Red Bull has announced it is is taking listeners inside the origins of New Orleans hip-hop “through curated radio content that explores unique sounds not found in any other American city – from bounce to the rich, present-day scene from some of the city’s most important artists and DJs: DJ Wop, DJ Money Fresh, Raj Smoove, DJ Kelly Green and DJ RQ Away.
Raj Smoove’s self-hosted “Fireside Chat” stands out as an audio history about the city’s early days of hip-hop, the genesis of bounce music, twerking and the famed triggaman beat. Smoove also discusses breaking into the mainstream with Cash Money, No Limit, Lil Wayne and the 2000s scene.
Additionally, several Choice Mixes playlists take listeners through New Orleans sounds past, present and future with DJ Money Fresh, DJ RQ Away, and DJ Wop showing love to the originators and DJ Kelly Green keeping it real with the sounds of New Orleans today. Before COVID-19, you may have spotted DJ RQ Away around town. “My last two ‘live’ sets were DJing the Pelicans versus Lakers game inside the Smoothie King Center (it was so exciting!), and Youth Run NOLA’s 504K the week of March 1,” he says. Outside of client bookings, DJ RQ Away hosted “The Tipping Point” event every Friday at Dragon’s Den, “Happy Feelins “monthly event at Ace Hotel, and “Lagniappe,” a quarterly event at Tipitina’s. He is proud to state, “All of which served the black creative and professional community here in the city.” Now the multitasker is back hosting “Get Down Nola,” a weekly all vinyl radio show featuring funk, disco, jazz, and soul cuts from the 60s, 70s, and 80s every Thursday night at 6 p.m.
Though frequently overlooked and hyper-focused on the bling bling era, New Orleans’ expansive influence in hip-hop stretches subgenres and brought a trademark sound to listeners with bounce music. From the early 90s to today’s generation of emergent talent, there have been significant chapters in New Orleans’ underground and mainstream scenes, both of which are products of the city’s unusual history and which were forced to alter course in the wake of the devastation left by Hurricane Katrina. Today, the city boasts a vibrant ecosystem representing sounds not found anywhere else.
