Tallant and his talents

Tallant Don is an artist with a unique style and sound, and his single, "Way Out," is a representation of his journey as a musician. While the song showcases his potential, it also highlights areas where he could use some improvement.

From the first beat, Tallant Don sets the tone for a personal and reflective song. "Way Out" features a simple hook and a driving beat that immediately draws the listener in. However, the lyrics lack depth, and the rhymes feel forced at times. It's clear that Tallant Don has talent, but he could benefit from working on his songwriting skills.

As the song progresses, Tallant Don delves deeper into his experiences and struggles. Also listed on his Spotify, his song "Just Like Bros" is another track featuring introspective lyrics about society. The production on this track is top-notch, with a haunting melody that perfectly complements Tallant Don's vocals.

Another highlight of his Spotify is "Refuse," a ballad that showcases Tallant Don's range. The lyrics are heartfelt and relatable, as he speaks about pressure and the pain of unfulfilled aspirations. However, the track is marred by an overly simplistic lyrics that fails to do justice to the emotion in the beat arrangement.

While Tallant Don has his flaws, there's no denying that he has put in a great deal of effort into his artistry. The production throughout his songs are consistently high-quality, and Tallant Don's delivery is confident. With some fine-tuning and a bit more experimentation, he could develop into a truly exceptional artist.

One area where Tallant Don could improve is in his songwriting. While there are moments of brilliance on the album, there are also moments where the lyrics feel generic or uninspired. If he can push himself to dig deeper and write more from the heart, he could take his music to the next level.

Overall, this is a solid delivery from Tallant Don, showcasing his potential as an artist. While there's room for improvement, it's clear that he has put in the work and has the talent to succeed. With a bit more polish and a willingness to take risks, Tallant Don could go on to do great things in the music industry.

Ink, 2023

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iHeart

Artist Spotlight: West LA's Datta Boy

West LA's own Antoine Upshaw-Marshal, better known as Datta Boy, is an artist with a story to tell. He has lived several lives already including being a college graduate, a former NFL player, a youth football coach, and one of the best independent rappers in the county. Datta Boy has a powerful story that he has shared with Plan-A Radio before. In 2018, Datta Boy graced Plan-A Radio with his first interview hosted by DJ Show, Ink, King Kof, and DroBoy Govan.

During his 2018 interview for the release of The Duke Ellington Project, Datta Boy informed us of his story, the loss of his father, where he received his stage name, and his future plans in music. It was a heartfelt interview and we at Plan-A Radio have gotten the wonderful opportunity to see Datta Boy continue to flourish as a passionate artist with a lot more to offer.

Most recently, Datta Boy has released a powerful project entitled West LA Proverbs. It is gently orchestrated and sprinkled with features from the likes of UnspokenViews, Ventage, Monty Kong, Hunnit Spokes, Columbo Black and more.

To put it simply: West LA Proverbs is really good fucking album.

What makes us shake our asses? What can we use to pump us up at the gym? What sets the mood when company comes over? What creates a vibe? Every song featured on WLP is well-produced, well-written, and well-performed. Datta Boy does a great job of song placement on his albums, but even more, he is able to capture the essence of a song with a powerful music video.

Before we get into West LA Proverbs, let's discuss Datta Boy's history and videography.

In 2017, Datta Boy released the official music video for "Threat." Datta Boy and his band of masked friends avenge the death of his sister in this "Purge"-themed video. It is dark and sinister; and with the Ralph and Jose (Directors) on assignment, the video is complete with theatrics and timely graphics.

"Threat" Official Music Video Director :Ralph Laurence Mariano @ralphlaurencemarianio Asst Director: Jose Quintanilla @noface_films

When the pandemic hit, most artists slowed down, but Datta Boy continued to forge forward with the release of his "Friday"-themed music video, "Pull Up." There are some familiar faces in the video, including Plan-A Radio's own DJ Show and Ink. But most notably, our beloved Tommy "Tiny" Lister was cast to play his infamous role: "Debo".

It is only right to give honor to that day, as it is suspected to have been one of Lister's final appearances. In the West LA heat, we were blessed with Tiny's presence. He offered wisdom, inspiration, and insight into the dreams and goals that we all revealed. We were even blessed to see Monty Kong receive a good old-fashioned Debo-style chokehold. It was a day of laughter and wonder; something worth being thankful for.

Datta Boy collaborated with Lister to give away the lowrider bike featured in the music video to one lucky fan. This thoughtful social media rollout landed Datta Boy with over 5,000 views on his music video, and it is still regarded as a highly requested Plan-A radio favorite.

"Pull Up" Official Music Video starring Tommy "Tiny" Lister Director: Ralph Laurence Mariano @ralphlaurencemarianio

After releasing "Pull Up," Datta Boy went on to collaborate with Bone Crusher-- Yes, THEEEE Bone Crusher-- for the single "Go Hard." This. Song. Is. Fucking. Fire. Don't believe me, go listen on Spotify right now and you'll see why it has over 227,000 streams. Bone Crusher does his memorable "ATTENTIONNNNNN" and Datta Boy rides the beat like the seasoned professional that he is. The two work in perfect synchronicity to create one of the hottest tracks of 2021. ("Go Hard" might be one of my favorite songs by Datta Boy)

Datta Boy continues to be a dedicated artist with a wealth of talent to offer the game. West LA Proverbs is just a testament to the greatness of this West LA artist.

The third single off of the project is "Timbaland & Magoo" featuring HunnitSpokes and Monty Kong. We ALL KNOW how much I love a woman rapper, but seeing HunnitSpokes get her flowers as a feature on this song is heartwarming. She is a beautiful upcoming artist from the city who is in great company.

Monty Kong has been on the radar for a minute and is just waiting to pop. He and Ink competed at TeamBackPack NYC in 2016, and since, he's gone on to be featured in some great projects, including John Singleton's Snowfall.

"Timbaland & Magoo" is an immediate hit off of West LA Proverbs. There is a level of vulnerability in the song that deserves relishing, but Datta Boy has grown at lot, and even more, he shines.

"Timbaland & Magoo" Official Music Video featuring HunnitSpokes and Monty Kong Director: Jose Quintella (noface_Films) 2nd Camera: Alex Martinez(Amatudiosla)

Datta Boy is next up and that is an undeniable fact. He is well-packaged and dedicated to the work. He is able to budget to produce and release incredible projects and videos to accompany his music. Datta Boy is steadfast in his artistry. He knows his sound, understands his lane, and is willing to invest in himself to make his work work.

There is no wonder why he's lived so many lives. He has a lot of life and expresses joy through song. Datta Boy is able to take the lows of his life and turn them into monumental highs. Datta Boy understands how hard he needs to work to get a project done. He will lock himself in his studio and get the work done without excuses. While there is still limited presence online (trust me, I am on his head about this!), he has so much to offer. You don't want to be late to lending an ear to this artist. You will regret missing out on his rise to the top.

"Bonnie & Clyde" Official Music Video featuring Shanice Antonia Director: Jose Quintella (noface_Films)

To hear more from Datta Boy, click the links below:

Spotify

Youtube

Instagram

Facebook

Ink, 2023

Shine like Sterling Silver

Plan-A Radio is a platform created by Indie artists FOR Indie artists. When DJ Show and I had the idea to build off of DJ Show's previous work in radio, we realized one of the most important parts of our work would be to create community for artists who would otherwise be overlooked.

When I was offered the opportunity to write about my review of Silver's music, I did the typical artist assessment as I always do: How is their social media? Do they have a website? How marketable could they be if they decided to further their music career? How do their music videos (or any videos) look?

This write-up will be different.

I will not be critiquing based on the four aforementioned criteria. I will basing my review off of the genuineness of this artist and hoping to implore the independent artist community to reach out to Silver (@poffsterling) and encourage community for someone who is building themselves up through music.

Silver's song, "Broken Memories" is a passionate and emotion-driven piece delivered via YouTube (linked here).

When Silver submitted his song to DJ Show's live, he was celebrated for his willingness to be honest and vulnerable, two things we support fully here at Plan-A Radio.

The first skill observed: Silver delivers this song in one-take. Every verse. Every hook. Every "uh." All in one take. Through tears, and deep breaths. Silver bears his soul. Delivering a song in one-take is NOT easy. It is not for the weak nor is it something can do without stumbling over their words.

The next skill observed: Authenticity takes work. Silver's tears are a genuine reflection of the emotion he likely felt when he wrote this song. We expect artists to show up as they are when they submit their music and their videos to our platform. We understand and value artists that are well-packaged and prepared for a label or to open up for a big-named artist. But the soul of artistry happens when a root is formed. That root must be genuine, it must be real, because if the root is not real, the fruit won't be real either.

Silver's song, "Broken Memories," is real. It is a heartbreaking declaration. It takes courage to write a song from your heart and then to decide to make yourself bare to the internet. Not all performances will look polished, but if you have a good ear, you can hear the potential of an artist and the willingness. With the support of our community, Silver could improve his music in a way that is widely well-received, outside of Plan-A Radio.

The lyrics could use some work, but because of Silver's passionate performance, it's hard to not be moved by this song. Feeling "twisted" is something we've all felt. Feeling as though we've disappointed someone we love, or even disappointed ourselves, can be universal. Silver invites listeners to his pain.

We appreciate Silver for his transparency. If it were not for artists like Silver, we would not have fanbases for artists like Immortal Technique, XXXtentacion, Juice WRLD, Eminem. The willingness to be open with their fans made millions of people gravitate to their music. Their sadness is necessary. Silver's sadness in "Broken Memories" is necessary.

Thank you, Silver, for your song submission and for your vulnerability. Continue to submit your music and trust us to hold space for you. Trust that we, indie artists and fans, are willing to build community with you. We encourage you to keep going; keep creating music and keep submitting. Think of your fellow indie artist, Clinton, who has submitted music to the live for almost a year. He didn't always receive rave reviews on his music but he is now one of the most highly requested artists on the platform. He continues to create and create and create. Silver, continue to create. Never let that intensity you have to be authentic and to bare your soul die down. Live. Live loudly. Live proudly. Be a force through your music. Plan-A Radio supports you.

Keep. Fucking. Going.