringing Jazz, Soul, and Bold Woman Energy Into One Fresh Sound
Amy Gadiaga is not the type of artist who fits neatly into one box. Her music carries...
2026-09-04
Robbie Love Is Bringing Classic Soul Into a New Neo-Soul Moment
Just Robbie, introduces listeners to an artist stepping fully into her own voice. The EP is led by “When Love Comes Around,” a heartfelt record...
2026-08-23
Ethan Marc Band Is Turning Detroit Alt-Rock Into a Community Movement
Ethan Marc Band is led by frontman Ethan Marc, with the full band helping shape a sound that feels big, emotional, and performance-ready. Their music carries the grit of Detroit, but it...
2026-09-02
Ryan Nico Is Redefining the Urban Cowboy Sound
Ryan Nico’s sound stands out because it feels lived-in. He is not chasing the country-rap wave from the outside. He is pulling from...
2026-09-01
The AI Music Free-For-All Is Ending — Here’s What Artists Need to Knowtled draft
AI music isn't going anywhere. Let's get that part out of the way first...
2026-08-28
Beadz: Chicago’s Sonic Architect Bridging Street Energy and Industry Precision
Chicago has long been a breeding ground for innovative hip-hop talent, and among the names shaping the city’s sound behind the scenes is Beadz—a producer and artist whose work reflects both the grit of the streets and the polish of major-label quality...
2026-06-11
yumiya!: Atlanta’s Korean American Christian Hip-Hop Voice Is Building Momentum
One artist quietly turning that mix into something fresh is yumiya!, also known online as @yayayumiya
2026-08-20
Deeno Woodz: Jacksonville's Trap Soul Voice Built on Authenticity
Florida continues to produce artists who refuse to fit neatly into one category, and Deeno Woodz is one of them. Blending melodic trap soul with lyrical hip-hop, the Jacksonville native is steadily building a catalog that values honesty over hype and substance over trends.
2026-07-30
Jordan Lee: Jacksonville’s Emerging Multi-Medium Artist
In the growing creative scene of Jacksonville, independent artist Jordan Lee is carving...
2026-06-13
Hip-Hop in 2026: Big Names, Bold Women and a Culture in Transition
Hip-hop is heating up this summer, with established superstars once again controlling much of the conversation. Drake’s “Janice STFU” currently sits near the top of Billboard’s Hot Rap Songs chart, while his latest....
2026-07-23
Chuckey Ellis Is Turning Testimony Into a New Sound for Gospel Music
Blending Christian hip-hop, contemporary R&B and personal testimony, Chuckey Ellis is building a rapidly growing audience...
2026-07-20
Vice Verse: The Quiet Connector in Hip-Hop History
From Jackson State’s early hip-hop movement to the Slum Village and J Dilla family tree, Kevin “Vice Verse” Perkins has built a career rooted in lyricism...
2026-07-20
Duval’s Next Wave: Independent Hip-Hop Artists Putting Jacksonville on the Map
BTS Music Group shines a spotlight on the independent voices, veteran creators...
2026-07-11
John Doe : Oklahoma City’s Grind-Hard Voice Carries the 405 With Purpose
Oklahoma City has always had its own sound. It is gritty, overlooked, loyal, and built from artists who do not wait for permission
2026-06-18
Trillabbent: The Chicago Artist Turning Independent Hustle Into a Movement
Chicago’s independent music scene has always been built on hunger, originality, and artists who are wi
2026-06-16
BTS Artist of the Month: Alika Is Turning Candy-Coated Pain Into a New R&B-Pop Lane
Alika is not the type of artist you box into one category. Her music
2026-06-10