Tez Nubian Queen & Icy Lando ft Sean Kingston is back with “How To Flex”

Tez Nubian Queen ft Sean Kingston is back with their latest release ‘How To Flex”. The song starts with an acoustic strum sound not too dissimilar to the likes of Lil Nas who has become a leading figure in rap and Hip-Hop lately. I’m not sure if Tez Nubian Queen draws any influences from him as an artist, but that particular element of the song personally reminded me of the use of such contrasting soundscapes.

Once the beat kicks in you’re fully immersed into a modern hip-hop song featuring familiar auto-tune sounds which has carved many a hit over the years. How To Flex has a catchy hook featuring Icy Lando and Sean Kingston, which then progresses into Tez Nubians complex lyrical rap – there’s definitely plenty going on, but it’s never over-done, the balance seems just right. 

The song would probably appeal to fans of Nicki Minaj and Drake, where I can perhaps hear slight similarities between the artists in terms of sound and production. 

There’s no doubt that Tez Nubian Queen has progressed over the last few years as an artist. How To Flex sounds a lot more polished than her previous releases, and it wouldn’t be out of place in rap and hip-hop playlists that feature some of the biggest artists in the game.

It wouldn’t surprise me if you didn’t hear a lot more from Tez Nubian Queen on your airwaves in the very near future, and her recent collaborations with hip-hop artists have been a definite success.

This week saw additional tracks “Money Mission” drop ft rapper Troy Lanez. Two more songs due later in the year featuring famous names include “Put It Down” ft Drake on Aug 15th, and a song featuring Snoop Dogg in September.

Nicole Simone of Late July Tackles Sobriety In New Dreamy Single

Late July released a dreamscape of a pop song with a tough hitting subject. Her song “Sober” released on July 13th, is an ode to the 80’s dream pop with a modern flare. The lyrics are direct, a pop song as an open letter to someone hoping they will get sober. “I wrote the song after seeing an ex announce he was getting sober, and when it became obvious he wasn’t heading towards sobriety, it really shook me up. I really wanted him to fly straight” stated Nicole Simone who performs under the name Late July.


The track was produced by Jessica Taylor and mixed and mastered by Ben James. The song’s pleading hook “won’t you please get sober” sinks in deep as Prophet synthesizers, and looming mellotron carry the song through with an upbeat feel. “I always love happy songs about sad things, this was a very personal track for me.” Simone goes on to explain that she’s been sober her entire life, a personal choice she made initially out of spite. “Everyone was pressuring me to drink and I kind of like to do the opposite of what people tell me to do, for better or worse. So I never drank. I can relate to those in recovery though because there is a tremendous amount of social pressure to drink, it’s rather relentless.” The song is 3:04 minutes of pure indie pop that feels like it could have been released in 1989. “I’m obsessed with 80’s music, I love new wave, I love the upbeat songs about just being sad, I think it’s perfect and it always embodies southern California to me.” This is the 5th song of the vivacious redhead woman Nicole Simone has released this year as Late July, a prolific songwriter and producer, she said “there’s more music coming out this year, and eventually an LP of it all. I love what I get to do, the stories I tell. I’m lucky.” You can hear more of Late July’s music on your favourite streaming service and follow her on her very active social media accounts.

NPower Maryland Hosts First Annual “Maryland Tech Leaders Salute Luncheon” to Honor Extraordinary Tech Leaders and Alumni

NPower Maryland has announced it is hosting its first annual “Maryland Tech Leaders Salute Luncheon” that will recognize and honor alumni, tech leaders and partners who have brought the greatest contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion in tech.

Honorees will be saluted for their vision and work that has created a stronger, more diverse tech workforce in the US. As a group, these leaders and alumni have brought new opportunities for people from all ethnicities, genders and socio-economic backgrounds.

The networking luncheon will take place on Thursday, August 25th from Noon to 2 pm aboard a scenic cruise through the Baltimore Harbor. For tickets and sponsorships register here.

The event’s host is Stan Stovall, veteran journalist and News Anchor with WBAL-TV and the keynote speaker is Ron Gula, President and Co-Founder of Gula Tech Adventures. De’Rell Bonner, Strategic Partnership Manager, Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity at Amazon Web will also be a guest speaker. .

“As an organization devoted to providing technology opportunities for underserved communities, we are pleased to honor those individuals and companies who support our mission in Maryland,” stated Demetrius Goodwin, NPower Maryland’s Executive Director. “We are pleased to also recognize outstanding NPower Maryland alumni who have advanced their tech careers with local companies.”

Event Honorees: 

  • Tasha Cornish, Executive Director, Cybersecurity Association of Maryland
  • Cynthia Gula, Managing Director, Gula Tech Adventures
  • Cody L. Dorsey, Executive Director of the Baltimore Digital Equity Coalition
  • Michelle Geiss, MPH | Co-Founder & Executive Director, Impact Hub Baltimore
  • Wanda Gispert, VP| Talent & Workforce Development, MGM Resorts International
  • Jesse Hillman, VP and Chief Information Officer, Tessco Technologies
  • Alexis La Broi, Director, Audio Visual Services Division, MidPoint Technology Group
  • Tina C. Williams-Koroma, Esq., CISSP, PMP, President, TCecure, LLC
  • Dashawn Brownley, State of Maryland Department of Human Services – NPower Alumni
  • Dailyn Fowler-Holmes, Systems Administrator, The Education Trust and Hiring Manager for Interns, NPower – NPower Alumni
  • Austin Cole, Program Manager, Northrop Grumman

About NPower: NPower Maryland is closing the digital divide through recruiting and connecting under-represented young adults and veterans to IT careers. Founded in 2000, NPower is a recognized national leader in recruiting diverse talent, providing tech-training, IT credentials, career readiness and placing graduates into jobs with top companies. NPower’s programs reach underserved young adults (ages 18-26), veterans and military-connected individuals in 7 regions across the United States including Baltimore, MD,  NY, NJ, MI, MO, TX, and CA. NPower Maryland is led by Executive Director and Army Veteran, Demetrius Goodwin and a committed team of Marylanders who work as connectors of talent to companies and nonprofits seeking to enhance their workforce. 

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