REALLY Stepping Out. . ., September 23, 2008

With the announcement in early 2008 that the world's leading Caribbean music label, the US based VP Records would be acquiring its closest rival, the UK based Greensleeves Records and with it the deepest VAULT of reggae music in the world, it figured to shake up the industry, to say the least. On one hand, the notoriously INCONSISTENT (although they had gotten much better) Greensleeves would definitely take a far more aggressive stance in improving on their shortcomings (namely releases, which happens to be VP's strong point) and, as VP planned to (and has) keep the label running, their artists figured to gain a far greater level of exposure in the mainstream, particular on this side of the pond. Also, what you would eventually have is somewhat of a super group of reggae music, one which becomes WAY more powerful and mobile than the already high riding VP was alone. And with both labels now being under the same distributional umbrella (which is major label Universal), you now, unlike ever before, have a BRAND of reggae music which is entirely more marketable than EVER before in VP/Greensleeves. On the other hand, the action has, at least seemingly, limited options and opportunities at the highest levels of the game for artists and producers alike as VP can take a stance of `our way or the highway' in signing a particular artist or a producer to an exclusive deal, knowing that the option of going to the next best thing has been eliminated (incidentally, the `third' option, the also UK based Jet-Star Records has taken a SHARP decline in the last couple of years and I don't even think they are releasing new albums at all at this time and their catalogue too may be up for sale at some point, if it isn't already) and an inevitable competitor has yet to arrive at the big time (keep an eye out for ANOTHER UK based label, Cousin's Records). From a strictly listener's point of view and a longtime listener and consumer of both labels, it definitely presented a VERY interesting set of circumstances for me. Greensleeves was always known to have a harder edge of vibes than VP. Where VP was the show and dazzle of the Beenie Man's, Sean Paul's and Lady Saw's of the world; Greensleeves had NO problem signing such different talents as Ward 21, Predator (WHO!), Macka Diamond and ultimately culminating with dancehall lyrics demon Vybz Kartel as far more rough around the edges type of characters. The question almost immediately became how would these two styles of approach mesh together and apart from VP naming one its lead executives, Olivier Chastan, President of the `new' Greensleeves, you had to wonder when we would see evidence of a bit of `exchange' in the two labels.

Meet Mr. Exchange. Near the end of Greensleeves' time before it was sold to VP (it was previously ownded by Zest Music Group) it had switched its focus to releasing more cultural artists in place of its dancehall HEAVY focus it had from before. The label did albums for the likes of Lutan Fyah, Ras Shiloh, Jah Mason, Chuck Fender, Anthony B (soon to be twice), Nasio Fontaine (who was retained by Zest actually and Natural Black (twice) amongst others. Yet, in that time (between 2005 and 2007), the one blast from Greensleeves' dancehall past was an artist by the name of Busy Signal who had attracted so much attention here in Jamaica by in such a SHORT time proving himself one of the most talented hardcore dancehall talents to emerge since Vybz Kartel himself. Busy would have DEFINITELY been a fine addition to VP's stable (and it would subsequently go on to acquire the exclusive services of Busy's close friend and constant sparring partner, CRAZY singer Mavado), however, just as in the case with Kartel a few years prior, it was Greensleeves who landed the DJ and released his more than solid debut, Step Out. Also, as part of Bounty Killer's (who VP would also acquire in 2006) notorious Alliance crew, he would have fit nicely in the fact that besides the Killer, also under contract to VP are fellow members Wayne Marshall, the aforementioned Mavado and Elephant Man (via `co-deal' with US major Bad Boy who is also with Universal to my knowledge). Now, VP has essentially TRANSFERRED the contract of Busy Signal (although he may have only actually signed a one album deal), marking the somewhat historical first DIRECT evidence of an artist going from one side to the other under the new label umbrella, with his sophomore release Loaded. Why Busy Signal? If you don't really follow dancehall music too closely then you should just take my word for it: In terms of talents in the dancehall, in my opinion the number of artists with SERIOUS claim to being AS talented than the ST. ANN born DJ is a group ever shrinking and only consisting of the proven champions of the game (and probably Assassin as well and MAYBE Aidonia). At his absolute finest Busy Signal is a whirling dervish of tongue-twisting dancehall brilliance who, besides the flash alone has developed into an artist who can add a great bit of substance apart from the standard dancehall fare of `girls and guns and ganja'. His rise to prominence can definitely be compared to that of Kartel himself and looking at it from as impartial point of view as possible: At a comparable point of the game in their respective careers, talent-wise, Busy Signal is PROBABLY ahead of where Kartel would have been at a similar point of his career (Kartel STILL gets criticized occasionally for having his focus TOO much on the `three G's of dancehall, but not by me). Loaded is an album which, in my opinion, kind of identifies the constant and ever-present differences between what was Greensleeves and what is VP Records. In stark contrast to the GRIMY style of vibes which was the Step Out album (just go and compare the covers!), an album on which the clean cut style of vibes (particularly on the tune I Love You with Alaine) were lauded as SOMETHING DIFFERENT; Loaded is a SHARP and well oiled machine marking Busy Signal's REAL arrival at the top of the game.

Apart from simply being under a new label, Busy Signal himself has, since the release of Step Out, taken his vibes into a different direction adding more and more conscious and socially aware lyrics. He also somewhat `distanced' himself from the Alliance (unlike Kartel and Aidonia, he managed to remain in the group), placing his own personal management into the hands of producer veteran Shane Brown of Juke Boxx (who also signed n with VP/Greensleeves and currently has his Warning Riddim album out on Greensleeves), who co-helms Loaded alongside Busy himself. Beginning the much anticipated Loaded album is the HEAVY People So Evil from Daseca. The tune is just a WICKED piece aimed at the hearts of all envious, greedy and bad minded people waiting for your fall. The tune is one which definitely marks some kind of growth and maturation in the artist, to the point where, were you to lift it and place it just two years ago back on the Step Out album, I may have actually criticized Busy for being a little attempting to be a bit too big for his own shoes. A very nice way to start the album with the BIG and DARK People So Evil. Up next is the INESCAPABLE (Nah Go a) Jail over Jam 2's ridiculously knocking Cry Holy riddim. The tune LOCKED DOWN Jamaica for quite awhile near the end of 2007 and early 2008. I actually have gotten my fill of it, even before getting to Loaded at all, but you still have to give the tune it's respect as, at the end of his career, if we're not calling Jail one of the biggest tunes of Busy's career altogether, then he will have undoubtedly become one of the, if not THE, greatest of all time. Jail is MASSIVE! Completing the opening for Busy Signal's Loaded is the album's first official promotional vehicle, the downright unusual Tic-Toc. Tic Toc is currently receiving the type of interest and spins that VP/Greensleeves can now afford to place on its releases (complete with a BEAUTIFUL video) as the song is literally playing all over the Caribbean and apparently internationally as well. The tune is the biggest and most obvious example of more `glossed' version of the artist as you could NEVER expect to hear such a tune from Busy, before or after his maturation, it almost seems as if it was especially aimed at the crossover market as it (with is WEIRD Asian hip-hop style of riddim) comes on a rapper's cadence (something Busy just doesn't normally do) and hopefully will do some damage amongst that crowd. Its not my favourite tune here (not even close), but still amongst the most interesting without question.

Busy's type of song like that would be more on the insanely popular Wine Pon di Edge which, with a few other tunes here represent the real hierarchy of tunes for the Loaded album. Pon Di Edge is BY FAR a more stereotypical style of dancehall dance tune unlike Tic Toc. The tune spent MONTHS at the top of the local charts (and may STILL be in the general vicinity), and, again, although not my favourite tune, you definitely have to respect it and what it has done. The same has to be said for Real Jamaican, one of but two official combinations alongside reggae legend Mykal Rose. This tune happens to actually be one of my favourites from Loaded and one of Busy's finest over the past couple of years. It actually says a great deal about Busy's progression as an artist that he is now capable of holding a vibes alongside one of the real legends of the game as he and Rose create something MASSIVE strictly for Jamaica, but the international heads are certain to appreciate it as well. You also have to be keen on the current bubbler Unknown Number (if you pick up the single of Tic-Toc, you'll also receive this tune) a VERY clever hit from Busy which is about. . . The Unknown Number. Its better than I'm describing it, definitely check it out. All that being said, Loaded really pinnacles with a tune which is one of the oldest on the album, but the one which is almost CERTAIN to go down as one of the biggest pieces of the era, These Are The Days, for Daseca. The tune was an underground SMASH for quite awhile locally before it even made its way to Jamaican airwaves and ultimately, off the island altogether. The tune actually took quite awhile to grow on me, but you REALLY have to listen to the lyrics here. It was probably the tune which marked Busy's re-arrival on the scene (he had taken a bit of a break for awhile) and his newfound direction in the game and an overhaul of his already LETHAL arsenal. MASSIVE! Also, from the first half of the album, I'll mention Fast, Fast, Fast, Fast, which really snuck up on me. The high-tech new school dance tune is probably the best of its kind on the album for my opinion (yes, better than both Tic Toc and Pon Di Edge), listen to it and relive the type of dance tune the earlier RAW version of Busy Signal would have done. He's still capable of that type of material and the evidence is on Fast, definitely. Check the ridiculous My World (aka Gangsta`s Paradise), Busy's cut of Lefside's HYPNOTICALLY KNOCKING Wild Out riddim. My World is SERIOUS! One of Loaded's real hidden highlights and, for the dancehall heads, having heard a lot of the best material here, it's the tune (if they haven't spun it into oblivion already) which will probably stick out as that riddim just creeps into the brain and hooks itself in, big time! HUGE tune! Speaking of huge. . . Check Cool Baby. Every once in awhile Busy Signal will throw out something of a `gimmick' tune which makes very little actual sense, but almost ALWAYS seems to work for him (check Pon Di Pole, a PURE soca tune from the Step Out album and a next tune name Rasclart, OR just keep listening to Loaded and check the next tune). Cool Baby is no different. The tune is BY FAR one of the COOLEST songs I've heard in a long time. Built over the almost completely absent Freestyle riddim, Cool Baby is pure GENIUS Busy Signal at his absolute best veering all over the place, but not really deviating too far on one of the real highlights of Loaded. There's also Knocking At Your Door which begins (and remains for quite awhile) basically a (VERY) intense discussion over John John's (aka Mr. Lady Saw) epic Shootout riddim. The tune eventually ascends to the heights becoming one of the album's better tunes, but I've again, well had my full of the tune. Loaded ends with the spanking new Murderer alongside the very popular Alborosie. I had LONG marked Murderer as a tune I probably wouldn't like as, for one reason or another, while I respect his undeniable skill, I just don't vibe too well with Alborosie. However, credit is definitely due as I wouldn't call the high profile combination one of my favourites of Loaded, but it still is very good at the end (Alborosie actually does FAR better on the addictive hook than on his verse) and a pretty nice note on which to send out one of the most IMPORTANT albums of the year (and check Busy`s final full verse as he shows just GLIMPSES of that fast chat which made him so popular originally).

Overall, I'll say it flatly, Loaded is NOT as good as Step Out. That album was one which was `loaded' with trips and changes along the way, but all of them seemed to play to Busy Signal's strengths and really made him look better. Loaded is an album, however, which has such a GRAND potential to catch on with the mainstream and, I THINK by design, in the process, not alienate hardcore dancehall heads COMPLETELY by including some of Busy's more recent powerful material which has already proven itself amongst that crowd. Loaded is an album which will have every chance to succeed and will be under the microscope to see if typical reggae promotion at its highest level, notched up several degrees can really generate greater sales. If international heads pay attention, what they'll be getting is one of the most clever, most original and downright most talented names to hit hardcore dancehall in a VERY long time.

View More HIP HOP and R&B

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Sizzla Kalonji Continues To Makes Waves With The Release of Two Albums, Addicted and The Journey Plus Lots Of Upcoming Projects!

Sizzla Kalonji Continues to make waves with the release of two new albums, Addicted and The Journey, plus lots of upcoming projects. The Journey is currently the number 1 selling album on Greensleeves. Upcoming projects include his first time performing in Africa which will be held in The Gambia, West Africa on December 25th, 27th, and 29th 2008. A documentary highlighting his work and talent will also air on Bet J on November 1st at 2:30pm

Addicted was released in the United States in September through a collaboration between himself and an American20production team called MBIG Music from Florida. They released two riddims featuring Kalonjiʼs vocal cuts (No Bed A Rose on the dancehall Shaolin Temple riddim and Watch Over Me on Rootal riddim) and the Exceed Of Love single in 2007. Kalonjiʼs new album features 14 tracks, from dancehall to hip hop vibes, including three combinations with female singer Ca libe and three others with Spragga Benz. Check out The Addicted Video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhYew9AP2Ns

The Journey Album is a combination of hits from some of the 55 albums Sizzla Kalonji has released over a 10 years period and DVD. This album compiles 22 of his career highs giving new buyers & dedicated fans something very special. It includes the lead track 'Take Myself Away' from the recent Damon Dash released album 'The Overstanding' & 3 brand new killer cuts 'The Solution', 'Africa Prepare' & 'Sow More Love'. There is outstanding production from Bobby Digital, Xterminator, King Jammys, Don 'Vendetta' Bennett & Maximum Sound. & features the cream of Jamaican musicians, Sly & Robbie, Firehouse Band & Jazzwad. Currently itʼs the number 1 selling album on Greensleeves. http://www.greensleeves.net/products/7793

On November 1st check out a documentar y on Sizzla Kalonji which will air on BET J at 2:30pm, "When The Walls Talk." The highlight of the year will feature Sizzlaʼs first performance in Africa on December 25, 27th, 29th 2008. Itʼs an African Explosion, Rise To The Occasion with Betts Promotion, Rebel T Music, and Kalonji Records at the Bakau Independence Stadium featuring Jesse Jendah and Princess Menen. Part portion of the proceeds will be donated to Wesley Primary School in Banjul and Bakau Primary School where 50 children will have tuition scholarships for 1 year. For press related questions contact, publicist Olimatta Taal 1-876-437-2889, 011-220-931-9869, 1-347-280-7872, Jerrejef2@yahoo.com. For information on Kalonji Records contact 1-876-620-9073 or www.myspace.com/sizzlakalonji.

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International Reggae singer Jah Cure will be a special guest on BETJ's new programme, Soundcheck on November 8. Jah Cure along with his Iyah Cure band and backup singers shot the programme at the CPTC studio on an acoustic set in front of a live audience.
On November 8 at 8:30 pm, BETJ audiences worldwide will see the Danger Zone recording artiste perform favourites like 'Jamaica', 'My Life', 'Freedom', 'Longing For', 'Journey' and 'Reflections'.
BETJ's new Soundcheck programme will also feature other top Jamaican artistes. Tune in for a wonderful experience!!

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When you have worked on several gold and platinum selling hits as a producer or musician what have you become? A super producer/musician is the answer to the question. Very few Jamaican producers or musician might fit into the super category. However Paul Henton otherwise known as Computer Paul is one such producer and musician, he has worked with the who’s who of reggae and dancehall music, including Sean Paul, Shabba Ranks, Beres Hammond, Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Buju Banton, Maxi Priest, Shaggy, Jimmy Cliff, Inner Circle, Tanya Stevens, Monyaka, Baba Maal and a host of other top reggae and dancehall music stars.

In a career spanning over two decades Computer Paul has lent his talents to projects that have spawned several international hits such as I Can See Clearly Now by Jimmy Cliff, Mama Africa by Akon, Bad Boys and Sweat (a-la-la-lo-long) by Inner Circle. He has also played the beats on some of the most memorable Dancehall hits including Sizzla’s No Time To Gaze, Buju Banton’s Rampage, Richie Spice’s Grooving My Girl, Louie Culture’s Gangalee and Capleton’s Critics. In recent times Computer Paul has set up his Boot Camp recording studio which is located in Harbour View. Since setting up Boot Camp he has continued to work on a number of projects for established acts.

He has also dedicated himself to working with a lot of emerging acts as well such as Stevie Face, MBC (Make Boyz Cry), Timmi Burrell, Patriot, Nature and 14K. This decision has already began to began to bear fruit as Stevie Face has scored a big hit with Tell It Like It Is on the Boot Camp label, this song has been getting massive rotation on radio stations locally and abroad since its release. Tell It Like It Is has also hit all the major Reggae charts in Jamaica and overseas. MBC has hit the charts both locally and abroad with songs such as Busted and One More Try.

Torie-Shae’s Production
Mobile 876 - 409 – 0848
bigrallo@gmail.com

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CaribPR Newswire, NEW YORK, NY, October 20, 2008: Top Caribbean furniture, electronics and appliance chain, Courts Caribbean, will debut in North America for the first time when it opens its doors in the Caribbean immigrant-populated borough of Brooklyn, New York at month`s end.

The chain, known for hassle free shopping of the latest in furniture, electronics and appliances, will open its doors at 2822 Church Avenue in Brooklyn, between Nostrand and Rogers Avenues on October 31st, bringing economic empowerment to the Big Apple despite the current economic turmoil in the U.S.

Courts Caribbean say they are following on the well-known tradition of connecting families and friends, and will offer the unique service of island delivery to loved ones in the 12 Caribbean countries the chain operates.

`Wherever your relatives live in the Caribbean where we are located, the company will offer you hassle free shopping of the latest in furniture, electronics and appliances, plus guaranteed free delivery of your purchases,` officials said. They explained that Caribbean immigrants in New York will be able to place their orders at the Brooklyn location for back-home delivery. Those orders will be sent to the specific Caribbean countries for delivery to the recipients.

Courts Caribbean officials will be in New York on October 30th, for the official media kick-off and VIP reception, set for the Brooklyn Marriott. This will be followed by a ribbon cutting ceremony at the new store. Courts Caribbean USA will be officially open for business on October 31st.

Courts’ corporate mission remains to add value to people’s lives everyday and through this new location, the company will continue its fifty-year commitment of serving all Caribbean people wherever they live.

The Courts opening comes on the heels of its summer debut at the largest carnival in North America, the West Indian Labor Day event, and at Irie Jamboree, in Queens, NY.

The company is being aided in its New York launch by Hard Beat Communications, the minority certified PR and AD agency specializing in the Caribbean Diaspora and Caribbean markets.

ABOUT COURTS:

Established in the region since 1959, Courts is the region’s largest furniture, appliance and electrical retailer. The company is well known throughout the Caribbean, and its name is synonymous with quality, affordable furniture and appliances, flexible credit options as well as innovative marketing promotions. The company has been a market leader since its inception and its bright yellow, red and blue buildings dominate major towns across the many Caribbean islands.

The company currently operates 87 stores in 11 Caribbean countries including, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia, and Trinidad.

PRESS CONTACT:

Felicia Persaud

Hard Beat Communications

718-476-3616

felicia@caribpr.com

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A star has risen. Christopher Martin, the talented singer/performer from Back Pasture in St. Catherine who shot to instant fame and recognition shortly after winning the coveted Digicel Rising Stars title in 2005, is fast becoming one of the most sought after performers on the Jamaican music landscape.

With a slate of singles permeating radio and the Jamaican music charts including Giving It and Jamaican Girls, Christopher created history when he became the first Digicel Rising Stars alumni to score a hit single on any chart in Jamaica.

‘It has been a wonderful journey so far, filled with new and promising encounters. It is also challenging but I love what I am doing, so it makes that much easier’, Christopher remarked when asked about the journey from being an unknown to a popular personality.

Christopher’s growth as an artiste and an individual ever since he shot onto the scene in 2005 is quite evident. His vocal chops have improved drastically, he is now under the guidance of the Big Yard label which is one of the most prolific musical entities in Jamaica, and he has gained a lot of respect from his peers.

‘I’ve grown tremendously and I am more confident in my performance. My voice also seems more richer and I know exactly what it is I am capable of. I think I have gained the respect from others, due to the amount of work that I have been putting in’, said Martin.

Martin was born on Valentine’s Day in 1987 to parents Cleveland and Maxine Martin. He attended the Watermount All-Age School and later the St. Jago High School. It was during his high school years that his love for the dramatic arts and sports developed. He participated in various sporting activities including football and he even participated in the School’s Drama Festival where he was awarded the best actor award in 2003. That same year he was named Mr. St. Jago High and he also earned the sectional prize for Most Talented.

Additionally, Martin has won numerous awards for singing, throughout his high school years. In 2005, he was awarded the Gold Medal in the Jamaica National Skills competition in singing.

Christopher graduated from St. Jago High school in 2003. After winning the Digicel Rising Stars competition, Martin participated in Digicel’s Christmas promotions in 2005. His debut single Love is all We Need formed part of the promotional campaign.

Martin’s subsequent releases included Conscience, Christmas in Jamdown featuring the Katalys Crew, My Love for You, Take My Wings, Tonight, Giving It, and Jamaican Girls. He has worked with a number of top producers in the reggae/dancehall arena including Robert Livingston (Big Yard), Arif Cooper, Shane Brown and Christopher Birch.

He has performed on a number of stage shows, events, functions and entertainment events across Jamaica and even overseas. One of his major accomplishments in 2006 was signing a contract with Blue Cross of Jamaica. He will make appearances on the behalf of the company until June 2006. Martin’s parents have been the source of his motivation to pursue his musical ambitions. ‘My parents and my peers at school really motivated me. They always said that I would be a star’, he said. He said his main objective is to bring the music and his interpretation of the music to farther heights. ‘I want every household across the world to know and love my music and where I come from’, Martin added.

Martin is presently studying Business Management and Accounting at the University of Technology (UTECH) in Jamaica. His lifelong goal is to become an entrepreneur.

Martin lists singing, reading, socializing and baking among his hobbies. His website which can be seen by logging on to www.chrismartin.com.jm is up and running. His fans can interact with him via that medium. Very soon, a fan club will be officially launched where fans can get closer to him.

Source:http://www.bigyardmusic.com/index.php?option=com_bigyard&artist=48&show=biography&Itemid=20

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A MAORI GIFT OF THANK YOU TO BOB MARLEY

Gold-selling reggae artiste, Ruia, recently came to Jamaica to film a Bob Marley documentary for the Mäori of New Zealand. It serves as the latest example of reggae's global reach beyond the major metropoles of New York, London and Tokyo. The documentary will air in New Zealand early next year in Ruia's native Mäori language. The documentary's translated title is A Gift of Thank You to Bob Marley and should air early 2009. It centres on the role reggae played in reigniting pride in the Mäori people. "Bob Marley's music came at a very important time and to tell you the truth Bob Marley woke me up, along with the messages of Marcus Garvey and Rastafari. There are similarities between our prophets and your culture. ..... And to tell you the truth, Rastafari Reggae Jamaica has influenced an initiation of a renaissance in our country....of our people are no longer lying down anymore, and being submissive. We now want to get up and challenge things," said Ruia earlier this month at Bookophila cafe in Kingston. Mäori are the original inhabitants of the New Zealand, they came before the Europeans, but have been colonised by the Europeans. "Today we own about seven per cent of the land," said Ruia whilst being filmed by his documentary crew. 
Some years ago Ruia's record label got the rights to translate 20 Marley songs into Mäori. He delivered a personal copy to the Bob Marley Museum. "We got to meet Stephanie Marley and gifted over the CDs with a covenant between our people and the Marley nation and the Jamaican people, and we also a carved a treasure box that we gifted to her. She has allowed it to be displayed in the Marley Museum." Ruia wants to broaden a cultural exchange of artists between both countries. "Part of the reason we come here to make connections with different artists. We were in Tuff Gong the other day, and we met about six artists and four or five producers. And we met two other producers. So we are looking at collaborations," he said. Jamaica is a sort of Mecca for Reggae and culture, he said: "Kiwi people love Reggae and love Jamaica, because of Bob Marley, Toot and the Maytals, Burning Spear, the Abyssinians all of them down to Buju Banton. So many of our people see Jamaica as a holy place and dream of coming here."

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Evolution of a True Artist, October 29, 2008

Let me start off by saying that I am totally biased, I love John Legend! He could sing the alphabet and as long as he does so beautifully, I will love it. I will say that this album is not my favorite one but it is good. The album is different, just as his second was different from his first one. This album is not even a mixture of the two: It's Evolution. John has indeed stepped from behind the piano as Andre 3000 suggests and showed us that he could do something a little more up tempo and do it refreshingly well.

Let's see... the album starts with Green Light, which is his single with Andre. When I first heard it on the radio I thought it was nice. Now it's one of my favorite songs to dance to.
It's Over: The song is honest. John is questioning himself on why he keeps calling her when he knows that it is over. He openly admits that he doesn't want to be who she wants him to be. This song features Kanye and that friggin' vocoder machine. The machine I could have done without but Kanye presents his rhyme in his usual fun witty style. Overall a good track.
Everybody Knows: At first not one of my favorites but an easy listen. Then John hit one of the most beautiful notes, made me listen, and now it stays on repeat. The line, "I still can't believe you," turned this song around. Another point of honesty comes when he wishes his best and says "I guess" followed by a beautifully written hook. I forget the name of the girl he works with who does his background vocals but together they always sound great.
Quickly: Definitely has an 80's feel to it. Brandy makes a guest appearance on this track. Nice.
Cross the Line: I like it. Another 80's type of beat. He does his whispering growl (as I call it). It's enticing.
No Other Love: Another banger for me. The reggae rhythm makes me sway my hips. Estelle sounds wonderful. This Time: John sits back behind the piano and gives us what he does best, a beautiful honest ballad that tells of what he would do different if he could get that one more chance. I would take a man back if he came to me with this type of honesty.
Satisfaction: Another nice song to groove to.
Take Me Away: Not my favorite but I am sure it will grow on me.
Good Morning: I heard this on his Green Light video and I wanted more. John speaks of saying that one last "Good Morning" in a special way. Oh what a way to wake up!
I Love, You Love: This song is different. One of those off beat type of tracks where John just croons and expresses his love. I like it. The guitar is really nice on this one.
If You're Out There: You all know John is good for that one inspirational song. Sure it's a little cheesy but I get his point.

My favorites: Everybody Knows, This Time, No Other Love, It' Over, and Good Morning

Overall the album is strong. I wouldn't skip over any song. But some songs definitely carry more weight than the others.

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One of 2008's Best R&B Albums Easily, October 2, 2008

By	Musac Critic

Jazmine Sullivan caught my ear for the first time when I heard the exceptional first single from FEARLESS, "Need U Bad". The voice for me resurrected Lauryn Hill, who is one of my very favorite singers. Jazmine possesses soul in every song that she sings on FEARLESS, whether it is contemporary R&B or full on neo-/retro- soul favoring say Amy Winehouse. Face it, Jazmine can blow! This exceptionally consistent debut album that will probably be underrated as far as commercial sales ultimately is one of my favorite urban releases of 2008. Jazmine has successfully blended a plethora of styles and maintained sultry alto vocals all in the mix. There isn't a "flat" or bad song on FEARLESS in my mind.

"Bust Your Windows" opens the album brilliantly given and old school vibe the Mark Ronson could've easily produced for an Amy Winehouse album. In fact, here I believe Sullivan somewhat tries to embody that Etta James, Winehouse sound with her "extravagant" vocals. She sounds killer here that for sure. On "Need U Bad", Missy, as much as I hate to say it, isn't necessary at all as far as appearing on the track (yes she helped to write that brilliant song). Jazmine sounds fantastic with the tropical inspired beat supporting her. With that aside though, the track still sounds as if it could've easily appeared on a 70s soul album. "My Foolish Heart" keeps the momentum going with its great production work and with Jazmine's phenomenal vocal performance. "Lions, Tigers & Bears" keeps up the pace putting production absent of drums behind Ms. Sullivan. The result is vintage soul.

"Call Me Guilty" is great also, while "One Night Stand" is absolutely one of the best of FEARLESS. "After The Hurricane" is one of the best R&B ballads I've heard for sometime, while "Dream Big" is vintage Missy Elliott songwriting genius. Sure, it's a big clunky compared to some of the tracks, but it is still "great". "Live A Lie" is also strong, mostly because it is one of those R&B tunes where it is "out there" as far as the music theory behind it (for all the music nerds like me). "Fear" floats on by, though it is the soulful "In Love With Another Man" that steals the who as perhaps the VERY best ballad of FEARLESS. "Switch!" ends the album on a soulful, 70s pop-inspired high note.

This is nearly the perfect debut. The production doesn't sound cheap, even if it does sound like say, an Usher album. This album lays very well and vocally, Sullivan is phenomenal. Fantastic home run for Sullivan!

 Amazon:  HIP HOP and R&B
 

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Lucky Dube (1964 2007)

South African born and globally revered, Lucky Dube is one of Africa s most beloved artists and one of reggae s most powerful voices. His music reached millions through his astonishing 22 albums recorded in English, Zulu and Afrikaans many of which have been record breakers with phenomenal sales from around the globe.

Retrospective is a tribute to the life and career of Lucky Dube who was tragically killed on October 18, 2007 in a Johannesburg carjacking. While its release marks the anniversary of his death, it more importantly celebrates the life work of a groundbreaking artist who helped effect profound social and political change in South Africa.

Curated by Tom Schnabel (KCRW), Retrospective features a faithful chronology that represents the different phases of Lucky Dube s career from his first release in 1981 to his last in 2007. It captures the genius, profound hope and the enduring truth of Lucky s message and the beauty in his music. Includes the bonus DVD Lucky Dube Live In Concert from 1992.

Posted by impoetryious at 10:19 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Whenever you're able to catch a potentially BIG artist at close to the start of their career its always a very interesting thing to see exactly how they and their backers go about developing their skills. In reggae music is specific its even more interesting as, sans a particularly HUGE and life-altering event or set of circumstances, you know that when a very talented new artist comes around, you may very well be `stuck' with that artist for the rest of their lives! Also in reggae, the learning curve or the gestation period is very different than other forms of music because when a young artist reaches (ESPECIALLY if they prove themselves to be very talented) the level of prolificacy and their overall release schedule will have to be very high to keep the attention of the public. And that music will be ALL that they are expected as, unlike in the states, a musical artist isn't exactly going to disappear to Hollywood for a few years to work on their acting career. Some of the recent artists who we're now REALLY getting to experience them entering their respective primes are very interesting. Take Portmore singer I-Wayne for example (very fitting here). When I-Wayne initially reached on the strength of his MASSIVE (One Man) Can't Satisfy Her tune, there were people proclaiming him (myself included) (myself STILL included) as the second coming of the late and great Garnet Silk. I-Wayne has more or less lived up to the initial hype and now probably nearing in or even surpassing one hundred released tunes and two albums deep into his still young career, he has shown himself to be a HARSH roots singer with hidden and twisting levels underneath the exterior (REALLY listen to an I-Wayne tune and you'll see just how HARSH the high pitched voiced singer can get). There has also been the case of Warrior King who before I-Wayne burst onto the scene with a BIG tune, in his case the SWEET Virtuous Woman hit. Warrior King, although these days isn't as extremely popular as one might have imagined, to my ears remains one of the most all around talented young artists in the game and he has rather willingly scribed his name within the top fifteen or twenty top roots talents in Jamaica. We've also had more typical cases such as Turbulence who, although WELL within a bad stretch in terms of vibes these days, at any given moment is capable of pulling a hit out of his bag of tricks and has proven himself capable of being one of the most active (both recording and touring) reggae artists altogether; and Fantan Mojah, who really made his name on the strength of producing multiple hits. He's still doing just that. ALL of these names are virtually household names to reggae heads all over the world and they'll be with us for a VERY long and exciting time to come.

An even younger and potentially BIGGER entrant amongst that group has been young Gyptian. You could argue (and I'm not) and many have that out of all of the young reggae artists today, Gyptian has THE MOST potential. The singer initially caught a hold of the public's ears and imagination much in the same fashion as Mojah in producing several hits and having them run virtually at the same time. Gyptian attracted two way attention definitely, speaking in terms of groups not necessarily available ALL the time to artists like the aforementioned group unless they're doing a particular tune; but the ladies have REALLY taken an interest in the young lover's rock/roots singer, thus making his audience very diverse and seemingly very eager and willing to support him. VP Records tested that eagerness and willingness of Gyptian's fan base and they didn't disappoint as in the middle of 2006, having signed up the singer's services (just as they did with Warrior King and I-Wayne in the preceding years) to a multiple album deal, VP Records released My Name Is Gyptian, his official full length album debut. While it received what can definitely be called MISXED reviews from most critics, it was still apparently quite commercially successful and went to help establish his international name more and more, while also exposing some more tunes to the local heads which would prove also to catch on a bit (such as the album's biggest tune, Beng Beng) as well. My Name Is Gyptian also received quite a bit of mainstream attention as well; I saw and heard of the album being mentioned in several international publications and, for a reggae album, as is to be expected when dealing with VP Records, it was promoted as well as one could possibly hope. Earlier this year after announcing their purchase of chief rival Greensleeves Records, VP also announced the resigning of Gyptian (and Busy Signal) and announced his forthcoming sophomore album, to be released in later in the year. Well, its later in the year and VP/Greensleeves now brings forth Gyptian's second full length album, I Can Feel Your Pain, named after one of the singer's bigger singles in the two years between. In that two years he has pretty much remained consistent, there was quite a bit of time away from the studio (which is to be expected, on the road touring for the album), but he has scored with hits along the way, perhaps most notably the WICKED My Fadah Seh, which VP apparently loved so much as to include it on their annually big compilation, Reggae Gold last year. There were also some nice tunes in the interim like Too Late and the very nice Higher which caught on just a bit (okay maybe not so much, but I LOVED them both), and likewise, through other releases young Gyptian has still shown himself to be quite YOUNG and still well within the scope of needing to be brought along carefully and developed as an artist. To my ears, I Can Feel Your Pain STILL finds him in that mode of developing, although what has changed is that he (and VP) has DEFINITELY found what they intend to make his style become as he has well become the marketable `ladies' man' of modern now. In a career marked by different, unusual and interesting things, in I Can Feel Your Pain, Gyptian drops what is easily it's most interesting creation to date.

Earlier this year, VP Records released the album Be Prepared from another potential young superstar in Trini upstart singer Jamelody. Be Prepared was VERY uneven as, although it definitely went a far way in showing off the pipes of Jamelody, it was also an album which left the scope of reggae and went to R&B, pop, even alternative and especially Gospel. While it doesn't go in all of those directions (THANKFULLY) I Can Feel Your Pain well reminds me of Be Prepared. Getting things started for Gyptian's second album is one of the real highlights of I Can Feel Your Pain, the LOVELY Keep Your Calm. The tune is one of the conscious selections on the album and is definitely a style which Gyptian has spent the most time cultivating throughout his young career. The tune is one which speaks to the masses not to lose our collective in the face of the HORRIBLE injustices that the system and some of our own brothers and sisters are committing against us. It has a VERY heavy vibes and for the first few spins it really sounded (lyrically speaking) like something you would hear I-Wayne singing as it definitely has a few lyrical twists here and there. Very nice way to get things going here. You could very well make the argument that the second tune is even stronger than Keep Your Calm as Nobody No Cry has a WONDERFUL and LUSH big uplifting vibes and sound to it and it really catches the senses quite immediately. I wouldn't have expected VP to have placed two of the bigger roots tunes at the beginning of the album (I actually expected the second song to be either the first or second on the final tracklist) considering where it ends up going in by its end and while I can argue track placement, you can't argue with Nobody No Cry the song AT ALL. The tune is just a big vibes and really the type of tune which keeps Gyptian's head high amongst the roots crowd (myself included). Completing the A+ start of I Can Feel Your Pain the album, is the album's finest tune overall, I Can Feel Your Pain, the song. What was most interesting to me way back when I first heard it was that the tune comes over the same Cloud Nine riddim which last year (oddly enough) backed I-Wayne's tune Book Of Life which also happened to be the title tune for his very own sophomore album. It's anyone's guess who outdoes the other as both tunes are absolutely SPARKLING. As the first (and the best) lover's tune on the album, Gyptian fires a very romantic tune for the ladies and for the guys if you happen to have a special lady, it'll work just as high for you (as it did for me). The vibes are just SWEET as Gyptian show is in his arsenal which perhaps no other young artist can do at this point: Deliver a showstopping lover's tune, almost at will. MAMMOTH tune.

Get into the middle of I Can Feel Your Pain and see the oddities begin to come forth before (thankfully) righting itself at its end. The tune Love Against The Wall virtually lost me when I saw its title printed! The tune itself isn't much at all and it comes across something which I THINK might qualify as alternative and Gyptian has a bit of a vocodered style going on as well. Its just an odd tune to my ears. Continuing the strangeness is the tune which immediately follows Love Against The Wall, World Caving In. The one area of Gyptian's game which I think needs the most developing is his lyrical ability. World Caving in, although we get the point (not too hard to get) you almost wish you didn't get it because it just has a very kind of incomplete feel to it (despite the fact the I have to admit the chorus is VERY nice). I'd like to hear Gyptian rewrite and re-record World Caving In in a couple of years, it could be MAGIC. I Can Feel Your Pain's one official combination is another very poppy/alternative sounding tune featuring (unknown to me) New York based singer Yanique Sasha. Sasha's vocals are nice and of course Gyptian's vocals are nice, but the tune is like a digital duet. With Gyptian (in case you haven't figured it out by now) `the simpler, the better'. The tune may receive quite a push at some point and I'd definitely love to hear more from Sasha, but definitely further within a reggae scope. Although the title would suggest otherwise Thanks & Praise is another downer for me. The tune almost isn't even there! Its like a big instrumentals with Gyptian mumbling through! With a techno kind of sound which develops into something in itself which isn't bad at all , the tune just never really gets going for me at all. Too Badmind was absolute GOLD for my ears which by that time were in desperate search of anything resembling a one-drop and it gave me EXACTLY what I was needing. The tune speaks of all those who give you a fight when you're doing well (especially in Gyptian's case) and it has a very nice and bouncing vibes and it had me wondering why I couldn't get at least a few more of these. Well I could, check the next tune as Gyptian goes Dennis Brown to open the very strong herbalist anthem, Sensi. This song has a dubbed out kind of old school vibes. it's a changeup in the positive way (aside from that STUFF that happened in the middle), but its not actually a very strong tune and the lyrics DEFINITELY need a bit of work (especially the first verse) on a tune Eek-a-Mouse would be proud of. I had taken it upon myself to all but dismiss BOTH More Money and More Love by virtue of the back to back similar titles but both ultimately prove to be amongst the very best I Can Feel Your Pain has to offer. For its part, More Money is BEAUTIFUL social tune over an outstanding nyah backed riddim which really slowed down the vibes and presented Gyptian in much the same fashion as some of his earlier hits like Mama and Serious Times. It isn't on that level, but a nice tune still. More Love is a nice call for love in the world over a downright sensational one-drop and I was just wondering if I was the only one noticing just how strong the tune was again. This album and Gyptian as a whole can be so much better when he is allowed to create himself around a more straight forward reggae style and I'm not try to just categorize him and dismiss mixing in other vibes but when you see which tunes he scores hits normally with and what the people appreciate, they USUALLY come in this form. More Love is excellent. Closing the album is another very piece and probably my second favourite tune overall, Guide Me. On the song Gyptian calls for help from His Majesty in both good times and bad. Couldn't think of a better sentiment to end the album on and luckily Gyptian pulls it together at the end .

Overall, I'm very inclined to (and I'm going to) call My Name Is Gyptian a stronger album than I Can Feel Your Pain. Now this definitely comes with a bit of a condition: You may very well like poppish and R&B-ish and alternative-ishness mixed within your tastes of reggae music. I just don't. Particularly when it comes to the lessening of a more straight forward type of tune, at which the artist so clearly excels. But, with a young artist (Gyptian actually turns twenty-five years old in four days of this album's release date), you can expect some uneven times. VP Records seems to want to make young Gyptian the next Beres Hammond and while he may have that type of POTENTIAL, he's miles away from that at this point. I Can Feel Your Pain is an album still fairly close to first gear for an artist whom when he reaches his absolute peak, will be traveling at the speed of light.

Posted by impoetryious at 10:13 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

The man who changed the face of Reggae music with his melodic, laid back approach, finally gets his due on this much anticipated career spanning anthology.
The first collection of its kind to provide an extensive, comprehensive overview of his impressive catalog of hits, Essential Roots Anthology features 32 of Half Pint's best loved songs, jam packed into an impressive 2 disc set.

All the groundbreaking hits are here, including Too Rude and Loving (covered by the Rolling
Stones and Sublime, respectively) and Substitute Lover - currently redone by the new rising star Estelle as No Substitute Love, which is rapidly burning up the charts and becoming a world-wide smash further proof of the lasting genius of this Reggae giant with the diminutive name.

Posted by impoetryious at 09:56 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Track Listings

Posted by impoetryious at 09:44 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

"The VOID UNION is a collective of like-minded musicians and friends worldwide, brought together by their love of traditional Jamaican musical styles, jazz, and groove-oriented music. This project was conceptualized and created as a musical outlet and way for them to strengthen relationships both personally and musically." This band consists of former Westbound Train drummer, Jesse Hayes, who is currently drumming for The Toasters as well! This album is truly a throw back to the spirit of original Jamaican recordings and just a refreshing atmosphere change to the cold and dry studio recording of today's musical ventures. "Their idea was to capture the essence of a live studio recording (in the style of those early Jamaican records!). The solution, to record the five core members live in one room, while leaving open spaces in the arrangements, for guest musicians to add their parts in the future. We spent the past year setting up shop and recording our friends in houses, greenrooms and empty clubs throughout the country." You be the judge of their accomplishments, with guests like Lynval Golding of The Specials, Rick Johnson of Mustard Plug, Tom Riley of The Drastics, Mike Brown and Jim Conti of Streetlight Manifesto, Craig Akira Fujita of Pressure Cooker, Hayley Jane of Hayley Jane And The Primates, Chris Rhodes of The Toasters and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones Dan Regan of Reel Big Fish, this album is sure to "fill the void" in today's ska music! Track List Glass House Mr. Big The Rub The Long Road Plain Jane Chippewa Man Nicer Every Time Johnnys Rocksteady Blues For Willie Tell Me Future 86 Atlas Strange Manor.

Amazon:  HIP HOP, REGGAE and R&B  

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 To wahch video Click Here: http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1544453258/bctid1805615662

As people of culture we want music for every moment in our lives, when music touches our soul we tell others about it and when music touches our culture we embrace it. With great anticipation we welcome to our culture of music, Sen I Sennon. Hailing from Quinam Road, Saparia and one of Trinidad’s most versatile artist is Mr. Ray Sennon as he is known to his family and friends. Sen I Sennon grew up in a very musical home, his mother taught him to sing, as well as his 3 brothers and 2 sisters who also express their talents musically.

At the young age of 16 Sen I made his impression on the entertainment industry with his first Soca song written by his mother and himself. He then made a decision to broaden his horizons by introducing Reggae and Pop to his genres. To master his art he listened to the styles of Bob Marley, Garnet Silk, Anthony B, Sizzla, Capleton and Johnny Clark to mane a few.

In 2006 Mr. Sennon took incentive and moved to Jamaica the home of Reggae music for a year and six months, where he was blessed to work with Dean Fraser and Bobby Digital to record songs like Broken Love and True Man a Rasta. These hits will be part of his album entitled Fire Lion Project.

When asked how he feels about the music he makes Sen I stated “I don’t make music for myself, I make music for poor people, people that need music to just get thru the day”. He has inspired many youths thru music urging them to be aware to the changing times and stay in school, because knowledge is power. The best advice came from his brother Kemau who told him “when your break comes make sure you are ready for it”, and we are all awaiting Sen I Sennon’s Album.

Mr. Sennon is currently recording at Yaiquab Studios, alongside producers like Micey Moore, Yaiquab, FX, Ade Jones to name a few, he is adding the finishing touches on his debut album, which will be available this fall. His first single entitled ‘Jahlisa’ was inspired by his encounter with young lady and her name stuck with him all day so he decided to write a song about a girl named Jahlisa. He has been fortunate to bless the stage with artists like Luciano, Tarus Reiley, Determin, Marlon Asher, Jahspa, Khari Kill, Jah Bami, Purple Man and many more. He has taken music to another level with his diverse style and eclectic persona.

In 2008 Sen I performed at Dat Nah Mek It where he met his current management team Empress K Inc. Now we can see him up close and personal at events such as Higher Heights, Jahspa Unplugged, Obama Fest, Reggae on the Water, Fashion in d Yard and much much more.

Sen I Sennon resides in Pensylvinia with his family, and as most artist on the rise he said “I’m single now but Jah has the right, overstanding empress for me”. Look out for his debut album Fire Lion Project this fall for Empress K Inc.

Empress K Inc.

www.myspace.com/empresskmanagement
www.myspace.com/senisennon0

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THE HIP HOP CULTURE CENTER IN HARLEM ANNOUNCES "THE IMPACT OF WOMEN IN HIP HOP"  View Photos file

CINDY CAMPBELL, JAZZY JOYCE, SHA ROCK, MC LYTE, DANYEL SMITH, GAMILAH SHABAZZ, SHERI SHER OF MERCEDES LADIES, AMANDA DIVA AND DREAM HAMPTON SOME OF THE FEW TO BE HONORED

NEW YORK, NY – September 2008 – The Hip Hop Culture Center announces The Impact of Women in Hip Hop, an exclusive event honoring women who have leaped across barriers and blazed a trail in the Hip Hop industry.

Set to take place on Saturday, October 4th at The Hip Hop Culture Center, 2ND Floor of the Magic Johnson Theater on 2309 Frederick Douglass Blvd in Harlem USA, the 2008 first annual Tribute will induct legends officially into the Hip Hop Culture Center, while recognizing the generation of women following in their footsteps. Featuring The Hypnotized Dance Company and The Hand, an African drum and dance group, The Ladies in Hip Hop Fashion Show, Lyrical Showcases, Film Screenings and a Graffiti Tribute. The Hip Hop Culture Center of Harlem will make history with this Multi-Media Exhibition, bringing the evening to a culmination with The legendary Ralph McDaniels who will be video mixing the best of women in Hip Hop, showcasing his one of a kind archive of all of the females who have impacted Hip Hop.

Cindy Campbell: The talented 1st Lady of Hip Hop. Cindy Campbell is the catalyst for the humble beginnings of Hip Hop. Cindy had a vision to organize a back to school party.  Little did she know that her party, DJ'd by her now famous brother, the legendary founder of Hip Hop, Kool Herc was to become known as The Beginning of Hip Hop.

Sha Rock: Sha-rock, the 1st Pioneer Luminary Emcee, originally from the group known as The Funky Four Plus 1, has created a legacy for generations of females to look up to. Her trailblazing work as a Hip Hop artist deserves its rightful place in history.

Gamilah-Lamumba Shabazz: The fourth of Malcolm X's daughters, Gamilah has continued her father's legacy of empowerment and education through her work with urban youth and her use of Hip Hop as a platform for her message of unity and change.

Sheri Sher of Mercedes Ladies: Sheri Sher is a founding member of The Mercedes Ladies, the first all-female MC and DJ crew in the history of hip hop. Sheri has also worked in the psychiatry and criminal justice fields, and she frequently speaks to young women about self-empowerment. She lives in Harlem U.S.A. and has recently published Mercedes Ladies, the novel.

Jazzy Joyce:   This Bronx native began breaking down "male only" DJ doors in the early 80's. Inspired by her family and the emerging Hip Hop scene, she bought a pair of turntables, honed her skills and never looked back. Since breaking down the gender door she has made a name for herself that you're sure to recognize. She has also blazed the path for up and coming young women interested in breaking into the Hip Hop world.

Tamekia Flowers: Founder and president of Hip Hop 4 health, a non profit organization dedicated to use hip hop to promote health awareness. Hip Hop 4 health partners with health industry professionals to educate tweens (8-12) and teens (13-17) on health issues through interactive workshops, health fairs, concerts and empowerment seminars.

Amanda Diva: An accomplished poet, journalist, radio & television personality, scholar (she has a Master's degree in African-American Studies), singer, and lyricist, Amanda Diva is definitely the best kept secret in female emcees. 

Danyel Smith: Smith is a former editor at large for Time Inc. and the former editor in chief of Vibe. She has also written for the Village Voice, Rolling Stone, Spin, the San Francisco Bay Guardian , and the New York Times. Smith is on the part-time faculty at the New School University and wrote the introduction for the New York Times' bestseller Tupac Shakur.

Dream Hampton: A Hip-Hop journalist who in 1990 became the first woman on staff at The Source magazine, she has penned essays on misogyny, police brutality and global issues. As a contributing writer at Vibe, she wrote career defining articles. Her essays and articles have appeared in a dozen anthologies.

The Impact of Women in Hip Hop will celebrate the successes and contributions of women in Hip-Hop through art exhibitions, film screenings, special performances and key note speeches. Additionally, this event will be used as a platform to educate and empower the community. There will be a voter's registration drive, free HIV screenings, and countless resources on site to promote heath and wellness. 

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KOCH RECORDS TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM BY DISTURBING THA PEACE ARTIST I-20

By Koch

DISTURBING THA PEACE PRESENTS...I-20: BLOOD IN THE WATER WILL BE RELEASED ON OCTOBER 28TH ALBUM FEATURES LUDACRIS, PLAYAZ CIRCLE, LIL KEKE AND MORE

(September 29, 2008) - New York, NY - KOCH Records is happy to announce the release of Disturbing Tha Peace Presents...I-20: Blood In The Water. The album will hit stores on October 28th, 2008 and features appearances by Ludacris, Playaz Circle, Lil Keke and more.

Based in Decatur, GA, I-20 has one of the deepest and most imposing voices in hip-hop. He met a prestardom Ludacris in 1997, which led to him becoming a member of the multi-platinum rapper's Disturbing Tha Peace collective. Disturbing Tha Peace released their debut album Golden Grain in late 2002. The album sold over 620,000 units and debuted at #1 on the Billboard Rap Chart. I-20 quickly went to work on and released his debut solo album, Self Explanatory, in April 2004. The album scanned over 100,000 units. The second DTP album Ludacris presents...Disturbing Tha Peace was released in December 2005 and sold over 627,000 units.

Ludacris says I-20 is "The most aggressive highly underrated MC in the game."

With his second solo endeavor Blood In The Water, I-20 showcases his distinct baritone voice and southern hardcore wit. Powered by the lead single and video, "Really Like Her" feat. Ludacris, I-20 is back and once again taking his place among the best of Atlanta's hardcore rappers.

Posted by impoetryious at 08:40 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

In-Demand Jobs That Make Green Industries Go by                                                                                 Kristina Cowan, PayScale.com

 With high energy costs bearing down on individuals and companies alike, green industries offer viable solutions to our world's energy fix, and plenty of jobs. Experts point to a host of in-demand green jobs, a handful of which are below, noting that as the industries and technologies constantly evolve, so too will these jobs.

Wind-Energy Developer
The U.S. wind-energy market is very competitive, drawing new players and offering growth opportunities in all sectors of the industry, according to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). In especially high demand are wind-energy developers, who do the front-end work, including finding plots of land for wind farms, collaborating with meteorologists on wind assessments, and working with land owners and local regulatory agencies and power companies, according to Chris Beck, president of Global Recruiters of Boulder in Colorado, which specializes in recruiting for renewable energy and sustainable industries.

"We see developers who may have engineering, law, construction backgrounds. It really is a fusion of a lot of different disciplines," Beck says. They can earn salaries between $110,000-$180,000, he notes, and often have large bonuses based on successful projects, which can easily add 50 percent or more to their salaries.

Wind Construction Project Manager
After a developer lays the groundwork for a wind farm, the construction manager "takes over and gets the thing built," Beck explains. These positions manage the daily activities of constructing wind farms, such as road work, foundations, collection systems, substation, interconnection, and commissioning, according to AWEA.

"They usually have an engineering background, and oftentimes they have experience building other energy-generating systems, like a fossil fuel plant," according to Beck. Their salary range is between $110,000-$130,000, he says.

Sustainability Director
Sustainability directors devise ways for companies to be more environmentally sensitive through such methods as reducing a company's "carbon footprint." The footprint measures the amount of greenhouse gases produced by burning fossil fuels for electricity, heating, etc., according to CarbonFootprint.com.

Directors' broad range of responsibilities fall into two categories, says Richard Eidlin, the Colorado-based business outreach director at the Apollo Alliance, which promotes clean energy and a reduction in dependence on foreign oil. There's an internal side of the job that looks holistically at how a company operates and creates ways to boost the bottom line through energy efficiency. On the external side, the director interacts with suppliers, regulators and products designers, as well as customers, investors, and advocacy groups.

Eidlin says the jobs are fairly high-paid, earning $100,000 and up, and usually require a background in science or engineering, depending on the company. "People interested in science, society, and policy would find this position of interest, because you have to keep track of all three to do well," he explains.

Energy Engineer
Energy engineers help companies reduce their energy costs, often focusing on making buildings more energy efficient. These positions are in high demand, according to Beck, as more companies strive for energy efficiency. Mechanical engineers are good candidates for these jobs; they simply need to learn about energy efficiency tools and techniques, Beck explains. He says their salary range is between $65,000 and $120,000.

If you're looking for a full-time energy engineering gig, your best bet may be at a larger firm with a bigger budget, according to Eidlin.

Environmental Engineer
Using biology and chemistry principles to develop solutions to environmental problems is the work of environmental engineers, who seek to limit the effects of acid rain, global warming, car emissions, and ozone depletion. "Assignments include the development of long-range community, regional, or facility plans to serve the public and protect the environment," according to Alexandra Levit's new book, "How'd You Score That Gig?: A Guide to the Coolest Jobs-and How to Get Them." "Environmental engineers are the ones behind the scenes, working every day to keep our planet from deteriorating more than it already has."

The Bureau of Labor Statistics says environmental engineers should see employment growth of 25 percent between 2006 and 2016, much faster than the average for all occupations. PayScale salary data shows the annual median salary for environmental engineers with five to nine years of experience at $61,142.

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Click Here: http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com/ to watch Movie.

About:

The Zeitgeist Movement is not a political movement. It does not recognize nations, governments, races, religions, creeds or class. Our understandings conclude that these are false, outdated distinctions which are far from positive factors for true collective human growth and potential. Their basis is in power division and stratification, not unity and equality, which is our goal. While it is important to understand that everything in life is a natural progression, we must also acknowledge the reality that the human species has the ability to drastically slow and paralyze progress, through social structures which are out of date, dogmatic, and hence out of line with nature itself. The world you see today, full of war, corruption, elitism, pollution, poverty, epidemic disease, human rights abuses, inequality and crime is the result of this paralysis.

This movement is about awareness, in avocation of a fluid evolutionary progress, both personal, social, technological and spiritual. It recognizes that the human species is on a natural path for unification, derived from a communal acknowledgment of fundamental and near empirical understandings of how nature works and how we as humans fit into/are a part of this universal unfolding we call life. While this path does exist, it is unfortunately hindered and not recognized by the great majority of humans, who continue to perpetuate outdated and hence degenerative modes of conduct and association. It is this intellectual irrelevancy which the Zeitgeist Movement hopes to overcome through education and social action.

The goal is to revise our world society in accord with present day knowledge on all levels, not only creating awareness of social and technological possibilities many have been conditioned to think impossible or against "human nature", but also to provide a means to overcome those elements in society which perpetuate these outdated systems.

An important association, upon which many of the ideas of this movement are derived come from an organization called " The Venus Project" directed by social engineer and industrial designer, Jacque Fresco. He has worked nearly his entire life to create the tools needed to assist a design of the world which could eventually eradicate war, poverty, crime, social stratification and corruption. His notions are not radical or complex. They do not impose a subjective interpretation in their formation. In this model, society is created as a mirror of nature, with the variables predefined, inherently.

The movement itself is not a centralized construct.
We are not here to lead, but to organize and educate.

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A Provocative Account of the Rise of Hip Hop's Most Controversial Collective

DVD and Soundtrack CD to Debut November 18th, 2008

DVD Offers Revealing Never-Before-Seen Interviews and Rare Concert Footage; CD Includes Classic Wu-Tang Clan Tracks and Solo Material

Los Angeles, California — The definitive story of one of the most influential rap crews of all time, Wu: The Story of The Wu-Tang Clan comes to DVD on November 18th, 2008 from BET Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Entertainment.  An authorized account of the spectacular rise of nine young men from obscurity to the pinnacle of recording industry success, Wu: The Story of  The Wu-Tang Clan sheds new light on their story with exclusive archival footage, interviews with the surviving members of the group and a wealth of material not available anywhere else.  A must-have DVD for every hip-hop and rap fan, Wu: The Story of The Wu-Tang Clan will be available for the suggested retail price of $22.99 US.

Simultaneously, Loud Records / Legacy Recordings, a division of Sony BMG Music Entertainment, is set to release the soundtrack companion CD, Wu: The Story of the Wu-Tang Clan.  The disc will feature such key Wu-Tang classics as "C.R.E.A.M." and "Protect Your Neck" alongside solo material from Raekwon, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Ghostface Killah, and Cappadonna.  The CD will be available at both physical and digital retail outlets on November 18, 2008.

In 1993, nine young men — Method Man, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Raekwon, RZA, GZA, Ghostface Killah, U-God, Inspectah Deck an Masta Killa -- emerged from the Staten Island projects to form one of the most successful rap groups of all time: The Wu-Tang Clan.  For over a decade, they operated as a fluid alliance of exceptionally talented MCs, establishing themselves as one of the most significant musical collectives of the era, as well as individual artists who challenged convention with thought-provoking lyrics and beats. The Wu-Tang Clan went on to sell more than 20 million albums and become the original global hip hop franchise, lending their talent and name to music, comic books, clothes, online games and more.

The ambition, talent and innovative spirit that drove The Wu-Tang Clan's unique contributions to the hip hop scene also made its members multi-platinum-selling solo artists and record producers, Grammy winners, screenwriters, corporate spokespeople, entrepreneurs and motion picture composers. The group launched the acting careers of Method Man ("The Wire", Garden State, How High) and RZA (American Gangster) and brought attention to the controversial life and tragic death of Ol' Dirty Bastard.  Directed by Gerald Barclay, this awe-inspiring documentary also features industry notables: Bonz Malone, Popa Wu, Bobito Garcia, Ralph McDaniels, Gano Grills and 3rd Rail.

Wu: The Story of The Wu-Tang Clan was named Best Documentary at the 2007 Hip Hop Odyssey Film Festival and was an Official Selection at the London Black Film Festival, the American Black Film Festival, the Pan African Film Festival and the Sao Paulo International Film Festival.  Billboard magazine will host a special screening of Wu: The Story of The Wu-Tang Clan at this year's UrbanWorld Film Festival on September 12.  Additionally, the documentary will have its broadcast premiere on BET on Thursday, November 13, 2008.

About BET Networks

BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom, Inc. (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B), is the nation's leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience.  The primary BET channel reaches more than 84 million households according to Nielsen media research, and can be seen in the United States , Canada and the Caribbean .  BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of businesses extensions: BET.com, a leading internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news.; BET Digital Networks – BET J, BET Gospel and BET Hip Hop, attractive alternatives for cutting-edge entertainment tastes; BET Event Productions, a full-scale event management and production company;  BET Home Entertainment, a collection of BET-branded offerings for the home environment including DVDs and video-on-demand; BET Mobile, a service venture into the lucrative world of ring tones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, an extension of BET network programming for global distribution.

ABOUT PARAMOUNT HOME ENTERTAINMENT

Paramount Home Entertainment (PHE) is part of Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment.  PPC is a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands.  PHE is responsible for the worldwide sales, marketing and distribution of home entertainment products on behalf of various parties including: Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks Studios, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, CBS, PBS and Hasbro and for providing home entertainment fulfillment services for DreamWorks Animation Home Entertainment.

ABOUT LEGACY RECORDINGS

The multiple Grammy-winning Legacy Recordings, Sony BMG Music Entertainment's catalog division, produces and maintains the world's foremost catalog of historic reissues, an unparalleled compendium of thousands of digitally remastered archival titles representing virtually every musical genre including popular, rock, jazz, blues, R&B, folk, country, gospel, Broadway musicals, movie soundtracks, ethnic, world music, classical, comedy and more.

A peerless resource encompassing the wealth, breadth, history and diversity of recorded music dating back to the birth of the medium, Legacy Recordings is home to the works of hundreds of musical artists of the 19th, 20th and 21st.

Press:
Evelyn Santana
BazanPR
(212) 643-4664 x22

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ACTIVIST AUTHOR promises to "transform" the troubled youth of the Hip Hop generation with new book

Atlanta, GA  October 11, 2008 -- Author Supreme Understanding is on a mission. The 26-year-old activist is convinced he can change the most troubled youth for the better, if he can get enough of them to pick up a book.

In How to Hustle and Win, Supreme Understanding tells, in often graphic detail, stories like that of the infamous Jamaican Shower Posse, Harlem's heroin kingpin Frank Lucas, and former gang leader Stanley "Tookie" Williams. In between and throughout these tales, he weaves life lessons and guidance, turning sordid stories of crime and urban despair into an educational experience. Whereas Robert Greene's bestselling 48 Laws of Power used iconic figures from classical history to illustrate guidelines for personal success, How to Hustle and Win is filled with the exploits of rappers, gangsters, radicals, and revolutionaries. This is a new kind of "street lit" title, and its intent is the motivation and achievement of a new kind of reader.

How to Hustle and Win comes at a time when urban fiction, or "street lit," has become immensely popular, but youth violence and incarceration continue climbing toward all-time highs. While much of urban media appears to encourage reckless behavior instead of warning against it, How to Hustle and Win fills a much-need void. Supporters believe the book promises real change. One such supporter is "Freeway Ricky" Ross, the man held responsible for introducing crack-cocaine to America in the 1980s. According to Ross, now a staunch anti-drug advocate, "How to Hustle and Win is a powerful book that every hustler, male or female, should pick up and read.  Not only is the book inspirational, but it will also enlighten the minds of our trapped and confused youth."

Because of the book's ability to bridge the gap between street culture and social transformation, How to Hustle and Win has been adopted by a number of non-profit organizations serving troubled youth, in addition to being incorporated into probation programs serving juvenile offenders and prison literacy campaigns. The author also offers reduced rates to parent groups, community organizations, and corporations interested in donating books to neighborhood teens. "Every day," the author says, "I get dozens of emails telling me how the book has begun to change someone's life…or the life of their child. But the responses that affect me most are when young people tell me that this is the first book they're read in years."

How to Hustle and Win is available in bookstores, online, and at Hip Hop retailers throughout the US, Canada, and the UK. The author, Supreme Understanding, is available for interviews, speaking engagements, and contributions to print media.

ISBN# 978-0-9816170-0-8                                                                                               Contact: Rahiem Shabazz
Phone: (404) 404-484-2706
E-mail: RahiemShabazz@yahoo.com

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50 CENT SCHOOLS ASPIRING BUSINESS MOGULS IN THE ART OF SUCCESS IN THE NEW MTV SERIES "50 CENT: THE MONEY AND THE POWER"

SET TO AIR ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6TH AT 10PM ET/PT

(Trailer)   http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/289822/nows-your-chance.jhtml#id=1597144

New York , NY (October 15, 2008) – 50 Cent (aka Curtis Jackson) was the top earning rapper in 2007, earning an astonishing $150 million, according to Forbes magazine. He parlayed a stake in Vitamin Water to a 9-figure payout and he continues to be the single savviest businessman in the music game. As he puts it, "If I was just my image, I wouldn't have made this much money." 50 Cent's success is nothing less than the American dream and this show is his coming out party as an inspiration to a new generation of street-savvy entrepreneurs. His forthcoming book, "The 50th Law," co-authored with Robert Greene ("The 48 Laws of Power"), will share the lessons he learned as a street hustler and how those lessons allowed him to become the massive success he is today. In "50 Cent: The Money and the Power," hosted by and starring 50 Cent, he will share these lessons with a lucky few. The winner, the young man or woman whose ideas and drive make them worthy of 50's support, receives a $100,000 investment from 50 Cent himself. "50 Cent: "The Money and the Power" will premiere on MTV on Thursday, November 6th at 10pm ET/PT.

"50 Cent: The Money and the Power" contestants worked together while also living  at "Camp Curtis," a Brooklyn warehouse where they slept in tents named after the five boroughs of New York City. The 14 wannabe moguls, personally hand-picked by 50 Cent, compete in inventive challenges that 50 Cent helped to create, while mastering the skills that took the rapper from his hard-knock life to the top of corporate America .  Each week, 50 Cent will narrow down his search by testing the candidates on the knowledge he has taught them while pushing them to their limit.  Viewers will be treated to special appearances by LL Cool J, Aubrey O'Day of Danity Kane, Lloyd Banks and radio personality and blogger Miss Info.  And since no business mogul can work alone, 50 Cent recruited his G-Unit label mate Tony Yayo to be his "Underboss" and right hand man. Yayo kept contestants in line for 50 Cent throughout series.

Ultimately, the last individual standing will, in 50's eyes, possess the strongest combination of business flair, strength, ambition, and fearlessness to win the $100,000 and help achieve their dream and pave the way to future mogul status. "50 Cent: The Money and the Power" was mostly shot in New York City (in and around Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens , etc...) and will have ten one hour episodes.

In addition to his record label, G-Unit Records, 50 Cent has enjoyed enormous global success across a vast array of entrepreneurial ventures, including videogames, books, clothing, footwear, beverages, personal care products, automotive and more.  50 Cent is set to deliver his fourth major label album, Before I Self Destruct (Shady/Aftermath/Interscope), on December 9, 2008. Accompanying the album is the gritty feature length film, Before I Self Destruct, which 50 Cent wrote, directed and starred in.

"50 Cent: The Money and the Power" is Executive Produced by 50 Cent. Michael Hirschorn, Stella Stolper and Michael Bloom of Ish Entertainment are Executive Producers. Sacha Jenkins and Gabe Alverez are Co-Executive Producers. Chris Lighty and Laurie Dobbins of Violator are Co-Executive Producers. Bruce Klassen is Supervising Producer. Tony DiSanto, Liz Gateley and George McTeague are creative executives overseeing project for MTV. "50 Cent: The Money and the Power" is produced by MTV and Ish Entertainment.

About Ish Entertainment

Ish Entertainment was launched in April 2008 by former VH1 execs Michael Hirschorn and Stella Stolper. Ish, which has a first-look deal with MTV, VH1, CMT and Logo, operates as a joint venture with Lionsgate, which handles Ish's international distribution. The first projects to come out of that deal are "Paris Hilton's My New BFF," "50 Cent: The Money And The Power," a docu-series with artist T.I., all for MTV; and a Christmas special starring Larry the Cable Guy for CMT. Ish Entertainment marries formats and talent focusing primarily but not exclusively on non-scripted programming, continuing a strategy that has helped VH1 launch an unprecedented string of hit shows with top talent. Ish Entertainment is based in Los Angeles and New York .

About MTV

MTV is the dynamic, vibrant experiment at the intersection of music, creativity and youth culture.  For over 26 years, MTV has evolved, challenged the norm, and detonated boundaries -- giving each new generation a creative outlet and voice that entertains, informs and unites on every platform and screen.  On-air, MTV has been the number one rated 24 hour ad-supported cable network P12-24 for 16 straight years.  Online, MTV.com scored double-digit growth in 2007 and MTV launched ten dynamic online communities and six new virtual worlds.  On the go, MTV Mobile is the #1 music brand in the wireless space – delivering 90% more streams than in 2006.  And MTV's successful sibling networks MTV2, mtvU and MTV Tr3s each deliver unprecedented customized content, super-serving music fans, college students and young American Latinos like no one else.   MTV is part of MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms.  Wanna know more?  Come on in… www.mtvpress.com.

# # #

My-lan Beauford
Mgr. Digital Publicity

Fanscape, Inc. ****NEW ADDRESS****
360 N. La Cienega Blvd.
Los Angeles , CA 90048
T: 323.785.7781
F: 323.785.7101
http://www.fanscape.com/blog

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Positive pollution is an attractive combination of hip hop, poetry, and cosmic soul that the listner is guaranteed to enjoy 

author: E-Dilla

The production quality is great, high quality. At times the vocals can be too loud or not loud enough (which may be an engineering thing). Their songs are uplifting and a few are very avante gaurd -which was refreshingly nice. The tracks/songs featuring Zzaje were very good!

POETREE began in February 1999 as a collective of artists, actors, poets, emcees and singers who were faced with a cloud of negativity, exploitation, and redundant rhetoric that plagued each of their respective art forms. POETREE is an acroynym meaning, Peoples Organized Entertainment Teaching Righteous Education Everywhere. Their message has reached all types of audiences, from the open mics, to the theater, to the schools, to the studio, and most importantly to the people. Phenom, Brother Mike, Isa Starr, and Rhythm, collectively, strive to create positive music that entertains the mind and the soul. The group has continued to work throughout the Chicago community and the country. They have performed with some of the greatest artists in poetry and music such as: Common, Mos Def, Amel Larrieux, Sonia Sanchez, Talib Kweli, N'Dambi, Cee-Lo, The Roots, Roy Ayers, Erykah Badu, Dead Prez, The Last Poets, KRS One, Big Dady Kane, John Legend, and Floetry. POETREE released their first (independently-produced) album entitled "Positive Pollution" April 2004 which sold out of local stores in 5 months. POETREE has been nominated the Chicago Music Award for Best Spoken Word/Poetry Performance in 2002, 2003, and 2005. They were also rewarded a position in the Illinois Arts Council traveling Roster for their Artistic Expression Workshop which targets at risk youth. The workshop teaches youth to implement hip-hop culture and African empowerment as a means of violence prevention and to obtain knowledge of self and history. POETREE wants to spark a revolution in music with "Positive Pollution". For Booking: Contact Natalie McIntosh, Manager, at poetreechicago@excite.com

 Source:http://cdbaby.com/cd/poetree                                                         Amazon:  HIP HOP and R&B

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Better Black Television (BBTV) has added a new program to the network's growing roster. "Teens Real Talk" (TRT) will give teens an opportunity to express their ideas and feelings in order to help and advise both parents and teens on coming-of-age issues.

As a father and the only African American chairman of a television network, Percy Miller (formerly Master P) is committed to staying in touch with the community and its youth. He said, "This show is the home base where teens can freely connect with their peers, share their stories without fear of judgment, and collaborate with their families and community leaders to discuss resources and organize for social justice. It's time for Barack Obama to be the first African American president and it's time to empower the next generation of our nation's teens to be more responsible."

By discussing issues and topics in an open forum, the show aims to enable teens to affect the world in the most positive way through focusing their vision. Teens will be challenged to say "NO" to drugs, teenage pregnancy, crime, negative cycles, and violence, and "YES" to family values, education, financial literacy, wholesome teenage activities, and healthy relationships, lifestyles, and environments.

The show provides universal access to inform and equip teens through communication and information offered by special guests, teachers, doctors, volunteers, coaches, religious leaders, and influential role models. TRT is committed to the free expression of all people.

"The difference between this show and other teen shows is we're taking this one on the road, to the schools, to the churches, to the communities, to the people to talk about real issues and find real solutions," said Miller. "Education is what changed my life and I want to give teens across the country a wake-up call before it's too late; not everybody gets a second chance and it's easier to catch up now than to catch up later.

"We will also visit incarcerated teens in juvenile halls who are seeking answers and solutions. We have teamed up with major corporations and sponsors that share our vision of change and positivity. Our goal with this show is to preserve our future leaders."
Teens Real Talk is the TV show that's making a difference.

Also in production is the family-friendly original sitcom titled "Uncle Willy's Family," a show about a Vietnam veteran who comes to California from Louisiana in order to raise his brother's grandchildren. The 'country boy' makes life entertaining, educational, funny, and spiritual.
It's time for change, it's time to empower our teens and families, and it's time for Better Black TV.

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Actor-comedian D.L. Hughley has inked a deal with CNN net to host his own show on the network that will offer a skewering take on news and world events.  The show, set to air on Saturdays at 10 p.m. ET beginning Oct. 25, will feature Hughley and guests riffing on politics, entertainment, sports and pop culture.  The show will include one-on-one interviews with newsmakers and the reporters covering them.

"I’m a big fan of both of those shows," Hughley said about Jon Stewart ("The Daily Show With Jon Stewart") and Stephen Colbert ("The Colbert Report"), "but I’ve got a different skill set. I’m not going to parody a news show or a news anchor. My show will reflect my views on things just as their shows reflect their views."

"D.L. is a very thoughtful, well-informed guy with unpredictable views, and I’ve always admired his comedy," said CNN's president Jon Klein. "The basic premise of the show is, what if a guy like him was let loose in the CNN building for a weekend after the lights went off?"

Veteran producer Mitch Semel will be the executive producer and showrunner.

The most trusted name in news on CNN will soon be D.L. Hughley.

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David Alan Grier's character-driven sketch magazine series, "Chocolate News," debuts Oct 15 on Comedy Central.  The "In Living Color" alum and Tony Award-nominated Grier is the creator, executive producer and host of the series which takes on a variety of contemporary topics from a decidedly African-American perspective where everyone and everything is fair game. In addition to hosting the series, Grier will also portray multiple characters within the series' investigative reports, which will be presented by a cast of three correspondents.

"This has been my dream show because every other show that I've been on has been someone else's vision that I have been trying to interpret," said Grier.  "Even on "In Living Color" where I had the most freedom, probably, of everything I've done, it still was filtered through Keenen's vision. You know, so this one I wrote the original pilot, created it myself, and submitted it."

The debut episode features a story on platinum-selling rap artist Phat Man (portrayed by Grier) with a politically incorrect music video PSA promoting the "No Child Left Behind" act. The episode includes the recurring segment, "Can I Flow?" in which Grier presents a topical comedic editorial/rant. This episode's "Can I Flow" focuses on the death of Hip Hop and Rap as Grier argues, "We should have seen the signs when Ice Cube went from 'Kill at Will' to 'Are We There Yet?'" Also featured is a report on Poet Laureate Maya Angelou (played by Grier) reciting a poem she has composed to celebrate Obama's nomination. The poem begins innocently enough and then takes a decidedly "Chocolate News" twist with lines such as, "You have a mocha choke hold on the American Dream..."

Other surprising and revealing reports scheduled to be presented by Grier this season include: unmasking the shocking news that the super group KISS was originally black; "Fat Black Momma Syndrome," an investigation into the recent trend in Hollywood films of excessive "fat black mama" characters; "Vitahood," a report on Thelonias, founder of the "Jackie Robinson Empowerment Agency" who has devised a way to get drug addicts healthy by mixing vitamins in their illegal drugs; and "Tranny Wreck," a report on Candelabra, a cross-dressing transsexual who was once an aspiring NBA player but now spends his time competing in transgender beauty pageants.

The magazine format is a departure for Grier.  "I personally wanted a different way to do sketch. A kind of way to do comedy that I didn't really see, especially from an African-American point of view on television. And just a fresh approach," she said.  And for me, instead of creating a show that I know and I've seen, and it's a black version of that show, I wanted to try to come up with a new way to do it."

Trained in Shakespeare at Yale, Grier began his professional career on Broadway as Jackie Robinson in "The First." He joined the cast of "Dreamgirls" and went on to star opposite Denzel Washington in "A Soldier's Story," in both the theater and film versions. Grier starred on Broadway in "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" and has also performed at the New York Shakespeare Festival in productions of "Richard III" and "The Merry Wives of Windsor" in Central Park. Grier's network television credits include "Life With Bonnie" opposite Bonnie Hunt, "DAG" as the title character, "In Living Color," "Damon," opposite Damon Wayans and in the miniseries "The 60's" and "King of Texas" for cable television.  In addition, Grier has gained recognition for his numerous feature film roles, including "BADASSS!", "The Woodsman" opposite Kevin Bacon and Mos Def, "15 Minutes," "Boomerang," "Bewitched," "Jumanji" and Robert Altman's "Streamers."

"Chocolate News" is executive produced by David Alan Grier, Robert Morton, Fax Bahr and Adam Small and independent production and management studio Generate's Peter Aronson and Jordan Levin. Gary Mann is the executive in charge of production for Comedy Central. The debut episode of "Chocolate News" is sponsored by Take-Two.

Source:http://www.blacktalentnews.com/artman/publish/article_1998.shtml

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Funky Four Plus One (also known as Funky 4 + 1) was the 'first' Hip-Hop/Rap group from The Bronx, New York, United States to receive a recording deal. They were notable for having a female MC, and were the first Hip-Hop/Rap group to perform "live" on a national television broadcast. Jazzy Jeff from Funky Four Plus One is not the same artist as DJ Jazzy Jeff from DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince. When Jazzy Jeff was setting up a solo career after the (3rd) Funky 4 split up around 1983 he sued Jive Records (who had subsequently signed DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince) and he won a lawsuit over the rights to the name "Jazzy Jeff".

Formed in 1977, the group was the first hip hop group to have a female MC, Sha Rock. Their most significant hit was the nine-minute "That's the Joint," which was sampled by the Beastie Boys on the song "Shake Your Rump." "That's the Joint" was sampled from A Taste of Honey's "Rescue Me". Their other notable recordings incuded the almost sixteen-minute "Rappin' and Rockin' The House", and Jazzy Jeff's recording of "King heroin", from which a beat was sampled for use in the theme of the "The Apprentice" which taken from the O'Jays' "Money". The group never recorded a full studio album.

, the group was the first hip hop group to have a female , Sha Rock. Their most significant hit was the nine-minute "That's the Joint," which was sampled by the on the song "That's the Joint" was sampled from A Taste of Honey's "Rescue Me". Their other notable recordings incuded the almost sixteen-minute "Rappin' and Rockin' The House", and Jazzy Jeff's recording of "King heroin", from which a beat was sampled for use in the theme of the "" which taken from the O'Jays' "Money". The group never recorded a full studio album.

, the group was the first hip hop group to have a female , Sha Rock. Their most significant hit was the nine-minute "That's the Joint," which was sampled by the on the song "That's the Joint" was sampled from A Taste of Honey's "Rescue Me". Their other notable recordings incuded the almost sixteen-minute "Rappin' and Rockin' The House", and Jazzy Jeff's recording of "King heroin", from which a beat was sampled for use in the theme of the "" which taken from the O'Jays' "Money". The group never recorded a full studio album., the group was the first hip hop group to have a female , Sha Rock. Their most significant hit was the nine-minute "That's the Joint," which was sampled by the on the song "That's the Joint" was sampled from A Taste of Honey's "Rescue Me". Their other notable recordings incuded the almost sixteen-minute "Rappin' and Rockin' The House", and Jazzy Jeff's recording of "King heroin", from which a beat was sampled for use in the theme of the "" which taken from the O'Jays' "Money". The group never recorded a full studio album., the group was the first hip hop group to have a female , Sha Rock. Their most significant hit was the nine-minute "That's the Joint," which was sampled by the on the song "That's the Joint" was sampled from A Taste of Honey's "Rescue Me". Their other notable recordings incuded the almost sixteen-minute "Rappin' and Rockin' The House", and Jazzy Jeff's recording of "King heroin", from which a beat was sampled for use in the theme of the "" which taken from the O'Jays' "Money". The group never recorded a full studio album., the group was the first hip hop group to have a female , Sha Rock. Their most significant hit was the nine-minute "That's the Joint," which was sampled by the on the song "That's the Joint" was sampled from A Taste of Honey's "Rescue Me". Their other notable recordings incuded the almost sixteen-minute "Rappin' and Rockin' The House", and Jazzy Jeff's recording of "King heroin", from which a beat was sampled for use in the theme of the "" which taken from the O'Jays' "Money". The group never recorded a full studio album.

They were the first hip hop group to appear on a national television show, Saturday Night Live, in a 1981 episode hosted by Deborah Harry (some have mistakenly reported that Run-DMC was the show's first rap appearance- in fact they were first to perform on MTV some years later).

The original members were The Voice of K.K. aka K.K. Rockwell (Kevin Smith), Keith Keith (Keith Caesar), Sha Rock (Sharon Green), Rahiem (Guy Todd Williams). Rahiem later left the group to join Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five. Sha Rock temporarily left as well, and they were replaced by Lil' Rodney C! and Jazzy Jeff, who became the 'New' Funky Four and with the return of Sha Rock who became the Plus One More.

Shortly afterwards they switched to Sugarhill Records, losing the "Plus One More" and adding 4 + 1 suffix. Prior to this cast D.J. Mark The 45 King would act as Breakout's record boy after Pookie D, locating and passing records up to the decks as Breakout requested them. They made their debut for Sugarhill in 1980 with "That's The Joint", a song arranged by jazz-funk organist Clifton Jiggs Chase. Their performances at Bronx Club parties included full blown dance routines.

After a discrepancy with Sugarhill, Lil` Rodney C! and KK Rockwell left the group and started "The Original Double Trouble". At which time Rodney C! would marry Angela (Angie B) Brown of The Sequence fame aka (Grammy Nominated) Angie Stone. Jazzy Jeff went on to have a solo career.

In 2008, their song "That's The Joint" was ranked number 41 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop

Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funky_Four_Plus_One

Posted by impoetryious at 07:21 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

On Wednesday, October 15th 2008, a peaceful protest outside the third Presidential Debate at Hofstra University on Long Island was met with violence and misconduct by police.

Iraq Veterans Against the War had a clear mission that night: to ensure that the issues most important to Veterans would be at the forefront of the debate. With over 4,183 service members having been killed in Iraq (at the time of the protest), it's unforgivable that the candidates have been allowing the Occupation of Iraq and it's casualties to fall into avoidable talking points instead of focused attention.

At 7:00pm the night of the debate, IVAW members led a contingent of a few hundred peaceful protesters to the main gate of Hofstra University. As per our letter to Moderator Bob Scheiffer, because we hadn't received notice that two of our Veterans would be allowed to enter the debate to address the candidates, a small, uniformed contingent of Veterans physically attempted entry.

Immediately police began arresting those who "crossed the line". They then began using horses to physically knock protesters back away from the Hofstra gates.

As the order to get back on the sidewalk was being complied to at least one officer charged his horse up the curb, and onto the sidewalk- directly resulting in at least three injuries- including two Iraq Veterans.

Nick Morgan, a former Army Sergeant was trampled, knocked out, and had his face crushed by the hoof of a horse.

Witnesses say that police left him unconscious on the sidewalk for up to ten minutes before arresting him. Nick, disoriented and obviously suffering a concussion, was initially refused medical treatment beyond a simple piece of gauze taped to his face.

When Morgan was escorted onto the bus in handcuffs, he didn't know where he was, or why he was arrested. Police initially refused to bring him to the hospital irregardless of his potentially life threatening condition. It wasn't until other members of IVAW demanded he be allowed to see a doctor, that the police hesitantly put Nick into an ambulance.

At the hospital Morgan received stitches, and it was discovered after an x-ray that his right cheek bone was clearly displaced and pushed back into his skull.

After treatment, the semi-conscious Veteran was brought to Nassau County's Headquarters Jail and shackled to a bench with the rest of us. With fifteen in total sitting in the jail, the officers and detectives began taunting and harassing Nick, with all of us witnessing this misconduct by police.

We, the "Hempstead 15" were issued the same summons and case number for "disorderly conduct" and "failure to obey a lawful order".

On November 10th 2008, the Marine Corps Birthday, and one day before Veterans Day, we will be heard in court. We would like to invite you to come out in support of the very Freedoms granted by the United States Constitution that we swore to uphold and defend when joining the military.

First District Court, County of Nassau, Arraignment Part, 99 Main Street, Hempstead New York 11550 (Room 268)

I hope to see you all there, for a Peaceful action.

Sergeant Kristofer Goldsmith
Iraq Veterans Against the War
"1 of the Hempstead 15"

What can you do to support the IVAW?

So what can YOU do about it? My fellow veteran brothers need you. We need to call the NY police department and ask them why they would trample IRAQ WAR VETERANS exercising their FREEDOM SPEECH in a peaceful manner. Is this the way members of the military who don the uniform and make an oath to defend the constitution, America, and it's people are treated? We MUST NOT ONLY hold the Police Department accountable but the Presidential Candidates as well for allowing this to happen. THIS IS NOT DEMOCRACY, THIS IS A POLICE STATE.

Below are the numbers. Call now and anytime until November 10th when the court date is set for the detained veterans. Stay posted for a possible action then.

Lawrence Mulvey
Commissioner of Police

Public Information Office
516-573-7135
516-573-7138 (24 hour)
516-573-7118 FAX

And the complaint line

Call 516-573-7000 and ask to be connected to the Desk Officer where the incident occurred (Hofstra University).

NC Police Internal Affairs Unit: 516-573-7120
NC District Attorney’s Office, Special Investigations :
516-571-2100
NYS Attorney General, Civil Rights Division: 1-800-771-7755

Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) was founded in July of 2004 to allow servicemen and women from all branches of the military a chance to come together and speak out against an illegal and unjust occupation. IVAW currently has over 1,300 members in 49 states, Canada and on military bases in the United States and overseas. To learn more about IVAW you can visit their website at www.ivaw.org.

Source:http://www.slepton.com/slepton/viewcontent.pl?id=2183

Posted by impoetryious at 07:17 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Tuesday evening's 11th Annual Mixtape Awards occurred in New York City. The event, which was started in 1995, by the late Justo Faison was free of violence this year, something that has marred the legacy of the awards in recent years.

Winners included Crooked I [click to view] as "Best West Coast Mixtape Artist," Styles P in the east coast version of the category, with Lil Wayne rounding out the southern equivalent.

DJ Drama and Don Cannon's The Aphilliates took home "Best Mixtape Team," as well as Gangsta Grillz taking "Best Series," "Best Dirty South DJ" (DJ Drama) and "Best Mixtape Producer" (Don Cannon) [click to read].

Other big winners included Joell Ortiz "Best Underground Artist" [click to read] and "Best Midwest DJ" to Mick Boogie [click to read].

The Mixtape Awards also honored Doug E. Fresh's Get Fresh Crew affiliate DJ Barry Bee ("Mixtape Legends Award"), Tony Touch ("Mixtape Pioneers Award") and the DJ Red Alert Award to DJ Jazzy Joyce.

A complete list of winners can be found at NahRight.com

Skyzoo, Joell, Charles Hamilton

So after self-analysis, I realized that my jitters were indeed from NOT performing in NYC for a while. All I can remember is how brutal the crowds were/are. AND I was in Brooklyn. Then I thought about it... when did I ever give a sh1t about response? I just do me... they have fun watching me do me. lol. So after a laundry list of performers came up and shot the crowd up (I swear everyone that holds a gun performed), Skyzoo came up with his Nas-esque hip-hop. I dug it. Not exactly positive, but not destructive. Had BK on his side. Hometown boy lookin ass n1gga... lol Skyzoo I got your email we gon get sumn poppin. Anyway. Joell Ortiz goes up and RIPS it. The wack thing is, there were so many performers before us, not really that many people were in the room. Damn mixtape awards. lol. So when I came up, the crowd was few, but filling back up when they found out I was performing.

Started off with "My Word", the song which seems to have people up in arms. I know for a fact that song is misunderstood, and even the lyrics being posted is wrong. Not an issue, because I know in my heart I'm not saying anything TOO crazy. Next was "People of the River", as featured in my Complex video. Then "Waterworks" with Show, then "Stutter" with Nate, then of course... "Brooklyn Girls"...

I like the feeling I get from "Brooklyn Girls".

I'm looking forward to more performances. The animal is out. YEAH BOY! Shouts to Show and Nate holdin me down onstage... I freestyled my verse to "Waterworks"... think I might do that more often... dig?

~~Charles Hamilton~~
Source:http://charleshamilton.blogspot.com/2008_10_01_archive.html

The Annual Mixtape Awards ("The Justos"), in conjunction with the CMJ Music Marathon, presents M-III: The Mixtape Masters Marathon, a 2-stage festival show whose lineup includes some of the most dominant acts in today's mixtape industry. The history of the CMJ Music Marathon is that it has predominantly broken artists in indie rock, but The Annual Mixtape Awards intends on giving these talented acts a platform to display their music and stage performances to the media and industry executives.

This event will be held in Williamsburg, Brooklyn and will be feature several key winners and nominees of the 11th Annual Mixtape Awards. Headlining the show will be the 2008 Justo winner of "Best Underground Artist" and Williamsburg native Joell Ortiz. Also featured will be 2008 Justo winner of "Street Album of the Year", Mr. Crisis. Music will be supplied by 2008 Justo nominees for "Best Underground DJ," DJ Bedtyme357 and DJ J-Ronin.

20+ artists will be performing, both signed and unsigned – including acts such as Grafh (Koch/Black Hand), Ali Vegas (Asylum/Rich Soil), Charles Hamilton (Interscope), and many of the best unsigned MCs in the hip-hop industry today (Skyzoo, Agallah, Nina B, Rain, Sha Stimuli, and countless others).

Specs
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Doors open @ 8PM
Cost is $10

Location
Public Assembly
75 North 6th St (between Wythe Ave & Kent Ave)
Brooklyn, NY 11211
www.publicassemblynyc.com

Directions
Subway: L Train to Bedford Ave
Williamsburg Bridge (from Manhattan): Right lane, bear right off 1st exit onto Broadway, drive 2 blocks to Bedford Ave and make a right, drive to North 6th & make a left, down to Wythe Ave.
BQE (from Brooklyn): exit 32 (Metropolitan Ave), left onto Metropolitan, immediate 45-degree right onto North 6th St, down to Wythe BQE (from Queens): exit 32B (Metropolitan Ave), merge onto Meeker Ave, right onto North 6th St, down to Wythe Ave.

Scheduled To Perform
Agallah     Ali Vegas     A.Pinks     Brinx
Charles Hamilton     Donny Goines     Emilio Rojas     Esso
First Cousins     Grafh     Mr. Mecca     Nina B
Prinz     Q The Prophet     Rain     Remo Da Rapstar
Sam Scarfo     Sav Killz     Sha Stimuli     Sic Osyrus
Skriptkeeper     Skyzoo     Stan Spit     St. Laz
…and some surprise guests!

About GoodGirlPR
GoodGirlPR is a public relations firm which specializes in the execution of powerful and persuasive publicity campaign strategies that are innovative, creative, and cost effective. We value our clients and their goals. Our duty is to help build our clients brand and give the brand ultimate exposure through events, media resources, and an effective digital marketing campaign.

About The Annual Mixtape Awards
The Annual Mixtape Awards ("The Justos"), founded in 1995 by Justo Faison, has grown with the thriving success of the hip-hop industry. Winning a "Justo" award is a career-changing honor, and many of those that have won the award have gone on to multi-platinum success (50 Cent, Chamillionaire), million-dollar record deals (Papoose), and major television & radio slots (DJ Clue, DJ Kay Slay). Justo Faison's vision, The Mixtape Awards, serves as a staple in hip-hop history and continues to set the standard for urban awards shows
The 12th Annual Mixtape Awards will be taking place on April 2009 at an undisclosed location.

Press:
GoodGirlPR
Nickie Robinson
Olivia Baltimore
info@goodgirlpr.com
212.560.5101

Posted by impoetryious at 07:03 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Both New York and San Francisco have professional sports teams named the Giants. So it shouldn’t be a surprise that legendary MC AG—aka Andre the Giant—recorded his latest album, Get Dirty Radio, 3,000 miles away from his South Bronx birthplace, in California. What is a surprise, however, is that while longtime collaborators Lord Finesse and Showbiz appear on Get Dirty Radio, the majority of the tracks were crafted by producers the rapper’s never worked with before, including Jake One, Dabrye, Tommy Tee, Oh No, Look Records head honcho DJ Design, and—representing somewhat of a hip-hop head’s wet dream—Madlib and J Dilla.

“That’s gonna let em know right there,” AG predicts. “Those are two guys who carried the tradition of digging in the crates, and DJ Design linked me up with them, so it’s like the old legend with the new kings … The album is crazy.”

On the Madlib-produced “Frozen” (the album’s first single), AG proves he’s still got the verbal skills that made him a legend: Niggas say we real cause the way we got down/ From the streets to the industry locked down/Plot now on the world that’s the next stop/ Ladies listen cause I’m known to hit the wet spot. The DJ Design-produced “Triumph” bears much personal significance for AG, who’s overcome many trials and tribulations in his life, from a murder charge (since overturned), industry-related politics and the tragic death of his good friend Big L. On the track, he pays homage to his fallen comrade, declaring Big L will never be forgotten, then goes on to say, the Big Apple, I eat it rotten/ Just to keep it poppin’. Another unquestioned highlight is one of J Dilla’s last production credits, “Hip Hop Quotable (feat. Aloe Blacc), a brilliant track which traces the history of hip-hop through its more memorable lyrics over the years, and finds AG up in the lab, stabbing that pad with a pen again.

Get Dirty Radio’s emphasis on lyrical skills, classic concepts, and innovative new music might just change people’s minds about the current state of NY rap, which in recent years has followed trends more than it has set them. “If music is pumping, Imma get into it,” AG says. “But the message, the lyrics, and the content are horrible right now.”

The album marks not only a return to form for East Coast-style rap, but a new beginning for AG, a member of the fabled Diggin’ In the Crates (DITC) crew, still fondly remembered by hip-hop heads for such classic tracks as “Soul Clap,” “Runaway Slave,” and “Party Groove.” AG says making Get Dirty Radio “revitalized” him as an artist, to the point where he feels he’s at the “peak” of his game, 17 years after releasing his first record. “If I’m gonna be in it, I gotta live it,” he explains. “And Imma a live it to the fullest.”

Growing up in the South Bronx’s infamous Patterson projects, AG was exposed to both street life and hip-hop at an early age. He remembers excitedly watching parties thrown by the likes of Grand Wizard Theodore, Grandmaster Flash, and the Cold Crush brothers, and being introduced to freestyling by his cousin, LB (currently a graffiti artist and graphic designer with his own clothing line.) While in high school he battled metaphor/punchline master Lord Finesse; the two hit it off, and after meeting producer/DJ Showbiz, he became a full-fledged member of DITC, along with Show, Big L (R.I.P.), Finesse, Buckwild, Diamond D, Fat Joe, and OC. Show and AG’s first EP came out in 1990; an LP, Runaway Slave, followed in 1992; both are hailed as Golden Age gems which currently demand a pretty penny on eBay.

Show & AG’s 1995 album Goodfellaz got caught up in industry politics after their then-label Payday was bought by Universal. “The people in charge didn’t know anything about music,” he explains. “They didn’t do music, they didn’t live in the clubs.” Despite the setback, which cooled their momentum considerably, AG and his brethren continued to make records. 1998’s independently-released DITC album, Full Scale, moved a reported 30,000 units on vinyl and was hailed by the Source as one of the top underground albums of that year; in 1999, AG dropped his first solo album, The Dirty Version. Since then, the rapper has been sought out for guest verses on records by Dilated Peoples, Blacksheep, DJ Greyboy, Casual, and Handsome Boy Modeling School. He’s also toured numerous countries, including Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, and Japan. “I’ve been overseas a lot,” he says, noting that he’s been embraced by international audiences who appreciate hip-hop culture beyond just the current fad or trend. “They keep the real movement alive.”

In 2002, AG came across DJ Design backstage at a show in Germany. This was the first time the two reunited since 1994, when Design promoted a show in Seattle headlined by none other than Show & AG. The two discussed working together on an AG solo album, and soon after that, the rapper flew out to San Francisco to write what would become Get Dirty Radio, staying in a condo rented by Look Records, and getting inspiration from the change of scenery and California’s celebrated greenery. “It ain’t no dirt weed out there,” he says with a smile.

Initially skeptical about working with new producers, AG has come to realize that even veteran MCs have to remain relevant and contemporary. The cutout bins are littered with scores of albums by formerly great rappers who fell off or just couldn’t adapt to the current state of the hip-hop artform. Yet that’s not likely to happen with Get Dirty Radio, an album which deserves to be seen as a modern-day classic by a classic artist.

For AG, to “Get Dirty” means to take control of not just the music, but the artistic direction of his career. “We had to get our hands dirty,” he explains, adding “I think when we do it ourselves… it’s just a better result.” Dropping science, as is his custom—AG became a member of the 5% Nation while a youth, and still maintains 360 degrees of knowledge—he explains, “there’s an angle in everything you do. You just gotta find your angle without sacrificing your integrity in the music.”

With Get Dirty Radio, he says, “I think I found my angle. I figured out how to give them what they want by giving them what I want to give them, without bringing down the music. I think the music is coming back around to what we do.”

Source:http://www.lookrecords.com/?page_id=21

Posted by impoetryious at 06:27 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Click underlined to

Download file.

Photo(s) & Graphic Design 

http://www.NiGraphiX.Photoreflect.com

Posted by impoetryious at 04:30 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

WNBAs'Ashley Battles & Lisa Willis attends the  VH1 Hip Hop Honors presentd a night of Hip Hop's best at "Back to the 90's"

Posted by impoetryious at 08:52 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

 Roc Climber Boots: Latest Creation From Jay-Z and Rocawear Now Available for Pre-order at Roc-Climber-Store.com 

Roc Climber Boots are the latest product to be displayed and promoted by Rocawear, Jay-Z's line of fashion. The Roc Climber Boot by Rocawear is a sophisticated but urban shoe, that keeps it real. Jay-Z and the Rocawear clothing design company combine comfort and style with the new Roc Climber Boots, which represent the music, the lifestyle and the culture that Jay-Z introduced when he first started the Rocawear line. These Limited Edition Roc Climber Boots are available for pre-order now exclusively at Roc-Climber-Store.com.

New York City, NY (PRWEB) September 12, 2008 -- Set to hit retail this fall is the first ever boot from Rocawear, The Roc Climber. This high-end, beautifully designed boot was inspired by the brown shoe craze that is currently trending in the market place. The Boot will be available in multiple colors and also comes with or without fur. Legendary retailer Udi Avshalom is the creative force behind the project. Avshalom owns the training camp retail stores, which are known for having the best collection of hard-to-find and highly coveted footwear. Also in development, as a part of the collaboration, is a leather boat shoe that will be delivered to retail on the heels of the Roc Climber which is tentatively being called the "Young Yacht." This creative collaboration marks the second wave of products offered in the evolution of Rocawear strategy immediately following the fragrance and preceding the launch of R+. These Limited Edition Roc Climber Boots are available for pre-order now exclusively at http://www.Roc-Climber-Store.com.

# # #

CONTACT INFORMATION
Tyree Baldwin
www.Roc-Climber-Store.com
7327759925
Email us Here
http://www.prweb.com/emailmember.php?prid=1312404

Posted by impoetryious at 09:56 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Damian "Junior Gong" Marley - Catch a Fire Lyrics 

From: "Halfway Tree"

Every time I ‘ear di crack of di whip my blood runs cold,
I remember on di slave ship how dey brutalise your very soul,
Today dey say that we are free
Only to be jailed in poverty,
Good god I think it’s illiteracy ,
Only a machine makes,

Slave driver, your table has turned
Catch a fire, your gonna get burned 

Dem take up di ghetto youths and give dem pure magazine,
An take up on dem set an give dem bare 16,
An play dem dirty game applaud di bloods and skins,
An watch dem like a show of a view big screen,
An can we bread a dem an go buy dem cream?
Turn dem inna police an bring dem in ‘pon dem team
Him drive ten grand worth a government larder,
An fight against di ones who have di same forefather,
Him next door neighbour, all weed we charge for,
We children slaughter,
An we dem wan murder,
Jus read di observer,
Right now di city can’ get no obsurder,
Of the 400 years a no leap wi brown sugar,
We ambush we (brother)bred a’,
An gwan like whenever,
Use to plan slave revolt an a dem push dem together,
We change jus like di weather.


Every time I ‘ear di crack of di whip, my blood runs at me, (its runnin cold)
I remember on di slave ship how dey brutalise your very soul,
Today dey say that we are free
Only to be chained in poverty,
Good god I think it’s illiteracy ,
Only a machine that makes,

Slave driver, your table has turned
Catch a fire, your gonna get burned
Slave driver, your table has turned
Catch a fire, your gonna get burned

son's of slaves child,
now son's of di slave driver,
na space slave ride an hidea,
an if dem could, dem would tax you pon saliva,
how much more must we die for?
the ones in the cars when we standing at da car minus,
the government bogus, they don't work for us,
instead dem chain and whip you with da best stick first,
and guns and aids and drugs,
cause most of di youths with di school in dey mouth,
can’ get no money from legitimate jobs,
den a wonder,
why dem grab chain and bags,
you influence di youth a turn dem gays and fags,
And rest den can afford not even torn up rags,
But table a turn a mi turntable spun,
Di fiya we a catch up all a blaze and a burn,
Dats why anytime you say Rasta ya run!
Eh yo!

Slave driver, your table has turned
Catch a fire, your gonna get burned
Slave driver, your table has turned
Catch a fire, your gonna get burned

We no wan nah Babylon government wey ya burn down ganja man tent,
And dem a come wit dem one bag o tax argument when we can’ pay rent,
Me side dem a leave ghetto youths every which part dem went dem a be round corner dem bent,
So next time dem pass through you and ya crew don’ give dem no encouragement,
Eh yo, jus start run dem out and start burn dem out a ya environment,
An yo, we wan no bout da every red cent o’ di poor people money dem spent,
An den, we wan no down to who pay di bill when di prime minister car dent,
An yo, we wan know when dem come repossess all these guns and jobs they’ve sent

Slave driver, your table has turned
Catch a fire, your gonna get burned
Slave driver, your table has turned
Catch a fire, your gonna get burned

 

Amazon:  HIP HOP and R&B

Posted by impoetryious at 04:33 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

His talent was unbounded, a raw force that commanded attention and respect.

His death was tragic -- a violent homage to the power of his voice.

His legacy is indomitable -- remaining vibrant and alive.

Here now, newly discovered, are Tupac's most honest and intimate thoughts conveyed through the pure art of poetry -- a mirror into his enigmatic life and its many contradictions.

Written in his own hand at the age of nineteen, they embrace his spirit, his energy...and his ultimate message of hope.

The man was a GENIUS!, January 2, 2000

By

Baby Gurl

Anyone who has read this book certainly knows that Tupac was certainly a genius! The man wrote with such raw talent & his poems were so real & beautiful. Some of them made me cry. He was probably the best poet/rapper of our time. The man was human & if you read this book, you'll know that he love, cryed, wanted, needed, & hurt like any human. People didn't know how creative & trouble Tupac was. People think because he was in the rap game that he doesn't have a positive message or talent. The man was a GREAT writer & he wrote about his life as a Thug, & he WAS a thug & he knows the life. But Tupac wanted to rid the world of violence & racism, & if you read his work & listen to his music, you'll notice this. He was true & kept it all real! Unlike most rappers these days. He & Kurt Cobain were the only REAL, RAW talents in the 90's & it's sad they're not with us anymore. They were hear to spread a message, & I hope everyone understands it. RIP Tupac, I LUV you, you were 1 in a 1,000,000!

YA-A collection of poetry written by the rapper between 1989 and 1991, before he became famous. The poems are passionate, sometimes angry, and often compelling. Selections are reproduced from the originals in Shakur's handwriting, personalized by distinctive spelling and the use of ideographs (a drawing of an eye for I, etc.), and complete with scratch outs and corrections. With the exception of "In the Event of My Demise," all of the pieces are accompanied by typed text, which leaves his spelling intact. Some poems are also accompanied by his drawings. A few black-and-white photographs appear throughout. A preface by Shakur's mother, a foreword by Nikki Giovanni, and an introduction by his manager, Leila Steinburg, in whose writing group the poems were written, complete this unique volume.
Susan Salpini, Purcellville Library, VA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

 

Amazon:  HIP HOP and R&B

Posted by impoetryious at 06:34 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

  

12" Records Very Handy, June 11, 2004

By

Eric West

I have probably all of the books on DJing that are out there, and this is my favorite. It comes with two 12" records that contain a wide band of white noise (like a continuous "Ahhhhh" sample) that really help you ease into skratching. I've been DJing for years now, and I still use that track.

There is also a very cool acid jazz track which has a Miles Davis muted trumpet vibe going which you can beat match with an R&B style track---I never could get the hang of beat matching until I bought this book/record set. This really made it easy.

The other technique this book helped me with better than any other source I could find is the crab scratch. The exercises break it down into very easy to follow steps, and by practicing slowly and speeding it up a little at a time, my crabs are now even and clean.

 I think maybe this book throws off some people who are expecting it to read like a copy of Source magazine---it's refreshingly free of trendy lingo and the silly posturing that often accompanies the DJ scene. It also treats the turntable as a musical instrument, which some DJs still have a problem with. It helped me a lot, and like I said, I still use the records--there are a lot of good synth and spoken word samples on them as well!

  

Paperback: 120 pages

Publisher: Berklee Press Publications (March 1, 2009)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0876390106

ISBN-13: 978-0876390108

Learn to play the turntable like your favorite DJs and create your own style! This essential guidebook and companion 2-record set teaches you to play the turntable as a musical instrument. Using this first-ever turntable method, techniques and tricks can be mastered quickly and effectively. Includes step-by-step instructions on: setting up your equipment, scratching, beat matching, mixing, transforming, crabbing, crossfader technique, cutting and stabs. Book includes: photographs and musical exercises, tips on how the pros set up their gear for scratch mixing, and a history of DJing and hip-hop culture, plus interviews with top DJs such as: DJ Swamp (Beck), MixMaster Mike (Beastie Boys), DJ QBert (Invisibl Skratch Picklz), DJ Kuttin Kandi (5th Platoon/Anomolies), DJ A-Trak (Teenage DMC/ITF World Champion), and DJ Craze (three-time DMC World Champion). The companion records provide scorching grooves, phat beats, and wicked scratch material for DJs/turntablists of any level.

Posted by impoetryious at 06:17 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Author: Russell Myrie

Format: Hardback

ISBN: 9781847670564

Published: 2 October 2008

Publisher: Canongate Books Ltd  

Public Enemy are one of the greatest hip-hop acts of all time. Exploding out of Long Island, New York in the early 1980s, their firebrand lyrical assault, the Bomb Squad's innovative production techniques, and their unmistakeable live performances gave them a formidable reputation. They terrified the establishment, and have continued to blaze a trail over a twenty year period up until the present day. Today, they are more autonomous and as determined as ever, still touring and finding more ingenious ways of distributing their music. Russell Myrie has had unprecedented access to the group, conducting extensive interviews with Chuck D, Flavor Flav, Terminator X, Professor Griff, the Shocklee brothers, and many others who form part of their legacy.He tells the stories behind the making of seminal albums such as their debut Yo! Bum Rush the Show , the breakthrough, It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold us Back , and multi-million selling, Fear of a Black Planet . He tackles Professor Griff's alleged anti-semitic remarks which caused massive controversy in the late eighties, the complexities of the group's relationship with the Nation of Islam, their huge crossover appeal with the alternative audience in the early nineties, and the strange circumstances of Flavor Flav's re-emergence as a Reality TV Star since the turn of the millennium.Urgent, incisive and definitive, Don't Rhyme for the Sake of Riddlin is the ultimate guide to the group that tells it like it is, and insists that hip-hop is a lethal weapon for the social and politically conscious. Russell Myrie shows how, in a time of rampant profligacy and meaningless posturing in hip-hop, their diatribes still cut to the heart of the American dream, and they are as important and necessary as ever.

More info

Offers an access to Public Enemy , conducting interviews with Chuck D, Flavor Flav, Terminator X, Professor Griff, and the Shocklee brothers who form part of their legacy.

Posted by impoetryious at 06:09 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Great Debut, Don't Compare to other Greats , October 1, 2008

By	Audrey Vt Waldon

This album is something buy. IMO I really don't see anything wrong with how the production of this album went. I think Jennifer & her producers put out great tracks. Jennifer didn't imitate anyone on this album. A lot of people wanted to hear a Whitney sound or a Aretha sound but your not gonna get that your gonna get Jennifer Hudson. Listeners should want to hear Jennifer and not Whitney or Aretha. This album has her own style and own stamp of what R&B is all about. This album is not about duplicating what we get from Whitney when she first came to the scene or Aretha. It's Jennifer Hudson as her own and before you write it off as bad you really need to hear the album looking for Jennifer not other music legends.

Key songs like "Invisible" & "Giving Myself" are real listen too's and should not be skipped when listening. Emotion comes out from Jennifer in these songs and I've been blown away."We Gon Fight" is another example of something we really don't get from current R&B. She brings something different to the table that I haven't heard in a long time from anyone. And "Pocketbook" gives off that sassiness that I've seen in Jennifer since she was on AI. For me definitely a club banger or a morning work-out song. And the duet with Fantasia "I'm His Only Woman" for me injects thats same flavor into music that we got from the collab of Brandy/Monica but it's majority captures the essence of the song "Woman to Woman" which is also something that many fans of that song will love. For me the only song that could have been left out was the duet with T-Pain, other than that it a great debut for the Oscar winner. I bought two copies. For you to enjoy this album you really need to sit down and listen to the whole thing like I did and I was blown away.

SO again don't expect a imitation of Whitney's first album or Aretha because you're gonna get Jennifer and that is who your focus should be on.

Posted by impoetryious at 05:56 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Where There Is Vonerability There Is Truth That Lies Beneth It, September 27, 2008

JOE Thomas, New Man, is one of the most anticipated R&B releases of 2008. Collaborating with music industries top and newest hot producers and songwriters D Mile (Janet Jackson,Feedback), Bryan Michael Cox, Stereotypes and Rodney Jerkins to name a few, this album truly lives up to its title, JOE Thomas, New Man..

The album includes 11 incredible cuts from JOE and 5 song snippets from the
next album, Signature scheduled to release on February 10, 2009 just in time for Valentine s Day (a brand new album of all new & original ballads written, produced, arranged and performed by JOE.

One of the reasons Why I titled this review "Where there is vonerability there is truth that lies beneth it"  Is because I feel this album exposes the fears between man and woman as far as relationships are concerned.

Starting with a song called "I Won't Let Him Hurt You" which talks about trying to let love in again after you,ve been hurt deeply,but your unwilling to try do to the fact that you fear it may happen again. Which is one of my favorite tracks on the album by the way.

"By Any Means" is a song about how you know you've mass up big time and you are willing to do anything to get that person back because looking back on the situation you realized you pushed them away out of fear.

"Man In Your Life" is that song for that independent woman Who might think she donesn't need a man in her life because she feels she could do better on her own.
I love the song "E.R". Because we get to play doctor and that's all I'm at liberity to say about that track ladies and gentelmen.

"Why Just Be Friends" is a song about trying to get with a young lady who has her guard up.

Now, the song "We Need To Roll" was a song I heared first on music choice feat.Mario but, for some reason did not make the cut on the album ,but I enjoy the track just the same.

"Start Over" is about making mistakes in your relationship and both of you are willing to take responsility and start a new.

To me "Heart Behind My Eyes" has to do with that man Who is willing to be vonerabal and let you into his world of emoitions that lie with in himself.

I guess you can say that "Cameleon" is about that man who has you figured out even though you try to hide from yourself and from him as well.

Posted by impoetryious at 05:41 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Truly magic!!!, September 30, 2008

I wasn't even aware that Robin Thicke had a new CD coming out until I saw the catchy fun filled video for "Magic" a few months ago. The horn peppered disco-tinged "Magic" is the lead-off single from his thirn Cd "Something else", which follows up the Platinum "The evolution of Robin Thicke".

Since then, Thicke has gotten more confident in his singing and it shows. He sounds very soulful on this album. The falsetto sung ballad "Loverman" could have come off Marvin Gaye's "Let's get it on" album.

Keeping the tempo up are "Sidestep", "Hard on my love" (which reminds me of the psychedelic Soul songs by The Temptations), the gritty funky "Shadow of doubt", and the horn peppered Disco tinged groovy title track "Something else".

The rest of the album comprises ballads, even the closing track "Tie my hands" which features Lil Wayne rapping, and Thicke doing some dramatic narrating and singing.

Opening is the lilting falsetto sung "You're my baby", the Jazzy guitar festooned "Ms. Harmony", the beautiful horn-sprinkled "The sweetest love", and my favourite, the retro soulful "Dreamworld" (nice piano/organ and harmonies) which finds Thicke fantasizing about a world free of racism, where he and his black wife can move around without getting stared at, one in which Marvin Gaye wouldn't have been shot by his father.

This album should see the continued ascent of Robin Thicke.

 

Amazon:  HIP HOP and R&B

Posted by impoetryious at 05:34 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Pharoahe Monch to Host CMJ's International Hip-Hop Event GLOBAL HIP HOP THROWDOWN

Posted by impoetryious at 05:30 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

BALTIMORE, Oct. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Baltimore-based Urban Communications, LLC (UC) today announced the acquisition of N*ggaSpace.com, a social network visited over 7,000,000 times in 2007 according to Google Analytics.

"Urban Communications will soon be the number one trafficked network within the online African American community," said Kenny Clash, President, (UC). "Not only do Urban Communication users set the trends, they constantly want to associate with others in the community with similar interests."

"We plan to introduce N*ggaSpace.com users to better technology, which includes better enhanced content filters and privacy controls. It is remarkable that within the past 72 hours more than 30,000 people typed in the domain name N*ggaSpace.com," said Patrick Nagle, Product Development, (UC).

"Out of the 20 million African Americans online, 15 percent use or are aware of N*ggaSpace.com," said Chanda Cole, VP Marketing (UC).

About Urban Communications:

Urban Communications, LLC was launched in March 2008 with the goal of becoming the premier online destination for African Americans. Additionally, Urban Communications owns and operates:

OurSpace.com (http://www.ourspace.com)/ an online social location that currently provides HBCU Students a superior way to connect with others whom share similar experiences and perspectives. OurSpace.com enables users to share pictures, video and music. As a member of OurSpace.com you'll notice that it is easy to make new friends through our secure online social environment.

BlackPower.com (http://www.blackpower.com)/ "Black Power," a daily online magazine designed to inject wit, hipness and edge into the discussion of viewpoints currently shaping black culture. Using intelligent, out-of-the-box, thought-provoking discussion of issues from a variety of black perspectives, Black Power challenges the myth of monolithic black thought. Top journalists, bloggers and trend-setters come together in a face that will change the face of "black news." News, commentary, and opinion blend with satire, music and multi-media technology to create a unique online platform devoted to the totality of the black experience in the United States and all over the world.

  Contact:
  Chanda Cole
  443.400.5114
  cole@ourspace.com
  http://www.ourspace.com/about

Source: Urban Communications, LLC

CONTACT: Chanda Cole of Urban Communications, LLC, +1-443-400-5114,
cole@ourspace.com

Web site: http://www.ourspace.com/
http://www.blackpower.com/

Posted by impoetryious at 05:27 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Posted by impoetryious at 05:10 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

New York, NY -- Texting errors have caused a delay in the announcement of the official winners of last week's World Series of Hip Hop $100,000 Main Event featuring rap battles between Mysonne and E. Ness, Lady Luck and Rece Steele, Murda Mook and Young Hot, and Tech 9 and T-Rex.

Giorgio Costonis the CEO of MoTv, made the following statement regarding the situation: "Several hundred thousand text votes of the World Series of Hip Hop $100,00 Main Event Rap Battle cannot be counted because of the incorrect keywords texted by individuals attempting to cast votes.  Each artist was assigned a keyword that included a zero preceding his or her number, this zero was mistaken for the letter 'o' by the voting public.  As a result only 600 total votes where properly executed.  No one was charged for the incorrect keyword votes."

World Series of Hip Hop Chairman Furqaan Clover said, "New keywords have been assigned to each artist.  To make it simple we will just change the zero to a one.  So Mysonne's code is now motv11 instead of motv01, ect.  Voting will be extended for another week, and will close on October 10th. The winners will be announced on Saturday October 11th."

The new text to vote keywords are as follows:

To vote for Mysonne text: motv11 to 99134 To vote for E. Ness text: motv12 to 99134 To vote for Lady Luck text: motv13 to 99134 To vote for Rece Steele text: motv14 to 99134 To vote for Young Hot text: motv15 to 99134 To vote for Murda Mook text: motv16 to 99134 To vote for T-Rex text: motv17 to 99134 To vote for Tech 9 text: motv18 to 99134

The WSOHH $100,000 Main Event was webcast in a live pay-per-view event on Saturday September 27th exclusively on www.wsohh.com.  The event itself went off without a hitch with Monie Love hosting all the battles. G-Unit's DJ Whoo Kidd did not referee as initially announced, but was in the building during Lady Luck's battle with Rece Steele.  The entire event can still be seen on www.wsohh.com.

For more detailed information on the World Series of Hip Hop please visit www.wsohh.com or contact Furqaan Clover, Chairman, World Series of Hip Hop, 347-524-0002; indiefilmx@gmail.com.

Press Contact: Alyse Feldman, President, On the Fly Public Relations, Toronto ON, 917-674-6067; ontheflypr@gmail.com

Posted by impoetryious at 05:06 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

88-KEYS GEARS UP FOR THE RELEASE OF FIRST SOLO ALBUM, THE DEATH OF ADAM IN STORES NOVEMBER 11TH

New York, NY - Moving from a behind the scenes producer to frontman, breakthrough artist 88-Keys presents his first solo album, The Death of Adam on Decon Records. A highly conceptual release, The Death of Adam examines mankind's most common storyline; the relationship between men and women.

The album, Executive Produced by longtime friend Kanye West, will be an introduction to 88-Keys the musician, extending beyond his production credits (A Tribe Called Quest, Mos Def, Macy Gray and others) to highlight his skills on the mic as MC, singer and collaborator. The album, two years in the making, started out as a series of instrumentals from 88-Keys. Throughout the artistic process, and with the addition of Kanye West as Executive Producer, the album has grown to become one of the most well-executed and artistic conceptual records to date. 88-Keys appears on vocals on more than half of the tracks, and the album features the likes of Kanye West, J*Davey, Phonte of Little Brother, Redman, Kid Cudi, Shitake Monkey, & Bilal.

"My album has a deep & detailed story line which follows my boy Adam (whom EVERYBODY knows) through a day in the life of him trying to get 'some', and all of the trials and tribulations he goes through in order to get it," 88-Keys explains. The first single, "Stay Up! (Viagra)" is a perfect illustration of that universal storyline coming to life, and features the album's executive producer Kanye West.

Other tracks on the album follow suit, expanding on the story of Adam, and his repeated run-ins with the fairer sex. "'The Burning Bush', which features Redman, is a song which embodies the essence of the Funk Doctor Spock at his best," 88-Keys says. "This song captures the soul of James Brown, hard knock and melodic funkiness of my hip-hop spirit and the grit and dirt of Redman's humorous/Brick City-bred lyrics, all mixed into one. Use as prescribed!"

"'The Friend Zone' is a hard rocking song with crossover pop appeal aimed directly at the spirit of today's youth but contains adult undertones. Let's rate this one PG-13. This is a man's guide to not settling for being HER best bud since you can't be her best LOVE."

88-Keys continues, "'M.I.L.F.' (featuring Bilal) is a soul-drenched song which deals with the pleasure & pain of having a child with someone you're no longer (or probably never were) in love with. Bouncing bass, orgasmic organs, sexy strings. Basically this is baby-making music at it's finest. (Uh oh!)"

"The Death of Adam is heavily conceptual (and exceptional)." 88-Keys reflects. "I think it will remind people of how relationships work for the better or worse. I learned a lot about myself, as I am 'Adam', you are 'Adam'. 'Adam' is your father, your brother, a best friend or a friend of a friend whom you've heard about."

The Death of Adam will be available in stores November 11th.

Links:
•Hear the album snippets: www.deconrecords.com/88_keys_snippets
•MySpace: www.myspace.com/88keys
• "Stay Up! (Viagra)" ft. Kanye West Available on iTunes
•Download "Adam's Case Files" Mixtape: http://zshare.net/download/134769505dd109cf/

•News Piece #1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-NLZFwnUPo
•News Piece #2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0lCETMyYGU
•News Piece #3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jq0M0Ar_Oc

Contact:

Roni Moore
New Media Manager, Decon
roni@deconmedia.com

Alma Geddy-Romero
Director of Marketing & Branding, Decon
alma@deconmedia.com

Posted by impoetryious at 05:03 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

TRIBUTES TO THIS YEAR'S HONOREES CYPRESS HILL, DE LA SOUL, NAUGHTY BY NATURE, SLICK RICK AND TOO $HORT SET THE STAGE ON FIRE

THE 5TH ANNUAL "VH1 HIP HOP HONORS" HOSTED BY TRACY MORGAN, PREMIERES MONDAY, OCTOBER 6 AT 10 PM* ON VH1 AND SOUL

BEGINNING MONDAY, OCTOBER 6 CATCH EXCLUSIVE FOOTAGE AND PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS ON HIPHOP.VH1.COM AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN "VH1 HIP HOP HONORS" HISTORY, WATCH THE FULL SHOW IN ITS ENTIRETY THE DAY AFTER THE ON-AIR PREMIERE

New York, Oct. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- VH1 brought down the house tonight at the 5th annual "VH1 Hip Hop Honors" as the best of the best in hip hop royalty came together for one legendary night to honor the ones who came before them and transformed the genre into a true cultural phenomenon.

Taped at the Hammerstein Ballroom this evening (Thursday, October 2) in New York City and hosted by Tracy Morgan, the music and influence of each of the honorees was recognized through performances by classic artists in collaboration with today's hottest new talent. This year, "VH1 Hip Hop Honors" paid tribute to Cypress Hill, De La Soul, Naughty By Nature, Slick Rick and Too $hort.

The Cypress Hill tribute kicked off the night with an introduction by Freddy Rodriguez. Fat Joe, Jim Jones and Gym Class Heroes drove the crowd insane with the group's hit songs "The Phuncky Feel One," "I Ain't Goin' Out Like That," and "Insane In the Membrane." Cypress Hill lit up the stage with performances of "DJ Scratch Intro," "How I Could Just Kill A Man," and "(Rock) Superstar."

Actress Joy Bryant introduced the second tribute of the night, honorees De La Soul, who took it way back with performances from Estelle, Mos Def, Chuck D, Flavor Flav, Cee-Lo and EPMD. They tore the roof off with the group's biggest hits, "A Roller Skating Jam Named 'Saturdays,'" "Stakes Is High," "Potholes In My Lawn," and "Ego Trippin.'" Topping off the performance, De La Soul broke it down true old school style reminding the crowd that they can still get down, breaking out in a medley of old school rhymes from "Me, Myself and I" to a remix of "Buddy!"

The show continued on a "slick" note with hits that defined Slick Rick's solo career. Legendary rapper MC Lyte kicked off the tribute with "The Ruler's Back." The crowd went crazy when Busta Rhymes and Spliff Star took the stage performing the "The Show" which brought everyone to their feet. They led into a true hip hop medley with the legendary Biz Markie and Ghostface Killah singing "La Di Da Di." Finally Eve took the stage with her rendition of the eclectic hip hop chart topper "Mona Lisa." Slick Rick then took to the stage performing "Hey Young World" and "Children's Story."

Next, in honor of R&B legend Isaac Hayes, a medley of artists took the stage to salute the icon. Mos Def took the stage first, outfitted in dark shades, setting it off with the hit theme song from "Shaft." Next British sweetheart Estelle performed a remix of "I Love You," and Cee-Lo kept the crowd grooving with "The Look of Love." Next on stage, Scarface dazzled the crowd with "My Mind Is Playing Tricks On Me." Closing out this special tribute was Chuck D with "Black Steel In The Hour of Chaos."

Hip hop entrepreneur and producer Luke Campbell took the stage to introduce Too $hort. Luke talked about how he set the stage and paved the way for Too $hort to become the artist he is today. Also paying homage to Too $hort, Kid Rock gave a thrilling performance of "Life Is Too Short." Lil John got low with "Shake That Monkey" followed by a duet with Bun B of the electric "Blow the Whistle." After an intro performance of "The Ghetto" by Scarface, Too $hort got the crowd on their feet with "Gettin' It" and "Money In The Ghetto."

Bringing the show to an unforgettable end, Wyclef Jean, Juelz Santana and Big Boi ripped the stage with the all-time favorites, "No Woman No Cry," "Everything's Gonna Be All Right," and the monster hit "O.P.P." Naughty By Nature closed the show as only they could do, performing "Uptown Anthem" and "Hip Hop Hooray."

"VH1 Hip Hop Honors" on VH1.com and VH1 Mobile:

VH1.com's dedicated hip hop site, HIPHOP.VH1.COM, will showcase on-demand content leading up to and post "VH1 Hip Hop Honors" including:

  --  Backstage Coverage  - VH1.com goes
      behind-the-scenes for exclusive interviews with all the performers,
      presenters and honorees.

  --  Watch the complete "VH1 Hip Hop Honors" in Full - Starting October 7,
      for the first time in "VH1 Hip Hop Honors" history, the full show will
      be available in its entirety the day after the on-air premiere.

  --  "VH1 Hip Hop Honors" Highlights - Select moments from the on-air show.

  --  VH1 Mobile will offer "VH1 Hip Hop Honors" content including ringtones
      from all honorees and performers and a dedicated WAP site available by
      entering HIPHOP.VH1.COM into your mobile's
      browser. Select video footage from the show will be available
      following the on-air broadcast.

"VH1 Hip Hop Honors" is executive produced by Lee Rolontz for VH1 and Jac Benson for Blackjac Entertainment. Louis J. Horvitz will direct. Nelson George and Fab 5 Freddie are co-executive producers.

"VH1 Hip Hop Honors" is sponsored by T-Mobile USA, Taco Bell Corp., Sears, Windows(R) and Tag RecordsTM.

Hold Your Water(R) clips for crew water bottles on this production provided by BOLEO(R).

For up-to-the-minute and archival press information including releases and photographs, visit VH1's press-only Web site at www.vh1.com/press

*All times ET/PT

VH1 connects viewers to the music, artists and pop culture that matter to them most with TV series, specials, live events, exclusive online content and public affairs initiatives. VH1 is available in 95 million households in the U.S. VH1 also has an array of digital channels and services including VH1Classic, VH1 Soul, VH1 Mobile, VH1Games and extensive broadband video on VH1.com. Connect with VH1 at VH1.com.

  Contacts:   Toni Herron                      Luis DeFrank
  212-846-7528                     212-846-7012
  toni.herron @VH1staff.com        luis.defrank@VH1staff.com

  Nyle Washington
  212-846-5576
  nyle.washington@VH1staff.com

  Surayyah McCarthy
  212-846-8433
  surayyah.mccarthy@VH1staff.com

Source: VH1

CONTACT: CONTACTS: Toni Herron, 1-212-846-7528, toni.herron
@VH1staff.com,Nyle Washington, +1-212-846-5576, nyle.washington@VH1staff.com,
Surayyah McCarthy, +1-212-846-8433, surayyah.mccarthy@VH1staff.com, Luis
DeFrank, +1-212-846-7012, luis.defrank@VH1staff.com, all of VH1

Web Site: HIPHOP.VH1.COM
VH1.com
www.vh1.com/press

Posted by impoetryious at 05:00 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Atlanta, GA (BlackNews.com) - Every decade an iconic urban wear line manages to infiltrate all levels of American street fashion. First Cross Colors, then FUBU, and now dN|Be Apparel (dangerousNEGRO Black Empowerment Apparel) has emerged as the street's choice for edgy, yet fun gear. In this politically charged election year, dN|Be Apparel has seen an enormous rise in popularity due to the socially active messages associated with its clothing. As a result, retailers clamored to get their hands on the line when it debuted at the recent MAGIC fashion show. In addition to previously established presence in Brooklyn, Houston and the Bay Area, dangerousNEGRO can now also be found in Manhattan, Atlanta, Detroit, and Orlando stores.

Derived from historical depictions of A. Phillip Randolph and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as "dangerous Negro" leaders, dN|Be Apparel is best known for promoting education and social awareness through its clothing. With the Hip Hop community latching on to social consciousness as the agent of change during the late stages of the Bush Administration, dangerousNEGRO tees have been popping up frequently in music videos. Signature shirt "Smart is the New Gangsta," is flashed several times in the video for Bun B's leadoff single "That's Gangsta." Furthermore, established artists like dead prez and Royce Da 5'9, as well as up and comers 5th Flow and Reo, all recently made appearances on dangerousNEGRO's latest free mixtape offering. Rhymefest and Mistah FAB have also proudly donned their dN|Be Apparel and are in talks to contribute to the next mixtape. Hip Hop has found dangerousNEGRO to be the line with the political energy and fashionable swagger to drive its rebellious principles into the future.

Being multi-dimensional has contributed greatly to dangerousNEGRO's rise in popularity. Not only does the company have a large following with its dN|Be Apparel line, free mixtape series, and strong online presence, dangerousNEGRO is also known for bringing its empowering message to college campuses in the form of public speaking. Marketing Director Demetrius Walker has made dozens of appearances from Northern Michigan University to the New York Institute of Technology in recent months. With a lecture titled "CEOtivated," Walker has been dangerousNEGRO's public motivational voice, encouraging entrepreneurship in students of all races.

Seeking to infiltrate all avenues of social, political, and economic empowerment, dangerousNEGRO will undoubtedly continue to stand out in the fashion industry. Along with the expansion of the clothing line, look for dangerousNEGRO to become further entrenched in the Hip Hop industry and the public speaking arena in the near future.

Additional information about dangerousNEGRO can be found online at www.dangerousNEGRO.com. For interviews please contact CEO Sebastine Ujereh at (615) 364-6733 or sebastine@dNBeApparel.com. dangerousNEGRO(TM) is owned and operated by dN Group LLC.

CONTACT:
Sebastine Ujereh
615-364-6733
Sebastine@dNBeApparel.com

Posted by impoetryious at 04:57 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Featuring Ndambi, Emily King, Angela Johnson, Liv Warfield, Yazahrah

Washington, D.C. – September 29, 2008 – The 4th Annual Can A Sista Rock A Mic? (CASRAM) Festival will feature local and national talent in Washington D.C. and Silver Spring, Maryland, October 8 – 11, 2008.

The four-day festival will feature Singer-Songwriters Liv Warfield, Grammy Nominee Emily King and Angela Johnson; New York-based Hip-hop/Reggae emcee duo, Nola Darling; DC-based artists EmoniFela, R&B singer Alison Carney and Electro-Afro beat artist Op Swamp 81; DC native Yazahrah; Atlanta-based soul singer April Hill; and New Jersey-based R&B artist Jean Baylor, formerly of hit duo Zhane and many more.   

"Can A Sista Rock A Mic? showcases some of the best live R&B and hip-hop music.  We also exhibit local artists and vendors as an effort to support the DC and Maryland community.  The best thing about CASRAM is that you can enjoy the festival with friends and family," says Kimani Anku, solSource Group co-founder. CASRAM 08 opens with an acoustic show from one of the pioneers of the new soul movement, N'Dambi! for two shows: 8pm and 10pm - 8pm opening is D.C.'s own Tamara Wellons who is slated to release her newest album this month and opening the second show is HU graduate from Atlanta, April Hill.

On Thursday A collage of hip-hop inspired performances from newcomers Bless Roxwell & Ra the MC, electric funk band OP Swamp 81, funky hip-hop's Eagle Nebula, and electro-soulful Ms. TK Wonder (with Taylor McFerrin). This is a memorable show of unique performances that will leave you in a zone! Hosted by DC's own XO.

Friday night will be a double hitter stating with the play:The Saartjie Project: The life and legacy of Saartjie Baartman who is also known as the Hottentot Venus. Using drama, song, dance and spoken word we explore the continued fascination of the black female form, and then CASRAM's flyest take the stage for a live evening of rhythmic basslines and beautiful people as Canada's Ayah makes her D.C. debut, along with Portland, Oregon's Liv Warfield, pioneer Jean Baylor of Zhane' fame, rising star Alison Carney and hometown heroine Yahzarah. DJ/ Host: W. Ellington Felton aka Wes Felton.

Saturday will also be a double hitter with No! The Rape Documentary & Panel Discussion with Konyka Dunson: In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, NO! The Rape Documentary is a groundbreaking feature length documentary unveiling the reality of abuse and healing in the black communities, and is being used around the world by grassroots movements around the world to end violence against women. After the film, there will be an audience discussion moderated by Konyka Dunson of WPFW & DCTV. Then CASRAM closes in grand fashion every year. This year, with a family friendly environment complete with vendors and visual art in beautiful downtown Silver Spring, we feature stellar, diverse performances by the truly soulful, energetic Angela Johnson, R&B singer Emily King, young hip-hop prodigy Ms. Emoni Fela, Singer & MC Josephine Silla, reggae spiced hip-hop gems Nola Darling, spoken word matriarch Dehejia Maat, the airy, electronic Yoko K. / aphrodizia, jazzy grooving Deborah Bond, up-and-coming DC soul singers Ne'a Posey and Teisha Marie and more!

Proceeds from this year's festival will benefit Raising Expectations, Inc., an organization that broadens the creative opportunities for at-risk youth and young adults in Washington DC to help them succeed in every aspect of life.

About CASRAM: Can A Sista Rock A Mic? Is a solSource Group production that celebrates the convergence of local, national and international women trendsetters in music, dance, spoken word, media arts and community activism in the Greater Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area.   

For more information about the festival, please visit http:/www.canasistarockamic.com   To schedule interviews with an artist or with the solSource Group, please contact Kimani Anku kimani@solsourcegroup.com
or Brandon Felton brandon@solsourcegroup.com

Posted by impoetryious at 03:52 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Film director Spike Lee has set off a storm in Italy with a movie about black American soldiers fighting alongside Italian partisans in World War Two.

Surviving members of the resistance to the Nazi occupation of Italy have taken issue with "Miracle at St. Anna" ahead of the film's Italian release on Friday, distributing protest flyers and accusing Lee of distorting history.

Lee has said he wanted to set the record straight about the role played by black U.S. soldiers in the war. The film is based on a novel by James McBride and focuses on the all-black 92nd Buffalo Division which helped liberate Italy in 1944-45.

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At the heart of the dispute is the film's depiction of an infamous 1944 massacre in the Tuscan town of Sant'Anna di Stazzema, where Nazi troops rounded up and killed 560 civilians.

In the film, the massacre is portrayed as a response to the actions of resistance fighters, with one of them betraying the town and colluding with the Nazis -- a version of events that has angered surviving partisans.

Lee, who is in Italy promoting the film, has responded to the criticism in his characteristically feisty manner.

"I would not allow anybody to tell me how to make a film, be it a partisan or the president of the United States," Lee told a news conference in Florence on Wednesday after a preview screening, according to Italian media.

"This simply shows that in Italy the wound is still open. ... It is up to Italians to come to grips with their past, not up to me or James McBride or the film," he said.

Members of the ANPI association of resistance fighters were not amused.

"For Spike Lee the partisans who 'hit and then ran away' were responsible for the Sant'Anna di Stazzema massacre," ANPI said on its website.

"Before shooting his film, the director should have read the truth about that horrible slaughter," it said, posting a copy of the 2005 verdict of an Italian military tribunal which convicted 10 ex-Nazi officers for the murders.

(Reporting by Silvia Aloisi)

Compiled by Stacy Gilliam, BET.com Contributing Writer

Posted by impoetryious at 03:36 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

In the seventies, a new form of music was beginning to emerge on the East coast where beats and rhyming were blended together to create a style only few people outside of the area knew anything about. This new music was like a lifestyle with crews, dance, clothes, and speech all blending together for the beginnings of hip-hop. This fictionalized account is the story of the first all female hip-hop MC crew known as the Mercedes Young Ladies from the Bronx. Author Sheri Sher tells the story of how Shelly Shel and a few of her friends got together, first as a crew, then as an actual hip-hop group. MERCEDES LADIES begins by setting the foundation by explaining Shelly's life as she was growing up.

Shelly was one of ten children being raised by a single mother. Life was tough for the family who had to do without and an eviction was something the children were accustomed to. Hanging out with friends, Shelly found something that held her attention and it was the hip-hop music of the time. Under Shelly's direction, a few of her closest friends started the Mercedes Young Ladies crew with bylaws, uniforms and support for each other. When they were approached about being the first female MC crew, they all jumped at the chance. Their adventure led them to perform with known and unknown groups of the time including Grandmaster Flash and other MCs and DJs. However, the ladies were naïve to the aspects of the music business and never truly got what they deserved monetarily nor the respect for their contribution to the hip-hop genre.

Sher has written a fictional account of the rise and eventual fall of the first all female hip-hop crew. Sher writes it like an autobiography, which at times causes the flow of the story to be somewhat erratic. She sets the chapters out as different situations and events that occurred during the tenure of the group. The concept is good, but I would have liked more character development of the members, especially since there were a myriad of other characters peppered throughout the story. MERCEDES LADIES is a fascinating look into a culture whose beginnings are still being discussed today and it was gratifying to realize there was an all female crew that made a contribution to the initiation of hip-hop.

Reviewed by Cashana Seals
of The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers

Posted by impoetryious at 06:58 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Finally, there is a gentlemen out there who is not theaten by my success or career. And is willing to up lifted me as the independent woman I'am. And be an accessory to me,as Mr. Smith would say, Which is What I think this album in bodies as a whole. I have to say that "So You Can Cry" is one of my many favorite songs on the album because it talks about having that male companian Who is there for you at the most difficult time in your life in this case he's trying to consol you over a failed relationship as you would like, and give you time to mened your broken heart,but at same time he wants you to be open to the posability of being loved by him.

"Back To What You Know" is a song about bringing in old baggage into your new relationship such as comparing him to the man in your previous realationship as far as What he use to do or, say. And learn How to stay in the present and realiaze that was then, and this is now."Mad" is about not wanting to go to bed angry with an unresolved issue laying on your hearts and minds because you don't want to bring that issue into the
the next day."Part Of The List" is about noticing every small detail about a special woman ,but now that she is gone it's all you have to hold on too. "Lie To Me" is basically saying I alrealy know the truth I just don't want you to confirm it for me. "Nobody" is about woman who moves on the dace floor like no other. Now, don't get me wrong I enjoy the track "Single" I just wish the same version would have been put on both albums. Because I like the version featuring the gentlemen of New Kids On the Block. I guess because I heared that first, and to hear Mr.Smith on the same track sounds odd to me as a solo artist.

"Why She Stays" is about knowing as a man that you have good woman by your side who loves you unconditionally and you know that,so you realize the error of your ways so you will change before you lose that good woman. "Fade In To The Background" is about attending an ex girlfriend's wedding and reception and realizing What could have been ,but now she's moved on and she's happy now. "Stop This World" is a song I belive about love that is way to right and your waiting for something to go wrong. Because everthing up to this point is to good.

What I enjoy about this album the most is he did this album on his own with no guess appearance. For once an R&B artist gets to stand on his own.

Posted by impoetryious at 08:53 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

The Game steps out of the shadow of Dr. Dre, steps free of the Aftermath of his feuds, August 26, 2008

The genesis of Game's career was both a blessing and a curse. He himself raps that few legacies have started "hotter than the beginning of my career/ with 50, Dre and Em there." However the helping hand would also bring persistent doubts, claims that Game's success is replicable for any rhymer who has an album of Dr. Dre's beats, 50 Cent's hooks and a track blessed by Eminem. While Doctor's Advocate was a step in the right direction, L.A.X. proves once and for all that The Game's success is defined solely by his skill.

On L.A.X. Game successfully demonstrates that he is the most legitimately hardcore rapper in mainstream hip-hop today. On "L.A.X. Files" he questions even his audience's credibility, "(expletive) think cause they watched Menace a couple of times/ Seen Cube in Boyz N the Hood and pressed rewind/ That you could survive when a real Crip run up on your car and flex the nine." The trifecta of "State of Emergency" featuring Ice Cube, " Bulletproof Diaries" with Raekwon and "Cali Sunshine" featuring Bilal are perhaps the three most classically "West coast" tracks that will be recorded in 2008. Game then demonstrates his versatility on laid back cuts including "Gentleman's Affair," "Touchdown" and "Angel," the last of which represents G.O.O.D. music at its finest with production by Kanye West and a verse from Common.

L.A.X. also proves that The Game may be the best actor in rap today. We've seen this ability through his simulated inebriation on both the title track from "Doctor's Advocate" and The Documentary's "Start From Scratch," and there was another allusion to this ability when Game presented an uncanny emulation of his mentor on "Lookin' at You." Game takes it to another level on L.A.X. He acknowledges his perfect rendition of Nas' flow on "Let Us Live," rapping "Voice raspy, who I sound like? Don't ask me/ That's my (expletive) we classy." On "Never Can Say Goodbye," he presents a verse each through the eyes of Tupac Shakur, Eazy-E and most jarringly, The Notorious B.I.G., who Game ebodies in both flow and lyrics. Game even takes a page out of Jay-Z's book on "Dope Boys," an unabashed (and inferior) interpretation of Hov's "Roc Boys."

There are weak points, notably "Letter to the King" on which Game's lack of nuance and sincerity are obvious, as is Nas' inability to "kick knowledge." However to see the strength and depth of L.A.X., one need look no further than the tracks left on the cutting room floor, any of which ("Gangsta Party" and "Cop Killa" in particular) would be the pinnacle of many of Game's contemporaries' albums. Note that I didn't even mention hit singles "My Life," or "Game's Pain," no need on an album of this strength.

 

Amazon:  HIP HOP and R&B

Posted by impoetryious at 08:26 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Gutta is the upcoming debut album of Ace Hood. It will be released on We The Best Music and Def Jam collaborating with Slip-N-Slide. The current set release date is November 18th, 2008. Guest appearances include Trick Daddy, Plies, Akon, Rick Ross, T-Pain and more. Some producers set to appear are Danja, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, DJ Nasty, The Inkredibles, The Runners, Cool & Dre, and Gold Rush. Ride, featuring Trey Songz, was the follow-up single and was released in July.

On August 26, the original release date for the album, a video for the song "Get 'Em" was released on the internet.

The tracklist was posted on Def Jam's website on August 25, 2008.

¹ Indicates song has leaked.

Ace Hood, born Antoine McColister in Broward County, Florida, knew he was destined for greatness. After an injury derailed his burgeoning football career, Ace turned to his true passion, rapping. At the age of 17, Ace teamed up with the Broward-County-based entertainment label, Dollaz & Dealz, to record the hit "M.O.E." (Money Over Everything") which sparked an immediate buzz in South Florida. After fine-tuning his craft on local crowds, he set his sights on performing for DJ Khaled at his annual birthday bash. "We was outside the radio station not even trying to get a deal, just hoping to perform at his birthday bash," Ace recalls. Although DJ Khaled had to go to a meeting, he stopped, looked at Ace and said, "I love your image!" Ace handed him his demo CD which resulted in a phone call to Ace's manager that night. Khaled said, "I love his swag, I hear starvation in his music and I want to take a meeting with him." That meeting turned into Ace becoming the first artist signed to "We the Best Music Group," an exclusive partnership with Def Jam Recordings. Since then, Ace has released two singles, which are setting the stage for his debut album, GUTTA, in-stores and online September 23rd.

Posted by impoetryious at 08:11 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Review
This is a young man letting his pain out-Miami times --Miami Times

Review
Rage , Outlaws inc Great tunes dudes! This is the hip hop we need. --apex news and beats

Review
A Banger what lyrics, a true album --cb news

The True and final chapter to Miami's local recoding artist rapper Rage comes in the Mist of his most successful album Red Dragon 2:Outlaw Immortals(2008),Rage is predicting The end of the world is near, and that he believes in God but will burn anyone in his path The Local business owner & father of 1 re-creates a deadly & often violent chapter of his past memories to finally let go in "Blood Bath" Rage & Outlawz Inc will continue to function and operate but Rage will end his solo career .-I Have done well ,i give god the grace he willing dissevers No more i let my pain out time to move one-Said Rage. The Company is known for being a notorious local music label headed by Rage with a Span dating from 2003.-The Amazontw.

Posted by impoetryious at 06:59 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Hova may have anointed Wayne, but T.I. just staged a coup, September 30, 2008

Ostensibly, "Paper Trail" is a reference to T.I. taking the time to put his thoughts on paper rather than relying on spontaneity and his mental notebook for his lyrics. Having listened to the album closely I'd like to draw two additional meanings from the title, each alluding to our old friends T.I. and T.I.P. First, there is a set of songs on this album that read unmistakably like pages from a diary, songs that are deeply personal and insightful. The second "Paper Trail" is simply money, and it inspires a set of songs about the fun and the swagger that comes with fortune. On "Paper Trail," T.I. expertly walks the line between relevance and entertainment, and delivers a magnum opus.

Four tracks best illustrate the lyrical diary I gleaned from this album. Lead single "No Matter What" is a window into T.I.'s time under house arrest and is astounding in its sincerity and lyrical complexity, he raps "Even though it's heavy, the load I'll still carry it/ Grin and still bear it, win and still share it/ Apologies to the fans, I hope you can understand it/ Life can change directions, even when you ain't plan it." "Ready for Whatever" is a stunningly honest explanation of his weapons charges, "Yes officially I broke the law, but not maliciously/...Either die or go to jail, that's a heck of a decision/ But I'm wrong and I know it, my excuse is unimportant." "Slide Show" blessed by John Legend is likely the most inspirational rap track of the year, on which T.I. advises his fans, "Don't forget that impossible is nothing, your environment is irrelevant/ Just don't let your emotions, overpower your intelligence/ Refuse to give up, Your mistakes don't define you/ They don't dictate where you're headed, they remind you." "Dead and Gone" with Justin Timberlake calls on listeners to let cooler heads prevail in tense situations, "No more stress, now I'm straight/ Now I get it, now I take/ Time to think before I make mistakes, just for my family's sake." These four tracks, and additionally "Live Your Life" and "You Ain't Missing Nothin", represent T.I.'s nuanced understanding of not only rap and music, but of life itself.

T.I.P. and the financially-focused half of the album come into sharp relief on more carefree tracks including hit single "Whatever You Like." "Swing Ya Rag," which will have even the most jaded gangster on the dance floor also falls into this category as does "Every Chance I Get." One would be remiss to not mention goliath record "Swagger Like Us" featuring Kanye West, Jay-Z and Lil Wayne (obligatory verse ranking: Tip, Hov', Weezy, `ye).

In sum, this album manages to cater to both listeners that are looking for a message and those looking for an escape. It is not without its problems (how "Porn Star" made the album over the leaked "Like I Do," I'll never know) but a T.I. album with a blemish outshines 99% of records today. Personally, it is my album of the year.

 

Amazon:  HIP HOP and R&B

Posted by impoetryious at 08:35 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Posted by impoetryious at 08:20 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

With only 38 days left to the November 4, 2008 US Presidential Election, millions of young hip-hop voters are preparing to make a tremendous impact on the outcome of the election.  As we witness the daily  "Countdown to Change" in America and the world, we all should take a moment to better understand the implications of the current economic crisis facing Wall Street and other financial markets throughout the world.
           
In hip-hop "street kred" is very important to the distinction and value of your brand.   When you play with other peoples' money, as well as with your own money,  you always should strive to make your word bond and keep your financial commitments and obligations to avoid the inevitable occurrence of some type of street justice response.
           
Likewise the major players on Wall Street now have to strive to regain their credibility.  Once you lose your "street kred," it is important to take the necessary steps to restore your significance or you will be out the game and irrelevant to the empowerment of others.
            
When President Clinton left the White House, there was a trillion dollars in surplus inside the US Treasury.  Eight years later President George W. Bush will leave the White House with the US in a multi-trillion dollar deficit and Wall Street in need of a $700 billion bail out.  Wow that is a lot of paper.
          
Liquidity and il liquidity are now key terms of the global debate.  When the American economy goes down, it the affects the economies of hundreds of millions of others around the world.
           
From the recent economic failures in the US of Bear Stearns, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch, AIG, and Washington Mutual, billions of dollars have been loss and without urgent corrective polices, transparency, oversight, and more effective governmental regulations, there will be even more corporate failures.
            
What is the connection between the economic stability and profitability of Wall Street, Main Street and your street?  Jobs are at stake.  Savings and investments are turning into worthless dust directly as a consequence of the Wall Street crisis.
          
Unemployment today, particularly in urban communities, in every region of the nation is the highest in ten years.  Poverty is on an hourly increase.  The cost of living is so high that millions of people have to choose between getting a meal, shelter and clothing over against the costs of health care, child care and education.
         
Home foreclosures in our communities are a growing daily reality.   I am in DC attending the Annual Legislative Weekend of the Congressional Black Caucus in Washington, DC and walking through the public parks here I saw ten times more homeless people, of all racial and ethnic groups, from the very young to the very old, female and male struggling to find a dry,  safe place to sleep and live literally on the ground.         
         
Two blocks from the White House, the ranks of the homeless are growing larger and larger.  Thus, there is a lot at stake economically and politically in terms of the outcome of the 2008 Presidential Election.  The quality of life of millions of people is at stake.  .
           
There are still more than 20 million people who are not registered to vote in America.  That is crazy.   Many states have set October 6, 2008 as the deadline to register to vote to be eligible to vote on November 4th.  This "Countdown to Change" is urgent and serious.
            
Let's get the word out.  From Wall Street to your street, let's "Get Your Money Right,"  "Get Your House Right," and "Get Your Vote Right."

-Dr. Ben Chavis

Source:http://thedailygrind.globalgrind.com/archive/2008/09/28/quot-countdown-to-change-2008-hip-hop-vote-and-wall-street-s-kredibility-quot.aspx

Posted by impoetryious at 07:37 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

 DHS

A computer screens displays input from Homeland Security's FAST body scanner during a demonstration.

A computer screens displays input from Homeland Security's FAST body scanner during a demonstration.

Baggage searches are SOOOOOO early-21st century. Homeland Security is now testing the next generation of security screening — a body scanner that can read your mind.

Most preventive screening looks for explosives or metals that pose a threat. But a new system called MALINTENT turns the old school approach on its head. This Orwellian-sounding machine detects the person — not the device — set to wreak havoc and terror.

MALINTENT, the brainchild of the cutting-edge Human Factors division in Homeland Security's directorate for Science and Technology, searches your body for non-verbal cues that predict whether you mean harm to your fellow passengers.

It has a series of sensors and imagers that read your body temperature, heart rate and respiration for unconscious tells invisible to the naked eye — signals terrorists and criminals may display in advance of an attack.

But this is no polygraph test. Subjects do not get hooked up or strapped down for a careful reading; those sensors do all the work without any actual physical contact. It's like an X-ray for bad intentions.

Currently, all the sensors and equipment are packaged inside a mobile screening laboratory about the size of a trailer or large truck bed, and just last week, Homeland Security put it to a field test in Maryland, scanning 144 mostly unwitting human subjects.

While I'd love to give you the full scoop on the unusual experiment, testing is ongoing and full disclosure would compromise future tests.

• Click here for an exclusive look at MALINTENT in action.

But what I can tell you is that the test subjects were average Joes living in the D.C. area who thought they were attending something like a technology expo; in order for the experiment to work effectively and to get the testing subjects to buy in, the cover story had to be convincing.

While the 144 test subjects thought they were merely passing through an entrance way, they actually passed through a series of sensors that screened them for bad intentions.

Homeland Security also selected a group of 23 attendees to be civilian "accomplices" in their test. They were each given a "disruptive device" to carry through the portal — and, unlike the other attendees, were conscious that they were on a mission.

In order to conduct these tests on human subjects, DHS had to meet rigorous safety standards to ensure the screening would not cause any physical or emotional harm.

So here's how it works. When the sensors identify that something is off, they transmit warning data to analysts, who decide whether to flag passengers for further questioning. The next step involves micro-facial scanning, which involves measuring minute muscle movements in the face for clues to mood and intention.

Homeland Security has developed a system to recognize, define and measure seven primary emotions and emotional cues that are reflected in contractions of facial muscles. MALINTENT identifies these emotions and relays the information back to a security screener almost in real-time.

This whole security array — the scanners and screeners who make up the mobile lab — is called "Future Attribute Screening Technology" — or FAST — because it is designed to get passengers through security in two to four minutes, and often faster.

If you're rushed or stressed, you may send out signals of anxiety, but FAST isn't fooled. It's already good enough to tell the difference between a harried traveler and a terrorist. Even if you sweat heavily by nature, FAST won't mistake you for a baddie.

"If you focus on looking at the person, you don't have to worry about detecting the device itself," said Bob Burns, MALINTENT's project leader. And while there are devices out there that look at individual cues, a comprehensive screening device like this has never before been put together.

While FAST's batting average is classified, Undersecretary for Science and Technology Adm. Jay Cohen declared the experiment a "home run."

As cold and inhuman as the electric eye may be, DHS says scanners are unbiased and nonjudgmental. "It does not predict who you are and make a judgment, it only provides an assessment in situations," said Burns. "It analyzes you against baseline stats when you walk in the door, it measures reactions and variations when you approach and go through the portal."

But the testing — and the device itself — are not without their problems. This invasive scanner, which catalogues your vital signs for non-medical reasons, seems like an uninvited doctor's exam and raises many privacy issues.

But DHS says this is not Big Brother. Once you are through the FAST portal, your scrutiny is over and records aren't kept. "Your data is dumped," said Burns. "The information is not maintained — it doesn't track who you are."

DHS is now planning an even wider array of screening technology, including an eye scanner next year and pheromone-reading technology by 2010.

The team will also be adding equipment that reads body movements, called "illustrative and emblem cues." According to Burns, this is achievable because people "move in reaction to what they are thinking, more or less based on the context of the situation."

FAST may also incorporate biological, radiological and explosive detection, but for now the primary focus is on identifying and isolating potential human threats.

And because FAST is a mobile screening laboratory, it could be set up at entrances to stadiums, malls and in airports, making it ever more difficult for terrorists to live and work among us.

Burns noted his team's goal is to "restore a sense of freedom." Once MALINTENT is rolled out in airports, it could give us a future where we can once again wander onto planes with super-sized cosmetics and all the bottles of water we can carry — and most importantly without that sense of foreboding that has haunted Americans since Sept. 11.

Allison Barrie, a security and terrorism consultant with the Commission for National Security in the 21st Century, is FOX News' security columnist.

Source:http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,426485,00.html

Posted by impoetryious at 07:25 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)