Artist, Community Leader and Mental Health Advocate Mr. HUBB & Hip Hop Legend CL Smooth Release New Single “Grown Man Business” Off The Upcoming “Assassin” Soundtrack
“Mr. HUBB is a man on the New Jersey scene that is making it happen.” – HipHop-Vibe
New Jerseybased community leader, mental health advocate and artist Mr HUBB aka Al-Tariq Best and Hip-Hop legend CL Smooth havecometogether torelease their latest single “Grown Man Business” today, which will be featured on the upcoming soundtrack for Bruce Willis’ final film “Assassin” released earlier this year from Saban Films. This single follows Mr. HUBB’s most recently released single “Legacy” featuring fellow ThatHUBBLIFE ENT artist Penelope that premiered with Straight Official Magazine, which followed the success of his 2022 hit single “Grown Man Ishhh” that premiered exclusively with HipHop-Vibe and HipHopSince1987 . In addition, to his music career, Mr. HUBB is a well-known leader and mental health advocate in his community of Newark, NJ. Mr. HUBB is also the CEO and Founder of The HUBB Arts & Trauma Center, a facility that helps at-risk youth & high-risk deal with mental health issues and trauma they have faced through therapeutic arts.
Recently Mr. HUBB launchedhis latest venture ThatHubbLife ENT, a socially responsible entertainment company where not only Mr. HUBB butother artists can release their music. Unlike many other entertainment companies or record labels ThatHubbLife ENT will not only help these artists release their music but will also work as a support system for them unlike many mainstream labels that tend to just focus on the immediate financial return of their artists. ThatHubbLife ENT is focused on the long-term mental health, safety and success of their artists. This opportunity to be featured on the ‘Assassin’ soundtrack is not only special for Mr. HUBB but also for fellow ThatHubbLife ENT artist Penelope who recently released her single “Body Keeps The Score” off the soundtrack, bringing more attention to the great work being done by ThatHubbLife ENT and The HUBB Arts & Trauma Centre as a whole.
When asked about the opportunity to get ThatHubbLife ENT artists featured on the “Assassin”” soundtrack ThatHubbLife ENT. CEO and Donald Richardson said “Having placed two songs on the soundtrack for the movie “Assassin” starring Bruce Willis “Body Keeps The Score’ by Penelope and “Grown Man Business” by Mr. HUBB and the legendary CL Smooth called ‘Grown Man Business’ brings my contribution to soundtrack full circle. After securing CL Smooth to be on the Wayne-O produced smash, it was inevitable to see that collectively we created a socially impactful and important record. I hope the world enjoys them both. Working with my business partner and friend music industry heavy weight “Knobody” has made it all worthwhile being a part of the project.”
When asked about the meaning behind his new single and what he wants people to take away from it Mr. HUBB said, “Writing the ‘Grown Man Business’ verse began with me wanting to challenge men to step up and handle their business but morphed into me doing “My Work” to heal from childhood trauma and to use a moment of vulnerability for a bigger purpose. It’s now also another teaching tool to support other men to scale up from little boy shit to handling Grown Man Business!”
Growing up in Newark, NJ, Mr. HUBB aka Al-Tariq led a far from semi-charmed life. The middle child of three sons in a single parent household, Al-Tariq witnessed his mother being abused under several domestic violence situations. He later endured his fair share of trauma, being physically and emotionally abused by other trusted so-called friends and relatives. “I didn’t understand my own trauma until recently,” he admits. “Now that I’m a grown man, I’m a Certified Victim Advocate, though it took a lot for me to recognize that I was also a victim at one point.” That realization led to self-awareness in understanding his own triggers, but also the reasons for some of the decisions that he made in his younger years. From the age of nine, Al-Tariq was making music and became the leader of a local Hip-Hop crew. “Music saved my life,” he explains. “I was smart and artistic, but I blended in with the dudes who were up to no good, because I found solace in them.” A life-altering event happened at the age 17, right before his first son was born, when he was pulled over by the police and dehumanized for driving while Black. “Something changed in me,” he said, “because right up the block there were drug dealers doing real damage, and I was being humiliated and my rights being violated.” Al-Tariq traded in his music career and pointed more towards social reform. He formed FP YouthOutCry Foundation, (Not-for-Profit 501c3) today legally doing business as The HUBB Arts & Trauma Center in Newark, NJ. H.U.B.B. stands for “Help Us Become Better.” While his 9000 square foot, Mayor-Appointed “Center of Hope” focuses on arts & trauma recovery, Al-Tariq, known now as Mr. HUBB to Newark and surrounding cities’ youth, utilizes the arts to save the lives of others the way music saved his. His latest venture ThatHUBBLife ENT, LLC is a socially responsible Entertainment, Networking and Therapeutic company that will introduce a roster of new talent, releasing their music, but also making sure that they’re prepared for the road ahead in an otherwise unforgiving music industry. Stay tuned to Mr. HUBB and ThatHUBBLife’s social media handles below for updates on future releases from Mr. HUBB as well as other artists signed to the label, concerts, and violence intervention tours.
About ThatHUBBLife ENT:
ThatHUBBLife ENT, LLC is a socially responsible Entertainment, Networking and Therapeutic company that will introduce a roster of new talent, releasing their music, but also making sure that they’re prepared for the road ahead in an otherwise unforgiving music industry. ThatHUBBLife ENT, LLC will include some of the tenets that Al-Tariq has applied to his previous missions, including intentional focuses on understanding the Entertainment business, the art of Networking and arts Therapy for self-empowerment. We plan to raise the bar with having artists reach their proverbial next level so, when they do release music, they can understand, replicate and teach the process to others and maintain sustainability.
Grammy-nominated Washington, D.C.-based singer/songwriter/emcee Mumu Fresh presents her new single “My Why”. Produced by Carvin Haggins and Johhny Smith, “My Why” will appear on The Healing, Mumu’s forthcoming album which will also feature contributions from DJ Jazzy Jeff, Nile Hargrove, 14KT, Daniel Crawford, Vidal Davis, DJ Dummy and more. Mumu has collaborated with Lil Wayne & Tech N9ne (stream “Too Good”), Busta Rhymes, Salaam Remi & Black Thought of The Roots (watch the music video for “No Peace”) and Common (watch Mumu Fresh and Common perform “I Used To Love H.E.R.” live) and Tobi Nwigwe (watch the music video for “Tundah Fiyah”). Mumu has performed on two separate NPR Tiny Desk concerts (watch Mumu Fresh featuring Black Thought of The Roots & DJ Dummy on NPR’s Tiny Desk) and has performed worldwide at events like the Essence Music Festival, Montreux Switzerland’s Jazz Festival and Dubai’s Sole Fest DBX. “State of Emergency” marks another chapter in a career of self-described “art activism” for the Baltimore native who has performed and given lectures within the US prison system, The Congressional Black Caucus, I.M.A.N. Central in Chicago & Atlanta, The W. K. Kellogg Foundation, Ford Foundation and The Indigenous People’s Movement. Mumu is co-creator of the Recording Academy’s “Best Song For Social Change” trustee award which went live in 2023 at the 66th GRAMMY awards show and was presented by The First Lady, Jill Biden. The winner of Indigenous Music, Washington Area Music (WAMMIE) and Urban World Music Video awards, Mumu has served as Musical and Cultural Ambassador for the US State Department, Ambassador of The Black Music Collective and is a former elected governor of the DC chapter of The Recording Academy. Mumu describes “My Why” as “a tribute to that person(s), place, or thing in your life that is your “WHY”. Your reason not to give up. Your reason to keep trying and to push a little harder than you thought you could. You why reminds you of what you’re made of and brings out the best in you.” The Healing drops April 19.
DMV-based rapper/producer Santa Sallet and France-based producer Nemizzo are MSP, presenting their new single “Big Hands”. Sallet has been busy showcasing his brand of East Coast braggadocious rap across a slew of recent singles like “Camouflage” (watch on Youtube), “I Get Money” (watch on Youtube), “Championship Ring” (watch on Youtube) and “Chinese Funk” (watch on Youtube) in preparation for the release of Plutography, Sallet’s forthcoming album which blends salsa beats, southern trap, and eastern jazz with classic and conventional rap samples, reflecting Sallet’s international upbringing across South Africa, Dominica and the US. Sallet is planning a series of full-length releases, among them C.R.E.A.M. which recounts his journey from broke to financially free, and Women and R.A.P. which describe his pursuit of success in relationships and the music industry respectively. “This is the song that really started MSP Tunes,” Santa says. “Nemizzo had laid down his verse and I was like, let me try something on this and I just talked about what I knew. What I think is funny, the outro is actually me recording a bunch of potential beat tags. There was a miscommunication and Nemizzo extended the beat and made it the outro. I like it though lol.” Check out Santa Sallet merch here.
Upping the ante, NC representative Big YBA unloads the Deluxe edition of his most recent album the Definition of Living. Featuring five new tracks including “New York,” “For Your Love,” “Rap Assassin,” “Rebellious,” and “Cut ‘Em Off,” which was premiered by way of popular live performance platform Off The Curb, the enhanced body of work accents the original flawlessly.
Three months removed from his “Swag Surfin'” sampling collaboration “Hypnotic” featuring Rich The Kid signee SetitOff83 and the strategic seeding of LP standouts “30, “Rookie, “Lord Forgive Me,” “Venting Session,” “Mercy,” and “DOA,” the now 20 track collection of songs includes a lone guest appearance from GetRichZay while production duties are handled by Jozzex, KH Beatz, Maineestreamm, Prod No Heart, and Trippy XVI.
Raised in Durham, Big YBA is rapidly emerging as one of the most electrifying young artists from the Carolinas. With a brand built on authenticity, his versatility and melodic sound have allowed him to break through the industry release after release. Determined to experience success outside of his hometown, he views his personal and professional growth as motivation for listeners with similar ambitions.
Stream the Definition of Living (Deluxe) via Nu Nation / Vydia as well as watch his Off The Curb performance visual for “Cut ‘Em Off” after the jump.
Bars1 week ago
Music2 weeks ago
Audio2 weeks ago
Interview3 weeks ago
Audio3 weeks ago
Music3 weeks ago
Interview2 weeks ago