ON THE RISE
Like everyone on Earth in 2020, Regal Rapstar was affected by the coronavirus. Even when he tried to learn more about it through resources like the library, he couldn’t do that because it was closed. However, he put pen to paper to express how he felt about it with this song. And, as time went on, he was able to do the research he wanted to. Written throughout the course of the pandemic, the song is a diss track against the coronavirus and in 2024 - a victory anthem too.
The coronavirus shifted how we do anything and everything but in 2020 we had no idea what we were in for. Regal Rapstar said the feelings of uncertainty, frustration and urgency were the inspiration for the song. He shared he knew people that had caught the virus and has his suspicions that he likely caught it himself as well.
“I felt isolated from the world and the walls were closing in. I felt like a bull looking at a red flag. I was frustrated with the coronavirus and wanted to go heads up with it and beat it.”
He recalled how as a nation, we’d gone through other similar situations where we overcame a widespread virus. Hearing relatable music is something that draws listeners in every time and with Regal Rapstar speaking on this topic, everyone has but no choice to relate to it. It’s something everyone has a perspective on and has been affected by in one way or another.
“I wanted people to realize ‘We have a song about this and we beat it.’ I wanted people to realize we can inspire ourselves to keep on going.”
Regal Rapstar is a West Coast artist but doesn’t let that stop him from being diverse. With love for West Coast legends like Dr. Dre, he prides himself on his wide range of production skills. He has other songs with a strong West Coast vibe but this song is something different entirely. It’s an almost menacing sounding track with no regional ties sonically because the coronavirus affected everyone.
“I can do any style of hip-hop. I’m open to any style…It was not just about the West Coast. It was something that was happening to the whole country and the whole world.”
The footage we’ve all seen from cities on lockdown during the pandemic is practically dystopian and will be etched in our minds forever. Regal Rapstar compiled clips from various sources including films like Contagion for the music video for this track. Inspired by documentary directors like Michael Moore, he wanted the video’s footage to feel like a documentary itself.
Regal Rapstar has been rapping since he was 19 but he calls this release his “first professional step.” He’s kept up with how the music world has changed in real time and knows what he must do to keep up with the streaming era. This track was released through his own label called Regal Records/National Digital and he has plans to release more music in the future.
You can keep up with Regal Rapstar on the following platforms:
ON THE RISE
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Lettie Law is a vessel for God’s message and she spreads it through her music. She gives Him all the credit for the songs she releases, which she says come to her from Him directly. Her latest single, “Forward Ever Backward Never Jesus” is one that celebrates the ever lasting power she believes He has.
When I spoke to Lettie, I could feel how strong and at peace she was just from our conversation. She shared a variety of stories of her life with me and God was the constant throughout all of them. She has a writing process for her songs but as earlier mentioned, she always credits Him with giving them to her.
“I write songs as they come to me from the Divine. Something is whispering to me to tell me what to write, how to sing it and what instruments go with it. Sometimes I’ll get partial parts of a song gradually but for this song, everything came together at the same time. It all comes from Heaven and I give out what I receive from the Almighty.” she said.
Sharing God’s message is a part of every song Lettie releases but this one was specifically crafted to encourage people who are dealing with everything happening in the world today. Lettie sees all the turmoil people are going through in the world and wants people to know that they will make it through any situation they find themselves in.
“No matter what is going on in life at this current time, you can look to God. If yesterday was not good for you, you don’t need to look back. Look to God and there is no way He will not deliver you. Keep moving forward and doing your best and look to God.” she said.
Lettie believes that music and singing can bring people joy, hope, courage and also healing. The latter can come in the emotional sense but also the physical sense too. During our conversation, she shared a story about how one of her other songs, titled “Yaweh” had a large impact on someone’s life.
“My favorite thing about music is how it can be healing. Not all diseases are physical. A woman called me had shared how she had been dealing with insomnia for eight years and had taken all kinds of medication for it. But once she started listening to my song, she would sleep like a baby.” she said.
Lettie Law knows about the power of God and music from firsthand experience. She shared that while she enjoyed singing in front of the congregation at church as a child, this changed as she began to get older. She became more shy and reserved not just in church but in life and in general.
Her shyness and reluctance to sing became the catapult that would push her to sing as God wanted her to after she went through a life altering situation.
“I ended up getting sick and my son suggested I record one of the songs I had written in the books I had from years ago. But once I started recording more, the sickness left my body. But recording and singing in public are very different. So it became a tug of war between me and the Lord because He wanted me to sing publicly but I didn’t want to.” she said.
“A different situation happened and I ended up in a coma and I could hear various voices around me as I faded in and out. I thought I was dying but I woke up on this side and realized I was still alive. The Lord asked me ‘Are you ready to do My work now?’ And I said ‘Of course! I’ll sing in front of the congregation. I will tell my story to the world. Wherever you send me, I am going.’ And when I woke up, all my family members who I had heard while I was fading in and out apologized because I heard them planning for my funeral and things like that. So the Lord spared my life and I’m not shy anymore. The Lord gave me strength and I chose life.” she said.
As Lettie said, she truly did go wherever God sent her. She’s since sung at Boston College, in Connecticut, at churches and even a club.
“University students love Christ. They were singing and dancing and they wanted me to come back. In the club, people were drinking and smoking and couples were dancing and it was nice because everybody belongs to the Almighty. God sees a sinner and knows one day they will become one of His children.” she said.
Lettie Law is West African with her father being from Nigeria and her mother being from Cameroon. The range of the diaspora is felt throughout “Forward Ever Backward Never Jesus” whose production is far from traditional Gospel instrumentation and blends a variety of musical styles. The positive and uplifting atmosphere is felt through both the instruments and the lyrics.
For many Gospel artists, their foundation was laid by someone older than them that raised them in church and likely also had them singing in church as child. For Lettie, this person was her father.
“He played a very big role in introducing me to Gospel and the Almighty. He introduced me to reading the Bible and he and my Mom introduced me to reading hymns.” she said.
Lettie Law has a 10 track album coming soon which will include songs like “Prayer is a Masterkey” and “God is Our All in All.” Her journey with Gospel has encapsulated her whole life and her ongoing faith continues to motivate her to keep making more music.
“I am just a vessel for His word and His message.” she said.
“Forward Ever Backward Never Jesus” is available on streaming services now.
You can experience more of God’s messages through Lettie Law by following her on these platforms.
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