ON THE RISE
From the vibrant streets of New York to the creative currents of Charlotte, North Carolina, hip-hop artist ImSoTyRell makes a bold debut with his latest single and accompanying webisode, “Make Some Noise Episode 1: The Dream”. The track dives into themes of ambition, resilience, and unwavering passion in the face of adversity. Told through a fictionalized version of himself, ImSoTyRell invites fans to experience his world not just through music, but through a narrative that peels back the layers of the artist behind the name.
“My goal was to introduce the world to me. Even though this isn’t my exact story, you grow to love the Tyrell character and the music,” explained ImSoTyRell. “The version of Tyrell in the series is fictional—more dramatized—but it’s still rooted in my truth.”
In this debut episode, viewers follow Tyrell, an aspiring rapper caught between the pull of his passion and the pressures of reality. As financial instability looms large, he wrestles with the demands of a partner who urges him to pursue a more stable path, even as emotional tensions mount over unresolved questions surrounding his child and a strained relationship with the child’s mother.
The episode reaches a dramatic peak when a misunderstanding over child support leads to Tyrell’s arrest and the loss of his job, forcing him to confront the cost of his dreams. With raw storytelling and unflinching honesty, “Make Some Noise” captures a pivotal crossroads in Tyrell’s life, asking a familiar question faced by many young artists: Will he risk everything to chase the music or surrender to the weight of expectation?
“Make Some Noise,” a blend of music and cinematic storytelling, premiered on April 24th, marking the beginning of a compelling series. A second episode followed over Memorial Day weekend, continuing Tyrell’s journey, with a third installment set to drop this June.
The series is brought to life visually by The Fly Family, the creative team behind the camera who also helped shape ImSoTyRell’s visual identity and encouraged him to embrace content creation as a core element of his artistry. To date, he’s written over eight scripts, further expanding the Tyrell (ImSoTyRell) universe.
“We’re getting faster and faster with production, my goal now is to close the gap, releasing one single per month,” shared ImSoTyRell.
Alongside the episodic series, ImSoTyRell recently dropped “Big Plays,” a coming-of-age anthem, and is gearing up to release “Practice What You Preach,” a summer-ready club track featuring Boosie BadAzz, on May 28th.
“I’ve always loved storytelling—that’s what makes my sound unique,” added ImSoTyRell. “Artists like DMX, Biggie, and Missy Elliott inspired me because their songs told vivid stories. Whether it’s R&B, rap, or hip-hop, I want listeners to walk away with something meaningful. That’s what I think music should do.”
ImSoTyRell’s journey to this moment has been anything but linear. He’s been recording music off and on for over a decade, first falling in love with songwriting as a third grader in Queens. After attending a performing arts program at Newburgh Free Academy (NFA) in upstate New York, he moved to Charlotte for his senior year and began balancing warehouse shifts and a job at Citibank to make ends meet.
Determined to fund his music independently, he joined the military for the signing bonus and traveled the world, all to invest in his craft. Along the way, in 2009, he linked up with his longtime producer, who’s worked with the likes of Kanye West, Akon, and Anthony Hamilton. That connection helped shape his sound. Since then, he’s released a steady stream of singles, including a Panthers-inspired anthem titled “Keep Pounding,” and in recent years has built momentum with songs like “I Need More,” marking a turning point in both his visuals and creative vision.
“The name ImSoTyRell came from a place of self-discovery,” he explained. “People kept trying to compare me, saying I sounded like this artist or that one, but I’m not here to fit in a box. I’m an onion with layers. I can write a love ballad, make a club banger, or go bar for bar with a Kendrick or a Boosie. I’m just authentically me.”
Be sure to follow ImSoTyrell across all platforms to stay updated with the latest music, videos and social content.
ON THE RISE
Houston artist Skyve knows what it feels like to carry weight you didn't realize was yours. His latest single, "Eternal Time," released July 7th, moves fast and hits harder with under two minutes of guitar-forward energy that somehow manages to feel upbeat and contemplative at once. There's a throwback quality to it, too; the pacing and chord choices carry a distinctly 90s sensibility, the kind of arrangement that trusts a hook to land without over-explaining itself.
Skyve drifts easily between rapping and singing, carrying the song with an unhurried confidence. It's a track about the people and patterns we hold onto long after they've stopped serving us and the strange, freeing ache of finally setting them down.
"It's about taking a step back and finding the things in people that are holding you back or hurting you, and you don't realize it at first," says Skyve. "It's hard to let go of those things and those people, but it will make you a better person."
Born Stryker Johnson, Skyve has been building toward this moment since childhood: making beats on an iPad before he could drive, then on his phone, and eventually in FL Studio, where he landed three years ago. He's 19 now wth “Eternal Time” marking his 11th project, but the first he's genuinely proud of, the kind of song he finds himself coming back to on his own time.
True to his instinct for range, he sings, raps, and plays guitar, with no interest in staying in one lane. 'I do a lot to explore,' he explains, adding that piano, drums, and even banjo are next on his list. For now, he places this project in indie rock territory with an indie pop lean — guitar-driven, melodic, and resistant to easy categorization.
"If I had to categorize my sound, I'd say indie, more than anything. A more creative feeling. Not like the standard sound music offers today," explains Skyve.
On "Eternal Time," Skyve co-wrote and produced alongside a collaborator who helped shape the guitar melodies and the song's overall flow, with both contributing to the drum programming. The lyrics, though, are his alone — as they always are.
"It depends, but I do maybe 50 percent of my own stuff," he shares of his process more broadly. "This one was with a producer who helped lay down some melodies on guitar and get the flow started. But I always write all my lyrics."
The release came with a rare milestone: a live show two weeks prior, marking one of Skyve's first times performing guitar in front of an audience. "It was a little nerve-racking," he admits, "but it ended up being fun overall."
"Eternal Time" isn't tied to an album or EP; it stands on its own, at least for now. But Skyve is already looking ahead. "I do have an album coming out this fall," reveals Skyve. "I'm still working on getting more details, but that's something I want to walk fans through."
For an artist who insists he can't imagine doing anything but music, Skyve's approach feels less like a career plan and more like a compulsion toward honesty. “I don't want to bring a single song or idea to the grave with me,” he reflects — a line that could double as his mission statement. “Eternal Time” is proof he's already living it, one unfinished thought at a time.
“Eternal Time” is now available on all streaming platforms, with promotional support from Starlight PR. With an album on the way this fall, it's clear Skyve is just getting started, so be sure to follow along on social media to catch what's next.
