Urban music’s most charming voice, the artist whose success only increases with the passing of the hours, the digital sensation of reggaeton and the “hopeless romantic,” Jay Wheeler, rises with 2 new nominations for Premio Lo Nuestro 2022.
The year 2021 “painted” very well for Jay Wheeler, since he not only made his music known on an international scale, but he also began to appear at the most important awards ceremonies in Latin music. Such was the case of Premio Lo Nuestro 2021, a historic night in his artistic career, where he was crowned Revelation Artist of the Year, a category that undoubtedly sets the standard in the music industry.
This year, the artist who carries a solid musical career on his shoulders is one of the nominees for Premio Lo Nuestro 2022 in the following categories: Remix of the Year for the song “La Tóxica Remix” feat. Farruko, Sech, Myke Towers & Tempo, and he also stands out in the category Tropical Song of the Year for the song “Cómo Olvidar” feat. Olga Tañón.
And with his sights set on the statuette, Jay Wheeler hopes to have the support of his fans, who will be able to vote for his idol through the web portal HERE.
He spoke on this experience, stating, “It fills me with happiness to know that those who vote are the fans themselves, there is no greater honor than being the favorite of those who really consume urban music.”
About Jay Wheeler
José Ángel López Martínez, artistically known as Jay Wheeler, is an urban latin singer born in Puerto Rico on April 25, 1994. In 2016 he released “freestyle” and created a cover to Justin Bieber’s “Love Yourself,” reaching 1 million views on YouTube. In 2018 with Dynamic Records he released his first single and music video “Por Tu Culpa.” His romantic and melodic style provoked amazement among his fans and in 2019 he released “Mensaje De Voz,” captivating his fans with an emotional record. By the summer of 2019, he reached millions of followers along with a viral music video. Due to this success, DJ Nelson became interested in Jay and wanted to meet him. At this time, Dynamic Records and Flow Music united and started working with him on two singles “Te Soñé” and “Otra noche más.”
In November of 2019, he premiered his first album “Platónico” (composed of 13 songs), and within his album the track “Otra noche más” ft. Farruko Remix. In February of 2020, he launched the first digital urban concert Platonico Unplugged, a live acoustic version of his first album. In June 2020 he premiered his second album “Platónicos,” with the participation of various artists such as Dalex, Brytiago, Feid, Nio Garcia, Miky Woodz, Myke Towers, Alex Rose and Casper Megico. Jay Wheeler has participated in collaborations with Cauty, Lenny Tavarez, Bryant Myers and so many more. Among his many collaborations, he joined forces with Onell Diaz for a project highlighting suicide prevention. Jay Wheeler is considered an important phenomenon within the music industry and his talent continue to reach millions making him La Voz Favorita.
Global superstar Doja Cat releases the music video for her hit song “Get Into it (Yuh)” via Kemosabe/RCA Records. “Get Into it (Yuh)” is featured on her GRAMMY nominated album Planet Her which was released this summer. The video made its global broadcast premiere on MTV Live, MTVU, BET Soul and BET Jams, as well as on the ViacomCBS Times Square billboard. It’s directed by Mike Diva (Lil Nas X, Run the Jewels, SNL Digital Shorts), produced by Lord Danger and features Doja Cat as a space commander who discovers her cat has been stolen by a rival enemy spaceship. She and her four best soldiers set off on a thrilling rescue mission. Watch HERE.
Doja Cat was just nominated for 8 GRAMMY Awards including the coveted Album of the Year, Record Of The Year and Song of the Year categories amongst others. She also just took home 3 American Music Awards last month for Favorite Female R&B Artist, Favorite R&B Album for Planet Her and Collaboration Of The Year for “Kiss Me More” ft. SZA.
ABOUT DOJA CAT
11-time GRAMMY nominee Doja Cat made her first upload to Soundcloud in 2013 at just 16-years-old. Having grown up in and around the LA area, she developed a knack for music by studying piano and dance as a kid and listening to the likes of Busta Rhymes, Erykah Badu, Nicki Minaj, Drake, and more. Soon, she went from obsessing over Catwoman (the Halle Berry version) to crate digging on YouTube. The budding talent taught herself Logic and how to compose on a midi controller. Signed to Kemosabe/RCA in 2014, she released her Purrr! EP and followed that with her debut album Amala in spring 2018, but it was her August 2018 release of “Mooo!” which catapulted her into the mainstream and was met with critical acclaim.
Doja Cat released her sophomore album Hot Pink in November 2019 to mass critical acclaim, the album was a platinum success with over 14.5 billion streams worldwide. Hot Pinkfeatures “Juicy” which hit #1 at Rhythm radio, “Say So” her GRAMMY nominated #1 smash record and “Streets”, the viral sensation that soundtracked the ‘Silhouette Challenge,’ one of the biggest TikTok trends to date. The success of “Say So” which hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has been RIAA certified 4x platinum and streamed over 6.7 billion times catapulted Doja into global superstardom. She has taken home the Best New Artist Award at the MTV Video Music Awards, the MTV Europe Music Awards, the American Music Awards, the iHeart Radio Awards and the People’s Choice Awards.
Doja’s creativity and showmanship as a performer have been praised time and time again, she has delivered unique and show stopping performances on nearly all the major Award Show stages including the GRAMMY Awards, the AMAs, the Billboard Awards, the iHeart Radio Awards and the MTV VMAs and EMAs. Her last tour sold out in 10 minutes and she has played numerous festivals including Rap Caviar Live Miami, Posty Fest, Day n Vegas and Rolling Loud LA.
Doja Cat’s GRAMMY nominated album Planet Her came out in June 2021 and dominated the charts, debuting at #1 on the Billboard Top R&B Albums chart and #2 on the Billboard Top 200 and Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, marking Doja Cat’s career best and highest debut to date with 109K in total activity in the US alone. Spanning a range of genres Planet Her also generated the highest first day Spotify streams for an album by a female rapper, was the top Pop album upon release based on consumption according to MRC data, and marks both the biggest debut for female rapper and the top female R&B debut of 2021. GRAMMY nominated “Kiss Me More” ft. SZA, the lead single off Planet Heris certified platinum by the RIAA and hit #1 at Top 40 and Rhythm radio with over 2.8 billion streams worldwide. Doja Cat recently became the first rapper to have 3 songs in the Top 10 at Top 40 radio. Amongst others, Doja has received 5 AMAs, 3 MTV VMAs, 3 BMI Awards, 2 MTV EMAs, 1 Billboard Music Award and 1 NAACP Image Award along with countless nominations including 11 GRAMMY Awards.
Bombazo Wear, Bomba Caribbean Skirts, and Under One Roof Productions are introducing the Bomba Exhibit and Fashion Show: Resistencia y Libertá. The show presents a unique experience representing Bomba’s evolution and its historical journey dating back to the 17th century. This event is a great opportunity to join us in highlighting the Bomba movement including its traditions, culture, and trends during Black History Month. The inaugural exhibit and fashion event will be presented at El Centro Cultural Carmen Solá de Pereira; Ponce’s main cultural center, founded in 1963 on February 3rd, 2022, at 6:00 PM.
Milteri Tucker Concepción, one of the leaders in Bomba, is highly regarded as a choreographer, cultural warrior, fashion designer, and author. She is joining forces with the renowned Creative Director, Javier Pedroza, to put together this event and give the opportunity to represent Puerto Rican culture through the language of fashion. As Pedroza said, “In a political climate where Latin (x,a,o,e) communities are dealing with challenges, it is our commitment to educate the world around us to create unity.”
The multi-talented host, producer, creative and visual director, founder of his own production company Under One Roof Productions, celebrity stylist, philanthropist, and Latinx Editor-at-Large for 360 Magazine, Javier Pedroza, is collaborating with Bomba Wear, handmade and tailored skirts for Afro Caribbean and Latin cultural dance. This event promises to be a unique experience of submerging into Puerto Rican culture and tradition.
About Javier Pedroza
Prior to focusing on hosting and his own production company, Under One Roof Productions, Javier was the Visual Director for the international fashion brand ESCADA, overseeing North America. Javier has also collaborated with brands including Ralph Lauren, NETFLIX, ST. JOHN, Tommy Hilfiger, SONY, Neiman Marcus, Saks 5th Avenue, GANT, Gabriel & Co., and Coomi Jewelry. Javier’s styling experiences include styling Supermodels and Hollywood celebrities for major red carpet award shows such as The Oscars, The Emmys, The Golden Globes, The Grammys, and The SAG Awards.
2021 proved a record-breaking year for Rolls-Royce. The clientele of the long-time luxury brand grew even greater this past year, indicating the continued craftsmanship and extravagance of this beloved automaker.
Chief Executive of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, Torsten Müller-Ötvös, reflected positively on the achievement of the brand in 2021. Müller-Ötvös stated, “In what has been an unprecedented and unpredictable year, the House of Rolls-Royce has delivered the highest-ever annual sales results in the marque’s 117-year history. In 2021, we delivered 5,586 motor cars to clients around the world, having worked closely with clients to further expand the boundaries of creativity within our Bespoke Collective. This has resulted in some truly remarkable commissions.
“Rolls-Royce has once again demonstrated an innate understanding of craftsmanship, honing progressive and proprietary techniques amongst our highly skilled and talented team. Artisans continue to further the realm of Bespoke feasibility; precious and rare materials are used with ingenuity to create world-class examples of excellence in their field.”
With this powerful indicator of Rolls-Royce on the rise, 360 Magazine recaps the 2021 Bespoke highlights for Rolls-Royce.
The final collection of Wraith Kryptos was seen this past year, showcasing intricate and hidden ciphers throughout each car. Emphasis on hidden, each Wraith Kryptos is equipped with secret ciphers only a Rolls-Royce client could decipher, reminiscent of a rewarding puzzle.
These so-called “puzzles” found throughout the model were dreamt up and sent to the home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood for review. Ultimately, sections of these riddles have been deciphered by cipher fanatics and Rolls-Royce clientele, but the final resolution remains unsolved.
Together, Rolls-Royce and Kengo Kuma combined the realms of extravagant automobiles and awe-inducing architecture to produce the Bespoke Rolls-Royce Dawn. This singular motor car emulates the feelings of glamour and opulence, much like the inspiration for the car of The Kita building in central Tokyo.
The overall design and aesthetic of Dawn will have drivers feeling as opulent as ever. With an exterior in the shade of Silver Haze, a silver-gray color, it mimics the appearance of The Kita’s structure. The shade of the exterior shifts when positioned in direct sunlight, illuminating a rich bronze shine. The outer style of the car comes complete with a silver hood and black coach line. Merging the interior and exterior is the open-pore royal walnut paneling showcased on the rear deck. This enhancement references the walnut paneling seen on ‘The Kita’s’ entrance lobby. The construction in this collaboration speaks to both companies’ eye towards detail.
Renowned for its purely lavish design philosophy, the Ghost Extended has a unique Bespoke trek. The Ghost Extended Urban Sanctuary prioritizes top material construction rather than aiming to make a bold statement. Inspiration for the automobile comes from a particular building within Shanghai’s Yu Yuan Gardens. The building has a unique ‘cracked ice’ effect on its wooden window shutters, emulated in the Ghost Extended through stitched panels in the seat inserts.
Regarding the detailed design intricacies of the Ghost Extended, the interior showcases a deep Navy Blue and Cashmere Grey color story. The colorway draws a distinctive and rare story whether one is driving themselves around or are being chauffeured. This chauffeur storyline continues through the reclinable Serenity Seating in the Urban Sanctuary. The easily reclinable seats make it seem as though one is taking a ride on a private jet.
Finishing off design elements, the Urban Sanctuary exterior is cast in gunmetal and jubilee silver, offset by a bold lime green coach line and wheel pinstripe. The edgy lime green color is showcased to mimic Shanghai’s nighttime neon lights.
DREAM GHOST
Ghost Extended is the spitting image of the first-ever personalized Illuminated Fascia. This first-of-its-kind request came from the South Florida luxury collector, David Bartosiak. Mr. Bartosiak had a vision for his personal automobile, calling upon the Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective. His request entailed the Illuminated Fascia to say ‘DREAM’ instead of ‘GHOST.’
He declared, “This wish speaks of the dream I had as a young boy, born under that beautiful night sky in 1983 in Vero Beach, Florida, the dream I instill in those around me every day, and the dream I hope my spirit carries on to the world when I’m gone.”
This incredible one-of-a-kind Starlight Headliner of Mr. Bartosiak’s features an astronomical alignment of the stars in the interior. The alignment references the sky over Vero Beach, Florida, on the day of his birth in 1983, as illustrated in 1,236 single fiber optic lights.
BESPOKE WRAITH IN PEBBLE PARADISO
Another specific commission came from a client based in Shanghai; she requested a rare Bespoke Wraith in the Pebble Paradiso blue color. The client referred to the automobile as her own “Shanghai seaside-inspired paradise.” The car features a hand-painted coachline in a Seashell hue, with a delicate orchid motif. This further exemplifies the client’s desire for sophistication combined with uniqueness.
The interior of the automobile showcases why the car is a true piece of artwork; a baby girl’s footprints are shown on the Piano White monitor lid. This enhancement references the client’s beloved, cherished daughter. The interior, too, has a two-tone design of Charles blue and seashell in natural grain leather.
A rare Cullinan was produced in 2021 to celebrate the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) historic Golden Jubilee. The exterior of the car is polished to perfection in crystal over artic white, with a hand-painted double coachline, the upper line in hotspur red, the lower in fame green. The power of style was continued with a gold bullion coach line motif, the national flag in hotspur red, fame green, and black on the C-Pillar Motif, showcasing a unique double wheel-center pinstripe.
The interior illustrates treadplates that read ‘50th.’ The interior design mimics that of the exterior, with arctic white, black, and hotspur red leather, in contrast to a fame green contrast stitch of the UAE’s emblem upon each headrest. The showpiece of the car is the gold 50th-anniversary motif decked in the fascia, rear waterfall, and picnic tabletops.
CULLINNAN IN PIKES PEAK BLUE
Car enthusiasts Ben and Christine Sloss were in search of a Bespoke Rolls-Royce Black Badge Cullinan from Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Los Gatos.
A colorway typically not shown in Bespoke of pikes peak blue, the color references the Colorado hill-climb, a beloved experience of the clients. Pops of forge yellow spice up the color story in the hand-painted coachline, wheel-center pinstripes, and brake calipers, the Black Badge Cullinan showcases the use of the colors in the flag of Modena. The doors of the Black Badge Cullinan are embellished with Mrs. Sloss’ racing logo – a formal stiletto.
A once-in-a-lifetime collaboration saw Rolls-Royce and the House of Hermès come together to create a Bespoke Phantom for Japanese entrepreneur Yusaku Maezawa. Phantom Oribe is a motor car named mimicking the client’s world-class collection of ancient Japanese ceramics, Oribe ware. The client’s private jet was able to showcase the use of Rolls-Royce paint to create a matched set with the Phantom.
The interior is finished in Hermès Enea green leather. A first for Rolls-Royce, the door armrests, center, rear consoles and, most particularly, the signature headliner is equipped with the famed Hermès ‘Toile H’ canvas.
The Phantom Tempus Collection narrowed to 20 examples of Rolls-Royce Phantoms. A new edition of the Phantom notes the concept of time – how it goes and how it can ostensibly stand still.
The aesthetic of the design for this project hints at themes of time and the cosmos. One key theory imposed into the design comes from the pulsar, a mysterious astronomical phenomenon found only in the deepest sections of the galaxy. The pulsar is essentially a complex, white-hot star that sends electromagnetic radiation in pulses, hence making it a common suggestion of precise clocks through the universe.
The exterior of the Phantom Tempus Collection is dripping in a new Bespoke paint of kairos blue. The rich color symbolizes the uncertainty and deepness of space. To further the cosmos inspiration, the paint features jewel-like blue mica flakes that glint when caught by the light.
Another first for Rolls-Royce comes with the Phantom Koa – it is the first Rolls- Royce Phantom to use Koa wood. Koa wood is a unique species of tree only found growing in the Hawaiian soil. Inspired by car enthusiast Jack Boyd Smith, Jr. and his wife Laura, the car captures the essence of the tenderness and character of Koa.
Koa is guarded by state and national parks, and it only grows in Hawaii. The only way to harvest the wood is from private agricultural land, making it as rare as you can get. A Rolls-Royce Wood Specialist refers to the ability to find Koa as a ‘one in a million chance.’
Mr. Smith’s Bespoke commission took almost three years of cooperation to generate, but it is now a part of his collection of motor cars in the JBS Collection Museum.
LANDSPEED COLLECTION
Another limited collection, the Landspeed Collection consists of 25 examples of Black Badge Dawn and 35 of Black Badge Wraith. The creativity for the collection came from George Eyston’s noteworthy life and accomplishments. Hints of the landscape of the Bonneville Salt Flats, where Thunderbolt made himself the fastest man on Earth, are incorporated into the collection as well.
Throughout George Eyston’s life, he was awarded three major honors: the Military Cross, the Chevalier of the Légion d’honneur, and the Order of the British Empire (OBE). Each of these honors is prominent in the Black Badge Wraith and Dawn Landspeed. Clever easter eggs that reference the original medal ribbons are placed throughout the cars in the driver’s door, as it was made from the same Grosgrain weave silk of the medals.
Imagined with the essence of Moscow at night comes the design of the Black Badge Cullinan ‘Black and Bright’ by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Moscow. The 2021 model of the Black Badge Wraith ‘Black and Bright’ was an elevated design of the model popular two years ago.
Found only at the Muscovite dealership, this narrow collection showcases five Black Badge Cullinans. Each car is available in edgy color combos of magma red, orange metallic, twilight purple, forge yellow, and turchese. Black Badge Cullinan’s Technical Carbon veneer is individualized to a corresponding color inlay design, while starlight headliner matches the exterior and interior highlights.
Coachbuilding is promised as a long-lasting feature of Rolls-Royce after the production of three Boat Tails amidst the contemporary coachbuilding development.
The process of coachbuilding is an extremely refined tactic of Rolls-Royce Bespoke, set aside for those who are looking to push the boundaries and seek change.
Boat Tail is a handcrafted creation, where bodywork and interior are produced with the client’s eye to exact requirements. A Boat Tail tells the story of Rolls-Royce’s deep history, while still offering a new, modern design.
The first of the three Boat Tails were exhibited at Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in October, 2021. The second will make its first appearance at Villa d’Este 2022.
It was discovered earlier today that global superstar Rihanna is pregnant with her first child. Her baby bump was revealed when she was photographed with boyfriend A$AP Rocky in his hometown of Harlem. At the time, the couple was seen holding hands, with Rihanna wearing a long pink puffer Chanel jacket adorned with jewels over her stomach.
The couple went public in November of 2020, and have grown closer since the pandemic after being friends for several years. Both have separately talked about wanting kids together at some point, with Rihanna suggesting she wanted kids before she turned 42. According to MSN, she once stated, “I’m a Black woman. I came from a Black woman, who came from a Black woman, who came from a Black woman, and I’m going to give birth to a Black woman. It’s a no-brainer. That’s who I am. It’s the core of who I am in spirit and DNA.” No other information on the pregnancy has been released.
About Rihanna
Rihanna is a Barbadian superstar and singer, known for songs such as Diamonds, S&M, and Shut Up and Drive. She’s also a businesswoman, with her makeup line Fenty Beauty and her clothing line Savage x Fenty. She’s also an actress, having appeared in Home, Battleship, and Bates Motel (the series.) Her ninth album is expected to be released in the near future.
About A$AP Rocky
A$AP Rocky is a rapper and musician. His debut track, Peso, was leaked online and quickly received airplay. He’s a member of the A$AP Mob, which is where he received the moniker.
Jessie Ware and her mom Lennie are bringing their No. 1 hit podcast Table Manners to Los Angeles on April 10, April 11, April 12, and April 13. Their stateside debut will see the pair take their hilarious and hugely lovable podcast on the road with a special guest joining them for each show.
Jessie says, “Let’s be honest. This is a PERFECT excuse for mother to mix business with pleasure, family, Chateau Marmont cosmos and to make her 70th year truly fabulous after the pandemic tried to dim her shine over the 2 years. We are so so so excited to present Table Manners to the Hollywood set, bringing our glamour, bad language, and conversation to the city of stars. Being able to host the show in Hollywood just shows how far this podcast has traveled and we are trying to enjoy every moment of the madness, with a cup of Lennie’s chicken soup on the side. We can’t wait to see you all.”
As we all adjust to life in the ‘new normal,’ business has been as usual for Table Manners with virtual dinner parties and covid secure dinners, the London singer along with her mum have continued to release new weekly episodes of the podcast that sees guests from music, culture, and politics.
As Black History Month approaches, Marvel is taking fans on the ultimate historical journey, uncovering the evolution of Marvel’s first Black superhero: T’Challa, the Black Panther. Marvel Entertainment and SiriusXM announced that their latest original unscripted podcast series, The History of Marvel Comics: Black Panther, premieres Monday, February 14.
The six-episode documentary podcast, hosted by New York Times best-selling author Nic Stone (Shuri, Dear Martin), explores the comic book origins of the Black Panther through conversations with the creators who shaped T’Challa’s journey, celebrates the innately Afro-Futuristic world of Wakanda, and analyzes the larger social impact of the character.
Throughout The History of Marvel Comics: Black Panther, Stone will take both new and lifelong fans behind-the-scenes in a definitive tell-all of the incredible journey of T’Challa, how he came to be Black Panther, and how he and the world of Wakanda have evolved since. The show explores some of Black Panther’s most pivotal moments including Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s 1966 debut of the character at the height of the Civil Rights Movement, his continued evolution through the birth of the Black Power Movement, his time with the Avengers, and of course, the launching of Black Panther’s adventures.
“As thrilling as it’s been to watch Marvel’s First Black superhero leap his way to the top of fan-favorite lists over the past few years, getting to dig into his origin story with the people who made him (and the characters around him) is truly the coolest thing I’ve ever gotten to do,” said host Nic Stone. “I can’t wait for fans to hear from the individuals who have spent almost 60 years shaping, expanding, and humanizing our beloved King of Wakanda and Black Panther, especially as his world continues to grow.”
The series will initially be available exclusively on the SXM App and Marvel Podcasts Unlimited on Apple Podcasts. Episodes will be widely available one week later on Pandora, Stitcher, and all major podcast platforms in the U.S. Learn more HERE.
About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.
Dallas Black Dance Theatre (DBDT) is pleased to announce they have been approved to receive an American Rescue Plan grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to help the arts and cultural sector recover from the pandemic. Dallas Black Dance Theatre is recommended to receive $100,000 and may use this funding to save jobs, fund operations and facilities, secure health and safety supplies, and provide marketing and promotional efforts to encourage attendance and participation. In total, the NEA will award grants totaling $57,750,000 to 567 arts organizations in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Washington, DC.
“Our nation’s arts sector has been among the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. The National Endowment for the Arts’ American Rescue Plan funding will help arts organizations, such as the Dallas Black Dance Theatre, to rebuild and reopen,” said Dr. Maria Rosario Jackson, chair of the NEA. “The arts are crucial in helping America’s communities heal, unite, and inspire, as well as essential to our nation’s economic recovery.”
“Dallas Black Dance Theatre is extremely grateful for this NEA grant which will be used to support the 10 dancers in our second professional training company, DBDT: Encore! over the next two years,” said Zenetta S. Drew, Executive Director of Dallas Black Dance Theatre. “These artists provide critical services for Dallas Black Dance Theatre’s growing dance education programs, community outreach services, and artistic collaborations.”
The American Rescue Plan was signed into law in March 2021 when the NEA was provided $135 million for the arts sector. The funding for organizations is the third installment providing more than $57.7 million for arts organizations. In April 2021, the NEA announced $52 million (40 percent) in ARP funding would be allocated to 62 state, jurisdictional, and regional arts organizations for regranting through their respective programs. The second installment in November 2021 allocated $20.2 million to 66 local arts agencies for subgranting to local artists and art organizations.
For more information on the NEA’s American Rescue Plan grants, including the full list of arts organizations funded in this announcement, click HERE.
About Dallas Black Dance Theatre
Dallas Black Dance Theatre is an internationally recognized professional dance company that engages the cross-cultural community through contemporary modern dance presented from the African American experience. The National Endowment for the Arts designated the 45-year-old company as American Masterpiece Touring Artist in 2008. The company also received the Texas Medal of Arts Award for Arts Education in 2017.
With “Own Brand Freestyle” already surpassing 65 million combined global streams and topping Spotify’s Viral charts in the U.K., Australia, and Canada while charting in 62 countries total, it’s clear Dreya Mac and FelixThe1st have a gift for creating memorable, addictive songs. Now they’ve reimagined the track, shining a spotlight on Dreya’s verse and transforming it into the chorus. The two artists have paved a lane of their own with crisp flows, cheeky punch lines, and undeniable talent. Download/stream “Own Brand (Baddie),” which was released by Capitol Records, HERE.
The official video for “Own Brand (Baddie)” captures the two artists in their element and accompanied by a troupe of dancers. As the camera jumps from Dreya to Felix as they swap bars, viewers are transported to a variety of hyper-stylized mini-worlds. Think “West Side Story” meets Busta Rhymes’ “Gimme Some More” video meets the global viral dance moment that is happening around “Own Brand Freestyle,” thanks to a dance created by Dreya. Watch for cameos from the likes of Tennessee Thresher and others in the video. Charlie Di Placido (Jungle, Kojey Radical) directed and Ysabelle Capitule (Mya, Usher, Bruno Mars) served as choreographer. Watch HERE.
Brit school graduate and West London native Dreya originally fell in love with music as a medium for movement. She studied dance from the age of 14, later cutting her teeth as a choreographer. She also danced for many artists, including Dua Lipa, Rita Ora, and Stormzy. Her talents landed her a leading role in the seminal “Vossi Bop”—one of the only women to feature on the project.
She released her debut single, “Skippin,” and the accompanying self-directed video in 2020, leading NPRto note, “Dreya Mac spits bars at a level far beyond a novice.” Dreya and Felix unleashed “Own Brand Freestyle” in late 2021 and quickly earned a nod from Pitchfork, airplay across BBC Radio 1, and a spot in the top 10 of Billboard‘s Song Breaker chart. The track became the #1 Sound on TikTok and has gone on to inspire over 15 million video creations with a staggering 20+ billion views combined on the platform. YouTube selected “Own Brand Freestyle” as their “Artist on the Rise” trending pick.
Naming Dreya as one of “The 22 Musicians Set to Rule 2022,” British Vogue hailed her as “an electrifying live performer with magnetic flow.” NMEsaid, “Dreya is a funny, androgynous beacon of joy.” COMPLEX UKobserved, “Merging her powerful raps with R&B-tinged vocals, Dreya Mac is bringing a refreshing energy to UK rap’s table, and we’re all ready for her to dish up more.”
“What an original stroke, don’t you think? Look at that P…it looks elastic, like rubber”. These are the words that launched the celebrations of 150 years of Pirelli, with the setting of the Piccolo Teatro of Milan where a theatrical story brought together testimonials, voices, and images to represent a history of industry, culture, tradition, technology, and passion that began on January 28, 1872.
The most significant moments were revisited by Ferruccio De Bortoli, Stefano Domenicali, Paolo Mieli, Renzo Piano, Ferruccio Resta, and Annamaria Testa, alongside the Executive Vice Chairman and CEO, Marco Tronchetti Provera, and Alberto Pirelli, representing the bond between family and company. The event, conducted by Ilaria D’Amico, recounted Pirelli’s journey across three centuries through the things that most distinguish it: international scale, factories, relationship with culture and artists, creativity in communication, presence in sport and motorsport, a constant search for innovation, and cutting-edge technology.
“Today we wanted to take a journey together through history but with our eyes on the future. Anticipating change is what Pirelli has done for 150 years thanks to the solidity of its entrepreneurial culture and ability to be a protagonist of the present. These things have allowed us to reach this milestone with a brand established around the world. We felt it important to share this story with our city, our country, and all the international groups and communities that we work with every day. A thank you to all the 30,000 people who every day at Pirelli build our history”, said Marco Tronchetti Provera, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of Pirelli.
The History
On stage at the Piccolo Teatro, immersed in a set made up of five large screens, four actors told the story of Pirelli, beginning with its history. Images, videos, and photographs of the past and present alternated with the voices of the actors, who revisited the company’s different moments together with Ferruccio De Bortoli, Paolo Mieli, Alberto Pirelli, and Marco Tronchetti Provera. The dialogue centered on the figure of Leopoldo Pirelli and his father Alberto through the recollections of his grandson. His role in the company’s contribution to the modernization and industrialization of the country was discussed.
A journey, Pirelli’s, began on January 28, 1872, by Giovanni Battista Pirelli, who at only 23 years of age bet on something absolutely new: rubber. In the beginning, the company produced insulators for telegraphs and cables that linked the most distant points of the newly born Italy. It grew rapidly around the world and produced objects of everyday use (from swimming caps to toys to raincoats) and tires for wagons and bicycles. From its birth, it focused on innovation; the company offered products that also become symbols of the country’s progress. But even Pirelli encountered obstacles: the failed mergers in the 1990s with Dunlop and Continental and the plan to integrate networks and content in telecommunications, pursued from the early 2000s through Telecom Italia and cut short by external interference. Crises were overcome restarting from the core business, leading the company to focus on tires.
The factories
The journey onstage at the Piccolo Teatro continued with the exploration of the company’s industrial tradition. Through its factories, Pirelli put down roots in many countries, currently 12, building plants that are light-filled, safe, and sustainable. They are welcoming places for people working with passion and for industry 4.0 with simulators, artificial intelligence, and robots like MIRS invented by Pirelli itself. In summary, there are 18 beautiful and efficient factories, with Settimo Torinese the model, designed and built by the architect Renzo Piano.
Culture, communication, and image
On its journey, Pirelli was always in dialogue with artists and intellectuals to keep an eye on society. It did so, and continues to do so, through innovative languages and instruments, such as the “Rivista Pirelli“, Pirelli Calendar, Pirelli HangarBicocca, publications and exhibitions of the Fondazione Pirelli, products of Pirelli Design, World Magazine, and the volumes of its Annual Report enriched with the contributions of artists and writers. The list to emerge from the Piccolo Teatro’s stage is rich and begins with the iconic Pirelli logo, born in New York at the beginning of the 20th century, with that long P which stretches as if it were rubber. The company experimented with new languages, produces tires, and interviews Umberto Eco. It talks with writers, philosophers, poets: from Carrère to Kureishi, from Elio Vittorini to Eugenio Montale and Salvatore Quasimodo. It hosts Luchino Visconti and John Cage and puts Carl Lewis in high heels.
These themes were addressed by Annamaria Testa, Ferruccio De Bortoli, Paolo Mieli, and Marco Tronchetti Provera—recounting different worlds with the underlying idea that when you are involved in the industry with passion you are also producing culture.
Motorsport and passion for sport
What is the passion that makes people excited at Pirelli? Motors. That is an area where technology is fundamental, as explained by Alberto Pirelli. Now, Pirelli is present in over 350 motorsport competitions. The Beijing-Paris of 1907 is particularly memorable. Prince Scipione Borghese, driving an Itala equipped with Pirelli tires, covered 17,000 kilometers to finish 20 days ahead of the team in second place. This was a great success that transformed mobility into innovation and spectacle, and competitions into open-air laboratories. The onstage discussion of the greatest motorsport competition involved Stefano Domenicali, who now heads Formula 1, on the eve of an important change: the introduction of 18″ tires in a competition where, in the midst of Italian flags, there is also Pirelli’s. For Pirelli, however, sport is not limited to motors, but also football, cycling, winter sports, and sailing, with Luna Rossa.
Innovation, research, product
History reveals that Pirelli is a company that always moves with its eyes on the future. “Look inside to understand, to discover new solutions,” was once said Mr. Emanueli, who signed many of the 6,700 patents registered by Pirelli in 150 years. A lesson told by Mr. Emanueli is now known by the over 2,000 people who work in Research & Development, a sector of fundamental importance for the company. Its collaborations with leading universities (over 50) are also fundamental, as explained by Ferruccio Resta, who tells Ilaria D’Amico also about the relationship of reciprocal inspiration that links Pirelli and the Politecnico di Milano.
The “heirs of Emanueli” are involved in managing the acceleration of innovation, as in the case of electric vehicles, where Pirelli is already present with Elect, a package of technological solutions ad hoc to handle the different weight, acceleration, and consumption of these vehicles. Also, new connected products like the Cyber Tyre, with sensors that supply real-time information to the driver, are being developed.
At the center, as always, there is natural rubber with which Pirelli produced the world’s first FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified tire, testifying to a 100% sustainable supply chain. A great safeguard for the environment occurs, for example, with Pirelli’s participation in the Birdlife project to conserve biodiversity in Indonesia. Thanks to its commitment at the social, environmental, and economic levels, Pirelli finds itself at the top of the most important sustainability indices.
