Mykal
Dumfries, VA | Established. Jan 01, 2016 | INDIE
Music
Press
A duo of Darby natives are tearing up the Net with a reality show, a record label and a series of true-life movies -- and now, they're poised to hit radio airwaves, too.
"Mr. Philadelphia," the latest CD from rapper and former Darby resident Darin "Philly" Swain, will hit stores today.
"It's based on being in a gang in Philadelphia, but it's got a positive message," Swain said of "Mr. Philadelphia," noting that the album's first single, "On Point," is already getting radio airplay. (The video is available for viewing on YouTube.com.)
"Right now, it's gotten a few million views on the Internet. It's all about guys fighting over girls, and it really makes you think hard about the way our youth are acting. There's a lot of excitement about it."
The album is the first release from label Nu Groove and Swagger Family Records, which is owned by Darby's Mykal Coles, a former Delaware County police officer who also owns M&T Legal Services in Woodbridge, Va.
He's also the brother of Alton Coles, better known as "Ace Capone," a Philadelphia drug kingpin now serving a life sentence in prison.
"It would have been easy for me to go down that destructive path, too," Coles said. "But I'm the total opposite of my brother. I always wanted to get my own."
The album's musical progression from gang life to the good life mirrors Swain's real-life experiences since leaving Darby, where he attended Penn Wood High School.
A star basketball player in the Darby Police Athletic League, he earned a half-scholarship to Drexel University, but when he tried to earn the second half of his college funds by dealing drugs, he was sent to jail.
"I didn't know about things like grants," he said. "The people around me were corrupt and they steered me into selling drugs. It turned my life into a catastrophe. I did my time, and now that I've been rehabilitated, I want to make sure that the people I reach know they've got more options than doing what I did."
That message comes through loud and clear on "Mr. Philadelphia," which seems to deliver a few words of warning to youths in Swain's hometown.
"It's terrible out there," Swain said of the street culture in Darby, where 17-year-old Ollie Cloyd was gunned down just one month ago. "I'm trying to give back to the same blocks I walked. These kids taking other kids' lives? They're just throwing their own lives away. If you want to shoot a gun, go to Iraq. Don't bring the war to Darby."
Coles agreed, noting that it wasn't too long ago that he decided to leave his brother's record label, Take Down Records, and embark on a more constructive path.
"Take Down was leading me to destruction," he said. "I didn't want to be a part of that. So, I was online one day and came across Philly Swain. It turned out we needed each other, and from there, Swagger Family Records came into being."
And the company's mission, he said, is to give other youths the same positive message he's been living by.
"We're a community," he said. "We stick together. We stand together. We're sending out a message to the kids to stop what they're doing and get back to the things that are important -- family structure, education."
Coles said he and Swain are planning a school tour to bring their message to the community -- in their free time, that is. In addition to dropping "Mr. Philadelphia" today, they produce and star in "The Swagger Family," a reality show airing online and on Virginia's Channel 10.
Swain has also starred in "The Hustle Diaries Vol. 1 and 2," documentaries that chronicle his prison stint and re-emergence on the rap scene.
The movies are directed by Barry Michael Cooper, writer of movies like "Above the Rim," "New Jack City" and "Sugar Hill." He's currently shooting another movie with NBA star LeBron James.
The duo's Web site, www.myspace.com/swainstreet, has logged more than 1.3 million hits, and Swain has been named the first Philadelphia winner of BET's 106th and Park. The two are also negotiating a television development deal with HBO and a sponsorship deal with Vitaminwater.
It's a career they hope youths in Darby -- and beyond -- will notice and emulate.
"Once we put our minds to it and worked hard, we've been successful ever since," Coles said. "They can do it, too. Sure, problems will come up, but it's all in how you handle the problems that makes you a success."
To learn more about Philly Swain and Swagger Family Records, visit www.swaggerfamilyrecords.com. "Mr. Philadelphia" will be available at FYE stores and www.fye.com starting today. - Daily Times News
4. Standing Up
on Standing Up - CD Baby
4. Standing Up
on Standing Up - CD Baby
Dumfries Virginia, introduces to you Recording Artist Mykal and his hit song “Standing Up”.
Posted on January 4, 2016 by rejoice
Who is Recording Artist Mykal?
Mk1Mykal is an artist whose sound has assured you that you are hearing music from the heart and not the head. He sings about his faith and employs a Godly theme which carries with it a powerful meaning in the life of worship and praise.
One of the best-known and respected industry professionals, Mykal has earned a reputation for his work as a songwriter, singer, and worship leader who is currently shaping today’s modern worship landscape. Anticipating platinum-selling status, his newest release, “STANDING UP”, has become his most personal project to date. - Rejoice America Radio
Discography
Roll Wit Me - Takedown Records - 2002
Playa Hate - Nu Groove/Swagger Family/Sony Red - 2009
Shout A Holla - Nu Groove/Swagger Family/Sony Red - 2009
Roll Wit Me - Nu Groove/Swagger Family/Sony Red - 2009
Stay Down - Nu Groove/Swagger Family/Sony Red - 2009
Standing Up - Swagger Family Records - 2015
Photos
Bio
Mykal is an artist whose sound has assured you that you are hearing music from the heart and not the head. He sings about his faith and employs a Godly theme which carries with it a powerful meaning in the life of worship and praise.
One of the best-known and respected industry professionals, Mykal has earned a reputation for his work as a songwriter, singer, and worship leader who is currently shaping today's modern worship landscape.
STANDING UP is the next chapter, a new season that comes in the midst of what has been a decade long career for this inspirational songwriter who has performed alongside of such worship classics as John P. Kee, James Bignon, Ernie Saunders, Shirley Ceasar, Dorothy Norwood, Daryl Coley, and the Wilmington Mass Choir. For Mykal, it all began in the late 90's singing traditional hymns with the suburban Philadelphia's "Youth Delegation Mass Choir. Being recognized for his resonating, powerful and soulful voice, Mykal quickly moved forward with a music career in the forefront and behind the scenes.
In 2009, Mykal began his own independent label, "Swagger Family Records", and secured a joint venture deal with Nu Groove Records and Red (Sony) Distribution. He enjoyed great success in the promotion of a new artists, Philly Swain and his debut album. Still pursing and reaching new heights, Mykal starred in the drama/comedy "Swagger Family Show", depicting the struggles of the industry, family, and many experiences faced with over a period of time. The talent that Mykal possess hits a target that no one can hit. However, his ingenious ideas hit targets that no one could see.
With STANDING UP, Mykal declares a clear reversal back to gospel music in execution of a major shift to implement one worship style for all walks of life. This shift can be in one’s attitude, perception, actions or all of the above. It’s about transformation like that of a butterfly — life is birthed through a process (from an egg to a caterpillar to a cocoon to a beautiful, brightly colored two winged insect). This is the core of Standing Up and Mykal's music theme. While contemporary music has been around, in some form, for awhile, Mykal recognizes a clear distinction with worship music between our youth and older individuals. This split provides contemporary worship music for our youth, and traditional worship music for older individuals. However, STANDING UP and Mykal's music wraps both styles together to create upbeat and lively worship music and praise.
Mykal's music will not just enhance church congregation members --- but will also reach communities nationwide; exposing them to different ways of praise and worship. Mykal's sound is not this strange aberration it once was to many. And, many individuals who did not grow up on traditional worship music are hearing those hymns in new and meaningful ways. Simply stated, Mykal has created a much greater appreciation for this form of "church music" than in the past. The style and the beat may have changed, but the message remains the same. According to Mykal, too often some people fail to accept the presentation of contemporary gospel music, not because of unfamiliarity, but also because the art of it — instrumentation — appears to be secular, forgetting that other genres such as the blues grew out of gospel music.
Mykal firmly contends that if we are stagnant and not able to be adaptable and flexible, then we miss the opportunity to reach the needs of people — to help them grow spiritually. Gospel music, like many other aspects of life, has transitioned. And Mykal, through Standing Up and more amazing music forthcoming, continues to do the same as it aims to preserve the art of praise — through exposure of many styles and expressions but also in its own organizational structure.
Standing Up is about openness and also assuring the needs and hunger of the younger generations are met. Growth is change. Change is a process. Process is a transition. It is about doing what is needed to continue to reach as many through the art of praise.
Band Members
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