Posts made in February 2019

G-SHOCK Collabs with Blue Note Records

Casio G-SHOCK Unveils Collaboration Model With World-Renowned Jazz Label, Blue Note Records

New Model Features Sleek All-Black Look with Blue Accents to Celebrate Label’s 80th Anniversary

Casio G-SHOCK unveils a limited-edition men’s watch made in collaboration with the legendary Jazz label, Blue Note Records. Created to honor Blue Note’s 80th anniversary, the latest model is an updated take on G-SHOCK’s popular G-STEEL line of men’s high-end timepieces and arrives in a sleek black colorway with blue accents on the dial, and buckle, as well as an IP case back, button and band keeper. The watch comes with custom limited-edition packaging.

Boasting the classic G-STEEL look, the GSTB100BNR-1A combines refined style with durability and practicality. The unique timepiece nods to both iconic brands by featuring bright blue accents and engravings of the G-SHOCK and Blue Note logos.

“Blue Note and G-SHOCK have a history of refinement and shifting culture,” said Don Was, President of Blue Note Records. “We felt G-SHOCK was the right partner to help us celebrate our 80th anniversary while we usher in a new era at the label. It’s about bringing our audiences together and giving them something they can love, whether they’re a Jazz aficionado or a hip-hop lover.”

A video was created to celebrate the launch of the new G-SHOCK x Blue Note Records timepiece, starring Blue Note artists Charles Lloyd, Kendrick Scott, and lophiile. Watch here.

Additionally, you can stream the playlist Daddy Kev’s Blue Note X G-SHOCK Mix that was inspired by the collaboration.

The GSTB100BNR-1A not only provides an upscale look, but it also comes equipped with several of G-SHOCK’s most sought-after features including solar-powered charging capabilities, a super LED light and Neo-Brite luminous hands for maximum visibility. Additionally, the GSTB100BNR-1A boasts Bluetooth low energy technology to pair with smart phones via the G-SHOCK Connected App.

The new model also comes equipped with G-SHOCK technology such as:

  • 200M water resistance
  • Shock resistance
  • World Time/dual time display
  • 1/100th Sec. Stopwatch
  • Countdown Timer
  • Daily alarm

The limited-edition GSTB100BNR-1A will retail for $420 and will be available for purchase starting this March at select jewelers, fashion boutiques, the G-SHOCK Soho Store and gshock.com.

About G-SHOCK

CASIO’s shock-resistant G-SHOCK watch is synonymous with toughness, born from the developer Mr. Ibe’s dream of ‘creating a watch that never breaks’. Over 200 handmade samples were created and tested to destruction until finally in 1983 the first, now iconic G-SHOCK hit the streets of Japan and began to establish itself as ‘the toughest watch of all time’. Each watch encompasses the 7 elements; electric shock resistance, gravity resistance, low temperature resistance, vibration resistance, water resistance, shock resistance and toughness. The watch is packed with Casio innovations and technologies to prevent it from suffering direct shock; this includes internal components protected with urethane and suspended timekeeping modules inside the watch structure. Since its launch, G-SHOCK has continued to evolve, continuing to support on Mr. Ibe’s mantra “never, never give up.” www.gshock.com

About Casio America, Inc.

Casio America, Inc., Dover, N.J., is the U.S. subsidiary of Casio Computer Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of consumer electronics and business equipment solutions. Established in 1957, Casio America, Inc. markets calculators, keyboards, mobile presentation devices, disc title and label printers, watches, cash registers and other consumer electronic products. Casio has strived to realize its corporate creed of “creativity and contribution” through the introduction of innovative and imaginative products. For more information, visit www.casio.com

Blue Note Records

​Blue Note Records was founded when a German immigrant named Alfred Lion produced his first recording session with two boogie woogie pianists on January 6, 1939 in New York City. Blue Note has gone on to represent The Finest In Jazz, tracing the entire history of the music from Boogie Woogie, Hot Jazz and Swing, through Bebop, Hard Bop, Post Bop, Soul Jazz, Avant-Garde, and Fusion, and into Jazz’s numerous modern day incarnations. Blue Note’s legendary catalog includes a true Who’s Who of Jazz history: Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, Horace Silver, Art Blakey, Jimmy Smith, Dexter Gordon, Grant Green, Lou Donaldson, Donald Byrd, Lee Morgan, Freddie Hubbard, Joe Henderson, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, McCoy Tyner, Ornette Coleman, and many more.

 

Swatch X You

On Wednesday night, February 20th, Swatch celebrated the launch of Swatch X You, a new customization platform, at Swatch’s New York City flagship in Times Square.

More than 100 guests attended to experience the Swatch X You customization in-person and enjoy, food, drinks, music, and live art by NYC-based artist, Edward Granger.

To experience the platform for yourself, click here!

Or check out our Instagram story from last night @swatch_us! #swatchXyou

Women In Media

Women’s Media Center Releases 2019 Status of Women in U.S. Media Report:

Men dominate news, entertainment and digital media

94 studies — including new research from WMC — detail the shape and scope of women’s participation in media

Click here to read the full report.

The Women’s Media Center (WMC) today released its 2019 report on the status of women in U.S. media, which shows that despite some gains, men still dominate in every part of news, entertainment and digital media.

“The Status of Women in the U.S. Media 2019” is comprised of 94 studies, including original research by WMC and aggregated research from academia, industry and professional groups, labor unions, media watchdogs, newsrooms and other sources.

Julie Burton, president of the Women’s Media Center, said the data in the report paints a stark picture. “The media is in a state of great disruption, but despite all of the change, one thing remains the same: the role of women is significantly smaller than that of men in every part of news, entertainment and digital media. It is clear that a cultural, systemic shift is necessary if all parts of the U.S media are to achieve gender and racial parity and move toward a world where stories fully represent the voices and perspectives of diverse women,” she said. “Research spotlighted in this report shows that diversity boosts corporate profits. When boardrooms, newsrooms, studios and tech companies fully reflect the faces, genders and myriad talents of our society, we’re all exceedingly better served.”

The report includes several original WMC studies, including “Divided 2019: The Media Gender Gap,” an assessment of where women stand as media writers, reporters, correspondents and anchors in the major news media platforms, including the prime-time broadcast news programs, print publications, wire services and online news sites. Across all media platforms, men receive 63 percent of bylines and credits; women receive only 37 percent.

“Women have been fighting for greater parity and equality in the news media for decades,” said Maya Harris, co-chair, Women’s Media Center. “This report shows that more work needs to be done to level the playing field. Women and our male allies will not rest until we see wholesale change.”

“When we watch the evening news, we’re not seeing an America that truly reflects all voices,” said Pat Mitchell, co-chair, Women’s Media Center. “Too often, the voices we hear and the images we see are men’s. Men largely are reporting and telling the story even though women represent more than half the U.S. population.”

The report is inclusive and also features WMC’s “The Status of Women of Color in the U.S. News Media 2018,” which offers a rare look at where women journalists of color are — and aren’t — in legacy print, radio, TV, and digital news.

“Missing women of color in the newsrooms of this country is an injustice in itself, and an injustice to every American reader and viewer who is deprived of great stories and a full range of facts,” said Gloria Steinem, WMC co-founder. “Inclusiveness in the newsroom means inclusiveness in the news. Racism and sexism put blinders on everyone.”

In an expanded section on tech, social media, gaming and engineering, “Status 2019” also spotlights the growing threat online to women in media and the perils of failing to protect free and safe speech.

“As part of their day-to-day work, women journalists often face a torrent of harassment, denigration, and threats. The point of this hostility is to silence women, most frequently women of color,” said Soraya Chemaly, director of WMC’s Speech Project. “The onus continues to fall on women’s shoulders as individuals.  Media companies have to develop institutional responses to these threats if they are serious about building inclusive organizations.”

Here are the Status report highlights in traditional print and online-only, radio and television, news consumption, entertainment media and technology, social media, gaming and engineering:

In news media: print and online-only:

  • The American Society of News Editors’ latest tally found that women comprised 41.7 percent and people of color 22.6 percent of the overall workforce in those responding newsrooms.
  • Sports desks at 75 of the nation’s newspapers and online news sites earned a “B+” for racial diversity, a “D+” for gender and racial diversity, combined, and a sixth consecutive “F” for lack of gender equity. (Associated Press Sports Editors)
  • Editors of the nation’s 135 most widely distributed newspapers are overwhelmingly male and White. (Columbia Journalism Review)
  • 69 percent of news wire bylines (AP and Reuters) are snagged by men, 31 percent by women; 63 percent of TV prime-time news broadcasts feature male anchors and correspondents; 37 percent feature women; 60 percent of online news is written by men, 40 percent by women; 59 percent of print news is written by men, 41 percent by women. (Women’s Media Center)

In news media: radio and television:

  • A record number of women are employed in TV news, including as news directors, but fewer women and people of color work in radio news. (Radio Television Digital News Association)
  • Women owned 7.4 percent of the nation’s commercial TV stations. (Federal Communications Commission)

In entertainment media: film, TV & online streaming:

  • Over 12 years, through 2018, men accounted for 93.4 percent, or, 654, of the 704 individual directors of the highest-grossing films. Women accounted for 6.6 percent, or, 46 of those 704. (University of Southern California’s Annenberg Inclusion Initiative)
  • The number of women working on-screen in television and online streaming entertainment shows declined 2 percentage points from 2016-17 to 2017-18, when 40 percent of all speaking characters were female and 60 percent were men. (San Diego State University’s Center for the Study of Women in Television & Film)
  • The share of women among nominees in the Oscars’ 19 non-acting categories rose slightly from 23 percent to 25 percent from 2018 to 2019, but women were shut out of nominations for cinematography, directing, editing, original score and visual effects. (Women’s Media Center)
  • The proportion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or queer regular (LGBTQ) characters cast during the 2018-19 broadcast TV season — 8.8 percent of 857 regular characters — was the highest tallied in 14 years. (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation)

In tech, social media, gaming, engineering:

  • 45 percent of U.S. gamers were female, reflecting continued, year-over-year increases in female gamers. (Entertainment Software Association)
  • Over a decade, there was no significant rise in the number of female tech workers and Black tech workers. (U.S. Government Accountability Office)
  • 53 percent of women and 16 percent of men said they had been harassed at work. (Women Who Tech)

Click here to read the full report.

About The Women’s Media Center

The Women’s Media Center, founded by Jane Fonda, Robin Morgan, and Gloria Steinem, is an inclusive and feminist organization that works to make women visible and powerful in the media. We do so by promoting women as decision-makers and as subjects in media; training women to be effective in media; researching and exposing sexism and racism in media; and creating original online and on-air journalism.

Five Top Tips to Look After Your Eyes Daily

You brush your hair, you clean your teeth, you moisturise your skin, but do you think about looking after your eyes each day? Our sight is such a precious sense, but it is one that most people take almost entirely for granted. Modern urban life is particularly punishing for our eyes. Too much time spent looking at screens means that for many, their eyes are often tired and sore, and the dust and dirt of a city pose a further threat to our eyesight. Don’t wait until there’s a problem, take care of your eyes and build eye care into your daily routine.

Keep your hands clean

Keeping your hands clean is important for maintaining good general health, but it is also particularly important for maintaining the good health of your eyes. A study by Michigan State University found that only 5% of people wash their hands correctly. Dipping those pinkies in water is simply not good enough, they need a proper scrub for at least twenty seconds. Most of us are guilty, at some time or another, of absentmindedly rubbing our eyes but it is something that all of us should try to avoid. Rubbing your eyes, even with hands which appear to be clean, can cause eye related problems such as conjunctivitis.

Wear sunglasses

Sunglasses provide protection from harmful UV rays which can cause cataracts, macular degeneration, corneal sunburn and skin cancer around the eyelids. UV rays are not just a summer hazard, they can reflect off surfaces such as snow, water, sand and concrete. If you wear prescription glasses, you should give your eyes the added protection of prescription sunglasses. Don’t worry, there are plenty of fashionable options available.

Visit your optometrist regularly

You really can’t have your eyes checked too often, regardless of eye exam cost. The onset of glaucoma has no obvious symptoms and by the time that you do become aware that there is a problem, you may have sustained permanent eye damage. Early detection of eye pressure, which is an indicator of the disease, is only possible with a professional eye examination. Your optometrist can also give you early warning of diabetes, high cholesterol and even cancer.

Wear goggles in the swimming pool

Chlorine is a sanitising agent added to the water of swimming pools to reduce the spread of disease and water borne bacteria. Unfortunately, chlorine strips away the film that protects your cornea which actually makes your eyes more vulnerable to any dirt or bacteria that may be in the pool. Conjunctivitis, red, irritated eyes and even blurry vision can all be contracted by swimming in a chlorinated pool. Protect your eyes when swimming, by always wearing water tight goggles with a strong seal.

Keep hydrated

It is recommended that you drink eight glasses of water a day in order to maintain your health. Drinking water helps keep your skin hydrated, aids brain function and is crucial to maintaining the natural lipid layer on the surface of your eyes.

Juice WRLD North American Tour

Following the release of his new single “Robbery” and accompanying Cole Bennett video, Chicago artist Juice WRLD has announced his upcoming North American tour. The tour begins April 25 at the PNE Forum in Vancouver, BC and ends June 8 at The Bomb Factory in Dallas, TX, with support from Ski Mask The Slump God and The Lyrical Lemonade All-Stars. Along with the tour, Juice has launched four exclusive merch collaborations, with VLONE, Lyrical Lemonade, Half Evil, and Ransom, and early ticket access for the tour, with Death Race For Love album pre-orders. Purchase the merch and pre-order the album here to receive early access to buy tickets for the tour. The early ticket access sale will begin today, 2/20, at 6pm PST. General ticket sales for the tour begin Friday February 22. Full tour dates are listed below:

April 25 – Vancouver, BC – PNE Forum 

April 26 – Portland, OR Veterans Memorial Coliseum

April 28 – Seattle, WA – WaMu Theatre 

April 30 – San Francisco, CA – Bill Graham Civic Auditorium

May 02 – Los Angeles, CA – Greek Theatre 

May 03 – Las Vegas, NV – The Joint 

May 04 – Mesa, AZ – Mesa Amphitheater

May 05 – Albuquerque, NM – Tingley Coliseum 

May 07 – New Orleans, LA – UNO Lakefront Arena 

May 09 – St. Augustine, FL – The St. Augustine Amphitheatre 

May 12 – Atlanta, GA – Coca-Cola Roxy 

May 14 – Richmond, VA – Virginia Credit Union Live

May 15 – Philadelphia, PA – Skyline Stage at The Mann 

May 17 – Washington, DC – The Anthem 

May 20 – New York, NY – Hammerstein Ballroom 

May 21 – New York, NY – Hammerstein Ballroom 

May 23 – Boston, MA – Agganis Arena 

May 24 – Hartford, CT – XFINITY Theatre 

May 25 – Toronto, ON – Coca-Cola Coliseum 

May 26 – Detroit, MI – Masonic Temple Theatre 

May 27 – Cleveland, OH – Jacobs Pavilion At Nautica 

May 28 – Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE 

May 30 – Chicago, IL – Aragon Ballroom 

May 31 – Milwaukee, WI – The Eagles Ballroom 

June 01 – Minneapolis, MN – Armory 

June 02 – Independence, MO – Silverstein Eye Centers Arena 

June 04 – Saint Louis, MO – Chaifetz Arena 

June 06 – Houston, TX – Revention Music Center

June 07 – Austin, TX – ACL Live at The Moody Theatre 

June 08 – Dallas, TX – Bomb Factory 

New Ruf Models at Geneva Auto Show

RUF TO UNVEIL FIRST PRODUCTION CTR ANNIVERSARY AND ALL-NEW RUF GT AT THE 89TH GENEVA AUTO SHOW

RUF Automobile will unveil the first production example of the RUF CTR Anniversary as well as the RUF GT next month in Geneva, Switzerland, kicking off the manufacturer’s 80th anniversary.

RUF Automobile GmbH, manufacturer and creator of bespoke sports cars that combine performance and suitability for everyday use, will unveil two cars at the 89th Geneva Auto Show on March 5 in Hall 5 at Stand 5030 of the Palexpo in Geneva, Switzerland. The first production example of the RUF CTR Anniversary, known in prototype form as the RUF CTR 2017, will be unveiled alongside the all-new RUF GT. The pair will act as anchors in the RUF booth alongside several other RUF models from throughout the companies 80-year history, including the eRuf which was presented at the Geneva motor show in 2009.

The first production example of the RUF CTR Anniversary will be delivered to its owner during the Geneva Auto Show. The model was first announced at the 2017 Geneva Auto Show on the 30th anniversary of the original CTR and produces 710 PS (700 BHP) from its twin-turbo 3.6L, flat-six engine. Weighing in at just 1,200 kilograms (2,640 pounds), the 2019 RUF CTR Anniversary has a top speed of 360 km/h (223 mph).

The all-new RUF GT is a Porsche 991-based model acting as an extension of the previous generation of the Porsche 911. The RUF GT features a 3.0 liter flat-six engine producing 522 PS (515 BHP), 645 Nm (476 ft-lbs) of torque and has a total weight of 1,450 kilograms (3,197 pounds). The launch-control equipped 7-speed double clutch gearbox helps the car accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in just 3.4 seconds. The duck tail generates high downforce and keeps the RUF GT stable at its top speed of 320 kph (199 mph).

“Each year we hope to push the technological envelope further, creating a more enjoyable, more usable and better performing sports car,” said Estonia Ruf, marketing director of RUF Automobile GmbH. “The two cars being unveiled in Geneva are the pinnacle of their respective niche in the car world. They are the best options when it comes to pure driving pleasure. That was the goal from the start.”

This year marks the 80th anniversary for RUF Automobile, originally founded by Alois Ruf Sr. in 1939. The company will be celebrating its anniversary throughout 2019 both in Pfaffenhausen and at events around the globe. Use the hashtag #80YearsOfRUF to join in celebrating on social media.

The exact time for the press conference will be announced soon.For more information on RUF automobiles, visit the RUF website.

ABOUT RUF AUTOMOBILE GMBH

In 1939, Alois Ruf Sr. first formed his company, AUTO RUF, as a general service garage. The company grew and in 1949 he added a gas station to the company complex. By 1955, Ruf Sr. recognized a need in Germany for a full-size tourist bus and challenged himself to build his own to run this as a separate business. In 1963, the company began specializing in Porsche vehicles, a direction that Alois Ruf Jr.  vowed to continue when he assumed directorship of the company in 1974. In the following year, the first RUF-enhanced Porsche model made its debut. Now it is still family run by Alois and Estonia Ruf.

Glashütte Original Releases Sixties and Sixties Panorama Date Watch

The Sixties and Sixties Panorama Date – Annual Edition 2019 in fiery orange!

The fascinating green versions inspired watch and design enthusiasts all over the world in 2018. Today Glashütte Original delivers an exciting sequel to this success story: for our new annual edition 2019, we present the Sixties and Sixties Panorama Date in multi-faceted orange.

Njomza Kicks off “Vacation Tour”

RISING SONGSTRESS NJOMZA KICKS OFF THE “VACATION TOUR” LAST NIGHT

Performing At The Mint In Los Angeles On February 21 & SOB’s In New York City On March 4

Playing NYC’s Governor’s Ball

“Njomza sets the tone of romanticized escapism that can be heard throughout Vacation.” – Billboard

“Njomza’s voice enchants the listener” – Study Breaks

Last night, Njomza launched her very first North American headliner, “Vacation Tour” at Constellation Room in Santa Ana, CA. Nearly sold out, the kickoff sets the tone for what promises to be an unforgettable tour as she performs in major cities coast-to-coast through March 7 at Troc Balcony in Philadelphia, PA before gracing the stage at Governors Ball in New York at the top of the summer. Check out the full itinerary below and get tickets HERE.

The Chicago singer, songwriter, and genre-shifter has quietly become a hot topic of conversation. Her global streams just exceeded 40 million and counting as recent singles “Me & You” [1.4 million Spotify streams] and “Lonely Nights” [1.44 million Spotify streams] continue heating up. Her voice has also resounded from behind-the-scenes as a sought-after collaborator in the studio and from the stage as a true pop maverick. Recently, she spoke to both NPR and Rolling Stone regarding her contributions to Ariana Grande’s latest release thank u, next, and she sat down with ET Live for an extensive interview about her own artistry.

Last week, Njomza launched a fun video called ”What’s My Name?” In the hilarious clip, Njomza hits the streets of Hollywood to quiz bystanders on how to pronounce her unique name. View “What’s My Name?” here.

Her sophomore EP, VACATION, is out now via Since The 80s/Motown Records. It has already received acclaim from Hypebae, StudyBreaks, Billboard, and more. Experience its songs live on the “Vacation Tour.”

Njomza gained notoriety after Mac Miller caught one of her uploaded covers, promptly signing her to his Remember Music label. Settling in Los Angeles, she cameoed on “Planet God Damn”; from Millerߣs acclaimed 2016 offering, The Divine Feminine. Thereafter, 2017 saw Njomza unveil her acclaimed debut EP, Sad For You, which received early praise from the likes of Noisey, Complex, Pigeons & Planes, Office Magazine, and more. Now with a new label and a vigor to create new music, Njomza kicks off her continued rise with all new perspective.

NJOMZA VACATION TOUR DATES

Tickets here

19-Feb      Santa Ana, CA Constellation Room

20-Feb      San Francisco, CA Cafe Du Nord

21-Feb      Los Angeles, CA The Mint

28-Feb      Chicago, IL Avondale

04-Mar      New York, NY SOB’s

05-Mar      Boston, MA Middle East

06-Mar      Washington, DC Songbyrd

07-Mar      Philadelphia, PA Troc Balcony

31-May-2 Jun New York, NY Governor’s Ball

Follow Njomza everywhere:

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2 Chainz March Album Release

2 CHAINZ’ 5th  STUDIO ALBUM ‘RAP OR GO TO THE LEAGUE’ – A&R’d BY LEBRON JAMES – SET FOR MARCH 1ST RELEASE VIA DEF JAM RECORDINGS

WATCH THE FIRST TRAILER FOR THE 2 CHAINZ X LEBRON JAMES APPLE MUSIC INTERVIEW HERE

3RD SEASON OF VICELAND’S MOST EXPENSIVEST SET FOR 2019; 2 CHAINZ EARNS HIGH MARKS FOR EXPENSIFY SUPER BOWL SPOT

2 Chainz, the multi-platinum, Grammy Award®-winning MC and “One of the Very Best Rappers Alive” (Noisey), confirms his highly anticipated fifth studio album, RAP OR GO TO THE LEAGUE, A&R’d by LeBron James, is set for a March 1st release via Def Jam Recordings.

The countdown to March 1st is officially on, as Apple Music rolls out the first trailer for 2 Chainz x LeBron James RAP OR GO TO THE LEAGUE, an exclusive in-depth conversation between two of the biggest titans in their respective fields.  As long time friends and fans of one another, 2 Chainz and LeBron represent the true intersection of music and sports.

WATCH THE TRAILER HERE: @2Chainz @KingJames @AppleMusic

The title RAP OR GO TO THE LEAGUE challenges the notion that the only way out of the inner city is either to become a rapper or a ball player. (In fact, 2 Chainz has done both, earning a full ride to college for basketball and graduating at the top of his class, and becoming a superstar rapper.) Chainz’ new album – easily his most personal, most lyrical, most soulful to date – flips that trope on its head, celebrating black excellence and focusing on the power of education and entrepreneurship.

The eagerly awaited RAP OR GO TO THE LEAGUE is Chainz’ first official new long-player since his platinum #1 release of 2017, Pretty Girls Like Trap Music. That LP has netted over 2 billion streams after spinning off four consecutive multi-platinum hits: “4 AM” featuring Travis Scott; “It’s A Vibe” featuring Ty Dolla $ign, Trey Songz and Jhene Aiko; “Big Amount” featuring Drake, and “Good Drank” featuring Quavo and Gucci Mane.

2 Chainz released a pair of well-received EPs in 2018: The surprise, unannounced The Play Don’t Care Who Makes It  (February) contained the gold-selling viral

track, “Proud” featuring YG and Offset, which has over 100 million streams to date. “The ultimate embodiment of Atlanta rap,” raved Pitchfork in its extended-length review, “he’s old enough to have witnessed the forging of its building blocks but maintains the youthful spirit of an ever-changing genre.” 2 Chainz returned with Hot Wings Are A Girl’s Best Friend in November. The brand-new two-song bundle included “Hot Wings” and “Girl’s Best Friend.” The upcoming new album will also contain Chainz’  2018 gold single, “Bigger Than You” (featuring Drake and Quavo) whose videos have amassed over 55 million combined YouTube views to date.

In addition to music, 2 Chainz’ cultural influence continues to grow. Earlier this month, he starred alongside Adam Scott in “the world’s first Super Bowl commercial you can expense” for Expensify. Chainz’ wildly popular TV show Most Expensivest on VICELAND moves into its third season in 2019 with 20 new episodes (season premiere TBA); view the series trailer HERE. Chainz’ sneaker collaboration with Versace called “Chain Reaction” hit stores in the spring 2018, and was their most popular shoe of the year. In October, 2 Chainz launched his own cannabis brand, GAS Cannabis Co. available now throughout California HERE.

ABOUT 2 CHAINZ

Following his run as a founding member of Def Jam duo Playaz Circle from his native Atlanta, 2 Chainz’ name was on everyone’s lips in 2012, when he stole a verse on “Mercy,” fellow Def Jam artist Kanye West/G.O.O.D. Music’s RIAA triple-platinum #1 R&B/#1 Rap hit (from Cruel Summer). In August 2012, Chainz arrived as a Def Jam solo artist with Based On A T.R.U. Story, his debut album.  B.O.A.T.S. entered Soundscan at #1 and was certified RIAA gold. Its success was fueled by the RIAA platinum #1 “No Lie” featuring Drake, the double-platinum “Birthday Song” featuring Kanye West, and double-platinum “I’m Different.”  “Mercy” was subsequently a Grammy® nominee for Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance, while B.O.A.T.S.was nominated for Best Rap Album. Chainz’ dominance was extended when the sequel, B.O.A.T.S. II: Me Time entered the Soundscan hip-hop chart at #1 in September 2013, and spun off the RIAA gold single, “Feds Watching” featuring Pharrell.

In 2016, Chainz brought it back to his essence with a series of mixtapes that dominated the streets: Felt Like Cappin, Daniel Son; Necklace Don, and Hibachi For Lunch.  Also in 2016, he released the lauded collaborative album ColleGrove with New Orleans hip-hop luminary Lil Wayne.  Critics agreed that 2 Chainz conquered 2016, with the New York Times proclaiming “all hail our greatest punchline rapper, 2 Chainz.”  The year was capped off with his first Grammy Award, Best Rap Performance for his verse on Chance The Rapper’s hit song “No Problem.”

With momentum on his side, 2 Chainz released his first solo album since 2013: Pretty Girls Like Trap Music (June 2017) was accompanied by a 35-city tour of North America through September. Chainz’ TV appearances included visits with Jimmy Kimmel (HERE), Jimmy Fallon (HERE), and Trevor Noah (HERE).  2018 brought the EP releases The Play Don’t Care Who Makes It (February, with the RIAA gold “Proud” featuring YG and Offset), and Hot Wings Are A Girl’s Best Friend (November), pointing the way to the release of Chainz’ fourth solo album, RAP OR GO TO THE LEAGUE on March 1, 2019. Chainz’ impact on popular culture encompasses not only music but his Most Expensivest cable tv series on VICELAND, his “Chain Reaction” sneaker collaboration with Versace, his GAS Cannabis Co. brand, and his Expensify videos with Adam Scott. TheRinger.com was inspired to write: “Forget Mount Rushmore – 2 Chainz deserves his own national monument. This year dude is top five humans of all time.”

WWW.2CHAINZ.COM

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