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Elizma ‘Secrets’: A Battle Cry Against Normalization

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Elizma’s latest single, Secrets, is nothing short of a revelation—a gripping, fast-paced anthem with an emotionally profound core. The track’s intricate musicality draws listeners in, while its raw lyrics demand reflection. A testament to Elizma’s personal journey through addiction and recovery, Secrets unearths the hidden struggles of substance abuse and the cultural forces that perpetuate it. From the first beat to the final chorus, the song is both a deeply personal confession and a universal plea for change.

The artist’s honesty sets the tone, as she reveals the song was conceived during a pivotal moment in her life. Inspired by the Alcoholics Anonymous mantra, “Secrets keep me sick,” Elizma channels the shame and isolation that often plague those battling addiction. Her vocal delivery, layered with urgency and vulnerability, transforms the track into a vessel for catharsis. Paired with its intricate instrumentation, the song feels like an emotional storm—unpredictable yet perfectly cohesive.

Perhaps most impactful is how Secrets confronts cultural complacency around substance abuse. Elizma critiques the music industry’s normalization of drug use, a theme she navigates with unflinching conviction. She doesn’t just tell her story; she challenges others to rethink the narratives they amplify. Her background growing up in an environment where substance use was normalized adds depth to her critique, grounding her perspective in lived experience.

Musically, Secrets stands apart with its layered arrangement. The rapid percussion mirrors the frenetic chaos of addiction, while melodic breaks offer moments of clarity—mirroring the artist’s own journey from despair to self-discovery. It’s a track that demands your full attention, both for its sonic intricacy and its harrowing subject matter.

Elizma’s Secrets isn’t just a song—it’s a rallying cry. By blending gripping storytelling with compelling music, she’s created an anthem that transcends personal reflection, urging listeners to question their own complicity in harmful cultural norms. This is more than a track; it’s a call to action.

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DJ Design drops “I Wanna Be Free” single ft. Gennessee

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Bay Area beatmaker/visual artist DJ Design returns with new single “I Wanna Be Free” (Below System Records).  Washes of synth collide with a dense horn arrangement and snappin’ drums.  West-Coast emcee Gennessee guests on the track spitting a lyrical dissertation on the woes of a police state, racial profiling and surveillance. 

Listen to “I Wanna Be Free” (Ft. Gennessee): https://bsr.ffm.to/iwannabefree

This is the 3rd leak from the forthcoming Survival Web Vaults LP to drop in vinyl and digital formats later this year. Additional album guests include Fashawn, Phat Kat, Elzhi, Guilty Simpson, LMNO and more.

Listen to “No Less Than The Trees And The Stars” (Ft. Fashawn): https://bsr.ffm.to/nltttats

Listen to “The Blues” (Ft. Phat Kat & Elzhi): https://bsr.ffm.to/theblues

While more of a behind-the-scenes player DJ Design’s (aka Keith Griego) work has had a sizable imprint on the history of modern hip-hop. As a DJ/Beatmaker and visual artist he has contributed production and art since the late 90’s for notables including The Beastie Boys, Madlib, A.G., Foreign Legion, Rasco, Peanut Butter Wolf and Phat Kat

As a visual artist, his high point of work with the label was his design of the 12” vinyl cover for Lootpack member Madlib’s side project Quasimoto. The cover for “Microphone Mathematics” featured Design/Griego’s visual representation of Lord Quas as a sort of alien aardvark, which was adopted by the artist and has since become one of the most iconic and enduring

characters in the game today.

More Info: https://www.belowsystem.com/

https://www.instagram.com/djdesign

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