Hip Hop: Summer 2024

Monarch HipHop Recommendations

B-REAL
Real Psycho

B-Real, known for his iconic contributions to Cypress Hill, ventures into solo territory with Real Psycho, an album that deftly merges his signature rap style with a fresh, experimental edge. From the opening track, it’s clear that B-Real is on a mission to redefine expectations, blending gritty lyricism with pulsating beats and haunting melodies. Real Psycho is a sonic rollercoaster, taking listeners on a journey through B-Real’s psyche. Tracks like “Mind Trip” and “Lost in the Madness” delve into the complexities of mental health and personal struggles, while “Street Dreams” and “Gangsta Poetry” offer gritty portrayals of street life, delivered with B-Real’s trademark intensity.

Collaborations with fellow artists, such as Tech N9ne and Rittz, add depth and diversity to the album, showcasing B-Real’s ability to adapt his style while maintaining authenticity. The production is top notch, with immersive soundscapes that range from haunting and atmospheric to hard hitting and aggressive.

One of the album’s strengths lies in its thematic cohesion; each track feels like a piece of a larger narrative, painting a vivid portrait of B-Real’s inner demons and external realities. Despite the darkness that permeates many of the songs, there’s a sense of catharsis and empowerment woven throughout as B-Real confronts his demons head on and emerges stronger for it. Real Psycho is a testament to B-Real’s evolution as an artist, showcasing his versatility, lyrical prowess, and willingness to push boundaries. It’s a raw, visceral listening experience that demands attention from start to finish, solidifying B-Real’s status as a rap icon in his own right.

KANYE WEST & TY DOLLA SIGN
Vultures 1

Vultures 1, the collaborative project between Kanye West and Ty Dolla Sign, is a sonic exploration that seamlessly blends their distinct styles into a cohesive and captivating album. From the first track to the last, it’s evident that both artists bring their A-game, creating a dynamic and immersive listening experience. Kanye’s production shines throughout, with lush instrumentation and innovative beats that provide the perfect backdrop for Ty Dolla Sign’s soulful vocals. Tracks showcase the duo’s chemistry with infectious hooks and infectious melodies that stick with you long after the music stops. Thematically, Vultures 1 explores the highs and lows of fame, fortune, and the pursuit of success. Kanye and Ty Dolla Sign delve into personal struggles and triumphs, offering listeners a glimpse into their lives behind the headlines. The album is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. Each track feels like a carefully crafted piece of art, with layers of meaning waiting to be unpacked with each listen. Vultures 1 is a triumph of creativity and collaboration, showcasing Kanye West and Ty Dolla Sign at the top of their game. It’s a bold and ambitious album that pushes boundaries and challenges expectations, solidifying both artists’ status as true innovators in the world of hip-hop and R&B.

OFFSET
Kiari

Offset’s solo debut album, Kiari is a bold and confident statement from one-third of the renowned rap trio Migos. With this project, Offset steps into the spotlight and proves himself as a force to be reckoned with in the hip-hop world. From the opening track,  Offset sets the tone with his trademark flow and lyrical prowess. The album is a masterclass in trap music, with hard-hitting beats, infectious hooks, and gritty lyricism that grabs your attention from start to finish. Throughout the album, Offset’s authenticity shines through as he navigates themes of success, perseverance, and the challenges of fame.

Collaborations with artists like Playboi Carti, Gunna, and Travis Scott add depth and diversity to the album, highlighting Offset’s versatility as both a rapper and a curator of talent. Each feature feels purposeful, with guest artists complementing Offset’s style and adding their own unique flavor to the mix. Production-wise, Kiari is top-notch, with lush instrumentation and immersive soundscapes that create a cinematic listening experience. Overall, Kiari is a standout debut from Offset showcasing his evolution as an artist and solidifying his status as a solo star in his own right. It’s a testament to his talent, ambition, and dedication to his craft and cements his place as one of the leading voices in hip-hop today.

POLO G
Hood Poet

Polo G’s Hood Poet is a raw and introspective journey through the streets of Chicago, where the rising rap star delves deep into his personal experiences and the harsh realities of life in the hood. From the opening bars to the final notes, Polo G captivates listeners with his poignant storytelling and heartfelt lyricism. The album is a powerful blend of street tales, introspective reflections, and anthems of resilience that showcase Polo G’s gritty lyricism and unwavering determination to succeed against all odds. He doesn’t shy away from addressing the struggles of his upbringing, painting a vivid picture of the challenges he’s faced and the sacrifices he’s made along the way.

Production-wise, Hood Poet is top-notch, with atmospheric beats and haunting melodies that perfectly complement Polo G’s introspective lyricism and showcase his musical versatility, blending elements of trap, drill, and melodic rap into a cohesive and captivating sound. Overall, Hood Poet is a standout project from Polo G, solidifying his status as one of the most compelling voices in hip-hop today. It testifies to his talent, authenticity, and unwavering commitment to telling his story and reinforces his place as a true hood poet for a new generation.

NX WORRIES
Why Lawd?

Why Lawd? by NxWorries is a mesmerizing blend of soul, R&B, and hip-hop that showcases the undeniable chemistry between Anderson .Paak and Knxwledge. From the first track to the last, the duo delivers an album that oozes with smooth grooves, infectious melodies, and introspective lyricism. Why Lawd? explores love, loss, and the complexities of relationships, delving into the highs and lows of romance and offering introspective reflections on life and ambition. The beats are nothing short of mesmerizing, with layers of intricate instrumentation and soulful samples that draw listeners in and keep them hooked from start to finish. It’s a mesmerizing listening experience that begs to be heard on repeat, solidifying NxWorries’ status as one of the most exciting duos in modern music.

SEPTEMBER GRAY
Proprietor of September Gray Fine Art Gallery

BIO 

Gray’s life’s work is a reflection of her enduring passion for the arts. Following a noteworthy career in the performing arts, Gray launched a successful fine art consultancy practice wherein she was celebrated for her ability to assist corporate and private collectors with articulating and executing single acquisition and long–term collecting strategies. Gray’s career in the arts and decade as an art consultant inform her role as gallerist. An avid collector, Gray has a talent for “speaking the language” of both artist and collector and a knack for connecting the gallery’s clients to works by artists whose vision and methodologies resonate with their individual tastes, complement their existing collections and honor their overall investment strategy and appetite for risk. Gray holds a B.A. in Art History from DePaul University. A committed art education advocate, Gray serves on a number of non-profit boards and is co-founder of The Gray Foundation, an organization committed to building a world of enriched life options for youth through the promotion of art and education. Gray shares art news and collection strategies in her electronic quarterly journal, The Gray Book.

https://septembergrayart.com/

JUSTIN SULIVAN, CFP
Senior Vice President Market Leader

BIO 

Justin oversees a team of professionals striving to achieve the highest level of client satisfaction. His top priority is that the team not only meets, but also exceeds the client’s expectations. Through Justin’s leadership and commitment, he helps ensure that the client benefits form a full complement of investment, trust, financial planning and private banking services to help them achieve their financial goals.

XAVIER DANIELS

BIO  

Paintings are influenced by his experiences with brotherhood at both Morehouse and as a firefighter. In creating his art, he is actively thinking about the perception of black men and attempting to be a catalyst for a different view on the black male experience. According to Daniels, the conversations happening in popular culture about black males leave them invisible in discussions about themselves. The portraits of black men Daniels creates are large in an effort to symbolically assert black male presence into those conversations. His work has been shown around the world through Almine Rech and Richard Beavers Gallery. Xavier lives and works in Atlanta, Georgia.

https://xavierdaniels.com/

MARRYAM MOMA

BIO

A Tanzanian-Nigerian visual artist based in Atlanta, GA, is renowned for her prolific exhibition history. Moma’s dedication to her art has earned her prestigious residencies at The Migration Artist Residency, Atlanta, GA, and a blended residency and teaching opportunity at The Swimming HoleFoundation in Upstate NY. The Hambidge Center for the Arts awarded her a Distinguished Artist Fellowship, enriching her narrative-driven solo exhibitions like “ICONoclasts.” This showing intertwines paper cut elements to celebrate and empower revolutionary Black figures. Moma continues to innovate within her practice, expanding her presence through murals, public art installations and exhibitions including an indoor mural for Clark Atlanta universities student innovation lounge sponsored by Dell Technologies and Home depot, ICONoclasts Atlanta building-wide public installation sponsored by Dashboard and If Not Us then Who public digital art mural sponsored by A&E Atlanta. 

https://www.marryammoma.com/

DL WARFIELD

BIO

Atlanta-based artist DL Warfield, a veteran artist who has consistently proven himself a talent of the highest caliber – one who has delivered at the highest levels repeatedly throughout his life and career. Yes, many artists are talented; DL Warfield is prolific.

Warfield’s body of work proves his instinctive knowledge and understanding of pop culture and has given him a permanent place at the cutting edge of the new and next. From St. Louis to New York City, Atlanta and worldwide, his talent, skill and endless creativity have taken him to the top of his field again and again, and he intends to push forward wherever a path to artistic excellence can be forged.

The following is a snapshot of his works and clientele. 

Nike, Sprite, Heineken, Anheuser-Busch, Geffen Records, Sony Entertainment, DreamWorks, Sony Music, OutKast Inc., Universal Records, Boys & Girls Clubs, HBO, Virgin Records, Coca-Cola, Adidas, Vibe Magazine, automotive giant Ford Motor Company. He designed the branding for the City of Atlanta’s Film and Entertainment office and at the same time, His fine art has been featured at national landmarks, including the Time-Life Building in New York City, and the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, KY, which he loaned two original pieces for three years.

https://dlwarfield.com/

EDDIE FONTNO

BIO

A native of the Bronx, New York, is most inspired by the brilliance and uniqueness of excellence within the African American culture. The subjects of his work have all possessed a transformative greatness, which paved the way and changed the lives of many, providing a guiding light for the world around them. Fontno takes a subtle approach and focuses on that “light” to capture the detailed nuances through his usage of graphite and oil paint (black and white) that enhances the contrast between light and dark. Fontno’s never-ending quest to find truth and beauty in its most natural form is reflective in the choice of figures in his pieces; paying homage to those who have in some way shaped his view of the world and positively affected his evolution as an artist, father and man. Fontno attended the High School of Art & Design in New York, New York and Howard University in Washington, DC. His work has been displayed in the White House (Madam Vice President Kamala Harris’ private office) and the much-acclaimed October Gallery in Philadelphia, Pa. He has also been commissioned for portraits throughout the Northeast region. 

www.eddiefontno.com

RSVP

We are no longer accepting RSVPs for the Art of Luxury Lifestyle Dinner, but you are welcome to RSVP Here for the Portrait Reveal Event from
9:30PM to 11:30 PM!

ROBERT KOOL BELL| LE KOOL CHAMPAGNE

BIO

For many years, Robert Kool Bell, Leader and Co-founder of Kool & The Gang, sought out Grand Cru Vineyards from owners that have been selling for generations and decided to work with Paul Berthelot a Multi-Vintage producer since 1884. Voila The Celebration Champagne was born! 

https://lekoolchampagne.com

EDDIE FONTNO

BIO

A native of the Bronx, New York, is most inspired by the brilliance and uniqueness of excellence within the African American culture. The subjects of his work have all possessed a transformative greatness, which paved the way and changed the lives of many, providing a guiding light for the world around them. Fontno takes a subtle approach and focuses on that “light” to capture the detailed nuances through his usage of graphite and oil paint (black and white) that enhances the contrast between light and dark. Fontno’s never-ending quest to find truth and beauty in its most natural form is reflective in the choice of figures in his pieces; paying homage to those who have in some way shaped his view of the world and positively affected his evolution as an artist, father and man. Fontno attended the High School of Art & Design in New York, New York and Howard University in Washington, DC. His work has been displayed in the White House (Madam Vice President Kamala Harris’ private office) and the much-acclaimed October Gallery in Philadelphia, Pa. He has also been commissioned for portraits throughout the Northeast region.

Website: www.eddiefontno.com