[ARTIST] Jeremih
“I can make a great sex song anytime I want, without even saying a body part, without saying anything that would be omitted on the radio. Somehow I’ve just been given that ability,” Jeremih remarks matter-of-factly, not even the hint of a mischievous grin on his face. The man knows his talent, and his calling card. And as enviable as that talent is, no man of Jeremih’s intelligence and versatility would be satisfied in a pigeonhole: “In no way do I feel that ‘Birthday Sex’ defines me as an artist, or defined my first album. People are quick to make comparisons: ‘he’s the next R. Kelly, he’s the next Dream.’ That’s flattering talk but we’re all different, as people and as artists.”
Indeed, 23-year-old Jeremih Felton has planted his own flag among the glittering banner acts at Def Jam: “I feel like I’m on the best label I could be on; I’m not intimidated by anyone musically, and I’m honored and inspired by the artists around me. There were a lot to choose from, a lot of labels were interested in a short period of time, but I didn’t get this far by making bad decisions. And to be blessed with L.A. Reid’s thoughts and even his critiques, I couldn’t ask for anything more.”
So the stage is set for Jeremih’s sophomore album, All About You, dropping September 28th. The singer/ rapper/producer/multi-instrumentalist has again aligned with producer Mick Schultz to deliver eleven songs long on sophistication, sex appeal, and even some old soul. “Mick and I have a great chemistry; we entered the game together, and we have albums’ worth of music,” Jeremih imparts. “I want him to get known too; I’m not selfish like this has to be the Jeremih show. This album is a great showcase for his ability as well as my own. Once people hear this album, others will recognize what I recognized in him and reach out for more of what we create.”
What they create is a sonic palate ranging from subtle savoir-faire to unapologetic, house-shaking climax. First single “I Like,” featuring labelmate Ludacris and co-written by Keith James, is pure babymaking bliss. Jeremih’s uncanny falsetto wends into Ludacris’ irresistible, irrepressible flow, bobbing and weaving with Schultz’s bubbly, scaled-back rhythm. Elsewhere, the titular track is a languid 4/4 offset by sawing high-octave synth riffs. But Jeremih’s vocals, smacking of a young Michael, steal the show. Rare is a falsetto this controlled, this textured, this evocative. Listen for it also on “Take Off,” what Jeremih terms a relationship record told from the lesser-heard male point of view: “Guys have feelings too, guys get hurt, and this record expresses that. There’s a point when we feel like we’ve done enough in trying to work this out, and now it’s best if I take off for the both of us. I can say I been there, but I also hear this from a lot of peers. Women can relate to it too, even if it’s not from their perspective.”
“Down on Me” featuring 50 Cent is a supersmash in the waiting. 50 unleashes an insistent, machine-gun flow, while Jeremih contorts himself through some outrageous vocal acrobatics. His voice, spiced with an island cadence, bends and stretches about one of the nastiest hooks R&B has seen in quite some time. “Down on Me” is definitely a song to be up on. “I’ve always respected 50 and always wanted to work with him,” Jeremih notes. “I wanted to reach out to a couple artists who could bring to the table what I know I do.”
Jeremih doesn’t lack for confidence. Nor should he. A native of the unforgiving Southside Chicago ―“a city full of talent”― streets, Jeremih kept to a positive path, honing his prodigious musical chops on saxophone, drums, and piano. He graduated high school a year early and enrolled at the University of Illinois as a prospective engineering major. Bookworm by day, beatmaker by night. “I write off beats,” Jeremih reveals. “I’m a producer myself, that’s how I thought I’d initially get into the game. After a while, I just got to writing to the beats. And at the time, I was rapping, not singing.” Indeed, the U of I campus couldn’t hold Jeremih; he transferred to Columbia College, one of Chicago’s preeminent creative schools.
“That’s where I met Mick Schultz and started vibing with him,” he continues, “And began singing over his beats, because that’s what a lot of his stuff called for at the time. But singing and rapping both came natural; that stemmed from playing instruments growing up. Playing the piano taught me how to sing, or at least how to sound out, reach, and hold notes.”
Jeremih holds notes, and court, on All About You. The album has a depth, a sense of growth, an exploratory side. “The Five Senses” is a slow, sultry firestarter featuring Jeremih’s peerless tone. Then there’s “Broken Down,” full of ominous piano chords and cadenced like a frozen moment in jazz or soul lore. And “Holding On,” the subsequent track: “After being broken down, you gotta keep holding on,” Jeremih affirms. “It’s about trying to see the future when you’re going through something in the moment that’s getting you down. I played this for my Grandpops and a lot of older listeners and they really responded to it. I’m proud of this song and how far I’ve come as an artist.”
Jeremih has other reasons to be proud. Concurrent with his album release, he’ll be appearing on the second season of BET’s popular series, Rising Icons. Icons, presented by Grey Goose vodka, pulls back the curtains and chronicles the lives of rising stars, both at home and on tour. Jeremih will share the spotlight with fast risers such as J. Cole, Estelle, Laura Izibor, and B.O.B. Elsewhere, he’s been honing his pen game for other ballyhooed newcomers, including Jenna Andrews, for whom he and Mick wrote “Tumblin’ Down,” her debut single on Island Records. “I write what I feel, and with the pitch of my voice, I can write for a man or a woman,” he states. “My voice just has the ability to do a lot of different things.”
Speaking of different things, fans yearning for even more Jeremih can cop the Deluxe version of All About You, available via iTunes and featuring several tracks not on the physical CD. Expect also a Jeremih mixtape, on which the young star does as much spitting as singing: “I rapped a little on my last album with ‘Raindrops,’ and people asked ‘Who was that?’ Now, I have some new stuff that I went hard on that just didn’t fit with the theme of this album. So I’m looking forward to the mixtape to let people see that side of me. A lot of singers try to do it, and it can either A) turn all your fans away like ‘You need to stick to singing, fam’ or B) get you respect as being able to do both. I can put rhyme to a melody and have it accepted.”
It’s been a whirlwind couple years for Jeremih, first setting the Midwest ablaze with his indy anthem “My Ride,” following that up with the RIAA-certified platinum “Birthday Sex,” a nomination for an American Music Award, and now, an imminent sophomore album. “I’ve almost traveled the world in a year, and that’s an amazing experience. I now know what to expect this time around. When I do shows, I perform every song off the last album. People still want to hear those songs live, and those are from a year ago. So I’m excited to see the response to this material.” Jeremih recognizes that without his dedicated fans, none of these amazing experiences would be possible. That is why, on September 28th, he would like to tell each and every one of them it's "All About You".
[ARTIST] Trick Daddy
Trick Daddy born Maurice Young, has made an impact on the mainstream that paved the way for fellow thugs in the rap game. Despite the obstacles that were prevalent in the industry his talent broke through the barriers with his raw ability to relay his message straight from the hood while proving club bangers to the masses. His past achievements cannot be disputed from the first time his skill ravaged the airways with the release of Scarred in 1996. Subsequent releases were in 1997 Based on a True Story, in 1998 www.thug.com containing the hot single Nann Nigga featuring Trina, and 2000:Book of Thugs: Chapter AK Verse 47.
The album that erased the line between underground and mainstream was in 2001 with the release of Thugs Are Us with cameos from Ludacris and Mystykal. In 2002 Trick Daddy released Thug Holiday and brought a new awareness of the lifestyle of thugs. Trick Daddy is an artist that has remained close to his roots and to date has exemplified how being a product of your environment does not have to dictate your destiny. Over the next few years he would reiterate this with his releases of Thug Matrimony: Married to the Streets in 2004, Back by Thug Demand in 2006 and Finally Famous: Born a Thug, Still a Thug in 2009. If it wasnt for Trick Daddy birthing a Thug Kingdom in the mainstream music arena the rap game would not be what it is today. Trick Daddy, one of the Original Kings of the south has evolved without sacrificing the voice of the streets. He is like the Hulk of the Hip Hop Game the harder hes hit the meaner he spits annihilates the odds against his movement.
[ARTIST] Ceelo Green
As an entertainer and businessman with many layers, CeeLo Green cannot be summed up in just one title. He is a five-time Grammy Award Winning singer-songwriter-producer, television personality, actor, entrepreneur, pop culture & fashion icon, and professional lady killer. In 2001, CeeLo received five Grammy nominations for his worldwide hit “Forget You” (aka “F—k You”), winning the category for “Best Urban/Alternative Performance”. The single is certified Gold in the United States and Denmark and achieved platinum status in Canada, New Zealand, and the UK; and multi-platinum status in Australia. In October 2012, CeeLo will release a new Christmas album as well as a solo album in 2013 entitled “Everybody’s Brother”. He’s made memorable appearances on Saturday Night Live (2011), Oprah (2011), presented at the ESPYs (2011), and Kids’ Choice Awards (2012) as well as making remarkable performances at the 2012 Super Bowl with Madonna, The Grammy Awards with the Muppets (2011), Brit Awards (2011), Billboard Music Awards (2011/2012), Soul Train Awards (2011), BET Awards (2011), and hit such mainstream status that even Gwyneth Paltrow covered “Forget You” on Glee (2011). CeeLo has also landed the cover of Fast Company’s 2012 “Most Creative People in Business” issue, Rolling Stone magazine as well as Jet magazine.
In addition to his success as a recording artist, CeeLo Green has completed two seasons as a mentor/ judge on NBC’s hit show The Voice alongside Christina Aguilera, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton and will return for the 3rd season on September 10th, 2012. He has also made guest-appearances on NBC’s popular show Parenthood (2011), FOX’s American Dad (2011), Nickelodeon’s How To Rock (2012) and also hosted his own talk show “CeeLo Green Talking to Strangers” on FUSE TV. On top of his television work, CeeLo Green is also transitioning his career into acting and has made an impact on the film industry starring in Sparkle, which hit theaters on August 17th, 2012 and is Whitney Houston’s last film. He is also the voice of “Murray the Mummy” in the Sony animated film Hotel Transylvania along with Adam Sandler, Selena Gomez, Andy Samberg, premiering in September 2012 at the Toronto International Film Festival and in theaters September 28th, 2012. CeeLo will also star in the John Carney film Can a Song Save Your Life? along with Keira Knightley, Mark Ruffalo and Catherine Keener, which is slated for a 2013 release. With a strong passion and natural talent for acting, CeeLo has big plans to further his career as an actor and film/TV producer.
CeeLo Green is also gearing up for his new Las Vegas residency “CeeLo Green is Loberace” at Planet Hollywood opening February 27th, 2013 and running through March 2013. More of a spectacle than a show, CeeLo, the conductor/ringmaster “LOBERACE,” will take you on a ride through the colorful decades of music, stopping at legendary moments in time, from Prince to Blue Magic to The Rolling Stones, new wave to disco and beyond. Visually, the production will combine CeeLo’s flamboyant sense of style & over-the-top creativity, magnified and intensified, with his soulful voice covering some of his favorite music, as well as original songs.
CeeLo truly approaches the industry as a businessman. He was appointed Chief Creative Officer of Primary Wave Music, the management company CeeLo signed with in 2010 and is one of the largest independent music publishing, marketing and talent management companies in the US. He is co-owner of a premium Sake brand TY KU; the voice behind the NFL’s new Thursday Night Football theme song; remixed the iconic Meow Mix Jingle; became the face of ad campaigns such as 7UP and Las Vegas Tourism; and has a book slated for release in 2013.
CeeLo Green first came onto the music scene as a member of the southern hip-hop group Goodie Mob along with Big Gipp, T-Mo and Khujo, who have reunited and will release their new album “Age Against the Machine” in 2013. The new album will feature the new Goodie Mob single “Fight to Win”, which they debuted on NBC’s The Voice (2012) as well as the Billboard Music Awards (2012). Goodie Mob released their 1st album “Soul Food” in 1995, pioneering them to the top of the emerging Southern rap scene. The Southern Hip Hop group then released two more albums “Still Standing” (1998), and “World Party” (1999). After CeeLo’s success with Goodie Mob, he reinvented himself and formed Gnarls Barkley with deejay-producer Danger Mouse to release the 2006 worldwide hit “Crazy”, which reached #1 in various singles charts worldwide. In the US, “Crazy” reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Following Gnarls Barkley, Green put his time back into his solo career as CeeLo Green and released the 2010 album “The Lady Killer”, which featured his hit single “Forget You”.
On a personal note, CeeLo Green grew up in Atlanta, GA. Both of his parents were ordained ministers and he started his music career in church. His father died when he was just two years old and his mother, Sheila J. Callaway, a volunteer firefighter, was in a fatal car accident and died when he was 18. His mother and grandmother were both very involved in various philanthropic efforts and to continue his family legacy, CeeLo and his sister Shedonna launched GreenHouse Foundation in August 2012, a non-profit organization with a mission to help make “green education” easier and accessible to students in underserved school districts.
[ARTIST] Rico Love
Rico Love: Songwriter and Producer
Love has written and produced hit records which include Usher’s “There Goes My Baby,” Nelly’s “Just a Dream,” Trey Songz “Heart Attack,” Kelly Rowland’s “Motivation” feat Lil’ Wayne and Beyoncé’s “Sweet Dreams,” and has contributed to Grammy Award winning works such as Beyoncé’s 2009 Best Contemporary R&B album “I Am... Sasha Fierce,” Usher’s 2010 Best Contemporary R&B album “Raymond v. Raymond,” and Usher’s 2010 Best Male R&B Vocal Performance “There Goes My Baby.” In addition, Love has written and produced records for artists such as Fergie, Chris Brown, A$AP Rocky, David Guetta, Wiz Khalifa and Mary J Blige.
Rico Love: Recording Artist
Having appeared as a featured artist on records with Usher, T.I., Jermaine Dupri, Jamie Foxx, Rich Boy and Fat Joe, Love released the acclaimed “Discrete Luxury” EP, his first work as a solo recording artist in 2013. The lead single “They Don’t’ Know” was called “one of the hottest songs on the radio right now” by Vibe magazine and reached #4 on Billboard’s Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop chart. His second single “Bitches Be Like” released in early 2014. A “smash hit” according to XXL magazine, the track received heavy rotation by leading digital broadcasters Sirius XM radio and Music Choice. Following summer 2014’s “Honest Tour,” Love released “He Got Money” featuring tour headliner, Future. The track was taken from Love’s forthcoming LP, “I SIN,” released August, 2014.
Rico Love: CEO
Love is the CEO of Division1, a record label formed in partnership with Interscope Records in 2013. Division1’s roster features Love alongside singer, songwriter, and musician Tiara Thomas, celebrated for writing and singing the hook on Wale’s highly acclaimed #1 hit, “Bad”. In 2015, Division1 will release Tiara Thomas’ debut LP, “The Bad Influence” and Love’s follow up LP, “#TTLO.”
For more info on Rico Love, visit his official site at:
[ARTIST] Regina Belle
Regina Belle (born July 17, 1963) is an American singer-songwriter from Englewood, New Jersey. At a young age she began performing at Englewood's Mount Calvary Baptist Church. She was introduced to the Manhattans by New York radio DJ Vaughn Harper and began working as their opening act. She recorded the 1986 duet, “Where Did We Go Wrong,” with the group which helped to attract the attention of Columbia Records. They eventually signed her to a record deal.
In 1987, she released her debut album, “All By Myself.” It included her first hits “So Many Tears” and “Show Me the Way.” Her follow-up album, “Stay with Me,” was then released in 1989.
Belle recorded a duet in 1991 with Johnny Mathis, “Better Together,” which appeared on his album “Better Together: The Duet Album.” Continuing her tradition of duets, Belle teamed up with Peabo Bryson for the songs “I Can't Imagine,” “Without You” and “A Whole New World,” which was the featured pop single from the soundtrack to the 1992 Disney movie “Aladdin.” The song hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart and won the Grammy Award in 1993 for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal as well as the Academy Award for Best Song in later that year.
Also in 1993, Belle released her platinum selling third album, “Passion.” The album featured the Disney hit “A Whole New World,” “Dream In Color” and “If I Could, “which reached # 9 on the Billboard R&B chart. Belle released “Reachin' Back” in 1995 followed by “Believe in Me” in 1998.
In 2001, Regina Belle's cover of “Just the Two of Us” from the tribute album “To Grover, With Love” made a surprising return to the Billboard charts, and within months Belle would sign with the jazz oriented independent label Peak-Concord Jazz. That same year she released the album “This Is Regina!, “which featured the R&B hit single, “Ooh Boy.” Belle also known for her hits "Make It Like It Was" and Baby Come To Me" is a must sing for her fans.
In 2004, she released a jazz standard album, “Lazy Afternoon,” which was produced by George Duke. The album included covers of the Isley Brothers' “For the Love of You” and Tony Bennett's “If I Ruled the World.” In 2007, she collaborated with smooth jazz saxophonist Paul Taylor, co-writing and singing on his album, “Ladies Choice.” Belle released her debut gospel album, “Love Forever Shines,” in 2008 via Walker Davis Records The 14-track collection featured guests Melvin Williams (of the Williams Brothers) and Shirley Murdock.
In 2009 Belle suffered a Brain Tumor and under went 2 surgeries that left her deaf in one ear.Belle Faith was tested and she stood on God's word that she would be healed.
Belle in June 2012 released her Testimony album ," HIGHER", Regina Belle has a simple but powerful message. “I pray that each listener has an experience. My whole objective in doing this record is to bring people into the presence of God. Some of us don’t always get there through the preached word. The music is only second to that, but I want to be able to know that I did my job and if you don’t have words to say, then use my words. If you don’t have a voice, then use my voice. If you don’t have the music or the setting, use mine. I believe that my music helps people get to a special place.” That place is a closer walk with God, one that is sweeter, deeper, richer and HIGHER!
For more info on Regina Belle, visit:
[ARTIST] Faith Evans
Faith Renée Evans is a multi-platinum Grammy Award winning recording artist, songwriter, arranger and record producer. Faith is also a New York Times best-selling author, an entrepreneur, a TV executive producer and most importantly — a mother. With so many hats to be worn, it is undeniable that Faith has a little something for everyone. Through what has been an equally rewarding and trying career, ask her how she’s come this far and she’ll simply reply, “FAITH.”
With a music career spanning over two decades, Faith has released eight studio albums, with over 18 million albums sold and spawning over 30 singles. Faith has also performed on 20+ soundtracks and a host of guest appearances during her career. Faith Evans is a seven-time Grammy nominee; winning “Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group” in 1998 for “I’ll Be Missing You,” an homage to her late husband and hip-hop legend Notorious B.I.G.
Faith has three Platinum-certified albums under her belt, including: “Faith” (1995), “Keep The Faith” (1998) and “Faithfully” (2001); the Gold-certified “The First Lady” (2005), and the holiday staple, “A Faithful Christmas” (2005). In 2008, Faith penned her New York Times Best Selling Book, “Keep the Faith: A Memoir” with Aliya King, which won the 2009 African American Literary Award in the “Best Biography/Memoir” category. The memoir is currently available in hardback, paperback and in e-book format at most major retailers. In 2010, Faith released her first independent album through her music imprint Prolific Music Group and E1 Music, titled “Something About Faith”. The lead single “Gone Already” was nominated for “Best Female R&B Vocal Performance” for the 2011 Grammy Awards. In August 2012, Faith co-created, executive produced and starred in an original reality series, “R&B Divas”, which became cable network TV One’s most watched original premiere in the history of the network and later released a compilation album of the same name. The “R&B Divas” album earned Faith her seventh Grammy nomination for “Best R&B Album” for the 2014 Grammy Awards.
In November 2014, Faith released her eighth studio album, “Incomparable”, on Prolific Music Group, with distribution through BMG Chrysalis. “Incomparable” reached number 17 on Billboard’s Independent Albums chart and number 27 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. “Incomparable” includes the lead single “I Deserve It” featuring Missy Elliott and Sharaya J and the follow up second single “Make Love”, featuring Keke Wyatt, is currently climbing up the Urban AC radio airplay charts. The album also includes guest features from Problem, B. Slade & Karen Clark-Sheard and production by Mike City, Chucky Thompson, MyGuyMars and Brian Morgan.
[ARTIST] Vivian Green
Green released her debut album, A Love Story, in 2002. The album was certified Gold and featured the hits "Emotional Rollercoaster" and “Fanatic.” She followed it up with her sophomore album, in 2005, Vivian, which featured the hit singles, “Gotta Go, Gotta Leave (Tired)” and "I Like it But I Don’t Need It." Green sold close to 800,000 between the two releases. Ms. Green also has a well-earned reputation as a riveting live performer, and has shared stages with such artists as Maxwell, Teena Marie, Betty Wright, Chaka Khan, Q-Tip, Anthony Hamilton, and Common.
Vivian portrayed Billie Holiday in the Cole Porter biopic Delovely, and appeared in the ABC series “American Dreams” as Brenda Holloway, and performed Holloway’s classic Motown song “Every Little Bit Hurts.”
She also wrote "Dear God" for Boyz II Men for their platinum-selling album Evolution and wrote the music for David E. Talbert's popular all-star stage play Love in the Nick of Tyme, which debuted in 2007.
For more info, follow Vivian on Twitter at:
http://www.twitter.com/iamviviangreen
[ARTIST] DJ Quik
Six years after his last solo studio release, Hip-Hop icon and platinum recording artist DJ Quik is back. The Compton, California native returns with his eighth solo studio album on 4/20 with The Book Of David. As a nod to his birth-name, David Blake, this latest release is a candid and insightful project.
Mixing Quik's legendary beat crafting with his well known gangsta bravado, The Book Of David is a raw representation of Quik as both an evolved recording artist and the mind of the man behind the music, David Blake. The album is entirely produced by DJ Quik and features memorable cameos from Bun B, Ice Cube, Kurupt, Dwele, Suga Free, Jon B, Bizzy Bone and others.
“The whole idea behind this project was not just to make another rap album,” says DJ Quik. “I wanted to focus on the overall musical performance process…not just the rapping part. It’s a smart album, it’s everything I wanted it to be.”
The Book Of David is as multi-faceted as the illustrious creator. Every track provides another gripping chapter to Quik's prolific discography. The album’s lead single, “Luv of My Life” featuring Gift Reynolds, is already garnering heavy spins from top regional radio stations, including Los Angeles’ Power 106, San Francisco’s KMEL, Seattle’s KUBE, Phoenix’s KKFR and more.
Given that his skills are just as precise now as they were two decades ago, Quik's music remains relevant and essential. The Book Of David is yet another fine addition to the catalogue of an immensely gifted artist.
[ARTIST] Young Buck
These days being a rapper in the industry has been very challenging. Not only do you have to have the lyrical flow, but you have to be versatile, creative, and energetic on the stage. All the women should want you and all the men have to want to be you. In this industry your swagger and talent has to be on point. When you combine everything they should be the perfect ingredients for a successful rap star. This is exactly what former G-Unit and Cashville member Young Buck brings to the hip-hop industry.
Young Buck was born March 15, 1981 as David Darnell Brown in Nashville, TN. He grew up hard, living with his single mother, sister and cousins in Nashville, also known to Buck as Cashville, Ten-A-Key. At the young age of 14, David took to the streets of Cashville selling drugs to make a way to survive. At the same time he discovered a new hobby: rapping, which soon became a major focus in the young hustler's life. The Nashville hip-hop scene was just beginning to pop and Buck wanted to be apart of it any way possible.
By 1997 Buck gained the attention of the then blossoming and recently known empire, Cash Money Records. The new rapper spent the next four years on and off with Cash Money before aligning with the label's biggest star, Juvenile, who left to build his own company, UTP Records.
Buck spent most of 2001 on the road with UTP hustling and making a name for himself around the country. During a New York visit, UTP recorded with Sha Money XL and local rapper 50 Cent, who had created quite a buzz for himself and his G-Unit crew. 50 really liked Young Buck’s style and by 2002 Buck was signed to G-Unit/Interscope Records. Soon after G-Unit released the crew's double platinum Beg For Mercy album, which showcased plenty of Buck's Southern swag and mellow but aggressive flow, that helped put Cashville on the map.
In 2004 Buck dropped the platinum-plus selling Straight Outta Cashville, only about ten years after he first put his hands on the mic. Buck says, "I was blessed to get the success that I got on that album." The rapper says, "It really was good material, but it wasn't the best Buck material."
With about a two-year break, Young Buck released his second debut album March 27, 2007. Buck the World debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, with sales of 141,083 in the first week.
Since the release of Buck’s second album he's had a couple of controversies. The biggest controversy is the highly publicized beef with rapper 50 Cent. After numerous rumors of a "beef" within G-Unit, 50 Cent officially kicked Young Buck out of the group, in 2008. He later assured that he was still signed with the label. There were many slandering songs that arose on the internet from both camps with Young Buck also appearing in a music video of former rival The Game.
After all of this, 50 Cent then leaked a taped phone conversation between himself and Young Buck, which showed one of the true reasons for the falling out. Young Buck later stated the conversation took place over a year before the leak. The two camps have since released a multitude of songs against each other, with the feud settling down by 2009, with Young Buck stating he's been working on his latest album.
Even though Buck hasn’t released an album since 2007 and he has been through some drama. He has overcome all of the negativity and is working hard to push out his next mixtape. Buck’s new mixtape is entitled BACK ON MY BUCK SHIT 2 and it is going to be the hottest thing to hit the streets from this talented artist.
Young Buck has recently spoke about his new song “Gotta Love It” which addresses his relationship status with 50 Cent. This new mixtape really showcases Young Buck’s talent and his versatility. He has really grown over the years and is ready to show everyone what else he has to offer.
And as far as what Young Buck feels, he says, “If you not a fan of Buck, then just pay attention 'cause at this point, I feel like I'm more focused than I've ever been in my career...I'm good people, I'm doing what you should be doing and that's surviving...Coming to a 'hood near you. Back On My Buck Sh*t." (Southern Smoke TV).”
Get ready for the new and improved rap star because he is coming back stronger and hotter than ever. You can get the mixtape now at www.iamyoungbuck.com
YOUNG BUCK, CASHVILLE RECORDS IN THE BUILDIN'
[ARTIST] Alani Skye
Growing up, Alani was constantly surrounded by music. She always looked forward to being backstage and watching her mother perform with her band. As she got older, her mother began to bring her on stage. Alani embraced the comfort of the stage and now it is her turn to be in the spotlight.
As early as age 7, Alani Skye began to write songs and would entertain her family with her talents. Like most young aspiring singers, she joined the children’s choir at church. The desires to be an artist led her to record her first song by 13. Soon after that, she and a few friends formed an all-girl group called “Set It Off”. During high school, she moved to Florida and continued worked to expand her career.
Alani knew that it was important to write and record as she tried to figure out who she would be as a solo artist. Unfortunately upon return to Syracuse, things took a turn for the worst. Surrounded by death and violence, Alani found herself caught up within her environment. And although her trouble and pain led her to dark place in life, she found her solace in music and never stop believing in her calling.
Growing up, like most young singers, Alani Skye was influenced by some of the greats such as: Lauryn Hill, Mariah Carey, and the late Aaliyah, but the one she admired the most was Mary J Blige. Alani could identify with the message within the queen of Hip Hop Soul and her music and the personal transformation throughout the years.
Alani Skye is primed to bring her talents to an audience that is hungry for the return of great music. With the renewed success of Ms. Jennifer Hudson and the talented Tamar Braxton, Alani Skye will be a shining star of today’s new generation of music.
Remember, believing in yourself is all it takes..... There is no need to remind ALANI.... SKY IS THE LIMIT....
[ARTIST] Wiz Khalifa
“Being out in front of people and just being ‘The Man’” might sound like a vague and ridiculous dream to have, but for Cameron Thomaz it might be the most appropriate thought to cross any mind. Better known as Wiz Khalifa, the son of two military parents has always had his eye on being a new standard by which cool is measured. Rapping since the third grade and starting to record music at 14 was probably a step in the right direction. The next best move? Inking a deal to Rostrum Records after a meeting with Benjy Grinberg.
Fresh out of high school, it was time to either sink or swim. In 2005 Wiz released his first mixtape, “Prince of the City: Welcome to Pistolvania.” The mixtape was quickly accepted by the local scene and began to gain buzz outside of Pittsburgh. With that excitement growing by the day, it was the perfect time for a proper commercial album. Wiz soon dropped “Show and Prove,” which Okayplayer.com claimed was “arguably the best album of the year.” The accolades began piling up and Khalifa was receiving significant co-signs from XXL, Rolling Stone, and VIBE, alike. A deal with Warner Bros. Records soon followed.
Any other 20-year-old probably would’ve let all this hype go to their heads, but not Wiz. As focused as ever, Wiz only saw this praise as an opportunity to work harder. In 2007, with the help of famed mixtape DJ, Green Lantern, Wiz released “Grow Season,” which was soon followed by “Prince of The City 2.” The sequel to “Prince of The City” would soon out grow its predecessor so much so that the demand for Khalifa’s music was greater than ever.
Unfortunately, the relationship between Khalifa and Warner Bros. dissolved, and once again, Wiz found himself as an independent artist. Typically a huge roadblock for any artist, Wiz refused to allow the lack of a major label deal to slow down his momentum. He and his Rostrum team hit the ground running in 2009 and released three highly acclaimed mixtapes: “Flight School,” “How Fly,” a collaborative mixtape with New Orleans rapper Curren$y, and “Burn After Rolling.” The album “Deal Or No Deal” followed in the Fall and debuted at the top of the iTunes “Hip-Hop” chart, and has remained in the top 50 to date.
In the months following, both his fanbase (known as the “Taylor Gang”) and the anticipation for his new mixtape grew daily. Once Wiz dropped “Kush & Orange Juice” in early 2010, it was clear that he had established himself as one of the rap-game’s brightest young stars to watch. With an unprecedented amount of downloads, not to mention both the top search on Google as well as the number one trending topic on Twitter, it seemed as if the entire nation was on board with the “Taylor Gang” movement. Many said that the release of “Kush & Orange Juice” placed Wiz as the valedictorian of his “XXL Freshmen 10” class and kicked open the doors he and his team were looking to walk through.
Fast forward a few months, and together Wiz and Rostrum Records proudly announced that these doors were those of Atlantic Records, the new home to Wiz Khalifa. Following this huge milestone in his career, Wiz soon embarked on a stint on the famed “Rock The Bells” tour alongside such legends as Lauryn Hill and Snoop Dogg, immediately followed by his nation-wide headlining tour, appropriately dubbed the “Waken Baken Tour.” After receiving co-signs from a multitude of rap veterans, including Rick Ross and Diddy, and humbly rejecting Drake’s offer to join his recent tour, it became evident that Wiz also established himself as a prominent staple online with over 3,000,000 friends on Facebook, and over 1,000,000 fans following him on Twitter. With the video for his first Atlantic Records release, “Black & Yellow,” getting an astonishing 30 million views on YouTube, there is no question about it: Wiz Khalifa’s debut album is bound to be something great.
[ARTIST] 2Pac
While he was most famous for his rap career, but was also a gifted actor, poet and a thoughtful while outspoken advocate for the poor and the overlooked in America. During his life, he produced an immense amount of artistic work, which included albums, major Hollywood feature films, and published works. He was most prolific in the music industry, selling over 75 million albums. Tupac’s unapologetic lyrics were relevant, important, and reflective of the hard lives led by many. His music earned attention and respect through a poetic style that embraced street vocabulary while being innovative and he is still considered by many to be one of the biggest influences on modern hip hop.
Tupac’s career has earned him 6 Grammy nominations and three MTV Video Music Award nominations. Shakur was honoured by the American Music Awards as the Favourite Hiphop Artist in 1997.
Born on June 16 1971 in New York City, Shakur’s parents were both members of the Black Panther Party whose militant style and provocative ideologies for civil rights would come to influence Tuapc’s music. At an early age, Tuapc’s love for performance and the arts began to show, as he began acting at age 13 and later enrolled in the Baltimore School of the Arts before dropping out at 17. Shakur broke into the music business with rap group Digital Underground as a back-up dancer and roadie. Eventually Shakur released his first solo album in ’91, 2pacalypse Now. Now sporting the stage name 2pac, Shakur’s music career began to grow as his second album, Strickly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z included 2 top 20 pop chart tracks: I Get Around and Keep Ya Head Up.
Shakur’s legal battles began after he established his rap career. In the early nineties Shakur faced a wrongful death suit which settled out of court, accusations of assaulting police officers where charges were ultimately dropped, and even an incident where Shakur sustained 5 gunshot wounds from unknown assailants. In 1995 Tupac was sentenced one-and-a-half to four-and-a-half years in prison for sexual assault. However, not even prison could slow the success of Shakur’s career.
While incarcerated Tupac’s latest album, Me Against the World, was number one in the pop charts and would later go double platinum. Shakur become the first artist to reach number one in the pop chart while serving a prison sentence. Making the most of his time in jail, Tupac became an passionate reader. Among his favourites were the works of Niccolò Machiavelli, an italian Renaissance writer whose works were in part the foundation for western political science. Shakur’s appreciation of his work inspired the nickname: Makaveli.
After serving only 8 months of his sentence, Tupac was out on parole thanks to a 1.4 million dollar bond paid by Suge Knight, CEO of Death Row records. Now signed on Death Row records, Shakur went on to create All Eyez on Me, which featured hits How Do You Want It and California Love.
Tupac’s life was cut short in September of 1996 when Shakur became the victim of a drive-by shooting while his car waited on a red light. Inspite surviving the surgery that followed, Shakur was pronounced dead almost a week after the attack.
Even today, Tupac’s musical influence is wide-spread from the library of congress where his song Dear Mama was added in 2010 to the national registry, to artists like 11 time Grammy winner Eminem who in an interview with MTV said:
“He made you feel like you knew him. I think that honestly, Tupac was the greatest songwriter that ever lived. He made it seem so easy. The emotion was there, and feeling, and everything he was trying to describe. You saw a picture that he was trying to paint.”
Tupac leaves a legacy of honestly and passion in his songs. Respected by many, Tupac has become an inspiration for artists and a standard in rap music.
[ARTIST] The Notorious B.I.G.
Hailed by many as the greatest MC of all time, the Notorious B.I.G. was Bad Boy's flagship artist. From his early verses on Craig Mack's "Flava In Ya Ear (Remix)" and "Real Love" by Mary J. Blige, it was clear to the hip-hop world that a new king had been crowned. Biggie solidified his position with his classic 1994 debut album, "READY TO DIE." Through the combination of Sean Combs' powerful production and B.I.G.'s vivid rhymes, the disc brought Bad Boy Records to the forefront of East Coast hip-hop and went to sell over four million copies.
Tragically, this superstar's life was cut short on March 9, 1997, when he fell victim to a shooting. Released just two weeks later, the double album "LIFE AFTER DEATH" instantly confirmed Biggie's status as a modern musical giant. Universally considered to be among the greatest hip-hop albums of all time, "LIFE AFTER DEATH" went on to sell more than 10 million copies worldwide, fueled by B.I.G.'s timeless lyricism and such chart-topping singles as the classic "Mo Money, Mo Problems." Since his passing, B.I.G.'s legacy been kept alive via such posthumous releases as 1999's double platinum "BORN AGAIN" and 2005's "DUETS: THE FINAL CHAPTER." More significantly, he lives on through his profound influence on modern hip-hop. A prolific poet of the streets, a charismatic performer, and an honest, impassioned storyteller, the Notorious B.I.G. remains a true superstar to this very day...
[ARTIST] Outkast
Genius: somebody with exceptional ability, especially somebody whose intellectual or creative achievements gain worldwide recognition.
There's an old proverb about genius that says “talent does what it can, genius does what it must.” In the world of the corporate-controlled, media-driven, trend-following music industry – where record labels pump out cookie-cutter music by the baker's dozens – it is rare that you come across mainstream hip-hop artists who are willing to push the envelope by daring to go creatively where few artist are willing to go. Most artists would rather stick to the carefully prepared scripts that brought them gold and platinum the first time. Hence why so many of today's contemporary hip-hop records tend to sound alike.
For the past nine years the Atlanta-based super duo, OutKast, has been consistently pushing hip-hop's envelope by expanding its musical boundaries with every album they release. Their unique blend of jazz, blues, soul, rock and world music along with some good old-fashioned hip-hop laced with their Southern sensibilities has constantly set the world on its ear. And none of their albums have ever sounded alike.
OutKast started their luminous career in 1994 when their classic hit, "Player’s Ball," became an unlikely single on LaFace Records’ Christmas album, a label traditionally known for its suave R&B music. The reaction to the record persuaded Antonio “L.A.” Reid (LaFace President, CEO and co-owner) to sign the young duo as the label's first hip-hop act. Their spectacular debut LP Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, with its sparse samples and live instrumentation reminiscent of the golden era of 70s soul, sold one million copies and help to lay a solid foundation for the current explosion of Southern hip-hop.
With their sophomore LP, ATLiens, Big Boi (née: Antwan Patton) and Dré (née: André Benjamin) showed the world that the South really did have something to say, and 1.5 million people were listening to ‘Kast's trunk-rattling funk, gleaned from the spirit of Sly Stone, Mandrill, and George Clinton. In addition to their incredible commercial success, critics were praising both Dré and Big Boi for their silky southern flows and clever lyrics celebrating everything from “Growing Old” to the “Wheelz of Steel.” The record cemented the duo's position as one of the few groups on the cutting edge of hip-hop.
After the release of their third LP, Aquemini, the “two dope boys in a Cadillac” reached a major plateau in their career. Declared a “hip-hop classic” by several hip-hop publications including the Source and Rap Pages, Aquemini blended elements of 70s soul, funk, jazz and reggae with hip-hop to create a record that opened 3 million people up to new musical possibilities for the genre. To this day Aquemini remains one of the quintessential records in hip-hop.
On Stankonia, OutKast pushed the envelope even further by revisiting the spirit of George Clinton, Jimi Hendrix and Eddie Hazel, dipping millions of listeners into some good old-fashioned psychedelic hip-hop funk. Once again, OutKast garnered rave reviews with their latest studio offering and, true to form, picked up a couple of million fans along the way. The record sold a whopping five million units worldwide.
For their fifth effort the two decided to take a break and release a greatest hits album, Big Boi and Dre Present…OutKast, as a retrospective for the new fans who just got hip to OutKast. The record contained three new songs, one of which, "The Whole World," earned them a coveted Grammy Award for Best Rap Song by a duo or group. Now with their sixth release, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, André 3000 and Big Boi have taken a bold step forward by releasing an unprecedented dual CD containing their own individual musical statements, thus giving fans a glimpse into the creative minds of each member.
On The Love Below, André 3000 uses a musical canvas compiled of funk, rock, techno and straight-ahead jazz to explore the nexus between love and lust. It is perhaps the most intensely personal statement he has ever made musical or otherwise.
“[The Love Below] started as four or five songs that I was doing at home,” says André 3000. “I had these songs and I was starting to see a theme. And maybe it was the way I was writing them or the mood I was in, but they were all revolving around relationships. And so I said ‘hey, maybe I should do this side project,’ which will be all singing because I hadn't really wrote any rhymes for it yet. So what I said was ‘okay, I'll do this side project and put it out and this will be like a soundtrack to an independent film project that I'll do called ‘She Lives in my Lap’ but we decided that that title was too risqué for a movie. So we changed it to The Love Below."
While the independent film project never materialized, the movie did serve as a springboard for Dré’s continued exploration and experimentation with various forms of music. In addition, the budding musician moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting and finish working on the album.
The Love Below opens with Dré crooning in a sweet falsetto – much in the tradition of Phillip Bailey or Prince – on "Love Hater," a swinging jazz track that would make jazz balladeers like Jimmy Scott and Joe Williams very proud. For a taste of the funk, Dré drops intoxicating jams like "Happy Valentine's Day," a hi-energy joint centered on a rhythmic guitar lick and a thunderous bass line that recalls the heyday of Parliament/Funkadelic, and "Behold a Lady," an up-tempo song that revolves around a space age techno-funk beat.
The single "She Lives in My Lap," featuring actress Rosario Dawson, is a scintillating track celebrating the love that lives below the belt. However, just when you think that you've got the hang of where André 3000 is coming from musically, he takes you on yet another side street of his musical repertoire by giving you pleasantly surprising songs like "Hey Ya," a funky jam that sounds like a cross between the Beatles and the classic Motown sound of the early 60s. "Roses," a song that chastises gold diggers and groupies, is another song that falls into this category. Built around a slinky, funky groove and a classic rhythm with a near perfect backbeat, "Roses" also features Big Boi flowing milky smooth, combining complex lyrics with internal rhymes that will keep rap fans hitting rewind more than once. Dré slows down the pace with romantic songs like "Prototype," an ethereal funk ballad that celebrates 3000's perfect woman, and the smoldering ballad "Pink and Blue," which celebrates the May/December romance between a younger man and an older woman. Each of the songs gives the listener a little vignette that actually helps frame the overall plot of the film script that will ultimately become the movie, The Love Below.
"[The Love Below] is about this guy who doesn't believe in settling down. He never felt like he's gonna get married," explains André. "And one day Cupid shoots him in the club. He falls in love with this girl who he has one nightstand with. If you listen to the album, you can hear the story a little bit. Like the song ‘Roses’ is about this girl name Caroline. She's beautiful, but she has a stank attitude. ‘Pink & Blue’ is about this lady named Ms. Pinkerton. She's an older lady that this character dealt with, so every song deals with a different character in the movie."
In addition to handling all of the production and vocal duties on The Love Below, Dré plays a great deal of the instruments on the record, including the keyboards and the majority of the drums programming (except for "Roses," which was done by Dojo 5). Dré can also be heard playing guitar on almost every song, with the exception of "Love Hater." The Love Below proves that André 3000 is one of the most gifted musicians that his generation has produced.
While his “partner-in-rhyme” shows off his musical diversity, Big Boi opts to showcase his lyrical prowess on his solo effort, Speakerboxx. Big Boi does this by paying homage to the foundation of Southern hip-hop: the Roland 808 bass.
"Basically, Speakerboxxx is my voice to the world," says Big Boi. "The name has two meanings; the first one comes from the larynx, the voice box. The second was that I wanted to deal with a lot of Southern music on this one. You know we like that bass, which resonates at the low end of the speaker."
Speakerboxxx opens up with a thunderous intro filled with rumbling 808 bass and segues into the rapid-fire ode to bass “Ghetto Musick.” “Ghetto Musick” has a break-neck speed that would cripple the average MC's flow, but Big Boi floats on this complex rhythm like a butterfly soaring over a roaring river. "Tomb of Boom" brings more of that trunk-rattling bass-laden funk that OutKast is known for. “With that cut right there, I just wanted something that had the hardest, wickedest sounding bass with a real simple track, with some hard ass MCs on there. I had to go get Concrete from right off the label because they was some of the hardest sounding MCs that I know. Then I got Big Gipp because he is my brother in hardness. And Ludacris is another cat outta the “A” who was hard because I really just wanted straight “A-Town MCs” on this one. I'm really into MCing, and I'm just trying to come up with some shit that they ain't never heard before." Anchored around a tight bass line, a hard 808 kick and a crashing hi-hat, "Tomb of Boom" induces a head-nodding trance that harks back to the golden age of hip-hop.
[ARTIST] Jay-Z
Since 1996, 19-time Grammy award winner, Shawn "JAY Z" Carter has
dominated an evolution in popular culture. Between multiple businesses and accolades spanning the recording industry to global investment leaders such as Warren Buffett, JAY Z personifies the "American Dream."
Carter served as President and CEO of Def Jam Recordings, where he fostered the careers of international stars Rihanna, Kanye West and many others before entering into a partnership with Live Nation, forming the entertainment company, Roc Nation. In 2009, his release Blueprint 3 became his 11th # 1 album debut securing the record for most #1 albums by any solo artist. 2012 saw JAY Z launching his annual MADE IN AMERICA festival, a 2-day event held in Philadelphia.
In April 2013, Carter, the majority owner of the 40/40 sports clubs, announced Roc Nation Sports, home to three-time NBA scoring champion and 2014 NBA MVP, Oklahoma City Thunder's, Kevin Durant, All-Star Seattle Mariner, Robinson Cano and first round draft pick, Notre Dame all-time high scorer, Skylar Diggins, of the Tulsa Shock. 2013 also saw the release of JAY Z's 13th # 1 album debut with "Magna Carta... Holy Grail," a sold-out stadium tour with Justin Timberlake and the sold out worldwide "MAGNA CARTER WORLD TOUR."
So far, 2014 has seen the expansion of Carter’s MADE IN AMERICA festival to Los Angeles, the nation-wide sold out stadium run “ON THE RUN Tour: Beyonce and JAY Z” along with an HBO special and Roc Nation Sports adding boxing promotion to its arsenal.
Shawn "JAY Z” Carter continues his philanthropic work through Shawn Carter Foundation. The Foundation, founded in 2002, is dedicated to helping individuals facing socio-economic hardships further their education, encouraging them to tap into their potential. Shawn Carter Scholars are studying at over 100 institutions of higher learning throughout the nation.
[ARTIST] Gangsta Boo
Gangsta Boo was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. An anomaly within the generally misogynist late-'90s Dirty South rap scene, Gangsta Boo won substantial acclaim among audiences without sacrificing her pride. As the sole female & an original member of Memphis, TN, hardcore rap group Three 6 Mafia, she had held her own; it wasn't until her debut album, though, that she really started garnering an unprecedented amount of attention.
Her first solo album, Enquiring Minds, was released in 1998 and reached number fifteen on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and number 46 on the Billboard 200. Enquiring Minds found Gangsta Boo confronting the lyrical issues that hardcore female rappers such as Lil' Kim have to address: sexual politics, money hungry stereotypes, proving that a female can be hardcore, and so on. Enquiring Minds spawned the national anthem "Where Dem Dollas At!?" and helped to build the national stage for the Memphis music scene that was about to come.
After the success of Enquiring Minds, she played a critical role in the multi-platinum success of Three 6 Mafia's When the Smoke Clears: Sixty 6, Sixty 1
in 2000. She left the group following the release of their album When the Smoke Clears: Sixty 6, Sixty 1.
Her 2001 album, Both Worlds *69, reached number eight on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart and number 29 on the Billboard 200. It featured the hit singles "Love Don't Live (U Abandoned Me)" and "Can I Get Paid (Stripper's Anthem)."
Her third album, Enquiring Minds II: Soap Opera, released in 2003, peaked at number 53 on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart and 24 on the Top Independent Albums. The album spawned the street hit "Sippin & Spinnin'" and the remix with Bun B has turned into a staple in her music catalog. Boo released the album under her new record label "Crazy Lady Entertainment." The album was also the first teaming of her and producer Drumma Boy whom have since created a musical bond.
Gangsta Boo has also been collaborating with many artists in the rap industry over the past several years. She was featured on Lil Jon & The Eastside boy's 2004 multi-platinum smash "Crunk Juice" on the underground hit "Da Blow." She was featured on OutKast's 2000album, "Stankonia." Ludacris' 2005 album "Disturbing The Peace." Pastor Troy's 2007 "Tool Muziq," plus countless others that you can find on Google. She also teamed up with Nick Scarfo for the Prophet Posse reunion and been featured on their last three albums, "The Return, Pt. 1," "The Return: Part 2 Belly of The Beast," and "Hood U.S.A."
She also has released several mixtapes over the past few years including, "Street Ringers: Volumes 1 & 2," "Still Gangsta: The Memphis Queen Is Back," & "Gangsta Rock."
Gangsta Boo has just released a new digital single to iTunes and Amazon called "Miss.Com."
She also released the "Miss.Com" mixtape in December of 2010, and it is available for free download at Livemixtapes.com
[ARTIST] Rich Boy
Life as the hottest rapper in the sleepy city of Mobile, Ala., comes with its perks. Nobody bats an eye when you drive your Escalade on the sidewalk so you wont be late getting to the club. And they dont notice when you illegally park your vehicle in between two police cars once you arrive. See, you can do things like that when your earth-trembling single, D-Boyz, is blazing local radio.
But for Maurice Rich Boy Richards, 21, the ultimate goal isnt hometown VIP treatment its widespread acceptance. Out here, Im a ghetto star, he says.But Im focused on the bigger picture.
Music hasnt always been so heavy on the rappers mind.As a student at Alabamas Tuskegee University, Rich Boy majored in mechanical engineering. Then Rich, who occasionally dabbled in music, dropped out of school and fully committed himself to producing. School wasnt for me, and I knew I could make it doing music, he says with a shrug. But trying to go the Kanye West route brought out family differences. My mother was supportive, but my grandfather thought it was a terrible idea. He didnt understand that type of thing.
Rich Boy set out to prove himself by making beats and applying his gangster twang to them. Soon his hometown radio stations started spinning his indie track Cold as Ice. Then he had a chance encounter in early 2003 with Polow, a member of Atlanta rap group Jim Crow. Impressed with Richs material, Polow flew Rich to ATL and nurtured him into a full-time MC. By November of that year, Rich had inked a deal with Interscope and was soon recording with the likes of Mannie Fresh, resulting in his as-yet-untitled debut.
Reminiscent of vintage Cash Money, the albums Fresh-produced first single, D-Boyz, is Richs attempt to put the Souths other A on the hip hop map. With a country-fried flow and buoyant beats tailor-made for any strip club, Rich Boy has all the makings of a modern-day hot boy. Even Fresh admits to a bit of dj vu when working with him. It rekindles that old feeling, he says. Ive been waiting for that to come along. An artist like Rich is a breath of fresh air.
Still, Rich is a long way from enjoying even the fringe benefits of hip hops platinum club. Im on a label with Eminem and 50 Cent, Ive gotta grind to make my stuff standout, he says. Until then, small-town perks will have to do.
[ARTIST] Maxwell
In an age of immediacy the idea of waiting sounds hopelessly outdated. But that said, there is something to be said about anticipation. Such is the case with Maxwell’s new album. Yes, after an extended hiatus the sexy ambassador of soul has returned with a brand new look and a fresh yet deliciously vintage sound. The same artist who brought us classic songs like “Sumthin’ Sumthin’,” “Ascension (Don’t Ever Wonder)” and “Lifetime” (not to mention the unforgettably ethereal cover of Kate Bush’s “This Woman’s Work”) is back with a challenging, mature, sensual, courageous and emotionally open album entitled, BLACKsummers’night. BLACKsummers’night, the first installment of a trilogy, is a collection well worth the wait.
His fourth studio album and first in eight years, BLACKsummers’night is the sound of an artist taking the commitment to his craft and the conversation with his audience that much further. Needless to say, it is a conversation that’s been overdue; but as the soft-spoken, multi-platinum artist sees it, in order to come back it was necessary to step away. “I wanted to return to ‘what was the promise?’” Maxwell offers. “What did my music and creativity speak of to people? For me, coming back to that promise was kind of where my heart was really gravitating towards. I didn’t intentionally step away from all of it, but I just wanted to…live my life a little bit, and then be able to make music with that pure experience again.”
He might have been out of the spotlight, but Maxwell along with long time collaborator and friend Hod David, had begun crafting BLACKsummers’night several years ago. The album is the first installment of a trilogy entitled BLACKSUMMERS’NIGHT. BLACK is a much darker but soulful compilation, SUMMERS’ leans more toward the gospel side and NIGHT is more a cool collection of slow jams. By late 2008, the process of polishing and shaping the album was full on. Though having much of his creative team on board, Maxwell still approached the creative process with extreme caution and the painstaking meticulousness of a true genius. “Every time I’d get in the studio it would be like am I trying to outdo this last record? I just wanted to make a really good record.” Of course, what Maxwell’s notoriously modest character failed to warn was that what he was creating was more than “good” but rather (like his other projects) a timeless piece of work.
Composed of nine indelible songs BLACKsummers’night finds Maxwell exploring life with a bold and purposeful sensuality unmistakably his own. Opening with a delicate hint of wistful chimes, the first single, “Pretty Wings,” is nostalgic, (“your face will be the reason I smile”) and yet undeniably passionate. “It’s about the last relationship I had,” Maxwell describes. “How you meet the person of your dreams but at the wrong time. She was a serious muse and the song is a testament to what I wanted to say and say, to her.” “I can be a bit emotionally handicapped” he elucidates, “but through music, I can say what I want to.” Another of the album’s more persuasive songs is “Stop the World.” A rhythmic rush of desire, Maxwell describes “Stop the World” as “having corporal relations.” “That’s what I call having sex…” he unabashedly reveals “…and that’s stopping the world.” …Mhmmm.
Equally personal is “Fistful of Tears.” Pushed along by a sturdy and incessant piano, Maxwell, shifting from those oh so recognizable falsettos and baritones, rides the melody like a man both possessed by and resigned to his feelings. “It’s kind of about wanting to leave the industry and a relationship, but then realizing that I should give it a last try. Don’t let it go.” Then there’s the jazz thumping “Cold.” Peppered by a funked up horn section and wrapped in a moist honey soaked groove, this fun, head bopping track finds Maxwell asking the eternal lovers question, “why do you like me like you do?” It’s very sexy stuff.
On June 24th Maxwell galvanized an unsuspecting audience at the 2008 BET Awards with a live rendition of Al Green’s classic song, “Simply Beautiful.” It would be his first live performance in seven years. Without his signature afro or silk mono-chromatic suit, it was hard to tell if this six-foot tall body was merely a mirage or indeed the man that for so many years had left legions of devoted fans wanting more. But after uttering the first gentle lyric (“If I gave you my love…”) everyone remembered and so did Maxwell. The unforgettable performance became one of the most talked about in 2008. It left each audience member (regular folk and superstar celebrities alike) rejoicing that unquestionably authentic soul sound that was denied to them for far too long. Overwhelmed and inspired by the ecstatically warm response, Maxwell decided to boldly hit the road, with no album, nor concrete plan to follow. Less than two months later the artist announced the launch of his much speculated 2008 BLACKSUMMERS’NIGHT tour. Maxwell initiated the tour with his first concert at South Africa’s Macufe Music Festival. Maxwell sold out 10,000 seats and was given honorary South African citizenship. The show, which aired on “BET’s Access Granted,” was not only his first concert (as well as on-air interview) in seven years; it was his first show ever in South Africa.
In the U.S., all 144,000 tickets for the tour sold out within minutes of their on-sale date. An overwhelming demand for Maxwell caused the original 26-date tour to be extended to 33 dates. He performed in all the major cities including New York; selling out the renowned Radio City Music Hall and uptown New York’s 3,000 seat theater, The United Palace. New York Times writer Jon Caramanica asserts, “Maxwell has something that his emulators lack: complexity…some of the most potent moments [at Radio City] came in the pregnant spaces between notes, with Maxwell managing to hold a feeling even with his mouth shut.”
For Maxwell the opportunity to get back on stage and receive such an enormous response, especially without an album to support, was revelatory and further inspired him to complete his oft delayed album. “That experience is something for which I am beyond grateful. To be able to take a risk and to have that genuine interest from people is so rare. It actually made making this record even more precious. It was that pure energy. It was like, ‘oh, this is why I do it.’ It’s because people care about real music and they’ll wait for you.”
In 1996, a then 23-year old Brooklyn born phenomenon took the music world by storm with his debut, Urban Hang Suite. (He signed to Columbia Records at the tender age of 21, already having composed more than 300 songs before signing on to the major label.) The critically acclaimed CD received a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Album and went on to achieve double platinum status. Maxwell’s MTV: Unplugged (1997) achieved gold status with his live rendition of “This Woman’s Work.” He was heralded as the future of soul music and proved his staying power when he followed up with 1998’s platinum seller Embrya. In 1999 Maxwell’s single, “Fortunate” (off of the LIFE soundtrack) became Billboard magazine’s number one hit of the year. Maxwell’s third album, Now (2001) debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart; selling 300,000 copies its maiden week and eventually also reaching double platinum status. The album was appropriately described by Entertainment Weekly as “A velvetined gauntlet thrown at the feet of today’s bling-bling-obsessed R&B pack.”
To hear Maxwell explain it, as much as his fans were waiting for him, he was waiting for them-and in the process of finding himself. “Sometimes I can’t believe I do this because you’re living your life. Going to the corner store, taking out the garbage and the next thing you know you’re on stage at Radio City Music Hall. It’s such a humbling thing and you’d think it would make my ego go out of control but I feel humility. Like this is why I need to do this. It’s not about your ego. It’s about celebrating your opportunity and the blessing to work and the joy you can possibly bring to people. That’s how it all resonated with me.”
A constant throughout BLACKsummers’night is its live and often raw sound. The entire album was recorded with an extraordinary live ten-piece band. He is taking it back to when a solo genius artist offered music that was close to perfection. No synthesizers, no duets. Just Maxwell bare and in the flesh ready to give old fans and new ones a sensory experience that he never fails to bring.
[ARTIST] K Camp
In the fast-paced world of rap music, some artists are lucky enough to have opportunities fall into their lap and blow up instantly. Then you have the ones who have to toil behind-the-scenes before they finally get their chance to shine. K Camp, the man behind the hit singles “Money Baby” and “Cut Her Off” can relate to being a little bit of both.
Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin but raised on Atlanta’s northside, K Camp is no stranger to making hit records. He formally introduced himself to the city’s rap scene by performing at open mic competitions alongside the likes of Waka Flocka Flame, Roscoe Dash, Travis Porter and few other future stars. His first local hit, “Party All Night,” came out just as songs like Waka’s “Oh Let’s Do It” and Dash’s “All The Way Turnt Up” were starting to blow. Unfortunately, his did not make it past the state limits.
“I made that song right after I left college,” says the former University of West Georgia student. “I don’t like being told what to do, I like to make decisions for myself. So I chose to leave and chase my dream. If you’re not chasing a dream, what are you doing? That one shot let me know I was doing the right thing.”
One year later, K Camp found himself involved with another hit, Mykko Montana’s 2012 club smash, “Do It.” Camp sang and wrote the infectious hook and even engineered the song. But, he failed to get proper recognition for his contribution and barely appeared in the song’s music video.
“When that happened, people thought I was gonna be done for, again,” he says. “But the grind speaks for itself.”
In 2013, Camp became the talk of the town (and the country) again with his smash, “Money Baby” featuring Kwony Cash. The Big Fruit-produced track started off as a freestyle initially, and was intended to be a filler track for his mixtape. But the catchy beat and infectious hook turned the song into another win for the young hit maker. 2014 ushered in a new era for Camp as he signed with Interscope Records. His club anthem “Cut Her Off” has made so many waves that industry vets like 2 Chainz came calling to hop on the remix.
The EP, In Due Time, releases digitally on 4/22. It not only speaks to the timing of K Camp’s undeniable rise, but is also an effort to show the world that he is a complete artist and not just a party anthem machine. “I like to party alot, but I want people to know that I’m capable of making good music period,” says K Camp. “When they see what I really bring to the table, they will be amazed.”
K Camp promises that the EP, backed by production from Nash Beats, Big Fruit, and Bobby Kritical will give listeners a true picture of his musical abilities. Citing everyone from Lil Wayne to the Temptations as his inspirations and influences, In Due Time showcases K Camp’s ability to craft songs that can resonate in the club, car and crib.
“I want the world to hear me and what I have to offer,” says the former high school hoops star. “People will relate to what I’m talking about because I keep it 100 in all of my records and speak what’s going on. I’m just trying to be innovative out here.”