From the bottom of the ghetto to the million dollars homes, from Gino to Jim’s Steaks – I love my city.

I can remember me and brother going to Armand’s Records to buy new music for our Friday & Saturday night $1 parties, then we'd hit the clothes for a few pieces. If you know about Philly, then you'll know The Net, Dr Denim, & Distante’s were all the hot spots to buy clothes.

Words: Matt Innes

MADCAP Records Australia has recently signed Philadelphia rapper J Strong to its ever-growing family of independent artists.

J Strong brings with him a smooth and contemporary sound, producing modern hip hop embedded with a strong R&B sensibility.

His production style has been called unique among his peers and elders in the hip hop scene, and has credits for tracks on labels from Def Jam to Arista.

J Strong possesses a hip hop heritage that puts him in a rare pedigree as an artist, having grown up in the thick of the Philly street scene that saw him chilling with the likes of Will 'Fresh Prince' Smith and Jazzy Jeff.

Here we get to know a little more about J Strong as an artist and a person.

Brisbane heavy rock act MERGATROYD have unveiled the artwork for their upcoming EP, ‘Splitting Hemispheres’.

MERGATROYD signed to MADCAP Records earlier this year and the anticipation is high for this release.

Last week, MADCAP Records Australia announced the signing of Brisbane heavy rock band, MERGATROYD to the label.

This latest addition represents the first entry of a heavy rock act into out catalogue and we couldn’t be happier to have them on-board.

MERGATROYD is a quintet comprised of Darryl Young on vocals and guitar, Aaron Karney on guitar, Mick Maduna on bass and Rhys Edwards on drums.

Shout Out Loud Events have this week announced founding member and original drummer for KISS, Peter ‘The Catman’ Criss is coming to Australia for his final live performances ever.

Peter brings his ‘One Last Time’ dinner show to The Sofitel in Melbourne this May, and will also be appearing at the Australian KISS Konvention for an exclusive photo and signing session.