WW Radar Report: Aleja Ajela (Artist Spotlight & Review)
What’s good everyone? You are back tuned in with the WW Music Forecast blog! Once again, bringing you the insight and updates to the best artists you have not heard of yet. Don’t even trip, we know that Spotify library (or whatever streaming service) needs to be updated immediately! I know this week we introduced you to Pope the Hermit, but the rains of inspiration continue to glaze the western front with much needed love and positivity. It has been even more recent that a new artist stumbled onto the radar. It was not long ago that our in field team down in San Jose was covering some live music events in the area. During his time, he encountered the one and only Aleja Ajela. The most stand out feature that I noticed was how good her live vocals were sounding in the footage they had captured. Immediately followed and took a deeper look into her personal catalog.
For those who are unfamiliar with the god child herself, she hails from the Bay Area, San Francisco area to be more exact. A region near and dear to our heart’s here at the WW Music Forecast, this time around the talent is a bit different than we are used to. We are not a one genre type of platform, we love an artist that can effortlessly cross between genres. If you are like us then you are in for a treat. Aleja Ajela is a muscian specializing in overall lyricism, rapping, singing, acting, modeling, and live performance. Her sound weaves between the interstitial space that connects soulful R&B and golden era Bay Area hip-hop. Her cultural roots shine through her energy from the short amount of time we have been tuned in.
With a quick google search, her name is unique enough to immediately be the first thing seen. Quickly finding her music on streaming services, there’s a good base for new listeners to get into. With 6 singles released in the last year and a handful of collaborations as a featured artist, you can tell Aleja is taking the time to put in the organic groundwork and rubbing shoulders with other independent spirits, such as Dregs One and her management group via 1015MGMT. Finding more interest in the multiple creative outlets this artist promotes, we stumbled onto RFLXN PROD, which is her own multimedia production services for her community. A very relatable and respectable grind. We salute her efforts to bring shine to her community, which is a goal similar to ours. Now let’s get into the music!
Up above you’ll find the video for the official audio to “401K” featuring Jxm.Bxm & Drae Davis. This one is the one caught my ear and has been on heavy rotation. It’s seldom, you find a record with that level of awareness. The emotional output that can initiate such a visceral reaction in your physical. It’s comforting, serotonin inducing and takes you away from your worries if only for a moment. There’s a shortage of love it seems and this song serves a source to help you find it in your own life. Speaking on personal experiences of what she may have gone through or witnessed first hand when it comes to trying to have enough for two people in yourself. However, you know what they say, you can’t save anybody from their selves. It doesn’t matter how much you love someone, or what they say to you, if they continue to play in your face then you are doing yourself a disservice. Alas, recognizing that is easier spoken than being put into action.
“Why don’t you try a little tenderness, tenderness and put your pride aside and let me in, let me in. Just let me in.”
Just because your occupy a space doesn’t mean you are really there. It feels good to have company, as they say it thrives in misery. If you are going to be unhappy with anyone, at least it’s me, right? The logical doesn’t align with what the heart yearns for. We all go through things and there’s the reasons why we with cope with it the way we do. If you have love for someone, you’ll see their heart as a product of what they have endured. A deeper level of empathy, if they have a different type of trauma than you, how can you ever know what they feel? Words are a hint of what actually rests onto the mind but actions are the manifestation of the psyche. It’s a superficial way of thinking to put up with someone’s ways without at least speaking up or doing things that uplift yourself. Take your time and come to that conclusion on your own. If there’s not a chance of bringing life to your garden and enriching the soil that it’s set in than remove your roots to find an emotional ecosystem that will allow you to thrive in whatever ways you require.
“We both deserve the loving that you don’t get yourself. I’m a leave you to your devices. I’ve decided, my love is priceless and the way you ghosted me, I hope it haunts you.”
It comes a point when you realize there’s more to give and more to offer but it has to be done elsewhere. Taking power back in yourself and how you choose to share the empathy is the force of love. Recycling back into yourself to charge your own batteries. Once you take possession back from another’s hold over you, they begin to feel its absence and in turn will leave them feeling empty after the well runs dry. Use it for yourself and hold on to it, even if you choose to share it again, never let it all go for you’ll find yourself in more drought. If you can relate then maybe play this a few times to find yours again. This song has served me in many positive ways since coming across it. Now go enjoy for yourself.
Since this release, Aleja has dropped a collaboration with Cash Campain titled “Want You.” A lovely tune about the duality of love between two individuals. A deeper perspective on relationship dynamics in a very insightful way. We have included this one at the bottom of the page along side the social media links for Aleja Ajela and Cash Campain, another talented R&B artist. Thankful for discovering such raw talent, we had to share it with the WW community. Did you enjoy 401K or any other songs by Aleja? Let us know on our socials and until next time, RUN IT UP!
— the weather watcher 🌦️🛰️
Eli McFly, Chuwee, Money Montage - Spidergirl (Official Audio)
What’s good everyone? Back here doing what we love to do and that’s putting you on to songs you may have not heard before. Today’s gem comes by way of the Albany, NY region from Eli McFly! The longtime rap veteran has been putting on for his section for about 12-13 since coming across the Weather Watcher’s radar. From rocking shows opening for Mac Miller and other artists that visit his town, to running up numbers on his Soundcloud during it’s peak era, Video Debuts on the No Jumper channel, and much of the same ground work underground artists continue to strive for. Eli possesses a natural charisma with catchy, slick rhymes over the most addictive sounds.
Although back then he could be heard on a variety of popular YouTube channel beats (i.e. Roman RSK), these days he is linked up with Money Montage, a prolific producer who is really about the grind. The last two years they have been cultivating a sound of their own and sticking to the team for a cohesive vision. Releasing a multitude of EPs, mixtapes, and singles together, its safe to say this is a dynamic duo that you should tune in with. The team has 7 releases this year alone, even linking up with Chuwee, another artist that is down with their camp and been riding alongside with his lyrical contributions elevating the vibes. Perhaps the most standout that came across our Spotify browsing, is their pre-summer drop “SpiderGirl.”
“Tell me what it is, I’m tryna swing your way. You running through my mind like every single day. We up here on these roofs, we popping champagne. Caught up in your web and I can’t get away.”
A fun record about the one who keeps getting away. Its something about that one who doesn’t let too many people into their headspace, despite them preoccupying so much of your own. A mysterious aura lingers above their presence and its hard not to notice, but she ain’t worried about none of it. She got her own ambition, morals, standards, and will get it by any means. What else could you really want? You heard what Webbie and Boosie said in 07. I ain’t mad at ya, keep doing your thing girl cause you make it look good. Any place in your world, I’m grateful to play that role and rooting for you. However, you ain’t about to play with me, keep it a stack and I got you back.
“She just want some good weed and some satisfaction. I can’t play no fucking games, baby why you acting?”
She might be bad and all about a bag but shit, me too. With all these dudes playing in your face, you blind to the fact that you looking a stand up guy. It’s all good, if you tryna take that chance then we can do that. Real recognize real but if this ain’t the lane we meant to be in, then a hustler knows how to pivot and make that drive without you. Eli gracefully walks the beat with a confidence that even the sharpest of MCs struggle to display. It’s apparent that the lifestyle and imagery is something embedded into his pen. With little words as possible, a story is set up, the simplicity is in the details and they crazy part is that it sounds so fun on a surface level. Dig a littler deeper and you’ll catch the lyricist aspect of Eli’s thought process. Sticking to a theme, metaphorically integrating it with his own experiences, and turning it into a sleeper of a hit record. This is light work but sounds so good.
The production feels so right for his cadence and vocal inflections. Money Montage had to have had him in mind when cooking up this beat or Eli and Chuwee definitely had a hand in the making of it. It is not crowded with random sounds or unneccessary 808s and snares. The beat allows enough room for both of the MCs to do their thing!
“Paper like a syllabus, I don’t condone no silly shit. She don’t know how to let go, what the fuck you text for? Its hella disrespectful, shocked me like Electro. Rolling up on death notes, they said this from Modesto.”
Chuwee comes in and shares his experience with a boss chick, but she can go jogging everyday and still wouldn’t be running shit. He takes his stance and doesn’t about his either. When she meets her match, she gotta make that choice or miss out on a one of one. Either way, he ain’t sweating and continues to have fun with it regardless. Life too short to get caught up in someone else’s games. That doesn’t mean that the thought will be hard to get rid of, especially if she bad. Don’t even trip, roll one up and wait for the next Gwen Stacy to show up. For now though, I’ll be thinking about when you walked away cause in some bittersweet way, its probably better than if you stayed.
The song is addictive at 2:45 minutes long and will need to replayed multiple times on any car ride. Slide this into the playlist at the next function and watch people get inquisitive before they ask for the song name. Everyone has a SpiderGirl come into their lives, spin a web on you then leave. If you can relate this play this immediately! I’m a keep it short today and let the record speak for itself! This has been in my personal rotation too much to not share it with the WW community!
Do you have a sleeper track in your personal library? Let us know about it on our socials, linked top and bottom of the page! Give Eli McFly, Chuwee, and Money Montage a follow down below. Stream their latest tape “B4 THE SEQUEL” and stay tuned from more in the collective! Until next time, RUN IT UP!
— the weather watcher 🌦️🛰️
The Rap Dad Podcast: Ep. 64 - Pope The Hermit “A Modern Day Socialite”
What’s good everyone? WW Music Forecast is back with some much needed coverage. With posts few and far between lately, we have been spreading good music and bringing content to life Behind The Scenes, most of which you have seen on our IG account. With the radar running all over the region, we have connected with endless amounts of creatives who have been pushing the local culture forward. San Jose, CA and Reno, NV being the most abundant source of those we come into contact with, there are times we run into creatives from a completely different region. Allow us to introduce you to Pope The Hermit! We first became aware of the Florida born musician, at the December 2022 Project Flow competition hosted by One Vision Entertainment. His style and voice were immediate standout features that made the name easy to remember.
It would not be too much later when our partners at For You Productions would begin to work more frequently with Pope. Fast forward to April 2023, Pope booked a session with us (see below) and we been keeping an eye on his movement since. Currently residing in the Incline Village-Tahoe area, he has been finding his way into the creative scene since making his way from across the country. A calm, collected individual who can be very observant and well spoken when interacting with him, you feel at ease when hanging out with Pope. Getting to learn more about the individual still did not answer some of the more interesting details about his artistry. Thankfully he got to connect with one of the region’s most reputable podcasts in the creative scene, The Rap Dad Podcast hosted by Melancholy and Junes!
The trio sits down to talk about the beginning to now for the artist, originally born in West Palm Beach, Florida. He would later move to Lake City, Florida for his adolescence and becoming the place that made him. Seeing a lot of different things and being exposed to different types of people was a part of his journey but music would be the one to really take hold of his spirit. Having a sister many years his senior, who was a professional musician, gave him the bug to make music at an early age. Witnessing her success as a smaller level artist opened his eyes to a whole new realm of possibility. Eventually spending his late teens experimenting with sounds himself, using family influence and tools from being in his school’s band to shape his own creative processes.
All the meanwhile, Pope began to gravitate to culinary arts as an academic passion/skill. Engaging in it enough to get an opportunity to move to the Bay Area where his sister ended up. Falling more in love with the music, especially out in the Oakland area, he slowly drifted away from the kitchen and began to dedicate his life to cooking up in the booth. After some time out in the Bay Area, he found his way to North Lake Tahoe where he has spent the last five years establishing himself. Even more recently, newly discovering the scene in Reno, NV and has been thriving in the creative opportunities he continues to find. Citing that the Incline area having very little creative outlets compared to his time in Florida and the Bay. Reno has become a city of inspiration to him as he continues to meet independent creatives who just want to contribute their creations to the world and shape the layout we live in.
With 8 albums and over 10 singles, Pope The Hermit has well over 100 tracks released in the last two years alone. Much of which is self produced and all performed by him! He goes into this more in the interview and how he is now starting to get back into recording on other producer’s beats. With his sound going all over the place, Junes acknowledges his ability to swerve from genre to genre in his music. There’s a little bit of something for everyone to find that they enjoy in his catalog. Pope credits that to not overthinking his art and allowing it to exist for the one person that will listen to it. Consistency creates motivation and Pope is an artist that has brought the Weather Watcher some inspiration.
Be sure to watch the episode and catch his interview in full! It is very insightful and refreshing in conversation, there are not too many people like Pope and we were delighted to learn more of what he is really about. Down below you will see a link to Pope’s music, the interview on Spotify, and his Biggest Little Sessions performance! Also, be tuned for a big announcement from For You Productions and The Weather Watcher coming very soon!
Biggest Little Sessions: Trev $tone
Yoooo, what’s good everybody? It’s been a little while, we shouldn’t have left you without some dope shit to listen to. We have been out working and touching our local creative scenes in order to service those who need the help on their journey. As you can tell from the last blog posts, we have been pushing the Biggest Little Sessions to help bring high quality content to upcoming artists. The expectations of an independent artist are constantly changing and so have the means of promotion.
To gain and keep the engagement of the modern day listen is a task in itself. Having good ass music is simply not enough. To be a creative at a higher level, requires your persona to be a brand in itself. What better way to promote your brand these days than content, a seven letter word that seems to polarize the artistic landscape in today’s cultural climate. Some people thrive in it and others crumble under the pressure of their own overinflated imaginations.
It does not take much to present yourself in a way that people will perceive your movement as something worthy of quality visuals. You can never truly judge the contents of a book without cracking it open, however, if the cover doesn’t intrigue you it simply will not get picked up. Bozzy, of For You Productions, had this vision months before execution and once presented to us at Weather Watchers it made perfect sense for what we want to do. Put a spotlight on the best artists you may not know about, not just for their local scene but for the world.
Since starting the Biggest Little Sessions content bundle services, we have worked with 25 different artists varying from Northern California, Nevada, the South, and many more places right here in the heart of Reno, NV. The momentum has been picking up so much that we even extended a 50% off deal in July to help increase access to high quality content for independent artists! You would be surprised how many artists do not know where to go or what to do even do with the content. Lucky for y’all we got you covered.
With 25 sessions in the vault, some released and some unreleased, we will be opening a YouTube channel soon to give a home to spotlight all the talented artists that we have had the pleasure of working with. Until then you watch a collection of those released at the bottom of this post.
Our latest to drop today on July 9th, is from Trev $tone “Walk It How I Talk It” featuring Jimmy Teflon. A motivational banger about having that tunnel vision and not letting anything knock you off your course. No one has been more locked in than these two artists. Trev has started his own clothing brand, website here. While Jimmy has been working on growing his fanbase, fresh off a deal with an independent label and his latest able CROWN just dropped. These two couldn’t have linked up at a better time. We are excited to see the visuals and record be released to the world.
Down below you will see the link to stream the song on Spotify: at the top of the page, the IG post link for the full Biggest Little Sessions performance video. You never know who we are going to work with next! Who do you think needs to book a session with For You x Weather Watcher?
Stay tuned for more visuals from the team and hopefully some more new music for you to stumble on. Until next time, run it up!
— the weather watcher 🌦🛰
Biggest Little Sessions: Jimmy Teflon
What's good y'all? You know we had to double back with the latest performance on the Biggest Little Sessions, presented by For You Productions x WW Music Forecast.
We recently tapped in with the Reno native, Jimmy Teflon. He recently dropped a single titled "Okay" before his upcoming EP this Saturday, March 18th. The record is fun and addictive. One of the latest to be trending online, this song has been doing extremely well for Teflon. Recently blowing up on TikTok, it may be his most popular track since GTA gained traction. We are going to be ready to see this song live in concert very soon.
With his fanbase growing rapidly, we have been proud to witness the hard work translate into finessed execution. Fresh off many EPs released in the last few months, he has another project releasing this Saturday, March 18th. You can bet that we are ready to tune in! When you put in the investment and time then eventually it will start to align. We have been following Jimmy Teflon for some years now and interviewed him before his first album “Money Talks” released. Now reaching 100k monthly listeners on Spotify alone, Teflon has been manifesting this exact moment for some time.
There are not too many individuals in Jimmy’s hometown that have invested so much time and money into their craft. He is never scared to pay in order to play. We are proud to see the well earned recognition and hope to see it continue for the young spitter out of Reno, NV.
Go enjoy this record and get tuned for much more music from Jimmy Teflon! Be sure to follow his social media and stream his music down below!
— the weather watcher 🌦️🛰️