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From Sofia to New Orleans | The Dawn Breaks with D’ISCO

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Once the humble city of Sofia was his dawn, and now it’s New Orleans embracing his rise. Fingering the subtle rhythms of the awakening day, Bulgarian born, America based artist D’ISCO, christened Branimir Aleksandrov, weaves a universal urban symphony of both cities stirring alongside the rooster crows in small towns and hamlets.

His debut single “Mornings”, offers an evocative and gritty portrait of how a city, even one as seemingly vibrant as New Orleans, awakens – replete with its romance and grim reality. He masterfully captures the cityscape’s metamorphosis from tranquil ghost towns to bustling hubs alive with newspaper peddlers, chirping cleaning crews, and doughnut hawkers unfolding their day.

Launched amid the Covid 19 crisis, D’ISCO’s creative upsurge resonates with his intriguing initiation to music that began in the post-communist Bulgarian landscape. A chance encounter with a Def Leppard album planted a defiant seed in the 13-year-old Aleksandrov. Parents perplexed, a teacher was hired, passion blossomed, and a band was formed. DULLO resounded with the youthful enthusiasm of six musicians fighting the practical crunch of scarce instruments and meagre resources.

As the mandatory military service eclipsed DULLO’s brief existence, D’ISCO’s identity continued to take form in the furtive acoustics developed with Bogdan Bogdanov. These young artist’s preliminary recordings, radiant with potential despite the quality, received encouraging comments fostering hope during the bleak hiatus hammering their musical dreams.

Today, D’ISCO’s music, unique as “Pink Floyd-esc” tinged with electronic timbre, effuses an experimental electronic aesthetic. As testament to D’ISCO’s resilience, his tracks involve a ‘work in progress’ ethos, his art always alive in the flux of growth and transformation. As he readies several tracks and a video release, fans can anticipate new dawn-chasing melodies from his sonic repertoire.

Collaboration with the likes of Robert Miles wouldn’t seem out of place for this versatile artist, a synergy of classic influence meeting introduced freshness. D’ISCO emphasises that an artist’s exposition to their lovers remains unrestricted by temporal constraints. At forty-four, with a successful career and a prosperous Air BnB venture, he took up his long-abandoned guitar mid-pandemic. Turning quarantine into a creative sanctuary, D’ISCO navigated the challenging acronym of DAW, Ableton, overcoming a two-decade hiatus to present “Mornings”.

Straddling past and present, tradition and innovation, the rural and the urban, D’ISCO is on a continuous quest for varied sounds, bobbing and weaving his experiences into his work. Even as he traces his journey from Bulgaria, through Switzerland and America, he carries with him the background score of those early mornings in Sofia and now imparts it to New Orleans.

Listeners who have yet to experience D’ISCO’s music can start at his Smart Link here. To accompany his journey, follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Tiktok, and Facebook. Converse with him, and his story might just turn into a sunrise in your playlist. His message to all – age is no shackle when reconnecting with your passions.

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Branimir Aleksandrov keeps crafting early morning symphonies as D’ISCO. Treading beyond time and geographical boundaries, he is an artist reborn to capture the minute intricacies of the waking dawn. His song is a gentle reminder that even amidst life’s mundane daily grind, there is music – if only we take a moment to listen. Regardless of where the sun first hits, the ubiquitous rhythm of D’ISCO’s “Mornings” persists.

This article contains branded content provided by a third party. The views expressed in this article are solely those of the content creator or sponsor and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or editorial stance of Popular Hustle.

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GMDCASH Talks Comebacks, Jail Time, and Why He’s Just Getting Started

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GMDCASH

Some artists talk about grinding. Others actually live it. Calvin Davenport, better known as GMDCASH, falls squarely into the second category. The Seattle-born rapper has navigated the kind of obstacles that would make most people quit, including incarceration, legal restrictions on his content, and the predatory side of an industry that loves to take advantage of independent artists. He’s still here, though, and with previous coverage in outlets like Earmilk and The Source already under his belt, his recent output suggests he’s figured out how to turn setbacks into fuel.

His latest single “Bump A Whore Pt. 2,” released January 16th, 2026, sees him team up with MikeJack3200 and Frostydasnowmann for a polished follow-up to the original. But it was his comeback track “I’m The Product,” dropped at the top of the year, that set the tone. That title isn’t just a song name. It’s a thesis statement. The track positions GMDCASH as someone who’s done waiting for opportunities to find him. Instead, he’s become the opportunity. With a new EP on the way, he’s building momentum on his own terms.

We caught up with GMDCASH to talk about what drives him, how he creates, and what’s next.

GMDCASH / January Cover

Take us back to a specific moment when you knew this was what you were going to do. What happened?

I think after getting out of jail I geared my focus towards my music career. I really needed a positive outlet, something that woke me up, drove me, and inspired me and the people around me. Music did that for me.

If someone’s never heard your music before, how would you describe what you do?

I would say my music is for everyone. I have a pretty big catalog and it’s forever expanding, so if you don’t hear something you like, check back every now and again. I’m sure something will catch your ear. And if not, it’s more than music. It’s my life story. I want people to be inspired by my music. I want people to hear it and know that anything is possible.

Who or what shaped your creative voice the most?

My family is a big part of my influence. Both my parents and some of my family members have been in the industry. Growing up in a musical household is number one. I have a unique style. I couldn’t say one thing shaped my creative voice, and I feel like my creativity is forever changing every time I’m in the studio.

Walk us through how you actually create.

Honestly, I book a session and spend four hours minimum in the studio. Sometimes I don’t even book. I’ll just feel something and call a studio and get to work. Most beats are made as soon as I pull up. The producer gives me the sample, I approve, he starts the loop. Most of my lyrics are life experience, so it’s not hard for me to make a song. I just rap how I’m feeling. Sometimes it’s a smooth process, others take time. Then they mix and master and I schedule the release.

What’s something you had to figure out the hard way?

I think going to jail at the end of the year was really a wake up call. I have to protect myself and keep people around me who want what’s really best for me, not just have anyone around me.

Is there anyone you’d love to work with down the line?

I really would like to collab with Hurricane Wisdom.

Where are you at in your music career right now?

This is just the beginning. I feel there’s so much more to come. Music is my passion. I don’t think I’m leaving the mic anytime soon.

What are you working on that you’re excited about?

I’m excited for my next EP coming out early this year. I focused on songs with uplifting, positive energy and the GMD, Get Money Daily, vibe. I’m hoping to do at least two shows before the middle of the year. I’m just excited about the possibility of the new year and all the good things it has to bring.

If there’s one thing you want readers to take away from this feature, what is it?

I’m an up and coming Seattle rapper. Check out my music, be inspired, follow my page, interact, share your thoughts.

GMDCASH

What stands out about GMDCASH isn’t the adversity itself. Plenty of artists have tough stories. It’s the clarity that came out of it. He’s not chasing validation or waiting for a label to cosign his vision. Beyond music, he has plans to move into artist management and eventually relocate abroad. For listeners who connect with authenticity over polish, that long-term thinking is the whole point.

Stream GMDCASH on Spotify, Youtube, and Apple Music, visit his official website, and follow him on Instagram.

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Meet Lil Deezull, the Cambridge Rapper Finding His Moment

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Lil Deezull

Some artists spend years waiting for their moment without realizing it already came and went. Lil Deezull knows what that feels like. He’s been rapping since 2015, freestyling with friends in Cambridge, Maryland long before he thought of it as a career. It took seven years and a viral track before he understood what he’d been sitting on.

The Cambridge rapper, born August 16, 2005, didn’t start out with a plan. His first actual track, “Big Booty,” got passed around locally and gave him his first taste of what connecting with an audience felt like. But it wasn’t until 2022 that everything clicked. A track called “Purple Rain” went viral, and suddenly the kid who’d been rapping for fun had people actually paying attention.

Lil Deezull

“Since then I started taking my music career seriously,” Lil Deezull says. That shift shows in his output. His 2024 album, For All The Snow Bunnies, marked his biggest project to date and helped establish him beyond his Eastern Shore hometown.

The numbers tell part of the story. His track “Suffering” has pulled over 106,000 plays with solid engagement, while newer releases like “NO KINGS” show he’s building consistent momentum rather than chasing one-off hits. He works primarily in hip-hop and rap, pulling from the melodic trap style popularized by artists like The Kid LAROI and Polo G, but he’s not interested in staying in one lane.

“I am a multi genre artist and I make music for everyone,” he explains. Recently, that’s meant studying country artists like Morgan Wallen, looking for ways to expand his reach beyond rap’s typical audience. It’s an unconventional move for a young rapper from Maryland, but it speaks to how he thinks about his career.

His lyrics draw from personal experience. Daily life, observations, things he sees and hears in Cambridge. He wants listeners to find something relatable.

“My hope is that people will relate to me and that my music can help them get through whatever they are going through in life,” Lil Deezull says.

‘Maryland Man’ by Lil Deezull

His next project, Maryland Man, drops May 16 and represents a return to collaboration after a solo-focused 2024. The album features fellow Cambridge rappers Lil Mop and Murda2x alongside international collaborator Brixton, who appeared on For All The Snow Bunnies. It’s a deliberate effort to spotlight his hometown’s scene while building on last year’s momentum.

At 19, Lil Deezull has already been making music for nearly a decade. He’s had time to figure out what he wants to say, and he’s also had time to accumulate regrets. “Don’t be like me and have a life full of missed opportunities,” he says. “Live your life and take any chance you get.”

It’s a surprising bit of self-awareness from someone still early in his career, but it tracks with why he finally got serious after “Purple Rain” took off. He’d spent seven years treating music like a hobby while the moment kept knocking. Now he’s answering the door.

Follow Lil Deezull on SoundCloud, Instagram, and YouTube.

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Dennis Dewall Reboards the Spy Genre with International Thriller ‘THE TRAIN’

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Dennis Dewall / THE TRAIN / Westside Studios (credit: Davide Marconcini)

Trains make for inherently cinematic settings: the claustrophobia, the momentum, the fact that you can’t just walk away when things go sideways. Dennis Dewall clearly knows this, and he’s using it to full effect in THE TRAIN, an espionage thriller that narrows his Spy Capital universe into the confined intensity of a luxury locomotive.

Dennis Dewall stars as Major Alex Stirling, a former SAS operative who finds himself in the middle of an intelligence turf war aboard the Majestic Imperator, a privately owned train carrying high-profile passengers through Central Europe. When rival intelligence services close in, what follows is a volatile mix of surveillance, manipulation, and direct confrontation. The train becomes a rolling battlefield where everyone’s watching everyone else, and nobody’s safe.

Boris Volodarsky / Westside Studios

What separates this from standard action fare is the man behind the camera. Boris Volodarsky isn’t just a filmmaker. He’s a legitimate espionage authority who’s written extensively on KGB operations, Stalin’s intelligence apparatus, and high-profile political assassinations. That real-world credibility shows up in the film’s approach, lending THE TRAIN grounded authenticity that distinguishes it from more stylized espionage entries.

Madalina Bellariu Ion / THE TRAIN / Westside Studios (credit: Davide Marconcini)

The cast pulls its weight. Madalina Bellariu Ion, who’s appeared in projects like THE YOUNG POPE and TAKE COVER, plays Natalie Krug, an operative who’s equal parts dangerous and magnetic. Anouk Auer holds her own as Stirling’s daughter Olivia, adding emotional weight to the high-stakes narrative. The ensemble rounds out with Peter Ormond, Alan Burgon, Martin Ploderer, Suzanne Grieger-Langer, Polina Kuleshova, and Nadine Grosinger, all contributing to the film’s international texture.

Peter Ormond & Cast / THE TRAIN / Westside Studios (credit: Davide Marconcini)

Dewall and his team shot across Vienna, London, Malta, Bangkok, Budapest, and Prague to capture authentic international locations. The action choreography, handled by martial arts expert Ali Kabalan, emphasizes physical realism. Dewall performs his own stunts, which adds weight to the physical confrontations and underscores the production’s commitment to authenticity.

Ali Kabalan & Dennis Dewall / THE TRAIN / Westside Studios (credit: Davide Marconcini)

THE TRAIN releases September 10, 2026 in Germany and Austria, with a London premiere and additional territories following a week later. Dewall’s emphasis on physical authenticity and real-world intelligence expertise positions THE TRAIN as a grounded entry in contemporary espionage cinema. Sometimes the best action happens when there’s nowhere left to run.

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