GRAMMY AWARD WINNER RHYMEFEST SIGNS ON FOR "MIDWEST BLOCK STARZ" COMPILATION
Grammy Award winner Rhymefest will appear on Block Starz Music's upcoming "Midwest Block Starz" compilation scheduled for exclusive release at www.blockstarzmusic.com on April 28.
Rhymefest contributed the track "Say Wassup", featuring Phonte of Little Brother, to the project as part of a lead up to the release of his own long-awaited sophomore effort, "El Che", on May 18.
"Midwest Block Starz" is the third installment of Block Starz Music's critically-acclaimed compilation series and will highlight various independent Hip-Hop and R&B artists from the thirteen state region.
2009 Underground Music Awards' "Midwest Artist of the Year", Slick Watts, and 2009 Ohio Hip-Hop Awards' "Best Live Performer", Machine Gun Kelly, whose track "Alice In Wonderland" will be the first single and video released from the compilation, will also be featured on the "Midwest Block Starz" project alongside blazing contributions from new Block Starz Music artists Mike Schpitz (Chicago) and F.O.N.Z. (Louisville).
"We have a few surprises lined up as far as big name guest appearances," says Block Starz Music co-founder and president Bayer Mack. "But the purpose is to showcase exciting new independent talent."
We are a link to the marketplace for new independent talent and an oasis for bands that don't fit the status quo. We're entrepreneurs with a passion for making deals and championing our artists. We don't conform to the way things have always been done. We choose to find our own way. We're Block Starz Music and we got next.
A very close member of Keith Elam's family put up a ten minute video on YouTube entitled "Guru (Gangstarr) True Story Behind Hospital & Coma." We offer no opinion on it one way or the other - we are simply presenting it to you here for informational purposes. The author has included his contact info on the YouTube page HERE, and he can also be contacted on Twitter @JustinNElamRuff.
With a lack of female presence in Hip-Hop it was only a matter of time before a project was created to prove that the women of Hip-Hop are needed just as much as the males that dominate.
Bringing together artists and DJs from all over the globe for this series of mixtapes, the instigators in this never before done project are no strangers to the music industry.
Revered mixtape DJ, DJ Technics, stepped up and utilized his skills in finding and developing talent, securing an extremely strong line up for Volume One of We Got Lyrics Too. Technics is renowned for his weekly podcast HoodStarz that focuses on the unsigned and Independent talent, thus encouraging the unique cast he chose to feature on this undertaking. While partner, veteran promotions guru and New York native General, Taylor is on board to promote and market the end result.
General Taylor has been immersed in the business for over 15 years, promoting singles from the likes of 50 Cent, Drake, Kanye West while playing a fundamental role in breaking acts such as Keri Hilson and Lil Wayne. Having worked closely with major labels such as Interscope, Def Jam, Atlantic and Universal, he too recognized the lack of women behind the mic and set forth in establishing ‘FEMALES OF THE RAP GAME’ with DJ Technics
“You know it is easy to see why there aren’t too many ladies in the spotlight when you see how they get treated but I knew they were out there,” he explained. “So I set in motion a plan to bring all these performers together and give them a platform to showcase themselves and not only has the response been impressive, the tracks these girls are submitting are going to blow folks away.”
We Got Lyrics Too Volume One will be available for free download and will feature a variety of acts who will prove that the female MC is no longer to be considered a myth. Sponsored by numerous entertainment companies and online portals including premier digital music company Digiwaxx, this project will encourage a mass of opportunities for the femcees who have been selected to feature.
Hosted by DreaTraxx and mixed by DJ Mika from Japan, We Got Lyrics Too is a testament to all women who strive to maintain a presence behind the mic in the Hip-Hop world.
"Females have been under-represented from Day One," shared DJ Technics. "This series of tapes are going to show that the role of the female MC is not one to be taken for granted."
Part of a four chapter series, Wordsmith, an MC, discusses Chapter I of his upcoming album "Vintage Experience". Vintage Experience will be available for purchase on March 30, 2010.
Learn more about Wordsmith and Vintage Experience by logging onto his website www.wordsmithmusic.com .
This video Interview was produced by Olawale Ogbonlowo for 4sight Pictures.
St. Louis Rapper J-Kwon Missing, Label Initiates Efforts to Find Him
March 2, 2010, St. Louis, MO -- In recent months, J-Kwon has been consistently releasing new music for fans on the net, however as the March 23 release date of his self-titled album is upon him, the young rapper has gone missing.
Reps at J-Kwon's label, Gracie Productions, have been unable to reach him in over a month. Friends or associates of the 24-year-old MC are urged to send in tips, and they've set up a Twitter page @WhereIsJKwon to field updates.
"J-Kwon is a big part of the Gracie family, and we are obviously increasingly worried and want to make sure he is ok," says Gracie Productions CEO/President Tony Bucher. "We've already received thousands of emails from fans and supporters who are worried about J-Kwon, and we want everyone to know how much we appreciate the love and support. If anyone has seen J-Kwon or has access to him, please let him know we are worried about him, and to please let us know everything is ok."
Born Jarrell Jones, J-Kwon rose to fame with his 2004 Top 10 hit "Tipsy" from his So So Def/Arista debut Hood Hop. In 2009, he released two projects with Gracie Productions, Hood Hop 2 and Hood Hop 2.5. J-Kwon recently dropped the single "O" featuring producer/songwriter J-Skillz and pop/rock songstress Sally Anthony, and was preparing for the March 23, 2010 release of his self-titled album via One Records on The Orchard before his disappearance.
Fans and friends of J-Kwon are working with Gracie Productions to track the young artist down, and will monitor the @WhereIsJKwon Twitter page until he is found.
Video For Lead Single From The Day The Turf Stood Still Details Gentrification in the Fillmore District
The Video:
As the March 9th release date for DaVinci's debut album, The Day The Turf Stood Still, approaches, the rising Fillmore District emcee is proud to release the video for the lead single from the album for the song, "What You Finna Do." Shot in black and white and featuring powerful visuals throughout, DaVinci uses the video as a means to drive home the song's message as he speaks on the powerful and hotly debated topic of gentrification, an issue not only affecting his own neighborhood but urban areas across the country. Speaking on his inspirations for penning the song, DaVinci explains, "I was inspired to write this song to address an open ended question to the neglected inner-city communities world wide." The video's chilling depiction follows DaVinci through his home city, or at least the city that used to feel like home.
As the video plays through, it's clear the city that has raised DaVinci is rapidly changing - not only do the corners that provided DaVinci's livelihood now house trendy coffee shops, but the District's illustrious history is being whitewashed as families are being pushed out and neglected with urban renewal. "If you don't have the money to live here in the Western Addition, you have to go," says the vocal sample setting the song's tone as the single begins. To match DaVinci's potent lyrics with equally powerful visuals, the video, directed by Marcus Ubungen, whose credits include Island/Def Jam Records, Nike, and more, was shot at a number of locations significant to DaVinci and representative of the changes affecting the Fillmore community - Lily's BBQ is one of the few remaining black owned businesses in the area, while the Marcus Garvey homes represents one of a handful of public housing projects in the area, known both for raising a number local rap stars and street legends as well as being the destination of many police drug raids. Says Johan Thomas of DaVinci's label SWTBRDS Creative Collective, who assisted in selecting many of the locations for the video shoot, "The video paints Westside in a light that reflect the community at large. Its desolate landscape proves the plight of the many families who have left the community."
DaVinci's new album, The Day The Turf Stood Still, will be available for sale and free download March 9, 2010 via SWTBRDS Creative Collective.
The Fillmore District has bred more rappers per capita than any other district in San Francisco, and although the older generations recall its rich musical history rooted in Jazz, the Fillmore today is rife with drugs, turf wars, and mass gentrification. DaVinci, a young MC raised in the Fillmore, is a prime example of the duality of this area, who at the age of 13 was homeless, hungry, and hopeful for a way out. Explains DaVinci, "My music has everything to do with my environment: from robbing, killing, pimpin' to selling and abusing drugs," he explains about his heavy content. "It's a direct reflection of what my friends and family have been through and are still going through." While his story is similar to many other young rappers upbringings, DaVinci was surrounded by an incredible pool of Fillmore talent and by studying with the greats, he was able to sharpen his skills and aim higher than most, cultivating his story-telling abilities beyond mere drug-and-gun-talk. Growing up in the same 10-block radius as Bay Area rap legends San Quinn and JT the Bigga Figga, DaVinci was content in merely watching the next generation follow in their footsteps, until he received overwhelming praise from his peers from a mixtape appearance, which then prompted him to pursue rap professionally. In 2006, San Quinn welcomed him onto the "Pressure Makes Diamonds Tour" with rap veterans Xzibit and Tech N9ne. Since the tour, DaVinci has kept busy appearing on numerous mixtapes and compilations, as well as preparing his official debut album, The Day The Turf Stood Still. The Day The Turf Stood Still will be available March 9, 2010 via SWTBRDS Creative Collective. Streams:
This song here by Rahzel Jr. (Son of Rahzel of The Legendary Roots crew) is his Brand New Single "Far Away" (Dedicated to the victims of the Haiti earthquake) off of his upcoming "OverAchievement LP" which will be on Itunes, Amazon, & Rhapsody this Spring.
Part II of SESSIONS finds us behind the scenes as RADIx x Statik Selektah x Court Dunn give a backstage pass of the making of THE RETURN music video. This catches RADIx x Statik Selektah x Court Dunn in candid moments as they discuss hip hop, the music video, and hints as to what is coming.Thank you to all the blogsites who have featured the record. Lastly RADIx will be performing live in Worcester, MA @ The Lucky Dog Friday March 5th celebrating the release of THE RETURN. Thank you for all your continued support. SESSIONS II
SESSIONS VIDEO - Behind the scenes look at RADIx and STATIK SELEKTAH making the new RADIx LP. Statik also shows producers how he flips samples. A must see. THE RETURN- PROD BY STATIK SELEKTAH
RADIx Live March 5th 2010 Worcester, MA @ THE LUCKY DOG
Named one of XXL Magazine's Freshman of the year and appearing on the cover on newstands March 16, Pittsburgh native Wiz Khalifa shuts down Ft. Wayne, Indiana with his hit "Say Yeah"
"In 2003 Freeway dropped his Roc-A-Fella debut and cemented his position as an artistic powerhouse who fit in with his crew about as fluidly as MC chris at a Mobb Deep show. It wasn't that Free wasn't grimy enough, outside of Beanie Sigel the Roc didn't have anyone grimier, but rather he was an artist who was never destined to make the radio say "play that shit again!" After years of battle rapping his voice and flow had a coarse grain that stripped away any sense of radio friendly melody that might sneak into the passionately terse speed that also came from a background in microphone warfare. It felt more natural to see him side by side with such backpack friendly rappers as Mos Def and Kanye West on "The College Dropout"s "Two Words" than he ever did the Mariah Carey, the all time go-to siren for giving gangster rappers a heart of gold, so it wasn't really shocking to see how well Freeway faired after the Roc exploded. Dude had been on his own since joining and no Jay Z co-sign was going to change the fact that his grind got him further than his label affiliations ever did. "
"It's hard to resist an album with a title like "Covers for Reggae Lovers," but in truth the title was a little misleading. As I first cracked open this album from the famous VP Records imprint, I was under the impression that reggae stars from this century would be covering famous reggae songs from the last century. In other words, "reggae lovers" would be pleased to hear new interpretations of the classics by Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Burning Spear, Steel Pulse, so on and so forth. As it turns out the "covers" in question aren't of reggae classics, and the artists BEING covered aren't known as reggae artists, but the end result is still easily recognizable as music reggae lovers will appreciate."
"The songs are short and sweet, rapidly going through the thrill of first love, the agony of heartache, and the peace of mind that comes from realizing that you were meant to date aliens. "New Love" sees Dillon excited about a woman he meets at a restaurant: "I'm not a catch/but I caught you/Mama even thought that you were the dopest chick I brought through." All is not well in the house of Dillon, however, because by the end of the song, she's disappeared. "
"Just like his prior releases, KaySlay shows how much clout he has in the industry by pairing the hottest artists in hip-hop with the dopest producers. This time around, the Drama King enlists the services of artists like Tony Yayo, Papoose, Lloyd Banks, Jim Jones, Yo Gotti, Bun-B, Twista, Cam'ron, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Joell Ortiz, Sheek Louch, Styles P, Rick Ross and many others. The production is handed by The Dream Team, The Alchemist, Ty Fyffe, Amadeus, Street Radio, Arab Music, Tie Stick, GQ Beats, Green Lantern, E-Dubb (not me, btw), and Money Always."
"The musical difference between Mac Mall's latest and its predecessor manifests itself also in the artwork. While both play on classic Hollywood blockbusters, the cover for "Thizziana Stoned and the Temple of Shrooms" was as realistic as it was absurd, our hero swinging Indy-style through a fungus-infested stone arch, the Temple of Doom, pardon, Shrooms looming in the background. "Mac to the Future" pictures him as Marty McFly getting out of the DeLorean, having just crossed the Bay Bridge, not so much checking his watch in surprise as posing for the artist. It's still an eye-catcher, but from a visual viewpoint the somewhat crude illustration lacks the touch of class I've come to associate with Mac Mall."
"Through emotion and life experiences, artists are compelled to express without limits. It is no different for Connecticut's Mr. Freeze. After the death of his sister, music was an outlet for his passion as he sought out underground and hardcore rap. He gradually learned to shape his writing and rap skills while forming rap group Code Orange in 2002. With the group not progressing, Freeze pursued a solo career and released his debut album "The Red Snow," full of aggression and hardcore elements.
With the birth of his daughter in 2008, Freeze decided to take a turn in his music with a sense of self-reflection and sharing the struggles of being a rap artist. Compiling all of his sentiment and morale, Freeze releases his sophomore album "The Righteous Path." "
"On a rainy summer night back in 2006 there were six twenty-something year olds sitting around a small, circular kitchen table playing Texas Hold 'Em while passing around a bottle of Jose Cuervo. I don't remember that night all that well. From what I've been told not only did I lose about thirty dollars and everything I had eaten in the twelve hours previous to the gathering, I also blacked out in the middle of the street on my way home. However, one thing I remember from that night in sufficient enough detail to talk about it was during the intermission from our poker game, we turned the television on and got to see a quick glance of Obie Trice and Akon on CSI: Miami, performing "Snitch" from Obie's sophomore release "Second Round's On Me." I proclaimed: "oh shit! That's Obie Trice!", but my enthusiasm was not quite understood."
Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth :: All Souled Out :: Elektra Records ** RapReviews "Back to the Lab" series ** as reviewed by Pete T.
"The beats on "All Souled Out" are technically impeccable, but they also contain that inimitable element of soulfulness and expressiveness that makes Pete Rock arguably the world's best producer. Hip hop's detractors have always pointed to sampling as a lazy, thieving practice of creating new music, and although Pete's a heavy sampler, it's hard to imagine those critics having a problem with his methods. For one thing, his knowledge of soul and funk music is so vast and deep that many of his samples are beyond obscure. For those samples that are a little more well-known, he flips them on his trusty SP-1200 in such a manner that they're hardly recognizable, not so much disguising them as breathing new life into them and finding expressive potential that the original artist probably didn't even intend."
"That's 2 failure's and 6 unsuccessful's, including 1 incredibly unsuccessful and 1 very unsuccessful. That almost qualifies as defamation. These entries were either written by someone holding a very personal professional grudge or a particularly dedicated hater. And still, malice aside, the comments are not all that wrong since they are, perhaps unwittingly, based on the underlying premise that Rasheeda is supposed to perform better on the sales front. Why? Because she's from the usually successful south, makes typical, usually successful southern rap and doesn't lack in the looks department. Ironically, the title of her latest album, "Certified Hot Chick" inherently makes the same argument: 'The hotness of this chick is certified, what other reason do you need to pick up this album?!' "
"From the land of the Hart Family Dungeon and the Calgary Flames comes Ricca Razor Sharp, who also goes by the government name Jonathan Stoddart. Stoddart owns 50% of Neferiu Records, which not coincidentally is the label releasing his album "Causeways & C-Trains." Skeptics among the readership will have already written Ricca off at this point, but those who know about the Canadian rap scene realize many of its best artists are self-produced or distributed. In Ricca's case only the latter is true as he has called in outside artists to put his album together musically - Calgary's own SoLeo and Vancouver Island's producer du jour Mantrakid."
Run-D.M.C. :: Down with the King :: Profile/Arista Records ** RapReviews "Back to the Lab" series ** as reviewed by Pete T.
"Coming off 1990's slow-selling "Back From Hell," the Hollis Crew saw need for a change in order to keep up with a hip hop world that no doubt appeared to be hurtling forward faster than the speed of sound. But by 1993, the cards seemed to be stacked against them. The first years of the 1990s were filled with legal troubles, health issues, car accidents, and alcohol abuse for the group. Run and D soon became vocal Christians, and Jam Master Jay founded his own record imprint and struck gold producing Onyx. Fearing the worst, Arista even put out the group's first greatest hits collection. Having cemented legacies as founding fathers and invaluable contributors to a worldwide cultural phenomenon, it looked as if the time had come for Run-D.M.C. to gracefully bow. "
![[Capture the Sun]](coverart/illogic-Capture.jpg)
Superheroes of hip-hop!
With a lack of female presence in Hip-Hop it was only a matter of time before a project was created to prove that the women of Hip-Hop are needed just as much as the males that dominate.
"Females have been under-represented from Day One," shared DJ Technics. "This series of tapes are going to show that the role of the female MC is not one to be taken for granted."
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:: Koch/
:: Thizzlamic Records/
:: Mercy Counts/
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:: Elektra Records 
:: DLO Music/
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:: Profile/Arista Records