New Music Video - "The Night"

My new CD, I'm Not Like You, will be out NEXT WEEK!  But until then, please enjoy my brand new music video for the album's third single, "The Night."  Wouldn't have been possible without a lot of hard work and support so check it out and enjoy!



You can also listen and download here:

Thanks!

New Music: Keep Cool

A little something to round out the summer.  Basically summarizes the season for me.  More on the way.

Listen AND download below! (or click here if it's taking too long to load)

New Music: Opportunity Knocks

Well, guess it's about time for some new music.  A little birthday treat for myself.  Got back behind the boards to produce this one, just a beat with a lot of energy and hot bars to match it.  More where that came from.

If the music player does not load above, click here: https://soundcloud.com/ntalekt/opportunity-knocks

New Music: Ghosts

"We comin', so ain't no use in runnin'..."

That pretty much sums it up.  New music time!  I must thank Mista Perez once again for the nostalgic production, and Je2Rit and Chayse Maclair for the assist on this one.  Listen, download, enjoy!

New Music: "Relax"

Well, it's been a while.

After a busy 2011 and an even busier 2012, I took some time to step back and recharge, refocus, re-energize, and relax.  I've enjoyed the vacation, of sorts, but now it's time to get back at it.

So now, you all can relax, because I'm back.  Here's something fresh, and there's more where that came from.

Sell Music online at ReverbNation.com

2012 Year In-Review: EDE

EDE performs at Get Familiar

Well, another year in the books.  After an exciting 2011, Established Dons Entertainment had quite the corner-turning 2012, with a bright future heading into 2013.  With stronger music and product, additional shows, and starting our own "Get Familiar" showcases, we accomplished quite a bit this year, including, for the watchful eye, a name change.

N. Talekt - "Be Loved"

As far as music, this year started off the way it ended.  With N. Talekt riding the wave of momentum from 2011's "In My Loving Memory," the first release of the year for EDE was "Be Loved," an eleven-track opus to love, lyrics, and happiness, a stark contrast to the previous title.  A surprise release on Valentine's Day, the EP-turned-album showcased releases like "Time Is Slipping Away," "You," and "Fall."  The tagline explains it all -- "written and performed for anyone with someone special in their lives to Be Loved; dedicated to that special someone in mine."  Simply put, a timely release with timeless content.

Rah Scrilla - "Most Underrated"

Chasing that release, Rah Scrilla dropped "Most Underrated" on March 26, 2012, on the heels of his own heralded release months before, "Smoking in the Bathroom."  With EDE starting to come together in late-January, Scrilla used this mixtape to give audiences a brief introduction to himself and his crew, hoping to both live up to and shed the moniker of underrated and trade it for something better.  The release spawned singles such as "Where I'm From," "I Puts It Down," and the city anthem "We RVA," which were performed in various venues throughout the spring.

Musically, it was a quiet spring, but it was highlighted locally with performances and shows with all the new music that had come out over the past six months.  EDE held it down from events like Purple Day at The Camel to Face Melt Friday at Strange Matter.  But that silence was merely the calm before the storm...

N. Talekt - "Featuring... Me, Act 3"

Kicking off the summer was N. Talekt with his second 2012 release, and his fifth in a 55-week period, the much-anticipated "Featuring... Me, Act 3."  Following the successful formula of the previous two releases, the mixtape, dropped on June 26, 2012, featured SoundClick artists at their finest of all walks and styles.  Singles such as "Tear This Down," "Better Days," and "Hip Hop America" highlighted the diversity of the mixtape while showcasing good music.  N. Talekt has since promised that this would not be the last of the series.

Cee Jay - "Rejuvenated"

A little under a month later, EDE's Cee Jay kept the summer heat going with his solo mixtape debut, "Rejuvenated," on July 24, 2012  A newcomer to EDE that year, Cee Jay's effort showed just why he was a welcome addition to the team.  His distinctive flow, character and sound, highlighted on singles like "Racing," "Nu Day," and "Unstoppable," showed his musical range while painting a picture of his personal growth from "young and wild" to "older and wiser" over the fifteen-track recollection.  Days before the project dropped, a short street video, "Racing," was released as well.

Watch Cee Jay's video for "Racing"

Throughout the remainder of the summer, G-Lotto, next in line, was in training, quite literally, preparing for his release.

Watch G-Lotto training for "Session 3"

G-Lotto, "Session Three: In the Clutch"

Following the singles "Around The Clock," "Party All Night," and "Put It All on the Line," G-Lotto released his third mixtape, "Session Three: In The Clutch," the final installment in the series on October 9, 2012.  With experience and confidence on his side, this fourteen-track release showcased the potential G-Lotto has to pull out a winning performance "in the clutch."  A fresh new sound and more complete lyrics showed his growth as an artist, while still bringing the series around full-circle with the Cee Jay and Rah Scrilla assisted remix to the wildly popular 2011 single, "Cha Ching."  G-Lotto was able to appease old fans and bring in new ones with this release that is still going strong today, with a video coming very soon.

Rah Scrilla, "Still Smoking"

Finally, in what is seemingly becoming a team tradition, EDE ended another year with another highly-anticipated and highly-touted winter release, this time from Rah Scrilla.  On December 18, 2012, days before the second installment of EDE's "Get Familiar" showcase, Scrilla released "Still Smoking," the follow up to 2011's "Smoking in the Bathroom."  Singles like "Gauntlet" and "Bomb First" highlighted the strong performances from both Scrilla and his features, but it was the smash single "Getcha Money Right" that really opened eyes.  Spawning two videos, "Still Smoking" showcased Rah Scrilla at his finest, with music spanning all of hip hop's sub-genres, as evidenced by tracks like "My Wife," "Project X," and "Stressed," in addition to the aforementioned cuts.

Watch Rah Scrilla's video for "Getcha Money Right"

Conspicuous by his absence is Jay Nice, the latest addition to the team.  He's showcased his talents throughout the year on features on tracks like "Where I'm From," "One Thing," "Put It All on the Line," and "Young Minds," and brought energy to the stage for all of the team's performances.  The talent is clear, and the time is coming.  Watch out for a big year for him in 2013.

More music, more shows, more videos, and overall better product, that kind of growth was planned, expected, and executed by the team.  Continued hard work will continue to pay off, and that will be made evident come 2013.  Thanks for tuning in so far, and stay tuned for more.

Get to Know EDE's G-Lotto

Check out the latest interview with G-Lotto as he gears up to deliver a clutch performance on his upcoming mixtape "Session Three: In the Clutch."  New single "Party All Night" will be available September 18th.

"Session Three: In the Clutch" Cover

NT: How’d you come up with your stage name? Was it something someone referred to you, and have you gone by any other names before that one?

G: My stage name was given to me a while back in high school; one day, my boys came up with G-Lotto and it kind of just stuck with me after that.

NT: How long have you been rapping?  Why did you start? And who would you say is the biggest influence you have when it comes to your flow, and your choice of beats?

G: I started freestyling when I was, like, 17 or 18, then got into rapping after that. I have a lot of influences, but the main ones for me are Fabolous, Jay-Z, Game, Young Jeezy, Rick Ross & Wayne.

NT: What are your thought on the current state of the game?

G: It is what it is. For me, it's anybody's taking.

NT: In 5 years… where do you see yourself?

G: Hopefully rich, sitting on a lot of money; in a position to take care of my friends and family.

NT: Tell me about your upcoming release and what it means to you at this stage in your career.

G: “Session Three” will be my upcoming release, and, for me, it's all about stepping my game up. Being creative, I want to be better than I was a year ago. That's what it's all about.

NT: EDE is not short of talent.  Who's your favorite artist in the group besides yourself and why?

G: I am a big fan of everyone. N. Talekt, Rah Scrilla, Jay Nice, Cee Jay. I love all the guys in my crew. I think we make a great team!

NT: Which of your songs has meant the most to you so far in your career? Why?

G: I love all the songs I have recorded. I feel with every track I have done, I have gotten better. So many great songs to choose from so it's tough. I see a lot of progression in myself.

NT: What single event in your life has had the most influence in your rap style?

G: I don't know to be honest. If I didn't think I had the skills to rap then I wouldn't be rapping.

NT: Kobe or LeBron?

G: [laughs] Tough question. I love LeBron, he's a beast, but for anybody that knows me, you know I love Kobe. Just listen to "Swap It Out."

NT: What legacy or memory do you want to leave behind in hip-hop?

G: I want a legacy of greatness. I truly believe I have the skills to be great. I wanna be remembered for my hard work and dedication to hip-hop.

NT: What was your favorite EDE release of 2011? Which one are you looking forward to most in 2012?

G: Favorite release from 2011? I loved them all. So that means I am looking forward to all the EDE releases in 2012.

NT: How do you felt you grew as an artist between "Session One" and "Session Two?"

G: "Session One" was my coming-out party, trying to figure out my style and things of that nature. "Session One" had more freestyle tracks, and "Session Two" was more thought out, everything was written before I came to the studio, all of the songs came together very well. I took huge steps in becoming an artist and really pushed myself to give my best effort. I knew when it was time to record and lay down my verse, I had to go in.

NT: You had a memorable performance in N. Talekt's "So Gone" video last November.  Are you looking to do a video for any of your work?  Which song or songs?

G: Yes! Absolutely. We are hoping to work on the "Cha Ching" video soon, it's the remix and that should be tight.

NT: With the end of the "Session" mixtape trilogy coming, what's next from G-Lotto?  The debut album?  What do you have in store?

G: "Session Three" will be some of my best work ever. I'm going in on every track, got some crazy beats I plan on using, and I'm more focused than ever to give EDE and all the fans some classic music that will last a lifetime and be worth remembering.

NT: Any upcoming performances?

G: None as of right now, but coming soon.

NT: How can people find you? Facebook? Twitter?  List 'em all.

G: Facebook.com look up G-Lotto, Soundclick.com/glotto.

Hear "Around the Clock (f/ Rah Scrilla) by G-Lotto:

N.