Thursday, July 23, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
$10,000 SURPRISE GIFT FROM ATLANTA PASTOR CREFLO DOLLAR
In each city on the tour, Dr. Dollar will donate $10,000 to a non-profit organization that is making a difference in the community. This month's recipient,The Gathering Place, is Denver's only daytime drop-in center for women and children who are experiencing homelessness and poverty. Their emergency support services provide immediate relief to women and children in distress. The goal of the Change Experience conventions is to initiate global change starting with the individual and moving from the local community and then expanding outward. The $10,000 giveaway is a catalyst to spring change into action.
"God has called us to be agents of change", said Creflo Dollar. "That is why we are so intentional about making sure we do what we can to help our brothers and sisters. It is so important to use the resources that God has blessed us with to be a blessing to others."
Dr. Creflo and Pastor Taffi Dollar are passionate about seeing people's lives transformed. That is the sole purpose of Creflo Dollar Ministries, the main outreach segment of World Changers Church International in Atlanta, Georgia. With satellite campuses all over the world, Dr. Dollar and his wife Pastor Taffi minister to millions of people offering them hope and the chance to see God move in their lives, families and ministries around the world.
"In a time where so many people find the world caving in around them and have lost hope, that is when the body of Christ should be there with open arms. We must be the change," said Dr. Dollar.
About Creflo Dollar
Creflo Dollar is Founder and Senior Pastor of World Changers Church International (WCCI) in College Park, Georgia, which serves nearly 30,000 members, and World Changers Church-New York, which hosts over 6,000 worshippers each week. With more than 25 years in ministry, Dollar is committed to bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to people all over the world, literally changing the world one person at a time.
Creflo Dollar Ministries has offices in the United States, Australia, the Republic of South Africa, Nigeria, the United Kingdom, and several more scheduled to open in the next few years.
2009 CHANGE EXPERIENCE SCHEDULE:
July 17 - Denver, CO
August 17 - 22 - London, England
September 4 - Omaha, NE
October 9 - Seekonk, MA
October 16 - Los Angeles, CA
November 13 - Charlotte, NC
For more information about the Change Experience tour and Creflo Dollar Ministries please visit www.creflodollarministries.com.
Two million more blacks voted in the 2008 election a Census report reveals
U.S. CENSUS REPORT REVEALS YOUNG BLACK VOTERS HAD THE HIGHEST INCREASE IN TURNOUT IN THE 2008 ELECTION  Black Youth Vote! members lead students to the polls in Prairie View Texas in 2008 election. by Edrea Davis |
Washington DC, July 20, 2009 - Two million more black voters cast a ballot in the 2008 election than in 2004; and, young black voters had the highest increase in turnout among all groups, a U.S. Census Bureau report released today revealed. "We knew our work made a difference,'" said William Kelllibrew, national coordinator of Black Youth Vote! (BYV!), the young adult division of The National Coalition. "This report is confirmation of the success of Black Youth Vote! Since The National Coalition started the young adult division our work has helped to inspire a new commitment to service and civic engagement among 18-24 year-olds." Salandra Hanna, Florida BYV! advisor adds, "In 2004 black voter participation among 18 -24 year-olds increased four percent over 2000, and in 2008 participation increased a whopping eight percent! While there is still much to do to keep this demographic engaged, this news confirms the positive trend and gives us great encouragement."  The National Coalition's BYV! worked in twelve states registering new voters, educating voters on their rights at the polls, and urging them to VOTE FIRST. The National Coalition credits their VOTE FIRST Campaign with reducing the problems at the polls on Election Day. Other effective outreach to young adults included partnerships with American Urban Radio Networks (AURN), fraternities and sororoties and BET. AURN produced and distributed celebrity-voiced public service announcements urging young people to vote early. "We did the traditional outreach at events and beauty salons, but we also used new technology and enlisted the help of celebrities like rapper Bow Wow and the comedian Shang, to reach out to young voters," said Campbell. "We also registered new voters online and used email and text messaging to contact young voters and make sure they voted early." "By combining old-school civic engagement tactics with new school technology we surpassed our goals. An eight percent increase in participation among 18-24 year-olds demonstrated the power of that demographic and will definitely go down in history," said Richard Womack, Sr. chair of The National Coalition. Founded in 1976, The National Coalition is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to increasing African American participation in civil society. The current programs of the organization include Black Women's Roundtable and a new young adult community service initiative. For more information visit www.ncbcp.org. |
Monday, July 20, 2009
AEG Mentors Award-Winning Minority-Owned Firm
"AEG was a wonderful corporate partner who helped take our firm to the next level from an infrastructure and business perspective. They mentored us for a year providing access to key influencers and valuable resources for our firm. We appreciate their nomination and are honored by the recognition from SCMBDC," said The Baker Group principal Tammy Dickerson, an African American entrepreneur. Dickerson, a former in-house event manager for The Coca-Cola Company, launched her firm in 2000, producing an event during the Democratic National Convention that honored former Vice President Al Gore.
The Supplier of the Year Award is a National Minority Supplier Development Council, Inc. (NMSDC) program that celebrates outstanding certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) partnerships with member corporations. MBEs are nominated by member corporations and compete in the local competition for the award in four major categories, determined by MBEs' gross annual revenues. Local winners receive prestigious business scholarships, special recognition, and compete in the regional and national competitions. TBG was one of more than 40 nominees and 6 women and minority owned companies in the Class I category; which include businesses that generate annual sales less than $1 million.
About The Baker Group
During the past decade TBG has expanded from a home-based business to a national, full-service event production firm with a core team of more than 40 years of event management expertise. Generating almost three-quarters of a million dollars annually, TBG produces events on behalf of countless clients in the corporate, non-profit, political and entertainment sectors. Their client roster includes AEG, Wells Fargo, Disney, American Honda Motor Corporation, Major League Baseball, Nestle, US Tennis Association, US Bank, National Association of Black Engineers, National Association of Women Business Owners, City of Los Angeles Minority Business Opportunity Center (LA MBOC) and the Jackie Robinson Foundation. Since 2005 to date, TBG has managed the logistics for the Milken Institute's Annual Global Conference, that attracts more than 2,500 professionals and over 350 speakers, including News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch, seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong and numerous Nobel Prize winners. TBG and principal Tammy Dickerson have been featured in Black Enterprise magazine, recognized by The Los Angeles Business Journal as one of just 40 "Women Who Make a Difference" in the" Rising Star" category, and honored as one of "L.A.'s Inspirational Women Business Leaders" by Minorities and Women in Business magazine. Visit www.tbakergroup.com to learn more about The Baker Group.
Legendary DJ Spinna Unleashes First Single, New York; Album, SonicSmash, In-Stores July 21st
Renowned super producer DJ Spinna is ready to wreck some eardrums with his latest release, Sonic Smash. After working with legends such as former Temptation Eddie Kendricks, famed jazz artist/vibraphonist Roy Ayers, and prolific Brazilian musician Sergio Mendes, Spinna gets back to his hip-hop roots.
Sonic Smash features a smorgasbord of talented emcees: Little Brother’s Phonte, Elzhi of Slum Village, Torae, and others contribute verses. Elzhi gets busy on “More Colors,” working in a clever American flag metaphor. South Florida rapper Dynas shows off his mic skills on the spacey “More.” If Aldous Huxley was into hip-hop, this would beBrave New World’s theme song.
The bulk of the artists on Sonic Smash are relatively unknown. Newbies (and label mates) Fresh Daily, P.Casso, and Homeboy Sandman hold their own on “Get on Down”, the thumping cymbals and horns push the verses along with the pomp of a polished marching band. Newcomer and Atlanta native Señor Kaos proves he has chops on “Call me Señor,” his lyrics floating effortlessly over Spinna’s jazzy piano key melody.
Sonic Smash’s 14 well-crafted tracks showcase DJ Spinna’s legendary production expertise. The album drops on July 21 on High Water Music.
Check out the first single from Sonic Smash, “New York” featuring Jigmasters.
DJ Spinna – New York feat. Jigmasters
http://www.dailyrindblog.com/audio/djspinna_newyork.mp3
Check Out DJ Spinna In-Store CD Signing at Fat Beats & Release Party at Southpaw BK
FATBEATS NYC IN-STORE:
Monday, July 20th
7pm
406 Avenue of The Americas
NY, NY 1001
DJ SPINNA ALBUM RELEASE PARTY AT SOUTHPAW (BROOKLYN):
Tuesday, July 21st
10pm
125 5th Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11217
Special Guest DJ’s Include: DJ Premier :: DJ Scratch
Performing Live: Sadat X :: Jigmasters :: Fresh Daily :: Any Many More
For More Information:
Chanj Set To Release 2-Song Digital EP, It's The Worst On July 21st
The lead radio single, “It’s The Worst” produced by Steven Russell (Jordin Sparks “No Air”) features a powerful and emotional delivery from Chanj and talks about those times when you've have both the best and worst of situations in life. When it's simultaneously so good and so challenging, “It's The Worst.”
“ It’s The Worst” is catching the attention of radio across the nation. The song quickly began picking up spins upon it’s servicing, and is now in rotation in several different markets before an official impact date has been announced. “It’s The Worst” has also been named WBLS’ (#1 Urban AC station in New York City) song of the week. The vocal-styling’s of singer/songwriter Chanj has hit the airwaves with a breath of fresh air and will undoubtedly usher in a Time For Chanj.
The It’s The Worst EP also features the infectious buzz single, “Maybe” produced by Dre & Vidal (Usher, Mariah Carey, Jill Scott). The song serves as a memorable mid-tempo groove with a repetitive call out hook. The newcomer simply states, “Things are about to change…for me and for music. I am using my gift to craft a new release that speaks for and from the heart of a young man, his emotions and his insights.”
ABOUT CHANJ
Chanj hails from Plainfield, NJ and is a 4-time “Showtime At The Apollo” grand-prize winner. After performing his rendition of Floetry’s hit song, “Say Yes,” the singer cemented himself as a crowd favorite and became an instant YouTube sensation. Upon winning the Apollo Grand Prize, Chanj inked a deal with the newly formed label Alistair Records. Chanj quickly gained a grassroots buzz that has already captivated and engaged a celebrity and musical-elite following, such as Teddy Riley, who exclaimed — “Chanj is the truth! I haven’t heard or worked with a voice like his in years.” Teddy Riley was so impressed with Chanj’s talent; he decided to take him under his wing throughout the entire recording process. Since hitting the scene, Chanj has been invited to perform at several high profile events, including Apollo’s 75th Anniversary with Mariah Carey, Patti LaBelle, and Prince, BET’s exclusive awards dinner hosted by BET’s President Debra Lee with Jamie Foxx, Trey Songz, Chaka Khan and more!
His debut album Time For Chanj, is scheduled for release later this year.
“The Godfather of the Bass,” Robert Wilson of the Gap Band signs with Lucky 7 Records & Lightening Entertainment
Lucky 7 Records & Lightening Entertainment have announced that, “The Godfather of the Bass,” Robert Wilson of the Gap Band has signed an album deal with the indie label.
Lucky 7 Records & Lightening Entertainment is a family owned and operated independent label and entertainment group. The label recently signed N E MEANS, and is in negotiations with two other acts they plan to sign by the end of the month. “I am personally proud to have my uncle on the label, Uncle Robert is one of my idols and I am honoured to have him,” states Frank Wilson, Chairman and founder of Lucky 7 Records.
Robert Wilson recently blessed the late Waymon Tisdale on his 2008 released album, “Rebound.” The record titled, “Watch Me Play Again,” was one of the best produced records on the album. “We have some huge plans for Uncle Robert, we plan to release an album, as well as bless others with his musical prowess; we plan to use his funky-Gap Band laced baselines for our R&B and Hip Hop acts.”
Keep your eyes and ears opened for, “The Godfather of the Bass,” Uncle Robert Wilson's adult contemporary/HipHop/Jazz album, due for release in 2010.
ABOUT ROBERT WILSON
When Robert Wilson took the call from keyboardist Billy Preston inviting him on a short tour, the then-19-year-old bassist hesitated—not because he didn't want the gig, but because he had to clear it with his mom first. "She told me I couldn't leave because I had other responsibilities that weekend," says Wilson. "But I had to set her straight. The next day I was onstage at the Spectrum in Philadelphia, sharing the bill with Larry Graham, the Whispers, and Blue Magic." It was the mid '70s, and word was spreading quickly about Robert, whom Preston contacted through Tulsa, Oklahoma session great Leon Russell. Robert, his older brothers Charlie and Ronnie, and the rest of the Greenwood, Archer & Pine Streets Band—they would soon shorten the name to the more marquee-friendly "GAP" Band—had been discovered by Russell at a Tulsa night spot. "Leon heard us one night and snatched up the whole band," explains Wilson. "He basically removed his band and installed us." The Gap Band really took off when the Wilson brothers moved to Los Angeles, pared down to a three-piece core, and hooked up with producer Lonnie Simmons. 1979's "Shake" was the first of several high-energy, synth- and bass-heavy party anthems, followed by "Burn Rubber (Why You Wanna Hurt Me Bad)" and the oft-sampled "You Dropped a Bomb on Me." Today the Gap Band still brings the party to packed houses worldwide, and the group was recently honored with this year's BMI Icon Award for their "enduring influence on generations of music makers." At the root of the group's influential style lies Robert's vivacious bass work, which anchors the band's groove and provides the foundation for his brother Charlie's synth-bass parts. "I go for a sound that's warm but still has enough guts to cut through," explains Robert. "I put my parts down and Charlie comes behind me. Whatever the lick, he doubles it. He'll cut some breaks here and there, but his parts basically follow mine." Restraint is a key ingredient in Robert's groove recipe. "I don't like players whose main goal is to show that they're technical wizards. Bass is all about creating a mood." When crafting his parts, Robert—who developed his bass chops in church bands—often appeals to a higher source. "I connect with the spirit and let it take over," he says. "If you think too much about your next lick, you won't be able to find its spirit. I try to take my mind out of it." Sometimes, however, his inspiration has more earthly origins. "I always wanted to play lead guitar," says Robert, "so I'll play the lead licks that I hear in my head. As long as you leave the bottom on the one, you can be more aggressive on beats two and four. You just have to know how to get back.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Latin Music Star, Frankie Negron, to Perform on ABC's "One Life to LIve" - Aug 5th
| Salsa sensation Frankie Negron will bring his celebrated music to ABC Daytime's "One Life to Live" when he performs on August 5, 2009. The accomplished artist and singer-songwriter will perform "Holding on to Love" from his first English language album, "Independence Day" (scheduled to be released on September 22, 2009 on Airgo Music,www.airgomusic.com). "One Life to Live" fans will be treated to a unique version of Mr. Negron's single, which he co-wrote, when he performs in both English and Spanish for a private rooftop performance for Todd (Trevor St. John) and Tea (Florencia Lozano). "One Life to Live" airs Monday-Friday (2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. L to R: TREVOR ST. JOHN, FLORENCIA LOZANO, FRANKIE NEGRON 117130_0183ONE LIFE TO LIVE - Photo Credit (ABC/HEIDI GUTMAN) |
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AMERICA'S SOUL FOOD MUSEUM RECEIVES RAVE REVIEWS
 Chef Dr. Kenneth Willhoite |  |
Atlanta, GA (BlackNews.com) - Michael Jackson, the greatest entertainer of all time is remembered at America's Soul Food Museum of Atlanta, Georgia. Chef, Dr. Kenneth Willhoite, promoted and sold Michael Jackson's father's, "Joe Cola" drink, in the Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia area in the mid 80's. His son, Michael Jackson's favorite dessert was his mom, Mrs. Katherine Jackson's delicious sweet potato pie. The day the world celebrated the greatest entertainer in the world at his memorial, complimentary slices of sweet potato pie were served in his memory at America's Soul Food Museum.
America's Soul Food Museum would be a great added attraction to any city or town looking to create jobs, promote travel, trade and tourism and also document its local history. Stimulus monies may be available!
America's Soul Food Museum receives rave reviews for its daily tours conducted by Chef, Dr. Kenneth Willhoite, founder & CEO of the museum. The museum is a right of passage for those interested in culinary arts and hospitality. Walk through the doors of the Soul Food Museum in Atlanta, Ga., and be prepared to encounter 400 years of African Americans' contributions to the culinary arts and hospitality industry! Chef, Dr. Kenneth Willhoite is a sought after motivational speaker, author, caterer and griot, founded the organization in 2002, as a way of documenting 400 years of African American history and presenting it to the next generation, which is similar to that of Tavis Smiley's America I Am tour.
After 35 years of research, Dr. Willhoite has collected a museum full of great facts, products recipes and memories! For example, did you know that an African American invented the potato chip? His name was George Crum. Are you aware of Smokey Robinson's line of cuisine? Did you know that Patti LaBelle has a line of Hot Sauce? And that several rappers, including Lil John, Nelly, Tupac, 50 Cents and others have energy drinks and vitamin waters? Some of the most popular food items at the Soul Food Museum are Lawdy Miss Clawdy breakfast cereals, by entertainer Lloyd Price, Georgia's own sausage manufactured by David L. Martin of Home Style Foods, Johnny James's Optimus Energy Drink, Mix Match popcorn manufactured by popcorn and more out of Dolton, Illinois and Michele's Honey Crème Syrup. It is his God given mission and soul desire to bring all people together around the new healthy and delicious soul food.
Willhoite states that when he was 16 years old, he threw his hands up to God and asked, "What am I supposed to do as a little black boy in America? Why did I pop out of my mama's belly? Lord what is my mission? What is my vision? What is my destiny?"
"I want to know," Willhoite said. God answered his prayer and said, son you are to document a peoples history and cook good food and present that food well and when given the opportunity witness for me through the food.
At the Soul Food Museum, visitors can embark on a 45 minute tour, where you will learn of the various culinary inventions and foods that African Americans are responsible for. On special occasions on your tour, you will get to sample some celebrity famous recipes! Among these special treats could be; Oprah Winfrey's oven fried chicken, Aretha Franklins famous peach cobbler, Quincy Jones famous BBQ Ribs, Luther Vandross' turkey meatloaf or Sammy Davis Jr.'s delicious spaghetti. You'll hear about the many African American celebrities that were and are restaurant owners, like James Brown, Mahalia Jackson, Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jordan, B.B. King, Debbie Allen, Marla Gibbs and Isaac Hayes.
Black chefs, cooks, waiters, waitresses, bartenders, housekeepers, shoe shiners, janitors as well as restaurant, hotel owners, food manufacturers and churches throughout the United States have contributed to this endeavor. They have come together to document their contributions for the purpose of inspiring, educating and motivating our youth and creating jobs in the community. We are teaching our young people how to become entrepreneurs.
Every year they host an award celebration and Southern Heritage Expo, honoring the top 100 African Americans involved in the food and hospitality industry. Celebrating 400 years building on the legacy of our ancestors.
To date, the ages of these honorees range from 12 to 89 years of age. The Soul Food Museum is open 7 days a week and is a great spot for hosting a family reunion in Atlanta. The Soul Food Museum also offers to tourist from around the world visiting Atlanta, a tasty Soul Food Restaurant Extravaganza Tour around the beautiful City of Atlanta.
The tour is sponsored by prestigious Bonjour Travel and Events Planning featuring, Exotic Tropical Island vacations, luxury and adventure cruises, romantic getaways, honeymoon packages, safaris, and tours. If you need a vacation we're here to help you find the perfect experience. Dates for the next Soul Food Museum Extravaganza Tour is August 19-22, 2009, please contact Bonjour Travel for information regarding registration/reservations for the tour at 770-982-9521, also visit Bonjour Travel website at www.elaborateservices.com
Dr. Willhoite has been featured in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, New York Times, Black Meetings and Tourism Magazine, Chicago Tribune, Black Enterprise, Washington Times and has a book chronicling his 35 years of research to be in book stores this summer.
Entrance to the museum is $5 for adults and $3 for kids and senior citizens. America's Soul Food Museum is located ½ block from the historic Martin Luther King Center @ 372 Auburn Avenue NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30312, www.soulfoodmuseum.org - (678) 508-9478.
Friday, July 17, 2009
GURU, SOLAR, AND 7 GRAND RECORDS HEAD OUT ON
is taking their original and unique brand of hip-hop directly to fans around the world. The legendary Guru aka Mr. GangStarr along with his partner Super-producer Solar and 7 Grand Records are pleased to announce the European leg of their 8.0 Lost & Found World Tour. Performances are planned in the following: Geneva, Switzerland (July 8 - Scene Ella Fitzgerald Festival); Feldkirch, Austria (July 9 -Pool Bar Festival); Zamardi, Hungary (July 10 - Balaton Sound Festival; London UK (July 11 - 100 Club); Southampton UK (July 12 - Orange Room); Haarlem, Netherlands (July 16 - Patranaat); Berlin, Germany (July 17 - Astra); Stockholm, Sweden (July 18 - Stockholm International Jazz Festival).
"Every concert on the tour has been sold out. This is considerably the biggest World Tour of any independent Hip Hop act/label this year," expressed Guru. In his most recent blog from the road, Guru states "Our killer Hip-hop/Jazz set produced by Solar has consistently proven without a doubt that we have the best hip-hop/Jazz show on the planet." The set includes GangStarr classics and more recent 7 Grand material including music from the latest release 8.0 Lost & Found in-stores now.
The concert dates kicked off in the U.S. at The Sundance Film Festival in Park City, UT then headed to Salt Lake City, Colorado, Vail, Breckenridge, Telluride, Durango, and The X Games in Aspen. Additional shows were booked in West Hollywood, Las Vegas and Atlanta date before heading to Japan and Europe. "The cool thing was that our audience is so vastly mixed and includes many 7 Grand supporters of varied ages, generations and backgrounds," explains Guru. "We work our show so that no one is left out. Whether you're into straight ahead jazz, pop, R&B or hip-hop, there's a musical experience for everybody. This is hip-hop/jazz in its purest blend." "Guru's smooth lead vocals combine with Solar's masterful song arrangements to create a musical journey beyond comparison," one review states. The acknowledgement clearly demonstrates the impact that Guru, Solar, Jazzmatazz and 7 Grand have globally on the Music Industry today.
"Our goal with 7 Grand is to continue to be vital catalyst in keeping Real Hip Hop alive for the future by bridging the generation gap and blending genres," expresses Solar. "My partner, Guru is known for his groundbreaking Jazzmatazz album series where he collaborated with the likes of Chaka Khan, Herbie Hancock, Isaac Hayes, Erykah Badu, The Roots, Macy Gray and David Sanborn, so we've raised the bar for hip-hop musically and we do that on-stage as well."
Visit www.myspace.com/guru7grand and www.myspace.com/solar7grand for more information. Also check the site to view the most recent music videos from the 8.0 Lost & Found album all directed by Solar.
Tarrus Riley Contagious album August 4th
Awarded Best Male Vocalist and Best Song at the 2008 International Reggae and World Music Awards, Tarrus Riley is the most promising of the second generation of Jamaica roots reggae singers. With an August 4, 2009 release of his much-anticipated third set CONTAGIOUS on Cannon Productions, distributed by VP Records, Tarrus Riley reaffirms that he is one of finest singer/songwriters of his generation, irrespective of musical genre. The son of Jimmy Riley - who has had a long career as a solo artist as well as being a former member of the Uniques and the Techniques. Riley's songs retain ties to the Jamaican roots tradition while still managing to sound distinctly contemporary. In addition, his strong stage presence gives him crossover appeal and marks him as a coming force on the international reggae scene. The album is grounded in a roots reggae tradition that is recast with a gleaming 21st century sheen courtesy of the album’s primary producer, venerable saxophonist Dean Fraser and created by Grafton and Tuff Gong studios sovereignty including Sly and Robbie on drum and bass, guitarists Mitchum “Khan” Chin and Cat Coore, keyboardist Robbie Lyn and Dean Fraser’s impassioned sax styling.Contagious remarkably shifts between smoothly crooned lover’s rock and artful Rastafarian declarations, provocative commentaries and dancehall’s combustible edge, its cohesion provided by Tarrus’s spectacularly emotive vocals and reliably inspiring words. As its title indicates, this highly infectious collection of 18 songs is characterized by symptoms of melodiousness, rapturous roots rhythms and hard hitting lyrical realities that are transmitted through repeated spins, resulting in a high grade musical fever from which you will not want to recover. “The reason why I called it ‘Contagious’ is because I would love for everyone to catch it,” says Tarrus. “I don’t want my music to have boundaries of race, age, nationality or religion; I represent reggae, live music, and I want everyone to catch on to its positive, good vibes.”
Standout tracks are easily spread throughout Contagious. Tarrus returns to the rapid-fire deejaying of his Taurus days on “Good Girl Gone Bad” (featuring rising dancehall star Konshens) produced by Tarik “Russian” Johnston. On “Don’t Judge”, Tarrus cautions harsh judgments often times leads to reckless actions. Random brutality, war and an array of social injustices prompts the contemplative “Why So Much Wickedness?”. A simple yet stirring invocation to His Majesty is expressed on “King Selassie” and the title track “Contagious” reworks the majestic one-drop rhythm from Bob Marley’s immortal “Coming in From the Cold” as it details that untreatable sweet sickness.
Tarrus forthrightly addresses the wicked act of violence against women in “Start A New” (produced by Shane Brown), urging the song’s female protagonist to leave her abusive man. As a means of calling greater attention to this malady, Tarrus has established a non-funded, anti domestic violence campaign, Start A New in which he, Blak Soil, Majah , the Area Yutes Foundation, Miss Jamaica 2007 Yendi Phillips and an assortment of artists regularly visit schools and speak to children from some of the island’s most troubled communities about the violence which many of them are exposed each day. “We put on plays, perform and talk to the kids about things that touch their lives and violence is a part of that,” he explains, “and they really appreciate that we would take the time to do that.”
Like his father, Tarrus has a sweet, nuanced tenor vocal style, he taught himself to play keyboards and several percussion instruments and began writing his own songs, many of which had strong Rastafarian and consciousness-leaning themes. His 2004 debut album Challenges was an impressive introduction to the Jamaican market deserving of a much wider audience. His sophomore effort Parables featured the most popular reggae song of 2007 “She’s Royal”, won critical praise throughout the Caribbean Diaspora and almost single handedly heralded a roots reggae renaissance.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Method Man, Redman and Ghostface On Tour...Plus! Ghostface New Album On 9/1
Method Man and Redman are basking in the glow of BLACKOUT 2, their critically acclaimed new Def Jam collaboration released in May - the long-awaited (ten years!) follow-up to their essential Blackout, one of the defining hip-hop events of 1999 (with "Tear It Off," "Y.O.U.," and "Da Rockwilder"). BLACKOUT 2 blasted off with a trifecta of new single releases showing off Meth and Red at their very best: "A-Yo" featuring Saukrates, produced by Pete Rock; "Mrs. International" featuring Erick Sermon, produced by Buckwild; and "City Lights" featuring Bun B, produced by Nasty Kutt. The album debuted on top 10 on Soundscan and has drawn unanimous raves from print and web media.
Ghostface Killah, W-TC's most prolific member, will release his 6th Def Jam album (and 10th major label career album) in September, THE WIZARD OF POETRY, described as "an R&B-influenced rap album." Ghost's most recent release was Ghostdeini The Great (December 2008), his first official archive collection on the Def Jam label, blending "classic tracks with remixes and new verses," as Billboard.com described it. Guests included W-TC, fellow Def Jam artists Kanye West and Ne-Yo, Amy Winehouse, Mary J. Blige, Ice Cube, and others. The collection also drew tracks from three of Ghost's Def Jam albums: Fishscale (March 2006), More Fish (December 2006), and The Big Doe Rehab (December 2007).
Redman exploded on to the hip-hop scene in 1992 with Whut? Thee Album, his RIAA gold debut album. It was followed by Dare Iz a Darkside.(1994), Muddy Waters (1996), Doc's da Name 2000 (1998), Malpractice (2001) - all RIAA gold-sellers - and El Nino with Def Squad (1998, with Keith Murray and Erick Sermon), and Red Gone Wild (2007).
Always larger than life, Method Man became a vital part of hip-hop culture in 1992 as a founding member of the seminal hip-hop supergroup Wu-Tang Clan with their classic debut, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). Solidifying himself as a superstar in his own right, Meth went on to record for Def Jam and release Tical (1994), Tical 2000: Judgement Day (1998) - both RIAA platinum - Tical 0: The Prequel (2004, RIAA gold), and 4:21 The Day After (2006).
THE FOOT PRINT IN HIP-HOP TOUR
Starring
METHOD MAN, REDMAN & GHOSTFACE
Date City Venue
July 22 Asheville, NC Orange Peel
23 Raleigh, NC Lincoln Theater
24 Washington D.C. 9:30 Club
25 Sayreville, NJ Starland Ballroom
26 New Haven, CT Toad's Place
29 Baltimore, MD Rams Head Live
30 New York, NY Nokia Theater
31 Providence, RI Lupo's
Aug. 1 Martha's Vineyard, MA Nectar's
2 Burlington, VT Higher Ground
6 New Orleans, LA House of Blues
7 Houston, TX House of Blues
8 Dallas, TX House of Blues
9 Austin, TX Emo's
11 Albuquerque, NM Sunshine Theater
12 Phoenix, AZ Marquee
13 Las Vegas, NV House of Blues
14 San Diego, CA Canes
15 Los Angeles, CA House of Blues (two shows)
16 San Francisco, CA Mezzanine
WFRE Interrupts Radio Frequencies across the U.S.
“These clips are almost painful to listen to because you can hear the angst, pain and stress in the people’s voices as they voice their own displeasure with the conditions we face everyday.” – Ness (A-Alikes)
DJ Victorious of We Free Radio seamlessly incorporates these audio clips with exclusive vocals & messages from Mos Def, Raye 6, I.G. and Afayah. Even Kanye West, Checkmate, Tahir, DJ Butta, and more producers offered their production talent in support of the new A-Alikes mixtape, “The Hustle and the Hunted Part 3.”
Stream
http://bit.ly/MmmSY
Support
http://bit.ly/7Uuhs
Download
http://bit.ly/NGAKo
About A-Alikes
At a time when the economy is sinking, the prison industrial complex is expanding and the music industry is shrinking into a handful of major corporations driven by sales alone, A-Alikes offers a connection to the streets with a concern for the future of the community. Their debut release” I Eat You Eat” on Nervous records helped garner them national press and lead them to their current project “The Ballot or the Bullet”, a documentary and soundtrack. This is a prelude to A-Alikes' upcoming full length LP “Us Against Them“, a new venture between Guerilla Nation and digital distributor ContentChunk.Com
More Info: Http://www.aalikes.net
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