In this new entry in our ‘Diamonds In The Rough’ category, we would like to introduce you to upcoming artist Apollo Liberace and his brand new single titled “Smashin”.
R&B trailblazer Apollo Liberace is back with his new single “Smashin,” an atmospheric and seductive release that captures the restless energy of a city after dark. Out now, the track blends spacious electronic textures, steady percussion, and a driving bassline to create a sound that feels cinematic, sensual, and impossible to sit still to.
“Smashin” lives somewhere between a slow jam and a late-night drive. Apollo spends the song locked into a flirtatious back-and-forth with someone across the room, turning attraction into a playful challenge. There is confidence in his delivery, but also an undeniable sense of anticipation as the tension continues building. By the time the “cause an eruption” hook returns for the third time, the destination of the night feels almost inevitable.
Rather than relying on an oversized production, Apollo allows the atmosphere to do much of the work. The spacious backdrop gives his vocals room to breathe while the rhythm keeps the track moving forward. It is smooth without being sleepy, intimate without losing momentum, and perfectly suited for those hours when the streets are illuminated and the night still feels wide open.
The release also represents another step in the remarkable evolution of an artist who has spent his entire life refusing to remain in one lane.
Born in Prince George’s County, Maryland, Apollo Liberace was raised across Maryland, San Antonio, Japan, and South Korea. His constantly changing surroundings exposed him to different cultures, sounds, styles, and perspectives from an early age, eventually becoming a defining element of his artistic identity.
Apollo was already performing onstage by the age of ten, singing material associated with artists such as The Jackson 5 and James Brown while also working on original music with his older sister. Before his teenage years, he had already shared stages overseas, including opening for Lloyd Banks during the G-Unit Far East tour featuring Olivia.
Those early experiences established the foundation for an artist who would eventually move effortlessly between singing, rapping, songwriting, production, and performance.
After returning to the United States, Apollo became part of Minus Gravity, a genre-fluid collective that eventually signed with Capitol Records in 2019. His subsequent evolution into Apollo Liberace marked the beginning of a new creative chapter, one where R&B, hip-hop, futuristic funk, alternative sounds, and high-fashion theatricality could exist within the same universe.
His solo career quickly began generating momentum. “Paradise” surpassed a million views on YouTube, while Apollo expanded his reach beyond music through a main role on MTV and Paramount’s “West Coast Hustle.” His live résumé continued to grow as well, including a 30-date run with Tyla Yaweh, a performance in front of approximately 20,000 people while opening for Lil Wayne at the Illinois State Fair, and a seven-city tour in Japan.
Now, Apollo is building toward his forthcoming album Absolute Cinema, executive produced by Rance Dopson of 1500 or Nothin’. The project represents more than a collection of songs. Apollo approaches music as world-building, creating records that are intended to evoke scenes, characters, emotions, imagery, and entire cinematic experiences.
“Smashin” fits naturally into that vision.
The single is already making an impact, reaching the Top 40 on U.S. R&B radio and providing another indication of the growing audience around Apollo Liberace’s unique artistic universe.
His influences are as diverse as his sound. Prince, Michael Jackson, Frank Ocean and Liberace all form part of Apollo’s creative DNA, alongside a broader appreciation for artists who have turned music into a complete visual and cultural experience. That influence can be heard not only in his music but also in his fashion, performances, visuals, and larger-than-life presentation.
Yet beneath the celestial imagery, theatrical styling, and futuristic soul is an artist fundamentally interested in one thing: creating a feeling.
“Smashin” delivers exactly that. It is flirtatious, energetic, atmospheric, and just unpredictable enough to keep the listener locked in. It feels designed for the drive rather than the afterparty, soundtracking the moment when attraction becomes anticipation and the night begins to take on a life of its own.
With “Smashin” out now and Absolute Cinema on the horizon, Apollo Liberace continues expanding his universe one release at a time.
The Constellation is growing, and Apollo is giving them another reason to keep looking to the stars.
Listen below: