Grammy Week
Teyana Taylor Hosts 'A Tribute to the Nominees' Pre-Grammy Celebration
An unforgettable night at the historic Globe Theatre — with a surprise performance by Estelle — kicks off music's biggest week.
The Panel
Halle Bailey, in Conversation with Muni Long
A Grammy-weekend masterclass on nerves, auditions, and the do-it-anyway mentality behind The Little Mermaid.
The Interview
Jean Dawson Doesn't Follow Rules
The genre-bending artist on his "rock era," starting in rap with limited resources, and refusing to stay in one lane.
Coachella
Nicki Nicole Announces Herself in the Desert
The Argentine star's first Coachella — capped by her own rendition of "Lose Yourself" — sets the stage for what's next.
The Festival
Lil Wayne's UPROAR Fest Proves the Catalog Is Forever
Young Money, Polo G, and Latto — plus surprise sets from Wiz Khalifa, Big Sean, and The Game.
Tour News
311 Announce the Unity Tour
Off the momentum of 311 Day and Full Bloom, the band maps a coast-to-coast run starting June 20 in Atlantic City.
On Air
7LA RADIO: The Sound of the City
Our radio arm — conversations and mixes from the LA underground, streaming now on Spotify.
Grammy Week
Teyana Taylor Hosts 'A Tribute to the Nominees' Pre-Grammy Celebration
Teyana Taylor kicked off Grammy week hosting 'A Tribute to the Nominees: A Pre-Grammy® Celebration,' presented by Devine Evans, Kristine Mirelle of Music Hustler, and Queens of The Underground.
The unforgettable evening at the historic Globe Theatre in Los Angeles ran from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Wednesday, February 1 — ahead of the "biggest night in music" that Sunday.
Attendees got a night filled with performances by rising hip-hop artist Elle E.D. and recording artist Josh Moreland, appearances from Keith Harris of the Keith Harris Experience with Tayler Green, networking opportunities, and several activations. Grammy-winning artist Estelle closed the festivities with an electric surprise performance. The red carpet drew appearances from Chaz Lamar Shepherd, reality TV star and actress Masika Kalysha, influencer Shantel Jackson, and many others.
A portion of ticket proceeds went to the Los Angeles Boys & Girls Club, funding music and arts programming for LA youth in collaboration with the Guitar Center Music Foundation.
The Panel
Halle Bailey, in Conversation with Muni Long
Halle Bailey and Muni Long joined forces during Grammy weekend for a masterclass panel on their personal journeys and navigating the music industry.
Bailey spoke about auditioning for the role of Ariel in The Little Mermaid — how nervous she was, given the sheer number of hopefuls auditioning at her center, and how she went through with it anyway. She recalled crying while singing, but the performance was so heartfelt that it moved the casting directors. A testament to the do-it-anyway mentality, and a role that fused her twin talents of singing and acting.
Bailey closed the panel singing with her guitarist — a beautiful way to end an impactful, informative conversation.
The Interview
Jean Dawson Doesn't Follow Rules
David Sanders, known by his stage name Jean Dawson, is a music mogul and rule breaker. Dawson's singular style and eye-catching music videos draw a diverse range of viewers and listeners around the world.
His recent music — like "3 Heads*" — carries an edgy yet melodic tone. Dawson says he's in his "rock era" now, though he started in rap because it was the "easiest breaking point" given the limited resources he had at the time. He keeps shifting and molding his style, proof of a versatility few artists can claim.
Coachella
Nicki Nicole Announces Herself in the Desert
Nicki Nicole — born Nicole Cucco — is a rapper, songwriter, and singer from Argentina, and this was her first time performing at Coachella.
Across both weekends, Nicole delivered an electrifying performance with a rhythmic, smooth delivery. Weekend two brought her own rendition of Eminem's classic "Lose Yourself," and the crowd loved every part of it — supporters at her set sang and danced along to each of their favorite songs.
Her Coachella debut only sets the stage for what's to come from one of the brightest artists on the rise.
The Festival
Lil Wayne's UPROAR Fest Proves the Catalog Is Forever
Dwayne Carter Jr., better known as Lil Wayne, held his long-awaited hip-hop festival UPROAR in partnership with GKUA, Wayne's lifestyle brand.
The lineup included a dance competition and performances by Young Money, Polo G, and Latto. Wayne performed classic hits — "How To Love," "Bedrock," "Lollipop," "Mrs. Officer" — sending fans into a frenzy and showing the lasting impact his music holds. Throughout the night he kept returning to his supporters: "I wouldn't be sh*t without my fans."
The night closed with surprise sets from Wiz Khalifa, Big Sean, and The Game, the mutual respect on stage unmistakable. Wayne's work ethic and accolades speak for themselves — you cannot mention hip-hop without mentioning Lil Wayne.
Tour News
311 Announce the Unity Tour
311 are starting the year off right with the announcement of their Unity Tour, riding the success of 311 Day and their latest album, Full Bloom.
The tour kicks off June 20 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and travels across the United States. Tickets for 311 Nation members went on sale first, with general sales beginning March 21 at 10 a.m. local time. Fans can sign up for tour updates and presale information at unity-tour.com.
On Air
7LA RADIO
Conversations and mixes from the LA underground — the sound of the city, streaming on Spotify.
About TWS
An independent music & culture publication, born in Los Angeles.
TWS covers the artists and moments shaping music culture from the ground up — live event coverage, artist interviews, festival reporting, and radio. Our lens is the LA underground and the culture the rest of the industry follows years too late.
Our coverage spans Grammy-week events, Coachella, festival launches, and one-on-one interviews with rising and established artists — documented in original video, photography, and writing.
For publicists & press teams: TWS welcomes credential opportunities, interview requests, album premieres, and event coverage inquiries. Reach the press desk at raven.curry@7langes.la — we respond quickly and publish with original video coverage.