Photo credits: “Instagram app icon on smartphone screen” (CC BY 2.0) by Yu. Samoilov
Of course, we have our Shade Rooms, Complex and Genius of the world giving us news and new music to be on the lookout for. But it’s time we highlight a music blog that might not have the same numbers as others but has an impact and needs to get your guys’ attention.
@Rapalert2.0 on Instagram reports on the newest and hottest artist and music in hip hop and R&B, with a splash of pop news here and there. The page started back on Oct. 16 in 2018 and has since garnered almost 19,000 followers on Instagram alone.
Although his Twitter (@rapalert6 as of now) unfortunately continues to get taken down over copyright claims, he still manages to get his support back every time. Rapalert has been noticed by some of the biggest celebrities like Issa Rae, Kehlani and Nicki Minaj as well as up and coming artists like Lakeyah and Mariah the scientist. Not only does Rapalert keep up with what’s hot in hip hop and R&B culture, but he also does in-depth song-by-song album reviews on the hottest album dropping that week and most of these can be found on his highlights on Instagram if you’re interested.
I think it’s important to give a spotlight on blogs that are centered around music that doesn’t follow a certain formula as others or perpetuate false information and opens their platform for discussion and opinion and knows what they’re talking about, which are traits Rapalert encompasses. Blog culture can be over-saturated at times especially in music, so many of them are just reporting or saying something about what is going to get them the most views and likes. That takes the fun and integrity of what they put out for their audience. That’s why spotlighting pages like Rapalert is important because it allows us to direct people to better options and gives thanks to the creators telling them we appreciate what you’re doing and keep going because that can make someone’s day.
Now of course, come to the Quad for your weekly music and entertainment news, but since we’re on our phone on social media more often than not and you still need a day-to-day music news fix, @Rapalert2.0 is your next stop. Rapalert is a one-man show with multiple social media platforms and updates his Spotify and Apple Music playlist with new heat. As for us college kids, music is the only thing that keeps us afloat sometimes. So if and when your favorite artist is dropping new music, we wanna have a trusted source to give it to us so consider my recommendation when you’re on Instagram and Twitter.
Also If you do music yourself and wanna get some promotion on your work, he does rates for that as well. Having a platform like The Quad is a very special outlet students have to get their opinions and knowledge to a broader audience and highlight things they love in their personal life that they think others would like as well.
Isaiah Ireland is a second-year Media & Culture major. II978280@wcupa.edu